Chapter 328: Arrivals From Afar, A Heart-to-Heart Discussion
Hum—
Two figures arrived quietly and soundlessly, landing in front of the mountain village.
The white-browed old man leading the way possessed a profound and boundless aura, his demeanor mysterious and unfathomable. Just a glance at his expression revealed his extraordinary cultivation. Beside him was another old man, dressed in black robes, his face weathered and ancient, his aura as desolate and cold as a dying man.
The white-browed old man looked up at the towering mountain peak shrouded in clouds and mist, his gaze growing serious, and he murmured: “I can’t sense any baleful energy, even that world-shaking sword energy is gone.”
“Could it be… that both sides have already left?”
They had hesitated before coming to this mountain village.
The opening of the secret realm had encountered unexpected difficulties, and the ancient realm was in chaos. This sudden change made it impossible for them to come here without any reservations, and they had already wasted a lot of time observing and being cautious.
“But… I originally thought that this was the true location of the secret realm, but now that we’re here, I can’t sense any signs of its existence.”
“There’s nothing unusual about this mountain either.”
The two old men exchanged glances, their hearts filled with suspicion and uncertainty.
They had thought that the earth-shattering battle would have greatly impacted this place, if not completely destroying the surrounding villages, then at least leaving some traces of damage or collapse on the mountain peaks. But now, looking closely, the mountain peaks were almost completely intact, shrouded in clouds and mist, without any signs of a battle between experts.
As if that world-shaking clash was just an illusion caused by their old age and failing eyesight.
“Esteemed elders, you’ve come from afar, why don’t you come in and have some tea?”
A warm, gentle, and refined male voice suddenly echoed, making the old men’s hearts tremble, and they quickly turned to look.
Only then did they realize, in astonishment, that there was a simple inn at the entrance of this small and quiet village, a faint candlelight flickering inside, warm and inviting.
And inside the inn, a handsome scholar, dressed in a blue robe and fur coat, sat there, a friendly smile on his face, cupping his hands from afar: “I hope you don’t mind the simple accommodations and the crude tea.”
“This person—”
“Quiet.”
The white-browed old man quickly raised his hand, saying in a low voice: “I can’t see through this person’s cultivation, he’s no ordinary villager.”
Just a slight probe, and his spiritual sense was swallowed and dissipated like a mud ox entering the sea, unable to discern the scholar’s true strength.
Their hearts were filled with awe, and after a moment of thought, they slowly walked towards the inn, their guard up.
Even if this mountain village was a dragon’s den or a tiger’s lair, they had to investigate.
“There’s no need to be so wary, elders, I just want to have a chat with you.”
The handsome scholar chuckled gently and gestured with his hand: “Please have a seat.”
The white-browed old man glanced at the wooden tables and chairs inside the inn and then asked in a low voice: “Who are you?”
“Just an ordinary scholar traveling the world with my wives. We happened to pass by this remote village and are staying here for a few nights.”
The handsome scholar smiled and bowed: “As for my name, you can call me Lin Tianlu.”
“Lin… Tianlu?”
The two old men’s expressions changed.
They had heard of this name, but they hadn’t expected to meet him here… under such circumstances.
But the white-browed old man quickly composed himself and asked: “What do you want to talk about?”
“I know why you’ve come here.”
Lin Tianlu took a sip of tea and said casually: “It must be because of the upcoming opening of the secret realm, and you saw the signs of battle in the mountain, so you came to investigate.”
The white-browed old man’s expression darkened: “Since you know, then why are you—”
“I just want to say, you should give up this futile pursuit.”
Lin Tianlu chuckled: “The secret realm has been destroyed, even if you search the mountain again, you won’t find anything, it’s just a waste of effort.”
“What?!”
The two old men’s expressions changed drastically.
“The secret realm… destroyed…”
A cold glint appeared in the white-browed old man’s eyes: “Could it be your doing?!”
Facing the sudden surge of chilling intent, Lin Tianlu just waved his sleeve calmly: “Since you’ve sensed the commotion here, you should know about that terrifying sea of blood that covered the sky.”
The white-browed old man narrowed his eyes and said coldly: “So what? Even if that sword strike was yours, we’re not afraid of death. Do you think you can intimidate us with this—”
“You’re mistaken.”
Lin Tianlu chuckled: “I’m not trying to intimidate or threaten you, I just want to tell you, esteemed elders, that there are no longer any so-called treasures in the eight clans’ secret realm, only the resentment and baleful energy of hundreds of thousands of people from the eight clans who died thousands of years ago. Once released, it won’t bring you treasures, but disaster.”
“This…”
The old men frowned, finally understanding, and exchanged glances.
If someone had told them this a few days ago, they naturally wouldn’t have believed it. Even though they had heard the rumors about Lin Tianlu, they wouldn’t have believed his words without reason.
But now—
They had just witnessed that terrifying sea of blood and felt the horrifying baleful energy surging into the ancient realm.
If such baleful energy were to erupt without any restrictions, not only Fengtai County and Wuchang Province, but even their ancient realm would be inevitably dragged into it.
“Then you said the secret realm was destroyed, how—”
“Thousands of years of resentment, the baleful energy of hundreds of thousands of souls, converging into one, have turned the eight clans’ secret realm into a living hell, a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. Not only would ordinary people be turned into blood puppets upon contact, even you, esteemed elders, might be in danger if you approach it rashly.”
Lin Tianlu’s expression turned serious: “If the secret realm wasn’t completely destroyed, that resentment would continue to grow endlessly, becoming a true demonic abyss, a disaster for all living beings. I had no choice but to destroy it and eliminate this hidden danger.
As for the treasures you seek, elders, they have probably already been absorbed by those corpses, becoming nourishment for the baleful energy. There’s no point in searching for them anymore.”
“…”
The old men were speechless.
One of them, seemingly still unconvinced, left with a grim expression, as if to continue investigating the mountain.
The remaining white-browed old man frowned and sat down, looking slightly dejected.
Although this scholar might be lying, his words were so convincing that he couldn’t help but believe them.
The opening of the secret realm, which they had been planning for years, had unexpectedly ended in such a ridiculous outcome. It had even exposed the ancient realm to the world…
“Those juniors have truly done something foolish.”
“It seems you also have your worries and concerns, elders.”
Lin Tianlu suddenly broke the silence and chuckled: “Although the destruction of the secret realm might seem like a wasted effort, if you had opened it unprepared, you might have lost many lives. Thinking about it this way, the ancient realm hasn’t suffered a complete loss.”
The white-browed old man looked at him coldly: “How do you know what our ancient realm—”
“If we pursue perfection in everything, it will only lead to exhaustion and hardship.”
Lin Tianlu interrupted him, smiling and pointing at the messy Go board on the table: “Just like this Go game, if one could perfectly execute every memorized move and strategy, it would indeed be exquisite and unbeatable… But a Go game is a battle between two sides, with constant changes and counter-moves. There’s no such thing as a perfect or flawless strategy.”
The white-browed old man’s frown deepened, and he snorted coldly.
“Boy, are you mocking us?”
“Are my husband’s words so difficult to understand?”
A soft and gentle female voice suddenly echoed in the room. Youluo, dressed in an elegant robe and cotton-padded jacket, her hair styled in a high bun with a jade hairpin, walked out gracefully from behind the curtain, her hands clasped before her, her expression cold and aloof, a dignified and transcendent aura she rarely displayed.
The white-browed old man asked in a deep voice: “Are you Lin Tianlu’s wife?”
Youluo’s lips curved into a smile: “More or less.”
Lin Tianlu’s eye twitched, and he was about to speak, but she gently placed her hand on his shoulder, massaging it gently, and said softly and elegantly: “My husband is reminding you that when the moon is full, it wanes, and when water is full, it overflows. To truly ensure the long-lasting prosperity and stability of your ancient realm, you must know when to retreat.”
“You impudent little girl, how dare you speak to us like this?”
The white-browed old man snorted coldly: “Your husband hasn’t even spoken, what right do you have to interrupt, woman?!”
“You’re wrong, old man.”
Lin Tianlu’s expression turned serious, and he cupped his hands: “Although there are distinctions between men and women in worldly customs, and men are often considered superior, in my opinion, men and women have different roles, but they are equal, there’s no such thing as superior or inferior. My… wife is a woman, but her words are correct, what’s wrong with that?”
“Hmph! Scholars are truly troublesome!”
The white-browed old man pondered inwardly and sneered, but his tone was no longer mocking or condescending.
Youluo covered her mouth with her sleeve, a playful smile flickering in her eyes, but she quickly said softly: “Since you look down on the words of a mere woman, old man, why don’t you take a look at the Go board before my husband? Right and wrong, gains and losses, are all reflected on this small board. Don’t look at the moves, just appreciate the essence of the game, and you’ll understand the true meaning of my husband’s words, old man.”
“What profound meaning could there be in a mere Go game?”
The white-browed old man snorted angrily, waving his sleeve, and a gust of cold wind swirled, as if trying to sweep the Go board off the table.
But the next moment, a look of surprise appeared on his face as he felt the Yin energy he had just released being neutralized and dissipated by a strange force, only a gentle breeze remaining in the room.
At the same time, the wooden chair he was sitting on moved, pulling him towards the table, and he sat down unsteadily.
“…”
Lin Tianlu still had a gentle and elegant smile on his face as he cupped his hands: “Although you’re angry, old man, please control your temper, don’t frighten my wife.”
“You—”
The white-browed old man’s eye twitched slightly, but he was truly surprised.
Although this man before him seemed young, the power he had just displayed was incredibly subtle and profound, truly extraordinary. This alone was enough to make him one of the best in the world, few could compare.
Those rumors were indeed true. If the people of the Cleansing Hall provoked such an expert, they would surely suffer a great loss.
Youluo’s eyes flickered with a playful glint, and she said casually, as if deliberately provoking him: “I’ve always heard that King Kan of the ancient realm is skilled in both literary and martial arts, a renowned figure in his youth. I didn’t expect him to become so stubborn and bullheaded in his old age, truly wasting my husband’s kind guidance.”
“Heh!”
The white-browed old man seemed to be angered into laughter, his long eyebrows twitching: “You ignorant woman, do you think you can trick me with such crude provocations? A scholar, even if he possesses extraordinary abilities, how could there be any profound meaning in a mere Go game…?”
But his voice gradually trailed off.
“—How could this be?”
The white-browed old man clutched his beard, staring at the Go board in surprise and uncertainty.
The placement of the Go stones seemed random and messy, scattered carelessly, but upon closer inspection, he realized that it was an incredibly profound and strange game.
“No.”
The old man suddenly looked up at Lin Tianlu, his eyes flickering.
Using black and white stones as thoughts, and the intersecting lines as threads, weaving together a tapestry of a hundred different principles.
This man… was conveying his thoughts through the Go game?!
“Do you understand now, old man?”
Youluo gracefully poured a cup of tea for Lin Tianlu, tending to the candle, and chuckled: “Since you’re feeling frustrated and unhappy, why don’t you have a proper discussion with my husband? Using Go to debate the Dao, communicating through the game, perhaps you’ll gain some unexpected insights, making this trip worthwhile.”
“…”
This time, the white-browed old man didn’t sneer or mock.
After a moment of hesitation, he picked up a white Go stone, his gaze fixed on the board, murmuring: “Just… black and white?”
“There’s no difference.”
Lin Tianlu smiled and opened his palm, several black and white Go stones within. “Why don’t you try it, old man?”
“You’re truly as strange as the rumors say.”
The white-browed old man looked at him intently and placed his stone.
“But let me see what you have to say, and whether you’re all talk.”
If it was just some superficial and boring guidance, it would be a waste of both their time— Ding!
A drop of water seemed to ripple softly in a pond.
Mist lingered, the fresh scent of spring filling the air, a gentle breeze blowing.
The white-browed old man gradually opened his eyes and exhaled softly. Looking around, he found himself sitting cross-legged on a towering mountain peak, shrouded in immortal mist, a bottomless abyss below.
Looking forward, he saw Lin Tianlu’s blurry figure sitting about a hundred zhang away, faintly visible in the clouds and mist.
Hum—
Suddenly, a giant, illusory Go stone materialized in the sky above, seemingly carrying a powerful force as it descended through the clouds and mist, landing heavily on the Go board between the two mountain peaks.
The white-browed old man’s heart trembled, his pupils constricting. An unimaginable shock, like a thunderclap, ran through his body, an unprecedented chill running down his spine. As the earth-shattering Go stone landed, the clouds and mist in the sky churned, and the stars seemed to shift.
He tried to speak, but he found himself speechless. His mind gradually calmed down, and he raised his hand, forming a Go stone with his Yin energy, and placed it on the board in the sea of clouds.
One move, one stone.
One active, one passive.
Sometimes circling and flanking, sometimes switching from defense to offense.
The vast Go board seemed boundless, only endless possibilities, complete focus and concentration on each placement.
Until he was completely immersed in this pure and ethereal realm.
…
After a while, a figure returned to the inn.
“Brother Kan, there’s truly nothing unusual in Immortal Phoenix Mountain, we were a step too late—”
The weathered old man was about to continue when he suddenly froze, a stunned and bewildered look on his face.
Although King Kan wasn’t particularly arrogant or cruel in the ancient realm, he had become somewhat stubborn and unyielding with age, rarely showing a pleasant expression, even to those he had known for years.
But now—
King Kan was bowing deeply and respectfully to the strange scholar in the room.
“Thank you for your guidance, Master Lin.”
“There’s no need for such formalities, old man, we were just exchanging ideas, it wasn’t guidance.”
Lin Tianlu quickly stood up and returned the bow, a gentle and humble smile on his face: “If you have any worries or concerns in the future, old man, feel free to come and chat with me again, perhaps I can help.”
“I’m eternally grateful for your kindness, Master Lin.” A kind and gentle look appeared on King Kan’s wrinkled face, his voice filled with emotion.
Youluo chuckled softly, covering her mouth with her hand: “Do you believe it now, old man?”
“Naturally, I believe it. I apologize for my disrespect earlier, please forgive me, Master Lin, and Madam.”
“There’s no need to mind, I was just joking with you, old man.” Youluo’s smile softened, and she curtsied gracefully, like a noble lady, whispering: “It’s wonderful that you and my husband could put aside your differences and have a proper conversation, old man.”
“You’re truly magnanimous, madam, a true heroine.”
King Kan praised, waving his sleeve. “Master Lin is truly fortunate to have such a virtuous wife.”
Lin Tianlu chuckled and cupped his hands: “Thank you for the compliment, old man.”
“J-Just what happened?!”
A surprised and bewildered voice suddenly rang out.
The white-browed old man looked back at his companion, who had just returned from investigating the mountain, and smiled: “Don’t worry about me, I just had a pleasant and insightful conversation with Master Lin, and I couldn’t help but express my admiration and respect.”
“This…”
The weathered old man was even more confused.
He had only been gone for less than half an hour, but his usually aloof and cold friend… why had his personality changed so drastically?!
