الشطرنج الخالد - Book 03 Chapter 036

Ding ding ding!

Fairy Waner suddenly started playing her guqin. When she did so, the surrounding zitherists immediately opened their eyes.

This even caught the manor lord’s attention.

“Mind Shake?” The slightly startled manor lord suddenly laughed.

“Mind Shake? Why is that demon woman playing this piece?”

“When targeted by ‘Mind Shake, those with an artistic conception can immediately open their eyes. This only works on people with no music Dao artistic conception. Everyone here is a zitherist. Why is she playing this piece?”

“I heard that one has to focus one’s mind and consciousness on it fully. If it does not shake the opponent, one will be shaken instead. It is a piece that results in one side’s defeat, no matter what?”

Everyone appeared confused.

As Fairy Waner played, she stared at Gu Hai.

“Mind Shake.” Gu Hai did not have a music Dao artistic conception. Once he fell for it, his mind would be shaken, and he would lose his wits.

Buzz!

Long Wanqing was suddenly stunned, appearing confused.

This was the same for Gu Hai. He suddenly felt the world spin.

Wasn’t I on a lawn earlier? Why did I suddenly appear on the clouds? There is no one else here but myself?

Mind-shaking energy charged at Gu Hai’s three spiritual souls, dazzling his mind.

Gu Hai stood there without moving, looking at the surrounding clouds in confusion. He instantly forgot about pondering how he got here and now focused on what was going on.

Ding ding ding ding!”

Intoxicating zither music rang out. Gu Hai felt sleepy and wanted to lie down on the clouds without a care for anything.

Gu Hai fell for “Mind Shake.”

The surrounding zitherists appeared confused.

“The demon woman wants to deal with Master Gu?”

“Why is Master Gu intoxicated? Could Master Gu have no music Dao artistic conception?”

“How can that be possible? How could Master Gu not have a music Dao artistic conception? You must be joking, right?!”

The zitherists appeared confused.

Now, Fairy Waner revealed a smile. I finally exposed you. Now, everyone is starting to doubt Gu Hai’s music Dao artistic conception. This feels great, very liberating.

Gu Hai felt intoxicated as the zither music shook his mind after charging at his three spiritual souls.

Just at this moment, the Heaven Suppressing Divine Imperial Seal sensed something from Gu Hai’s forehead space. It suddenly shook and suppressed the zither music and Fairy Waner’s artistic conception within it. With this, an irresistible force rebounded.

Boom!

Gu Hai instantly awakened.

The Heaven Suppressing Divine Imperial Seal also scattered the zither music’s artistic conception.

Blargh!

Fairy Waner felt like something heavy crashed into her head, causing her to vomit a mouthful of blood.

“You…you…” Fairy Waner glared at Gu Hai in extreme incredulity. Blargh!

“What happened earlier?” Long Wanqing woke up with a shiver.

“That was dangerous. Hall Master, are you alright? We could not wake you up earlier,” Venerable Liu Nian said with a worried expression.

Venerable Liu Nian turned his head and looked at Fairy Waner coldly. “Demon woman, you…”

Venerable Liu Nian was about to lose his temper when he saw Fairy Waner miserably vomiting blood. Now, he could not bear to say what he was about to say.

Getting reduced to such a sorry state by one’s own scheme after scheming against another, this was really rare.

The surrounding zitherists were also startled.

“Was that Mister Gu’s counterattack? Did he use his music Dao artistic conception to counter that demon woman’s artistic conception and instantly cause her to vomit blood?”

“Mister Gu is incredible, indeed!”

“Demon woman, you overestimate yourself!”

The zitherists looked at Fairy Waner in disdain.

Only Fairy Waner understood that it was not the music Dao artistic conception. However, she did not know how Gu Hai counterattacked.

“You…you…what did you do to me?” Fairy Waner looked at Gu Hai depressedly while vomiting blood.

“Fairy Waner, if one persists in evil, one will bring about self-destruction!” Gu Hai said coldly.

This was not the first time Fairy Waner wilfully tried to make things difficult for Gu Hai. However, Gu Hai was not made of mud; no one could squeeze and mold him at will. Nevertheless, seeing her sorry state rendered him speechless. I still have not taken revenge, and you are ready in such a state? I’m too embarrassed to strike back like that.

“You are the one who persists in evil and bringing about self-destruction. You do not have an artistic conception at all. You are a fraud!” Fairy Waner felt very wronged, her eyes turning bloodshot.

“This demon woman is crazy. Even now, she is still saying that Master Gu does not have an artistic conception?” The surrounding zitherists showed disdain on their faces.

Fairy Waner grew even more depressed and aggrieved.

“Fairy Waner,” the manor lord said with a soft sigh.

Fairy Waner turned her head to look.

“The music Dao is not just about artistic conception. It is a fact that you cannot compare to Gu Hai,” the manor lord said gently.

Although this was just kind advice, to Fairy Waner, it sounded like another stab at her.

I’m already in a very sorry state; can’t you console me? Why criticize me further? What do you mean by this?

It’s one thing to criticize me, but nearly everyone in the surroundings nodded extremely seriously as if saying that he was right to criticize me, that I deserve it.

When she looked around and saw everyone opposing her, her feeling of being wrong swelled a hundredfold. Does everyone think that I cannot even compare to a person without an artistic conception?

“Humph! I don’t need you to interfere in my matters!” Fairy Waner felt incredibly angry and wronged. She stepped forward and quickly flew away, carrying her zither.

“Huh?” The surrounding people felt surprised.

“Has this demon woman gone mad? How ridiculous! The manor lord was giving her pointers, but she refused to accept his advice, running away in anger?” said one of the zitherists left behind.

Gu Hai stretched out his right hand. A bead of water landed on his palm.

This was not a bead of water but a tear from Fairy Waner when she flew into the sky. Gu Hai had managed to catch it.

As Gu Hai looked at this tear, he smiled bitterly. The slight anger he felt earlier completely vanished.

After Fairy Waner left, the zitherists returned to what they were doing, closing their eyes and searching for Ensnaring Performance’s soul.

Gu Hai’s group continued walking to the nearby City Lord He Shikang.

When City Lord He saw Gu Hai’s group approaching, he frowned slightly as though he guessed the group’s motive.

“City Lord He, can we have a word?” Long Wanqing asked seriously.

“We can speak here.” City Lord He’s frown deepened.

A golden silk scroll appeared in Long Wanqing’s hand with the flip of her hand.

“A decree?” City Lord He’s expression changed.

Long Wanqing put away the decree with the flip of her hand. Then, she said seriously, “City Lord He, this way, please.”

He Shikang remained silent for a while before eventually nodding.

The group headed for a nearby corner.

Sima Changkong narrowed his eyes as he watched the group leave. Some suspicion flashed in his eyes.

——

At the same time, in the distant horizon:

Lu An and Fang Minghou rode on a flying ship to capture fairies. However, they did not manage to catch anything, so they flew back.

“Oh? Wait a while. Stop the flying ship here,” Lu An said coldly while narrowing his eyes.

“Oh? Young Master An, what’s going on?” Fang Minghou asked, feeling some misgivings.

“He Shikang? What is he doing with Gu Hai’s group?” Lu An asked coldly.

Despite being far away, Lu An could vaguely make out He Shikang and Gu Hai’s group moving away from the others.

——

Gu Hai walked to a corner and used spirit stones to lay an ordinary Go Dao ritual array to isolate the sound. After all, everyone here was a master zitherist with extremely acute hearing. Furthermore, they were all focused on listening now. If he did not take any precautions, it would be like speaking in front of everyone.

After the group brought He Shikang to a corner, some frustration flashed in his eyes.

“A decree? Haha? Might I ask Hall Master Long whose decree it is?” City Lord He frowned.

“It is from His Holy Eminence to investigate Long Xiaoyue’s death. Everyone in the Qian Heavenly Dynasty is to cooperate fully. Does City Lord He want to take a look?” Long Wanqing took out the decree again.

City Lord He frowned but eventually shook his head. “Never mind. I believe that you would not dare to fake a decree. Just ask whatever you want.”

“It is the same question from that day. Does City Lord He have any clues or suspicions about Long Xiaoyue’s death?” Long Wanqing said seriously.

“None. I said it that day already. None!” City Lord He said with a firm tone.

Long Wanqing felt slightly startled. She thought that after changing the location and with no one monitoring He Shikang, City Lord He would tell the truth. Why…?

“City Lord He, you used to frequent my mother’s zither conventions. My mother even saw you as a good friend. Are you not upset at all at a good friend’s death? Did you notice anything strange the last time you saw my mother? City Lord He, Uncle He, when I was young, my mother often mentioned you. She saw you as a close friend. Are you really indifferent to this?” Long Wanqing said with bloodshot eyes.

Some struggle flashed in City Lord He’s eyes. However, he insisted in a firm tone, “I really do not know anything!”

“Then, what about Mister Huangfu?” Gu Hai suddenly interjected.

“Huh?” City Lord He’s expression suddenly changed as he turned to Gu Hai in shock.

However, City Lord He instantly suppressed the shock in his heart. His expression quickly recovered, and he said, “What Mister Huangfu? I don’t know him.”

“Oh?” Gu Hai narrowed his eyes slightly.

Gu Hai suddenly called out Mister Huangfu’s name to see City Lord He’s reaction. Indeed, City Lord He knew something about Long Xiaoyue’s death. Furthermore, this Mister Huangfu was also a key person.

“City Lord He does not know Mister Huangfu? You previously attended Mother’s zither convention with him in the past!” Long Wanqing said anxiously.

“I don’t know anything. I don’t know him!” City Lord He denied.

“City Lord He, this ritual array isolates sound. Just tell me what you know, alright? No one else will know. My mother died a sorry death. I want to take revenge for my mother. Now, only you know something. I beg you, please?” Long Wanqing said with bloodshot eyes.

City Lord He stood firm on this issue. Eventually, he shook his head and said, “I really do not know. You are asking the wrong person!”

Long Wanqing showed despair on her face. Venerable Liu Nian also appeared unsightly. Shangguan Hen stood at the side, monitoring the surroundings.

“Alright. Since City Lord He knows nothing, will you write me a guarantee? Write us a guarantee in front of His Holy Eminence’s decree,” Gu Hai said with a frown.

“Huh? Write a guarantee?” City Lord He appeared slightly shocked.

Whoosh!

Gu Hai took out a table with a flip of his hand, with a brush, ink, and a golden silk scroll ready on it.

“What are you doing?” City Lord He asked sullenly.

“The decree is here. Everyone in the Qian Heavenly Dynasty is to cooperate fully with the investigation. City Lord He, since you insist that you know nothing, then please write that down and stamp your official seal on your statement. We will keep this as a record. If His Holy Eminence asks, we can hand this over to His Holy Eminence,” Gu Hai said.

Long Wanqing and Venerable Liu Nian looked at Gu Hai in confusion, not understanding what Gu Hai was up to, but they did not stop him.

City Lord He appeared suspicious.

“City Lord He, please cooperate. You don’t want the hall master to take out the decree again, right?” Gu Hai smiled.

City Lord He showed a complicated expression. However, he eventually nodded and said, “Write a statement? So be it. There’s nothing to it. If I know nothing, then I know nothing.”

City Lord He reached out and picked up the brush on the table. After dabbing it in ink, he started writing, stating that he did not know anything about Long Xiaoyue’s death.

After writing everything, City Lord He remained silent for a while. Finally, he took out an official seal and stamped the scroll.

Thud!

The official seal left a mark that glowed with a faint golden light.

“Is this fine?” City Lord He asked.

“That will do.” Gu Hai smiled faintly as he carefully put away the golden silk scroll.

“If there is nothing else, then I will be leaving,” City Lord He said with a frown.

Gu Hai looked at the nearby Shangguan Hen. Shangguan Hen glanced at the sky and nodded slightly, signaling Gu Hai with his eyes.

“City Lord He, how much do you know about Duke Lu Yang’s official residence? I heard that they value talent a lot and are recruiting. I wonder if that is true?” Gu Hai asked.

“Huh?” City Lord He felt slightly startled.

He Shikang looked at Gu Hai in surprise. What does Gu Hai mean? Is he thinking of defecting to Duke Lu Yang?

Long Wanqing’s expression changed, revealing anxiety.

However, Venerable Liu Nian suddenly pulled Long Wanqing back.

Long Wanqing turned her head and saw Venerable Liu Nian shaking his head and showing a faint smile. This startled her and immediately calmed her anxiety.

City Lord He did not understand Gu Hai’s intentions, but he casually answered the questions. However, Gu Hai seemed intent on keeping him here, asking about many details.

This chat ended only after a while.

City Lord He revealed suspicion on his face as he returned to the plaza.

“Gu Hai, earlier…” Long Wanqing asked curiously.

“There’s nothing. Where’s the flying ship? Let’s go.” Gu Hai smiled.

Long Wanqing took out the flying ship in confusion.

The four boarded the flying ship. Then, Shangguan Hen controlled it, quickly flying into the clouds.

When the group entered the clouds, they immediately saw Lu An and Fang Minghou.

“Gu Hai? Long Wanqing!” Lu An looked at the nearby Gu Hai coldly.

Gu Hai looked at Lu An, showing a faint, cold smile. “Young Master An, I, Gu Hai, am a person who remembers grudges and graces clearly. I still remember the several times you targeted my This Street’s Best Zither Pavilion. Young Master An? What great authority? Hahaha! What great authority?!”

Gu Hai’s laughter at the end contained a hint of mockery.

The two flying ships brushed by each other. Then, Gu Hai’s flying ship flew into the distance in the blink of an eye.

However, Gu Hai’s strange words made Lu An turn sullen.

“What do Gu Hai’s earlier words mean?” Lu An frowned as he looked at Fang Minghou.

“I don’t know. However, based on his tone, it seems like he wants revenge on you,” Fang Minghou said while shaking his head.

“Revenge on me? Humph! Is he worthy? If Mister Mo had not come that day, I would have made him die without a burial ground!” Lu An scoffed coldly.

After that, Lu An’s flying ship flew back to Silver Moon Island.

Although Lu An appeared stubborn, he inwardly felt nervous; he had a bad feeling. He immediately sought out City Lord He.

“City Lord He, Gu Hai spoke to you for so long earlier. What were you talking about?” Lu An asked.

“Nothing much. He just asked about the treatment in Duke Lu Yang’s official residence and whether they respect their guests. He also asked what it would be like to defect to the duke,” City Lord He explained.

An explosion went off in Lu An’s mind. He remained stunned there as Mister Mo’s previous words echoed in his mind. As long as Gu Hai was willing to join the duke’s official residence, Mister Mo would sweep away all of Gu Hai’s worries, stripping Lu An of his succession status?

Gu Hai’s earlier tone?

“Oh no! Oh no!” Lu An’s expression changed dramatically.