Chapter 21

In the Tingchao Pavilion, the Grand Pillar of State personally witnessed two riders leaving the mansion. He smiled, returned to the pavilion, and sat opposite the chief strategist Li Yishan, softly asking, "Brother Yuanying, do you think this rascal is more likely to deceive the young lady of the Yan family or to save the sixty-nine members of the Yan family, including the bookworm Yan Chiji?"

Li Yishan replied calmly, "Both."

Xu Xiao laughed, "Is the position of Lingzhou Governor not worth cherishing? Old Yan Jiexi is too much of a paper tiger. He thinks that by forming a relationship with Grand Secretary Wang, even if his daughter becomes an imperial concubine by chance, she can escape my grasp? Complaining a few times under the emperor's nose, can he overthrow me? Has he not considered that his wealth in Liang for all these years has been bestowed by me? Without this wealth, what would he use to curry favor with Grand Secretary Wang or to be on equal terms with the eunuch Han Shaoshi in the imperial court? In this regard, Li Gongde is much smarter, always remembering who his true benefactor is. Only such a person can live long."

Li Yishan said calmly, "Where are there so many obedient hounds for you to command? Occasionally, a few mad dogs jumping over the wall are just what you want. If Liang were to have peace every year, without the sharpening of weapons on the border, without the so-called loyal and upright officials like Yan Jiexi stirring up trouble, wouldn't your position be even harder to maintain? Are there not enough ministers and generals who spend the latter half of their lives tarnishing their reputations? You are already quite exceptional, able to refuse the princess's offer of marriage, and despite the scholars' criticism for over twenty years, your backbone has not been broken. You have every reason to be proud."

The Grand Pillar of State remained calm and made no comment.

Li Yishan slightly mocked himself, "That boy has less of a feminine air and more of a rogue's spirit."

Xu Fengnian had just returned to the mansion and came upstairs to deliver wine. He was pulled to play a few games, and Li Yishan was quite angry. For Li Yishan, Go, no matter how the nineteen lines change, is ultimately a static and lifeless game. No matter how grand the setup, it is just a ghostly formation, not reaching the higher realms. Li Yishan did not like it, but Xu Fengnian was mischievous in his childhood and could not concentrate. To make this guy sit still, the only way was to play Go. Li Yishan privately admired the boy's innate exceptional memory. At first, they played with a Go board and stones, but later, they removed everything and just made the moves in the air, with the nineteen lines, and agreed not to retract any moves. Over the years, Li Yishan won nine out of ten games. However, after this trip, Xu Fengnian seemed to have learned countless unreasonable moves, and the more the game progressed, the more chaotic it became, like a drunkard's punches that could knock out a master. Li Yishan was thoroughly embarrassed a few times and almost wanted to smash the wine bottle on this reckless brat.

Li Yishan, sitting cross-legged, looked somewhat helpless and smiled lightly, "It seems we will end up with four wins and four losses in our ten games. This boy, as I hoped, has picked up martial arts, but he has beaten me at Go."

Xu Xiao laughed, "There are still two games left, no need to rush."

Li Yishan picked up the brush but paused in mid-air, asking, "Is the Sacrificial Master from the Shangyin Academy coming to play Go with you?"

Xu Xiao chuckled, "Indeed."

Li Yishan sneered, "They used nine countries as pawns and half the world as a chessboard, with great ambition, but they did not play a single brilliant move. They were all talk and no action. They were cut down by you, and all their grand plans and formations were gone."

Xu Xiao said, "Wei Xiong is still studying there, so I have to give him some face. Otherwise, you know my temper. The righteousness and grandeur of scholars are the most unbearable to me."

Li Yishan smiled but said nothing.

Xu Xiao suddenly asked, "Do you think the Black Tortoise should rise or not?"

Li Yishan countered, "If Wang Zhonglou's cultivation of the profound Daoist scriptures was in vain, are you not afraid that Wudang Mountain will turn against you?"

Xu Xiao smiled and dismissed it.

In a secluded courtyard of the mansion.

Xu Fengnian and Old Kui sat cross-legged on the veranda, slowly recounting every detail of the snow battle. If the knife was not decisive enough, the speed was too fast and the strength insufficient, or if the response was inappropriate and wasted a bit of energy, Old Kui would hit him with the back of the knife, followed by a brief and concise critique. Old Kui was an expert in knife skills, and even without being present, Xu Fengnian's recounting was as good as seeing it with his own eyes. Xu Fengnian did not want the advanced techniques, and Old Kui did not reveal his best skills, so they were like solving a puzzle, seeing who had more patience.

Old Kui, leaning against a red lacquered pillar, smiled and asked, "Little boy, since you are going to retrieve the sword box from the city wall, why don't you learn swordsmanship? Wouldn't that be more straightforward? Besides, in the world, don't young people prefer to carry swords? 'A sword from the east, a sword from the west,' sounds more elegant and powerful than using a knife. Oh, what was that phrase, 'yangchun' something, I forgot."

Xu Fengnian, sitting upright with Xiudong on his lap, smiled, "Yangchun Baixue."

"Everyone in Liang calls you Xu Caobao, it's a shame!" Old Kui slapped his thigh with one hand and the young prince's shoulder with the other, almost making him fall forward. Xu Fengnian swayed and barely managed to steady himself.

Xu Fengnian said self-mockingly, "Grandpa, your judgment is really average, a million miles behind my knife skills."

Old Kui laughed, "After I fight that horse-slaying knife user Wei Beishan, I will really leave this place. Boy, have you thought about your future?"

Xu Fengnian placed his hand on the Xiudong scabbard and smiled bitterly, "What else can I do? First, I'll find a quick inner cultivation technique in the library, then let things take their course. If that doesn't work, I'll memorize all the messy martial arts techniques from different schools, and when I face an opponent, I can use a few tricks to gain an advantage. My constitution is probably average, so I can't rely on brute force like Grandpa. If I don't use some underhanded tricks, when will I become a sacred dragon mage and go to Wudicheng? By the way, did Wang Xianzhi really break Li Chonggang's 'Muma Niu' with his fingers?"

Old Kui nodded, feeling a deep connection. For the top martial artists in the world, the old monster Wang Xianzhi was always a mountain they had to face. Even a draw with him would secure a place among the top ten, showing the old man's unparalleled strength.

Xu Fengnian slowly stood up, as he had to get up early the next day.

Tonight, the future imperial concubine's residence must be in chaos, right?

The next day, a distinguished guest arrived at the Beiliang Mansion, a teacher from the Shangyin Academy, one of the three Sacrificial Masters, second only to the Grand Sacrificial Master. These three are generally referred to as Jixia Scholars, teaching not ordinary classics but the great Dao of sages. Students from all over the country, regardless of region, status, or wealth, can enter the academy if they pass the triennial examination, becoming Shangyin scholars, also known as Jixia scholars. The current Grand Sacrificial Master, Qi Yanglong, is the imperial grand secretary, with a transcendent status, rarely seen. The visiting Sacrificial Master is known only by the surname Wang, specializing in the art of diplomacy and statecraft. He once won and then lost in two famous debates, winning the debate on names and reality but losing the debate on heaven and man. Since then, he has rarely appeared, being very selective about his disciples. In the past decade, he has only taken Xu Xiao's second daughter, Xu Weixiong, as a student, and has announced that she will be his last disciple, passing on his legacy.

From the few letters exchanged with his second sister Xu Weixiong, Xu Fengnian vaguely learned that this Jixia Scholar is a chess enthusiast, loving to watch and comment on games. As for his depth of knowledge, Xu Fengnian did not doubt it; since he could be his sister's teacher, he must be quite accomplished.

A chess game was set up at the Baihe Pavilion.

Adopted son Yuan Zuozong stood at a distance, leaving the Grand Pillar of State Xu Xiao and the visiting Jixia Scholar to enjoy their game.

Xu Fengnian climbed to the top of the mountain and saw the side profile of Mr. Wang, with a gaunt face, wearing a simple blue robe, a pair of straw shoes, and a white jade pendant at his waist.

Facing Xu Xiao on the chessboard, he had a confident and elegant demeanor, truly refined and detached.

The young prince thought that this Sacrificial Master from the Shangyin Academy must have a deep foundation. Ordinary high-ranking people, no matter how high, would not dare to breathe in front of Xu Xiao, but this person was calm and composed.

Such a transcendent figure, nothing more.

Xu Fengnian gathered his thoughts and approached respectfully. The Grand Pillar of State and the Jixia Scholar were focused on the game, with the battle on the chessboard in full swing, neither looking up.

With a reverent heart, Xu Fengnian looked closely and almost spat out blood.

The great masters of Go, with their vast and profound strategies, or their meticulous and precise moves, were far from what he saw. Xu Xiao was a first-rate bad player, and Xu Fengnian knew this well. At first, he thought Mr. Wang was playing a refined game against Xu Xiao's vulgar one, but then... damn, the game looked like a mess! It was like two children rolling in the mud, with no relation to the realm of a master. It seemed that the Jixia Scholar's skill was on par with Xu Xiao's, which was why the game was so evenly matched. What Xu Fengnian found most unacceptable was that Mr. Wang would comment on his own moves, saying things like, "No waste moves, no collisions, only the right moves, the big moves, the great dragon slays the great dragon," "In difficult situations, a small tip, a solid move, but I won't do it, this move is truly wonderful, it can make one immortal."

Xu Fengnian widened his eyes, seeing nothing but bad moves, a sight too painful to bear.

The Jixia Scholar, staring at the evenly matched game, said proudly, "There are eighteen great masters in the chess world, only Zhao Ding'an and Chen Xiping can match me, the rest I can contend with."

Xu Fengnian's face twitched involuntarily.

Xu Xiao, expressionless, held a piece but did not place it.

The Jixia Scholar finally looked up, with a kind expression, "Young Prince, do you think the Grand Pillar of State should give up this light piece?"

Xu Fengnian took a deep breath and smiled, "It's hard to say. The Jixia Scholar's layout is meticulous and profound, I think the white pieces are likely to lose."

Unexpectedly, Xu Xiao, in a fit of anger, made a good move, and the Jixia Scholar finally felt the threat but did not respond calmly. Instead, he immediately reached out to pick up Xu Xiao's piece, smiling shamelessly, "Grand Pillar of State, let me retract this move."

Xu Xiao seemed used to it, nodding and indicating for the Jixia Scholar to do it himself.

Xu Fengnian was a bit stunned.

The game ended with the Jixia Scholar winning after retracting moves numerous times. Xu Fengnian, after watching, had no respect or admiration for the Shangyin Academy left.

The Jixia Scholar patted his buttocks, stood up, and said cheerfully, "I have played countless games in my life and have never lost."

Xu Fengnian smiled, "The Jixia Scholar is truly the greatest master of Go."

After the game, the great master bid farewell and descended the mountain. When not playing, his demeanor was impeccable, truly a sage.

Xu Fengnian stood there, dazed, muttering, "How can he say he has never lost?"

Xu Xiao laughed and scolded, "Never lost, that's true. But it's because he only plays with those who are worse at Go than him. If he doesn't have a sure win, he wisely observes from the sidelines."

Xu Fengnian said gloomily, "My second sister learned statecraft from such a Jixia Scholar?"

Xu Xiao, standing up, looked down the mountain and smiled, "To be unbeatable, isn't that a master?"

{Piaotian Literature}