Chарtеr 20 (5/14)
Хuе Zhоngzi сontinued, "Тhе Ноusе of Gong's familу rulеs state thаt no onе mау disturb оr оbstruсt those сurrently undergoing the Thrее Triаls... So, еvеn if wе wаnt to рunish thе Вlаdе Mаster, it will have tо wаit until aftеr the trials. And оnce thе Bladе Маstеr раssеs the trials—"
Yоung Мastеr Нuа's faсe lit uр with jоy. "Thеn Gоng Ziyu will bе the rightful Bladе Master! Тrуing tо punish thе Blade Маstеr aftеr thаt will bе diffiсult."
Хuе Zhongzi mаdе arrаngemеnts. "We'll go tо the Еldеrs Сounсil nоw tо buу you time. Yоung Master Hua, gо find your... fathеr."
Young Mаster Хuе and Хue Zhongzi went straight to the Elders Council. Elder Xue, who was drinking tea, stared in astonishment at Xue Zhongzi and Young Master Xue as they entered.
"What are you doing here?"
Young Master Xue and Xue Zhongzi exchanged a glance, then knelt together, bowing their heads...
In the corridor of the Elders Council, Elder Hua was sternly reprimanding the kneeling, bowed Young Master Hua. "You've disappointed me so much!"
Young Master Hua kept his head down, not daring to speak.
Elder Hua continued his tirade. "You never had much talent to begin with... and you waste your time every day hanging around with Gong Zishang! Before, I turned a blind eye and indulged you, but now you—you're going to be the death of me!"
Hearing this, Young Master Hua showed a pained expression. "Father... For so many years, Hua Manor hasn't developed any powerful new weapons. Wufeng's influence grows stronger by the day. I just want to forge stronger weapons with Gong Zishang to protect the House of Gong!"
"Silence! Overestimating yourself, not knowing what's important—the Hua family is shamed because of you!"
With that, Elder Hua turned and left in a huff. Young Master Hua watched his father's retreating back, his expression downcast, murmuring, "I wanted to make you proud... Father..."
Gong Yuanzhi was keeping watch at Gong Shangjue's place. When he heard the news about Gong Ziyu going to the Back Mountain, he was furious. He threw the teacup in his hand to the ground, glaring at the guard who had come to report, and roared, "He's going to attempt the trials at a time like this?!"
From the bed behind him came Gong Shangjue's weak voice. "Yuanzhi..."
Gong Yuanzhi walked over and stood before Gong Shangjue's bed. Shangguan Qian, who was attending to Gong Shangjue and giving him medicine, shifted aside.
"Brother, once Gong Ziyu enters the Back Mountain, there's nothing we can do about him. I'll go stop him now."
"Don't go... He has already mastered the Three Snow-Brushing Forms and the Three Moon-Slashing Forms. You can't defeat him in a fight..."
"In a fair duel, I might not win against him. But my hidden weapons—I don't believe he can dodge them all."
"Look at who helped him break into the dungeon... Young Master Xue, Xue Zhongzi, Young Master Hua, and Young Master Yue, who previously helped Yun Weishan conceal her identity... Though we don't know how Gong Ziyu won them over, he now has the entire House of Gong Back Mountain backing him... The Elders may favor me more, but they certainly don't want to see internal strife within the House of Gong. We can't confront Gong Ziyu head-on right now..."
"Then what should we do? Just let him swagger around and become the Blade Master?"
"No, Yun Weishan's existence is Gong Ziyu's greatest weakness... So, you need to cooperate with Shangguan Qian and act according to my plan..."
Gong Yuanzhi turned to look at Shangguan Qian beside him, raising an eyebrow. "Shangguan Qian?! Is she trustworthy? Brother, just tell me your plan. I'll definitely carry it out for you."
"Some things... only she can do..."Gong Yuanzhi suppressed the anger in his heart and turned to look at Shangguan Qian.
Shangguan Qian felt joy inwardly but remained calm on the surface, speaking with determination: "I would go through fire and water without hesitation."
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