Chapter 429: 429. Not an innocent, naive child

Translator: 549690339

In the underground secret room of Yuanming Pavilion.

Su Liang hugged Gu Xiaonuan and jumped down from the upper floor into the secret room and saw Zhengzheng and Ji Xiaoshu standing side by side, wearing the adorable pyjamas Gu Ling made for them. One had a little wolf design and the other, a little tiger pattern. They held gleaming knives in their hands, their eyes alert, ready to fight off the enemy. But the whole scene was rather amusing.

Seeing it was Su Liang, Zhengzheng and Ji Xiaoshu sighed in relief and followed her through a passageway into another room.

Su Liang asked Zhengzheng to hold Gu Xiaonuan while she lit a lamp. The room was filled with a dim yellow glow, and it was fully furnished. The bed was made.

Zhengzheng placed Gu Xiaonuan on the bed and tucked her under a blanket. Su Liang then messed up his hair a bit and said, “You two go to bed too, and watch your little sister.”

Ji Xiaoshu frowned, “Are you going to fight the bad guys, Master?”

Su Liang nodded, “Your Uncle Cheng Yun is still upstairs, I’m worried about him.”

“But what if the bad guys are after you, Master? Wouldn’t it be better for you to hide?” Zhengzheng’s little face was serious.

Ji Xiaoshu nodded repeatedly, “Right! Going out would be very dangerous! Uncle Cheng Yun is very powerful, he can definitely drive the bad guys away!”

Su Liang sighed softly. She knew that during this time of crisis, she was most likely the target of the people who came to stir up trouble. The two kids were right—it would be the most prudent decision for her to hide. Once captured, there would be endless trouble.

However, she was thinking from the perspective of her personal safety. Since the situation outside was unclear, she was also worried about Cheng Yun’s safety. The little monk, with his pure and innocent personality, would exert his full effort to help Su Liang, even if it meant risking his life.

Moreover, if the person who came was Sheng Yue, and he only showed up now, it must mean that he had made sufficient preparations. He likely wasn’t someone Cheng Yun could handle.

“I’m going to go up and see what’s happening.” Su Liang quickly put on stockings and shoes from the wardrobe, and then dressed herself in an outer garment. Everything they could need was prepared here, just in case.

The two children looked worried, but Su Liang comforted them, “I’ll be careful. You two stay here and don’t come out.” As for Gu Xiaonuan, she still hadn’t woken up and was fast asleep.

Su Liang tucked two grenades into her clothing, grabbed a long sword and a nail gun, took one last look at Gu Xiaonuan, and went outside.

“Be careful, Master. We’ll be waiting for you.” Zhengzheng looked serious.

Su Liang waved back as she left, “I will.”

Upstairs, Cheng Yun was still facing off against the intruders, yet no fight had broken out.

In fact, Cheng Yun would never have guessed that the person not holding a child was none other than his most trusted and beloved Master Pu Cheng who had been like a father to him. The one holding the child was Sheng Yue, Pu Cheng’s secret son.

Sheng Yue had previously had one of his hands severed by Gu Ling, but now it had been replaced with an iron hand, covered by a long sleeve. Pu Cheng wore a wig on his head, so no one could tell he was a monk beneath it.

The two were indeed prepared—Sheng Yue had brought Lin Jingyun, a hostage they could use. Abducting someone from Su Mansion to use as a hostage was too risky and could easily alert the enemy. But for a master like Sheng Yue, kidnapping a child from the friend of Su Liang was almost effortless and effective.

“What do you want in exchange for the child’s life?” Cheng Yun asked coldly.

Sheng Yue spoke calmly, “Let Su Liang come out. I know she’s nearby. If she doesn’t come out, prepare to recover Lin Jingyun’s body.” He then turned and leaped to the edge of the window.

“You… Why do you do such unconscionable things? Benefactor Su is a good person. Her medical skills are excellent, and she has saved many people. She has never harmed anyone without reason! If there’s any misunderstanding, it can be discussed. What you are doing is wrong—don’t stray any further down this path!” Still believing in the inherent goodness of people, Cheng Yun, the little monk, actually tried to persuade Sheng Yue and Pu Cheng.

Suddenly Sheng Yue turned, “Let’s go outside. There’s something strange about this room. If Su Liang doesn’t come out within a quarter-hour, I’ll throw this kid into the nearly frozen lake below.” With those words, he flew out the open window.

Pu Cheng glanced deeply at Cheng Yun, “You better call Su Liang out quickly. This matter has nothing to do with you, and it’s not something you can solve.” He then turned to leave as well.

Cheng Yun’s face darkened. These people were here to harm Su Liang, so he had to prevent her from coming out! So he charged forward with his staff.

Half of Pu Cheng’s body was already out of the window, but the other half was still inside. With Lin Jingyun’s cries and Sheng Yue’s threats echoing in his ears and Su Liang’s trusting and gentle gaze in his mind, Cheng Yun swung his staff and knocked Pu Cheng back into the room!

Pu Cheng had always thought he understood Cheng Yun well and never expected him to suddenly attack. Cheng Yun had been diligent in practicing martial arts but had never wanted to use those skills to attack others, let alone take the initiative. Even when bullied, Cheng Yun never fought back]

Pu Cheng thought he knew everything that had happened between Cheng Yun and Su Liang, but Cheng Yun already had secrets of his own. Like the time when Qian Country’s Empress’s family, the Wan clan, had kidnapped Bai Xiaohu from Su Village to threaten Su Liang. Su Liang had asked Cheng Yun for help, and he had watched as Su Liang knocked the culprit into the well. The next day, he learned the man had died.

For Cheng Yun, this was a difficult kill to accept, but Su Liang persuaded him not to think that way. The early death of a bad person is like a merciful salvation.

Although Cheng Yun didn’t agree with Su Liang’s “early death, early salvation” concept, he didn’t mention the incident to anyone else, including his master and his fellow martial artists. He had promised Su Liang not to tell anyone, so he didn’t say a word, only repenting for a long time in front of the Buddha.

If Pu Cheng knew that Cheng Yun had indirectly killed someone, his perception of him would inevitably change and he would gain a better understanding of Su Liang’s influence on him and the extent of his trust in her.

When they first met, their real stories intersected when Cheng Yun, Su Liang, and Gu Ling saved Zhengzheng, a kidnapped child, on a rainy day. They had one thing in common: they loved children and had a stronger protective instinct for them, and at the same time, they had a greater aversion to those who took children as hostages.

For Cheng Yun, Pu Cheng and Sheng Yue’s capture of Lin Jingyun was like touching his reverse scales.

Pu Cheng had no guard against Cheng Yun. After being beaten back to his room, he didn’t want to fight, so he feinted a move and tried to leave.

But Cheng Yun’s plan was to capture Pu Cheng and exchange him for Lin Jingyun, thus keeping Su Liang out of danger. So how could he let Pu Cheng leave so easily?

Pu Cheng didn’t want to fight, fearing Cheng Yun would recognize his moves and also fearing hurting him.

But Cheng Yun was determined to take him down. He swiftly moved, blocking the door and window with a stick.

When Su Liang came out of the underground secret room, she heard the sound of fighting upstairs, but not the child crying. That’s because Sheng Yue was holding Lin Jingyun by the lake, waiting for Pu Cheng to come out.

Su Liang held the nail gun in her hand, its cold touch making her very alert. She leaned against the wall and quietly went upstairs.

No lights were lit in Yuanming Pavilion, and the fight on the second floor grew louder. Cheng Yun’s stick hit the vase that Gu Ling liked the most, and it fell to the ground with a crisp shattering sound.

The door to Su Liang’s room was left ajar. She gently pushed it open a little and at first glance saw Cheng Yun’s bald head moving quickly in the room. As for the person he was fighting, it was just a shadow, and her identity couldn’t be distinguished. However, it was certain that she wasn’t Sheng Yue, because Su Liang saw that both of her hands were intact.

This made Su Liang a little puzzled: it wasn’t Sheng Yue, and there was only one person… unlike what she had guessed.

But that didn’t matter. Su Liang raised the nail gun, held her breath, and aimed at the person’s chest.

A moment later, Cheng Yun saw the person he was fighting with suddenly sway, staggered a few steps, and covered her chest with one hand while looking at the door.

Cheng Yun took the opportunity to hit the person’s knee with his stick!

Su Liang pushed open the door, was about to add another shot, but Cheng Yun stopped her, “Don’t kill him! They caught Little Jingyun and he’s by the lake!”

Su Liang’s expression changed abruptly. Was there an accomplice outside?

Pu Cheng’s chest was pierced, and he felt numb around the wound. It was poisoned! He tried to leave, but Cheng Yun wouldn’t let him. At the same time, he warned Su Liang, “You go back and hide, don’t come out! I’ll take him in exchange for Little Jingyun!”

Hearing this, Su Liang raised her gun again and shot Pu Cheng in the thigh. He swayed and knelt on the ground!

Su Liang walked over, Cheng Yun frowned, “You better go back, I can handle this.”

Su Liang shook her head slightly, walked forward, pulled off the mask on Pu Cheng’s face, revealing a strange and ordinary face. For safety reasons, Sheng Yue had arranged a disguise for Pu Cheng.

“You are Sheng Yue’s subordinate?” Su Liang asked coldly. She and Cheng Yun hadn’t thought of Pu Cheng at all, so at this moment, they didn’t have any doubts about his disguise.

Pu Cheng nodded with a pale face, “Yes.”

“Then it’s no use. Sheng Yue wouldn’t compromise for a subordinate,” Su Liang said coldly.

Pu Cheng looked down and said, “I am his father.”

Su Liang was stunned and looked at Cheng Yun, “In that case, you take him to exchange for Lin Jingyun.”

Cheng Yun nodded, hesitated for a moment when Su Liang handed him the sword, took it, and dragged Pu Cheng up, putting the sword to his neck, “Let’s go!”

Su Liang watched Cheng Yun and Pu Cheng leave the room and go downstairs. She didn’t return to the secret room, but turned and saw a figure standing by the lake, which should be Sheng Yue. Sheng Yue had a father, something that even Min Rou didn’t know. Min Rou had said that Sheng Yue was an orphan taken in by Xingluo Island. It seemed that there were still many secrets about Sheng Yue.

Sheng Yue watched Cheng Yun abducting Pu Cheng out of Yuanming Pavilion with a calm expression, while the crying Lin Jingyun in his arms had fallen asleep.

“He said he’s your father.” Cheng Yun said coldly, “Release the child, and I’ll release him.”

Sheng Yue countered, “Are you a monk? Would you really kill my father?”

Cheng Yun’s face froze, “I…I am a monk, but if you dare to hurt little Jingyun, you are not human!”

Pu Cheng looked at Cheng Yun, his eyes filled with complexity. This child had already changed, but he hadn’t noticed, which was the main reason for his failure tonight. Cheng Yun hadn’t become bad, just more intense.

Sheng Yue nodded, “Fine. Let’s do the exchange.” As soon as he finished speaking, he walked over to Cheng Yun.

Cheng Yun kept a guard on her eyes, and Sheng Yue quickly approached and handed over the child in his arms.

Cheng Yun held the sword in one hand and took the child with the other. Pu Cheng was then dragged away by Sheng Yue.

The reversal of the situation Su Liang worried about did not happen, as Sheng Yue left immediately with Pu Cheng.

From the shadows, Su Liang came running out and fired a few more shots at the two men. However, the nail gun had limited range, and Sheng Yue was alert, so it didn’t hit him. He looked back at Su Liang, his eyes deep, and then turned away, disappearing into the woods with Pu Cheng.

“Quickly check if little Jingyun is alright? Why isn’t he crying anymore?” Cheng Yun looked anxious, having already thrown the sword away.

Su Liang looked at the child and shook her head, “He’s fine, just asleep. We should send him back…no, let him stay for now; I’ll have Qi Yan inform the Lin family.”

As they spoke, Qi Yan came running over with the worried Lin Bojun, “Xiaoliang, Jingyun has been stolen!”

Lights were lit in Yuanming Pavilion, and by the time Su Liang brought the three children out of the secret chamber, it was well into the night.

Lin Jingyun was taken away by Lin Bojun. Su Liang apologized, but Lin Bojun said it wasn’t her fault. He would be careful to protect his family now that he knew someone was plotting in secret, and he would come to talk to Su Liang tomorrow about tonight’s events.

“Are you hurt?” Su Liang asked Cheng Yun.

Cheng Yun shook his head, “I’m fine. Why did those people want to kidnap you?”

“To kill me,” Su Liang said.

Cheng Yun frowned, “Evil people.”

The two children nodded, “Big bad guys!”

Ji Xiaoshu was furious, “Despicable! To think they’d kidnap Third Junior Brother! He’s so well-behaved!”

“Exactly! Too cruel!” Zhengzheng clenched his tiny fists and said.

“You two should go back to your rooms and sleep,” Su Liang pulled them up, “I have something to discuss with your Uncle Cheng Yun.”

After the children left, Su Liang sighed softly, “I’m lucky you were here tonight, otherwise I would have been kidnapped.”

Cheng Yun nodded but remained silent, hesitating to speak.

“What’s the matter?” Su Liang asked.

“The person I fought with…” Cheng Yun’s eyebrows furrowed.

“You know him?” Su Liang was surprised.

Cheng Yun shook his head, “No…his moves are somewhat familiar, like I’ve seen them somewhere before.”

Su Liang’s eyes narrowed, “There aren’t many people who have fought with you, are there?”

“It shouldn’t be. It’s my mistake…just a coincidence, I guess.” Cheng Yun shook his head repeatedly.

Su Liang’s heart was struck with a thought, “Don’t tell me that the martial arts moves you found familiar came from your master?” Su Liang knew Cheng Yun; he was highly skilled in martial arts, but back then he was a simpleton who would rather be beaten up by a crowd on the street than fight back. He had only done some things contrary to the monk’s code of conduct under her guidance; nothing else. The fact that Cheng Yun was so conflicted and denied his own feelings meant that it could not be an illusion or a coincidence.

Moreover, Su Liang suddenly thought that during the day, Cheng Yun’s master had left without saying goodbye, and the mysterious monk Pu Cheng, whom she had met at night, had the same face as Sheng Yue’s father… Those eyes, the way he looked at Cheng Yun, it was him!

Earlier, when it was dark, Su Liang’s attention had been so focused on observing Sheng Yue that she had seen certain things but did not have time to process them, and only now recalled her memory.

Cheng Yun’s face turned pale, “That wasn’t my master. My master has no hair, no son, and he’s not a bad person.”

“Do you know everything about his past?” Su Liang asked.

Cheng Yun nodded, “He said someone killed his wife, and he became a monk out of despair.”

“Since he had a wife, it’s possible he had a son.” Su Liang asked Cheng Yun to tell her what happened from the beginning to the end of the night, including what they said.

Cheng Yun started from the moment he saw someone coming out of the woods until Su Liang appeared. She knew everything that happened after that.

After listening, Su Liang was even more certain that the man who claimed to be Sheng Yue’s father had to be Pu Cheng.

Cheng Yun was involved in the situation and unwilling to believe that his master was not a good person. However, from what he told Su Liang, it was apparent that both of them were polite to Cheng Yun and did not want to fight him. Furthermore, Sheng Yue’s father even told Cheng Yun, “Tonight has nothing to do with him.” This clearly implied that he wanted Cheng Yun to stay out of the matter, so as not to ruin their plans or make things difficult for them.

At the time, there was no light, and Su Liang only saw the man’s face in the moonlight without taking a close look, so she did not notice any signs of disguise. However, since Sheng Yue knew the Disguise Technique, it was entirely possible for him to make Pu Cheng appear completely unrelated to a monk.

“You… do you really think it’s my master?” Cheng Yun looked incredulous.

Su Liang nodded, “That’s what I think. No one else should have shown that kind of behavior. Perhaps your master tricked you into coming to see me today, taking the opportunity to leave himself, not expecting me to keep you at my house.”

“My master… why would he do this? He’s not that kind of person!” Cheng Yun still refused to believe it.

“What else could it be for, of course, it’s for his son.” Su Liang snorted coldly, “Maybe his nature isn’t bad, but some people would do anything for their children. At the time, if it was someone else in your place, with Sheng Yue’s capabilities, there would have been a chance to kill you and continue threatening me with Jingyun. Tonight, if it hadn’t been for you, they wouldn’t have been so merciful. They didn’t fail, they just gave up temporarily because of you.”

As soon as Su Liang finished speaking, she could tell from Cheng Yun’s expression that he was somewhat on the verge of collapsing. For a moment, he could not accept that the person who could do such evil deeds was the Pu Cheng he regarded as a father.

As Su Liang looked at Cheng Yun, she remembered what Pu Cheng had said about his background: an orphan left behind by a good friend.

In her previous life, there was a saying – I have a friend… At this moment, Su Liang even began to suspect that Cheng Yun might also be Pu Cheng’s son. Although the two did not look alike, Pu Cheng genuinely cared for Cheng Yun.

Su Liang didn’t voice her suspicion, as she might be overthinking, and she didn’t want to provoke Cheng Yun any further at this point. However, she kept this guess in mind.

“They won’t come again at least for tonight. You should rest first, and we’ll talk about the rest tomorrow.” Su Liang gently patted Cheng Yun’s shoulder.

Cheng Yun walked out with a blank expression, stumbled over his stick after two steps and nearly fell. He steadied himself and then turned back to ask Su Liang, “Little Nuannuan… She wasn’t scared, right?”

Su Liang smiled, “It’s fine, she doesn’t know anything, sleeping like a pig, carefree.”

“Carefree… It’s not so bad, actually.” Cheng Yun walked out with a bitter smile on his face, not returning to his room, but sitting in the small hall, looking out of the window.

Su Liang sighed, closed the door, went back to the bedside, and looked at Gu Xiaonuan, letting out a long breath.

The moon was bright, and the stars were sparse outside the city. The wind was soughing through the woods.

Sheng Yue removed the two nails from Pu Cheng’s body and gave him an antidote.

Pu Cheng leaned against a large tree with a pale face.

Sheng Yue sat down beside him, speaking softly, “Father, were you helping me tonight?”

Pu Cheng’s tone was sour, “What do you expect me to do? Kill your brother?”

“Brother…” Sheng Yue snorted, “It seems he isn’t the naive, innocent child father described. If I wanted to kill him, I could have done so at that moment, but I gave up. Adding today’s failure, father owes me twice. If we don’t act soon, Gu Ling will be back.”