Chapter 276: The True and False Island Lord

Chapter 276: The Real and Fake Island Lord

Tonight, the wealthy merchants began building connections, sounding each other out, and inquiring about the mermaid pearl from Lina and others.

The one who seemed more mysterious was Guo Qixiu, who had been chatting with Xia Yuan. After their conversation, no one else approached him.

Island Lord Isabel emerged midway through the banquet, seductively tossing her hair. "Dear guests, after two days on the island, you must have gained some understanding of Gipu Island. I know your purpose here is the mermaid pearl. Tomorrow night at the Hour of the Boar (between 9 and 11 PM), someone will escort you to the merfolk tomb, where our transaction will be completed."

Isabel promised, "Whether or not you purchase the mermaid pearl, a ship will come to pick you up and take you away from Gipu Island the morning after tomorrow."

Meng Wan listened attentively from behind. Chi Yu had spent the past two days hunting and roughly circling the island, noting that no boats were docked at the seaside—not even a small skiff.

The people of Gipu Island were very protective of their privacy and confident that no one could escape under their watch.

What Isabel said afterward were mere pleasantries. She was skilled in diplomacy, not exceptionally beautiful, but increasingly appealing the more you looked at her.

Her tone was always measured—neither overly warm nor cold—making the merchants feel at ease.

Once the most important matters were addressed, Isabel exchanged a few more words with several merchants before exiting flawlessly.

She seemed like a hollow shell, so perfect she seemed soulless.

Meng Wan had kept his eyes fixed on Isabel from the moment she entered, observing every person she interacted with.

This made Chi Yu so nervous that he kept glancing around, making those he stared at feel puzzled.

Realizing this might attract too much attention, Meng Wan shot Chi Yu a glare and pulled him back to the small courtyard early.

Chu Ci, seeing this, quietly followed.

"What were you doing just now?" Meng Wan asked angrily as soon as they returned.

Chi Yu felt extremely wronged. "I wanted to help you investigate, husband."

Meng Wan was exasperated. "You... ah, forget it. Anyway, we're about done for today. Let's see what happens tomorrow."

Chi Yu was eager. "Are we going to buy the mermaid pearl tomorrow too?"

Meng Wan rested his chin on his hand. "I'd like to see what this mermaid pearl is, but I'm afraid someone might try to stop us."

Chi Yu didn't understand. "Who? Do we even know anyone on this island?"

Chu Ci furrowed his brow slightly, pulled up a chair to sit opposite Meng Wan, and gestured with his fingers. "Are there still people hiding in the shadows on the island?"

Meng Wan smiled knowingly. "Exactly. They invited so many people to the island, just to sell some mermaid pearl?"

"If the mermaid pearl were truly a precious gem, people would come on their own, and Gipu Island would already be famous. Making it so secretive—nine out of ten times, it's something shady. Since it's connected to the Strange Taoist, it's a certainty." Meng Wan's tone was firm.

Chu Ci knew all too well how cruel his master could be. He had once flayed dozens of beauties' skins just for a fleeting, absurd whim.

He raised his hand in warning and said with great concern, "Godfather, don't be careless. You need to be wary of my master. He's best at manipulating others to do his bidding."

Meng Wan smiled and rubbed his head. "I'll be careful. For now, let's think about how to get in and cause trouble if they try to keep us out."

Chi Yu asked eagerly, "Husband, you and Xiao Ci said there's a very dangerous person. Why don't you just stay away? Let Lord Xia's Brother Chu handle it. He's a first-class martial artist—few can defeat him."

Meng Wan ignored his question and continued analyzing with Chu Ci.

"In my view, Gipu Island secretly invited so many merchants to screen them. The criteria are easy to guess—Lord Shen is a glaring example."

Without understanding the island's secrets and vested interests, Meng Wan could use Lord Shen—a clear example—to deduce what was going on.

Chu Ci gestured, "They need money."

"Not bad, money." Meng Wan stated why he had been tailing Isabel. "Before she left, she spoke with five people—including Lord Shen—who were the wealthiest in this group."

Two were from Yu, three from other countries. Besides Lord Shen, the other Yu man was the wealthy merchant Wang, who had been roughed up by the old man and the young man when they boarded the ship.

Meng Wan continued, "Apart from having money, they also need to be bold and daring. For example, Chen Zhenlong, who built his fortune from scratch. His assets aren't huge, but he has guts and can fully control his family's money."

Tang Er, whom Xia Yuan was portraying, was definitely not eligible. No matter how rich the Tang family was, it had nothing to do with Tang Er personally. If his elder brother had come today, he might have been chosen.

Chi Yu, who had been dejected after Meng Wan ignored him, suddenly brightened up. "I know! None of them are as capable as my husband. He can wrap ten thousand jars around his waist."

Meng Wan's hand trembled as he held the teacup, and he said helplessly, "That's the idiom 'waist full of ten thousand strings of cash,' not ten thousand jars around your waist. Once we're back at West Wu Manor, you should go back to school for a few more days. It's been so long, and you still can't speak the official language of Yu properly. If you go out alone, you'll get cheated again."

Chi Yu had been cheated before. If Song Tingzhou hadn't saved him back then, he would have been killed. This shows that being strong in martial arts doesn't guarantee safety.

The saying 'the human heart is evil' was something Meng Wan had come to understand deeply through his journey.

"Oh." Chi Yu didn't want to go to school, but he didn't dare argue with Meng Wan.

Meng Wan pondered for a moment. "Tomorrow, someone will definitely come to our courtyard and try everything to delay me."

Chu Ci made a hesitant gesture. "Have we been exposed?"

"Not exactly exposed, but someone is definitely watching us from the shadows."

Seeing Chi Yu's guilty look, Meng Wan said, "It's not your fault. Ever since we arrived at the North Sea ferry, there have been people watching our group from the shadows. After I boarded the ship, I didn't restrain myself too much. Anyone with a bit of intelligence could tell I'm not an ordinary page."

But Meng Wan hadn't restrained himself, as if he were deliberately acting this way.

——

"Island Lord, the list of these people is here."

In a secret room on Jipo Island, Isabel was respectfully handing a thin slip of paper to the man in front of her. Judging by her tone, he was the real master of Jipo Island.

The man who had had a pleasant chat with Xia Yuan at the beach bonfire took the paper. "Isabel, you've done well. Tomorrow night, you'll have to work hard again."

A flicker of pain showed in Isabel's numb eyes. She lowered her head slowly, replied with a single "Yes," and then quietly left.

"This woman is no longer fit to be the Island Lord."

After Isabel left, another voice emerged in the secret room—light, hoarse, but not unpleasant. Instead, it carried a strange charm that made one eager to see the speaker's true face.

Guo Qixiu didn't even look up. "Yan, if you were willing to stay and be my Island Lord, I would have Isabel step down immediately. But unfortunately, you're not willing."

Yan emerged from the darkness. He was of average height, slender, with fair skin. His face was actually quite ordinary, but like Isabel, his face grew on you.

His eyebrows were meticulously groomed, long and thin, with upturned tips that carried a hint of sharpness.

On his lips was a layer of purple-tinted balm, and his eyes drooped slightly when speaking with others.

He exuded an aura of mystery, calmness, and restraint—extremely intriguing. It made people naturally drawn to him, wanting to get close and uncover the deepest secrets hidden within his heart.

"I work in Lin'an Prefecture. How could I come to your island? Unless you go to the master and ask him to transfer me here." Yan said calmly.

Guo Qixiu would only dare to ask the master for such a thing if he were tired of living. He said flippantly, "You are someone valued by the master, unlike me, stuck on this island, destined to grow old here for the rest of my life."

Yan said with a pointed tone, "If you could truly end your days here, everyone would envy you."

Guo Qixiu's face tightened. "What do you mean? Did you hear something?"

Yan gave a cold laugh. "You've already figured it out, haven't you? Someone extraordinary has come to the island. I know you still have a small boat here. Launch it tonight. I'm taking Taoist Chi You with me."

"In such a hurry, even taking the Taoist away? Isn't it just some kid from the Yue Zheng family? People have come to check the island before, haven't they? Why the rush?" Guo Qixiu hadn't expected Yan to leave so urgently.

Yan's face twisted into a complicated look. "It's not just the Yue Zheng family."

Guo Qixiu suddenly realized. "I know who you mean. Just a ge'er, not even as big a deal as that Yue Zheng kid. I've got my own ways of handling it."

Yan looked away and said flatly, "That's your business. I've already sent the people to the island. Get us out of here tonight."

Guo Qixiu eyed Yan suspiciously. "Usually you wait until the Fu ship leaves before departing. That xiaoge a friend of yours or something?"

Yan's expression didn't change at all. "Don't fish for info. Though I don't know your plan, I still hope you make it."

To Guo Qixiu, that was as good as telling him to get his coffin ready. His face went dark. "I'll have a boat take you now. You've been sending fewer kids to the island each year. I'll tell the master exactly what's been going on."

"Suit yourself."

That night, the moon was bright over the island. A small boat was hauled to the shallows. With a soft sigh, someone rowed it away from Jipo Island, heading off into the unknown.

Early the next morning, the steward Meng Wan had bribed on the island brought several people to the small courtyard. "You guys guard this door. Tonight, the women's side is locked down tight. Nobody gets in or out. Especially this one. The Island Lord said not even a bird flies out during the day."

After he finished speaking, he was about to leave, but then it hit him how dead quiet the courtyard was.

"Wait, open the door first and take a look."

The door got kicked in with a loud bang, but no one came out of the courtyard. The steward sensed something wrong and rushed into the house. Inside, it was empty, just as he'd feared.

"Fulang, are we going to stay in the Taoist temple all day?" Chi Yu handed Meng Wan the lotus root starch he'd made, put out the fire on the ground, and set their little stove aside to cool down.

Meng Wan spooned up the lotus root starch, blowing on it as he ate. "I didn't think the Old Taoist would be gone from the temple. We'll hang here for now and figure it out tonight."

After they'd talked things over yesterday, Meng Wan made Chu Ci stay and not go back to the male guests' side. Chu Ci never lugged a heavy medicine chest around; he always carried a lighter bag for medicines. Xia Yuan's place only had some clothes, not worth going back for.

The three of them slipped out of the courtyard in the dead of night and headed straight for the Taoist temple. Meng Wan hadn't planned on butting heads with the Strange Taoist right off the bat, but the temple's security turned out to be lax—at least on the surface, there were only a few sweeping acolytes.

"The other night when Xiao Ci and I came here with Lord Shen, the side halls were lit up and crawling with guards. Today it's a whole different story," Chi Yu said puzzledly.

Meng Wan had a vague guess. This small island was related to the Strange Taoist, but the other party might be hiding deeper or had already left.

Chu Ci felt lost. He had just mustered up his courage under Meng Wan's encouragement, but was suddenly told he wouldn't have to face him for now. He couldn't tell if it was good or bad.

During the day, the three of them stayed in the side hall, with Chi Yu going back and forth to gather information.

Outside, the entire island was preparing for the evening feast at the Mermaid Tomb, and a small group of people were searching everywhere for Meng Wan and his companions.

"Fulang, could they sense something wrong and come after Lord Xia?" Chi Yu, who liked to exercise his own brain when following Meng Wan, asked.

Meng Wan was unconcerned. "Lord Xia has Feng Chu by his side. No need for us to worry."

Chi Yu still didn't give up. "Then aren't we going to check out the Mermaid Tomb side?"

Meng Wan was also pondering this. "We will go, but first we need to find a place in the temple."

"What place?"

"A place with water."

As the sunset fell over the coastline, when the last wisp of orange light disappeared, darkness followed.

All male guests were led to the Mermaid Tomb area, and all their servants could only wait outside the tunnel.

No one knew what happened inside that long tunnel. When all the wealthy merchants arrived at the lakeshore, they were wearing uniform black robes and white masks inlaid with pearls on their faces.

Except for those who were particularly fat, tall, or short, it was impossible to tell who was who.

The Mermaid Tomb had been redecorated. A wooden platform appeared out of nowhere on the lake, and tables and chairs were set up along the lakeshore, with drinks and seafood placed on the tables.

Two of the masked figures seemed very familiar with the ensuing procedure. They went straight to the tables in the center, sat down, and began drinking without any hesitation.

The others, still not understanding, followed suit and sat down.

Island Lord Isabel appeared last. Her people guarded the tunnel exit.

"The mermaid pearl that everyone is most looking forward to is ready. It can be brought out for auction at any time, but..."

Isabel's gaze swept around the Mermaid Tomb. "Two mischievous ge'er have sneaked in here. They will disturb the honored guests' enjoyment of tonight's Mermaid Night. Please come out and follow our people outside to wait."

Many masked guests looked around, but no one spoke.

If they didn't speak, no one would recognize their identities.

Isabel gave a helpless smile. "Are you really not coming out? If so, we will have to expel your master from here."

She clapped her hands, calling over two tall, sturdy thugs, who lifted up one of the masked figures sitting at the edge.

"What are you doing? Is this how Jipo Island treats its guests? Wan Geer, Wan Geer!"

The masked figure shouted; by the voice, it was Xia Yuan.

Xia Yuan was lifted by the thugs and paraded around the lake. Before one round was finished, he was about to die.

In a dry well inside the Taoist temple, Chi Yu climbed out, dripping wet, and reported to Meng Wan, "Fulang, Lord Xia has been captured. I'm going to save him."

Meng Wan grabbed him firmly. "Save him? He won't die."