Chapter 482: 482. I have a guess, it may not be correct

Translator: 549690339

Gu Ling ignored Sheng Yue’s advice and returned with him to the Bajiao Pavilion in the garden.

Leaving Sheng Yue behind, Gu Ling glanced in the direction of the forbidden area, but there was no movement.

Cheng Yun’s expression was worried, “I’m afraid Senior Mu has been captured. What should we do next?”

Gu Ling didn’t answer, retracted his gaze, looked at Sheng Yue, and then said to Cheng Yun, “Take off his clothes.”

Sheng Yue frowned, and Cheng Yun was stunned, “Huh? What?”

“Take off Sheng Yue’s clothes and search him,” Gu Ling said.

Cheng Yun looked confused, and Sheng Yue sighed slightly, “You still think I’m lying to you, thinking the magic treasure is an object, and I’ve already snatched it? If I really snatched it, could you still stop me?”

Gu Ling stared at him, “Snatching it and being able to use it are two different things.”

Sheng Yue shook his head slightly, “I really admire your caution and thoroughness. Indeed, if I snatched it but couldn’t use it, I would do this too. Unfortunately, this time you’re overthinking it. If you insist on wasting time on me, go ahead.”

Cheng Yun listened to Gu Ling and began to search Sheng Yue’s body. He first frisked Sheng Yue up and down and found a jade pendant and a hairpin, but no other items.

“These two items are left to me by my mother, and I have worn them for many years.” Sheng Yue’s face was calm, “Gu Ling, you’ve seen them before.”

Gu Ling looked at Sheng Yue’s hairpin and jade pendant, and indeed, they were his original belongings. Gu Ling had seen them before when Sheng Yue went to the capital city’s Su Mansion.

Afterward, Cheng Yun untied the rope binding Sheng Yue, and following Gu Ling’s instructions, began to undress him.

Sheng Yue didn’t resist and let Cheng Yun do as he pleased.

After removing his outer clothes and shoes, Cheng Yun searched him thoroughly and then told Gu Ling, “There’s nothing else.”

Gu Ling looked at Sheng Yue and said with a thin-lipped, “Keep taking it off.”

Cheng Yun was about to proceed when Sheng Yue unbuttoned himself, “I’ll do it myself. Although you are my younger brother, this is really strange.”

Before long, Sheng Yue had stripped down to nothing but his underpants, standing barefoot and disheveled in front of Gu Ling and Cheng Yun, revealing numerous old scars on his body.

Sheng Yue voluntarily explained, “Some were left from martial arts training, and some were injuries from fighting with others.” The biggest injury came from Gu Ling when he directly broke one of Sheng Yue’s forearms.

Cheng Yun walked a circle around Sheng Yue and said to Gu Ling, “It seems there’s really nothing. Though I don’t believe him, what he said should be true. We should find a way to save them as soon as possible. If Mo Yan goes crazy and hurts Senior Mu, it would be terrible.”

But Gu Ling said, “Take off the last one, too.”

Sheng Yue’s face darkened a bit, “Gu Ling, it’s not really unscrupulous for me to want to escape today, right? We were never on the same side, and you’ve never trusted me. All this is the proof. If it weren’t for my usefulness, you would’ve killed me long ago. I don’t think it’s too much for me to want to protect myself at this point. You want to search me, I cooperate, but do you really have to humiliate me like this?”

“I don’t have time to humiliate you. You wouldn’t be ashamed of such a thing anyway.” Gu Ling’s expression was indifferent, “Take it off.”

Sheng Yue put his hand on his waistband and Cheng Yun silently turned his head to look outside the pavilion. Although they were both men, this situation was indeed awkward.

After a while, Cheng Yun heard Sheng Yue say, “Did you see clearly?”

“Turn around.” Gu Ling said.

Cheng Yun touched his forehead, admiring Gu Ling’s strong mentality, he still had a lot to learn.

“Did you see clearly?” Sheng Yue asked again.

This time, Gu Ling said, “Put your clothes on.”

Cheng Yun sighed with relief, waiting a while longer before turning back, only to see that Sheng Yue had already put on his outer clothes.

The atmosphere in the pavilion at this moment reminded Cheng Yun of a phrase Su Liang once said, “As long as you’re not embarrassed, the embarrassed person is someone else.”

Gu Ling, who forced Sheng Yue to strip naked, wasn’t embarrassed. Sheng Yue, who was forced to strip, didn’t look too embarrassed either. The most embarrassed one was Cheng Yun, who was watching.

“You’ve searched me. Can I go now?” Sheng Yue fastened his belt and calmly asked Gu Ling.

Gu Ling shook his head. “I told you, until this matter is over, no one can leave.”

Sheng Yue’s expression turned somewhat helpless. “I can’t beat you, nor do I want to argue with you. But isn’t it a bit too much to force me to stay? In the past, I was against you because of my position, but I haven’t caused you any substantial harm. On the contrary, you made me a cripple. Are you not afraid that I’ll stab you in the back if you keep me here to help?”

Cheng Yun frowned, “You kidnapped our children before. How can you say you haven’t done anything? We wouldn’t be crossing the line even if we killed you!”

Sheng Yue’s face stiffened. “Cheng Yun, I didn’t expect you to become so secular now, talking about killing so easily. I’m glad, but you’re being too harsh on me. When I did those things, it was just a means, not an end.”

“Regardless of the means or the end, it shows that you have no moral bottom line. Anyone who harms a child is scum! You even kidnapped three children and hid them in a cave, causing one of them to become permanently separated from their family.” Cheng Yun accused Sheng Yue.

Sheng Yue shook his head, “I admit, I don’t have as high a moral bottom line as you do. But that child who was separated from their family should thank me. I freed her from her selfish, uncaring family at such a young age. I believe she’ll have a better family in the future, won’t she?”

“Enough.” Gu Ling spoke up, stopping the argument between Sheng Yue and Cheng Yun.

“Since you won’t let me leave, what do you want me to do? Just say it.” Sheng Yue looked impatient.

Gu Ling shook his head. “I haven’t figured out how to proceed safely, and I want to hear your opinion. Don’t give me any nonsense about leaving with your wife and living in seclusion. I want to save people. If anything happens, I’ll make sure you die with me.”

Sheng Yue stared at Gu Ling. “I used to think you and your spouse were always reasonable, but I guess I was wrong.”

Standing on the side, Cheng Yun felt Gu Ling’s words weren’t in line with his usual style. However, Cheng Yun had no complaints about how Gu Ling treated Sheng Yue, as he found him to be a scumbag.

Before Gu Ling could speak, Cheng Yun picked up the rope on the ground, grabbed Sheng Yue’s arm, and started to tie him up again.

“You really are my dear younger brother.” A self-mocking smile spread across Sheng Yue’s face as Cheng Yun bound him.

However, Sheng Yue quickly regained his composure, sat down, and saw that there were tea and water on the table. He said he was thirsty.

“Bear with it.” Cheng Yun coldly said.

“Gu Ling asked me for advice. My throat is dry, and I need to moisten it to continue.” Sheng Yue insisted on drinking water first.

Cheng Yun poured a cup of tea, grabbed Sheng Yue’s hair to make him tilt his head back, and forcibly poured it down his throat with a very rough motion.

“Cheng Yun, you’ve really been corrupted by them.” Sheng Yue said in a melancholy tone, wiping the tea from his face with his shoulder.

“Didn’t you want to talk? Speak up nicely, or I’ll hit you so hard you vomit up whatever you just drank.” Cheng Yun didn’t treat others like this, but for some reason, he was particularly repulsed by Sheng Yue.

Sheng Yue shook his head slightly and stopped talking to Cheng Yun. Instead, he looked at Gu Ling, who was quietly standing on the side and looking in the direction of the forbidden area. “You’re determined to save people, but I can’t think of any good methods either. If there were, with your intelligence, you would have thought of them by now and you wouldn’t have to ask me. However, I do have some serious words for you.”

“Hurry up and speak!” Worried about Elder Mu, Cheng Yun couldn’t help but urge him.

“Before I drugged Mo Yan, he had already forced Su Liang, who was impersonated by Yan Shiba, to go into the water three times. You and I both know that Yan Shiba is not a Transmigrator. She lied about seeing something underwater to deceive Mo Yan. However, Mo Yan’s patience is limited. Coupled with today’s events, once Mo Yan lets Yan Shiba go into the water again, it may not be easy for her to come out.” Sheng Yue said, “However, it is more likely that Mo Yan will threaten you with the lives of Yan Shiba and your master to lure you out, and then threaten the real Su Liang with your life. It all depends on whether Yan Shiba’s disguise has been exposed. If it has, Mo Yan might kill Yan Shiba in a fit of rage and use your master’s life to force you to bring the real Su Liang to him in person. Or perhaps, he’ll capture you first and let Cheng Yun go back to the capital city to bring Su Liang.”

Cheng Yun’s expression grew uglier as he listened. Sheng Yue continued, “No matter which situation occurs, do you think you can win? From my point of view, there’s no chance of winning, and that’s why I want to leave this place as soon as possible.”

Gu Ling stared at Sheng Yue, “Are you done?”

Sheng Yue nodded. “That’s all I have in mind for now. By the way, I just thought of another idea. How about we all leave together, leaving only Mo Yan here? With no way out, he’ll have to leave Xingluo Island once again to capture people in the capital city. At least that would give you more time to find a better solution.”

Cheng Yun shook his head, “As you said, he would get angry and kill someone. As long as he has more than one hostage, he might start killing people next. If we can’t deal with him this time and let him run back to the capital city to capture our people, the situation will get worse.”

“I’m just making suggestions, it’s definitely not stable, because there’s no stable way,” Sheng Yue shook his head, “How to do it is up to Gu Ling.”

“Are you done?” Gu Ling asked Sheng Yue again.

Sheng Yue nodded, “Finished.”

“Good.” Gu Ling nodded slightly and turned his head back towards the forbidden area.

The atmosphere in the pavilion became silent, Sheng Yue closed his eyes, and Cheng Yun looked inexplicable, feeling that Gu Ling seemed to have a way, but was unsure and didn’t know what Gu Ling was waiting for at the moment.

Cheng Yun, avoiding affecting Gu Ling’s thoughts, didn’t ask any more and just leaned against the pillar, staring at Sheng Yue.

After a while, Cheng Yun learned what Gu Ling was waiting for: Feng Ming.

When Feng Ming appeared, he was not surprised that Sheng Yue was captured, and reported to Gu Ling that he had been waiting around the forbidden area for a long time and had not seen any sign of Old Mu.

“It seems that something has happened to Senior Mu, otherwise if he had escaped, he would definitely come here to find the prince,” Feng Ming said with a sigh.

“You go find a rope.” Gu Ling ordered, “The longer the better.”

Feng Ming nodded, “There should be one. Apart from the length, is there any requirement for the thickness?”

Gu Ling shook his head, “Any thickness is fine.”

“Alright, I’ll go get it now.” Feng Ming quickly left.

There was silence in the pavilion again for a moment, and Sheng Yue asked Gu Ling what his plan was.

Gu Ling didn’t answer, only saying that he was hungry and asked Cheng Yun to find some food.

After Peng Wu left, the task of cooking fell on Cheng Yun. He had experience living alone and could cook some simple meals.

“Then you watch him closely. I’ll be back as soon as possible.” Cheng Yun left after speaking.

When Feng Ming returned to the Bajiao Pavilion with a bundle of thin ropes, Cheng Yun also came over with a basket. The steamed buns in the basket were made yesterday, and the filling was specially made by Gu Ling. In any case, eating a full meal was necessary to have the Internal Strength to do the right thing.

Gu Ling ate three cold steamed buns and drank a cup of cold tea, while the other three watched him.

Both Cheng Yun and Feng Ming didn’t know what Gu Ling planned to do with the rope. Sheng Yue’s eyes fell on the bundle of rope placed in front of him, and his gaze flickered for a moment.

Afterwards, Gu Ling got up, picked up the rope, and began to wind it around Sheng Yue.

Sheng Yue frowned, “What are you doing?” He was already bound at both shoulders, and his only remaining hand couldn’t move at all. Now he was bound several more times, but only used up a little rope, leaving a long length.

“I thought of a use for you.” Gu Ling said, “You go to negotiate with Mo Yan.”

Sheng Yue was stunned for a moment, “What should I say?”

“You think about it yourself.” Gu Ling said as he looped the rope around Sheng Yue’s neck once more, tying a loose knot, and holding the other end in his hand. In this way, Sheng Yue was his “grasshopper” on the “line”, which could be let out to a great length, but as long as Gu Ling’s hand tightened, Sheng Yue could be strangled in minutes.

Sheng Yue’s face showed anger, “You’re asking me to go see Mo Yan, you’re basically asking me to die!”

Gu Ling suddenly said something inexplicable, “I have a guess, which may not be necessarily correct.”

Sheng Yue asked back, “What guess?”

“If you don’t go, I’ll strangle you now. If you go, Mo Yan won’t kill you. He knows you’re on my side, and he’ll definitely ask you to pass on the message. As you said, Mo Yan wants to use hostages to catch me,” Gu Ling said.

Sheng Yue frowned, “What do you mean? He told me to let you meet him, and I pass the message onto you. Then what? You won’t actually go!”

“I can go, with conditions. Let him release all the hostages in exchange for me,” Gu Ling said.

Upon hearing this, both Feng Ming and Cheng Yun frowned. Cheng Yun shook his head, “That won’t work! You can’t fall into Mo Yan’s hands!”

“There’s no other way now,” Gu Ling said, “I have to settle it somehow. As long as he releases the hostages, I’ll find an opportunity to kill him.”

“It’s too risky, and he may not agree,” Feng Ming tried to dissuade him, “Your Highness, please reconsider.”

“Only by negotiating can we find out. Sheng Yue, what do you think?” Gu Ling held a bundle of rope in his hand, with one end tied around Sheng Yue’s neck.

“If it’s a negotiation, why tie me up? Are you afraid Mo Yan will kill me and I won’t die fast enough?” Sheng Yue asked coldly.

Gu Ling countered, “Are you scared?”

“You ask me to help you, and then you treat me like this. It makes no sense!” Sheng Yue snapped coldly.

“As I said, I have a guess, which may not be correct,” Gu Ling said, “As for what it is, you’ll know once you get there. I’ll watch you go in and keep a safe distance.”

As the words fell, Gu Ling dragged Sheng Yue, who could only move his feet, and leaped out of the pavilion, landing in the garden.

Under the sunlight, the lake’s water shimmered with ripples. Following them out, Feng Ming and Cheng Yun both felt that something was off in the atmosphere.

“Remember, when you see Mo Yan, speak nicely, use your intelligence, and our cooperation can continue smoothly,” Gu Ling said as he pulled Sheng Yue forward, his tone gentle.

The dappled shadows of trees fell on Sheng Yue’s overly pale face, revealing his fluctuating emotions.

As they were about to leave the garden, Sheng Yue suddenly stopped, and Gu Ling halted as well, “What’s the matter?”

Sheng Yue stared intently at Gu Ling, “What exactly is your guess?”

“What do you think?” Gu Ling asked in return.

Sheng Yue took a deep breath, “I can’t go see Mo Yan.”

“Afraid of death? I told you, he won’t kill you,” Gu Ling said.

Sheng Yue was silent.

The next moment, Gu Ling’s rope tightened in his hand, and he looked coldly at Sheng Yue, “It seems, my guess, is correct?”

Sheng Yue clenched his lips and said nothing.

“You’re so eager to escape because you stole Mo Yan’s magic treasure, didn’t you? Just because I didn’t find it on you doesn’t mean it’s not there. Perhaps you hid it somewhere we wouldn’t search, or maybe, you swallowed it. Whatever it is, it must be small, and you can retrieve it once you’re in a safe place,” Gu Ling said.

Sheng Yue showed no expression, “You really think a lot.”

“You tricked my master into the cave for fear that he would stop you. You took Cheng Yun, who was blocking the road, instead of directly killing him. You didn’t care about him, but rather wanted to use him as a hostage to ensure your escape when necessary,” Gu Ling said indifferently, “The reason is that although the object is in your hands, you can’t control it and can’t use it right away. In this case, you want to leave with the treasure as soon as possible and slowly figure out how to make it recognize you as its master. Mo Yan is a Transmigrator, and that object may recognize him as its master even if he did nothing. It might have belonged to him from the beginning. Even if it’s an independent item, it may not be easy to change its owner.”

“It’s a pity that you don’t tell stories,” Sheng Yue scoffed.

“If, as you said, Mo Yan’s magic treasure is in his head and cannot be transferred to another, it’s not strange for you to want to leave. But you’re running too fast. You didn’t take the opportunity to kill Mo Yan to deceive us and let him continue to restrain me. After Mo Yan’s magic treasure was taken away, he would pretend his space was still there; otherwise, he would die quickly. You’re afraid to go back because you fear Mo Yan will snatch the magic treasure back from you, and then, you will undoubtedly die. But helping me negotiate is not something you should fear with your personality; you’ve been dealing with Mo Yan for years,” Gu Ling said calmly, “Your so-called desire to transmigrate isn’t real and is just a cover for your true intentions. From the beginning, your purpose in coming to Xingluo Island was Mo Yan’s magic treasure. Only that item would attract you. Knowing you couldn’t handle it on your own, you pretended to cooperate with us, using me, and today, you finally achieved your goal of seizing the treasure.”

As Gu Ling finished speaking, a faint smile appeared on the corner of Sheng Yue’s lips. He stared at Gu Ling for a while before sighing, “I didn’t expect that after stripping naked for you, you still wouldn’t believe me. Don’t say I used you; we used each other. Unfortunately, in the end, I made one wrong move.”