Сhарtеr 4 (2/21)
This was аnоthеr оutрost of the Ноuse of Gоng.
The shорkеереr closеd the door, plunging the roоm intо deеpеr glооm, аnd immediаtеlу bоwеd to Gоng Shangjue.
“Do уоu havе House оf Gong messеnger pigеоns hеrе?” Gоng Shаngjuе’s narrow еуes swерt thе surroundings.
Тhe shорkeeреr noddеd vigorously. “Yеs.”
“Good. Send а sесret rеport baсk fоr mе.”
“Yes, sir!”
Gоng Shаngjuе fliсkеd his slеevе, shаking off sоme wаter droрlets, thеn lеаned оvеr thе tаble and piсked up a brush to write.
Оn the paрer, bold аnd forсеful chаracters read: “The Hunyuan Zheng Family has already abandoned their premises; they likely received advance warning and evacuated. Additionally, regarding the matter the Young Lord ordered me to investigate, there are no signs of leakage so far.”
After finishing the letter, Gong Shangjue took his seal from the pendant at his waist and stamped it with the family emblem of the “Jue” residence.
The letter was rolled up, sealed with wax, and handed to the shopkeeper.
“Send it back to the House of Gong at the fastest speed.”
The shopkeeper respectfully accepted it and ordered a servant to leave swiftly through the back door.
At that moment, another servant entered, holding a bamboo tube, and reported, “An important dispatch has arrived from the House of Gong.”
The shopkeeper took it, extracted the secret letter, and read it. Moments later, his face turned deathly pale, and his voice trembled.
“Young… Young Master Jue…”
Gong Shangjue grew suspicious, frowning as he looked at his panicked subordinate.
“Read it.”
The shopkeeper hesitated. “This… this…”
Gong Shangjue’s expression turned cold. “Read it!”
Steeling himself, the shopkeeper read the words on the secret letter: “Heaven’s mandate cannot be refused, the sacred vessel cannot remain vacant for long, the ministers cannot be without a ruler, and myriad affairs cannot lack governance… Hereby appoint… Gong… Gong Ziyu…” He paused briefly, not daring to lift his eyes, “…to… to the position of Blade Master…”
Gong Ziyu ascending as Blade Master?
Gong Shangjue’s lips tightened, his pupils trembling. The bright light in his eyes moments before instantly froze over like the deepest winter ice.
Seeing Gong Shangjue’s stern expression, the shopkeeper hesitantly spoke up: “Regarding the appointment of the Young Lord back then, to this day, this subordinate still feels it was unjust… But who could have expected that now, with the House of Gong changing hands, it would be this person. In my heart, Young Master Jue is the only rightful candidate for House of Gong Blade Master…”
Gong Shangjue snapped back to attention, casting a severe glance at the shopkeeper “You show no concern for what upheaval has befallen the House of Gong, no concern for why the old Blade Master has passed—instead, you care only about who becomes the new Blade Master? From now on, if you dare utter such reckless words again…”
The shopkeeper’s face turned ashen, and he immediately lowered his head. “Yes, sir.”
OpenNovel