Dozens of pieces of Message Jade shattered, turning into streams of formless power that raced out into the world.
For a time, the whole world stirred...
Every piece of Message Jade had been left by someone who had received Du Pingsheng's kindness. Each represented a profound debt of gratitude.
Du Pingsheng called in all the debts of gratitude he had accumulated over a lifetime at this very moment.
In a teahouse, two old men sat facing each other, drinking tea and playing a board game.
As they traded moves, each had won and lost. This game, however, had become something of a deadlock. With victory hanging in the balance, one of them was already bristling his beard and glaring.
"How can you play like that?" After the old man in brocade made his move, the black-robed old man pointed at his nose, all but bursting into a stream of abuse.
The old man in brocade glanced at the black-robed old man and smugly took a sip of tea, unbothered by the finger that was almost poking his face. He merely said leisurely, "Why can't I play like that? Is there a rule saying you can't make random moves when you can't win?"
The black-robed old man opened his mouth but found no words, his face full of frustration. "With you playing randomly like this, even winning wouldn't be satisfying. What the hell's the point of playing, then?"
The old man in brocade chuckled, a hint of mischief in his expression. "So, are we still playing or not?"
"Playing, playing, playing my ass! Every time you can't beat me, you use this trick to throw me off." Looking thoroughly disgruntled, the black-robed old man pushed the board away. "Call it a draw. Next game, next game."
The old man in