Сhарtеr 24 (2/17)
"Did they suссееd?"
"Nо. Beforе thе battle bеgan, I had аlrеаdу instruсtеd Xue Zhоngzi to relocate thе bluеprint."
"Тhat's gооd."
"Вut nоw... the bluерrint is missing."
"Whаt? Тhаt's a sеrious matter. Вrоther, уou should immediаtely mоbilize all fоrсеs оf thе Ноuse of Gоng tо cоnduсt а full mountаin seаrсh."
"No neеd. I аlreаdy know wherе the Boundlеss Flоwing Firе blueрrint is."
Gong Huanуu didn't quitе undеrstand his mеаning, уеt sееmed tо grаsp his intеntion, fаlling silent instantlу.
Four sеrvаnts еnterеd, еасh walking toward оne of the four floоr-standing palаce lаnterns in thе сornеrs of the room.
Gong Ziyu said, "Those who harbor secrets are always fond of darkness, because darkness can conceal their secrets. But sometimes, in the deepest darkness, secrets reveal themselves."
After speaking, the servants extinguished the lanterns together. Gong Huanyu looked at the pitch-black room, not fully comprehending: "Brother, why did you put out the lights?"
No sooner had he spoken than he fell silent. Because he saw his own hands now emitting a blue-green phosphorescent glow.
Gong Ziyu said, "'In the courtyard without moonlight, heaven and earth are dark; looking up, scattered stars appear distinct.' Father once said that in this world, there is always light that will make justice clear. Brother, do you remember?"
As Gong Ziyu spoke the last sentence, his voice choked with emotion. Suddenly, another pair of glowing hands appeared in the room, slowly moving toward Gong Ziyu. Immediately, the lights in the room were lit again, only now the room wasn't just him and Gong Huanyu—it was filled with people.
Those glowing hands belonged to Xue Zhongzi.
Gong Yuanzhi, Gong Shangjue, Xue Zhongzi, Elder Yue, and others had already, unnoticed, positioned themselves around Gong Huanyu's bed, forming an encirclement.
Gong Ziyu continued, "I coated the iron box containing the Boundless Flowing Fire blueprint with Phosphorus Stone Powder. Anyone who touched the box would have the powder on their hands, which would glow in complete darkness. Xue Zhongzi touched the box. Brother, what about you?"
Gong Huanyu looked at his own hands: "Ziyu, I don't know why my hands are glowing. Someone must have maliciously framed me... The water of the Frost Lotus Pond is piercingly cold. How could anyone dive in to retrieve the iron box unless they possessed profound Inner Force? My martial arts are completely lost, my Inner Force exhausted—Elder Yue personally examined my pulse and can testify—"
Gong Ziyu interrupted him: "Brother..."
"Yes?"
"I never said the box was hidden at the bottom of the Frost Lotus Pond..." Gong Ziyu's voice began to tremble.
That day, when they hid the box containing the Dark Iron blueprint of the Boundless Flowing Fire at the bottom of the Frost Lotus Pond, Xue Zhongzi was still hesitant. He worried that Wufeng had sent the Wangs of Four Directions, each possessing profound Inner Force. Even if weakened by the cold pond water, they could recover momentarily. Hiding the box at the bottom of the Frost Lotus Pond couldn't completely stop them.
However, Gong Ziyu told them that what they needed to guard against was not the Wangs of Four Directions, but a person without Inner Force.
At this moment, Gong Zishang, Jin Fan, and Elder Xue also entered the room.
Gong Ziyu, somewhat choked up, said: "Brother, is there anything else you want to say to me... to us?"
Everyone's expression was grave. In the small underground room, all hearts were shattered.
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