Outside Small Mountain Village.
Nan Feng, Ziling, Yunxi, and the others had finally arrived.
"Come on, let's head back to the village!"
They happily returned to the village. Wu Dade, Jiang Li, Qing Chen, Lu Rang, and the other male disciples dragged along all kinds of game.
In Small Mountain Village.
The sun shone brightly. After the Lantern Festival, the spring light was growing ever more brilliant.
By the roadside, in Second Uncle's courtyard, Li Fan sat facing Second Uncle, Little White in his arms and a chessboard on the stone table between them.
Chinese chess.
"Xiao Li, if you play that move, aren't you worried our generals will meet? Once they do, those few tricks you've been hiding won't be any use..."
Second Uncle studied the board and couldn't help smiling.
"Your position is perilous. My general has your commander pinned down. If you bring it out, you may check me, but you'll lose the game."
Li Fan picked up the tea beside him and took a sip.
"Exactly."
"So it's best if neither of us meets the other just yet."
As he spoke, he moved a piece. His chariot crossed the Chu River and Han border in a single sweep, threatening Second Uncle's territory.
Second Uncle said:
"Your chariot won't be able to hide you for long, either..."
As the two played, Bai Xiaoqing curled up in Li Fan's arms and slept. When she woke, she took advantage of Li Fan's concentration on the game to lick his teacup. But Second Uncle's tea tasted more bitter than the tea in the Small Courtyard. She meowed a few times and rubbed against Li Fan's hand.
On the road nearby, Ming Tianbei was leading a group of mental patients over, collecting trash along the way.
"Greetings, Senior Li and