Chapter 240 Let the Madman Go See the Young Lady
"You two are so bold, don't you even try to avoid other people?" Ajiu strolled over unhurriedly, crossed her arms, and watched the two embracing, her words carrying a profound meaning.
"I'd rather you be jealous and furious. You'd better turn around and leave, go somewhere Guan Ye can't find you." Mu Chenbi slowly released her hand, her phoenix-feathered eyelashes gently lifting at A Jiu.
"Could it be?" Ajiu raised an eyebrow, "You impersonated me again to lure Guan Ye? Silly girl, aren't you coming over here?"
"If you won't let me see my senior brother, I won't come over," Guan Ye said deliberately, trying to sound angry.
Ajiu wasn't annoyed. She clicked her tongue and said, "It seems I still have to take you away. It's best to leave Rongdu far away. With the emperor as your backer, how will I have a future?"
"You dare!" Mu Chenbi said urgently, "Guan Ye said she'd stay in Rongdu, I won't allow you to take her away." Before he could finish speaking, seeing Ajiu's ambiguous smile, Mu Chenbi immediately realized he'd been tricked again. "You... won't take Guan Ye away..."
Ajiu laughed, "Guan Ye is so stubborn, how can I control her? I still need to stick close to Master Guan and get her to give me a job as a swordsman. Master Guan?" Ajiu gestured as if holding a sword, "I am Ajiu, I know a little about swordsmanship, could I be a swordsman in your sword workshop?"
Guan Ye raised her head proudly and looked A Jiu up and down with her big eyes. "His figure is acceptable, his appearance is passable, but his swordsmanship still needs improvement. Let's give it a try first."
Mu Chenbi approached the two men, thought for a moment, and said, "The imperial court can provide the funds for opening the workshop..."
“There’s no need for the court to spend money,” Ajiu interrupted. “We have plenty of silver.”
Mu Chenbi looked at Guan Ye suspiciously, and Guan Ye smiled and said, "Have you forgotten the hidden wall in Thirteen Young Master's house? When we talked about the old days, my parents left the city and gave Feng Shouzhen a pair of gold bracelets. The gold bracelets disappeared, and Feng Thirteen felt guilty. He said that the remaining silver ingots in the hidden wall would be left for us to open a sword workshop. Of course, I won't take these silver ingots for nothing. When the sword workshop makes money, I will definitely give Feng Thirteen a share."
Mu Chenbi nodded repeatedly, "The Thirteenth Young Master is kind-hearted, loyal, and courageous, a true hero. What are his plans for the future?"
Guan Ye and A Jiu exchanged a glance. "He really does have something he wants you to help him with."
Mu Chenbi frowned and said with displeasure, "We are all brothers who have gone through life and death together. What's with all this begging? As long as I can do it, even if I can't, I will try my best."
Guan Ye was amused by his serious demeanor and chuckled, "Who would dare to call you brother? But what he's asking for isn't difficult. Thirteenth Young Master wants to join the army and guard the Vermilion Bird Gate, just like his father."
"To be a guard at the Vermilion Bird Gate?" Mu Chenbi looked surprised. "Feng Shisan is so skilled, and he only wants to be a guard at the city gate? That's a huge waste of his talents. I... won't allow it."
Guan Ye said, "You just said he was kind-hearted. Only a kind-hearted person would make such a pure and sincere request. His father accepted money and let people leave the city, which was a righteous act, but it also violated the duties of the garrison commander. Feng Shisan wants to be the garrison commander of Zhuque Gate for his father again and guard this gate for his Feng family."
“That’s true.” Mu Chenbi looked troubled. “I feel like I’ve wronged Thirteenth Young Master.”
Guan Ye punched Mu Chenbi on the shoulder. "I'm not aggrieved. We can all live well and eat our fill as long as we live. What's there to be aggrieved about?"
Mu Chenbi rubbed his shoulders and begged for forgiveness, "I promised Thirteen Young Master that you would tell him that from now on, when we eat wine and meat, I have to get a share."
“I'll consider you alright.” Ajiu took the twin-dimpled sword from her waist and handed it to Mu Chenbi. “But we have to agree that you are you and I am me. I will return the twin-dimpled sword to its rightful owner, but Guan Ye, you’re not coming to my side yet.”
Mu Chenbi took the Twin Dimples Sword and held it tightly in his hand. He raised his eyelashes and looked deeply into Ajiu's eyes, everything was understood without words.
"Before opening the workshop, I have one more thing to do," Guan Ye interrupted the two.
Ajiu smiled knowingly, "I'll go with you."
"What is it?" Mu Chenbi had barely uttered the words when he realized what was going on. "I know... it's Xingguo Ward."
Guan Ye nodded, "Xingguofang did nothing wrong, let them go."
Mu Chenbi pounded his palms. "So much happened today that I forgot for a moment. I'll send word right away to release Xingguo Fang from the prison."
Guan Ye was silent for a moment, then said, "The craftsmen in the workshop, if they want to stay in Rongdu, they can come and help me when my workshop grows bigger. As for those who don't want to stay, I'll send them back to Canglang Island. I was originally going to go back myself..."
“Go back…” Mu Chenbi’s phoenix eyelashes fluttered. “Is there anything there that you can’t bear to part with? If you can’t bear to part with it, then bring it all to Rongdu.”
Guan Ye's eyes were slightly red. A Jiu said on her behalf in a deep voice, "She can't bear to leave. She will never leave Canglang Island. Guan Ye must keep her promise and bring Jiang Muyun back."
"Jiang Muyun?" Mu Chenbi exclaimed in surprise, then realized, "Yes... I know." Mu Chenbi pondered for a moment and continued, "Speaking of which, I am also curious about what kind of person Young Master Pei is. I really want to go back with you to see Young Master Pei and also... pay our respects to Lu Chaoge."
Ajiu smiled and said, "You still have a lot to do. Secure your throne, and we'll go to Canglang Island."
Mu Chenbi immediately understood, snorted and said nothing more. Ajiu picked up her sleeve and gently pressed it against Guan Ye's moist eyes, and said softly, "They are all waiting for you to go back. You finally did it. I will go with you and take them back."
Ten days later, Guan Ye and her companions were finally about to set sail for Canglang Island. When they saw Wan Qixi again—no, Lu Xiaoyun—this man with narrow, sharp eyes and a sinister face seemed like a completely different person. His hair was tied up high and neatly, with a few gray hairs mixed in at his temples. His face was weathered, but he did not look old. His thin jawline was clearly defined. He stood on the deck of the large ship, lowered his narrow eyes, and watched Guan Ye walk towards him with a gentle yet complex gaze.
"Wan Qixi?" Guan Ye waved at him. "Lu Xiaojun?"
Lu Xiaojun climbed off the edge of the boat, wiping the debris off her hands to ease her tension. "Call me whatever you like, just call me whatever you feel comfortable with."
"Hey?" Guan Ye circled around him. "Is this still the Boss Wanqi I know? You never say anything nice to me. Have you taken the wrong medicine?"
Lu Xiaojun looked at Ajiu for help, but Ajiu smiled calmly and said, "After a brush with death, wouldn't you be a different person? Having gone through life and death, he'll naturally find you much more agreeable, right, Boss Lu?"
"Yes." Lu Xiaojun breathed a sigh of relief. "I heard you're going back to Canglang Island. I know the sea route well, so I'll give you a ride."
Guan Ye poked Lu Xiaojun to check if his injuries had truly healed, her face showing hesitation. "You were badly injured. Ajiu said you were almost dead. How come you can sail a boat after only a few days?"
Lu Xiaojun shook her hands and feet, "This little injury is nothing. Thanks to Mu Chenbi, I've taken a lot of the palace's elixirs and medicines, so I'm fine now. The waterway to Canglang Island is difficult to navigate, and the weather is unpredictable. Only someone as naturally skilled as me can be sure of success. Besides, I'm not here to take you." Lu Xiaojun looked at the woman in green not far away, "I'm taking my niece."
Guan Ye didn't say much to him, but looked up and searched for something. "Manager Pei, I'm here."
Pei Bi limped toward Guan Ye. After many days in the prison, this resilient man had endured torture without uttering a word. Finally, upon seeing Guan Ye, he removed his armor, his pupils trembling with excitement, and it took him a while to speak.
"Good job, Guan Ye." Pei Bi placed both hands heavily on Guan Ye's shoulders. "Thank you."
A thousand words could be condensed into just a few, and Guan Ye knew the weight of those words. "Manager Pei, I heard that you and many of the master craftsmen are unwilling to stay in Rongdu and are going back to Canglang Island. Have you thought it through? Once you leave, you'll be separated by countless mountains and rivers, and who knows when you'll be able to come out again..."
"Leave the island?" Pei Bi gave a self-deprecating laugh. "Why leave the island? I never wanted to leave, but I was forced to come by fate. I dream of going back to Canglang Island, and I will never leave again in this lifetime."
"Where is the island lord..." Guan Ye searched for Pei Yuan's figure.
Xingguo Fang is innocent, but it is a fact that Pei Yuan burned Jiang Muyun to death. Human sacrifice is intolerable to heaven and earth, and Pei Yuan should pay with his life, but... for a madman, whether he lives or dies is no longer important.
"We will stand together through life and death, never betraying each other!" In the distance, a red-haired man shouted to the sky with his arms outstretched, "If anyone breaks this oath, everyone can kill them! Kill, kill!" The red-haired Pei Yuan brandished a rapier and stabbed at each of the people who stood still. "If we don't kill them, may heaven and earth punish us!" Pei Yuan laughed loudly, shouting the blood oath around the crowd, "Kill you all! You have broken your oath! Everyone deserves to die! Kill, kill, kill!"
“The shop owner…” Guan Ye sighed, “has actually gone mad.”
“He’s been insane for a long time,” Pei Bi said. “From the moment he accepted the meteorite, he went mad. He’s been obsessed with forging the meteor sword, obsessed with returning to Rongdu, and obsessed with proving the Dao for Xingguo Workshop…” Pei Bi withdrew his gaze, clasped his hands and bowed to Guan Ye. “I have received a great favor from Xingguo Workshop. When I return to the island, I will take good care of the workshop master and the young master.”
"Back to the island?" Pei Yuan pricked up his ears, having heard something, and ran towards Pei Bi. "Back to where?"
—"Canglang Island".
Pei Yuan let out a sharp cry, "No, no! There are ghosts lurking on the island. I won't go back, I won't go back! If I go back, I'll die, I'll die! I'd rather die than go back!"
Pei Bi reassured him, "No, no, we're just taking a big ship. How about we take a big ship?"
Pei Yuan gazed at the boundless sea against the wind, then suddenly a look of fear crossed his face. "Will this ship sink? What if it sinks?"
"How could a big ship sink so easily?" Guan Ye blurted out.
"Where are we going after we get on the ship?" Pei Yuan asked in a low voice, like a child.
Hearing these familiar words, Guan Ye's eyes suddenly welled up with tears. Years ago, she and her father had exchanged similar questions and answers. The past flashed before her eyes, while reality was riddled with problems.
“That place… is peaceful.” Guan Ye choked up. “Once we get there, we won’t have to run away anymore.”
"Great, great!" Pei Yuan clapped his hands. "Once we get there, we'll be safe and sound, and we won't have to run away anymore."
Seeing that it was getting late, Guan Ye gestured for everyone to board the ship. Looking back at Rongdu, she recalled the day they first arrived in the capital. It was already evening when they arrived. She leaned on the bow of the ship and watched the oil lamps on the dock gradually light up. The city towers in the distance were shrouded in a smoky gray mist. The city was brightly lit and charming. She followed Xingguo Fang onto the land of Rongdu, as if she had stepped on the mortal world.
Looking back now, the so-called imperial city was just an ordinary place, no different from Canglang Island.
Guan Ye saw Wushuang following behind the crowd. She was dressed in a green robe, like an ancient jade that had been immersed in the deep sea for thousands of years. Her warm and smooth appearance revealed a chilling aura that was hard to look at directly. The sea was surging and the sun was high in the sky. She seemed to be unable to see anything around her, yet she seemed to contain the entire deep sea. She held a red sword box in her arms and gazed into the depths of the sea.
Finally, there was Cui Jin, shrouded in a black robe. He pulled back from the brink and avoided making a grave mistake. Mu Chenbi granted him permission to leave Rongdu. Cui Jin told Lu Xiaoyun that he also wanted to go to Canglang Island, that he wanted to... see the young lady.
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