Chapter 1945: Chapter 969: Journey to Dark Night Island (Second Update)
On the third day after Gu Jiao and Mu Chuan drank together, the Mu family’s eldest son resigned from his post, taking responsibility for a murder case caused by his subordinates. He felt he had not governed well and was ashamed to hold a high position, pleading with His Majesty to approve his resignation.
Shangguan Yun approved it.
Additionally, there was a flood in the south, and the Mu Family donated five million taels of silver to assist the disaster victims.
This had emptied their family wealth.
The Mu Family did not have that much cash on hand, so they had to mortgage their lands, shops, and major family industries.
The donation might sound good in name, but in practice, it was no different from confiscation.
Mu Chuan sat alone in his room as guards came and went, moving the valuable items.
"Hey! You can’t take that!" His servant stopped one of the guards, looking at the cloisonné enamel vase in his hand and said, "It’s the young master’s birthday gift! The young master loves to use it to raise little fish!"
That was a childhood memory.
Mu Chuan was mischievous and couldn’t sit still around the house. If he wasn’t knocking over this vase, he was breaking that porcelain. Later, the old master of the Mu Family somehow got an expensive cloisonné enamel vase.
It was meant for flowers, but Mu Chuan had an idea and caught two small fish to raise in it.
"Let them take it." Mu Chuan said lightly.
"But young master..." The servant said unwillingly, "They’ve emptied the room; at least leave you the vase as a keepsake..."
Mu Chuan said quietly, "No need, I don’t want any mementos. Just like this, it’s fine."
The guards took the vase, and Mu Chuan’s gold-inlaid jade belt from the wardrobe was also taken, leaving only the worthless clothing.
"Young master..." The servant choked, looking at Mu Chuan.
Mu Chuan used to have an impatient nature, but when this truly happened, he was calmer than anyone else in the family.
He slowly stood up, expressionless, and walked out of the room he had lived in for twenty years.
As he crossed the threshold, he turned his head for one last look, saying a silent goodbye.
...
The Mu Family’s actions towards the Xuanyuan Family in the past were no less severe than those of the Han and Nangong Families. Although they hadn’t schemed against them on the battlefield, when it came to kicking the Xuanyuan Family while they were down, framing, and defaming them, the Mu Family showed no mercy.
Shangguan Yun would also show no mercy to the Mu Family.
The entire Mu Family sat in battered carriages, silently leaving the inner city on an early morning before dawn.
The family servants were dismissed, leaving only a few old servants and household members who refused to leave.
More than thirty people moved to an old house in the outer city, which was part of Old Madam Mu’s dowry and was the only asset not "surrendered."
Having lived in luxury, they suddenly became commoners; the family members cried bitterly.
Old Madam Mu fell ill on a stormy night, and Mu Chuan braved the heavy rain, seeking medical help everywhere.
However, as soon as they heard it was to treat someone from the Mu Family, no doctor dared to come.
Everyone knew how the Mu Family had "exposed" the Xuanyuan Family in the past. With the Xuanyuan Family now cleared of all charges and the empress on the throne, the Mu Family’s influence had waned. Anyone daring to help the Mu Family would be opposing His Majesty and the Xuanyuan Family.
In the torrential night, Mu Chuan finally felt the despair of having his family’s property confiscated and clan destroyed.
Dragging his weary body, he staggered back to the old house like a walking corpse.
Just as he reached the doorstep, a familiar call came from behind.
"Mu Chuan."
He turned around, the heavy rain blurring his vision as it soaked his eyes.
Yet he clearly saw Gu Jiao in a blue long dress, holding an oil-paper umbrella and carrying a small first aid kit, slowly walking toward him.
The rain was cold as it fell into his eyes, and when it flowed out again, it became unbearably hot.
His throat grew tight with pain.
Gu Jiao treated Old Madam Mu, leaving enough medicine, and advised Old Madam Mu to rest well and not overexert herself in the near future.
After she left, Old Madam Mu handed Mu Chuan a brocade box: "It was given to me by the Second Prince’s Consort to pass on to you."
Mu Chuan was taken aback: "She... revealed her identity to you?"
Old Madam Mu weakly smiled: "Yes, I never thought she would be that valiant and brave commander of the Hei Feng Camp, a woman not inferior to men."
Old Madam Mu was a smart person, and she said emotionally, "Since she is the prince’s consort and also a Hei Fengqi leader, her open visit to our house is telling the world that neither His Majesty nor the Xuanyuan Family intends to wipe us out. From now on, those who want to show us a hard time will have to think it over."
Mu Chuan nodded, his hands trembling as he opened the brocade box.
Inside was a stack of silver notes, a recommendation letter from the National Master Hall for the imperial examination, and a note left by Gu Jiao.
"Mu Chuan, do not give up."
Mu Chuan’s tears burst forth—
...
During her time in Shengdu, Gu Jiao also visited the Chess Club. Unfortunately, the Chess Sage of the Six Kingdoms, Mr. Meng, had stayed in his hometown after returning to Zhao Country to negotiate peace and had not come to Yan Country.
Gu Jiao guessed that the old man might be pretending to be a beggar again, wandering the countries to gather Go talents. As long as the old man was happy, he didn’t have to conform to the conventional expectations of retiring and enjoying his later years at home.
In early August, Gu Jiao and Xiao Hen set out for Darknight Island, leaving the dragon-phoenix twins at the Imperial Palace, and Xiao Jingkong remained in Shengdu, as Xuanyuan Qi hoped to spend more time with him.
Darknight Island rarely interacted with the outside world, so it wasn’t convenient for Gu Jiao to bring too many people along. She only brought Liao Chen and a few experts from the Shadow Division.
"Is such a small team enough?" Shangguan Yun asked. "Let me send a group of soldiers with you."
She sent Geng Wuxiu, the head of the Geng Family.
Outside the Imperial Palace, Geng Wuxiu held a packet of fried snacks, munching and offered the rest to Gu Jiao, "Want some?"
Gu Jiao: "..."
The younger brother was heading to Darknight Island, so the worried Qingfeng Taoist Priest discreetly followed to ensure his safety.
Liao Chen, who thought going to Darknight Island would allow him to escape someone’s pursuit, found himself in trouble once again.
...
This time, it wasn’t a military march, so there was no need to rush day and night. The group took a month and a half to arrive at Pu City.
After settling in Pu City for two nights and catching up with General Changwei, they temporarily entrusted King Hei Feng to General Changwei’s care and set out from Pu City again on the morning of the third day.
Three days later, they left the northernmost border of Yan Country and stepped onto the icefield leading to Darknight Island.
"Where did Chang Jing say the Direwolves are?" Gu Jiao rummaged through her pouch for a map, "I’ve lost the map."
"It’s okay, I know where they are," Xiao Hen said.
"How do you know?" Gu Jiao asked.
"I’ve seen the map," Xiao Hen replied.
Gu Jiao nodded, "Oh, then you lead the way. Qingfeng Taoist Priest, you come along, too."
The three of them went nearby to find the snow sledge and Direwolves of Darknight Island. Geng Wuxiu, wrapped in thick furs, squatted in front of an ice hole, staring at the trickling ice water below and swallowing hard.
Liao Chen looked at him with a smirk, "What are you looking at?"
Geng Wuxiu, salivating, said, "There are so many fish down there, I wonder if they’re tasty."
...
The Direwolves of Darknight Island were free-ranging on the icefield. Since they’d been trained, they generally wouldn’t go far unless hunting. As soon as they heard a familiar whistle, they would quickly come over.
Gu Jiao took out the whistle that Chang Jing gave her and blew it.
She blinked, "Huh? No reaction."
The pitch of the whistle was beyond the range that human ears could hear, only wolves could hear it.
In case the whistle was broken, as humans, they wouldn’t be able to detect it.
Gu Jiao blew it again.
This time, still no reaction in the surroundings.
"Let me try," Xiao Hen said.
Gu Jiao handed him the whistle, and Xiao Hen blew it rhythmically; before long, a Direwolf appeared.
Then two, three... more and more Direwolves ran towards Xiao Hen’s direction.
With the cold wind howling, he stood on the vast icefield, seeming to merge with it, his gaze icy, exuding a strange and powerful aura.
Gu Jiao tilted her head and looked at him.
Hmm, my husband is so handsome.
Another day of being charmed by my handsome husband.
A total of twenty-one Direwolves, including a young wolf king.
The young wolf king was quite fierce, especially towards a group of strangers who did not have the aura of Darknight Island.
It bared its teeth, beginning to show its aggressiveness.
Xiao Hen showed no fear, he boldly stepped forward, knelt down on one knee, lifted his long, jade-like hand, and gently pressed on the young wolf king’s head.
A miracle happened; the young wolf king’s fierceness instantly subsided.
Gu Jiao was surprised, "You can tame wolves too?"
Xiao Hen said, "Chang Jing taught me."
The young wolf king took the lead in digging a hole, uncovering a shelter, and led the Direwolves to charge in and pulled out the snow sledge inside.
Gu Jiao’s eyes lit up, "Isn’t this a snow sledge? It must have been made by the godfather who taught the people of Darknight Island!"
Upon hearing "godfather," Xiao Hen’s face turned black.
It’s that man again!
When the three returned to their original spot on the sledge, Liao Chen and Geng Wuxiu were sitting cross-legged in the snow, grilling fish.
Geng Wuxiu picked up a fish skewered on a stick, blew on the hot steam, took a bite, and said, "Oh, it’s delicious!"