Chapter 438: 438. Reunion Time

Translator: 549690339

On the day following Gu Ling’s return home, Su Liang woke up the latest.

When she opened her eyes and lifted the curtain of her bed, she saw the warm sunlight streaming through the window, casting splendid patches of light on the floor.

The room was quiet. Gu Ling was not there, and Gu Xiaonuan’s little bed was empty too.

It had been a long time since Su Liang had slept so soundly and peacefully. A feeling of relaxation from deep within made her feel comfortable in body and mind.

She lazily got out of the bed and dressed more slowly than usual. After tidying up, she went to the window, opened it, and saw the winter scenery by the lake. It had once seemed desolate and bleak, but now she found it simple and elegant, like an ink painting.

Gu Ling and the children were the most lively elements within the painting.

Gu Ling held Gu Xiaonuan in one hand and a wooden sword in the other, assessing Zhengzheng and Ji Xiaoshu’s swordsmanship. The two children were very serious and coordinated well, their movements already quite stylish.

Gu Ling, with only one hand, displayed casual elegance, while Gu Xiaonuan was very excited, cheering for her brothers all the time. Su Liang heard her crisp voice and happy laughter.

Without a doubt, when Gu Xiaonuan grew up a bit more, she would surely love martial arts. Now, Su Liang’s several masters all asserted that Gu Xiaonuan had extraordinary talent for martial arts. Su Liang felt that this was entirely based on their deep “beloved disciple” filter when observing Gu Xiaonuan.

Upon seeing Su Liang, Gu Ling raised Gu Xiaonuan high while fending off the two children and greeted her.

Laughter spread in Su Liang’s eyes as she leaned against the window, waving at Gu Ling and blowing a kiss.

Then, Zhengzheng’s little wooden sword poked Gu Ling’s leg.

Of course, it couldn’t cause any injury, but both children were surprised and stopped.

Disbelieving, Zhengzheng looked at his wooden sword and then at Gu Ling. “I actually poked my master!” he said excitedly.

Ji Xiaoshu cheered, “Big Brother is so powerful! Today, we won! Master, you can’t say we slack off in martial arts anymore, haha!”

As Gu Xiaonuan chimed in with a loud “Mom”, the two children who had been focusing on their swordplay turned their heads to see Su Liang and waved at her.

“I see, Master was distracted just now,” Zhengzheng said.

Ji Xiaoshu grinned, “This is Master Mom helping us with her beauty! In any case, we won! Master can’t hit me anymore!”

As soon as Ji Xiaoshu finished speaking, Gu Ling picked him up and tossed him aside… As Ji Xiaoshu landed skillfully, he protested against Gu Ling’s retreating figure, “Master, why did you throw me again? Give me a reason!”

“You were in my way,” Gu Ling replied, soaring towards Su Liang, leaving a cold silhouette for the children.

Ji Xiaoshu looked around at the flat, empty space and stared speechlessly at the sky.

Zhengzheng, holding Gu Xiaonuan, called Ji Xiaoshu over, “Xiao Shu, come on! Let’s teach our sister how to walk!”

Ji Xiaoshu walked over, put down his wooden sword, and held Gu Xiaonuan, “Little sister, only you and Master Mom can beat Master, but Master Mom has been bewitched by Master’s beauty. Hurry up and grow up, and help us defeat Master together!”

Zhengzheng couldn’t stop laughing, “Xiao Shu, Master likes you especially, that’s why he plays with you.”

Ji Xiaoshu raised his chin slightly and grinned, “Of course I know that!”

After returning to the room, Gu Ling closed the window and embraced Su Liang quietly for a while. Then he let her go, “You wash up first, and I’ll get breakfast.”

“The weather is nice, let’s have it in the pavilion outside,” Su Liang suggested.

Gu Ling nodded and went downstairs.

When Su Liang finished washing and changing and went out, Gu Ling had already set up breakfast in the pavilion.

Seeing two sets of bowls and chopsticks, Su Liang thought Gu Ling was waiting for her and hadn’t eaten yet. However, Gu Ling said that he had eaten with everyone else and would accompany Su Liang for another meal. “My stomach has suffered from the food outside, and I need compensation.”

Trying not to laugh, Su Liang said, “Indeed, you need a good compensation.”

The two sat opposite each other and ate breakfast. The porridge, vegetables, and stuffed pastries were all made by Gu Ling. Su Liang tasted a bite and exclaimed, “Great God Gu Ling, your cooking is the most delicious!”

“What do you want for lunch?” Gu Ling asked.

“I’ll make dried green bean meat buns for you,” Su Liang suggested. “It’s the dried green beans given by Old Lady Bai when you brought the fake Yan Shiba back. Half of them are left, and I made meat buns once in the middle. Everyone liked them a lot.”

After learning the recipe, Gu Ling decided to make them himself. Although he had been away, he knew that Su Liang had also been tired.

As soon as they finished breakfast, Su Liang heard Zhengzheng’s excited shout, “Little sister can walk!”

She saw Zhengzheng and Ji Xiaoshu lifting Gu Xiaonuan with their hands like a stretcher, placing her on the ground and holding onto her hands to make sure she didn’t fall. They encouraged her to take a few steps.

“She’s wearing so much padding. She’ll be fine even if she falls,” Su Liang said with a smile.

“No way!” Gu Ling, Zhengzheng, and Ji Xiaoshu unanimously objected.

Unconvinced, Su Liang conceded, acting as if she hadn’t said anything.

Gu Ling’s eyes filled with gentle laughter as he stretched his hand out towards his daughter, beckoning her to come closer.

“Daddy~” Gu Xiaonuan stood steadily and reached out her little hand, asking Gu Ling to come and pick her up.

“Come on, Nuannuan,” Gu Ling said softly.

“Daddy~” Gu Xiaonuan called out again.

“Master, don’t go over there! Little sister can walk!” Zhengzheng thought Gu Ling was going to cave and quickly stopped him. He coaxed Gu Xiaonuan, “If you want Master to hold you, just walk over there! It’s just two steps! Weren’t you able to walk just now?”

Gu Xiaonuan lifted her foot and took a step.

“Wow! Little sister is amazing!” Zhengzheng immediately praised her.

Ji Xiaoshu also praised her, “Little sister, one more! Come on, walk forward!”

Gu Ling looked at his lovely and powerful daughter with an admiring expression, waiting for her to come to his side.

Su Liang suspected that Gu Xiaonuan had probably been able to walk for a while, but she was lazy because so many people liked to hold her.

Under the vigilant protection of her two brothers, Gu Xiaonuan successfully walked to Gu Ling’s side, where he picked her up and placed her on his lap.

Qiao Cong’s excited voice sounded not far away, “Nuannuan can walk?”

Approaching noon, Duanmu Chen, wearing casual clothes, came to Su Mansion with Chang’an.

Having heard that Gu Ling had returned, Duanmu Chen came to see him but didn’t find him in Yuanming Pavilion.

Ji Xiaoshu, who was reading a book on medicinal herbs, looked up, “Emperor Uncle, are you looking for my master? He’s steaming buns in the kitchen with Master Mom!”

Upon hearing this, Chang’an saw Duanmu Chen’s eyes light up. He had chosen this time to come, intending to freeload a meal. He wanted to bring the two children with him originally, but the weather outside was cold, and Empress Dowager Xiao was afraid that the children would catch a cold, so she did not allow them to come.

When Duanmu Chen approached the kitchen door, he saw Su Liang sitting on a small stool, kindling a fire, and Gu Ling was kneading the dough. The steamed bun filling was already prepared.

“Cough, cough!” Duanmu Chen made a sound to announce his arrival.

“Your Majesty is here.” Su Liang casually greeted him without getting up.

Duanmu Chen smiled, “Are you steaming buns? Let’s discuss the matter after you finish cooking.”

“Your Majesty can speak directly and return to the palace to handle the government affairs early after that,” Gu Ling said with a light tone.

Duanmu Chen shook his head, “No hurry.” He joked, “I have come all this way, and it would be too much of a loss not to eat. Lately, I’ve found the palace too cold and desolate, the Su Mansion is more lively.”

As a result, Duanmu Chen returned to Yuanming Pavilion, sitting next to Ji Xiaoshu, and was surprised to find him reading a book on medicinal herbs, “Xiaoshu, do you want to learn medical skills?”

Ji Xiaoshu didn’t look up, “I am my master’s disciple, of course, I have to learn medical skills.”

Duanmu Chen looked approvingly, “Very good. I hope that one day you will become as famous as your master and be known as a Divine Doctor.”

“Definitely!” Ji Xiaoshu was very smart, but he was not particularly interested in studying and martial arts, although he learned them well. He was truly passionate about medical skills taught by Su Liang. That’s where his interest lied, and he was especially serious about it.

Duanmu Chen looked at Ji Xiaoshu, wishing that his own children would quickly grow up and start studying with Su Liang and Gu Ling, so they wouldn’t leave once their troubles were resolved.

The steamed buns made by Gu Ling were brought to Yuanming Pavilion. Duanmu Chen washed his hands and started eating with the children. He couldn’t help but exclaim, “Your master’s steamed bun-making skills are truly unparalleled.” From the time of Su Family Village to now, he had been craving them. At first, Su Liang made them, but now Gu Ling made them even better. Prior to this, Duanmu Chen had asked Su Liang for the bun recipe and the other home-cooked dishes, and while the imperial chefs made them more exquisite in the palace, it still felt like something was missing.

Emperor Uncle, have you heard any news about my father?” Ji Xiaoshu asked after finishing a steamed bun, suddenly thinking of Ji Yuebai.

Duanmu Chen shook his head, “I have already told you the last time there was news about him, and there is no new information for now. Don’t worry, your father said he would be back before the end of the year, so it should be soon.”

“I hope so,” Ji Xiaoshu nodded, “Aunt Yue and Uncle Baiyang are waiting to get married, and all that’s left is for my father to come back.”

Duanmu Chen’s mouth twitched, “Xiaoshu is really a good child.”

After lunch, Gu Ling first coaxed Gu Xiaonuan to sleep, and then went to the lakeside pavilion to talk to Duanmu Chen.

Skipping the part about time-traveling, Gu Ling briefly recounted his previous adventures to Duanmu Chen. The shocks and dangers made Duanmu Chen frown.

“What are they trying to do? Since they know the island has been exposed, why don’t they leave and hide somewhere else?” Duanmu Chen was a smart man and quickly caught the key points.

Gu Ling’s expression was calm, “There is a forbidden area on the island, and I don’t know what’s inside it yet, but there must be a mystery.” This was the complete truth.

“And I’ve been wanting to ask you, how did the people from Xingluo Island manage to evade us and get the grain and fodder to Liang Country so quickly?” Duanmu Chen asked.

“Su Liang and I suspect they have some sort of magic treasure,” Gu Ling said.

Duanmu Chen was stunned for a moment, “What did you say?”

“Magic treasure.” Gu Ling repeated the last two words.

Duanmu Chen widened his eyes, “You mean the kind of treasure that only gods in the sky would have?”

Gu Ling nodded, “It’s a guess.”

Duanmu Chen was silent for a long time before speaking again, lowering his voice, “Are you really able to predict the future? Are you a god in human form? Is Su Liang the same? Or do you know anything about the path of immortal cultivation?”

Gu Ling shook his head, “I am not. It’s just that the matter of grain and fodder cannot be explained by common sense, and coupled with the mystery of Xingluo Island, I made that guess.”

But Duanmu Chen raised his hand and patted Gu Ling’s shoulder, giving him a look—I understand, we can’t talk about it directly, I get it.

By now, Gu Ling and Su Liang had developed a considerable level of trust in Duanmu Chen. There were some things that Duanmu Chen could guess even if Gu Ling didn’t say them. However, with his imagination, he was still far from guessing the whole truth.

The grain and fodder issue could only be explained in this way, and it wasn’t a lie. Gu Ling and Su Liang still didn’t know what Mo Yan’s “portable space” was like, whether it existed in his mind or in an object, calling it a “magic treasure” was quite fitting.

However, Duanmu Chen didn’t ask further. He felt that Gu Ling and Su Liang were no ordinary people. Given their relationship and the help they’ve given him, Duanmu Chen completely trusted them and knew that they might be “higher” than himself, which made him feel more at ease.

In the end, when Duanmu Chen left, he took two steamed buns with him, saying they were for Empress Dowager Xiao. However, on the way back to the palace, he had already eaten one.

In the afternoon, Gu Ling took the children fishing and caught three fat fish. He made two of them into Fried Fish Nuggets and the remaining one was used for braised fish for dinner.

Gu Ling picked fish bones for Gu Xiaonuan, feeding her fish. The scene was very heartwarming.

Ji Xiaoshu asked Gu Ling if he could help him pick out the fish bones, but Gu Ling shook his head, “You have hands, you can use them.”

Ji Xiaoshu obediently nodded, “I can even help my master’s wife pick fish bones, but she won’t let me. Master, can we go mountain climbing tomorrow?”

Zhengzheng had an expectant look on his face. Gu Ling had taken them mountain climbing once, and they had had a great time and had always cherished the memory.

Gu Ling looked at Su Liang, and she nodded, “Let’s go then. Cheng Yun is coming too.” She and Gu Ling needed to think about how to deal with Xingluo Island next, and it didn’t necessarily need to be done sitting at home. Perhaps going out for a walk would bring unexpected gains.

The children cheered and said they would go and look for the tadpoles they had met before.

Cheng Yun looked serious as he said to Su Liang, “You should call me brother.”

Su Liang raised an eyebrow, “When Gu Ling calls you, I will.”

Cheng Yun looked at Gu Ling, “Little brother Gu.”

Gu Ling’s expression was indifferent, “Keep dreaming.”

Cheng Yun: … Anyway, the children called him Uncle, not bothered by this couple who always liked to tease him.

That night, after Gu Xiaonuan was asleep, Gu Ling and Su Liang leaned against each other in bed and brought up Yan Shiba.

“This season, Wolong Mountain is covered with heavy snow, and it’s not only dangerous but also slim chance to find Yan Shiba inside.” Su Liang sighed lightly, “Should we go looking for her? Or should we wait for Sheng Yue to bring her to us?”

“For now, let’s not look for her.” Gu Ling said, “If she’s alive now, Sheng Yue won’t kill her afterward.”

“I was thinking, since there’s a treasure protected by Mo Yan on Xingluo Island, why not just blow it up?” Su Liang suggested, “While Mo Yan doesn’t have any other hostages in his hands, as long as we destroy the island, his delusional goal will no longer be possible. Originally, his coming and going had nothing to do with us, but since he’s resorting to every means possible to harm us in order to achieve his goal, it’s better to send him to the West sooner rather than later.”

“It’s possible.” said Gu Ling, deep in thought, “I’m thinking of letting Pu Cheng go and find Sheng Yue and deliver a message to him.”

Su Liang’s expression changed, “Great God, are you thinking of cooperating with Sheng Yue?”

Gu Ling nodded, “According to Pu Cheng, Sheng Yue’s goal is to go through a portal to see the world her mother came from. The test subject he needs can be me or Mo Yan, and Mo Yan is the better choice.”

“I did think of that too, but I’m a little skeptical of whether what Pu Cheng thinks Sheng Yue’s purpose is may just be him imagining things.” Su Liang said, “What if Sheng Yue has other intentions? Of course, as long as he’s willing to show up, it’s a good thing for us. I just think it might be useless, but it’s worth a try. In any case, Pu Cheng is already useless and can’t cause any more trouble. It’s even more impossible for anyone else to find Sheng Yue.”

Of course, they could arrange for someone to follow Pu Cheng, but even if he wasn’t detected by Pu Cheng, it would be very difficult to hide from Sheng Yue, which would be very dangerous.

So, after discussing it, Su Liang and Gu Ling decided to release Pu Cheng before dawn and let him carry a letter to Sheng Yue. The letter was sealed in a mechanism iron box by Gu Ling and tied to Pu Cheng’s body with a complex method, which he couldn’t untie. Of course, he might not go to find Sheng Yue. However, considering Pu Cheng’s current situation, even if Sheng Yue abandoned him, he would still go find his capable son instead of going back to the temple and continuing to be a monk. Being a monk was not what he wanted in the first place.