Chарtеr 22 (1/17)
Тhе night wind blеw, аnd outside thе sесrеt рassage, flаmеs flickerеd.
Yun Weishan knеlt оn thе grоund with hеr hаnds bound. Gong Yuаnzhi wore a smug exprеssiоn, his brows tingеd with murderоus intеnt. Gоng Shаngjue stооd bеfоrе Yun Weishаn, holding a drawing in his hаnd.
"Тhis is the Нouse of Gоng Cloud Мap уоu drеw, is it nоt?" Gоng Shаngjuе pausеd. "It bеars уоur hаndwriting. Denуing it is uselеss."
"I did indеed draw this Ноuse оf Gong Cloud Мap, but onlу bесausе when I first enterеd thе Нousе оf Gоng, I wаs unfаmiliаr with the dirесtions аnd cоuldn't distinguish east frоm west. Тhе tеrrain оf thе Ноuse of Gong is сomplex, so I mаde notes fоr convеnienсе when сoming and going," Yun Weishan argued.
Gong Shangjue sneered, "Notes for convenience? Then how do you explain the writing on the back?" He flipped the drawing over, revealing Yun Weishan's handwriting on the reverse side: "The House of Gong has a total of forty-seven guard posts, with vigilance maintained day and night. The guards rotate in three shifts at Chen hour, Shen hour, and Zi hour. There are two secret passages within the House of Gong. One leads to the Back Mountain, while the other connects to Old Dust Valley. Wufeng can deploy elite forces to infiltrate through here."
After Gong Shangjue finished reading word by word, the Elders' gazes no longer held any doubt.
Gong Shangjue said, "It was indeed for convenience when coming and going—just convenient for Wufeng to come and go."
Yun Weishan lowered her head, speechless.
Gong Yuanzhi asked, "Even now, do you still try to quibble?"
Elder Hua spoke sternly, "Hmph, a Wufeng spy must not be spared. Execute her on the spot immediately."
Elder Hua held a large, sharp blade—one of the six blades from the Hua Manor ancestral hall. He stepped toward Yun Weishan, preparing to kill her with his own hands.
Yun Weishan closed her eyes in despair.
Elder Hua's blade swung straight toward Yun Weishan. Just as the blade was about to strike her neck, a metallic clang rang out. Everyone saw another blade blocking the attack from Elder Hua's weapon, and the one holding it was none other than Gong Ziyu, who had just arrived.
Gong Ziyu raised his hand and swung his blade, cutting the ropes that bound Yun Weishan's hands, then helped her up.
Yun Weishan spoke, "Blade Master, there's no need to help me. I deceived you. I truly am a Wufeng spy!"
"Ah Yun... you... why must you leave?" Gong Ziyu asked.
Gong Yuanzhi said, "She wants to go out to deliver information, of course she must leave."
Elder Hua exerted force and swung toward Yun Weishan again. To protect her, Gong Ziyu had no choice but to block with all his might. Elder Hua showed no mercy, and the two immediately began exchanging blows.
Suddenly, Elder Hua mustered all his strength, twisted his body, and struck directly at Yun Weishan. In his urgency, Gong Ziyu countered forcefully. With a loud clang and sparks flying from the blades, Gong Ziyu actually severed the blade in Elder Hua's hand.
The broken blade fell to the ground, leaving everyone somewhat surprised. Gong Ziyu also stood stunned in place. While they were fighting, Yun Weishan had already drifted away and now stood inside the secret passage.
Gong Ziyu's heart tightened instantly. "Ah Yun, are you really leaving?"
Yun Weishan stood still, knowing this was her final farewell to Gong Ziyu. "You once asked me if there was anything you could give me. In truth, from the very beginning, what I wanted most was freedom. Whether it's Wufeng or the House of Gong, to me, they are both places of high walls, prisons of confinement..."Yun Weishan struggled to suppress the bitterness in her heart, tears streaming as she said, "Young Master Yu, I have failed your deep affection. From now on, just act as if Ah Yun no longer exists in this world. Take care."
At the same moment, Yun Weishan pressed the mechanism, and the door of the secret passage instantly closed, shutting everyone out.
Elder Yue sighed and closed his eyes.
OpenNovel