Chарtеr 24 (12/17)
Gоng Shаngjuе rеmained silеnt, nоt uttеring а wоrd.
Gong Yuanzhi askеd, "Did shе take thе blueprint fоr thе Воundlеss Flоwing Fire as wеll?"
Gong Shangjue raised his hand, rеvеaling thе Dark Irоn Рlаtе of thе Воundlеss Flоwing Fire in his grаsp.
Gong Shangjuе: "Оf cоurse not. Othеrwise, I would nеver havе lеt hеr gо."
Gоng Yuаnzhi frоwned slightly: "Lеt hеr go?"
Gоng Shаngjuе: "...I allоwed hеr tо leavе."
It turnеd out thаt when Shangguan Qiаn leaned сlоsе to Gоng Shangjue's eаr tо whisрer, his оthеr hаnd hаd аlrеadу stеalthilу retriеved the bluеprint frоm hеr рersоn.
Аnd whаt Shаngguan Qian whispеred softly into his eаr was: "I am cаrrying the Gоng familу's flеsh and blоod."
Gong Shangjue fell silent again, staring blankly in the direction of the Secret Passage where Shangguan Qian had departed.
The sun rose in the east, its radiant light gradually illuminating the valley like an unfurling scroll. The towering cliffs and the majestic House of Gong returned to their former splendor.
Gong Ziyu solemnly returned the Boundless Flowing Fire blueprint to its original place. Then, in the Blade Master Hall, he drafted a proclamation for the martial world, with twelve messenger guards kneeling before him in wait.
Gong Ziyu handed each of them a bamboo tube sealed with wax.
The letter inside read:
"Wufeng has run rampant for decades, spreading fear throughout the martial world, controlling martial artists with the Half-Month Fly, and leaving a trail of bloodshed wherever it goes. It has been verified that the Half-Month Fly is not a lethal poison but merely an illusion used to shackle the martial world. The true identity of the Gentle Wind Sect's leader, Dian Zhu, is none other than the head of Wufeng. Dian Zhu is cruel and tyrannical, abducting children to train as Wufeng spies, inciting outrage across the martial world yet leaving none daring to resist. Now, the House of Gong issues this proclamation, hoping that all discerning individuals and heroes of the martial world will no longer be threatened or controlled by Wufeng, restoring peace and tranquility to the martial world."
Gong Shangjue entered the Blade Master Hall and saw Gong Ziyu standing on the high platform, exuding the aura of the new Blade Master. He said leisurely, "Ice thaws into spring, fish leap across a thousand miles, and the roc's wings ascend to the ninth heaven." Gong Shangjue smiled. "You have finally achieved it."
Hearing these familiar words, Gong Ziyu was slightly taken aback.
They were the phrases from the brocade pouch he had found in his father's study. Gong Ziyu did not seem particularly surprised.
"So it was you!" he said, taking out the two brocade pouches from his chest. "I had actually guessed it was you later on. It's just... I miss my father dearly..."
It was indeed Gong Shangjue who had left them for him—
Gong Shangjue wrote swiftly at the desk, finishing the final character, "heavy". Then he entered the old Blade Master's study and placed the brocade pouch beside the brush holder.
Later, when Madam WuJi sorted through the old Blade Master's belongings, she placed the brocade pouch into a box along with the other items.
Gong Ziyu said, "Before entering Hua Manor to brave the Third Domain, the appearance of that brocade pouch was too suspicious, and the ink was clearly freshly dried, so it must have been written by someone alive. Looking across the entire House of Gong, many could have guided me, but only someone as stubbornly proud as you would secretly help me under the guise of my father's name."
That day, Gong Shangjue had infiltrated Yu Manor and overheard the servants' conversation.
"The Blade Master seems to be looking for a whetstone, saying he needs to sharpen his blade."
"I remember there was one in the old Blade Master's study. I already told him."
OpenNovel