Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away, in a spacious courtyard within Chang'an Fortress, two white-haired elders were playing a game of chess.
One was Zhi Xing, an Educational Affairs Commissioner of Heaven Dou Academy. His expression was composed, and he seemed to weigh every move carefully.
His opponent was a weather-beaten elder with stern features, dressed in a dark robe with a faded cloth sash around his waist. His simple attire could not hide his iron-blooded bearing; he was clearly a veteran of many battlefields.
The veteran gently placed a piece on the board, then looked up at Sixth Prince Xue Shiming, who was leisurely sipping tea and watching beside them. "Your Highness, Old Zhi and I have been playing for an hour."
Zhi Xing held his piece suspended in midair, his brow furrowing slightly.
Xue Shiming wore a magnificent brocade robe and held a cup of hot tea, looking perfectly at ease.
He gently set down his cup and smiled. "Old General Ge, there is no need to hurry. Elder Zhi has plenty of time, and I was merely bored. Watching the two of you play is quite an elegant diversion."
At those words, Old General Ge slowly closed his eyes, as though recalling the turbulent years of his past.
A moment later, he abruptly opened them and unfastened the inner lapels of his robe, revealing a dense web of scars.
He pointed to a hideous, conspicuous scar running from his chest to below his ribs. "Your Highness, I, Ge Laizheng, was born into a military family. I have served for fifty years, starting as a common soldier."
"This scar came from holding back a minor beast tide in the Sunset Military District. The squad I led was surrounded by the beast tide, and I fought with every ounce of