Unsheathed

An hour later, Lin Junbi was in the midst of a long think. He had somehow been dealt a heavy blow on the upper right corner of the board. Only thirty-six moves had been played from the final position on the Go manual, and the position was already completely lost, yet Lin Junbi was unwilling to come to terms with his defeat.

”According to our agreement, we’ll play one more game,” Cui Dongshan declared in an indifferent voice. ”This time, it’ll be the second-to-last position in the Iridescent Cloud Go Manual, which has already reached the endgame, so the chances of a comeback are extremely slim.

”Once again, you’ll be playing the position from the White Emperor City Lord’s side. Don’t forget to tell Sword Immortal Ku Xia your predicted outcome in advance. This is just a test of luck, so don’t be overly concerned about the outcome of the game. If I win again, then I’m going to have to ask you to play another game with me.”

Lin Junbi told Sword Immortal Ku Xia his prediction, and the two of them set up the position Cui Dongshan had just stipulated.

Compared with the previous position, there were far more stones on the board this time.

No more than fifteen minutes later, Cui Dongshan smiled and said, ”For the next game, I’ll be the one to tell Sword Immortal Ku Xia my predicted outcome. If I win again, then we can only say that luck is on my side, and it doesn’t actually have anything to do with your Go abilities.”

Lin Junbi was sweating profusely, and there was a dazed look on his face. He didn’t resign, nor did he say anything, and it seemed like he was still trying to figure out how he had lost this game.

All the while, Cui Dongshan observed him with a mocking sneer.

Yu Juanfu heaved a faint sigh and departed with Zhu Mei.

She felt like an utter fool for betting against Cui Dongshan earlier.

At this point, Zhu Mei had also realized the gravity of the situation and allowed Yu Juanfu to lead her away without objection.

Ku Xia was just about to say something, but before the words could come out of his mouth, Cui Dongshan snapped, ”Don’t you know that it’s proper etiquette not to speak when watching a game? Is this how you serve as Dao mentor to one of the brightest prodigies of the Shaoyuan Empire?

”I’ve been very lenient so far because I consider Young Master Lin a good friend, but if you try to throw around your weight as a sword immortal and interfere with our game, then I’m going to have to call in some reinforcements, do you understand? If you don’t, then I can get someone to teach you.”

A look of resolve appeared on Ku Xia’s face, and he ignored Cui Dongshan’s threat as he said in an authoritative voice, ”Stand up, Lin Junbi. Do not engage in this senseless folly any longer.”

Lin Junbi remained seated at the Go board, his tightly clenched fists serving as a reflection of his internal conflict.

Cui Dongshan picked up a Go stone before gently setting it down onto the board, then casually pushed it forward, sending it sliding to Lin Junbi’s side of the board. The Go stone stopped in a precarious position, with half the stone suspended over the side of the board.

”You can leave, but you must resign,” Cui Dongshan said with a smile. ”I’ll count it as half a resignation.”

”That’s enough!” Ku Xia snapped in a furious voice. ”You’re trying to ruin his Dao Heart!”

Cui Dongshan erupted into laughter as he countered, ”If a so-called prodigy of his caliber has such a frail Dao Heart that it can be shaken just by a game of Go, then he’s even more pathetic than Yan Lü! Are you trying to make me laugh to death so Lin Junbi can win by default?”

”If I resign without making a move, then it’ll only count as half a resignation?” Lin Junbi asked in a trembling voice.

”Of course,” Cui Dongshan replied with a nod. ”However, that’s only on the condition that you never touch a Go board or Go stones again for as long as you live.”

Sweat was beginning to pour down Lin Junbi’s face at this point.

Cui Dongshan yawned with a bored expression, but didn’t try to rush Lin Junbi into making a decision.

The positions in the Iridescent Cloud Go Manual had been studied to death, but no one knew what type of unfathomable mental warfare had taken place between the two players who had played those legendary games.

Your understanding of the positions in the Iridescent Cloud Go Manual can’t even be deemed surface-level, yet you think you know the positions inside-out? Don’t make me laugh!

”How many copies of works of my teacher’s teacher are left in your Shaoyuan Empire right now?” Cui Dongshan asked in a casual, conversational tone. ”I daresay not even a single one, right? That’s nothing to get mad over. After all, my teacher’s teacher lost a bet, so he has to accept the consequences. However, I do recall one other minor thing. One of the people who went all the way to the Confucian temple to smash the deity statue that had been thrown out was a scholar from your Shaoyuan Empire, right?

”I heard that after he returned home, he went on to have a stellar political career. He’s also a friend and mentor of yours, right? What was his name again? Ah, yes, it was the very same Mr. Lu Xi who wrote that worthless Go manual currently sitting at the foot of the city wall, wasn’t it?”

Sword Immortal Ku Xia’s expression changed slightly at this revelation, and he didn’t dare to try to intervene any further.

Even as a native Unpolished Jade Tier swordsman of the Sword Qi Great Wall, Mi Yu didn’t dare to move even a single inch in the presence of that man, and in this moment, Ku Xia felt just as trapped and paralyzed.

However, Lin Junbi’s cultivation base was too low, and he was so distraught that he wasn’t even aware of the awkward situation that he had found himself in.

”You thought you actually had a chance against me?” Cui Dongshan sneered at Lin Junbi. ”From now on, for each game that I win, I’m going to force you to play another against me, and even if I only take a single lesser heat coin from you each time, I can make you lose your entire cultivation future and even half the Shaoyuan Empire!

”I can put you in a position where you want nothing more than to accept the embrace of death and regret that you were ever born! You think you have a choice in whether you want to continue playing against me? Do you even know who you’re playing against?!”

***

Back at the Ning Manor, Cao Qinglang encountered Pei Qian in the walkway.

Pei Qian wanted to say something, but was rather hesitant.

Cao Qinglang pointed at his own heart, then waved a hand at her with a smile.

Pei Qian remained silent.

”I have a carving knife; how about I engrave a seal for you as a gift?” Cao Qinglang offered with a smile.

Pei Qian stormed away in a disgruntled fit.

***

On this day, Cui Dongshan snuck into the Ning Manor through the front gate, only to be confronted by a smiling Nalan Yexing.

”What’s going on, Brother Dongshan? Why’re you sneaking around like a thief?”

A frustrated look appeared on Cui Dongshan’s face as he sighed. ”I went to the top of the city walls to try and make some money, but I barely have anything to show for it, so I’m too ashamed to see my teacher.”

Nalan Yexing didn’t know who Cui Dongshan had just scammed, but he felt very sorry for them, nevertheless.

Right as Nalan Yexing was about to leave, Cui Dongshan suddenly smiled and offered, ”Let’s go have a drink together.”

Nalan Yexing immediately wanted to refuse, not wishing to spend any more time than necessary with Cui Dongshan, but the meaningful look in the latter’s eyes made him reconsider.

The two of them made their way together to Nalan Yexing’s residence, and Cui Dongshan pulled out two flagons of wine, but Nalan Yexing was really hoping that they would drink the wine that he had specially prepared for an occasion like this one.

However, almost as soon as Cui Dongshan began speaking, Nalan Yexing immediately decided against playing his little tricks.

The matters that Cui Dongshan spoke of were of extreme importance to him. Essentially, Cui Dongshan had laid out the direction that Nalan Yexing should pursue in his future cultivation in the wake of his fall to the Unpolished Jade Tier, and that wasn’t all.

Before long, the sound of door-knocking rang out.

It was the Golden Core Tier swordsman, Cui Wei, who was an unofficial disciple of Nalan Yexing.

After closing the door, Cui Wei extended a deep bow in silence.

Nalan Yexing stood up to leave, but Cui Dongshan encouraged him to stay.

He then turned to Cui Wei and asked, ”Do you want to make another breakthrough, then likely lose your life here, or go to the Majestic World with me and cling to your life there? In the short term, you’ll feel thankful for your decision, but I’m certain that someday, your conscience is going to come back to bite you.”

Cui Wei remained bowed as he replied, ”I wish to go with you to the Eastern Treasured Vial Continent. If I have any future regrets, then so be it.”

”Alright, you can come with me, but I want to hear your reason,” Cui Dongshan said with a smile. ”Rest assured, regardless of whether I approve or not, I’m not going to change my mind or make things difficult for you.”

Cui Wei was silent for a moment, then said, ”I just don’t understand why I have to die here. If I can live, then why wouldn’t I live?”

Nalan Yexing heaved a forlorn sigh. Last time, he had flown into a rage and almost killed Cui Wei on the spot, but this time, there was only a sense of resignation.

”That’s a good question,” Cui Dongshan replied with a nod. ”Once you reach the Majestic World, you can ask yourself that question again. For now, you can go. You’ve done well all these years.”

Cui Wei didn’t immediately leave.

Instead, he fell to his knees, then kowtowed thrice to Nalan Yexing and said, ”You’ve never accepted me as your disciple, but you will always be my one and only master. Once I leave this place, I won’t be returning. Please look after yourself, Master!”

Nalan Yexing took a sip of wine out of his bowl, then nodded and said, ”Seeing as you’ve made the decision to go to the Majestic World, make sure you don’t go throwing your life away. Cherish the opportunity and live for as long as you can.”

Cui Wei departed.

Cui Dongshan also left Nalan Yexing’s residence shortly thereafter, leaving Nalan Yexing to drink by his lonesome self.

That day, at around dusk, Qi Jinglong visited the Ning Manor with Bai Shou, who was fully prepared to die.

However, to his utter surprise and elation, he was informed that Pei Qian was currently resting in bed after sparring with a certain Granny Bai.

However, after a fleeting moment of joy, Bai Shou couldn’t help but grow a little concerned. After all, Pei Qian was still just a girl; what if the hard training as a martial artist was too much for her to bear? After asking for some directions, he paid a visit to Pei Qian’s residence. Of course, he didn’t dare to knock on the door. Instead, all he did was stroll around outside.

As for Qi Jinglong, he had gone to visit Chen Ping’an, but there were three people in the room, namely Chen Ping’an, Qi Jinglong, and Cui Dongshan.

Each of them pulled out a book.

The information in Chen Ping’an’s book was the most diverse, while Cui Dongshan’s book was the thickest of the three, and all the information it contained came from spies Cui Chan had planted on the Sword Qi Great Wall and Stalactite Mountain. There weren’t many such spies, but they were all very capable.

Some of the information was newly obtained, but most of it came from the Great Li Empire’s most highly confidential archives.

Of course, Cui Dongshan had also explored the city himself not long ago, not because he wanted to try and see if he could spot any details that others had missed. He had never regarded himself as some immortal who possessed unmatched attention to detail, so the point of the exercise was just to see the city for himself.

Unfortunately, he was only able to stay here for a very limited time, and his status as a disciple of the Scholarly Sage’s branch also posed many problems. Otherwise, he would be privy to many details that were closer to the truth.

Qi Jinglong’s information came from the leader and the disciples of the Great Emblem Sword Sect.

With a sweep of his sleeve, Cui Dongshan conjured up a sheet of paper out of thin air, hovering slightly above the two tables. Immediately thereafter, all of the manors, residences, streets, and alleys in the city rose up from the sheet of paper at his behest.

After that, he pulled out three brushes, one each for himself, Chen Ping’an, and Qi Jinglong. The three of them were able to pass through the sheet of paper as if it had no substantial form, yet they were able to write on it.

The three brushes wrote in different colors, namely black, white, and gray.

The three of them remained silent as they each wrote down a series of names.

If the same name appeared more than once in different colors, then Cui Dongshan would circle that name in red.

The three books were placed on the table, and the three of them could pause at any moment to examine the other two books.

That day, at around dusk, Qi Jinglong and Bai Shou left the Ning Manor and returned to the Great Emblem Sword Sect’s Armory, while Chen Ping’an made his way toward the wine shop with Cui Dongshan.

However, the wine shop was not their actual destination. Instead, they went to a shabby residence that was very discreet in both appearance and location.

Cui Dongshan remained outside the residence, and after Chen Ping’an went inside, Cui Dongshan made his way to a corner two alleys away, where he squatted down with a bored expression.

Pei Qian was the only one oblivious to the fact that this trip to the Sword Qi Great Wall was only going to be a very brief one.

Chen Ping’an’s only wish was for them to see the Sword Qi Great Wall with their own eyes while it was still in its current form. In the near future, some of the pieces of brilliant scenery on the Sword Qi Great Wall would be no more.

”What’re you doing here?” Tao Wen asked as he sat back down at the table. ”Are you now worried that I won’t be able to run your gambling stations in the future?”

”There are many tricks and pitfalls in gambling; those incompetent gamblers should know better than to try and bet against me,” Chen Ping’an replied with a smile.

”Don’t forget your promise to me, Chen Ping’an,” Tao Wen reminded. ”To you, it may be something unimportant, but to me, it’s not exactly important, but it’s not trivial, either.”

Chen Ping’an nodded and replied, ”There are many promises that I make to myself that I may not be able to fulfill, but I generally always follow through on my promises to others.”

Tao Wen nodded in response. The first time Chen Ping’an approached him and proposed that he become a bookmaker, he had promised him that he wouldn’t take even a single snowflake coin from the Sword Qi Great Wall.

”Is it the second shopkeeper who’s telling me this, or the pure martial artist, Chen Ping’an?” Tao Wen jibed.

”It’s Chen Ping’an the swordsman,” Chen Ping’an replied with a smile, then pulled out two flagons of Bamboo Sea Small World. Of course, it was the cheapest variety.

Tao Wen fetched a pair of bowls from the kitchen, and these bowls were quite a bit larger than the ones at the wine shop.

Tao Wen took a sip of wine, then poured another bowl and said, ”Don’t be like me, Chen Ping’an.”

”I won’t,” Chen Ping’an replied with a shake of his head.

”In that case, all that’s left for you to do is not die,” Tao Wen said. ”Don’t forget that this is the Sword Qi Great Wall, not the Majestic World. This place isn’t even your home.”

”I’ll do my best,” Chen Ping’an replied.

Tao Wen raised his bowl, and Chen Ping’an gently touched his bowl to Tao Wen’s before both of them took a sip of wine.

”Are there many people like you in the Majestic World?” Tao Wen asked.

Chen Ping’an considered the question carefully, then shook his head and replied, ”There aren’t many people like me there, but there are plenty of people better than me and worse than me. You really don’t want to go and take a look for yourself?”

Tao Wen smiled and offered no response.

This was a rather unnecessary question, and it didn’t seem like something that the snide and cunning second shopkeeper would ask.

After drinking in silence for some time, Chen Ping’an pulled a pair of seals out of his sleeve, then gently put them down onto the table with a smile and asked, ”Would you be willing to accept these two little gifts, Uncle Tao?”

”I’m not into these things,” Tao Wen refused with a shake of his head. ”I have no use for them, so they’ll just sit at home and collect dust. It would be much more worthwhile for you to sell them than to give them to me.”

Chen Ping’an stowed the seals away, and both of them finished their bowls of wine.

Chen Ping’an stood up from his chair, then cupped his fist in a salute with a smile and said, ”I don’t know when we’ll get to drink together next.”

”Everyone on the Sword Qi Great Wall knows that I’m a terrible drinking buddy, so you’re really not missing out on much,” Tao Wen said with a parting wave.

Chen Ping’an left the residence and made his way down the alley with his hands balled up into tight fists.

All of a sudden, a reminiscent look appeared in Chen Ping’an’s eyes, and he was reminded of Clay Vase Alley back home.

Tao Wen missed his deceased wife and daughter dearly.

Chen Ping’an couldn’t help but wonder if his parents also missed him in the afterlife.

He stopped in his tracks in a momentary daze before continuing onward.

All of a sudden, Tao Wen appeared at the entrance of the residence with a smile on his face and asked, ”By the way, what’s engraved on those two seals? I don’t want them, but I’m curious about their inscriptions.”

Chen Ping’an shook his head and replied, ”Nothing much, Uncle Tao. Just some phrases that I copied from books.”

”Alright, whatever you say,” Tao Wen chuckled.

Chen Ping’an didn’t say anything, and that was very much unlike the second shopkeeper.

Tao Wen leaned against the doorway, looking into the empty residence.

It seemed that the wine had been a little extra spicy, bringing some tears to his eyes. Yes, that had to be it.

As Chen Ping’an made his way down the alley, Tao Wen sat down on the doorstep, facing the table in the room as he murmured to himself, ”Last time, I was too late, and I’ve made you and your mother wait for me for so many years. Don’t worry about me, Spring Onion. I’m having a great time over here. I get to eat yangchun noodles, and I get to drink wine with good people, so there’s no need to feel sorry for me at all...”