Heavenly Derivation Sect, Pearl-Gem Peak.
Chu Xingchen played white against Bai Xuanling.
The game on the Go board was a tangled mess.
But the outcome was soon settled.
Chu Xingchen won the game.
Bai Xuanling looked up at Chu Xingchen's somewhat forlorn expression. She wanted to say something, but did not know what.
Comforting people had never been her strength.
"Ah, this is a little embarrassing." Chu Xingchen reached out to clear away the stones before him. "Honestly, I'm still a little afraid."
Bai Xuanling did not know how to answer that, either.
Chu Xingchen put all the stones away, then looked solemnly at Bai Xuanling.
"I'll leave the rest to you. If Baiqing makes a mistake, I'll take responsibility as her master. Whatever happens, keep her safe."
Bai Xuanling nodded solemnly. "I will. Leave the rest to me."
Chu Xingchen breathed a sigh of relief, then stood, took out the Spirit-Shattering Butterfly Jade, and looked once more toward that almost invisible Five-Colored Lotus.
Central Province, Ten Thousand Flowers Ridge.
At that moment, the atmosphere in the Ten Thousand Wishes Return to the Star Sect was somewhat tense.
Chen Baiqing sat quietly beside the Deep Pool, the unease in her expression impossible to hide.
Li Yingling also sat in a corner, somewhat dazed.
Chu Xingchen had been gone from Ten Thousand Flowers Ridge for three days, without any news.
Chen Baiqing had first pressed Xie Lingyu for answers, but received none.
Throughout the journey, Master had behaved perfectly normally-so normally that Chen Baiqing had misjudged things somewhat, believing there should still be time, that nothing serious would happen, just as Master had said.
Cui Hao stood beside the Deep Pool, his expression as calm as still water, watching the swimming spirit fish.
As Master's Wife, Xie Lingyu could still