嫩草影院地址一二三

Chapter 477: 477. Return

As the only person who could leave but decided to stay on the island, Peng Wu would definitely attract attention from the forbidden area. However, the most dangerous place is often the safest one. Old Mu said this was called “darkness under the lamp.” Moreover, Feng Ming had been in contact with Peng Wu secretly, knowing that Gu Ling had companions who lived nearby. Once elders from the forbidden area came to “care” for her, all she had to do was cry out loud and plead for mercy for her son.

Gu Ling still lived in Sheng Yue’s room, and Feng Ming was responsible for the meal delivery. She would bring Gu Ling’s meal to Bajiao Pavilion at mealtime, and later the meals were made by Peng Wu herself, often still warm.

Peng Wu wandered outside the forbidden area for three days, returning home to cook when it was time to eat, and then going out again after she had eaten.

On the fourth day, Peng Wu packed a basket with the meal she had prepared herself and went to knock on the gate of the forbidden area. She knocked for a long time before an elder appeared with an unfriendly tone, telling her to leave.

With tears in her eyes, Peng Wu said, “Elder Song, this is the meal I made for my child. I only ask you to help me bring it inside and give it to Mr. Sheng. He will surely accept it!”

Elder Song frowned, looking at the basket in Peng Wu’s hand, and took it, “I can bring it in, but if Mr. Sheng doesn’t accept it, I will throw it away!”

“Thank you, Elder Song! Thank you, Elder Song!” Peng Wu looked grateful.

The door of the forbidden area closed quickly, and Peng Wu stood outside waiting. She looked up at the sky and saw that the sun was warm today. She thought of her son’s past days and the peaceful and happy days at home before she was captured. She took a deep breath, not allowing tears to flow.

Elder Song really took the basket to Sheng Yue. He didn’t think that Peng Wu would play any tricks. After all, she said it was for her child and wouldn’t poison her own son.

Inside the cave, mealtime hadn’t begun yet, and the two boys were teaching the little girl how to speak, looking like real siblings.

“Brother, I’m hungry…” one of the boys’ belly grumbled.

The other one patted his back, “We’ll have food soon, don’t worry.”

Suddenly, they smelled the aroma of food and looked towards the entrance of the cave.

Elder Song brought in the basket, and Sheng Yue opened his eyes to look at him.

“It’s for the two boys; their mother made it,” Elder Song handed over the basket.

The eyes of the two boys lit up instantly. The younger one couldn’t help but ask, “Is my mother outside?”

Elder Song snorted lightly, and the older boy hurriedly covered his brother’s mouth, fearing he might say the wrong thing and cause trouble.

Sheng Yue’s expression was calm, “Put it down, thank you, Elder Song. If she comes to deliver food again, just let her in.”

“In that case, why not let her be a cook in the forbidden area?” Elder Song suggested.

Sheng Yue shook his head, “No.”

Elder Song’s suggestion was casual. If Peng Wu was really allowed into the forbidden area and her focus was entirely on saving her son, she might cause some trouble. It’s not that he was afraid of her, but with few people in the forbidden area, it was better to avoid problems. Delivering food shouldn’t be an issue.

After Elder Song left, Sheng Yue turned his head and saw the two boys staring eagerly at the basket on the ground.

Sheng Yue nodded, “Go ahead and eat.”

The two children rushed over immediately, the little girl stumbled behind them, calling out for her brothers.

There was a plate of steamed buns, white and plump with steam rising from them. The younger twin picked one up and started eating, “I love mom’s meat buns the most!”

The older brother took one and ran to Sheng Yue, “Master, try my mom’s steamed bun!”

Sheng Yue’s gaze fell on the steamed bun, recalling the bun he had eaten at Su Liang’s house last year, which was said to be made by Gu Ling herself.

Sheng Yue took it and said “Thank you.” The boy’s lips curled up slightly before he ran back, picked up another bun, and broke off a piece to feed the little girl who had thrown herself into his arms.

After finishing the meal, the younger brother asked the older one whether their mother would continue to send food to them. The older brother was unsure, so he looked at Sheng Yue.

Sheng Yue gave an affirmative answer again, “She will.”

Both children were happy and, in the afternoon, Sheng Yue taught them swordsmanship in the cave, and they studied it with great diligence.

So, every day, Peng Wu focused single-mindedly on cooking delicious meals, sending a portion first to the forbidden area, where Feng Ming would secretly come to collect his and Gu Ling’s food, and Old Mu would come to collect meals for the four of them. No one paid any attention to the cooking smoke rising from Peng Wu’s area every day.

During this time, Gu Ling had secretly explored all the places on the island other than the forbidden area, including the forests and the coastline situations. Qiao Jing and the others also became familiar with the island.

As such, after most people on Xingluo Island had left, the island appeared to be very peaceful on the surface, as if only a few people were secluded there.

Inside the forbidden area, Sheng Yue knew that Gu Ling and Feng Ming would not leave the island and that there might be other companions. However, apart from him, other people in the forbidden area knew nothing about it. Peng Wu’s two sons and the little girl had met Gu Ling, but they couldn’t figure out the situation and didn’t know that Gu Ling was an outsider. They were always controlled by Sheng Yue, so they quickly forgot about Gu Ling.

Qiao Jing said they now only awaited Mo Yan’s arrival. And so they waited for more than half a month.

Mo Yan returned to the island alone by boat, during a blood-red sunset.

On the way, he did not run into those who had left the island, because they all knew he would come back, and also knew that the coastal area near Jiaye City was impassable. So they deliberately went further away to avoid bumping into him or being caught by the government soldiers on land.

However, before reaching the shore, Mo Yan knew that an accident had occurred on the island, as he could see from a distance that many trees on the seaside had been cut down and the cabins used for rest by the guard team had been torn down. There was not a single boat near the dock, and there were discarded clothes, food residues, and damaged lanterns on the coast.

Mo Yan docked his boat at the harbor, jumped ashore, secured his boat, and then entered the forest.

Afterward, instead of coming out the other side of the forest, Mo Yan moved stealthily and took a detour to the back of the forbidden area.

Aside from Elder Song, another elder named Pang had been guarding the forbidden area throughout the year. He was currently sunbathing atop a large tree at the back of the forbidden area, holding a dry tobacco pipe in his arms and feeling drowsy.

Suddenly feeling someone approaching, Elder Pang straightened his back, his eyes narrowed, and a flash of silver light emanated from the dry tobacco pipe, which was his weapon.

“It’s me.” Mo Yan’s old and deep voice rang in his ears as he lightly landed on the branch next to him.

Elder Pang’s expression changed, “Master is back!”

“What happened?” Mo Yan asked coldly.

Elder Pang truthfully reported that the people on the island had fled while Mo Yan was away.

“At that time, Elder Song and I asked Young Master Sheng Yue whether we should stop them, but Young Master Sheng Yue instructed, all we needed to do was guard the forbidden area well and not bother about those traitors.” Elder Pang said respectfully, “Young Master Sheng Yue has been in the forbidden area with the three children and has never come out.”

Mo Yan turned his ruby ring that he wore on his left index finger and looked at Elder Pang, asking, “Has any outsider come here?”

Elder Pang instinctively shook his head, but then remembered Feng Ming’s rescue, “Someone did come and rescue him, but we did not see who it was, much like when Gu Ling came to the island to rescue people.”

“Are there any people left elsewhere?” Mo Yan asked again.

Elder Pang shook his head, “There is only one woman left, Old Zhong’s eldest grandson’s wife. Young Master Sheng Yue seized her twin sons, and the woman refused to leave. She has been left behind and cooks meals every day, sending them to the entrance of the forbidden area, and Elder Song takes them to Young Master Sheng Yue. There are no other people.”

After listening, Mo Yan did not ask any more questions and flew away.

At nightfall, two lamps were lit in the depths of the cave.

Sheng Yue was having dinner with the three children, and their meals were now prepared and delivered by Peng Wu every day.

Sheng Yue held the little girl in his arms and fed her porridge, while the two boys sat upright and ate by themselves, their actions quite orderly.

Hearing footsteps approaching, Sheng Yue put down his spoon, wiped the rice stuck to the corner of the little girl’s mouth with a napkin, and looked over.

First, a shadow appeared, but Sheng Yue didn’t move. Then he saw Mo Yan’s face appear in the light.

Sheng Yue immediately got up with the little girl in his arms and bowed, “Master has returned.”

Mo Yan glanced around, noticing the traces of a “family of four” living by the pool, and his gaze finally fell on the three children. He asked Sheng Yue, “Are you trying to imitate my granddaughter’s husband? Don’t tell me you have taken a fancy to my granddaughter?”

Mo Yan’s suspicion wasn’t entirely baseless. Anyone who knew the situation in Su Liang and Gu Ling’s home would think that Sheng Yue was deliberately imitating Gu Ling, with three children corresponding to Gu Ling’s one daughter and two young disciples.

Sheng Yue’s expression remained calm. “I am indeed imitating Gu Ling, but my disciple has no such intentions towards Su Liang. I suspect that Gu Ling might come to the island, so I purposely wait for him here. If he does come and sees this scene, he would inevitably be moved.”

Mo Yan snorted lightly, “If he comes, he would probably want to kill you even more.”

“I’m only doing this to guard the forbidden area,” Sheng Yue said.

Mo Yan nodded, “It’s very useful. I knew that leaving this most important task to you would not be a problem.”

Mo Yan didn’t bother asking about the people who fled the island or whether Sheng Yue had discovered the substitutes he had arranged earlier. Because there was no need to ask; Mo Yan already knew the answers.

Mo Yan also sat down cross-legged, and both little boys lowered their heads nervously, not daring to speak.

“You can continue eating,” Mo Yan said.

The two little boys then picked up their spoons again, still not daring to raise their heads. The little girl looked at Mo Yan curiously, not afraid of him.

Mo Yan smiled faintly at the little girl, “It’s a pity that I didn’t get to see Su Liang’s daughter on this trip.”

Sheng Yue didn’t actively inquire about anything, just listening to Mo Yan say, “I thought Gu Ling had already come to the island.”

Sheng Yue nodded, “This disciple also had some suspicions, but due to the changes on the island, those people who wouldn’t leave were untrustworthy. Elders Song and Pang had to guard the forbidden area, so this disciple didn’t dare to leave here rashly, and never investigated.”

“What you did was right. There’s no need to investigate,” Mo Yan picked up a steamed bun and finished it quickly. “Whether they are here or not, we will know soon.”

After Peng Wu’s dinner was finished, Mo Yan stood up, “I will go back and clean up, change clothes, and then come back.”

“Yes, Master,” Sheng Yue nodded.

After Mo Yan left the cave, he returned to his small courtyard in the forbidden area.

At this moment, Gu Ling was standing at the highest point of Bajiao Pavilion in the garden, looking in this direction.

No one saw Mo Yan when he came to the island. Gu Ling did not arrange for anyone to watch the beach because if Mo Yan came back and met with him, he might be caught.

Since Gu Ling came to Xingluo Island, the lights in Mo Yan’s room had never been turned on at night because no one else dared to enter, and Sheng Yue, who could enter, always stayed in the cave.

But at that moment, Gu Ling suddenly saw that the lights in Mo Yan’s courtyard were on.

“Feng Ming,” Gu Ling spoke.

Feng Ming, who was standing behind him, immediately replied, “What are your orders, Your Highness?”

“Mo Yan may have returned. Go and tell my master and the others to hide well and not to approach the forbidden area. If they encounter Mo Yan, don’t do anything, just run farther away,” Gu Ling said.

Feng Ming’s expression changed, nodded his agreement, and left.

Then, under the moonlight, Gu Ling skillfully disguised himself as Qiao Jing and left Bajiao Pavilion, heading in the direction of the forbidden area.

Knowing that Mo Yan had returned, Gu Ling told them to hide further away, and Lao Mu agreed, “We need to avoid being captured, so we have a chance to save people!”

Qiao Cong felt frustrated, “Heaven is really blind to grant such powerful magic treasures to such a despicable person with a bad character! It’s simply helping a tyrant commit evil acts!”

Cheng Yun hurriedly stopped Qiao Cong’s rant, “Senior, there is a fate in the dark, let’s not talk about it anymore.”

“We understand,” Qiao Jing said calmly, “If you see Gu Ling again, tell him to be careful. The next plan mainly depends on him. We will stay here and wait for his order.”

Feng Ming returned to Bajiao Pavilion to find Gu Ling gone, suspecting that he had gone to the forbidden area, so he stayed in the pavilion and waited.

In the middle of the night, Mo Yan entered the cave again.

The twins were already sleeping behind the stone screen, and the little girl was sleeping on a small bed next to the pool. Sheng Yue was sitting cross-legged, and when he heard the familiar footsteps, he stood up.

“You did well.” Mo Yan once again affirmed Sheng Yue’s merit in guarding the forbidden area and went straight to the point. “I have brought Su Liang back.”

Sheng Yue didn’t show any surprise as that would be too fake. He just asked, “What are master’s plans next?”

“All this time, I have been unable to determine whether Su Liang or Gu Ling is the Transmigrator.” Mo Yan just confessed that he never truly believed Gu Ling to be the Transmigrator and Su Liang not to be, “Before I knew that Su Liang was my granddaughter, I sent He Wei to ‘kill’ her, but actually to test her. A real Transmigrator wouldn’t be killed by them.”

Mo Yan paused for a moment, looking at the calm pool, and said, “Perhaps, both husband and wife are.”

“Do you want to find a way to make Gu Ling reveal himself?” Sheng Yue asked.

Mo Yan shook his head, “We will talk about it tomorrow. No need for us to do anything; he will come out by himself. There is something tonight that I need to confirm.”

After saying that, Mo Yan took a step back, and Sheng Yue quietly stepped back as well.

Then, Mo Yan raised his hand, and a person appeared out of thin air between them. Before they could stand steady, Mo Yan grabbed their arm.

It was Yan Shiba, who was disguised as Su Liang.

She was not wearing the clothes she had on when she was captured but the ones Mo Yan had prepared for her in his portable space. Her hair was loose, covering most of her face.

Before being captured, Yan Shiba had always prepared for being taken away, so she had Disguise Medicine on her. After being locked in Mo Yan’s space, she suspected that every move was being watched by Mo Yan. But after a while, she had to repair her disguise. To avoid exposing herself, Yan Shiba would only fix her disguise while bathing naked – after all, Su Liang was Mo Yan’s granddaughter; he wouldn’t be so perverted as to watch his granddaughter bathe, right? – This was Yan Shiba’s thinking.

As it turned out, Yan Shiba succeeded. Up to this point, Mo Yan still hadn’t discovered that she was a fake. This was also because Mo Yan had never let Yan Shiba out and there had been no communication between the two characters.

“Xiaoliang.” Mo Yan’s eyes were gentle, “I had no choice but to bring you to Xingluo Island like this. There’s a big misunderstanding between us, and I hope you won’t hold a grudge for what happened before.”

Yan Shiba’s eyes were cold, and her voice was icy, “Grandfather and granddaughter? What a joke!”

The smile on Mo Yan’s face disappeared in an instant, “Whether you admit it or not, it is the truth. I have a question for you, and I hope you will answer honestly.”

Yan Shiba snorted coldly, without speaking.

Mo Yan asked, “Are you the Transmigrator?”

Yan Shiba sneered, then retorted, “What do you think?”

Mo Yan looked past Yan Shiba to Sheng Yue and then to the little bed.

Sheng Yue immediately understood and held the little girl in his arms.

“Xiaoliang, I didn’t bring Nuannuan with you, not because I couldn’t.” Mo Yan said, “If you cooperate, we can talk about anything. Otherwise, you will regret it.”

Yan Shiba glanced at the child in Sheng Yue’s arms, “I’m not surprised at all that you guys would resort to such despicable and shameless tactics.” She looked back at Mo Yan, “There is no misunderstanding between us, and I don’t have any relatives as helpless as you. At this point, it seems meaningless for me to deny it any further, you guessed right, I am the Transmigrator, and Gu Ling is not.”

Upon hearing this, Mo Yan sighed, “Perhaps, it is fate. In this case, are you still my granddaughter, or a spirit from another world who has taken over her body?”

Yan Shiba scoffed, “As soon as you heard that I am the person you are looking for, you immediately disown me? I admire your shamelessness; it is truly rare, even in my two lifetimes.”

Mo Yan sighed again, then his eyes darkened, and he forcefully pushed Yan Shiba into the pool!

Yan Shiba ate the food Mo Yan put in his space every day, which contained medicine to suppress her internal strength. But her body was normal because Mo Yan still needed her to dive underwater to explore the way.

The reason why Yan Shiba didn’t resist was that she had anticipated all of this and planned to experience it. As for whether it was dangerous or not, that was not her main concern.

“You know what I want; go and try it. Don’t make me force you. I think you are also very curious about what is down there.” Mo Yan stood on the shore and said.