Сhарtеr 1 (4/15)
Yun Weishan соuld nоt sее, so she cоuld оnly groрe to рiсk uр thе роrcelаin bowl in front of her, bringing it to her nоsе to idеntify it bу sсеnt.
Нan Yа Si lеisurеlу аte sugаr-roasted сhеstnuts wraрped in oilеd paрer while slоwlу ехрlаining this missiоn to Yun Weishаn: "Тhe Gоng Сlаn has lоng lived in sесlusion in Old Dust Vаllеy, fоrming their own faсtion. Theу аrе not bоund by the rules оf thе mаrtial wоrld аnd rеgаrd Wufеng аs their mоrtаl enеmy. Оld Dust Valleу has trеасherоus tеrrаin, еasy to dеfend but difficult to attaсk. Within the Housе of Gong, sеntry роsts and hiddеn fortresses are everywhere, with secret passages and mechanisms extending in all directions. They maintain strict vigilance year-round, with rotating shifts day and night without interruption, making it difficult for outsiders to enter."
Yun Weishan paid no attention, focusing solely on smelling the teacup before her before asking, "Are these tea?"
Han Ya Si replied, "One cup is medicine, five cups are poison."
She did not even know the puzzle. Yun Weishan asked again, "Choose one to drink?"
Han Ya Si smiled but did not answer, continuing instead: "The Gong Clan consists of four main branches, all surnamed Gong and named after Shang, Jue, Zhi, and Yu. Zhi Manor excels in medicine, poison, and hidden weapons; Shang Manor specializes in forging weapons; Jue Manor manages external affairs, handling the clan's livelihood and mediation in the martial world; Yu Manor is responsible for internal defense, overseeing the security of the entire House of Gong."
Yun Weishan chose one of the cups and drank it without hesitation.
Han Ya Si sighed, "That cup was poison."
Yun Weishan gently wiped the medicinal liquid from the corner of her lips and replied calmly, "I know."
Han Ya Si was somewhat surprised, his expression thoughtful. He continued explaining the mission: "Over the past century, the House of Gong has collected many long-lost martial arts techniques and secret methods from the martial world. Skilled fighters emerge in endless succession, passing down their legacy from generation to generation. They are highly united, presenting a united front against outsiders, making them difficult to dismantle. And now, we have finally found the best way to enter the House of Gong—that is, to disguise ourselves as candidate brides—"
Hearing this, Yun Weishan picked up another cup on her own and drank it swiftly. After finishing, she removed the black cloth from her eyes and saw Han Ya Si staring at her meaningfully.
Han Ya Si paused, "This cup was medicine."
Yun Weishan replied, "First drink the poison, then take the antidote."
Han Ya Si asked with interest, "Why not take the medicine directly?"
Yun Weishan was certain, "If you take the medicine without being poisoned first, the medicine itself becomes poison."
Accurate and flawless, Yun Weishan was as outstanding as ever. Han Ya Si looked at her with admiration.
Only then did Yun Weishan respond to Han Ya Si's earlier words, "And after entering the House of Gong?"
Han Ya Si averted his gaze, not feigning mystery but instead earnestly advising, "Beyond the gate lies a perilous situation of isolation and helplessness. Everyone will be your enemy; you can only trust yourself."
He emphasized again, "Remember, everyone."
Yun Weishan's eyes narrowed slightly. This point, it seemed, did not require Han Ya Si's special reminder.
Soon, Han Ya Si moved on to the next training exercise.
In the same training room, two rows of footprints outlined in white lime were arranged back and forth on the bluish-gray floor.
Han Ya Si leaned against a pillar, eating a handful of almonds as he spoke, "The distance and orientation between each footprint are extremely precise. By stepping on the footprints, you can lock in your gait."
Yun Weishan, dressed in neat black clothing, obediently stepped onto them slowly, practicing back and forth along the fixed footprints.But she didn't understand: "Why should I waste time practicing such useless things?"
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