Chapter 292 A Familiar Taste! (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
What is the Way of Chess?
Everyone has a different understanding.
It may be a path for leisure and entertainment, or a battle like a battlefield, or a glimpse into the profound truths of life or the universe.
But in Chen Yi's eyes at this moment, heaven and earth are the "chessboard" and all living things are the "chess pieces".
With each move he makes, he can change a person's fate.
Especially in this Shu Prefecture.
It's like a small world.
Many people are transformed into chess pieces, with mountains, rivers, and lakes as boundaries, their movement in and out entirely at his whim.
Therefore, the way of chess is, to some extent, in line with the "divination of the I Ching".
However, divination follows the way of heaven, and every sip and bite is predetermined.
The way of chess, however, depends entirely on the likes and dislikes of the player.
"This is... 'Heaven and Earth are ruthless, treating all things like straw dogs'."
Chen Yi slowly opened his eyes, letting his mind wander into profound and chaotic thoughts, feeling quite emotional.
He never expected that his enlightenment would come at this time.
He thought it was just a trivial matter, but it unexpectedly led him to break through to the pinnacle of his chess skills.
He looked at where Ma Liangcai and the others were, his gaze falling on Yuan Liuer, who was still bewildered.
[At 3:45 AM, you witness Yuan Liuer selling herself into servitude to bury her father. You then bear the karmic consequences and help Yuan Liuer.]
[Reward: "Eight Methods of Weaving", +11 Luck.]
[Comment: The person arrived, their voice was heard, and the scene was impressive. Excellent performance.]
Chen Yi glanced at it and silently thanked him.
Not long after.
After the crowd dispersed, Liu Quan led Yuan Liuer to bury her father.
Ma Liangcai returned alone, cupped his hands and said, "Manager, it's all taken care of."
"After Liu'er has taken care of her father's funeral arrangements, she will come to the pharmacy."
Chen Yi hummed in agreement, watching the cart slowly drive away before speaking:
“Teach her well.”
After saying that, he patted Ma Liangcai on the shoulder and turned to leave.
Under the cover of dark clouds, the rain intensified.
On the dimly lit Chuandong Street, crowds thronged, yet the figures in straw raincoats and bamboo hats seemed frozen in a traditional Chinese ink painting.
Only that amber-colored oil-paper umbrella passed through, gradually fading into the distance.
Ma Liangcai gazed at it for a long time, then shook his head and returned to the pharmacy.
He vaguely sensed that Chen Yi was in a strange mood, but in the end he didn't dare to ask questions about Yuan Liuer's medical talent.
Let's just consider it the end of our master-disciple relationship.
Once the hustle and bustle outside the East Market subsided, a cacophony of noise followed.
Shouts, arguments, bargaining, and laughter mingled together.
Uncle Gui watched Chen Yi walk away from the long queue outside Xinglinzhai, a look of doubt on his wrinkled face.
This "young bird's" behavior today seems to contradict his usual "indifference" to everything.
They were so kind as to lend a helping hand to a young girl.
A hint of mockery flashed across Uncle Gui's face. "The kindness of aristocratic families?"
After waiting for a while.
Uncle Gui lowered his body slightly and slowly walked towards the Marquis's residence.
But after he turned into Zhennan Street, he did not see Chen Yi.
He looked in the direction of the West Market and the Red-light District, but still couldn't find any trace of it, so he couldn't help but frown.
Lost them?
For a veteran of the Dingyuan Army and a flag officer of the White Tiger Guard like him, losing track of someone is quite normal.
For example, some martial arts masters may not be familiar with the terrain.
It would be truly strange if a scholar who only knew a little martial arts could escape his pursuit.
Uncle Gui looked around again, but still couldn't see Chen Yi, so he returned to the Xiao residence with a sinister look in his eyes.
Along the way, we encountered several more acquaintances, who kept greeting us with "Uncle Gui, Uncle Gui."
He ignored them, walking slowly with his hunched back.
But as he turned into the alley where the mansion gate was located, he heard a sinister laugh:
"Uncle Gui?"
Uncle Gui was certain that the voice did not belong to anyone in the manor, so he turned around to look.
Just as they were about to see who it was, they suddenly met those eyes—two blood-red eyes.
"you……"
Before Uncle Gui could finish speaking, his body paused, and his previously cloudy and sinister eyes changed color several times.
It turned from black to red, and then from red to black.
"It is your good fortune that I have taken a liking to your body."
"Uncle Gui" muttered to himself as he walked strangely into the Marquis's residence.
As he ventured deeper into the forest, not only did no one notice anything amiss, but many soldiers even greeted him with smiles.
This made the corners of "Uncle Gui's" mouth widen even more when he lowered his head.
Just as he arrived at the backyard to look for Chen Yi, a flash of crimson appeared in his eyes as he stared straight at Chunhe Garden.
"That...familiar smell..."
Uncle Gui sized him up for a long time, and the smile on his face gradually disappeared.
Surprise, astonishment... until great joy.
"Hahaha... Is that you? Is this your hiding place?"
He couldn't believe it, yet he couldn't doubt his baby's sense of smell.
That intense flavor couldn't be wrong—it's the flavor of "Dragon Spear" Liu Wu!
After listening for a moment and confirming that no one was in the house, Uncle Gui did not hesitate any longer and walked straight over.
In the tranquil courtyard, leaves and petals fluttered in the air.
Lush trees surround two wooden buildings, and a pavilion stands beside a pond.
A faint fragrance of lotus flowers lingers on the bluestone path.
The fragrance of plants mingled within.
A strong fragrance of plum blossoms wafted from one of the wooden buildings.
Uncle Gui's smile widened. "So, you've been here all along."
As he walked toward the wooden building, he murmured to himself, "Liu Hong was right, that 'Dragon Spear' Liu Wu is indeed a member of the Xiao family."
He lives in the Xiao family's house.
"No wonder the Xiao family suffered no losses after the fire that burned the summer grain in the three towns. It must have been the work of that old bastard Xiao Yuan."
"But who owns this courtyard?"
"Let this old man see, see..."
"Uncle Gui" pushed open the door of the wooden building, glanced at the elegantly furnished living room, and then walked towards the study where the fragrance of plum blossoms was strongest.
Upon entering, he saw a calligraphy scroll hanging behind the desk.
"Prelude to Water Melody - Mid-Autumn Festival: When will the moon be clear and bright? Let us raise our cups and share the beauty of the moon, though we are thousands of miles apart. — Chen Yi, Chen Qingzhou"
A fairyland floated above the study, where a figure stood proudly.
Perhaps sensing that someone had intruded, he raised his head and looked down at the newcomer with the lower edge of his eyelids.
Uncle Gui stared blankly at the calligraphy scroll, then at the figure in the celestial realm, his mouth agape.
"Chen Yi, Chen Qingzhou... Liu Wu..."
...
West Market, Baicaotang.
After leaving Jishi Pharmacy, Chen Yi went straight here.
To avoid suspicion, he deliberately changed into Chen Yu's attire and summoned Wang Ji.
"Have your men prepare to go to the Lin family's grain store as soon as Da Bao sends back a signal."
Since Lin Zhenghong had preemptively gone to find Cui Qingwu beforehand, then let him do it this time as well.
Wang Ji nodded in agreement.
After thinking it over, he asked in a low voice, "Sir, with such a short time, I'm afraid Da Bao's preparations are not adequate."
"It's alright."
"All I need is a spark, as for how brightly it can burn..."
Chen Yi stood with his hands behind his back by the window of the quiet room, looking out at the gloomy rain through the gaps in the woven rattan curtain, and said softly, "Not with me."
"The more greedy and avarice they are, the more the fire will burn them until there are not even ashes left."
Originally, he did intend to wait a few more days, until the people from the Jizhou Merchant Guild were smug and had a few days of dreaming while counting their silver.
But after what happened with Yuan Liuer, he couldn't wait any longer.
Or rather, the people in Shuzhou City couldn't wait any longer.
If we wait any longer, today it's Yuan Liuer, tomorrow it will be Zhao Liuer, and then Sun Liuer.
He was willing to let poor families go hungry for several meals in order to eradicate the malignant tumor that was the Jizhou Merchant Guild.
But he couldn't bear to watch them die.
They neither want to nor can they.
If you lower your conscience even a little, you lose it completely.
If you try to climb any higher in the future, it won't just be incredibly difficult, it will be laughable.
Especially those who have suffered undeserved misfortune.
Even on their way to the underworld, they can laugh loudly.
Chen Yi didn't want to regret it later.
We waited for about an hour.
Chen Yi saw a flash of fire in the western and southern sky, then turned and walked out of the quiet room.
Wang Ji also dared not hesitate, quickly walked downstairs, and whispered something to a guard from the Tianshan Sect.
The young-looking guard nodded and ran out of Baicaotang with an excited expression.
Chen Yi glanced at it, greeted Wang Ji, and then left.
He had only taken a few steps when he sensed a familiar presence beside him, followed by a joyful exclamation:
"Mr. Chen, we meet again."
Chen Yi turned around and saw Xie Tingyun greeting him while calling out to the Tianshan Sect disciple who had run away:
"Junior Brother Jinpeng, why are you running so fast?"
The Tianshan Sect disciple named Jin Peng waved his hand without turning his head, "Senior Sister, I'll tell you when I get back."
Xie Tingyun didn't take it seriously. He came to Chen Yi's side and slapped him on the shoulder in a familiar manner.
"Boss Chen, thank you for taking in our Tianshan Sect disciples."
Chen Yi subtly dodged the question, saying calmly, "I should be thanking you."
Xie Tingyun held his hand in mid-air, looked at him, then at his own hand, and praised with a smile: "Boss Chen's martial arts are not weak."
"He has a rudimentary understanding of martial arts, but he's not up to par."
"you……"
Before she could finish speaking, Chen Yi gave a slight bow and said, "I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave first."
Xie Tingyun sighed, but before he could speak, he saw that Xie Tingyun had already walked away.
She paused for a moment, looked down at her clothes, and scratched her head in confusion.
"Am I that scary?"
Chen Yi ignored her and, after confirming that no one was following him, returned to the East City.
To be precise, he arrived at a small tavern outside the Lin residence.
It was just past noon.
There weren't many customers in the tavern.
Chen Yi sat by the window and ordered a pot of Shaoxing wine, half a catty of beef, and a bowl of clear soup noodles.
While eating, they listened to the sounds coming from inside and outside the Lin residence.
About fifteen minutes later.
The sound of rapid hoofbeats approached, followed by a knock on the door.
"You, how did you get back? Didn't you go to the black market outside the Tea Horse Road with the caravan?"
"Quickly, take me to see the master! Something terrible has happened!"
The sounds came intermittently, filled with expressions of surprise and fear.
"really?"
"Did those bandits from Vaishsa Kingdom really launch an attack?"
"Absolutely true!"
"I personally witnessed those bandits killing passing merchants, right outside the Tea Horse Road, not far from the border."
"They rode tall horses, their hooves wrapped in cloth, and each of them looked fierce and menacing..."
"Uncle Hao, Third Master, they're all dead..."
"No, that's impossible!"
"How dare King Nalando do such a thing?!"
"Master, it's true, it's true, waaaaah..."
The noise stopped abruptly, as if someone else had arrived, suppressing everyone, including Lin Zhenghong.
"What happened?"
"Your Excellency, the Wind Inspector, you have finally arrived! King Lando has indeed led a large army to invade our border."
"What?!"
"You, you went to see that person from the Cui family?"
"I would never dare not obey your orders... I would never dare not look for her. I already signed a contract with Miss Cui last night..."
"This is not the time for us to talk about these things, sir. Shouldn't we start making plans soon?"
"idiot!"
"King Lando is attacking, this is the perfect time for us to make a fortune, and you, you actually think about running away?"
"Quickly, before Miss Cui finds out, go to her and get the contract back!"
"This, this... but... the grain was already received by Miss Cui's people this morning..."
"you!?"
"No matter what method you use, I must see the grain back in your Lin family's warehouse before nightfall!"
"Ah, I..."
Hearing this, Chen Yi glanced in the direction of the Lin residence and secretly felt lucky.
It turns out that the person who was "being too clever for his own good" was not Lin Zhenghong, but the person standing behind him.
He wondered how someone who temporarily replaced Lin Huai'an could be so vigilant—as soon as he received the news that Lü Jiunan was not dead, he immediately transferred the grain to Cui Qingwu.
It turns out that there were other people from the Jizhou merchant guild in Shuzhou.
"They say 'those who are good at swimming will drown,' which saves me a lot of trouble."
Chen Yi chuckled to himself, then finished the wine in the pot in one gulp and got up to leave the tavern.
"The rest depends on how big Cui Qingwu's appetite is..."
...
After going around in circles.
Chen Yi dropped his disguise and leisurely returned to the Xiao family, holding an oil-paper umbrella.
The journey was as usual.
The soldiers, servants, and maids greeted him warmly and kept calling out to him.
Chen Yi smiled and nodded in greeting, feeling much better than when he saw Yuan Liuer's plight.
Based on his deduction, the Jizhou merchants would likely go to find Cui Qingwu immediately upon learning the news.
He could get Liu Lang's side moving in a day or two at most.
Combined with news from Asutai, Lü Jiunan, and others...
If the Jizhou Merchant Guild doesn't lose a hundred thousand taels of silver, it would be a disservice to all his hard work and effort.
However, Chen Yi's good mood only lasted until he stepped into the Spring Lotus Garden—
It was as if the world itself had changed.
The rainy weather outside was cool, but it was nowhere near as bitterly cold as inside the Spring Lotus Garden.
Wisps of crimson mist filled the garden, while black snowflakes drifted in the air like feathers.
The ground was no longer wet flagstones, but a thicket of thorns.
Thick vines, as thick as a bowl, entangled and climbed all over the yard, their barbs oozing dark green sap.
Towering giant trees stand tall, and two wooden buildings and a small pavilion can be vaguely seen in the distance.
The smile on Chen Yi's face gradually faded. He looked at the scenery in front of him and then turned his head to look behind him.
The same dense thicket of thorns.
It was as if his step wasn't just crossing the gate of the Spring Lotus Garden, but rather traversing thousands of miles to reach a strange forest.
"Perfect realm... illusion?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Yi heard a sinister laugh coming from beside him:
"Illusion?"
"This is the secret technique of Vajrasattva—the art of black magic!"
A gaunt old man dressed as a servant of a marquis's household stood on a nearby giant tree, looking down with scarlet eyes.
"Lord Dragonlance, or rather, Mr. Light Boat, you have kept this old man waiting!"
(End of this chapter)
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