News that the Qin siblings of East Sea Mist-Flow Island had solved both riddles left by Zhang Ruoxu and Meng Haoran, mastered their supreme arts, and obtained mysterious gems swept through the entire estate like a hurricane!
An uproar erupted.
Ten years ago, Qin Zhaonan, the lord of Mist-Flow Island, had swept through the Chess and Sword Music House and won its greatest treasure, the [Nine Heavens Circlet-Pendant Qin].
Ten years later, his children had entered the estate again, solved its riddles as though no one else were there, claimed the treasures left by its predecessors, and humiliated the Chess and Sword Music House once more!
-The three of them kept fleecing the same sheep!
Two humiliations in succession. They had not uttered a single contemptuous word, yet their actions told everyone: so what if it was one of the Nine Sects? In martial strength or intellect, East Sea Mist-Flow Island was no worse than the Chess and Sword Music House—and might even surpass it!
Those within the estate seethed with indignation, while the visiting guests wanted to watch the spectacle. For a time, crowds surged toward the site of the final great riddle.
Luo Binwang's former residence, Mayfly Residence.
Luo Binwang, a renowned minister and poet of the Tang Dynasty, was known alongside Wang Bo, Yang Jiong, and Lu Zhaolin as one of the Four Paragons of the Early Tang. He was also the first to leave a riddle at the Chess and Sword Music House.
At the time, the Chess and Sword Music House was still called Asking Water Manor. Its master was the father of the Sage of Music, Li Guinian, and he and Luo Binwang were the closest of friends.
In the first year of Guangzhai, 684 CE, Luo Binwang had followed Xu Jingye, Duke of