"You brat, you've actually entered the world of martial arts!"
Zheng Yuanpei turned around, his eyes bright as lightning.
He looked Fang Shuwen up and down, a trace of surprise in his voice.
But that was all.
Though learning martial arts was difficult for ordinary people, there were always a few lucky ones who managed to take their first steps.
It wasn't unusual. There were plenty of such cases every year.
"Your eyes are sharp, Old Master."
Fang Shuwen admitted it openly.
The old man was probably no weakling. He'd likely noticed when he pulled Fang Shuwen along just now.
The two soon reached the second floor.
A dark red carpet covered the hallway, and several ink-wash landscapes hung on the walls. A faint sandalwood fragrance drifted through the air.
Now and then, a female attendant in a qipao passed by carrying a tea tray.
Zheng Yuanpei pushed open the door to the room at the very end and went in first.
The private room was spacious. A carved wooden window faced the street, and the afternoon sunlight streamed through its lattice.
At the center of the room stood a huanghuali chess table. Sure enough, an unfinished game lay on it.
Black and red pieces were scattered across the board. It was the very same game the two of them had played to its conclusion by the roadside yesterday.
Two celadon lidded teacups sat on a small table beside the chessboard.
The tea had gone cold, so someone had clearly been here earlier.
It looked like they'd been studying this game.
"Sit."
Zheng Yuanpei took a seat at one end of the chess table, leaned his cane against the chair, then gestured for Fang Shuwen to sit opposite him.
Fang Shuwen set his cloth schoolbag by his feet and sat down as instructed.
He glanced at the chessboard and understood.
"Old Master, you sure have a serious itch for chess," Fang Shuwen couldn't help saying.
"Enough nonsense."
Zheng Yuanpei snorted and picked up a black knight.
"I spent half the night pondering your game. Your moves look plain and ordinary, but there's a blade hidden in every one."
"I wasn't satisfied with my loss yesterday. Let's play again today. I want to see if you can still beat me."
Fang Shuwen didn't accept the challenge right away.
He hadn't come here to play chess today, but to ask about the strange creatures.
He glanced at the unfinished game on the table, then looked up at Zheng Yuanpei and spoke calmly:
"Old Master, I can play. But before we start, there's something I'd like to ask you."
Zheng Yuanpei was about to make a move. At this, his hand paused, and he raised his eyelids to look at him. "What is it? Go ahead."
"Where did you get that piece of mixed jade yesterday?"
Fang Shuwen thought it over, then asked.
"I bought it!" Zheng Yuanpei replied as if it were only natural.
After saying this,
he leaned back in his chair, curiosity showing on his aged face.
"Why are you asking about this Ghost Jade? Are you hoping to win another piece?"
Ghost Jade?
That was another new name.
But the old man's answer was rather unexpected.
He'd bought it.
Then again, on second thought,
Old Master Zheng was right. It made sense that he'd bought it.
"Could you tell me why it's called Ghost Jade?" Fang Shuwen asked.
"Heh. First, we play chess. I'll tell you if you win!"
Zheng Yuanpei acted as if he hadn't heard him. He picked up the black knight and placed it firmly on the board.
"Chess, chess. Why do you have so many questions? We'll talk when the game's over!"
Looking at the blue-robed old man opposite him, Fang Shuwen felt both amused and helpless.
The old man really was hooked on chess.
But then he thought about it. There was no chance he'd see Guo Ziming today.
And even if he did, that fellow would need time to gather information, and there was no guarantee it would be reliable.
So he might as well play chess with the old man.
Maybe he could win another piece of Ghost Jade.
An hour later.
Fang Shuwen moved his rook to the fifth file and called check.
Then he took both hands away from the table and looked at the old man.
"I'm done. I'm done!"
Zheng Yuanpei tossed the black general in his hand onto the chessboard. It rolled around twice before coming to a stop.
He leaned back in his chair, looking utterly dejected, and waved a hand.
"Ask whatever you want."
Fang Shuwen smiled faintly and unhurriedly began putting the pieces back into their containers, one by one.
Only after he'd finished did he look up.
"Old Master, you said that piece of jade was bought. Could you tell me where you bought it? And what's the story behind the name 'Ghost Jade'? Oh, and what happens to the bodies of strange creatures and evil beings after they die?"
Another hour later,
Fang Shuwen had a second piece of Ghost Jade in his hand.
It turned out that after Fang Shuwen had asked Old Master Zheng about where Ghost Jade came from and the strange creatures and evil beings,
the old man, apparently dissatisfied with his loss, got excited and insisted they play a few more rounds.
And lost again.
"This trip was worth it!"
He weighed the second piece of Ghost Jade he'd just won in his hand.
It was slightly smaller than yesterday's piece, but seemed to be of better quality.
He didn't rush to absorb it, instead putting it in his schoolbag.
This trip had truly been worth it.
According to Old Master Zheng, Ghost Jade came in two kinds.
One kind formed naturally, for reasons no one knew.
The other kind was artificial.
If the bones, flesh, and heart's blood of a newly dead evil being were sealed with a special method, they could be refined into a new piece of Ghost Jade.
As for what happened to the bodies of evil beings, the old man explained that too.
They were usually bought by the National Martial Arts Hall and used to refine Ghost Jade.
Then the Ghost Jade would be put up for sale at the National Martial Arts Hall.
Prices varied according to their energy level, ranging from twenty or thirty silver dollars to several hundred or even a thousand.
"So, for now, the only option is to buy it from the National Martial Arts Hall."
"But the problem is, I don't have that much money! I wonder if I can absorb energy directly from strange creatures and evil beings!"
Fang Shuwen thought it over, set the idea aside for the time being, then went down the stairs to leave Wenxuan Pavilion.
He walked along the dark red-carpeted hallway. When he reached the stairs, he saw a young woman enter the main hall of Wenxuan Pavilion.
She wore a rose-red dress, and white stockings covered her long, shapely legs.
A pale green silk scarf was wrapped around her neck, and her ink-black hair fell naturally over her shoulders.
She looked every inch the daughter of a wealthy family.
"Hiss, why is that little brat here!"
Fang Shuwen's brow furrowed of its own accord.
This was the wealthy young woman whose butt the original owner had pinched.
He hadn't expected to run into her here today.
What rotten luck.
The pleasant mood he'd been in after getting another piece of Ghost Jade and learning what he needed to know sank at once.
After all,
the original owner had been knocked unconscious by that gang member who'd stepped in to help because of this little brat. That was what had led to Fang Shuwen's transmigration.
So,
seeing her now naturally put him in a bad mood.
"It's you!"
"What are you doing here? Who let you in!"
While Fang Shuwen was thinking, the young woman had already come up the stairs.
When she saw him, her delicate face immediately turned icy.
She gritted her teeth in secret, thinking, How did I run into this hooligan here?
What rotten luck!
If only I'd gone straight home instead of coming to work out the chess game with Grandpa.
"Why? Is this place yours? Am I not allowed to come?"
Fang Shuwen gave a cold snort, his expression dark.
But he had no intention of picking a fight with this wealthy girl, who was clearly someone important.
Still, the stairs were the only way down.
He had no reason to step aside.
After saying this, he strode down.
Seeing him approach, the wealthy young woman couldn't help backing away a few steps. She covered her butt with both hands, looking panicked.
"You, don't come any closer! Or, or I'll have someone beat you up!"
"Heh. Flat in front and flat behind. Who'd be interested in you?"
Fang Shuwen gave a dismissive snort, strode down the stairs, and was soon gone from Wenxuan Pavilion.
Only then did the young woman react.
"What? That country bumpkin dared to mock my figure! He must be blind!"
Women often focused on different things from men.
A moment ago she'd looked terrified of being harassed. Once Fang Shuwen had dismissed her, she decided he had no taste!
The wealthy young woman stamped her foot in fury, then headed for the room at the far end of the second floor.
Meanwhile, in the shadows on the other side of the second floor,
Liu Mang's gloomy gaze turned away from the entrance to Wenxuan Pavilion.
"Fang Shuwen, you really are something. You actually managed to sneak in."
"You're looking for Young Master Guo? Then don't blame me for being ruthless!"