Zhao Layue and Jing Jiu had always been the center of attention, and it was even more obvious that day. It was because many people had heard that Jing Jiu was going to challenge Tong Yan in the chess tournament.
They looked at him with all kinds of emotions, some mocking him for overestimating his capabilities, some sympathizing with him, and some worried about him, and so on.
If people's gazes could really emit light, Jing Jiu, who was stared at by so many people, would be particularly bright.
Zhao Layue recalled what Jing Jiu had said before, which mentioned the sun.
Under countless gazes, the four of them walked toward the deep part of the Chess Board Mountain.
Sensei held Zhao Layue's hand and chatted with her. Zhao Layue had a cold temperament and would only reply once in a while, but Sensei was still very happy, chattering nonstop.
Big Sister Cui of the Platanus Sect explained to Jing Jiu apologetically, "My Mistress seldom has a partner to talk to in the sect."
Jing Jiu nodded and said, "We hit it off."
Big Sister Cui smiled gratefully and asked concernedly, "Which pavilion are you going to choose?"
"I don't understand what you mean," said Jing Jiu.
Big Sister Cui was startled, wondering why Jing Jiu hadn't made some preparations in advance, or at least learned about the rules since he was going to challenge Tong Yan at the Plum Meeting.
The rules of the chess tournament of the Plum Meeting were simple. The scattered pavilions in Aoyama were the venues for the chess tournament. The Cultivation practitioners who had registered for the chess tournament could choose a pavilion at will and sit there, waiting for others to challenge them. Of course, they could also choose a pavilion that was already occupied and challenge their opponents.
Since there would only be one winner in the chess tournament, it didn't matter how far they could go, and it didn't matter whether they were lucky or their opponents.
Hearing their conversation, Zhao Layue asked, "What if someone is sitting in the pavilion and no one dares to challenge him?"
"Before and after each round, the host of the Plum Meeting will seal the pavilion to ensure that everyone has an opponent."
Sensei smiled slyly and said, "Then pick the weakest guy and slowly drag it out until the end. Wouldn't that save a lot of energy?"
If he really did that, he would indeed be able to play a few fewer rounds of chess. It was not against the rules, but it would be a little unsightly.
Sister Cui said with a smile, "Playing chess is an elegant thing. There are masters and legendary seniors watching. Who can afford to lose face?"
Sensei curled her lips and said, "If I don't take advantage of the situation, it's not gentlemanly, it's stupid."
…
…
Choosing a pavilion in the chess tournament of the Plum Meeting was a matter of great importance.
For example, cultivators who believed that their Dao hearts were firm would usually choose the pavilion closest to the waterfall.
He himself was unaffected by the sound of the waterfall, but his opponent might not have the same mental fortitude.
Regardless of what Sensei thought, playing chess was an elegant thing in the eyes of the majority of the Cultivation practitioners and mortals, even more so than calligraphy, painting and zither playing. When the Cultivation practitioners who participated in the chess tournament chose a pavilion, they usually paid more attention to the environment of the pavilion, such as whether the shadows of the bamboos could be seen, or whether they could hear the rustling of the pines.
The Chess Board Mountain was protected by the formation, so it was not disturbed by the rain, snow or frost. No matter how strong the wind was, it would turn into a gentle breeze when it entered the mountains. Amidst the gentle breeze and the chirping of the birds, the spectators could walk freely in the mountains and watch the chess games. There were no other restrictions except that they couldn't speak to disturb the chess games. They could even drink alcohol if they wanted to. It was like watching a winding stream.
Which pavilion would Jing Jiu choose?
Sensei and Sister Cui were curious, and so were those Cultivation practitioners who were watching Jing Jiu from a distance.
Zhao Layue thought that Jing Jiu would choose a pavilion where he could bask in the sun.
Jing Jiu led the three of them through the sea of bamboos, the pine forest, and the waterfall. They met some people on the way.
Some disciples of the sects who were on good terms with the Aoyama Sect hurried to come forward and salute them, and some small sects in the south were even more respectful.
Some sects who were on good terms with the Western Sea Sword School and the Kunlun Sect cupped their hands casually, often accompanied by a cold snort.
Those sects who were on good terms with the Zhongzhou School looked calm on the surface, but the way they looked at Jing Jiu and the others was a bit annoying, because the mockery and ridicule in their eyes were too obvious.
…
…
"I'm not happy."
Zhao Layue didn't show any emotion on her face, but her eyes were a bit cold.
"Why?"
Jing Jiu didn't understand why she was angry because of others' mockery and contempt.
He believed that Zhao Layue was also a person like him.
So he didn't understand why she was unhappy.
Zhao Layue said, "I know you can win, but I'm the only one who knows you can win. It's not a good feeling."
Jing Jiu asked, "Can you be more specific?"
Zhao Layue said after some thought, "It's not 'walking in the night in luxurious clothes', and it's not something else either. I can't think of a suitable description."
Sensei remarked gloomily, "It looks like it's indeed a complicated emotion."
Listening to the conversation, Big Sister Cui thought that the Cultivation friends of the Aoyama Sect were so focused on Cultivation that they didn't understand anything else.
It wasn't easy to win the chess tournament at the Plum Meeting.
Jing Jiu had to win at least five or six games if he wanted to meet her, let alone defeat that Young Master Tong Yan.
The question was, could he win?
Jing Jiu had won first place in the chess tournament at the Four-Seas Banquet, but how could the Four-Seas Banquet be compared to the Plum Meeting? In the eyes of many Cultivation practitioners, the Four-Seas Banquet was merely a clumsy imitation of the Plum Meeting by the nouveau riche of the West Ocean. The truly powerful Cultivation sects seldom took part in it. As for the results …
The winners of the chess tournaments at the Four-Seas Banquet couldn't even enter the top thirty at the Plum Meeting.
Big Sister Cui was worried that Jing Jiu didn't understand these things, so she wanted to remind him that there were many opponents he couldn't defeat at the Plum Meeting besides Tong Yan.
At the moment, they walked past a patch of wildflowers and came to a clearing among the cliffs, where a few pavilions were scattered. For some reason, there were very few people here, and it felt a bit deserted.
Big Sister Cui introduced to Jing Jiu, "Her name is Que Niang, a disciple of the third generation of the Mirror Sect. She inherited the chess skills from Grand Scholar He of the previous dynasty."
A round-faced young woman stood in front of the pavilion. She had a quiet aura, and the freckles on her face made her look a bit cute.
She bowed to Jing Jiu and Zhao Layue with a smile, saying, "Greetings, Senior Masters."
The Mirror Sect had a good relationship with Mount Qing Zongshan, so Jing Jiu and Zhao Layue nodded to greet her.
The four of them continued walking forward. A scholar was standing in front of the pavilion.
The scholar wore an old robe that had been washed so many times that it had turned white. He was reading silently while shaking his head, though it was unclear if it was a script or a chess manual.
Big Sister Cui said in a low voice, "This is the disciple of Yimaozhai, Shang Jiulou. His chess skills are very high, and he lost three chess pieces to Tong Yan at the last Plum Meeting."
Hearing the footsteps, the scholar lifted his head and said, "I've chosen this pavilion. You two go somewhere else."
His words were blunt. If his expression weren't a bit dull, it would be even more annoying.
Sensei retorted unhappily, "Why should we? We can challenge you too! "
The scholar glanced at Jing Jiu and said, "If you want to lose and go back to Aoyama as soon as possible, it's up to you."
"That's right."
A frivolous voice came from not far ahead.
There was a pavilion in front of a big tree, where the sunlight couldn't reach. It was very quiet.
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