Chapter 1142 - 1046: I Can Fly
Small Mountain Village.
In the courtyard, under the peach tree.
Yun Xi and Li Fan play a game of chess. She has placed several pieces, following the “The Darkest Game” strategy.
She looks at Li Fan somewhat nervously and says:
“‘The Darkest Game’… can you win this time?”
Li Fan responds:
“Winning is of course possible…”
“But, do you really want to see it?”
He seems reluctant to play this particular game, his words tinged with hesitation.
Yun Xi nods anxiously and replies:
“I… must see it.”
Li Fan helplessly says:
“Alright, let’s play then.”
The moves from both sides are made swiftly.
Li Fan’s pieces are getting captured one by one.
Sometimes, even though Li Fan’s moves are stunningly clever, the kind that would be killing blows in ordinary challenging games, under Yun Xi’s strategy, they are all devoured!
This is the terror and the insolubility of ‘The Darkest Game’.
The atmosphere grows tense as the two play, and the many disciples also begin to sense it.
“Master has never played chess to such an extent before…!”
Nan Feng can’t help but stop playing the zither.
“Sister Yun Xi is so amazing… she’s made Master get serious!”
Surprise fills Zi Ling’s big eyes.
“It’s a pity Jiang Li Junior Brother is not here; maybe he could’ve spotted something…”
Long Zixuan feels regret on behalf of Jiang Li.
A group of disciples watches on.
Although they don’t understand the intricacies of the game, they feel that this particular game of chess… may be very important.
After all, the fact that Li Fan is treating it with such seriousness… is truly unprecedented.
…
Li Fan and Yun Xi make their moves quickly.
In a blink of an eye, Li Fan is on the verge of defeat!
“Great Demon King… can you really break through?”
Yun Xi is actually… somewhat nervous.
Because, at this moment, Li Fan… has very few pieces left, and moreover, they are cornered with almost no chance of counterattack.
Li Fan says:
“Of course it’s possible… although ‘The Darkest Game’ is dark, from within the darkness, brilliant fireworks can burst forth.”
He places several pieces in succession.
Suddenly, the game board seems to shift illusively.
Those previously powerless white pieces suddenly connect to each other, like fleeting sparks amidst ‘The Darkest Game’.
Seeing this, a joyful light bursts from Yun Xi’s large eyes and she exclaims:
“It’s true… you really can break through this situation…”
She looks up at Li Fan, her eyes brimming with unparalleled excitement, and says:
“You’ve really done it… just one more step, hurry and make your move…”
Yet Li Fan returns the piece in his hand back to the box.
“Do you know where the last piece should go?”
Li Fan asks softly.
“Where should it go?”
Yun Xi shakes her head; she hasn’t figured it out yet.
But Li Fan avoids answering; instead, he softly says:
“I believe there is a better solution to this game… just wait, I’ll find a better way.”
Saying this, he puts the piece back into the box, smiles faintly, and asks:
“I’m going to make dinner, what would you like to eat?”
Yun Xi’s gaze is still fixed on the chessboard, seemingly deep in thought. Hearing Li Fan’s words, it takes her a long time before she looks up and forces a smile, saying:
“Whatever you make is delicious.”
Li Fan laughs and ties on an apron, heading to the kitchen.
…
“Sister Yun Xi, what’s wrong?”
Zi Ling notices something off about Yun Xi’s mood and asks with concern.
Yun Xi just shakes her head and says:
“Nothing… I’m fine.”
But Xinning comes over, holding an old, coverless yellow book in her hand, comparing it to the chess game.
She also seems to carry nervousness and weight in her large eyes.
After a long time, she suddenly says to Yun Xi:
“Sister Yun Xi… does this also appear in the ‘Red Dust Jade’?”
She hands the book to Yun Xi.
Yun Xi looks down at it.
In the yellowed pages of the ancient book, there’s nothing else.
Only intricate lines of black and white pieces, seemingly part of some deduction.
And in the pages, filled with frustration and despair.
“Eternal darkness, no path to choose…”
A powerless phrase, the footnote of the entire page.
“The ‘Eternal Darkest Game,’ Big Brother pondered over it before… The only method is the ‘A Single Spark Can Start a Prairie Fire’…”
Xinning murmurs:
“The ‘A Single Spark Can Start a Prairie Fire’ method, enlightenment in all directions, but the ultimate outcome…”
Yun Xi, looking at the chaotic arrangement of the game on the page, seems to have understood something in her beautiful eyes.
…
“Dinner time!”
Li Fan, still wearing his apron, brings the dishes out from the kitchen one by one, with Gong Ya helping on the side.
The disciples are already seated together, waiting for the meal.
“Master, your disciple has returned.”
At this time, the voice of Jiang Li is also heard from outside the door.
“Come in.”
Upon Li Fan’s invitation, Jiang Li enters, and greets:
“Master!”
Li Fan says:
“No need for such formalities, sit down and eat first, we’ll talk later!”
Jiang Li nods and takes his seat.
“Let’s eat!”
“So fragrant, so fragrant!”
“The home-cooked stir-fried pork is really something to go with rice!”
“Tomatoes scrambled with eggs taste so good!”
Having grown accustomed to grand feasts of fish and meat, the home-cooked dishes made by Li Fan had a unique charm, and the disciples all ate with great joy.
“Eat more, you’ve been looking a little thin lately.”
Li Fan piled a good amount of meat into Yun Xi’s bowl, and with a sweet smile at the corner of her mouth, Yun Xi said:
“There’s so much meat… I can’t lose weight now.”
Li Fan said:
“You’re not fat, what’s there for you to lose weight for, don’t leave any leftovers, eat everything up.”
As he spoke, he turned his attention to Xinning and said:
“You too, eat more, you’re still growing, having any loss of appetite lately?”
Xinning shook her head and said:
“No… Big Brother, I can eat a lot, don’t worry about me.”
She helped herself to lots of vegetables.
Although the disciples were still eating heartily, Li Fan felt that… everyone seemed a bit quiet.
Jiang Li had just returned, not knowing what had happened, and as the meal was almost over, he immediately reported to Li Fan:
“Teacher, I’ve already seen Qi Shuangming and ensured that he’s on the right track, and I’ve become familiar with everything over there.”
Li Fan nodded and said:
“Mhm, that’s good, later on, send the other mental patients there too.”
Jiang Li nodded.
Yun Xi suddenly said:
“Let’s set off tomorrow and help send the mental patients.”
Li Fan looked at Yun Xi with some confusion.
Yun Xi, however, looked back at him and said:
“Great Demon King, I want to drink some alcohol.”
Li Fan pondered in his heart, feeling that something was off today…
“Da De, go get some wine.”
It’d be good to let everyone have a drink and cheer up.
Soon, the drinks were served, and everyone had their cups filled.
“Great Demon King, here’s to you… may you always be happy and joyful!”
Everyone raised their glasses together.
With toasts and laughter, all drank with gusto.
The night breeze gently rippled through the small courtyard, and under the influence of the alcohol, the solemn atmosphere was swept away, replaced with bursts of laughter and chatter.
“Teacher, let me play another tune…”
Nan Feng, inebriated, stroked the zither, and the music soared.
Zi Ling, with pen in hand, doodled while tipsy and murmured somewhat foolishly:
“Teacher, I still can’t paint you…”
Wu Dade and Big Black Dog chased each other around, the kitty lay on the table asleep, and the small tree in the corner of the yard kept growing…
In the end, all the disciples collapsed, drunk, and in their inebriation, their cultivation levels quietly advanced further, reaching the “Cavern-Truth Realm,” a stature that could already be called True Ancestor Level in the Grey Mist Sea.
…
In the blink of an eye, only Yun Xi and Li Fan were still drinking.
“Great Demon King… we’ve learned enough… we could help you, why won’t you let us go out and try our luck?”
Yun Xi was somewhat drunk as she looked at Li Fan, waiting for his answer.
Hearing this, Li Fan couldn’t help but put down his wine cup and glanced at the disciples scattered around the yard in various states of inebriation.
Should he let the disciples venture out?
This idea was not something Li Fan hadn’t considered.
In fact, with the skills they had learned, if they were in the outside world, wouldn’t they be considered quite good?
Yes, in the world of mortals, they would certainly be able to survive.
For example, Nan Feng could open a music training class outside, and no doubt he would become a famous teacher.
Dugu Yuqing could make a living selling Spring Festival couplets.
Long Zixuan knew how to hunt; at worst, he could be a fisherman.
Wu Dade knew how to raise livestock and was hardworking; starting a breeding farm wouldn’t be out of the question.
Su Baiqian knew medicine and definitely wouldn’t starve.
Zi Ling’s paintings were good too; she could become rich by selling art.
Jiang Li’s path of chess was very strong; even if he ended up on the streets, he could live comfortably betting on chess matches.
Lu Rang was a farmer, but his farming techniques were already very good; he wouldn’t starve with a piece of land.
The only two Li Fan was really worried about were Lin Jiu Zheng and Qing Chen.
Lin Jiu Zheng, if he left, could only be a fortune teller… It depended on whether the mortals of this world were superstitious; if they were, he could make a living by writing talismans and charms.
Qing Chen, on the other hand, was done for; since coming to the courtyard, he had been sweeping the floor every day… once outside, he would have to clean for a living?
After all, when he first arrived, he was a monk, and now he was drinking and eating meat… he probably had broken all his precepts!
However, sweeping the streets, although laborious, was an honest living, and Li Fan didn’t think it was something to look down upon.
Overall, the disciples each had a skill and the means to survive.
But, even with these thoughts, Li Fan just smiled slightly, shook his head, and said softly:
“You don’t need to go out and make a name for yourselves… I can protect you, and everyone else as well.”
In this little mountain village, self-sufficiency was possible, and supporting this many people… was not really an issue.
Hearing this, Yun Xi laughed, but as she continued to laugh, tears suddenly welled up in her eyes, and she said:
“Liars are big bad guys… You’re a bad guy…”
Li Fan chuckled and said:
“I did lie about some things to you… but on this matter… you have to trust me.”
The only thing he had deceived them about was hiding that he was a cultivator…
Yun Xi looked at him and nodded:
“I trust you.”
“Great Demon King, let’s drink another round…”
She raised her cup.
Li Fan lifted his wine cup and gently clinked it against hers.
“Great Demon King… tomorrow, when I and the others take the mental patients out… you’ll be at home alone, unable to see us, will you be sad?”
She suddenly asked, her eyes appearing a bit red.
Li Fan, hearing this, smiled and said:
“Of course not…”
Yun Xi smiled too:
“Don’t lie… be really happy when that time comes…”
Her wine cup fell to the ground, and she collapsed in a drunken heap.
Li Fan gently caught her by the shoulder and whispered in her ear:
“I won’t be sad… Besides, if I do become sad, I’ll just come find all of you…”
“You might not know… but I can fly.”
He laughed softly, playfully pinching Yun Xi’s nose.
…