Chapter 62 The Chess Game in Baoying: This person is sick.
"Wenran, what's wrong?"
Shen Qi leaned closer to that melting face, intending to pat Lin Feiran's back to help her cough, but then realized it was impolite and withdrew his hand, casually touching his own face as well, but found nothing unusual.
Upon hearing the words "wash away the mask," his heart skipped a beat. With the suspicious look from the cold-faced man with the plum hairpin, he was unsure if anyone would recognize him, let alone how the "Collection of Beauties" would work or how the mask would be washed away.
Despite his worries, he was also somewhat resigned to his fate. After all, he had been unlucky for many years and had long been used to things not going his way. So why should he worry now? Besides, he rarely showed his true face in public, and no one might recognize him now.
Therefore, when Lin Feiran finished coughing and straightened up, he couldn't help but give her a forced, bitter smile.
"scare!"
Lin Feiran didn't move, but several cultivators not far away were so frightened that they took a half step back.
"W-what's wrong?" Shen Qi was confused, but he saw everyone staring at him intently, their surprised gazes mixed with a hint of unspoken disdain...
He couldn't help but raise his hand to touch his face. His true appearance wasn't exactly stunning, but it certainly wouldn't frighten anyone away!
He looked at Lin Feiran and whispered, "Wenran, has my appearance changed?"
Shen Qi's face was like cold wax melting, solidifying and splitting into pieces, then dripping down one by one, but he himself was completely unaware.
This change, mixed with his indistinct bitter smile, was indeed somewhat frightening, but gradually, his appearance began to emerge.
His ordinary long eyebrows blurred out, revealing a pair of slanted eyebrows like distant green mountains, and his unremarkable flat eyes softened into a pair of straight and clear deer eyes. Just from this point, his appearance was completely different from before.
Lin Feiran then said, "You've changed a lot; you're not the same person you were just now."
Hearing Shen Qi's question, she finally let out the breath she had been holding. Shen Qi must have asked her that because her appearance had not changed and there was no sign of melting. She was still the same as before.
Upon hearing this, Shen Qi lowered his head, and his clear deer eyes dimmed. He thought to himself that it was indeed so. Just as he was about to accept it as usual, Lin Feiran suddenly snatched the old brush from his waist, grabbed his chin, forced him to open his mouth, moistened the brush with his tongue, and clear ink flowed out.
Without hesitation, she used her brush to paint over the mask. After the wax-like mask was completely removed, the true face that was revealed was already covered in black, leaving only a pair of clear black and white eyes that were darting around.
Shen Qi naturally understood her meaning, so he didn't make any rash moves, but when he was forced and then rescued by a girl like this, his face still turned red.
It wasn't obvious on her face, but her neck and earlobes were tinged with a blush.
He dared not look at Lin Feiran again, his face dark with anger, and asked, "You... how did you come up with such a writing style?"
Lin Feiran twirled the old brush between his fingers and handed it back to him, puzzled. "Isn't this how all of you who cultivate the art of the magic brush do? When the mood strikes and you want to write something, you can moisten the magic brush, and clear ink will flow out naturally."
You've used this brush for a long time, and I imagine you've licked it many times. If you're not allowed to polish it, then... do you want me to do it?
"Oh, I see. That makes sense."
Shen Qi suddenly felt awkward. He put the pen back in his waistband, straightened his satchel, smoothed his clothes, and touched the ends of his hair, looking very busy.
Unfortunately, he was the only one who cared about this panic.
Pei Yu walked straight over, bypassing Shen Qi, and stared at Lin Feiran. However, his gaze changed from certainty to suspicion. Lin Feiran looked back at him frankly and bowed, saying, "Fellow Daoist, you have really mistaken me for someone else."
After staring at each other for a long time, Pei Yu still couldn't see any clues on her face. Even though she still had some doubts, she eventually believed most of it. Feeling bored, she ignored her and turned to leave.
Since it's not Lin Feiran, what's the point of mocking and fighting her?
Not far away, Qiu Tong was also staring straight in this direction, seemingly deep in thought, her face showing hesitation. As for Wei Changzai…
Lin Feiran followed his gaze, which fell on her palm, which was covered in ink. She gently closed her hands, ignoring the piercing gaze, and walked forward.
Among the people present, besides Shen Qi, three others actually removed their masks to reveal their true faces. While everyone exclaimed in surprise, Lin Feiran was also somewhat astonished, because she recognized one of them as well.
"Elder Xunfang!" Qiu Tong stepped forward, looking puzzled. "Didn't you go down the mountain to find herbs? How come... you're also at the Flying Flower Gathering?"
Since her injury, Xunfang's cultivation level has plummeted, but it shouldn't have fallen to the level of "Questioning the Heart." When Qiutong asked that question, she already knew the answer: she was entering the realm through pressure.
But during the Flying Flower Gathering in her previous life, Xun Fang was clearly seated on the elder's seat and did not participate personally...
With her mask removed, Xunfang quickly regained her composure. She looked at the few familiar faces and explained with a smile, "Those who cultivate the Dao naturally seek a glimmer of hope. If I can meet the Ancestor of Healing this time, perhaps my illness..."
As she spoke, her eyelashes drooped slightly, as if she were suffering.
Upon hearing this, Qiu Tong sighed inwardly, but she understood Xun Fang's unspoken meaning perfectly. She comforted her, saying, "Elder, your spiritual veins will definitely heal. Why don't you come with us? With Senior Brother Wei and Senior Sister Pei by your side, we will surely succeed on this journey."
Pei Yu glanced at the two of them and sneered, "Only the weak band together for warmth. Once you leave this realm, you'll go your separate ways. Who has time to care about you?"
Qiu Tong pursed her lips and turned to look at Wei Changzai: "Senior Brother Wei..."
Wei Chang then turned to look at her, his clear gaze meeting hers as always, devoid of any emotion: "I made a promise with you before, that I would definitely help you on this trip. If the elder does not mind, you may also come along."
Xunfang is Zhang Chunhe's junior sister, and according to seniority, she should be considered his senior uncle, which is in accordance with etiquette.
Pei Yu found it amusing. There were rumors in Daohe Palace that she was in love with Consort Wei, which was not untrue. She did like her and had never denied it. After all, she had always admired strong people other than Lin Feiran.
Wei Changzai is ranked first on the Qingyun List, a peerless genius, more than a match for her, and would not lose face. However, sometimes she really dislikes some of his behavior.
For example, right now.
She teased, "The meddlesome Lin Feiran is gone, and now Wei Feiran has come along. What, is this your way of remembering her?"
Wei Changzai had some connection with Pei Yu, which was related to Lin Feiran. Since that connection, he had not often spoken with Pei Yu. Therefore, as usual, he ignored her and said little.
Qiu Tong couldn't hold back and said, "So what if she's meddling? At least she can manage it. Some people might want to but are powerless to do so."
Pei Yu looked at her, his eyes growing cold: "A piece of trash who can only rank 30th in the sect competition dares to provoke me? Even Lin Feiran wouldn't dare to say such a thing."
Lin Feiran, Lin Feiran, Lin Feiran!
Like a soul being called out, though she was gone, the sounds of people calling for her could be heard everywhere, which was truly unsettling.
Lin Feiran took a quiet breath to calm herself, but there was someone who couldn't bear to hear it even more than she could.
Xunfang immediately spoke up: "Stop arguing! Our priority right now is not disguise, nor is it infighting, but escaping Tianzhu!"
The mortals opposite did not stop the argument; on the contrary, they watched with great interest. When they saw the argument stop, they clapped their hands and laughed.
The bearded man stared intently at the group, his narrow eyes filled with longing: "Brilliant, absolutely brilliant! So when you immortals quarrel, you're no different from us mortals—sharp-tongued, vying for fame and fortune. What kind of immortals are you? We can be immortals like that too!"
The people behind him cheered and stood shoulder to shoulder with him.
Lin Feiran looked closely and saw that there were five people opposite him: a bearded man, a pedantic scholar, a cold-faced beauty, a burly man with a knife, and a boy of eleven or twelve years old.
They stepped forward together, calling out to open the book, and before them appeared a catalog of beauties.
On Lin Feiran's side, besides herself, Shen Qi, Wei Changzai, Qiu Tong, Pei Yu, and Xun Fang, there were three other cultivators whom she did not know very well. Judging from their robes, they seemed to be rogue cultivators. At this moment, they were standing not far away, their eyes darting around, still deep in thought.
Faced with unknown magic with mortal bodies, the group was uncertain and fell silent, pondering a solution.
Lin Feiran stepped forward directly and asked, "How do we fight?"
Previously, there was a way to escape from the beasts' jaws, and now, when we fight them, we will certainly not fight empty-handed. Otherwise, if no one can escape from Tianzhu during this Flying Flower Gathering, then the event will lose its meaning.
The bearded man glanced at her, then raised his head and said in a booming voice, "The game of chess is about to begin. Please, Lord Murong, take your seat!"
As soon as the words were spoken, a figure leaped from the celestial dome and landed directly between the two sides. A light sound of a sword rang out, and black boots stepped down, stirring up a few specks of dust.
This was a woman as austere and cold as the autumn wind. Her black hair was piled up and meticulously tucked into her hat. She wore a white dragon robe, adorned with jade pendants and a sash. A horizontal sword was tucked at her waist. She silently swept over the crowd.
Murong Qiudi was the most powerful female official of her time, a close advisor to the emperor, and the commander of the Imperial Guard.
Lin Feiran had seen Murong Qiudi at a palace banquet. At that time, although she was a close minister of the emperor, she only stood beside the Holy Palace Consort and did not sit down.
Perhaps because they were both generals, she had a good relationship with her father. When she saw the family enter, she went up and chatted with them for a few words. Her mother liked her very much and addressed her as Murong, not as "Master".
Lin Feiran looked at her, her heart stirring slightly. Perhaps if she did this, she could talk to Murong Qiudi about the past, and...
Suddenly, someone approached her side, her heart pounding. Lin Feiran turned her head and saw a dark face. It was Shen Qi, who had secretly hidden behind her.
"You, raise your head," Murong Qiudi said, her voice slightly hoarse but quite authoritative.
Shen Qi straightened up, peeking out half of his face, which was dark and shiny, exuding a strong ink fragrance. Murong Qiudi frowned slightly, but did not criticize him. She only told him to straighten his back and stop being timid.
Shen Qi repeatedly agreed and dared not move again, standing still like a stake.
Just as he was feeling uneasy, he suddenly felt someone walk up to his side. He turned around and saw that it was the young man with the plum blossom hairpin carrying a sword.
His eyes were cold and aloof, and his demeanor was noble. He didn't say a word, but just stood beside him, his dark eyes fixed on him without blinking. After a while, it was a little creepy.
Shen Qi was puzzled, but still asked in a good-natured voice, "I am Shen Qi, a disciple of the Imperial Academy. May I ask who you are, my friend?"
"Daohe Palace, Guardian." He remained silent for a long time before giving a simple reply.
Shen Qi suddenly realized: "You are Consort Wei? I've seen you on the Azure Cloud Ranking. I've heard so much about you. Fellow Daoist Wei is truly a person of exceptional talent and character. It's an honor to meet you today..."
Before the pleasantries were even finished, Wei Changzai asked again, "Have you known her for a long time?"
"Who? Wen Ran?" Shen Qi turned his head and glanced at Lin Feiran in front of him, and said, "Didn't I just say that she and I are old friends? Since we met, she has been called Wen Ran."
Wei Changzai shifted his feet slightly, taking half a step closer: "What old friend, childhood sweetheart? Did she allow you to say that?"
"Huh?" Shen Qi hesitated for a moment, then, remembering how Lin Feiran had covered his face with makeup, he gritted his teeth and agreed, "That's right! A childhood friend!"
The young man before him, with his graceful bearing and refined demeanor, suddenly fell silent. He looked at him, a ripple appearing in his dark eyes, and said, "From childhood to adulthood, she has only had one old friend."
This person is ill.
Shen Qi suddenly understood, chuckled twice, bowed, and stepped forward to stand beside Lin Feiran without looking back.
It's still more reassuring to have Fellow Daoist Wenran by my side!
...
Unbeknownst to anyone, the undercurrents in the rear were all focused on the contest of magic.
Pei Yu asked, "Sir, I just heard them say that a chess game is about to begin. May I ask what kind of game it is? We cannot use magic, so how are we supposed to play? Could you please show us how to use the chess diagrams?"
The three questions, which were full of arrogance, were ignored by Murong Qiudi. She only glanced at her, then lightly stepped on the ground, and a stone platform two people high rose up from the side. She flew up and sat cross-legged on it, looking down at the view.
"This is the Baoying Chess Game. The pieces are the King, Elephant, Strategist, Chariot, Horse, and Pawn. Each of you enters the game as a piece. The one who can force the opponent's King to death wins. If you are reborn, you should also know the rules of Xiangqi (Chinese chess), so I will not go into too much detail."
The winner may present this square pillar and receive three flower-themed tokens as a gift.
After speaking, she waved her hand and held three bunches of flowers in her palm.
Lin Feiran pondered for a moment and asked, "Within the Four Heavenly Pillars, are all victories determined by chess games?"
Murong Qiudi then turned to look at her, scrutinized her closely, and shook her head: "No, it's just that I'm guarding this Heavenly Pillar, so I'm using this military chess game as an excuse to let you all decide the winner. Now, choose your generals and identities."
Pei Yu then said, "Wait a minute, in Xiangqi (Chinese chess), each side must have at least twelve pieces. If we have to use ourselves as pieces, the numbers are unequal, so how can we determine the winner?"
Upon hearing this, the bearded man laughed loudly: "Little immortal, just you wait and see what true divine power is!"
The five people opposite knew the rules early on and chose the young boy as their general. The bearded man shouted "Open the scroll!" and then put two fingers together, placing them on one of the sections of the "Collection of Beauties".
"A fairy descends from the waves, sitting alone on a golden and silver platform. Under the moon, she encounters the shadow of a flower, as if an old friend has come."
He held no flowers, yet a fragrant breeze wafted by. A dark shadow slowly emerged from beneath his feet, sprouting, branching, and blossoming. As it bloomed, a golden and silver floral shadow solidified beneath his feet.
Ripples suddenly appeared on the water, just like a fairy walking on water. In a moment, the shadows of flowers and leaves grew and twisted into a human figure. A drop of water fell and the human figure suddenly rose from the ground. The darkness faded and the figure was revealed. It was exactly the same as the bearded man!
The bearded man had a strange look in his eyes. He had already submitted to this kind of magic. He looked excitedly at the clone that was exactly like him. He felt his blood was about to boil. This was the immortal magic he had been dreaming of!
Lin Feiran watched quietly, not missing a single movement of the bearded man. At the same time, she was also pondering what the summer lotus was, which was already included in her chart, and how to summon it. Was it by reciting poetry? But what restrictions and interpretations did this poetry have?
Murong Qiudi looked at Lin Feiran and the others, raised the three gold and silver tables in her hand, and said, "You already have nine people, only three are missing, so I'm giving you three gold and silver tables. Who will accept them?"
After saying that, Pei Yu and Lin Feiran subconsciously looked at each other, determined to seize such a golden opportunity!
Author's Note: Jin Yintai is like a daffodil.
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