Chapter 88

"Have you the nerve to come back, truly thinking that this lady dare not flay you alive?" In the back garden of Lady Honglian's residence, Lady Honglian had dismissed all the attendants and stared at Bai Cangdong with a cold expression, speaking in a chilly tone.

"If you really wanted to flay me, you wouldn't have brought me here. I came to see you as soon as I returned to Dao Lun City, thinking that you would certainly help me," Bai Cangdong said with a smile.

"Help you? More like to break your bones." Lady Honglian moved as swiftly as the wind, her delicate fingers darting like venomous snakes toward Bai Cangdong's throat.

Bai Cangdong slightly shifted his body, evading Lady Honglian's fingers, and countered with a slash at her arm.

Neither of them used their innate divine light, only engaging in pure martial techniques. They exchanged blows for nearly half an hour without even touching each other.

Both were surprised by the strength of the other's martial skills and their rich combat experience. Finally, they simultaneously unleashed their innate divine light, their palms meeting and both bodies shaking as they took a few steps back to steady themselves.

"Have you really been promoted to Viscount?" Although she already knew the answer, Lady Honglian couldn't help but ask.

"Yes," Bai Cangdong nodded.

"Did you slay the Divine Archer?" Lady Honglian asked again.

"Yes."

"Why didn't you come back after being promoted to Viscount?"

"You know about Meng Yun. After my promotion, I went directly to Fenghua City, intending to help Meng Yun. But it turned out I couldn't help much, and Meng Yun became the young master of Fenghua City," Bai Cangdong said frankly.

"Is it because she became the young master and no longer wanted you, so you had to shamelessly run back?" Lady Honglian said teasingly.

"It's worse than that. Duke Fenghua doesn't allow Meng Yun to interact with any men and insists she focus on her promotion to Duke. I didn't dare let Duke Fenghua know about my relationship with Meng Yun, so I joined the Feng family as a common guest. This time, Duke Fenghua sent me to negotiate the归属 of Ghost Island."

"Truly a fool. Clearly, Duke Fenghua knew about your relationship with Yan Mengyun and is exiling you to Ghost Island, yet you still foolishly think you're being smart." A hint of disdain appeared at the corner of Lady Honglian's mouth.

Bai Cangdong's body trembled. He had never thought about this before, only assuming that Duke Fenghua still harbored resentment towards the Feng family. Now, considering the current state of the Feng family, it was highly likely that Lady Honglian's words were true.

"Since you've returned to Dao Lun City, you don't need to go to Ghost Island anymore," Lady Honglian said.

"Lady, what exactly is Ghost Island?" Feng Xian's information was all hearsay, not as clear and accurate as Lady Honglian's.

"It's a burden that no one wants to take, but not taking it might anger the Marquis of Seven Seas, so it has to be taken. My brother has already agreed to cede part of Zixiao City's interests to let Fenghua City take over Ghost Island. You are likely the unlucky one Duke Fenghua has chosen to take over Ghost Island." After a moment's thought, Lady Honglian continued, "Zixiao City has long abandoned Ghost Island. Now it's inhabited by pirates. If you really go with the Feng family to take over Ghost Island, there's no profit to be had, and even if there were, without Duke Fenghua's support, you and your few companions might not be able to reclaim the island from the pirates."

Bai Cangdong frowned slightly. Even if he didn't have to go to Ghost Island, Feng Xian definitely would, and the situation on Ghost Island was worse than he imagined.

"Don't think your matter is over. Even if I forgive you, my brother won't be easy to deal with. You'll have to explain yourself to him. Whether he forgives you or not is up to your luck," Lady Honglian said coldly.

"Lady, you will certainly help me, right?" Bai Cangdong said with a smile.

"I'm too lazy to deal with your affairs. What does your life or death have to do with me?" Lady Honglian huffed.

"Lady, don't you want me to help you deceive Miss Xiangfei for that item?"

"It's a wonder you still remember that. After taking so much from me, you just disappeared. How can I trust you in the future?" Lady Honglian said angrily.

"I had no choice. Please, Lady, help me find a way to get past Duke. I am extremely grateful."

"Helping you through this isn't a problem, but my brother despises those who break their word. You won't keep your position as the head of Dao Lun Society, and it will be difficult for you to be trusted again. You'll have to stay by my side."

"Being able to serve by Lady's side is already more than I could ask for." Bai Cangdong knew this wasn't the time to haggle; resolving the issue with Duke was the most important thing.

"Alright, you can stay in my residence for now. I'll try to talk to my brother about your situation."

"Thank you, Lady. However, I still have some matters to settle with the Feng family. I'll come to your residence in a few days."

"Fine."

Bai Cangdong returned to the inn and told Feng Xian about the current situation on Ghost Island. Feng Xian's face was filled with bitterness.

Viscount Jiu Hao was busy every day, leaving early and returning late, either negotiating or attending various banquets to socialize with the nobles of Dao Lun City. Bai Cangdong and Feng Xian were happy to have some peace and quiet.

Bai Cangdong went out to meet Zheng Hao and Ma Fei, drinking and boasting, enjoying a carefree life.

A few days later, Lady Honglian sent someone to find Bai Cangdong, saying she had important matters to discuss. Bai Cangdong thought it might be about the Duke, so he hurried to Lady Honglian's residence.

"I've already talked to the Duke about your situation. The Duke is very angry about your actions and wanted to severely punish you. I managed to persuade him to spare your life, but you won't escape punishment. The Duke is sending you with the Feng family to take over Ghost Island."

"What? Send me with the Feng family to take over Ghost Island?" Bai Cangdong was taken aback, never expecting this outcome.

"This is both a punishment and a task. If you complete it well, you might regain the Duke's favor and return to the core of power in Dao Lun City," Lady Honglian said with a smile.

"What kind of task is this? Sending me to a place where even birds don't defecate. It's clear that Duke Fenghua wants me to fend for myself," Bai Cangdong said helplessly.

"Sending you to Ghost Island is mainly to gather information about the sea. The Duke intends to expand into the sea. Do you understand what you need to do now?"

Bai Cangdong was slightly startled: "The Duke wants to expand into the sea? Isn't the sea under the control of the Marquis of Seven Seas?"

"That's why you're going with the Feng family to Ghost Island. If anything happens, it will be the people of Fenghua City who are in cahoots with the Marquis of Seven Seas, not us in Dao Lun City."

"Truly ruthless!" Bai Cangdong was speechless.

"What did you say?" Lady Honglian glared at him and then continued, "Actually, it's not that severe. The Marquis of Qingtian and the Marquis of Seven Seas have been on good terms for years. Otherwise, Duke Zixiao wouldn't have openly controlled Ghost Island. Duke Zixiao intended to expand into the sea but made a mistake in the first step and couldn't continue."

"The resources in the sea are different from those on the continent and can complement each other. The Duke hopes you will go to Ghost Island to understand the situation in the nearby sea, find a suitable way to interact with the sea powers, and exchange resources."

"The sea is so dangerous. If you send me there, at least give me a knight squadron."

"You're dreaming. You're gathering intelligence, not going to war. What do you need a knight squadron for?" Lady Honglian rolled her eyes. "Don't forget, this is also the Duke's punishment. If you do well, it will be a way to atone for your sins. If you do poorly, prepare to die in the sea."

After leaving Lady Honglian's residence, Bai Cangdong wasn't too disappointed. He never intended to let Feng Xian go to Ghost Island alone. Now that the issue with Duke Dao Lun was resolved, he could openly go to Ghost Island with Feng Xian, and he was quite satisfied with this outcome.

"You two can set out to take over Ghost Island tomorrow." After several days of negotiations, Viscount Jiu Hao excitedly ran back to tell Bai Cangdong and Feng Xian.

Bai Cangdong and Feng Xian had already expected this result and showed no excitement, much to the disappointment of Viscount Jiu Hao, who had been hoping for a dramatic reaction.

The next morning, Viscount Jiu Hao and a group of knights "protected" Bai Cangdong and Feng Xian to the port and saw them off onto the ship.

"This is the Duke's decree. From now on, Ghost Island will be under your management. You only need to pay a tax of one thousand years of life span to the Duke each year." Viscount Jiu Hao handed a silk scroll to Feng Xian with a strange smile.

Feng Xian said nothing, casually tossing the silk into the sea and boarding the ship with Bai Cangdong.

"How dare you throw the Duke's decree into the sea! I will report this to the Duke and have you punished!" Viscount Jiu Hao shouted from the shore, but the ship slowly sailed away.

After the ship left the harbor, Hua Buyu, dressed in civilian clothes, came out of the cabin. As a knight, he naturally had to follow Bai Cangdong, and Bai Cangdong couldn't leave him in Fenghua City.

The sea was vastly different from the continent. Feng Xian, who had never seen the sea, was very excited by the vast blue waves. Bai Cangdong, who had only been to sea once before, also found the sea life very fresh.

Hua Buyu, however, was not as optimistic. He felt bleak about his future.

"Three guests, we agreed that we would only take you this far. You'll have to row a small boat east for about twenty to thirty miles to reach Ghost Island." The ship was just a fishing boat, usually only fishing in the near sea. If not for Duke Dao Lun's order, it wouldn't have sailed so far. But to get close to Ghost Island was impossible, as pirates often appeared there.