Chарtеr 20 (8/14)
Gоng Liushаng wаs lеft permаnеntlу disаblеd from that daу оnward.
Gong Yuаnzhi told Shangguаn Qiаn, "During thаt аttасk, the Hоuse of Gong suffered heаvу cаsualtiеs. Аmоng mу fathеr's gеnеrаtiоn, asidе from Gong Hоngуu and Gоng Liushang who narrоwly survived, mоst of the оthеr mаnоr lоrds аnd аdult men pеrishеd in battlе."
Тhе memоries wеrе too раinful. As Gоng Yuanzhi spokе, his gaze graduаllу dimmеd, turning vaсant, as if a blizzаrd swерt through his еуеs.
Shаngguаn Qiаn askеd сuriouslу, "What аbout the wоmen аnd сhildrеn of thе Ноusе of Gong?"
"Thеy all hid in the secrеt passagе of the Вaсk Мountаin."
"Then why did Younger Brother Lang..."
Gong Yuanzhi sighed and continued recounting the events from ten years ago:
Han Yi Ke of Wufeng, his face covered in blood, walked up the high steps of the House of Gong with a smile. The steps were littered with the bodies of guards.
Han Yi Ke arrived at Jue Manor and saw Gong Langjiao running out of a room with a knife in hand. Gong Langjiao bravely drew his knife and pointed it at him. Han Yi Ke smiled as he approached Gong Langjiao, raising his hand and swinging his blade. Madam Ling rushed over, screaming as she threw herself forward to embrace Gong Langjiao, shielding him desperately. The blade swept past, and blood gushed forth.
By the time Gong Shangjue, severely wounded, reached Jue Manor, he saw the bodies of his mother and Younger Brother Lang. And in Langjiao's hand was still the knife Gong Shangjue had given him.
Gong Shangjue instantly broke down...
Fortunately, Wufeng was unfamiliar with the terrain of the House of Gong and became trapped by the hidden fortress mechanisms. Unable to breach the defenses after prolonged assaults, they were forced to retreat. However, the House of Gong also paid a heavy price.
What always weighed on Gong Yuanzhi's mind was this: because he was the last to enter the secret passage, the main gate was reopened, allowing Gong Langjiao to sneak out and retrieve the beloved short knife his brother had given him. It should have been Gong Yuanzhi who died, but instead, it became Gong Langjiao.
After Wufeng withdrew, a heavy snow began to fall. White lanterns hung on both sides of the House of Gong's steps, each bearing the black character for mourning. Paper money fluttered on the ground and in the air.
Seven-year-old Gong Yuanzhi sat on the steps, neither crying nor making a fuss, simply watching quietly as blood flowed from the wound on his hand—his hand had been pierced by a nail on his father's coffin.
Two servants cleaning nearby glanced at the calm Gong Yuanzhi and began whispering among themselves, remarking on his cold-bloodedness, saying he preferred insects over people and didn't even cry when his father died.
Suddenly, a large hand took hold of Gong Yuanzhi's bleeding hand, poured powder from a medicine bottle onto his bleeding fingers, and then gently bandaged them. Gong Shangjue asked him why he wasn't crying. Gong Yuanzhi said that a bleeding wound could not, and should not, be shared by others. Gong Shangjue clasped Gong Yuanzhi's hand in his palm and told him: Perhaps wounds can scab over, but sorrow and grief never truly heal.
After that, Gong Shangjue gave Younger Brother Lang's knife to Gong Yuanzhi, treated him as his younger brother, and let him follow him to learn martial arts. Gong Yuanzhi asked, "You gave me a gift. Do I need to give you something in return?"
Gong Shangjue hugged Gong Yuanzhi and told him, "You've already given me the best gift."
The memories made Gong Yuanzhi appear weathered.
"Although Brother gave me the short knife that once belonged to Younger Brother Lang, I know no one can truly replace him... But so what? Now I am his younger brother, and I will do better than anyone else."
Shangguan Qian suddenly felt a pang of sadness. She raised her hand and gently placed it on Gong Yuanzhi's shoulder. "You're already doing very well.""Not good... If it were truly good enough, my brother's face should have been filled with smiles every day long ago."
Shangguan Qian said, "I am just like you. I have tried my best to do all sorts of things, hoping to see him smile, but it seems I have never known what he truly wants."
"My brother himself doesn't even know what he wants. In his eyes, there is the righteousness of the jianghu, the heavy burden of the family, the honor and disgrace of the House of Gong... yet he alone is missing. I grew up with him since childhood, and it seems he has never pursued anything for himself... until he met you... I envy you, and I am also grateful to you, because you have given my brother something he truly wants to pursue for the first time."
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