Chapter 1 (2/2)

“What!”

The exclamation of a male voice jolted her back to consciousness.

“Miss and I will stay in the same room.  Young Master need not send anyone to take care of us.” She recognized the second voice as He Zai’s.

She has to struggle before she managed to open her eyes a crack.  The surroundings were unfamiliar – unfamiliar bed, unfamiliar house.  Through the half-open door, she could see that it was now night time.  There were two men outside the room; one is He Zai, and the other…. is it the disease-stricken He Rong Hua?

“Are you husband and wife?” He Rong Hua sounded alarmed.

“No.”

“Since you are not, it is inappropriate for an unmarried man and woman to spend the night together in the same room…”

“If someone else were to look after Miss, it will be even more inappropriate.  Miss was poisoned while she was in the manor.  Unless Young Master can find the culprit, He Zai would not dare to let anyone else get close to Miss.”

“That is impossible!  No one in Tian He Manor would do such a despicable thing.”

“It is a fact that Miss was poisoned.  Your doctor has confirmed this; the poison has been found in the tea.  Or does Young Master believe that your people could not have done this so it must have been Miss who poisoned herself?”

“No, that is not what I mean…” The protest sound weak and even placatory.

“I hope Young Master finds the culprit soon.”  He Zai did not speak more and proceeded to close the door in He Rong Hua’s face.  He came to the bedside and frowned as he met her eyes. “Miss has been poisoned and has been sleeping for several hours.  It is night time now.”

She struggled to sit up despite feeling weak all over. “I know.”

He Zai steadied her gently. “It is lucky that Fifth Gentleman of Cloud Manor is here.  He is well-versed in the arts of healing and he is the one who found that Miss has been poisoned.  I have fed you the medicine but you will need to rest for a few days.”

She shot him a look.  Ignoring her aching body, she moved to the table and snuffed the candle.  As the room plunged into darkness, she ordered: “He Zai, come to bed.”

Outside, someone sighed.

“Yes… Miss.” He Zai did not move a muscle.

She closed her eyes and after a while, she heard a set of footsteps stomping away.

“Although your vital organs are not harmed, you will need to rest.  It is best not to exert your qi (energy) in the next few days.”

She did not open her eyes and fingered her jade flute.  Her breathing was unsteady and her lips were white.

“Miss?”

“He Zai, how long have you been with me?”

“It has been ten years exactly.”

“So it has been ten years… tell me, have I been poisoned in these ten years?”

“Missy is more intelligent than most, and has not fallen into anyone’s trap.”

She opened her eyes slowly: “Wrong. It is because I am lucky.”  Across the darkness, she locked eyes with him. “He Zai, I have something to ask you. Come here.”

He Zai has never disobeyed when she used this tone and he came to her.

She looked at his mane of long hair, the prominent muscles on his chest and back.  Just a blow and he could have killed her easily.  Thinking back, although He Zai used to have flower-boy looks, the same could no longer be said about him now.  This was one of her regrets and was something that would haunt her dreams from time to time. Speaking of good looks –

“What do you think of Gentleman Xian Yun?”

Surprise flickered across his eyes and she sighed:“Who is the one who started the rumor that his looks is out of this world?”  Although his looks were above average and he was indeed refined and elegant, he was too cool and aloof when talking with people.

And his looks…. unless her eyes were blind, the outstanding air the descend-from-nine-heavens thingy was utter rubbish!  Although he was pleasing to the eyes, he was definitely not a diamond of the first water.  She was utterly disappointed and has proven to herself once again that rumors cannot be trusted.

“Is Miss asking me on the looks of Gong Sun Yun?”  Has she gone off tangent?

She asked with meaning: “What else should I be asking?”

He did not meet her eyes and replied in low tones. “When I left the Central Plains ten years ago, Gong Sun Yun has already achieved the t.i.tle of “Gentleman”.  In the Cloud Family, the historians are called “Gentleman” while ones who excelled in martial arts are called “Master”.  Together, both t.i.tle holders will run the family.  But ever since Master Fu pa.s.sed away many years ago, the t.i.tle of “Master” has been left vacant. Because Gong Sun Yun is both skilled and knowledgeable, everyone views him as the only leader of the clan.  For this alone, he can be considered to be one of the most successful person in this generation.”

She said half in jest: “From what you said, you and him are poles apart.  Ten years ago, you were at least a promising young hero. Now, you are only a Sky Slave whom anyone can trample upon.”

He did not get angry. “What Miss said is true.”

“Famous people would often get elevated to G.o.d-like statuses. What we can tell from this is that there are very few new talents in the past twenty years, in order for the rumors to make Gong Sun Yun sound so outstanding.  If this carries on, I bet Gong Sun Yun would have become an actual Deity from the Nine Heavens in another forty years.”  She found it funny just thinking of the possibility.

Although he knew she has exaggerated, he went along with her. “It is quite possible. Of every ten young heroes back then, seven or eight would have either ended up like me or they would prove to be only mediocre when they grow up....  Miss, although you are feeling fine now, it is best not to over exert yourself.  Let me carry you to the bed.”

She was silent for a long time.  Finally when the watchman's clapper sounded, she gave a small nod and He Zai picked her up carefully and placed her on the bed.  She closed her eyes and let him pull the blankets over her.

“Miss.”  The word was whispered into her ears.

“Hmm?”

“The body in the coffin did not belong to the Old Master”

She did not open her eyes.

He continued: “Someone swapped the body and changed the face to make it appear like the Old Master.”

“Is that so?”

“Could Miss guess what happened?”

“If I am able to guess correctly with so little information, I would have beaten Gong Sun Yun to become a G.o.d from heaven.”

He Zai fell silent and asked no more.  He moved a stool to the bedside and closed his eyes to rest for the night.  Just when he thought she has fallen asleep, he heard her speak: ”He Zai, it is not that I do not wish to think from your point of view.  But look at me – I already have white hair despite my age. If a person does not have the intellect and yet persists in over-thinking, this is what happens. Do take pity on me and let me keep my black locks for a few more years.”

“…I should not have let Miss over-exert.”

“It is just as well that I am poisoned and need to recuperate for a few days.  You can take this opportunity to stay in Tian He Manor and find out what happened.”

For some reason, he got the feeling her ‘just as well’ contained a second meaning.  He replied softly: “We can talk more about this tomorrow.  Please rest early Miss.” They have been together for ten years, with one never far from the other. He has not noticed this earlier but over the last two years, he realized that woman are indeed weaker than man in some aspects.  Although she has been treated immediately when she was poisoned, her core was injured and she needed to rest.

She gave a snort. “He Zai, do you know why I always say that it is thanks to pure luck that I am still alive today?”

No, he knew she was not lucky, she was…

She did not need to look at him to be able to see through his thoughts.  She smiled. “It is true.  I am lucky.  But my luck is built on the pretext of my beliefs and habits.  The better-tasting something is, the more problem it contains and cannot be consumed.  The more attractive something is, the more likely it is to conceal poison and cannot be touched.  The more addictive a feeling is, the more it must be avoided to prevent falling into a trap.  The closer a person is to you, the more important it is to keep a distance so that one do not end up died.  These are my beliefs that have kept me alive till now. Who would have guessed that I would still have fallen into a trap despite all this?”

* * * * *

“They are sharing a room!” He Rong Hua clenched his hands tightly into fists.  The night was cool as water but the flames of his anger could have easily reached the sky.

Gong Sun Yun leaned against the wall.  He lowered his eyes and did not reply.

“I have not thought… I have a.s.sumed…. but they were not husband and wife… Xian Yun, do you think that person…”

“Which person? Him, or her?” In the night, Gong Sun Yun sounded even colder than normal.

He Rong Hua swallowed his anger and bit out: “Of course I am referring to w.a.n.g Yun! She is utterly shameless to be sharing room with a man!”

“Sons and daughters of the pugilist world are less particular over such matters.  There were similar cases of sharing arrangements before this, so Rong Hua should not take it to heart.”  Gong Sun Yun glance remained downcast, his heart clearly not on the subject matter at hand.

“So you are saying the two did not…. did not…”

“I would think not.”

“But such situations are still best to be avoided.  I have only expected one to show up but now there were two… And who on earth is the culprit? Only w.a.n.g Yun was poisoned when there were five, six cups on the tray.  Who would know that she would definitely get the cup with the poison? And why would someone want to poison a Sky Slave who is a n.o.body? Xian Yun, have you guessed the answer?”

Gong Sun Yun tore a small branch off a nearby tree and started toying with it.  “Fifth Brother, will the poison leave any residual effects?”

Gong Sun Zhi (Fifth Gentleman) replied: “Although this is a fast-acting poison, it is also quick to remove.  The person who administered the poison must have known that I am well-verse in the healing arts and that I could save her in time.  Plus, Miss w.a.n.g has a good foundation, so if she rests well over the next few days, there should not be any residual effects.”

Gong Sun Yun snapped the branch into two. “Rong Hua, the answer is out.”

He Rong Hua was still confused. “I only know that it is not you, and definitely not me.”

“Young Master, Xian Yun is referring to He Zai.”  said Gong Sun Zhi.

He Rong Hua could not believe what he has just heard: “You are saying… Impossible! Even if it is him, it must have been the two of them in it together….”

Gong Sun Yun’s voice was like jade hitting on rock and he did not mince his words. “You can choose what you want to believe.  The closer someone is to you, the easier it is for the person to strike.  She has raised a tiger and this tiger could turn on her anytime.”

“Xian Yun, should we drop a hint to Miss w.a.n.g?” asked Gong Sun Zhi.

“She will know who poisoned her when she wakes up.  We need not interfere.”  Gong Sun Yun threw the broken branch on the ground. When he raised his eyes, his expression was normal again. “Rong Hua, you have to be mentally prepared.  Fifth Brother has conducted some experiments and found that the snake tattoo on a Sky Slave’s face cannot be removed.  If you wish to retain this person, Tian He Manor would have to face unspeakable pressure in future.”

“I know.  Even if Tian He Manor was to revert to its humble beginnings or become ousted from the pugilist world, I will still insist on keeping He Zai.  But w.a.n.g Yun is a problem.  If she tried to stop him or sought help from Huang Fu… Xian Yun, do you think we should strike first?”  At Gong Sun Yun’s icy stare, he backpedaled. “If not, what do you think?”

“If you wish He Zai to stay, leave her alone.” Gong Sun Yun could only say so much. His clear eyes took on an unreadable expression as he looked towards the room where w.a.n.g Yun and He Zai were spending the night.