Chapter 483 - 292: A Familiar Smell
Chapter 483: Chapter 292: A Familiar Smell
What is the Chess Dao?
Everyone has a different understanding.
For some, it is a minor art for entertainment and self-improvement. For others, it is like a clash on the battlefield. For still others, it is a way to comprehend the ultimate principles of life, or even the universe.
But in Chen Yi’s eyes at this moment, the world was the "chessboard," and all of creation, the "pieces."
As the player, he could change a person’s fate with every piece he placed.
Especially here in Shu State.
It was like a small world of its own.
Countless people became his pieces. Mountains and rivers formed the grid, and the very flow of destiny bent to his will.
In this sense, the Chess Dao shared a common origin with Yi Shu Divination.
But divination followed the way of Heaven; every sip and every peck was fated.
The Chess Dao, however, depended entirely on the whims of the player.
’So this is... "Heaven and Earth are not benevolent; they treat the myriad things as straw dogs."’
Chen Yi slowly opened his eyes, his mind a swirl of Profound Mysteries and chaos, and a deep sense of awe washed over him.
He hadn’t expected his Dao Realm epiphany to come at a time like this.
He had thought it was just an ordinary, trivial matter, but it had unexpectedly pushed his Chess Dao to a breakthrough into the Perfection Realm.
He looked toward where Ma Liangcai and the others were, his gaze falling on the still dazed and helpless Yuan Liu’er.
[At the third mark of the Serpent Hour, you witnessed Yuan Liu’er selling herself to bury her father, thereby accepting the resulting karma and helping Yuan Liu’er.]
[Reward: "Eight Methods of Weaving," Opportunity +20.]
[Evaluation: Arrived on site. Heard the sounds. Witnessed the scene. Performance: Excellent.]
Chen Yi glanced at the prompt. ’Thank you,’ he thought.
Not long after, the crowd dispersed, and Liu Quan led Yuan Liu’er away to bury Father Yuan.
Ma Liangcai returned alone and cupped his hands. "Shopkeeper, it’s done."
"Once Liu’er finishes with her father’s funeral, she will come to the Medicine Hall."
Chen Yi hummed in acknowledgment. He watched the flatbed cart trundle unhurriedly into the distance before he spoke.
"Teach her well."
With that, he patted Ma Liangcai’s shoulder and turned to leave.
Beneath the overcast sky, the rain grew heavier.
On the somewhat dim Chuandong Street, the crowd surged, yet the figures in their raincoats and bamboo hats seemed frozen in an Ink-Wash Painting.
Only an amber-colored Oil Paper Umbrella moved through them, growing ever more distant.
Ma Liangcai stared for a long time, then shook his head and returned to the Medicine Hall.
He vaguely sensed that Chen Yi was in a strange mood, so in the end, he didn’t dare to ask any questions about Yuan Liu’er’s talent for the Medical Dao.
’It must be fate bringing them together as master and disciple.’
Once the commotion outside the East Market died down, a cacophony of other sounds followed.
Shouts, arguments, haggling, and laughter all mingled together.
Huddled in the long line outside Xinglin Hall, Uncle Gui watched Chen Yi walk away, a hint of confusion on his wrinkled face.
’This "fledgling’s" behavior today seems to contradict his usual "indifference" toward everything. To think he’d be so kind as to help a mere slip of a girl.’
A mocking expression flashed across Uncle Gui’s face. ’The charity of the great Noble Families?’
After waiting a moment, Uncle Gui lowered his profile slightly and slowly headed toward the Marquis’s Mansion.
But when he turned onto South Street, there was no sign of Chen Yi.
He looked toward the West Market and Yanhua Lane, but still saw no trace of him and couldn’t help but frown.
’Lost him?’
’For an old veteran of the Dingyuan Army, an Iron Banner Officer of the White Tiger Guard like himself, losing certain people was perfectly normal. It could happen with Martial Arts masters, or if he was unfamiliar with the terrain. But for a scholar who only knew a bit of Fist and Foot to escape his pursuit... that was truly bizarre.’
Uncle Gui scanned the area again. Still seeing no sign of Chen Yi, he turned back toward the Xiao Mansion, a sinister look in his eyes.
He ran into a few acquaintances along the way, the greetings of "Uncle Gui!" coming one after another.
He turned a deaf ear, his body hunched as he walked at an unhurried pace.
But as he turned into the alley where the mansion gate was, a sinister laugh sounded in his ear.
"Uncle Gui?"
Uncle Gui was sure the voice did not belong to anyone from the mansion, and he turned to look.
Just as he was about to get a clear look at the person, he suddenly met those eyes—a pair of eyes as scarlet as blood.
"You..."
Before Uncle Gui could finish speaking, his body froze. His once murky and sinister eyes flickered through several colors.
From black to red, then from red back to black.
"It is your good fortune that this old man has taken a fancy to your body."
"Uncle Gui" muttered to himself and walked into the Marquis’s Mansion with a strange gait.
As he went deeper, not a single person noticed anything odd about him. Many Armored Warriors even greeted him with a smile.
This caused "Uncle Gui’s" mouth to stretch into an even wider grin as he lowered his head.
But just as he reached the rear courtyard and was about to look for Chen Yi, a flash of scarlet shot through his eyes, and he stared straight at the Spring Lotus Garden.
"There... a familiar scent..."
"Uncle Gui" sized it up for a long moment, the smile on his face vanishing bit by bit.
Surprise, astonishment... followed by immense joy.
"Hahaha... hahaha... Is it you? Is this your hiding place?"
He found it hard to believe, yet he would never doubt his ’treasure’s’ sense of smell.
A scent that strong could not be mistaken—it was the scent of "Dragon Spear" Liu Wu!
"Uncle Gui" listened for a moment. Confirming that there was no one inside the residence, he no longer hesitated and walked straight over.
In the tranquil courtyard, stray leaves and petals danced in the air.
Lush trees surrounded two wooden buildings, and a pavilion stood by the edge of a pond.
A faint scent of lotus flowers lingered on the bluestone path.
It mingled with the sweet fragrance of grass and trees.
And from one of the wooden buildings drifted wisps of a strong plum blossom scent.
The smile on "Uncle Gui’s" face grew wider. "So, you’re here."
He walked toward the wooden building, muttering in a low voice, "Liu Hong was right. That ’Dragon Spear’ Liu Wu is indeed a member of the Xiao family."
"He lives right here with the Xiao Family."
"No wonder the Xiao Family suffered no losses after the summer grain of the Three Towns was burned. It must have been the work of that old bastard, Xiao Yuan."
"But who is the master of this courtyard?"
"Let this old man see... let’s see..."
"Uncle Gui" pushed open the door of the wooden building. He glanced at the elegantly furnished living room, then walked toward the study, where the intense scent of plum blossoms was strongest.