It was unclear when Bai Zao came to the edge of the pavilion, standing in Silence among his colleagues.
The veil was tousled by the wind, exposing her delicate and delicate face.
She furrowed her thin eyebrows, seeming to be worried.
The other disciples of the Zhongzhou School weren't worried that Tong Yan would lose, so their countenances were quite calm. Only Xiang Wanshu was calculating the situation on the Go board.
Guo Dong stood outside the crowd, not too far from Zhao Layue and the others. As everybody else was looking at the pavilion, she was looking at Zhao Layue.
Zhao Layue was aware that she was looking at her. Normally, she would look back at her, but she only looked at Jing Jiu at the moment.
Sensei felt bored watching the game, so she handed the barbecued fish to Zhao Layue and said in a hushed voice, "Don't dislike it. It's really delicious."
Zhao Layue shook her head. She seldom ate, no matter in Aoyama or outside.
When Guo Dong saw this, a satisfied expression appeared on her face.
He Zhan suddenly yelled, "How can he make such a move? It doesn't make sense. "
The crowd looked at the pavilion in tandem, wondering who had made the wrong move.
In the pavilion, Jing Jiu and Tong Yan were still looking at the Go board in Silence, as if they hadn't heard what he said.
It was Jing Jiu who had made that move. In many people's eyes, it was an ordinary and safe move, so they couldn't understand why He Zhan reacted so strongly.
Tong Yan had made her own move, as if she had placed a white Go piece casually.
This move was also ordinary and safe.
Unexpectedly, He Zhan yelled again, "It's even more unreasonable!"
Many gazes fell on him.
They didn't understand why this highly achieved Go player would react so strongly to two ordinary moves.
It was then that Jing Jiu placed another black Go piece.
He Zhan stared at the chessboard, paying no attention to those who were looking at him. He said in surprise, "Can it be done like this?"
Tong Yan's next white stone was placed somewhere else.
He Zhan couldn't control his emotions anymore and shouted, "Too ruthless! The two of you are too ruthless! "
His movements were loud, and his voice was even louder, sounding especially loud in the quiet Chess Board Mountain.
Guo Dong withdrew her gaze from Zhao Layue, looked at him expressionlessly, and said, "Do you always talk so much?"
Of course, it was not a good thing to have someone shouting beside you while you were playing chess.
How could He Zhan not understand this logic? It was just that after seeing such a chess game today, he really could not control himself.
"Alright, I won't say anymore."
He lifted the wine pot and took a big gulp.
The rare Dragon Bone Wine tasted so bitter in his mouth.
Because he was drinking to drown his sorrows.
The suffocation here was not the suffocation of not being able to speak, but an indescribable feeling that made one depressed.
…
…
Seeing He Zhan's behavior and noticing the expressions on the faces of Que Niang, Shang Jiulou, and Gu Yuanyuan, the onlookers had finally realized something. It turned out that the Go game in the pavilion was not as ordinary as they had thought it to be, and there were many shocking thunders hidden in it. Yet, it was hard for them to understand the Go game because of their low Cultivation state.
Having figured this out, the onlookers became excited again. They looked at the chessboard in the pavilion, hoping to find out the hidden wonders.
However, no matter how serious they were and how much they pondered and deduced, they still couldn't see anything special.
Wasn't this the most ordinary opening?
…
…
In the Three Purities Temple.
Zen Master was sitting cross-legged on the couch, his bare feet sticking out from under his frock, shaking incessantly, as if following a certain rhythm.
His gaze fell on the chessboard in front of him.
There were two jars on each side of the chessboard.
The heather outside the window was blooming, and the smell was so strong that it almost smelled bad even though it was obviously fragrant.
Perhaps it was for this reason that he kept frowning.
After a long while, he had finally finished his long contemplation. He picked up a black Go piece and put it on the chessboard.
As he felt relieved and was about to get up, he noticed that the expression on that Daoist's face was a bit off.
"What's wrong?"
The Daoist hesitated for a while before saying cautiously, "This move … doesn't seem to be placed here."
Upon hearing this, Zen Master was taken aback, and looked at the chessboard again.
…
…
On the top of the Chessboard Peak.
An official asked Duke Zhan with a smile, "State Duke, what do you think of this chess game?"
Duke Zhan shot him a glance, and said, "What do I think? It's so complicated that I can't understand it. "
The official wasn't afraid, asking with a smile, "Who are you betting on then?"
The Plum Meeting was a grand meeting for the Cultivation practitioners, but it would also affect the secular world. To say nothing of the others, the gambling game in Zhaoge City must be closely related to it.
Duke Zhan patted on the official's back, and said with a smile, "Do you think I'm stupid? I bet on Tong Yan of course. Though I won't win much, I'm sure I'll win."
…
…
It was quiet at Taichang Temple.
As a high-ranking official of the Imperial court who received a high salary and was known for his honesty, Jing Shang had always been careful not to appear too diligent in government affairs.
Yet, he had rarely stared at the tea in the teacup for a long time like he did today.
In the end, he couldn't sit still any longer, so he walked out of the government office after informing the vice chancellor.
Seeing Jing Shang's back disappear on the long street, the discussions in the government office started.
Jing Shang had a younger brother who was sent out of Zhaoge City at a young age, and no one knew where he went. The Jing family had kept this matter a secret, but there was no real secret in the officialdom. A few years ago, many people had vaguely known that the youngest son of the Jing family had joined a large Cultivation sect.
As the Plum Meeting was held this year, more gambling games were held in Zhaoge City. Seeing the name of Jing Jiu, some people naturally associated him with the youngest son of the Jing family.
"Who would have thought that his younger brother had become an immortal master of the Sword Sect of Aoyama? With such a background, who would be willing to be on duty? It's only this morning, and he has already retired. "
"The Cultivation practitioners have cut off their emotions, so they don't have much contact with their families in the mortal world, so they can't be of much help. Moreover, he is only a disciple of Aoyama, not an important figure."
"But the Imperial court won't be too strict, and there are always benefits when the family members are still alive. Haven't you seen how popular the Zhao Manor House has become over the years?"
"That's right. I went to visit Master Zhao during the New Year Festival. Tut-tut, the treasures in the manor house are piled up like a mountain. I heard that they were all sent from Nanhezhou."
…
…
Jing Shang had no idea what his colleagues were talking about him behind his back. Even if he knew, he wouldn't be in the mood to pay attention to it.
The news spread very fast in Zhaoge City. It didn't take him long to hear what had happened on the Chess Board Mountain.
When he learned that Jing Jiu's first opponent was Tong Yan, his head buzzed, and he almost passed out.
There was no brotherly relationship between him and Jing Jiu. Even if Jing Jiu lost, it wouldn't affect his future, but …
As he thought of all this, his clothes were soaked in cold sweat, and he was in a trance. As he came back to his senses, he found that he had already arrived in front of the Manor House of State Duke Cheng.
The whole of Zhaoge City knew that State Duke Cheng was good at Go, and the highest and safest gambling game of the chess tournament of the Plum Meeting was held here.
A caretaker noticed him and came up to him, saying, "Master, you've finally come. Please come in."
Jing Shang took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat off his forehead. "Can I withdraw my bet now?" he asked in a low voice after a moment of hesitation.
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