When Jiang Beiran had first entered the sect, he had already studied the Returning Heart Sect's Twenty-Four Halls. Of them all, Blue Heart Hall, known for its study of chess manuals, appealed to him most because he had gained quite a few [Chess] points during his time in the mine.
During those two months in the mine, the simplest options at first had all been to increase basic Attribute Points such as strength or constitution. But beginning in the second week, a new reward had appeared: [Basic Skill Points].
These included artistic skills such as zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, as well as practical skills like Alchemy, forging, Gu Refining, and sewing. Later, Formation Techniques, medicine, brewing, and more had appeared as well.
Of all those skills, [Chess] was currently Jiang Beiran's highest.
Staying true to his original aspiration, Jiang Beiran, having passed the test, followed the sect map issued to every new disciple and came to Blue Heart Hall to seek admission.
Entering the sect required a test, and entering a hall naturally did as well. Blue Heart Hall had two tests: one was sparring between disciples, and the other was a game of chess.
At the very start of Jiang Beiran's first sparring match, three options popped up before his eyes.
[Option One: Easily defeat the opponent. Completion Reward: Eight Trigrams Spear (Profound Grade Low Rank)] [Option Two: Go a little easy on him. Completion Reward: Gilded Plum Blossom Bell (Yellow Rank High Grade)] [Option Three: Suffer a crushing defeat and leave the stage. Completion Reward: Random Basic Skill Point +1]
Mentally prepared long ago, Jiang Beiran immediately chose the third option. After exposing all kinds of openings, he was knocked off the arena by his opponent's palm strike, earning plenty of contemptuous laughter along the way.
Yet when it came to chess, the system unusually gave him no options.
From his previous rounds of observation and summary, Jiang Beiran had discovered that the system only presented options at critical moments. If no options appeared, it meant the choice was insignificant and would not have much impact on the future.
Does it really not matter whether I win or lose at chess? Jiang Beiran could not help feeling puzzled.
It was only later, after entering Blue Heart Hall thanks to his fairly outstanding chess skills, that Jiang Beiran learned that Blue Heart Hall's so-called specialty of studying chess manuals was merely icing on the cake.
It was like when students were in school: if your Language, Math, English grades were all excellent and you could play the zither too, then the teacher would praise you for being talented in many fields.
But if you were only good at playing the zither while your Language, Math, English grades were a complete mess, then the teacher would tell you to put aside all that random nonsense and get your grades up first.
And in the Returning Heart Sect, "Language, Math, English" naturally meant Martial Arts.
It was for precisely that reason that, after entering Blue Heart Hall, Jiang Beiran did not have a single master willing to take him as a disciple. In the end, he became a Registered Disciple of Blue Heart Hall. That was right—the kind of Registered Disciple who had nothing but a name.
Jiang Beiran did not care much about that, though. The system's meaning was obvious: taking a master carried risks, so there was nothing wrong with being a Registered Disciple. In any case, he had already decided on his path of cultivation—to keep finding chances to trigger options and raise his basic attributes. Though each increase was only one point and looked rather shabby, if he gathered sand into a tower, one day he would soar into the sky!
Seeing Jiang Beiran's bitter smile, Lu Bogui, realizing he had said the wrong thing, quickly raised his wine cup. "Right, I nearly forgot. Happy birthday, Junior Brother."
"Thank you, Senior Brother." After thanking him, Jiang Beiran picked up his cup and clinked it against Lu Bogui's.
Once they had eaten and drunk their fill, Lu Bogui patted Jiang Beiran on the shoulder at the entrance of the dining hall. "Then I'll head back to report to Master first."
"Alright, Senior Brother. Take care." Jiang Beiran bowed respectfully.
With a wave of his hand, Lu Bogui turned and left in a carefree manner, while Jiang Beiran continued his afternoon of "strolling the streets."
By evening, Jiang Beiran had triggered five more options and returned to Blue Heart Hall, only to find a pretty female disciple standing outside his little hut.
Liu Zijin also spotted Jiang Beiran walking toward her. She hurriedly stepped forward, bowed, and greeted him. "Liu Zijin of Water Mirror Hall pays respects to Jiang Shixiong."
This Junior Sister before him was strikingly beautiful. Her lovely eyes shimmered, peach-blossom cheeks bore a smile, and every time her lips parted and closed, her breath carried the fragrance of orchids. She was indescribably gentle and charming.
Her danger level is extremely high!
Based on Jiang Beiran's experience with beautiful Junior Sisters over the past five years, merely brushing past one of them was enough for the system to pop up a reward option of Mystic Rank or above. And this Junior Sister before him was the most beautiful one he had seen in all five years.
Although he was somewhat surprised that the system had not given him an option this time, Jiang Beiran still immediately cupped his hands and said, "Junior Sister, I'm afraid you've mistaken me for someone else. My surname is Wang."
"Wang...?"
While Liu Zijin stood there with a bewildered expression, Jiang Beiran had already cupped his hands again and walked straight past her.
But Jiang Beiran had barely taken a few steps when Liu Zijin caught up, unrolling a portrait in her hands. "There can't be any mistake. Isn't this you in the portrait, Senior Brother?"
Damn! Who was it that managed to capture one-tenth of my handsomeness? They do have some skill.
Looking at his likeness in the portrait Liu Zijin held, Jiang Beiran could only explain again, "Blue Heart Hall has many disciples. It is perfectly normal for a few to look alike, but my surname truly is not Jiang. I wish Junior Sister an early reunion with the handsome Senior Brother in the portrait."
Just then, a male disciple walked over and called to Jiang Beiran, "Jiang Shixiong, Cheng Li Hall sent me to ask you to go play two games of chess with him."
After speaking, he noticed Liu Zijin beside him, still wearing a face full of confusion. His eyes immediately widened, and his mind was instantly filled with the two words: So beautiful.
Hearing the male disciple call him Jiang Shixiong, Liu Zijin first froze, then immediately stepped in front of Jiang Beiran. "You really are Jiang Shixiong!"
Jiang Beiran smiled and shook his head. "No, Junior Sister, you misheard him. He called for Senior Brother Wang."
"No, he didn't!" After saying that, Liu Zijin looked at the male disciple and asked, "Excuse me, is he Jiang Beiran, Jiang Shixiong?"
The moment the male disciple heard Liu Zijin asking him a question, he answered as though pumped full of chicken blood, "Yes! It's him—Jiang Beiran, Jiang Shixiong, genuine and guaranteed!"
After sighing inwardly that this Junior Brother was still too young and did not understand how terrifying a beauty like this could be, Jiang Beiran put on a smile again and said to Liu Zijin, "Fine, it's me. I was just playing a little joke on Junior Sister."
Liu Zijin covered her mouth and laughed softly. "So that's how it is. Jiang Shixiong is truly interesting."
Huh?
Jiang Beiran was a little stunned. He had thought that even if Liu Zijin did not angrily turn around and leave, she should at least question him indignantly a couple of times. That way, he would have had an excuse to slip away.
But unexpectedly...
She really just thinks I'm funny?
Knowing he could not escape this hurdle, Jiang Beiran first said to the male disciple, "Go tell Cheng Li Hall that I'll be there shortly."
"Alright." The male disciple nodded, yet showed no intention of leaving. His eyes kept drifting toward Liu Zijin.
Alas, such wood cannot be carved.
Sighing inwardly, Jiang Beiran looked at Liu Zijin again and asked, "May I ask why Junior Sister has come all the way to Blue Heart Hall to find me?"
Before you continue