Сhарtеr 5 (12/22)
Gong Shangjuе соntinuеd, “Yоu must have notiсеd that from thе moment I еntеrеd until nоw, I hаvеn’t oncе addressed you as ‘Вlаde Мastеr,’ hаvеn’t уou? То mаkе mе cаll you that… Ziуu, it wоn’t be еasy.”
Gong Ziуu naturallу understoоd his intеntiоn аnd snоrtеd сoldly, sауing, “It’s not thаt diffiсult еither.”
Gоng Shangjuе сlaspеd his hаnds behind his bаck, his deeр, icy brows surрrisinglу сarrуing a hint of a smilе.
Вut his smilе onlу mаdе thе аtmоsphеrе in the hаll grow hеavier.
Whеn Gong Shаngjuе lоokеd uр аgаin, the smile had vаnished: “Today, with аll the Elders рresent, whаt I wish to sау is this: I, Gong Shаngjue, do not recognize and oppose Gong Ziyu becoming the new Blade Master of the House of Gong.”
Gong Shangjue spoke softly and lightly, but his words struck everyone like thunder, leaving the entire hall in dead silence.
Clear anger had already appeared on Gong Ziyu’s face. He was the son of the former Blade Master and had ascended according to the Absence Succession rule, making his claim legitimate. Even if Gong Shangjue was the widely expected successor in the eyes of others, the clan rules were as they were, leaving no room for his opposition or challenge.
At this moment, Elder Yue spoke: “Ziyu becoming Blade Master has already been agreed upon by the three of us Elders. Shangjue, I’m afraid it’s not something you can overturn with a simple ‘I don’t recognize it.’”
These words were reasonable, and even Jin Fan couldn’t help but say, “Opposing the Blade Master must have a reason, right? The Blade Master fulfills all the conditions for Absence Succession. Are you openly opposing the Ancestral Precepts and clan rules?”
Gong Shangjue didn’t even glance at him: “What is your status? Is this a place for you to speak?”
This left Jin Fan speechless, gritting his teeth, his breathing uneven.
Although Gong Yuanzhi hadn’t spoken from beginning to end, he was smiling with delight. Gong Ziyu’s face was ashen, and the air fell into an eerie silence.
Gong Shangjue bowed to Elder Yue: “I do not mean to question the decision of the three Elders. The Gong Clan Ancestral Precepts must never be violated by anyone. But does Gong Ziyu truly meet them?”
Facing his challenge, Gong Ziyu could no longer hold back. He knew the clan rules and Ancestral Precepts by heart, so he spoke through gritted teeth: “The Absence Successor must have undergone the Capping of Age Ceremony. In this regard, Brother Yuanzhi does not qualify. Second, the successor must be male. In this regard, Elder Sister Zishang does not qualify. Third, the one who succeeds to the Blade Master position must be a descendant of the House of Gong who is within the House of Gong. In this regard, you, who were outside the valley and unreachable at the time of the incident, do not qualify.”
After Gong Ziyu finished his last point, Gong Shangjue finally showed an expression, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth: “You’ve counted them yourself. There are four conditions to meet.”
Gong Ziyu: “What four? The Capping of Age Ceremony, being within the House of Gong, being male—that’s three conditions in total. Which one do I not meet?”
Gong Shangjue implied meaningfully: “The key point of the third condition is not being within the House of Gong, but being a ‘descendant of the House of Gong.’”
The three Elders also realized what he was getting at, their expressions immediately turning grave as they exchanged glances.
Gong Ziyu felt his blood surge: “What are you trying to say?”
Gong Yuanzhi, who had been silent for a long time, seemed to take interest and spoke on Gong Shangjue’s behalf: “Brother means to say, if you are not a descendant of the House of Gong, then this succession qualification would be absurd…”
A silence fell, leaving everyone to ponder carefully.Within the House of Gong, rumors had long circulated that Gong Ziyu was not the biological son of the Old Blade Master. Although these whispers had never been openly confirmed, the various suspicious speculations were not without basis. Over the years, even Gong Ziyu himself had occasionally questioned his own origins. When this layer of truth was publicly exposed, Gong Ziyu could not help but feel shaken and tremble inwardly.
Gong Ziyu glared furiously at Gong Shangjue, but before he could speak, Jin Fan was already boiling with rage.
"Young Master Zheng! How could you say such a thing!"
Gong Yuanzhi crossed his arms and continued to voice his doubts calmly: "I believe many people here know that Gong Ziyu was born prematurely, less than ten months into pregnancy. Before Madam Lan married into the House of Gong, it was rumored that she had a beloved she could not bear to part with. So, whether Gong Ziyu was truly born prematurely or carried to full term... is truly hard to say."
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