Chapter 456: 456. New Year’s Eve
Translator: 549690339
Early in the morning, Gu Ling brought the truth-telling drug he had made last night to the dungeon.
Nangong Lin and Nian Ruxue were still asleep, and the dungeon was very quiet.
Gu Ling walked to Nangong Lin’s side, kicked him, and he woke up abruptly. The chains on his body made a crisp collision sound. Looking up, he stared at Gu Ling with wide eyes, “What… what are you doing here?”
Gu Ling bent down and pinched Nangong Lin’s chin, “Got some good medicine for Master to try.”
Nangong Lin’s face stiffened, and the medicine had already entered his mouth. He tried hard to spit it out, but Gu Ling forcibly closed his mouth. The pill quickly melted in his mouth.
Previously, Su Liang and Gu Ling tested the medicines in the Thousand-Poison Formula on Nangong Lin, including some torturous poisons. Although there were matching antidotes, the process was painful enough.
However, this time, Nangong Lin was very resistant, but he didn’t feel much pain.
“How does it feel?” Gu Ling asked.
Nangong Lin snorted coldly without speaking. He only felt a bit of a stabbing pain in his head, but it was still within the bearable range.
After a while, Nangong Lin felt a little dizzy, and his eyes became blurred. He thought he had been fed something similar to sedatives, and as long as it didn’t hurt, it was fine…
When Nangong Lin’s gaze fell on Gu Ling again, he muttered, “Ling’er…”
Gu Ling felt that the drug was taking effect, so he asked Nangong Lin, “How did my father die?”
Nangong Lin muttered, “It was me… I instigated him to rebel… and then informed Emperor Qian…”
“Do you love my mother?” Gu Ling asked.
Nangong Lin shook his head slightly, “I hate her… I hate that she didn’t choose me…”
“What else are you hiding from me?” Gu Ling asked again.
Nangong Lin’s head tilted slightly as if in thought, “There’s one thing … Yue Mei said that Mo Yan has a powerful magic treasure…”
“Anything else?” Gu Ling asked.
“Nothing else.” Nangong Lin shook his head slightly. As he shook, his body began to tremble violently, and his eyes rolled up.
Gu Ling’s eyes narrowed, and he grabbed Nangong Lin’s pulse, which was beating very fast.
Immediately after, Nangong Lin spat out blood, stiffened, stopped breathing, and fell to the ground.
Gu Ling reached out to check his breath and found that he was dead.
At this time, Nian Ruxue had already woken up and had been silently watching the commotion. She couldn’t help but scream and shrank into the corner when she saw Nangong Lin was poisoned to death. She was not sad for Nangong Lin because she didn’t know him before. She suddenly realized that with Yue Mei dead, Sheng Yue gone, and Nangong Lin also dead now, she was the only one left in the dungeon. Any poisonous drug that came later would be targeted at her…
Gu Ling directly unlocked Nangong Lin’s chains, dragged him out, and informed Su Liang to take a look at Nangong Lin’s cause of death to save Qi Yan from having to clean up later.
After Gu Ling dragged the corpse out, the dungeon became quiet again. Nian Ruxue looked around, and it wasn’t cold, but she was shivering from fear. Suddenly, she cried out, “Gu Ling… Gu Ling, let me out!”
Of course, there would be no response. Nian Ruxue’s cries echoed in the dungeon, and she began to confess her past wrongs to the air, more devout than ever…
Gu Ling returned to Yuanming Pavilion after washing up in the kitchen, and saw Zheng Zheng holding a small bowl, feeding Gu Xiaonuan some complementary food, while Ji Xiaoshu was leaning against Su Liang, chatting. Weng Ming and Lao Bai hadn’t woken up yet, as they were too tired and went to bed late last night.
Gu Xiaonuan called out sweetly when she saw Gu Ling walk in, “Daddy.”
Gu Ling bent down and kissed Gu Xiaonuan’s forehead, then sat next to Su Liang. He took Ji Xiaoshu, who was leaning against Su Liang, into his arms.
Ji Xiaoshu sat on Gu Ling’s lap and grinned, “Master, you just wanted to hold me!”
“How is it?” Su Liang asked, “How’s the drug effect?”
Ji Xiaoshu’s eyes lit up, “Right, Master! Didn’t you go to test the truth-telling drug on that baddie? How did it go?”
Zhengzheng looked at Gu Ling curiously as well.
Gu Ling nodded, “The drug works well. After taking it, the user will quickly confess everything they know without being able to lie.”
“Wow! That’s amazing!” Ji Xiaoshu exclaimed, “My Master’s wife is too awesome, right?”
However, Su Liang sensed from Gu Ling’s tone that there was more to say, so he asked, “Are there any side effects?”
“Even if there are side effects, it’s fine since it’s for the bad guys.” Ji Xiaoshu said.
Gu Ling nodded, “There are some.”
“What kind of side effects?” Su Liang urged Gu Ling to stop being mysterious.
“It’s a bit poisonous.” Gu Ling said, “Nangong Lin is dead.”
Su Liang looked stunned.
Ji Xiaoshu blinked, “Sending the bad guy to see the Yama King early can also be considered a good deed.”
“He’s actually dead?” Su Liang stood up, “I’m going to have a look.” The final drug formula had been decided by Weng Ming and Old White. Su Liang thought it was a little poisonous at the time, but he didn’t expect it to be so toxic…
Ji Xiaoshu also wanted to go, but he was thrown back at the door by Gu Ling, who asked Zhengzheng to look after him.
“Xiaoshu, don’t make a fuss. What’s so good about seeing the dead bad guy?” Zhengzheng put down his bowl and grabbed Ji Xiaoshu.
“Is master afraid of scaring me? I’m not afraid.” Ji Xiaoshu shook his head.
“Kids who see that kind of thing will have nightmares.” Zhengzheng said seriously.
“Alright.” Ji Xiaoshu nodded as Zhengzheng let go of him, and slipped away immediately.
Zhengzheng touched his forehead, being a big brother was really not easy!
At this time, Su Liang had already seen Nangong Lin, who was thrown under a big tree by Gu Ling. His face was blue and purple, and his eyes were still open. It was apparent that he wasn’t frightened before death, probably because the truth-telling drug still controlled his mind.
“Master’s medication is indeed bold.” Su Liang said as he examined, “Some are usually not used together.” Especially Old White, as the Poison King, he liked to use some poisonous ingredients.
Su Liang confirmed that Nangong Lin’s cause of death was a sudden cardiac arrest, which was caused by the overstimulation of the drug.
Ji Xiaoshu, who had secretly come over, heard Gu Ling say that he would get a hundred words written as punishment if he took another step forward. He immediately turned around and ran away, muttering as he ran, “Why can master always punish me?”
So, when Gu Ling and Su Liang returned to Yuanming Pavilion, Ji Xiaoshu asked, “Master’s wife, can we refuse if master gives us unreasonable punishments? I think there should be at least a supervision mechanism. There shouldn’t be tyranny where master’s words are final!”
Su Liang laughed when she heard it, “Xiaoshu makes a lot of sense.” He already had a democratic mindset.
“Besides, master is teaching us martial arts, why should we be punished by writing? Eldest Brother, am I right?” Ji Xiaoshu pulled Zhengzheng as an ally.
Zhengzheng pretended not to hear.
“You’re right.” Gu Ling nodded slightly, “As punishment for disobedience today, you’ll have to run three laps.”
Ji Xiaoshu stared blankly, “What if I don’t agree? Does Master’s wife think it’s reasonable?”
Su Liang smiled, rubbed Ji Xiaoshu’s head, “Three laps should be fine, and if you keep arguing, your master may increase it to ten.”
Ji Xiaoshu sighed, “Master’s wife is always on master’s side, I’m going to find my father to supervise.”
It happened that Ji Yuebai came to visit his son that day. After hearing Ji Xiaoshu’s account, he immediately said that his idea was very good, but also believed that Gu Ling’s punishment was appropriate: children can be curious, but it’s wrong to run off and see a corpse.
Ji Xiaoshu, who had not even seen the corpse, could only grudgingly accept the punishment and ran his three laps. Of course, the warm-hearted eldest brother Zhengzheng volunteered to accompany him.
After studying the cause of Nangong Lin’s death, Old White felt it was not a big deal. He deserved to die anyway, and dying so easily was letting him off lightly. Besides, the effect of the truth-telling drug was achieved before his death.
However, Weng Ming felt that this was not acceptable. If the truth-telling drug would cause someone to die so quickly, it would be a failure, because its own purpose might be affected. What if it took a long time to interrogate someone? What if the person needed to stay alive?
“It’s already a success, it just needs some more improvement,” Su Liang said.
So, based on the original recipe, they planned to find a way to adjust it. They had previously taken some of Sheng Yue’s blood, but it hadn’t been used yet. Weng Ming suggested adding it to the mix, and Lao Bai agreed.
As such, time flew by and the end of the twelfth lunar month arrived.
The spring couplets in the household were written by the elderly and children together. Ji Xiaoshu and Zhengzheng also wrote couplets for their own homes, which they thought of themselves.
Gu Ling taught the children how to cut paper for window decorations, and Ji Xiaoshu couldn’t help but praise, “Master has such nimble fingers!”
That day, they steamed flower buns at home, and the children made the shapes they liked. Zhengzheng and Ji Xiaoshu made a small rabbit-shaped bun for Gu Xiaonuan. They thought it was quite good until they saw the other “little rabbit” Gu Ling casually made, which was delicate and cute, completely outclassing theirs.
“Master’s rabbit is too dull, not as lively as ours,” Ji Xiaoshu comforted Zhengzheng.
But when the steamed flower buns were ready, Gu Ling’s little rabbit looked lifelike, plump and white, while Zhengzheng and Ji Xiaoshu’s rabbit was also chubby, chubby to the point their stomachs exploded…
“What if sister likes ours better?” Ji Xiaoshu insisted theirs was still cute.
When the two “little rabbits” appeared in front of Gu Xiaonuan, she made the aesthetically correct choice without hesitation.
So, Ji Xiaoshu bit off the exploded rabbit’s head in one bite, and asked soulfully, “How can I be as nimble as Master?”
Su Liang gave him an answer, “Your hands are too small, they just need to grow a bit.”
Gu Ling continued, “Listen to your master.”
Ji Xiaoshu was instantly happy, “Haha! I’ve always been very obedient, haven’t I, Master?”
Gu Ling gave him a look, letting him understand on his own.
When the two children brought the flower buns they made by hand back to their homes, Ji Yuebai was moved, saying he would worship them; Wan Hui and Lu Yu were also delighted, feeling that the children had grown up.
Another New Year’s Eve.
After finishing their New Year’s Eve dinner in the lively Su Mansion, Gu Ling personally sent Ji Xiaoshu back to the Yin King Mansion.
“Master, prepare a big red envelope for me, I’m coming to pay my respects tomorrow!” Ji Xiaoshu waved goodbye to Gu Ling, “Big Brother also has to give me a red envelope!”
Zhengzheng, lying on Gu Ling’s back, nodded with a smile, “No problem!”
“Xiaogu, after sending Zhengzheng and little sweetie home, would you come back here and have a few drinks together?” Ji Yuebai enthusiastically invited him.
Ji Xiaoshu shook his head, “Dad, that’s just nonsense. Master must be eager to go back to be with his wife for the New Year’s Eve. Who wants to drink with you?”
Gu Ling nodded, “I’ll take my leave.”
After sending Zhengzheng home, Gu Ling quickly returned to Su Mansion.
Yuanming Pavilion had quieted down, Ying Ye had been taken to Lian Mansion by Lian Shun to spend the New Year two days earlier.
The snow castle by the lake had been decorated with big red “fortune” characters, hung with strings of red lanterns, and lit up, looking dreamy.
As Gu Ling went upstairs, the room was warm, and Gu Xiaonuan was still awake, rolling and playing on the bed. Su Liang sat by the bed, watching her to make sure she didn’t fall off.
“Didn’t Xiaoshu’s dad invite you for a few drinks?” Su Liang asked with a smile.
Gu Ling walked over, took off his coat, and hugged Su Liang as they sat down, “He did, but I didn’t want any.”
Gu Xiaonuan crawled over, and Gu Ling held her in his arms, “Nuannuan, do you want to hear a story?”
Gu Xiaonuan nodded her little head, clapping her hands and saying, “Story!”
Gu Ling leaned on the bed holding his daughter, looking at Su Liang and said, “Tell us a story.”
When Su Liang looked at the two similar faces, she felt an overwhelming sense of happiness in her heart. Happiness must be something like this.
After thinking for a moment, Su Liang realized that she had already told Gu Ling all the interesting stories from her previous life that she could remember. “Great God, why don’t you tell us a story instead?”
As Gu Ling held his daughter in one arm and Su Liang in the other, he thought for a moment and said, “What if you hadn’t come to this world and I had crossed over to yours? What would our meeting be like?”
Su Liang became interested upon hearing this, “Maybe, Great God, you would have been mistaken for an actor in a costume drama who ran out without changing their clothes.”
Gu Ling shook his head, “I would soon be discovered as having no identity, and I would have no money.”
“And you would be too eye-catching. People would take photos and videos of you and post them online. It would actually be very dangerous. Even Superman has to live low-key and hide his identity on Earth for fear of being treated as an alien,” said Su Liang.
“I need someone to protect me,” Gu Ling said, “that would be you.”
“I couldn’t give you a fake identity either. The only option would be to hide you at home and not let you go out,” Su Liang laughed.
Gu Ling nodded, “That’s fine. This way, I can make you breakfast every day, send you to work, and stay at home reading, surfing the internet, and playing games. When you come back, we can eat dinner and sleep together. How comfortable.”
Su Liang imagined it and shook her head slightly, “It is better for me to come to this side. It’s more liberating.” Highly developed technology and a legal society with high transparency mean that discovering a transmigrator would result in them being 100% taken away for research, and possibly even dissected. Even if it were more public on this side, they could still be treated as an alien and burned to death, but at least they could hide.
Gu Ling was a very romantic person. He always had some whimsical ideas in his mind, which Su Liang found interesting.
The couple chatted about their wild ideas. Even after being together for a long time, there were always endless things to talk about.
Gu Xiaonuan couldn’t understand what her parents were saying, and her little head nodded off to sleep soon enough.
By midnight, the wind outside was howling, and it seemed that it had started snowing again.
“New Year’s Eve snow is a good omen,” Su Liang said and yawned.
“Let’s sleep,” Gu Ling said, holding and lying down with Su Liang, gently patting her back.
“It’s a pity that Cheng Yun and master couldn’t come back for the Lunar New Year… Sheng Yue must have almost returned to Xingluo Island by now…” Su Liang sleepily thought and drifted into dreamland.
Gu Ling softly kissed Su Liang’s smooth forehead, secretly vowing in his heart: the next time the Lunar New Year came around, Su Liang would be worry-free. Then, they could bring their child back to the Su family village and tell them about the interesting things they once experienced together…
Xingluo Island.
Being secluded from the world and without seasons, even the concept of celebrating the New Year could hardly be deemed amusing here.
Sheng Yue returned to Xingluo Island on New Year’s Eve. His ship had already been spotted before he even got close, and people quickly assembled on the shore, adopting defensive postures.
Obviously, this was because of the earlier raid on Xingluo Island by Gu Ling and Qiao Jing that had instilled a sense of vigilance in the islanders.
A subordinate of Sheng Yue shouted to the people on the shore, “It’s Master Sheng who has returned!”
As the ship docked, no one came forward to welcome Sheng Yue. The guards on the shore told him that he would only be allowed to go ashore after they received instructions from the Island Master. They asked for his understanding.
Sheng Yue understood completely. He had been away for too long, and He Wei would undoubtedly be spreading rumors of his possible death or betrayal.
However, Sheng Yue was not worried about being labeled as a traitor outright. Xingluo Island was in a dire situation, and they needed him.
As expected, He Wei didn’t take long to personally welcome Sheng Yue with a group of people.
As Sheng Yue stepped ashore, He Wei looked at the completely unfamiliar subordinates behind him and asked coldly, “Who are these people? Where are the elders you took with you?”
Sheng Yue’s expression was calm, “I will explain this matter to my Master.”
He Wei snorted coldly, “You better have a clear explanation for where you’ve been all this time!”