Chapter 946 Brother Complex, Wrath of the God of War (Two Updates)

Xiao Heng asked in bewilderment, "But isn't the small medicine box yours? Why is it on Dark Night Island?"

Gu Jiao shook her head: "I don't know."

It was indeed a mystery, and even she had no clue.

The two decided to ask Chang Jing.

"Has your suitcase been seen on our island? I don't know."

In the garden of the Marquis's mansion, Chang Jing looked bewildered and then asked the same question as Xiao Heng: "How did your things end up on our island? You've never been to our island."

If Gu Jiao knew the answer, she wouldn't need to ask Chang Jing. She then asked, "How much do you know about the first island lord?"

Chang Jing said helplessly, "Dark Night Island was originally a deserted island. After he came, he transformed it into a sect, took in the fishermen from the surrounding area, and planted purple herbs. That's all I know. If you want to inquire about the first island master, you can probably only ask my father. Even Uncle Li doesn't know much about it."

"Is he a man or a woman?" Xiao Heng suddenly asked.

Chang Jing blurted out instinctively, "Men, I guess..."

Xiao Heng said seriously, "What do you mean by 'man'? Are you sure or not?"

Chang Jing thought for a moment: "No one has ever told me this. But aren't all island lords men? Are there women who are island lords? If so, could my sister also be an island lord? That way I wouldn't have to inherit the Dark Night Sect."

The two exchanged a glance; Xiao Changjing's mindset was completely different from theirs.

No wonder he and Jingkong get along so well.

Xiao Heng said to Gu Jiao, "I will investigate them, you don't need to worry."

"good."

Gu Jiao wasn't one to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Although the people from Jianlu had infiltrated the capital, they continued to live their lives as before.

After breakfast, Gu Jiao took Xiao Jingkong and boarded the carriage for a picnic.

Little Jingkong swung her legs and whispered, "Jiaojiao, shall we not go on the picnic?"

"Why?" Gu Jiao asked.

Xiao Jingkong lowered his eyes and said, "I'm a little tired today."

Gu Jiao smiled and said, "Aren't you tired?"

Xiao Jingkong opened his mouth, about to say something, when Gu Jiao added, "I'm not that delicate."

It's just a pregnancy. Apart from some differences in appetite and sleep, nothing else has changed.

She's been busy with her own things lately and has neglected Xiao Jingkong. He's growing up day by day, and she doesn't want to turn around one day and find that he's already independent, while she has missed out on his growth.

She looked at Xiao Jingkong and said earnestly, "I want to go on a picnic with you. Would you like to come with me?"

Looking into Gu Jiao's eyes, Xiao Jingkong could sense that she genuinely wanted to go. He immediately perked up and nodded vigorously, "Yes, yes! I love going out with Jiao Jiao the most!"

Gu Jiao was touched by his childlike innocence and imagined what the baby would look like. If the baby was like Jingkong, she thought she would really like him.

She stroked his little head and said, "Tonight we'll go to the Duke's Mansion for dinner, and tomorrow we'll go to Biyue Hutong to play cards with my aunt."

Xiao Jingkong raised both hands and feet in agreement: "I'll do whatever Jiaojiao says!"

...

Bishui Hutong.

Gu Yan stood at the door, looking around.

Gu Xiaobao also looked around like him.

"What?" he asked Gu Xiaobao.

"What are you doing?" Gu Xiaobao asked him back.

Gu Yan was both annoyed and amused by his adult tone: "I'm waiting for someone."

Gu Xiaobao: "I'm waiting for someone too."

Gu Yan: "We'll wait for Xiao Shun."

“I’ll wait too… I won’t wait for Xiaoshun.” Gu Xiaobao belatedly waved his little hand and started calling Xiaoshun like Gu Yan did.

“You should call him Brother Xiaoshun. Also, your sister isn’t coming today,” Gu Yan said bluntly.

Gu Xiaobao looked up at her brother, not very happy, and said, "She's coming."

Before long, Gu Xiaoshun returned.

Gu Yan's eyes lit up: "Is it ready?"

Gu Xiaoshun said furtively, "It's done."

"Let me see!" Gu Yan held out his hand.

Gu Xiaobao looked at his two older brothers with a blank expression, not understanding what they were doing.

Gu Xiaoshun secretly stuffed the item into Gu Yan's arms: "There are plenty of them on the street. You insisted on drawing and making it yourself. I don't know if it will suit your taste. You won't have any money left. I found the most experienced master craftsman."

Gu Yan said, "Okay, you watch over Xiao Bao, I'm going out for a bit."

"Hey." Gu Xiaoshun carried the little guy into the house.

Gu Yan then took a carriage to the military camp.

Gu Changqing was observing the soldiers' drills when a guard quickly approached and whispered something in his ear. He raised a finger and said, "Understood."

He then said to the generals who were observing the drills with him, "Excuse me, I must leave you for a moment."

The generals looked at him strangely, exchanging glances. This was a major training exercise held every three months; had something serious happened to make General Gu leave halfway through?

He left in a very hurry!

Gu Changqing hurried to the outside of the military camp and indeed saw a slender figure pacing back and forth beside a carriage.

“A-Yan”.

He called him.

Hearing the voice, Gu Yan turned around in a daze: "You... why did you come out?"

Gu Changqing smiled slightly: "Someone told me you were coming to see me."

“I didn’t…” Gu Yan retorted instinctively.

He did come looking for him, but he didn't mention it to anyone. He knew the military camp was busy, so he didn't intend to bother him and planned to wait until he finished before meeting him.

Gu Changqing did not tell Gu Yan that it was his personal guard who recognized him.

Gu Changqing is a cold-faced tyrant in the military camp, but he is always a doting older brother in front of Gu Yan and Gu Jiao.

Seeing that Gu Yan's cheeks were flushed from the sun, he quickly led him to his own tent.

"Bring some ice," he ordered the guards.

The guard was startled.

Don't you not use these things?

"yes."

The guard glanced at the pampered young master, understood, and brought over two large basins of ice, placing them on either side of Gu Yan.

Gu Yan felt a slight chill.

"You may leave," Gu Changqing instructed.

"Yes." The guard withdrew.

Gu Changqing picked up the fan on the table and gently fanned Gu Yan.

Gu Yan comfortably raised her neck and turned it 180 degrees.

We need to fan ourselves here.

This is also necessary.

Gu Changqing smiled indulgently and fanned the child slightly harder: "Don't you have class today?"

"It's a holiday today," Gu Yan said.

Gu Changqing asked, "Why did you decide to come to the military camp to find me?"

“I…” Gu Yan hesitated for a moment, then took out a mask from his pocket and handed it to Gu Changqing.

"What is this?" Gu Changqing took the mask with the hand that didn't need to fan, examining it while continuing to fan Gu Yan.

Gu Yan said, "Weren't you engaged? This is an engagement gift for you."

This is a silver half-face mask, very light and delicate, with a novel design that Gu Changqing has never seen before on the market.

He looked at Gu Yan: "Did you have someone do this for you?"

"Mmm." Gu Yan tugged at her little ear and admitted somewhat shyly.

It seems they put a lot of thought into it. Gu Changqing's heart softened: "How did you come up with the idea of ​​sending a mask?"

Gu Yan pouted and said, "Aren't you a master of the underground martial arts arena? I heard everyone there wears masks. If you... if you don't like it..."

“I like it very much.” Gu Changqing said to him with a smile, “I will wear it every time I go to the underground martial arts arena.”

"I'll take you with me too."

"That way, you'll be able to recognize me at a glance."

Gu Yan's eyes flickered, and he tried his best to suppress the joy in his heart. He nodded aloofly and said, "If you insist on taking me with you, then so be it."

Gu Changqing smiled gently, his eyes filled with doting affection.

The residence of the Marquis of Xuanping.

Xiao Heng went to court today and accepted the title of Junior Assistant Minister. From now on, he will be the first Junior Assistant Minister under the Emperor's rule.

When he left the court, he was surrounded by civil and military officials, who all congratulated him.

All of this happened suddenly, but upon closer reflection, it seems to make perfect sense.

He became the Junior Chancellor of the Imperial Academy at the age of thirteen. If it weren't for the unexpected events, he would have already become the Junior Assistant Minister of the Zhao Kingdom.

He has lost some of the youthful arrogance and gained more of a down-to-earth and composed demeanor.

If the young Chancellor's background contributed somewhat to his success, then his later achievements in passing the imperial examinations three times, becoming the top scholar in the city, and being appointed as a junior assistant minister were all the result of his own hard work.

"Congratulations, Chief Minister Yuan! You have a worthy successor!" Some officials also congratulated Chief Minister Yuan.

Yuan, the chief minister, smiled and stroked his beard.

Another official said, "I think Chief Minister Yuan is doubly blessed, having gained both a prized student and a promising son-in-law!"

Yuan's smile deepened.

Yes, two long-standing major issues have been resolved. Next is Baolin and Gu Changqing's wedding. He needs to ask the Imperial Observatory if they can calculate an auspicious date.

...

Xiao Heng finally managed to escape from the encirclement of the ministers, and he was covered in sweat.

He returned to the princess's residence and saw Shangguan Qing there as soon as he entered the room.

He spread out more than a dozen masks on the table and asked Gu Jiao, who was sitting next to him, "Take a look, which one is the mask you dreamed about?"

"Did you have these all done by someone else?" Gu Jiao asked.

Shangguan Qing said, "Yes, I gave your drawings to the blacksmith, but everyone's work is slightly different, with subtle differences. Which one do you think is the most similar?"

“Hmm, this one.” Gu Jiao picked up the third bronze fang mask on her right.

The matter had originally passed, but upon hearing that the Sword Pavilion people had infiltrated the capital again, Shangguan Qing began to take it seriously once more.

"Aren't you going back to Yan?" Gu Jiao asked him.

Shangguan Qing said casually, "It's fine to go back a few days later."

He wants to kill all the bastards in the Sword Pavilion first.

He took out the mask that Gu Jiao had picked out, glanced at his bratty younger brother, and hurriedly said, "You've come at the right time. Draw this mask again, make it look more like the real thing, so that we can make copies and distribute them to the guards."

"Okay," Xiao Heng replied.

Gu Jiao had already seen him; his scarlet official robes accentuated his stunning beauty and elegant demeanor.

The young couple gazed at each other, and even the air seemed sweet.

Shangguan Qing was about to roll his eyes again.

Am I here to be fed dog food? Enough already!

Xiao Heng entered the room, sat down, picked up paper and pen, and began to draw objects.

He didn't just paint a single mask; he also incorporated the attire of the Sword Pavilion disciples and paired it with the Xuan Yue Sword.

That little brat is something else.

Shangguan Qing glanced at him in amazement and said, "That's much easier to recognize! By the way, how did you manage to bring the box back?"

The two exchanged glances, and Xiao Heng said calmly, "It's a secret."

"Tch." Shangguan Qing snorted. "Fine, don't tell me then! But if they don't succeed once, they'll definitely come back a second time. Do you think they'll come tonight?"

Before the two could speak, Yu Ya'er suddenly rushed in, looking flustered: "Miss! Young Master! Steward Zheng is here!"

Steward Zheng is a confidant of Duke Anguo, so his visit must be related to Duke Anguo.

The two hurriedly had Yu Ya'er bring Steward Zheng in.

Manager Zheng stumbled into the room. When he came to Gu Jiao, his legs went weak, but Gu Jiao quickly supported his arm: "Manager Zheng, what happened? Let's talk this out."

Steward Zheng broke down in tears: "Lord Duke...Lord Duke went to town today to buy a shop for Miss...but then some people came from who-knows-where...and kidnapped Lord Duke!"

Duke Anguo always traveled with bodyguards, and these bodyguards were all skilled in martial arts. The fact that they were able to capture him from their hands shows that the other party was no ordinary expert.

The three exchanged a glance, and a guess formed in their minds at the same time.

Sword Pavilion.

Gu Jiao asked, "Did they leave any message?"

Manager Zheng shook his head, crying, "No...nothing at all...they just grabbed them and left..."

Gu Jiao asked seriously, "Where did the accident happen?"

Manager Zheng choked up as he said, "On the east bank of Lihu Lake! I saw them heading towards the west gate—"

Xiao Heng's eyes narrowed: "West Gate... Do they intend to take Duke Anguo back to Sword Lodge?"

Yes, Jiaojiao is the adopted daughter of the Duke of Anguo. With the Duke of Anguo in our hands, how could we not control Jiaojiao?

They probably want to lure Jiaojiao to the Sword Pavilion because they've discovered that to take the small medicine box, they must take Jiaojiao with them.

"I'm going out for a bit, wait for me at home..."

Before Xiao Heng could finish speaking, Gu Jiao had already tied up her long hair without hesitation.

...

As dusk fell, a seemingly inconspicuous carriage drove out of the north gate of the capital.

The coachman drove the carriage cautiously, while four attendants followed on horseback.

Inside the carriage, two men sat facing each other. One was the kidnapped Duke of Anguo, and the other was the swordsman who had rescued Li Jiangping the previous night.

The swordsman wore a silver mask that concealed his true appearance, but the skin on his neck and hands indicated that he was not old. His words confirmed Duke Anguo's guess.

At most around thirty.

"Lord Anguo, we have no ill intentions. Please calm down."

He smiled and spoke fairly to An Guo.

Duke Anguo remained calm throughout, making no futile cries for help. After listening to their words, he said indifferently, "Where do you intend to take me?"

The swordsman chuckled coldly: "You don't need to know. Just cooperate obediently, or I won't mind making you suffer a little."

Duke Anguo was not intimidated by his threat and calmly said, "You are from Jianlu."

A hint of surprise flashed across the swordsman's eyes, clearly not expecting his opponent to guess so easily, but he quickly laughed again: "As expected of the Duke of Anguo, you are exceptionally witty."

This is an admission.

It seems I'm in a bad situation.

After all, only the dead can keep secrets, and they had no intention of leaving alive.

He didn't care if he died; he was only worried that it would implicate Jiaojiao.

The swordsman sneered, "Why are you silent now? Thinking about how to escape? Don't waste your time, you can't escape. And don't expect anyone to come to your rescue. They all thought we were heading towards the west gate. By the time they realized what was happening, we were already on the ship."

Duke Anguo looked at him calmly: "Whom are you trying to threaten by arresting me? The Duke Anguo's mansion, the Xuanyuan family, or the Great Yan royal family?"

“No, that’s not it.” The swordsman smiled. “We just wish to invite your adopted daughter to visit the island.”

They really came for Jiaojiao!

A flash of murderous intent crossed the Duke of Anguo's eyes.

The swordsman took in his murderous intent and said sarcastically, "Oh, you want to kill me? What can a cripple like you do? I can crush you with a flick of my finger! But don't worry, you're so weak, I'm afraid I might kill you without restraint, and then I won't be able to get your adopted daughter back!"

Duke Anguo asked calmly, "Jiaojiao has no grudge against you, so why are you targeting her?"

The swordsman chuckled and said, "There is still some grudge, after all, we killed so many disciples of the Sword Pavilion at the border. Of course, those were all outer disciples, so this grudge isn't too big. As long as she obediently hands over what we want, we might consider letting her go."

It's not that I'm letting Jiao Jiao off the hook; what I really want from her is her money.

Duke Anguo said, "Whatever you want, I'll buy it for you. Is it her armor or her weapon?"

The swordsman said meaningfully, "It's far more precious than those things; you wouldn't understand even if I told you."

After saying this, he lifted the curtain and asked the driver, "How much longer until we reach the ferry?"

“Three hours,” the driver said.

"Isn't there a shortcut?" the swordsman asked.

"have."

"Then let's go!"

"The shortcut involves passing through a forest, where we might encounter wild beasts..."

"Are we still afraid of wild beasts? Let's take the shortcut!"

The swordsman had given his orders, and the coachman had no choice but to comply.

Fortunately, they were lucky and did not encounter any danger in the forest.

An hour later, they were riding on the official road of Yushui Town.

"The ferry crossing is just ahead, sir. Are you sure there's a boat?" the driver asked.

"This is none of your business." The swordsman was not as patient with the coachman as he was with Duke Anguo.

"Yes." The coachman reluctantly shut his mouth.

Of course there were boats. Everything was ready. They traveled by water into the Yan Kingdom and then returned to Jianlu from within Yan territory.

He left a steward to go back and inform the girl. Anyone who wasn't stupid should have guessed that she had to go to the Sword Pavilion to find someone.

Girl, I've met at the Sword Pavilion.

The carriage stopped at the ferry crossing, and a large awning boat slowly approached.

Li Jiangping stood on the boat and waved in this direction.

The swordsman saw it through the carriage window, nodded, lowered the curtain, and jumped off the carriage.

Just as he was about to move the Duke of Anguo down from his wheelchair, a deafening eagle's cry suddenly echoed from the silent dome.

The entire night seemed to be torn open by the eagle's cry, and a powerful killing intent surged in like a tsunami.

The swordsman and Li Jiangping felt a jolt in their hearts, an ominous premonition washing over them.

The heavy sound of horses' hooves drew near, and the two turned to look.

In the darkness, Gu Jiao rode in on horseback, carrying a red-tasseled spear on her back, exuding a murderous aura that seemed capable of shattering mountains and rivers. Her red battle robes fluttered in the night wind, and her black armor reflected a cold light under the moonlight.

The swordsman was astonished: "This is..."

Li Jiangping had met Gu Jiao before, but the Gu Jiao in the mansion was completely different from the person on horseback who exuded the rage of a killing god. He didn't dare to recognize her for a moment.

"Get on the boat!"

He finally realized what was happening.

Gu Jiao, riding on the Black Wind King's lithe horse, coldly drew back her bow and arrow, shooting him into the water!

Xuanyuan Sheng: I went to the battlefield at the age of thirteen.

Xiao Jingkong: I went to the battlefield when I was ten years old.

Baby: I'm amazing! I started fighting right inside Mommy's tummy!

(End of this chapter)