Chapter 250 - Chapter 250: 250. Take some more time to nurture it

Chapter 250: 250. Take some more time to nurture it

Translator: 549690339

“You still like Gu Ling?” Yan Shiqi coldly stared at the girl dressed in plain clothes kneeling at his feet.

The girl was massaging Yan Shiqi’s leg and froze upon hearing his question, opting to remain silent.

Yan Shiqi angrily slapped her to the ground and stomped on her. Rage consuming his remaining eye as he yelled, “Just because Gu Ling is handsome? You women are all cheap! Cheap!”

The girl slowly crawled up and kneeled in front of Yan Shiqi. She spoke in a hoarse voice, “Master, all I feel towards Gu Ling now is hatred. He’s a heartless man who doesn’t care for anyone.”

Yan Shiqi snorted, “So, if he merely beckons you, you’d pounce at him? But he would never beckon you. Nian Ruting, if I were to capture Gu Ling and have you kill him with your own hands, would you dare to?”

Once the renowned Nian Family in the capital city was no more, with the scandal beginning when the talented Fourth Miss Nian Ruxue and overlooked Fifth Miss Nian Ruting cheated in the Military Exam, committing the crime of deceiving the monarch.

The day their guilt was revealed, Nian Ruxue had disappeared from her home by the time the arresting officers arrived.

Nian Ruting, who was at the centre of the scandal, had no chance to escape. After being locked in the Heavenly Prison, in an attempt to lure Gu Ling to her rescue, she betrayed Nian Jincheng, implicating him with the then-fugitive rebel Gu Ling, resulting in Nian Jincheng’s imprisonment in Heavenly Prison as well.

The night atop Wangxiang Mountain, Su Liang had asked Yan Shiba to abduct Duanmu Che to save Nian Jincheng in exchange.

In that deal, Su Liang, acting as a delegate of the Royal Family, ostensibly aimed to save Duanmu Che. By doing so, he also helped rescue Nian Ruting from the Heavenly Prison as Duanmu Che traded the Nian siblings, because at that time Duanmu Yi and Duanmu Chen had been planning to use Nian Ruting, Gu Ling’s secret fiancee unknown to others, to force Gu Ling to show himself.

Of course, it wouldn’t have worked, but Su Liang believed that the Royal Family could tarnish Gu Ling’s reputation, so he decided to handle everything at once, rather than being bothered again later.

Nian Ruting was thrown off a cliff by Su Liang himself. The person to catch her was Yan Shiqi, who set up the rescue by Yan Shiba’s instructions.

The purpose of that time was to save Nian Jincheng, and it was successful. He was taken to Su Liang’s house by Yan Shiba.

Yan Shiba left in a hurry, and Su Liang forgot to ask how Nian Ruting was to be dealt with. But Yan Shiba didn’t forget, and he ordered Yan Shiqi to kill Nian Ruting and toss her corpse into the unmarked graves.

That Nian Ruting was still alive today was because Yan Shiqi spared her. Back then, Yan Shiqi had truly attempted to strangle her, which led to her damaged vocal cords and husky voice.

In the end, compassion stayed his hand. He saw his own reflections in Nian Ruting’s face. Her infatuation and obsession with Gu Ling mirrored Yan Shiqi’s shadow-like pursuit of Yan Shiba.

Yan Shiqi didn’t inform Yan Shiba of his failure to kill Nian Ruting. Since Yanyun Building was jointly controlled by them, Yan Shiqi had significant power and plenty of loyal followers, making it easy to hide the truth from the unsuspecting Yan Shiba.

Moreover, Yan Shiqi even arranged for someone to treat Nian Ruting’s injured leg. She could move freely now, but her limp was still noticeable.

At this moment, Yan Shiqi asked Nian Ruting if she would dare to kill Gu Ling? In reality, he was also asking himself if he would be willing to kill Yan Shiba?

The answer was negative.

The thought of Yan Shiba’s death caused his long-held affection for her to ache, followed by resentment. After all he’d sacrificed without gaining anything in return, how could he be content?

Before Nian Ruting could answer, Yan Shiqi laughed coldly. “Wait and see, if Gu Ling dares to show up, I will capture him and use his life to force Yan Shiba to marry me! Hahaha!”

Nian Ruting, who had been kneeling on the ground, suddenly lifted her deathly still eyes, looking up at Yan Shiqi. Her face, once more beautiful than Nian Ruxue, was now emaciated and pale. She said hoarsely, “Master, let Gu Ling marry me! That way, Yan Shiba will give up on him!”

Yan Shiqi looked at Nian Ruting, squinting his eyes, “No wonder you were easily manipulated back then. Your brain really is faulty! If Gu Ling cared for you, you wouldn’t be in this state now. Don’t tell me you have a way to make him marry you? Because you saved his mother? Or because you harmed Nian Jincheng?”

Nian Rutinz’s face turned extremelv uglv, “1…1 had an enzazement with him!

His mother arranged it!”

Yan Shiqi sneered, “If I remember correctly, the one who once had an engagement with him was Nian Ruxue. Even if it’s true that Nian Ruxue stole your merits, the only thing you should have done back then was to kill Nian Ruxue! Fool!”

Nian Ruting kept a straight face, and then heard Yan Shiqi suddenly sneer again, “As long as you serve me well, once Gu Ling is caught, it’s not impossible to make arrangements for him to end up with you.”

“Thank you, Master!” Nian Ruting kowtowed.

Yan Shiqi had long known that Yan Sui died at the hands of “Ning Jing”, and he had also interacted with “Ning Jing” in Xunyang City.

When he learned that “Ning Jing” had died, Yan Shiqi was also surprised, but he did not associate it with Gu Ling. The once invincible Yan Sui in Yan Shiqi’s eyes could die, so it was not impossible for someone stronger than “Ning Jing” to kill him.

The key point was, only Yan Shiba knew about “Su Liang likes Gu Ling”.

Although Yan Shiba had always ordered the people of Yanyun Building to find Gu Ling, he never mentioned to Yan Shiqi and others that he was looking for him on behalf of Su Liang. Even when he saved Nian Jincheng, Yan Shiqi asked why, and Yan Shiba casually said that she intended to use Nian Jincheng to force Gu Ling to show up.

The two of them had always been like this from childhood. Yan Shiqi laid his heart bare, and Yan Shiba called him around, not bothering to say an extra word to him when she didn’t need him.

As a result, Yan Shiqi misunderstood that Yan Shiba liked Gu Ling and kept looking for him. As for Gu Ling, he was merely a fabled beauty to Yan Shiqi, and he had no knowledge of anything else and had not connected him with Su Liang at all.

It wasn’t until last night that Yan Shiba admitted that she likes Gu Ling. At that time, she was desperate and was just trying to deceive Yan Shiqi. She absolutely cannot let Yan Shiqi know that she is actually smitten with a little monk from Huguo Temple.

The resentment and bitterness accumulated in Yan Shiqi’s heart finally erupted after narrowly escaping death in the Yin Country.

He took the blow for Yan Shiba, nearly lost his life, and Yan Shiba either thought he was dead or didn’t care whether he was alive or dead, and ran away to save herself. If it weren’t for Nian Ruting, who was secretly following and saved Yan Shiqi, he would have already been dead and gone.

After Yan Shiqi’s wounds healed, he seized Yan Shiba’s power, and hunted her for hundreds of miles.

This was also why Gu Ling tried to lure Yan Shiba out two months ago, but to no avail. At that time, there was infighting within Yanyun Building.

The next time Yan Shiqi saw Yan Shiba, he brought up Su Liang.

“Would you like me to invite your beloved Liang sister to accompany you?” Yan Shiqi watched Yan Shiba’s reaction.

Upon hearing this, Yan Shiba chuckled, “By all means, please do! Go right away!”

Yan Shiqi’s expression changed, sensing deceit. He knew long ago that Su Liang was tricky, but at that time it was because of “Ning Jing”.

“Ning Jing” was dead, and Yan Shiba still hoped that Su Liang would come to her rescue? Why?

Yan Shiqi narrowed his eyes, “Is there a master by Su Liang’s side?”

Yan Shiba snorted lightly, “Are you afraid?”

Yan Shiqi thought more, “No wonder she went all the way from the village to the capital city, without a scratch. Who exactly is her master?”

“Your grandfather!” Yan Shiba snorted, “I miss Liang sister, hurry up and find her! If you don’t, it means you are a coward!”

Yan Shiqi thought Yan Shiba was using reverse psychology, seeming unwise to provoke Su Liang and reveal himself at this moment.

With these thoughts. Yan Shiai left simolv, mentioning no more of caoturing

Su Liang.

Yan Shiba could present an opposite reaction, suggesting Yan Shiqi not to touch Su Liang, making it certain that Yan Shiqi would look for her.

But Yan Shiba, certain that Yan Shiqi wouldn’t kill her, doesn’t really want Yan Shiqi to approach Su Liang at this time. Although she thinks that Gu Ling should be with Su Liang, it was just her speculation. In case Gu Ling is not there and has gone elsewhere temporarily, Su Liang wouldn’t be able to withstand the power of the entire Yanyun Building.

On one hand, Yan Shiba does not want anything to happen to Su Liang. On the other hand, only if Su Liang is all right, there would be a chance to save Yan Shiba from her predicament.

Therefore, after hearing Yan Shiqi mention Su Liang, Yan Shiba made up her mind: She can’t let Yan Shiqi find Su Liang. It would be better for Yan Shiqi to look for Gu Ling.

The two are not the same.

Su Liang has always been in the open, while the mysterious Gu Ling has not appeared. Once Gu Ling appears, whether Yan Shiqi finds him to do whatever he wants, he will definitely not succeed. Even if Su Liang is always by Gu Ling’s side, as long as the direct target is not her, Gu Ling can block it for her.

“Foul couple… you two really know how to play…” Yan Shiba began to complain bitterly about Gu Ling and Su Liang again, “I really want to hug my little brother Yun…

When Su Liang and her group arrived in Pingbei City, it was evening.

The previous time she accompanied Gu Ling to Pingbei City to participate in the Provincial Exam, she bought a house here. She had passed by the last time she went back to the capital, this time she still rented an entire inn, letting the others stay, while she, Bai Xiaohu, and Qi Jun moved into the Su Mansion in Pingbei City.

Qi Jun and Bai Xiaohu were staying in one courtyard, and Su Liang moved into the courtyard she used to live in with Gu Ling.

As night fell, Qi Jun and Bai Xiaohu went to a restaurant for dinner while Su Liang did not go, saying she was very tired and didn’t want to eat.

The truth was, Gu Ling had already secretly bought delicious food to bring back.

Returning to the place where she had once lived, Su Liang sighed a little, “It was just last year’s events, but it feels like a long time ago. Master and Xueqing have both settled in the capital city, and they will hardly come back here.”

The Lin Family was originally in Pingbei City. After their two sons passed the Imperial Examination, Lin Shuzhi remained in Qianshan Academy as dean, while Lin Xueqing also grew up in the academy.

Thinking of how she and Gu Ling met them last year, Gu Ling was still pretending to be Lin Shuzhi’s disciple “Ning Jing”, seeing Lin Xueqing at Qianshan Academy, and being called “Brother Jing”.

She also met Zheng’er in Pingbei City halfway through her journey with Gu

Ling, and saved Little Monk Cheng Yun. She met Wan Hui here as well. Before Wan Hui came to pick Zheng’er up, Gu Ling once put Zheng’er in a bamboo basket and took him to Qianshan Academy to play in his free time.

At this moment, listening to Su Liang talking about the past, Gu Ling found her voice lively and particularly pleasant.

“Great God, if given a chance to start over, would you choose the same path again?” Su Liang asked.

After a moment of silence, Gu Ling nodded, ‘Yes.” Because you are on this path…

The moon plunged into silence and darkness, Gu Ling said he wanted to go to Qianshan Academy to see, and Su Liang was not inclined to sleep, so the two of them secretly left.

Standing on a mountain behind Qianshan Academy, Gu Ling looked up at the sky and saw the moon obscured by dark clouds.

Su Liang looked at the three trees standing side by side. These were planted by Lin Boyan, Lin Bojun, and the real Ning Jing when they were children.

“Would Yang Yu and Nian Jincheng be in the capital city at this moment?” Su Liang asked.

Gu Ling nodded, “Yes.”

“Without you showing up, Nian Jincheng can’t recover his identity on his own.

It’s a bit risky. I can’t go back, so I can’t match them up.” Su Liang sighed softly, “Their wedding date has to be postponed again.”

“There’s no need to rush.” Gu Ling said.

Su Liang shook her head, “Great God, you don’t understand this. For those two who are in love, they naturally hope to get married sooner, especially Nian Jincheng. Wasn’t Xing Yusheng the same back then? Great God, you are inexperienced in love, so you can’t understand them.”

Gu Ling turned around and stayed silent, his back to Su Liang. He wished he could say, it’s not clear who exactly is inexperienced in love…

But Gu Ling hasn’t confessed his feelings to Su Liang yet. Firstly, it’s because Su Liang is still “too young”. He wants to follow her past life tradition and wait until she turns eighteen.

According to Su Liang it is easy for relationships before the age of eighteen to have a negative impact on studies and physical development isn’t mature.

And indeed Su Liang has been constantly studying, very busy.

Secondly, Gu Ling feels that Su Liang does not currently hold romantic feelings for him. She admires him, respects him, treats him as a dear friend and elder brother, trusting him unconditionally without any ulterior motives.

But none of these two issues is big. If Gu Ling confesses, he can pursue Su Liang, make Su Liang fall for him and wait until she is eighteen to become intimate.

And here lies the problem.

Gu Ling has thought, if he confesses and Su Liang accepts to date him, and their relationship becomes romantic, he may not be able to hold back until Su Liang grows up…

At present, whenever Gu Ling looks at Su Liang, he has to suppress the desire to get close to her. Although he shows no hint of it.

“Great God? Great God?” Su Liang called Gu Ling a couple of times and tugged at his sleeve, which brought him back to his senses.

“What were you thinking about just now?” Su Liang asked curiously.

Gu Ling wished he could blurt out “thinking of you”, but he still gave up and casually said, “I was thinking about how great the chance of surviving would be if I jumped off from here.”

The place where Gu Ling stood was atop a cliff. Su Liang glanced down and laughed lightly, ‘Great God, such curiosity can be somewhat dangerous. I’m really worried that one day you’ll want to taste what poisonous grass tastes like and you’ll end up killing yourself.”

“I’m not a fool.” Gu Ling replied with a gloomy tone.

Su Liang shook her head, “You not being a fool and you not doing something foolish aren’t the same thing.”

Gu Ling thought, indeed, he was doing something foolish right now. The moonlight… even though it wasn’t very good, why not take the opportunity to confess? Maybe the result would be really good? But what if Su Liang refuses and says she only wants to be friends with him, what then…

Su Liang found Gu Ling spacing out again, pulled his sleeve and turned around, “Great God, stop sleepwalking, let’s go back. We still need to hit the road early tomorrow.”

Su Liang let go of his sleeve and walked ahead.. Gu Ling watched her thin figure from behind and silently thought to himself: Let it simmer for a while longer…