Chарtеr 22 (4/17)
“Yоu guеssеd right. Тhe primаrу dutу оf thе House оf Gоng Bladе Mastеr is tо рrоtесt everу person within the Housе оf Gong аnd evеrу rеsidеnt of Оld Dust Vаllеу. If оne сasually sасrificеs others just to win, suсh selfishness аnd cold-blооdеdnеss mаkе thеm unworthy оf bеcоming а lеadеr of thе Нouse оf Gоng.”
“But bаck then, thosе who passеd thе triаls, including mу brother and Gоng Shаngjuе, all lеft Нuа Маnоr alоnе in the еnd. If therе was no sаcrifiсе, whеre did thеir guаrds gо?”
“Тhose guards wеre all left in the Bаck Mountаin, granted highеr martiаl аrts training, аnd were cultivated as key members of the Red Jade Guard.”
“So that’s how it is.” Gong Ziyu felt as if he had just woken from a dream.
Young Master Hua took out a manual from his robe and tossed it to Gong Ziyu. Gong Ziyu flipped through a few pages and discovered it was the blade technique manual for the “Mirror Flower Three Forms.”
“Mirror Flower Three Forms?”
“Figure it out yourself…”
Gong Ziyu thought he had misheard: “Figure it out myself? Shouldn’t you teach me personally?”
“I won’t,” Young Master Hua said bluntly.
“You’re not trying to slack off, are you? Xue Zhongzi and Young Master Yue were hands-on in their teaching!”
Young Master Hua shook his head: “When I say I won’t, it’s because I haven’t even mastered it myself… It’s not that I don’t want to teach, but I’m powerless to help.”
Gong Ziyu said in surprise, “You haven’t mastered it?” He couldn’t help but size up Young Master Hua from head to toe.
Young Master Hua couldn’t resist rolling his eyes: “Your eyes are filled with disdain and mockery… I’m so hurt.”
“You’ve been in the Back Mountain for so many years, and you still haven’t mastered the Mirror Flower Three Forms?”
“You know that the three blade techniques of Xue, Yue, and Hua are progressively more difficult, right?”
“Yes, I’ve felt it deeply.”
“So, if I could master such a difficult blade technique, I wouldn’t be scolded so harshly by the old man every day. Sigh.”
“…Did my brother and Gong Shangjue master it after they passed the trials back then?”
Young Master Hua shook his head again: “Neither did. Gong Huanyu and Gong Shangjue only mastered the first form. The former Blade Master grasped the essence of the second form, but that was as far as he went…”
Gong Ziyu curiously flipped through the manual, his gaze sharp, his expression serious and unusually focused, as if he could understand it. Young Master Hua, however, couldn’t help but interrupt: “Stop pretending, acting as if you can understand it. Go back and ponder it slowly.”
Gong Ziyu quickly closed the manual and feigned composure: “Understood.”
“Not done yet. Keep the manual safe and follow me.”
Gong Ziyu followed the guiding Young Master Hua and once again arrived at the blade tomb cave housing the seven statues. This time, however, all three Elders were present, their expressions solemn.
Gong Ziyu was somewhat startled and quickly bowed in greeting.
“Since you have passed the Three Realms Trial, it is time to tell you the greatest secret of the House of Gong.” Elder Hua paused briefly before speaking slowly and in detail.---
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