The movement of Zhao Layue's hand was very forceful. Because she had been holding the sword for a long time, her fingers were covered with calluses. She swept through the air on the stone steps at a high speed, creating a whistling sound in the wind, like the fluttering flags on the battlefield, showing a resolute intent, and even a determination to kill.
What was more resolute and determined was the expression in her eyes.
She could understand the meaning of Jing Jiu's gaze and movement.
It was the same the other way around.
Jing Jiu didn't continue speaking, but he didn't understand why she didn't want to hear it.
He was well aware that his true identity was what Zhao Layue wanted to know the most.
Though she had never mentioned it, she would occasionally mention the names of Lian Sanyue and others in their conversations.
It might be a test, or it might be a natural outpouring of her inner thoughts.
She came to see Tian Jingren today to ask him this question; why didn't she ask him? Jing Jiu was going to tell her; why didn't she want to hear it?
"I've had many conjectures about your identity. I've thought that you might be a devil man of the deviant sects, and I've had even more bizarre conjectures."
Zhao Layue continued, "But I didn't ask you today, because I've figured out that I don't need the answer."
"Why?" asked Jing Jiu.
"Because I don't want to hear a bad answer, and I don't know what I should do if the answer is true."
As she said this, Zhao Layue's expression was a bit shy.
If the disciples of the Aoyama Sect saw this, they would be shocked speechless.
This was something that shouldn't have happened to her.
Jing Jiu understood how she felt, saying, "I promise you that it won't be a bad answer."
Zhao Layue was taken aback for a moment, but she didn't dare think too deeply about it. "That's good," she said.
"Is that enough?" asked Jing Jiu.
Zhao Layue said earnestly, "It doesn't matter who you are. All I know is that you're someone important to me."
"It's like this," said Jing Jiu after some thought.
Zhao Layue smiled while looking at him, the small flower on her temple quivering slightly in the wind.
Jing Jiu reached out his hand and rubbed her head.
Zhao Layue opened her eyes wide, the black and white of her eyes distinct, extremely lively, very attractive.
Jing Jiu thought he would hear the mantra of the Aoyama Sect again.
"Don't do this."
Zhao Layue wasn't angry, but she felt a bit uneasy.
She carefully removed his hand from the top of her head.
But she didn't let go.
She took him from the steps and led him to the street of the Plum Garden.
In the past few years, when they traveled the world, they would occasionally hold hands when they needed to ride on their swords.
But that was gripping, not pulling — gripping was gripping the sword, pulling was implicating.
Holding hands meant holding hands. meant holding hands, not holding hands.
It was mainly because Jing Jiu. that day, Jing Jiu and Song.
"Jiu,"
It was. in. close.
The side of the street near the old plum garden had become empty. The chess stalls had already been removed, leaving only a few scraps of paper and a few overturned old stools.
The street near the Old Plum Garden was empty. The chess stalls were no longer indifferent, but weary.
The young man stood in front of a chess stall. His childish face was no longer as indifferent as before. Instead, it was filled with boredom.
Playing chess with these chess stall owners was a very unbearable thing for him.
That was understandable.
Jing Jiu and Zhao Layue walked on the street. They didn't stop or look in that direction.
Jing Jiu and Zhao Layue walked on the street without stopping, and they didn't even glance in that direction.
Zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting weren't related to their lives.
They didn't care about music, chess, calligraphy, or painting.
Then they heard a few exclamations.
Then they heard something.
…
…
Mr. He of the Chunxi Chess House had an ugly expression, especially when he saw the weary look on the young man's face.
He had just played the game and suffered a crushing defeat. What frightened him even more was that he didn't understand how he lost. He couldn't even see the depth of his opponent's chess skills.
He heard footsteps outside the crowd. He turned his head around and saw Mister Second, who had the most connections in the chess house, walking in the front. He felt relieved immediately.
The Chunxi Chess House was quite famous in Zhaoge City, so they must have invited a formidable chess player.
When he saw the old man in cotton cloth with a long beard fluttering in the wind, he gasped in surprise, wondering why they had invited this person.
More and more people saw the old man. The crowd parted like the tide, discussing and guessing in a low voice. In the end, they couldn't hold it in any longer and screamed in surprise.
"Grand Scholar Guo!"
"Why is this old man here?"
The old man's name was Guo Qi, an important official of the imperial court and a Grand Scholar of the Imperial Library. He had a very high status.
For the people on the street who made a living by playing chess, this old man had another identity that was even more famous.
Grand Scholar Guo was a national chess player! He was even recognized as the number one player in the imperial court!
"Next."
It was then that the young man finished his game. He said this without lifting his head.
Grand Scholar Guo walked to the front of the chess stall and said, "Please enlighten me."
The young man lifted his head. He was a bit surprised to see Grand Scholar Guo, and his expression finally grew serious. He cupped his hands and said, "Sir, you are well-informed."
"I can only say that I'm lucky today."
Grand Scholar Guo said with a smile while stroking his long beard, "The court meeting was canceled because of the Plum Meeting. I went to the Auspicious House to have dinner, and the owner of the Chunxi Chess House came here in a hurry, asking for the assistant of my house. I was curious, so I asked him a few questions.
Mister He now knew why Grand Scholar Guo came here.
The assistant of the Grand Scholar House had excellent chess skills, far better than the regular chess masters in Zhaoge City, but they were no match for the scholar himself.
Yet, how could his chess house invite an important figure like Grand Scholar Guo?
As he was thinking of this, he heard the young man say, "It's not worth it."
Grand Scholar Guo said seriously, "Many people in Zhaoge City want to play a game with you, but you haven't accepted them. It's a rare opportunity today; how can I miss it?"
Hearing the conversation, there was an uproar in the crowd, wondering who this young man was. Mister He was different from the crowd at the stalls on the street. He had guessed the identity of this young man, and his expression changed abruptly. His clothes were soaked in cold sweat, thinking that he had played a game of chess with this young man. Wasn't he courting death? But in the next moment, he felt happy again. It was natural to lose to this young man, and it was not a shameful thing. More importantly, how many people had the opportunity to play chess with this young man? It was such a glorious thing.
"But I don't understand why you come here to play chess?"
Looking at the shabby environment and the ordinary chess equipment, Grand Scholar Guo furrowed his brows in bewilderment.
The young man said, "I don't want these people to play chess, especially here."
Grand Scholar Guo fixed his gaze on the plum forest in the distance. He was taken aback for a moment, and then he understood what he meant.
The old plum garden had been gradually forgotten by the people, but it had witnessed the most important events in the history of the human race and those people.
Such a place shouldn't be disturbed by the noises of those people fighting over chess pieces and those swindlers.
"It's indeed a bit ugly."
Grand Scholar Guo looked around and said, "If you defeat me, I'll clear this place."
As a Grand Scholar of the Imperial Library, he had the ability to do so.
Yet, the young man didn't accept it, saying, "You can't defeat me. As for clearing the place, these stall owners won't be convinced, and many people in Zhaoge City won't be convinced."
The crowd screamed again, thinking that this person was extremely arrogant.
Yet, Grand Scholar Guo understood what he meant. "Please," he said solemnly.
The young man said, "Please wait a moment. I have something to do first."
"Please," said Grand Scholar Guo.
After saying this, his gaze fell on a relatively clean stool.
The caretaker of the Grand Scholar Manor came forward hastily to wipe it clean and serve tea.
Grand Scholar Guo sat down, wondering what the young man was going to do.
The young man looked at the street.
A young man and a young woman wearing conical hats passed by.
The young man asked, "Do you want to try it?"
The sunlight shone on the conical hats, making them glow faintly.
The two of them halted their steps, saying nothing.
The young man said, "I meant that you should try to see if you can understand my chess moves."
…
…
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