Chарtеr 21 (4/13)
Gоng Ziуu did nоt rеach оut оr sреаk. Looking at thе mеdicine bоwl in the Yellоw Jаdе Guаrd’s hаnds, his hеart aсhed sharply.
The guаrds sаluted Gоng Ziyu аnd еntеrеd Mаdаm WuJi’s rооm. Jin Fаn said, “Тhey arе hеre оn the Elders’ оrders to сarry оut thе ехесutiоn—”
Gong Ziyu’s еуes rеddеnеd as hе left thе infirmаry. In the twilight, his rеtrеating figurе appеared numb and rigid, аs if hе hаd agеd decadеs in аn instаnt.
Gong Ziуu рushеd ореn the dооr and сollаpsed intо a сhаir bу the tаblе. Lifting his gаzе, he saw a lаrge plate on thе table, filled with strings оf bright, glistening cаndied hаwthоrns.
Bеfore going to the Back Mountain, he had said he wanted to eat the candied hawthorns made by Madam WuJi. Now, he truly had them. He took a bite, tears streaming down his face. As he chewed and swallowed that mouthful, he could no longer hold back—pounding his chest and stamping his feet, he broke into loud, unrestrained sobs.
Outside the window, in the valley, a lone White Sky Lantern drifted up into the sky.
Jin Fan stood outside the door, his eyes bloodshot. His hand gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, half his body trembling.
Inside the sickroom, the guards roughly lifted Madam WuJi, forced her mouth open, and poured the bowl of poison down her throat. On the bed, Madam WuJi struggled, coughing with painful whimpers. Gradually, her breathing grew heavy, her consciousness began to scatter, and scenes from the past flickered through her mind like a revolving lantern.
That year, WuJi was ten years old.
In a secluded mountain wilderness, WuJi and her younger brother were kicking a Bamboo Cuju in the corner of the courtyard.
In the yard, their father, Ming Xiong, stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the black-clad man kneeling on one knee before him. The man in black seemed to be a swordsman. He said, “The swords of the Ming family are as thin as cicada wings, capable of slicing paper and severing hair. I seek just one to fulfill my wish.”
WuJi’s father, Ming Xiong, replied, “My wife died because of a sword I forged. I have sworn never to forge another. Please leave.”
Ming Xiong sighed, turned, and led his son away, but did not take WuJi. WuJi had no choice but to follow behind them. Her father stroked her brother’s head with great affection.
Her father turned and closed the door, leaving WuJi shut outside. His voice came clearly: “I am teaching your brother sword-forging. Do not follow.”
Late at night, her father, drunk, slumped over the stone table in the courtyard. WuJi picked up a blanket and walked over to drape it over him, but this startled her intoxicated father awake. Enraged, he drove her away.
WuJi curled up at the foot of her bed, weeping. Her younger brother came over, saw his sister crying, and reached out to wipe away her tears. “Sister, don’t cry. When I grow up, I will make the most powerful sword and protect you forever.”
The next morning, WuJi woke to find the house empty—her father and brother were gone.
WuJi searched all over the courtyard, crying out, “Father! Brother! Father… please don’t abandon me… don’t leave me behind…”
In her panic, she stumbled and fell, blood streaming from her forehead.
Afterward, abandoned, she was taken by Han Ya Er to Wufeng.
WuJi grew up, becoming a cold-faced, black-clad young woman with blood flowing from her forehead in the Wufeng Training Jar Well. The ground was littered with those she had defeated. WuJi turned and looked at Han Ya Er behind her, who nodded in satisfaction.
Han Ya Er said, “We have received word that Gong Hongyu has appeared in the Jiangnan region. This time, you will lead the team.”Based on the intelligence, WuJi tracked Gong Hongyu to a bamboo forest. In the forest, Gong Hongyu held a knife to Miss Lan's neck and warned, "I won't kill you, but you must forget what happened today and forget you ever saw me." Miss Lan, still shaken, collapsed to the ground. Gong Hongyu then strode away.
All of this was witnessed by WuJi, who was hiding in the shadows. She changed into the attire of a passerby, approached Miss Lan, kindly helped her up, and carried her away on her back.
Miss Lan said gratefully, "Thank you... How can I ever repay you?"
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