Learned and Broadly Read, Strange Phenomena at Every Step

Lin Tianlu pondered briefly before swiftly placing a chess piece.

Seeing him devise his strategy in an instant and decisively make his move, Nie Qingyuan's right hand, which held his teacup, nearly trembled. He hurriedly wiped the cold sweat from his brow.

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

"This old man..."

Nie Qingyuan's lips moved soundlessly. Yet as he looked at the chessboard before him, he felt his vision swim.

It was not because his body was weak. Purely, the chess game before him was far too bizarre, to the point that he could not find the slightest flaw or solution.

At first glance, the moves seemed to have been made at random, but on closer inspection, they concealed profound patterns that were impossible to fathom.

Though he had tried several times to break through the game, he ultimately lacked the strength to do so. Every piece he placed was like falling into countless traps, step by step entering the snare.

After a moment of silence, he set down his teacup and sighed mournfully.

"Master Lin's methods are truly marvelous. This game... this old man really has no way to continue."

Lin Tianlu smiled and cupped his hands in a bow. "Old Mr. Nie, you were too kind. I merely happened to get lucky. If I played two more games with you, I wouldn't have any other moves left to use."

As he politely declined the compliment, he was secretly rather delighted.

He had finally experienced the thrill of killing a master with wild punches. It truly felt fantastic.

Still, the old gentleman before him was indeed learned and broad-minded. Several of his remarks had been deeply thought-provoking and worthy of respect.

"Ah! I'm not someone who can't accept defeat. Master Lin needn't comfort me like this."

Nie Qingyuan soon exhaled the foul air from his lungs and returned to his usual leisurely, genial smile. Stroking his long beard, he said, "To have played a game with Master Lin is a blessing in this old man's remaining years. Only now do I understand that beyond the heavens are further heavens, and beyond men are other men... In the past, this old man truly thought too highly of himself."

"Then, Old Mr. Nie, why don't we agree to fight a few more rounds next time?"

Lin Tianlu spoke with a pointed meaning. "Tonight, though, I have to return home and eat some breakfast first, otherwise..."

"This old man understands! That pretty young lady must be waiting anxiously."

At this point, however, Nie Qingyuan's expression turned slightly solemn. "But before Master Lin leaves, listen to one word from this old man. The Madam Mao living across the street has a somewhat strange background. I happened to encounter her several times in the past. Though we never spoke much, from her appearance, she seemed to be filled with icy coldness."

Lin Tianlu was astonished.

After thinking briefly, he soon shook his head with a laugh. "Old Mr. Nie, there's no need to worry. Madam Mao is actually gentle by nature. She simply doesn't wish to associate with outsiders and invite idle gossip."

Nie Qingyuan stroked his beard and pondered for a moment before smiling freely. "For Master Lin to possess such a considerate heart must surely be Madam Mao's good fortune as well. This old man won't wag his tongue behind her back any longer. Please forgive me, Master Lin.

"If I have the opportunity, I'll visit again and properly trouble Madam Mao for a while, bringing her some gifts to express my apology."

"Then I'll thank you on Madam Mao's behalf, Old Mr. Nie." Lin Tianlu cupped his hands, bade him farewell, and departed.

After seeing Lin Tianlu off, Nie Qingyuan leisurely paced back to the pavilion. Looking at the chessboard and pieces laid out on the stone table, he could not help sighing aloud.

"The younger generation is truly formidable..."

He stared at the chessboard and studied it carefully once more before, still unsatisfied, collecting the pieces one by one.

"I never expected Old Mr. Nie's opinion of that Master Lin to be so high. It truly surprises me."

A carefree yet stern voice drifted over, causing Nie Qingyuan's hands to pause. The smile vanished from his face, and he turned back with an indifferent expression.

In the silent courtyard, which should have been empty of people, a middle-aged man in a brocade robe now stood ramrod straight. Though his face bore traces of weathering, his brows and eyes carried an air of refined calm.

"Tang Haifeng, you've barged into this old man's residence again without so much as a greeting. Has the county magistrate's work still not kept you busy enough?"

"Old sir, please forgive me. I merely felt a sudden whim and wanted to come take a look." Tang Haifeng cupped his hands and smiled, neither servile nor overbearing. "I had intended to go directly to Master Lin's door and seek his guidance, but I never expected him to be so familiar with you. So I simply lingered outside for a while."

"You were eavesdropping outside?"

"I don't have such good hearing. I merely saw you sighing repeatedly, so I guessed that Master Lin must have displayed extraordinary chess skills." Tang Haifeng glanced at the chess game, most of which had already been put away. "For you to praise him so highly, he must be a rare talent in this world."

"You should have heard those rumors long ago."

Nie Qingyuan snorted and casually gathered up the last few pieces.

"Rumors are ultimately only rumors. They've been embellished and cannot be taken seriously. It's just that... with the rumors as they are now, it's hard to tell what's true and what's false." Tang Haifeng's expression turned slightly solemn. "I wonder, Old Mr. Nie, did you see that thunderbolt from the heavens yesterday?"

A hint of wariness flashed through Nie Qingyuan's eyes.

"Since you've asked me, it proves you witnessed it with your own eyes."

"At the time, I was still inside the residence. I only vaguely saw that terrifying thunderbolt strike somewhere nearby."

"How would this old man know?"

Nie Qingyuan turned back and snorted. "The thunder was roaring at the time, frightening this old man, who was resting indoors, to the point that I nearly fainted. That's all. By the time I recovered, most of the dark clouds filling the sky had dispersed. How could I know where that thunderbolt came from, or where it went?"

Tang Haifeng sighed softly. "Indeed. I was overthinking it."

"Rather than coming here to chatter about such things, why don't you tell me how my grandson has been doing lately?"

"Chen'er is currently studying at the schoolhouse. His life is orderly."

"If you have the opportunity, bring Chen'er here to seek guidance from Master Lin—"

Nie Qingyuan waved his hand. "Forget it. You'd better not come bother Master Lin. Though he's gentle and approachable, he's carefree by nature and dislikes idle chatter. If you go there uninvited, his Hua lass might chase you out."

"After some time, send someone over. This old man will personally seek Master Lin's guidance and compose some poems, books, and essays for you to take back, so Chen'er can study and memorize them properly. It will benefit his future greatly."

Tang Haifeng showed a trace of astonishment. "Old Mr. Nie, that Master Lin's literary talent... does he truly possess such earth-shaking ability?"

Yet Nie Qingyuan suddenly smiled mysteriously. "What do you know at your young age?"

With that, he did not linger. Instead, he picked up the chessboard and slowly returned indoors alone.

Only Tang Haifeng remained where he was, his expression uncertain as he secretly weighed and pondered the matter.

After contemplating for a long while, he finally turned and left the residence, heading toward the estate where Lin Tianlu lived.

He wanted to see for himself whether the person praised so highly by Nie Qingyuan, who had once been a Hanlin scholar in his youth, truly possessed astonishing talent and a vast aura of righteousness, as the rumors claimed.

After walking roughly a hundred zhang, he soon spotted the Lin Household estate.

Tang Haifeng straightened his robe and strode forward.

"Hm?!"

Yet when he came within only a few steps of the main gate, his expression suddenly changed.

He raised his head and looked over. Within the walls, yang energy surged like a misty dragon, and the scorching heat rushing into his face was like the blazing midsummer sun hanging overhead!

"This, this—"

Tang Haifeng's body swayed, his face filled with alarm.

The rumors were actually true!

He hurriedly steadied his mind and tried to step forward again to knock and pay his respects.

Buzz—!

A streak of sword light shot into the heavens, accompanied by savage thunder and fire!

Tang Haifeng's pupils contracted. He saw the vast Sword Qi pierce through the clouds in the sky, dispelling the clouds to reveal the sun. The ringing of the sword shook his very soul, carrying the might to reach through heaven and earth!

"How, how could this be—"

Tang Haifeng's face had already gone pale with terror, his entire body rigid as though struck by lightning.

Only after a quarter of an hour did he gradually regain consciousness. He clenched his teeth, wiped away the cold sweat on his forehead, and finally managed to recover his composure.

"I've already come this far. How can I give up halfway?"

He summoned his courage and stepped forward once more, coming within only two steps of the courtyard gate.

But at that moment, his mind suddenly went blank.

He had not even raised his head to look, yet threads of an ancient, primeval aura seemed to drift over and brush his face. In the corner of his eye, he saw only boundless illusion, as though all things were withering and decaying, turning into rotten dust.

Including his own body, all reduced to ash—

"Ah!"

Tang Haifeng cried out, as though waking from a nightmare.

When he came to himself in a daze, he was astonished to discover that all the strange visions of heaven and earth he had just seen were nothing more than flowers in a mirror and the moon reflected in water. The estate before him remained tranquil and secluded, as though he had merely fallen prey to an illusion.

"This, this truly is..."

Looking at the residence's main gate, which was only two or three steps away and within reach, he now hesitated, stopping dead in his tracks.

Only after noticing that his back was already drenched in cold sweat and that the yin energy hidden within him for years had nearly scattered did he wear a dejected expression and give a self-mocking laugh. He swept his sleeve, turned, and left.

It was only a short step, yet it was as unreachable as a heavenly moat.

He...

Could not take that final step.

The person inside this residence truly was an immortal deity among men!