Profound Knowledge, Step by Step, Strange Events

Lin Tianlu pondered for a moment before quickly placing his game piece.

Seeing that he had figured out his strategy and made his move in such a short time, Nie Qingyuan's right hand, which was holding his teacup, almost trembled. He quickly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

"Old Mr. Nie, it's your turn now."

"This old man..."

Nie Qingyuan's lips moved, but as he looked at the chessboard before him, he felt a wave of dizziness.

It wasn't that his body was weak; it was purely that the current game was so bizarre that he couldn't find the slightest flaw or solution.

Although it looked like random moves at first glance, upon closer inspection, it contained hidden strategies, profound and unfathomable.

Even though he had tried to break the formation several times, he found himself lacking the strength. Every move he made felt like falling into a thousand traps, step by step.

After a moment of silence, he put down his teacup and sighed softly:

"Master Lin, your strategy is truly marvelous. This game... this old man truly cannot continue."

Lin Tianlu smiled and cupped his hands in a salute. "Old Mr. Nie is too kind. I was merely lucky. If I were to play two more games with you, I would have no more moves left."

While being polite and humble, he was also inwardly pleased.

He finally experienced the thrill of an unexpected move defeating a seasoned master, which felt truly satisfying.

However, this old gentleman before him was indeed knowledgeable, and his words had been thought-provoking and worthy of respect.

"Alas! This old man is not someone who cannot afford to lose. Master Lin need not comfort me so."

Nie Qingyuan quickly exhaled, regaining his usual calm and gentle smile. He stroked his long beard and said, "Being able to play a game with Master Lin is a fortune in my remaining years. Only now do I understand that there is always someone better, and that I have been too arrogant in the past."

"Then, Old Mr. Nie, shall we agree to play a few more rounds next time?"

Lin Tianlu said with a hint of meaning, "Now, this junior needs to go home and have breakfast first. Otherwise..."

"This old man understands! That beautiful young lady must be waiting impatiently."

However, Nie Qingyuan's expression turned slightly serious. "But before Master Lin leaves, allow this old man to offer a word of advice. The woman from the Mao family who lives across the street has a peculiar background. This old man happened to meet her a few times in the past. Although we didn't talk much, her expression seemed filled with coldness."

Lin Tianlu listened in surprise.

After a moment of thought, he quickly shook his head and chuckled. "Old Mr. Nie, there's no need to worry. Madam Mao is actually very gentle. She just doesn't want to interact with outsiders to avoid gossip."

Nie Qingyuan stroked his beard and pondered for a moment before smiling freely. "Master Lin's thoughtful heart is indeed fortunate for Madam Mao. This old man's bones will not gossip behind your back anymore. Please forgive me, Master Lin.

If there's an opportunity, this old man will visit again and bring some gifts for Madam Mao as an apology."

"Then I will thank you on behalf of Madam Mao first." Lin Tianlu cupped his hands and took his leave.

After seeing Lin Tianlu off, Nie Qingyuan leisurely strolled back to the pavilion. Looking at the chessboard on the stone table, he couldn't help but sigh:

"The younger generation is truly formidable..."

He stared at the chessboard and pondered it again before reluctantly collecting the pieces one by one.

"I didn't expect Old Mr. Nie to have such a high opinion of Master Lin. It truly surprises me."

A serious voice suddenly broke the silence, causing Nie Qingyuan's movements to pause. The smile on his face vanished, and he turned his head indifferently.

In the quiet courtyard that should have been empty, a middle-aged man in brocade robes now stood upright. Although his face showed some signs of age, his demeanor was refined and gentle.

"Tang Haifeng, you've trespassed into this old man's mansion again without announcing yourself. Haven't the county magistrate's duties kept you busy enough?"

"Please forgive me, old sir. I was merely curious and wanted to take a look," Tang Haifeng said with a cupped-hand salute and a smile, neither subservient nor arrogant. "I had intended to visit Master Lin directly to seek his guidance, but I didn't expect him to be so friendly with you. So, I lingered outside for a moment."

"You were eavesdropping outside?"

"This humble one does not have such good hearing. I only saw you sighing repeatedly, old sir, which led me to guess that Master Lin must have displayed extraordinary chess skills." Tang Haifeng glanced at the half-cleared chessboard. "For you to praise him so highly, he must be a rare talent in this world."

"You must have heard those rumors already."

Nie Qingyuan snorted coldly and put away the last few chess pieces.

"Rumors are just rumors, and embellishments should not be taken seriously. However... these current rumors are becoming difficult to distinguish between truth and falsehood." Tang Haifeng's expression turned serious. "Old Mr. Nie, did you happen to see the lightning strike in the sky yesterday?"

A flicker of apprehension crossed Nie Qingyuan's eyes.

"Since you are asking me, it means you witnessed it yourself."

"At that time, this humble one was still within the mansion and only vaguely saw that terrifying lightning strike near this area."

"How would this old man know?"

Nie Qingyuan turned back and snorted coldly. "The thunderclap at that time was so deafening that it almost made this old man, who was resting indoors, faint. That's all. By the time I recovered, most of the dark clouds had dispersed. How would I know where that lightning came from or where it went?"

Tang Haifeng sighed softly. "You're right, I was overthinking."

"Instead of coming here to nag me about this, why don't you tell me how my grandson has been doing lately?"

"Chen'er is currently studying at the academy, and his life is orderly."

"If there's an opportunity, bring Chen'er to visit Master Lin for some guidance—"

Nie Qingyuan waved his hand. "Forget it. You all shouldn't bother Master Lin by visiting. Although he is gentle and kind, he is naturally free-spirited and dislikes chatter. If you visit casually, you might be driven away by the Hua girl in his house."

"In a while, send someone over. This old man will personally seek guidance from Master Lin and prepare some poetry and essays for Chen'er to study and recite. It will be of great benefit to his future."

Tang Haifeng's face showed a hint of surprise upon hearing this. "Old Mr. Nie, that Master Lin's talent... is truly that extraordinary?"

But Nie Qingyuan smiled inexplicably at this moment. "What do you, at your young age, understand?"

After speaking, he no longer lingered. Instead, he picked up the chessboard and slowly walked back inside alone.

Only Tang Haifeng remained, his expression uncertain, pondering in place.

After a long period of contemplation, he finally turned and left the mansion, walking towards the residence where Lin Tianlu lived.

He wanted to see for himself if the person who earned such praise from Nie Qingyuan, a former Hanlin scholar in his youth, truly possessed great talent and an upright spirit as rumored.

Walking about a hundred feet away, he soon spotted the Lin family's residence.

Tang Haifeng straightened his collar and strode forward.

"Huh?!"

But as he approached within a few steps of the main gate, his expression suddenly changed.

Looking up, he saw the yang energy within the walls surging like misty dragons. The scorching heat that rushed towards him was like the blazing sun in midsummer!

"This, this--"

Tang Haifeng swayed, his face filled with fear.

The rumors were true!

He quickly steadied his mind and tried to step forward again to knock and greet them.

Buzz--!

A streak of sword light, accompanied by fierce thunder and fire, shot straight into the sky!

Tang Haifeng's pupils constricted. He saw the vast sword energy pierce through the sky and the sea of clouds, parting them to reveal the sun. The sword's hum resonated in his mind, as if possessing the power to connect heaven and earth!

"How, how could this be--"

Tang Haifeng was already ashen-faced, stiffening as if struck by lightning.

However, after half an hour, he gradually regained consciousness. Gritting his teeth, he wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and finally managed to regain some composure.

"I've come this far, how can I give up halfway!"

He mustered his courage and stepped forward again, now only two steps away from the courtyard gate.

But at this moment, his mind suddenly went blank.

Without looking up, wisps of ancient aura seemed to drift over, gently brushing his face. In the corner of his eye, he saw a vast and illusory scene, as if all things were withering and decaying, turning into rotten dust.

Including his body, turning to ash--

"Ah!"

Tang Haifeng cried out in alarm, as if waking from a nightmare.

When he finally came to his senses, he was astonished to realize that all the strange phenomena he had just witnessed were merely Kyōka Suigetsu. The mansion before him was still serene and peaceful, as if he had hallucinated.

"This, this truly is..."

Looking at the mansion gate, which was only two or three steps away, he now hesitated and stopped in his tracks.

Sensing that his back was already soaked in cold sweat and the yin energy hidden within him for many years was on the verge of collapse, he finally looked dejected, gave a self-mocking laugh, and turned to leave.

It was only a few steps, but it felt as distant as a chasm.

He...

Could not take that final step.

The person inside was truly like an immortal or god among men!