Underground Secret Chamber

The chess tournament was not as rigidly regulated as the imperial examinations. Before long, a middle-aged man entered the hall. He looked like a businessman and, with a beaming smile, cupped his hands in greeting to everyone. "Everyone, it is getting late. This year's tournament begins now."

"Before it starts, let me repeat an old saying. For players, once a piece is placed, there is no regret. For spectators, a gentleman watches chess in silence."

"If anyone breaks the rules and the board has to be removed on the spot, that would be awkward and would cost everyone their dignity." At this, the middle-aged man smiled again. "And it would hinder everyone's financial luck too, wouldn't it? All right, the tournament begins in a quarter of an hour. Those wishing to place bets, make the most of this final time to register and pay."

"You can actually place bets here?" Su Ziji had been searching for the source of the female voice. Hearing this, he thought, Was I overthinking it?

He rose and headed for the counter.

"Su Ziji, where are you going?"

"To place a bet on you, so you won't have no one betting on you."

"Oh, oh, oh..." Ye Buhui failed to stop him and watched Su Ziji dart away in a flash.

That idiot. If he lost everything, let's see how he'd take the Prefectural Examination. Ye Buhui swept her gaze around the room, then fixed her eyes on the opposing players approaching. Her little face turned solemn.

This time, I have to win!

At the doorway, Hu Xiyan watched this scene and burst out laughing. Unable to resist, she said to her maid, "I checked. He only has five taels of silver on him, right? Betting it all—does that mean he has confidence, or is he simply stupid?"

The maid hurriedly lowered her voice. "Miss, don't laugh. Though you used an eye-obscuring technique, people can still hear laughter—your attitude toward him has always been different. Could he be the fated one?"

Hearing this, Hu Xiyan stopped laughing. She watched Su Ziji return, saw that he did not even look at the chessboard but took out a book and silently recited from it. She fell into a brief daze, then said, "Probably not. If he were the fated one, my half of the Rosewood Pendant would surely react."

"Then it is a karmic entanglement. Miss, do not fall into a tribulation of love at such a critical juncture—could there really be no one in this whole chess tournament who triggers a reaction?"

Hu Xiyan glanced at her without replying. If there had been, she would have found that person long ago.

Yet the heavenly secret was clearly in Linhua County. She had searched all around, but found no one. Even after expanding the search to the prefectural city, there had been no reaction at all. It was truly strange...

A shadow settled over her heart.

No sooner had she sunk into thought than the chess tournament officially began. Unwilling to give up, she said, "Let's make another round and see whether we missed anything."

Linhua County · Mount Tong Temple

Mount Tong was not high. Though threads of rain drifted through the air, spring was in full bloom. Every season like this, female worshippers came to burn incense and pray to the gods, holding umbrellas as they climbed the steps and chatted with laughter. April was also perfect for a spring outing; groups of three or five hired carriages, bringing beautiful concubines and fine wine, reciting poetry and matching couplets.

No one would have imagined that along a long, narrow path on the back side of the mountain, a man in a straw rain cape was making his way forward. His face was filled with Baleful Intent. Though he had brought no subordinates, he still carried a certain heavy authority. At this moment, however, his face was dark as water and clouded with worry. He slipped carelessly, grabbing a tree to steady himself, then cursed, "Damn Su Ziji!"

This man was Zhang Dacuo. On the day the results were posted, he had led people to block Su Ziji at the tavern. Yet Su Ziji had passed as an Examination Student and had the aid of influential patrons, leaving him no choice but to withdraw.

After enduring several days, he learned that the two influential patrons had left the area. Only then did he have people follow Su Ziji, intending to make a move against him. Who could have expected Su Ziji to so quickly become connected with the Fang Family again?

The Fang Family possessed a successful provincial graduate and had their clan behind them. They were absolutely not people he dared touch.

If something truly happened, a single written accusation would bring officials to dispatch men to suppress and kill them. How could his subordinates withstand government soldiers?

Yet Zhang Dacuo also feared the Daoist priest of Mount Tong Temple. He knew Daoist Shen's methods were extraordinary. With this failure, he could only come alone to report it, hoping Daoist Shen would see that he had done his utmost and would not be too harsh.

Thinking this, he reached a rear courtyard. Familiar with the route, he passed through the corridor and arrived before a door, knocking softly.

With a creak, the door opened, revealing a dim entrance leading down into an underground chamber.

Zhang Dacuo's pupils contracted. Though he had been here several times, every time he entered this underground chamber, unease rose in his heart. This instinctive fear could not be calmed, no matter how he reassured himself.

This was one reason Zhang Dacuo was wary of Daoist Shen. He did not dare claim he had fought through mountains of blades and seas of fire, but he was still a man who would not cry out even after taking several slashes. Anyone who could make him afraid on instinct was certainly no decent sort.

Thinking of the female worshippers he had seen on the way here, Zhang Dacuo sneered. Those people came to burn incense and pray for blessings, but who knew the Daoist priest was actually an evil dragon?

"You have come." Shen Cheng's voice drifted from somewhere nearby in the pitch-black darkness.

Zhang Dacuo raised his oil lamp and walked inward, saying ingratiatingly, "Daoist Priest, I came to report something to you. Is this a convenient time?"

"If I called you here, then naturally it is convenient," Shen Cheng said blandly.

That indifferent manner was just as before. Zhang Dacuo took one step forward, but the oil lamp went puff and extinguished by itself without wind.

Zhang Dacuo started, his heart tightening as he heard Shen Cheng say, "Stand right there. Do not come any farther."

Could Daoist Shen be cultivating some technique that others could not witness?

The woman Zhang Dacuo had seen on his last visit surfaced in his mind. She had also entered the secret passage. Though he had not seen her again afterward, Zhang Dacuo did not believe he had mistaken what he saw. Thinking of it now, could Daoist Shen be cultivating dual cultivation techniques as well?

No wonder this temple was so effective for those praying for children.

A smile could not help appearing at the corner of Zhang Dacuo's mouth, but when he recalled why he had come, it quickly faded. Facing Shen Cheng's direction, he said, "Yes."

"You came because of Su Ziji's matter? Have you captured him?" Shen Cheng asked.

Zhang Dacuo choked. Captured him? The other side has already rushed to the prefectural city for the Prefectural Examination. My men cannot even enter the prefectural city.

What gangs valued most was territory. There was no room for negotiation on that point.

"Daoist Priest, Su Ziji is extremely cunning. I reported to you before that he had gained the aid of influential patrons. You instructed us not to act. Though those two patrons have now left, he has gained Provincial Graduate Fang's favor again. Provincial Graduate Fang's clan holds considerable power. I truly did not dare act rashly, lest I instead ruin your plans..."

"You say Su Ziji has gained Provincial Graduate Fang's favor? The Fang Family of Three-Autumn Ferry?" Shen Cheng had been displeased to begin with. Those two patrons earlier truly were influential people; after one look, he had not dared make a move. They could be called fierce dragons crossing the river.

But the Fang Family of Three-Autumn Ferry was no small force either. They were local serpents.

He had originally been uncertain, preferring to kill by mistake rather than let one slip through the net. Now, however, this proved Su Ziji truly was his target. Clearly backed into a corner with no road ahead, yet he still had a final flash of returning light.

He had already inspected the graveyard and could not find the slightest trace of residual fortune. Now it seemed all of it had entered Su Ziji's body.

But the more that was the case, the more he had to seize it. This was for the great undertaking.

Shen Cheng fell silent for a while before saying, "If that is truly the case, then it cannot be blamed on you that the matter still has not been handled."

Zhang Dacuo inwardly relaxed, thinking, It seems the Daoist Priest will not blame me this time.