Chapter 460: 460. Lantern Festival Light Show

Translator: 549690339

Xingluo Island.

Three days had passed since Mo Yan imprisoned the rebels in his portable space when Sheng Yue saw He Wei again.

Sheng Yue did not see how Mo Yan had done it, but everything in the forbidden area had been restored to its original state. The high wall that had been collected in space appeared again, lying on the ground, having been broken from its foundation.

Crossing the collapsed walls, Sheng Yue entered the forbidden area and saw all the people who had marched aggressively with torches on New Year’s Eve kneeling outside Mo Yan’s courtyard, their heads lowered, looking miserable and haggard.

Hearing footsteps, one person turned his head in a daze, it was He Wei’s eldest grandson, He Peng. His gaze fell on Sheng Yue without the previous disgust and arrogance, leaving only fear as if he had just experienced something terrible.

Mo Yan was in his small courtyard, holding a broom, sweeping the fallen leaves under the banyan tree.

“Master.” Sheng Yue bypassed the kneeling people and stopped at the door to salute.

He Wei, who was kneeling in the front, raised his head at the sound, glanced at Sheng Yue, and immediately lowered his head again, his body trembling slightly as if he had thought of something.

“I don’t blame them.” Mo Yan swept the fallen leaves into a pile, lit them with a match, and the flames quickly shot up, casting half-light and half-dark on his face. “People often act foolishly out of ignorance. Fearlessness is a good thing, but the fearlessness of the ignorant can sometimes be fatal.”

Sheng Yue respectfully asked, “How does Master plan to deal with the rebels?”

Mo Yan’s expression was indifferent, “Do you think, after this incident, that they would still harbor ill intentions?”

Sheng Yue shook his head, “No.”

“Since I did not know before and now I do, and it is the New Year, I should give some gifts to my granddaughter, grandson-in-law, and little great-grandson as a token of my intentions.” Mo Yan smiled slightly, “Ayue, what do you think I should give?”

After a moment of thought, Sheng Yue replied, “Gu Ling and Su Liang have everything they need in terms of status and wealth. If Master wants to give a gift, the thought is what matters most.”

Mo Yan nodded, “You’re right. The previous conflicts were mostly caused by He Wei’s deception. If I had known Su Liang was my granddaughter earlier, we could have sat down and discussed things properly. Many things didn’t have to happen. They know that my purpose is not to harm anyone, and if the path is opened, wouldn’t they be overjoyed to return with me to a more civilized and advanced world? What do you think?”

Sheng Yue nodded, “Master is right. However, in my opinion, Gu Ling and Su Liang may not be willing to take risks for this cause.”

Upon hearing the last two words, Mo Yan’s face was shrouded by a layer of gloom, as if muttering to himself, “We must take that step eventually…” Then, he abruptly changed the topic, “Although I believe they will not dare to harbor any ill intentions again, we cannot pretend this hasn’t happened. Let He Wei come in.”

As Sheng Yue left the courtyard, he met He Wei’s uneasy gaze.

“Master wants to speak with Grandfather He.” Sheng Yue’s expression was calm. For a long time, everyone knew the animosity between him and the He Family, as they had always targeted him. But Sheng Yue had never lost his composure in front of the He Family members, not even showing a hint of anger.

He Wei got up from the ground, almost unable to stand steadily, and was caught by Sheng Yue’s outstretched hand. He looked deeply into Sheng Yue’s eyes, a trace of regret flashing through them, but not for treating Sheng Yue that way, only for not being able to stay as composed as Sheng Yue.

Entering the courtyard, He Wei knelt down again, crying in pain, “Master, please forgive me! Forgive me! I was confused and committed a grave mistake, disgracing the decades of trust you placed in me. I deserve to die!”

In the past, He Wei never referred to himself as an old servant, and Mo Yan had given him the respect he deserved on the island, even promising to help him gain the world before leaving, and truly taking practical action for it. However, it was obvious that after the failure of the rebellion and being taken into Mo Yan’s space, He Wei had completely lost his previous ambition.

“Old He, haven’t I been good to you all these years?” Mo Yan’s voice was cold.

He Wei nodded repeatedly, “Yes, Master has been extremely kind to this old servant. It was this old servant who committed a grave mistake! Please grant me another chance to redeem myself! I swear I will serve you with my life, along with my children and grandchildren, without any hesitation!”

“We’ve been living in seclusion on Xingluo Island for so many years, and only started leaving the island last year. What I asked you to do was for your own good, as well as the whole island, not for myself. Do you really think I’m interested in the power and wealth of this world?” Mo Yan asked.

He Wei’s forehead was covered in cold sweat, “Yes… Master did everything for this old servant, for the people on the island… Master has no interest in worldly power and wealth, this old servant knows…”

The word “people” elevated Mo Yan’s status to that of a king.

“And how have you repaid me? If only you had informed me as soon as you found out that Su Liang is my granddaughter, none of this would have happened. Before the conflict between Su Liang and me escalated, we had a chance to recognize each other and negotiate properly. The glory and wealth you want would not have been difficult to achieve.” Mo Yan sneered.

He Wei raised his hand and slapped himself hard, “It’s all this old servant’s fault!”

“Now, for the sake of Xingluo Island’s future, I must apologize sincerely to my granddaughter Su Liang for the past events.” Mo Yan stared coldly at He Wei, “You are the culprit behind our inability to recognize each other and the escalation of the conflict. Despite all these years of loyalty, and even though you’ve been incompetent, I’ve always given you opportunities. But you didn’t cherish them, and now you can’t blame me for being heartless. Rest assured, when you’re gone, I’ll leave a bloodline for the He family. Rou’er is my favorite child after all.”

Upon hearing this, He Wei fell to the ground, his face turning ashen. The moment he entered the room, he knew he would have a hard time leaving alive. Whether it’s a large or small country, rebellion is always unforgivable, and Mo Yan has never been a benevolent and kind person. Mo Yan wants to use his death to establish authority and deter others. But until the last moment, He Wei still thought that Mo Yan would spare his children and grandchildren out of sympathy. However, when Mo Yan said he would leave a bloodline for the He family, he mentioned only Min Rou, who had already defected to Su Liang… even though Min Rou was his own granddaughter, she didn’t even have the He surname!

“Master, this old servant knows that he deserves to die a thousand times, but I beg you, spare my children and grandchildren, and let them atone for their sins! It’s all this old servant’s fault!” He Wei knocked his head heavily on the ground, over and over again, soon enough blood was flowing from his forehead.

Everyone outside who was kneeling heard He Wei’s plea, but those who had been following He Wei three days ago and claimed to be willing to go through fire and water for him, were now as silent as cicadas in winter. Even He Wei’s sons and grandsons didn’t have the courage to lift their heads.

Mo Yan’s clear and icy voice came from the courtyard, “The He family stirred up rebellion, disrupted the peace of Xingluo Island, their crimes are unforgivable, execute the entire clan.”

He Wei’s children and grandchildren, some quick to react, tried to escape as soon as they got up, while others sat on the ground with a dazed expression. Some already foresaw their inevitable death and began to wail.

However, Mo Yan and Sheng Yue didn’t need to take action themselves, as the escapees were soon caught by others. As long as only the He family was in trouble, it meant that others were safe, so they naturally seized the opportunity to gain merit and let Mo Yan vent his anger on the He family.

Soon, the once-powerful He family members on the island were all captured.

He Wei never saw his children and grandchildren again, as Mo Yan ordered Sheng Yue to behead him, and Sheng Yue immediately obeyed.

“Send He Wei’s head to the capital city as a token of my sincerity in apologizing to my granddaughter.” Mo Yan said to Sheng Yue with a gentle gaze, “I’ve written a letter explaining the whole story. The other gifts are also prepared.”

Sheng Yue wrapped He Wei’s head in a cloth, putting it in a box. Mo Yan didn’t ask Sheng Yue to arrange for someone to deliver the gifts to Jiaye City, but instead, he asked two other subordinates who had always guarded the forbidden area to go.

The two men soon left Xingluo Island with a full ship of gifts, including He Wei’s head, as well as many treasures Mo Yan’s subordinates had collected from various places over the years, including numerous precious medical books. There was also a letter written by him to Su Liang.

Mo Yan ordered the two men to deliver the items to the coast of Jiaye City, hand them over to Qiao Jing, and then return without going ashore.

Within a day, the He family, which had once been second only to Mo Yan on Xingluo Island, had completely disappeared. He Wei’s headless corpse and his children and grandchildren were thrown into the sea.

Peace returned to Xingluo Island, even more so than before. The number of corpses hanging in the woods by the shore didn’t increase, but aside from ignorant children, it seemed that no one on the island other than Mo Yan knew how to smile.

That night, Sheng Yue personally went to patrol the coast. A young man reported the situation to him and was about to leave when Sheng Yue stopped him, “Help me light the way.”

The young man quickly took the lantern from Sheng Yue’s hand and followed him in one direction.

After walking for a while, it was quiet all around, and the sound of the distant waves could be heard. Sheng Yue didn’t look back and asked nonchalantly, “On New Year’s Eve, where did you go?”

The lantern suddenly shook, and the young man looked uneasy, “Master Sheng, are you asking about…”

“That space.” Sheng Yue said directly, “You know what I’m talking about, you’ve been in there. How big is it inside? What does it look like?”

“This… This humble one dares not speak too much, for fear of the Master’s blame.” The young man’s voice grew lower and lower, and the lantern in his hand kept shaking.

“You can choose not to speak, but if I kill you now, all I need to say is that you wanted to defect. No one will care about you, and no one will remember you. You’re still young, do you really want this?” Sheng Yue’s tone was cold.

The young man looked up and saw a corpse hanging from a tree not far away, swaying gently in the wind, which was quite chilling.

“Young Master, don’t kill me… I’ll tell…” The young man’s voice trembled.

About a quarter of an hour later, the two arrived at a cliff by the sea.

The wind howled, and the waves beat against the rocks below.

Sheng Yue stopped, turned around, and reached out. The young man hurriedly handed over the lantern in his hand.

Sheng Yue took the lantern and saw the young man subconsciously backing away. He said indifferently, “I’m not going to kill you, you can go back.”

The young man’s face was full of relief, “I won’t tell anyone about tonight!” He turned and ran away.

Sheng Yue stood on the edge of the cliff, looking at the darkness of the rocks and the sea below, and stood quietly for a long time before finally leaving with the lantern.

Capital city.

After New Year’s Eve, the Lantern Festival came quickly.

This was the first Lantern Festival since the unification of the world, and a grand lantern fair was to be held in the capital city.

Duanmu Chen specifically consulted with Gu Ling and Su Liang, asking if it would be inappropriate to hold a lantern fair at this time, and if anyone from Xingluo Island would come to cause trouble? After all, there would be a large crowd, and any accidents could have dire consequences.

Gu Ling and Su Liang both thought there was no need to be so nervous. The biggest enemy left, Xingluo Island, had already fought with them several times. From the beginning they wanted to kill Duanmu Chen and Su Liang, and to help Liang Country’s Royal Family fight against Qian Country. Now, Mo Yan and his followers have retreated back to Xingluo Island, and his close aide Sheng Yue even actively showed goodwill to Gu Ling and Su Liang. It is almost certain that Mo Yan already knows that Su Liang is his granddaughter… The struggle is inevitable, but there will no longer be low-level tactics like harming innocent common people which only intensify conflicts – Mo Yan is not an impulsive person, or he wouldn’t have endured for more than half a lifetime for a single goal.

Although Su Liang and Gu Ling believed there would be no problem, they reminded Duanmu Chen to arrange for personnel to maintain order and prevent accidental stampedes and other incidents. Duanmu Chen left this matter to the now Prime Minister Lin Boyan and General Lin Bojun, letting the two brothers take charge.

As soon as the sun set, the children in Su Mansion couldn’t wait to go out and play. This was also Ji Xiaoshu and Ying Ye’s first time celebrating the Lantern Festival in the capital city, and they were looking forward to it.

“Xiaoshu, Uncle Xiaoye, don’t be in a hurry. Our family’s restaurant has reserved the best room for us, and we’ll be able to see the most beautiful lanterns.” Zhengzheng was very patient.

“I’m going to see why my master and mistress are still not done cooking the glutinous rice balls!” Ji Xiaoshu ran out in a flash. In no time at all, she came trotting back behind Gu Ling.

Gu Ling and Su Liang not only made glutinous rice balls, but also fried rice balls. The different fillings made the skins different colors, but they were all made very small and cute. Because Su Liang said that eating big glutinous rice balls could be too greasy.

Everyone gathered around the table to taste the delicious glutinous rice balls.

Ji Xiaoshu ate one after another and quickly finished. She took another one from Gu Ling’s bowl, “It’s so delicious!”

Cen Man wanted to give Ji Xiaoshu two more servings, but he cheerfully refused, “No need, I’m full already, I just love eating my master’s food!”

Everyone knew this.

After dinner and tangyuan, everyone in Su Mansion went out on the street to see the lanterns.

Lao Bai held Gu Xiaonuan, Cen Man accompanied Weng Ming and his grandson Weng Ran, Qi Yan accompanied his fiancee Nangong Qian, Gu Ling held Zhengzheng, and Su Liang held the jumping Ji Xiaoshu. Ying Ye ran back and forth among them.

To avoid the crowded children, the group bypassed the crowd and went directly to Wan Family Restaurant, where many friends and family had already arrived early.

“Master’s wife, that lantern is so beautiful!” Ji Xiaoshu pointed to the lotus lantern hanging high on the shelf below.

“Ask your master to buy it.” Su Liang said with a smile.

“Master, I want that one!” Ji Xiaoshu shook Gu Ling’s arm.

Gu Ling turned his head and asked Zhengzheng, “Do you have one you like?”

Zhengzheng looked for a while before pointing at one.

Then Gu Ling flew out of the open window, causing a stir. It was really like an immortal descending to earth, incredibly beautiful.

Soon, Gu Ling brought back the lanterns his two disciples wanted. The condition was that they were not allowed to run around below, it wasn’t safe.

Ji Xiaoshu and Zhengzheng took the lanterns and ran to the next room to play. Lao Bai, Cen Man and the others went to chat and drink tea with friends. Nangong Qian and Qi Yan strolled hand in hand below, and Nangong Qian went to talk to Min Rou.

Only Gu Ling and Su Liang were left in the room, sitting by the window, looking at the bustling and prosperous view below.

In the crowd, there were two ordinary-looking men, walking slowly with the flow of people. They were Feng Ming and Zhu Zan, who had been sent by Mo Yan to find Sheng Yue after Gu Ling rescued Old Man Mu and the Ying Ying siblings. The two of them were originally followers of Sheng Yue on the island.

The reason it took them so long to arrive at the capital city was that the two had traveled a long way to avoid detection by defenses near Jiaye City after leaving Xingluo Island. As soon as they landed, they heard Su Liang had not encountered any accidents and couldn’t help but suspect Sheng Yue had an accident and never returned to Xingluo Island.

Feng Ming, a shrewd man, knew that if Sheng Yue died or had other accidents and couldn’t return to the island, or could return but didn’t, it would be best for him and Zhu Zan not to return to Xingluo Island either. Because the place was controlled by the He Family, they would only be ostracized, and there would be no opportunity for them to get ahead. Also, the environment and relationships among people on the island made them feel uneasy: Mo Yan was too mysterious, and it was unclear what his intentions were.

Thus, under Feng Ming’s strong persuasion, Zhu Zan finally decided to join him in taking advantage of their mission away from Xingluo Island to break away from its control and live as free men.

However, both of them were orphans, otherwise they wouldn’t have gone to Xingluo Island in the first place. Going to Xingluo Island meant they wanted to make a name for themselves. After aimlessly visiting many places, the two finally decided through discussion to come to the capital city to seek opportunities.

At this moment, Feng Ming looked up and saw the stunning couple sitting by the window in the restaurant, illuminated by moonlight and lamplight, so beautiful that they could be considered heavenly immortals.

“Stop looking, be careful they notice us. If they find out where we came from, we’ll be in big trouble.” Zhu Zan pulled Feng Ming aside and whispered.

Feng Ming lowered his head, holding a child who was about to fall, then pretended to look at the lanterns on the roadside stall, “What if we reveal our identity and seek refuge with those two, what do you think?”

Zhu Zan stared wide-eyed, “Are you crazy?”

Feng Ming shook his head, “I’m not crazy, I’ve thought about it for a long time. If it wasn’t for a martial arts competition that got me noticed by the people of Xingluo Island, I would’ve planned to join the army in Qian Country and fight. I just missed the opportunity. If you’re scared, we can part ways here and go our separate ways. I came to the capital city to find a worthy lord.” As Feng Ming finished saying this, he looked towards the restaurant again, meeting Gu Ling’s indifferent gaze.