BXBX NOVEL Chapter 485: 485. The heart’s yearning to return is like an arrow
Chapter 485: 485. The heart’s yearning to return is like an arrow
Dinner was made by a couple, who were turned slaves by Mo Yan when they were captured and brought to the island years ago. They were of the same age as old Mu, the wife was born mute, not made mute by Mo Yan’s poison.
The couple lived in isolation, without interaction with people from outside, had no concept of what year it was now. They could tell Gu Ling was an important figure, but didn’t know him before. Because when they were brought here to Xingluo Island, Gu Ling wasn’t born yet. They were originally from Qian Country, so they did know about the Gu family.
When Gu Ling invited them to sit and dine together, both of them were somewhat apprehensive.
“Don’t be so formal,” Chung Yun comforted them, “Although he seems like a big shot and appears lofty, he is actually very nice.”
Sheng Yue chuckled, “That’s true, he has only made four death threats to me today. Even though I saved his master’s life, he made me hew trees, threatening to blow me up if I didn’t.”
Hearing this, the cook couple shot angry glances at Sheng Yue. They lived a repetitive life to survive, unaware of what had happened in the outside world, but they had witnessed everything that happened in the forbidden area. They had a deep dislike for Sheng Yue capturing three children in the cave and knew, as Mo Yan’s confidant, Sheng Yue could not be a good person.
Cheng Yun, on hearing Sheng Yue’s words, kicked him under the table, “Do you have no shame to speak? Why don’t you speak about the immoral things you’ve done?”
Knowing that Cheng Yun strongly disliked him, Sheng Yue dared not antagonize her. He said to the cook and the mute, “Let me introduce, he is my little brother, we share the same parents, he’s my real brother”
The cook and the mute were both stupefied. Gu Ling glanced at Feng Ming, who understood immediately and smiled, “Both of you can start eating. Afterward, I will tell you about the outside situation so that you will all be prepared when you finally leave.”
Sheng Yue added, “After eating, we still need to go back to building the ship.”
Feng Ming also wasn’t polite, “Then we will have to trouble Master Sheng.”
Sheng Yue: …Once, he was second only to one person on this island, but now, he has a higher status than just Mo Yan and two elders locked in the dungeon, but lower than the cooking couple.
After finishing the meal, Gu Ling praised it as the most delicious meal he had eaten since he left home.
The cook and the mute both smiled, looking less nervous than before.
After dinner, Cheng Yun cleared the table while old Mu took the initiative to say that he had rested enough and volunteered to go build the boat with Sheng Yue as he had experience in that area.
Gu Ling shook his head, “Master rest.”
Sheng Yue frowned, “I only have one hand, if you don’t mind wasting time, then everyone rest and wait for me to finish who knows when.”
Gu Ling glanced at him indifferently, “I’ll go.”
Feng Ming quickly said, “Why don’t I go instead. Your Highness, you can chat with our two seniors.”
But Gu Ling had already gone out.
Sheng Yue quickly caught up and walked side by side with Gu Ling. The sky had already grown dark, and the moon had risen. Today was the fifteenth, so the moonlight was very bright, casting long shadows of the two of them.
Gu Ling didn’t say anything. Sheng Yue couldn’t help but speak, “If you go back and Su Liang can’t make the magic treasure acknowledge a master, what will you do? I’ve thought about it, and there seems to be no good solution. Once Mo Yan touches the magic treasure, he will have a bargaining chip to threaten you guys again. He is not afraid of death, as long as he knows that he will die, he is not afraid. It’s really unsolvable.”
Gu Ling’s expression was still indifferent, “That problem will be up for you to solve. If you can come up with a good solution, I can spare your life.”
Sheng Yue chuckled softly, “You don’t think I can’t leave now, do you?”
“If you could escape and you choose not to, it shows that you don’t want to leave.” Gu Ling hit right on the mark.
Sheng Yue’s eyes hardened, he paused his steps, shaking his head before catching up with Gu Ling, “You’re right. After today’s endless twists and turns, I really don’t want to leave. No, I plan to go with you guys. Not for anything else, I just want to know if the magic treasure can change its master or not. If not, then forget it. But if Su Liang can, I…”
Gu Ling asked, “What will you do?”
Sheng Yue sneered, “Then I have nothing else to say. It seems that the magic treasure only recognizes transmigrators.”
By the time they reached the seaside, the moonlight was bright enough that they didn’t need lanterns. The wood that Sheng Yue and Feng Ming had chopped down during the day was piled on the ground.
Gu Ling picked up the tools and immediately started working. His movements were very skilled and professional.
Sheng Yue muttered, “What life did you lead before, that you seem to have been a carpenter all your life?”
“I had a master who was the village’s old carpenter,” Gu Ling answered, his mood so good he actually replied to Sheng Yue’s comment.
While working, Sheng Yue asked, “I’ve always wondered, with the status and position that you and your wife have, why do you insist on doing so many things yourselves? Like cooking and washing the dishes, is this really that enjoyable?”
Gu Ling retorted, “What do you think we should be doing?”
Sheng Yue was taken aback by the question. Though he’d never been a noble himself, he had seen many and thoughtfully replied, “Be emperor? Review memorial tablets every day, sleep with different women, have children? That doesn’t suit you. But at least other families have hordes of servants, leisure time to play musical instruments, chess, calligraphy and painting, and similar activities.”
“Do you think I can’t do those things?” Gu Ling countered.
Sheng Yue lightly snorted, “Is there anything you can’t do?”
“Are you resentful?” Gu Ling asked.
Sheng Yue nodded, “Yes. Just the fact that the world has a genius like you is enough to cause jealousy. Then you met Su Liang, and now you’re capable of anything.”
Gu Ling shook his head slightly, “There is one thing I can’t do.”
Sheng Yue raised his eyebrows, “What is that? You have to tell me so I can find some peace of mind.”
The result was Gu Ling calmly saying three words, “Give birth.”
Sheng Yue almost chopped his leg with the axe in his hand, he was speechless, “Are you sick…”
Feng Ming relayed what he knew about the outside world to the cook and the mute servant, and it didn’t take too long. As Feng Ming wasn’t very clear about the details himself, all he needed to tell them was that now there were no longer any Liang or Yin countries, the world was unified by the Duanmu royal family of the former Qian country, the emperor being Duanmu Chen, a close friend of Gu Ling and Su Liang who had helped him to the throne. Now, Gu Ling is the Regent King, and Su Liang is the Martial Arts Champion, Divine Doctor, and female general.
After listening to him, the cook and the mute servant were even more grateful and touched by Gu Ling’s kindness to them and looked forward to going home to find their families even more.
Feng Ming suggested they take the rest of the day off, saying that if there were no storms tomorrow, they should be setting off. The cook and the mute servant were both very excited.
After that, Feng Ming went to the dungeon to deliver food, where both Mo Yan and the two elders who were imprisoned before him were alive and awake.
Mo Yan sat on the ground, bound by iron chains, looking disheveled and in pitiful plight. Hearing someone approach, he fixed a penetrating gaze on Feng Ming, like a wolf ready to pounce in the dark night.
As Feng Ming put down the food and water and was about to leave, he was stopped by Mo Yan, “Little Feng, you should know, no one else can use my magic treasure. As long as you devise a plan to get it back for me, I’ll adopt you as my honorary son. You can have whatever you want, even the world if you wish, and I can help you get it. Are you willing to be Gu Ling’s servant all your life?”
Hearing this, Feng Ming showed a mocking smile, “Honorary son? You have no affection even for your own granddaughter and grandson-in-law, you’d rather harm them to achieve your ends. Let alone an honorary son. Even if you were to recognize me as your honorary father, it would be in vain. What my future holds is none of your concern.” Then he strode away.
Having spent nearly half his life as the emperor of Xingluo Island, Mo Yan now nearly spat blood from the humiliation and mockery by a man he had formerly believed to be beneath his notice. But now he was trapped here, unable to move, even though he knew there was a way out nearby, and just couldn’t reach it. This torment had plagued Mo Yan all his life.
After Feng Ming left the dungeon, he joined Cheng Yun to help at the seaside. Although things weren’t completely settled, they hoped to return to the capital soon.
Old Mu, who had been ordered to take a good rest by Gu Ling due to his injuries, awoke only after the day had fully brightened. Having not rested well for the past few days, he felt much better after taking the medicine Gu Ling had given him.
After Old Muru bathed and changed into clean clothes, the cook brought over the meal she had kept warm for him. She said that Gu Ling and the others didn’t come back last night, so this morning she prepared food and had the mute servant deliver it to the beach.
Old Muru quickly finished eating and also went to the beach.
They had two boats when they arrived. Qiao Cong and Qiao Jing escorted Peng Wu and three children on one boat and the other one had been pulled out from the pool cave under the cliff by Feng Ming and Cheng Yun last night and was now docked by the beach.
On the shore, a new boat had basically been built. Gu Ling was doing the final touches. Sheng Yue was asleep, leaning against a tree not far away, Feng Ming was assisting Gu Ling, and Cheng Yun was picking up nails that had fallen on the ground for fear of someone stepping on them.
Seeing Old Muru coming over, Gu Ling asked him how he was feeling.
Old Muru cheerfully said, “Much better, no need to worry.” As he walked around the new ship he nodded, “Not bad”.
“Given the time constraints, it’ll have to do,” Gu Ling said.
Old Muru looked towards the vast and boundless sea, facing the direction of the capital and let out a long sigh of relief. “Finally, this major trouble is done, I can go home now.” Although there were still remaining issues, Old Muru believed that once Gu Ling and Su Liang reunited, they would have a way to handle them.
In fact, Old Muru, Cheng Yun, and Feng Ming all believed that Su Liang could become the master of the space, and rescuing the people inside was just a matter of time.
By noon, both boats were ready to set sail.
The cook and the mute servant couple also hastened in preparing a lot of dried food.
After having their last meal on the island, Sheng Yue asked Gu Ling what his plan was for the Forbidden area, “To bomb or not to bomb?”
Old Muru felt that they should bomb it to rid all hazards, prevent Mo Yan from having more ill thoughts, and also prevent transmigrators like Mo Yan from stirring up trouble after they cross the road to this place.
Cheng Yun and Feng Ming both agreed with Old Muru’s view.
Sheng Yue, however, stated, “It doesn’t matter if we keep it. After all, Mo Yan lost his magic treasure. Once he leaves, you guys definitely won’t let him return alive. In the future, Gu Ling, you can bring your wife and daughter here for a visit, perhaps Su Liang may even be interested in going for a swim.”
Back when Gu Ling and Su Liang had just gotten married, Gu Ling had stated that he’d wanted to travel with Su Liang, to find the legendary Immortal Island. However, Xingluo Island, with its beautiful scenery but full of evil people, wasn’t the place he was referring to.
“We should destroy it,” Gu Ling said. He believed that Su Liang might be interested in visiting Xingluo Island, but certainly would have no interest in the deadly Transmigration Road and undoubtedly would not try it.
Gu Ling, who once showed interest in transmigration, now just wanted to spend his entire life with Su Liang and watch their children grow.
Old Muru immediately took out the explosives he had prepared, “I’m on it!”
Cheng Yun followed up, “I’ll help.”
Sheng Yue leisurely followed along as well, “I’ll go witness whether a miracle will happen.”
Gu Ling didn’t go to watch but only reminded them to be careful.
Feng Ming asked Gu Ling if he was trying to prevent Mo Yan from knowing about the bombing of the Forbidden area. In case the magic treasure needed to be opened again by Mo Yan, knowing that the Forbidden area was gone, he might either give up on life or go mad, making him harder to control.
Gu Ling shook his head calmly, “Don’t worry about him taking his own life, he values his life the most.”
Mo Yan in the dungeon, who was sluggish and had his eyes closed, was suddenly awakened by a loud noise from outside which made the stone walls vibrate.
Elder Song sighed resentfully, “The Forbidden area has been bombed.”
“Impossible!” Mo Yan kept shaking his head, “They can’t open the magic treasure, there are still people inside, they need me!”
Elder Pang sneered, “At this point, what’s improbable? How do you know they have not opened your magic treasure yet? We don’t know if you will be able to survive, but Elder Song and I are definitely dead, because of you.”
Meanwhile, Sheng Yue watched from a distance as the mountain in which the pool was located collapsed, and the cave was filled with rocks that fell in the heavy smoke. There was no sight of water flowing out.
Old Mu did not feel reassured, “What if we dig out the stones and that cursed place is still intact?”
With many explosives still at their disposal, Old Mu returned to the location of the pool, using up all the explosives to blast a large hole.
When things finally settled, Sheng Yue and Cheng Yun went back for another look, but they didn’t find anything special, not to mention a miracle.
Cheng Yun clasped his hands together and chanted, “May Buddha bless us. We do this to uphold justice and alleviate disasters and hidden dangers.”
Sheng Yue scoffed, “You’ve let your hair grow so long yet you are still chanting scriptures?” But as he finished speaking, he was kicked by Cheng Yun.
Since Gu Ling wanted to keep Sheng Yue, Old Mu didn’t bother to settle the scores with him and was now in a hurry to go back home.
Sheng Yue testified that Elder Song and Elder Pang were not good people and had harmed countless people over the years.
At present, there was no use in keeping them. Gu Ling ordered Sheng Yue to get rid of the two, then knocked Mo Yan unconscious and took him out from the dungeon.
Finally, everything was set and they were ready to set off.
To avoid Mo Yan from wielding the magic treasure again, the arrangement was for Gu Ling and Sheng Yue to leave on a small boat first, while Old Mu, Cheng Yun, and Feng Ming, together with Mo Yan and the mutes and the cooks, would follow on a larger boat.
Cheng Yun frowned, “Why can Sheng Yue leave together with you?”
Sheng Yue chuckled, “Gu Ling is in a hurry to get home, he doesn’t want to waste time with you. But he has to take me with him, otherwise, if I’m left with you, there’s a chance I might sell you all.”
Gu Ling slapped Sheng Yue onto the boat, “He’ll be the boatman.”
Old Mu agreed with Gu Ling’s arrangement, “That’s a good plan. You should go home and reassure everyone soon, so Xiaoliang can try to use that magic treasure as soon as possible. We’ll rush back after. When we reach Jiaye City, we can arrange for someone to escort the cooks and the mutes home, we won’t be too far behind Gu Ling.”
The boat set sail, and Gu Ling looked back one last time at Xingluo Island, which was left behind.
Looking straight ahead, Sheng Yue half-joked, “You’ve been away for so long, will Nuannuan still recognize you when you get home?”
Gu Ling sat down calmly and closed his eyes, “If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll throw you into the sea to feed the fish.”
Sheng Yue coughed lightly, “One last question. You kept me for another purpose, right? I always feel like you’re not doing this out of kindness.”
Gu Ling responded, “Once we reach the shore, you are responsible for tracking down those scumbags who initially left Xingluo Island, kill those that must be killed, rescue those that need help. You should know them well.”
Sheng Yue paused, he’d long forgotten about those people, and he didn’t expect Gu Ling to still care about them, “Indeed, I do know quite a lot about those people, including where they caught their women from. I’ve conducted secret investigations. There’s no one on Xingluo Island who knows more about this than I do, including Mo Yan, who didn’t care about the women who were captured at all. I also know that the twins who were with me in the mountain cave are the great-grandsons of General Peng Wei from the original Liang Country. I know your family has a close relationship with the Peng Family.”
Sheng Yue had collected that information in case it might be useful someday, but he never thought about rescuing those poor women at that time.
“That’s good,” said Gu Ling.
Sheng Yue’s eyes gleamed slightly, “You think I’m going to do good deeds when I’m out of your control? Why are you so confident?”
“I can’t control your actions right now, you may leave,” Gu Ling said, closing his eyes.
Sheng Yue looked out at the vast sea. Where could he go? But what about when he reached the shore? It seems there was nothing he wanted to do and nowhere he wanted to go…
Only after a long time, did Sheng Yue answer Gu Ling, “Since you’re not afraid of me running away, what should I be afraid of? As for what you mentioned, we’ll see how things go.”