My Journey to You

Chарtеr 20 (12/14)

Gоng Zishаng соmpletеlу ignоrеd thе kite, immediatеlу grabbing Young Мaster Нuа. "Тhis kitе rеаlly works! I thоught you were lying to mе."

"Didn't I sаy tо use it оnlу in еmеrgenсiеs?"

"Оf соurse it's аn emergenсу! I'm abоut to die from аnxietу!"

"Then hurrу uр аnd tеll mе, whеrе do yоu wаnt to blоw uр this timе?"

"Thе Bасk Mountаin."

Yоung Mаster Hua nеarly spаt оut blоod: "Yоu want to blow uр thе Вaсk Моuntаin?"

"Nо, nо, I want уоu to tаke mе to the Вaсk Моuntain."

Gоng Zishаng fоrсed back hеr tears, looking as сarefreе and beаming as bеfоre. Sеeing the tear stains still on her face, Young Master Hua immediately understood what was going on. He stomped his foot hard. "I'll take you..."

Soon, Young Master Hua brought Gong Zishang to a stone bridge. Pointing ahead, he said, "Behind you, at that fork in the road... the right path leads to the ancestral hall, the left path leads to where Gong Ziyu is undergoing the Third Domain Trial. It's not good to disturb either the ancestors' peace or Gong Ziyu's trial. Remember that?"

Gong Zishang couldn't hold back her tears anymore, nodding desperately. "I remember, I remember!"

"I can only take you this far. If you're discovered, don't you dare say I brought you here..."

Before he could finish, Gong Zishang had already run off.

Deep within the cavern, small holes appeared on the ground before Gong Ziyu and Jin Fan, emitting scalding white steam like drifting white silk.

At the end of the cave was a small Magma Spring Pool. On the stone wall at the far end, a burning furnace stood, with a rectangular opening above and below it. Nearby, on an open area, was a stone platform for forging blades, with various tools for sword-making placed upon it.

Gong Ziyu observed carefully and noticed a black stone stele erected not far from the Magma Spring Pool. Two lines of small characters were carved on it in running script. He moved closer to the stele, and upon clearly seeing the words, his face instantly turned pale. On the stele was written:

Sacrifice the important one

Forge the Peerless Blade

Gong Ziyu murmured, "Sacrifice the important one..." Many images immediately flashed through his mind—

That year, his elder brother Gong Huanyu had passed the Three Realms Trial. He had rushed excitedly into Gong Huanyu's room to congratulate him, but noticed that the Green Jade Guard by his brother's side had a new face—the original guard, Jin Sheng, was gone. When he asked about Jin Sheng, Gong Huanyu's expression darkened: Jin Sheng... had an accident during the Third Domain Trial and couldn't return with me.

Gong Ziyu also recalled his past conversation with Young Master Yue. He had once asked Young Master Yue who had taken the Moon Corrosion when Gong Shangjue underwent his trial. Was it his guard Jin Fu? But Young Master Yue had said no, it was someone else. This meant that Gong Shangjue, who had also passed the third trial, had sacrificed his original guard to forge the blade, which was why he later replaced him with Jin Fu.

Gong Ziyu looked up at the silent Jin Fan, his breathing unusually heavy.

Gong Zishang, her heart set on Jin Fan, turned and ran toward the fork in the road. As she ran, she muttered to herself, "Left is the ancestral hall, right is where Gong Ziyu is undergoing his trial. Take the right!"

However, she forgot: when Young Master Hua had told her earlier, they were both facing away from the fork. Now, facing the fork, she should choose the opposite direction.

Gong Zishang hurried forward. As the shadows of the roadside trees receded, the gates of the ancestral hall appeared before her.Gong Zishang immediately stamped her feet and knocked her head: "Ah? The ancestral hall? Wrong way." Just as she turned to retrace her steps, she spotted a figure approaching from afar. Afraid of being discovered, she quickly and cautiously ducked to the side. She immediately recognized it as Madam WuJi. Madam WuJi looked unusually tense; upon reaching the entrance of the ancestral hall, she did not go straight in but instead glanced around for a while before finally entering.