By the shores of North Luo Lake, a stone path curled around its shimmering edge. A rickety donkey cart swayed with every step. The cart, seemingly fashioned from withered wood, creaked under the weight of a young man clad in a dark indigo robe. He lounged with one leg crossed over the other, holding a wooden stick from which a carrot dangled on a thin string before the donkey's eyes. The beast snorted, nostrils flaring, trotting diligently in pursuit of the elusive bait.
The young man reclined idly, taking in the glistening ripples of the lake with a look of leisure."What a splendid place," he murmured, "it would be perfect for retirement.""I heard the 'Drunken Dust Pavilion' in North Luo City is quite renowned. The girls there are said to be exceptional in their craft. I wonder if the rumors are true."
He propped his chin with one hand, the other leg jiggling rhythmically, a wistful gleam flickering across his face."What a pity… The pavilion's been seized by that domineering Young Lord Lu. Another heavenly retreat claimed by worldly arrogance."
He sighed and shook his head in regret, adjusting the carrot's angle to realign the donkey's path."To be honest, I truly had no desire to come to North Luo. This city… it's steeped in strange omens."
His expression darkened with reluctance."Still, the Grand Preceptor rarely leaves the capital. This is a rare opportunity… Why is it always me who's called upon for such matters? That stone-faced man would be far more suited. He is the world's foremost assassin—I'm merely a cart driver."
Grumbling, the youth nudged the donkey with a kick, urging it onward. The battered cart groaned, teetering dangerously along the lakeside path, as if ready to collapse at any moment. The donkey's heavy breaths and snorts echoed along the trail.
…
Lü Mudui had already left the city at speed. His carriage galloped across the open plains beyond North Luo. Within the carriage, clad in snow-white robes, Lü Mudui gently caressed a copper coin strung around his neck. His gaze was profound.
"What Young Lord Lu spoke of... Could it be true? The 'Token of Heaven and Earth Qi'—does it truly unlock the immortal relic site? My master sent me here to North Luo… Could he have foreseen the existence of an immortal destiny here?"
Leaning back, his slender frame swayed slightly with the motion of the carriage, yet his eyes gleamed with clarity."If the relic truly exists, why would Young Lord Lu entrust me so readily? Does he not fear that I may conspire with the myriad schools to seize this fortune for myself?"
Lü Mudui narrowed his eyes, then sighed in defeat.He lacked the leverage to negotiate with the great schools. Even with the intelligence Lu Fan had provided, he could not barter on equal footing. The emergence of the Token of Qi would inevitably attract the attention of the world. And who could say that Lu wasn't the only one chosen by fate?
With no true capital of his own, the wisest course was cooperation with Lu Fan—perhaps he could earn a share. Otherwise… he would have no place at the table.
Moreover, before his departure, he had glimpsed the arrival of the Confucian Grandmaster himself. Perhaps… Lu Fan planned to ally with the Confucian sect. Backed by such a towering presence, it would be sheer folly to side with any lesser power.
The carriage rolled on in silence, save for the steady hum of the wheels. After a long pause, Lü Mudui gently tapped the bamboo cane in his hand against the wall and called out to the driver,"Don't rush back to the Dragon-Watching Temple just yet—make a detour to Wolong Ridge."
"Understood!" the driver grinned and cracked his whip. The carriage quickened its pace at once.
…
On the island at the heart of the lake, the air was tense.
The Grandmaster smiled, exuding righteous energy. Lu Fan responded with a casual placement of his stone, releasing a pressure of spiritual might. The clash between them was no less than a meeting of paragons.
Once the Confucian Grandmaster—a man who had traversed the lands, suppressing all other schools—his aura of vast righteousness could overwhelm even martial grandmasters. Though untrained in martial ways, his sheer presence was awe-inspiring.
Yet Lu Fan, in the face of such might, remained at ease, even lighthearted. This astonished all others present.
Lu Changkong regarded his son with a complicated but proud expression. He hadn't anticipated that Lu Fan would rise so swiftly—already capable of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the Grandmaster himself.
He drew a deep breath, feeling the spiritual energy flowing gently within him. Beside him, Nie Changqing and Ning Zhao's eyes were wide with awe. Until this moment, even they had not grasped the true extent of Lu Fan's strength.
Paragon level… a force capable of rivaling the Confucian Grandmaster himself. Among the myriad schools, this was a power that stood at the summit.
Lu Fan once vowed to raise White Jade Capital above all others. Now, it seemed that was no idle boast.
The wind fell silent. The pressure blanketing the world vanished in an instant. Righteous energy dissipated; Lu Fan's spiritual pressure melted into the air.
"Hahaha, truly a young man of great promise," the Grandmaster laughed."Changkong, you have raised a remarkable son."
Lu Changkong chuckled in return, unable to conceal the joy in his eyes.
"Please, Master," Lu Fan said with a warm smile. "Knowing the Grand Preceptor enjoys fine wine, I had a plum brew specially prepared."
The Grandmaster swept his sleeve behind his back and stepped forward."White Jade Capital…" his eyes landed on the plaque above the pavilion door. He murmured the name softly, then smiled again. "An excellent name."
He could not help but reflect. The immortal fate bestowed upon Lu Fan clearly far exceeded that of the emperor, Yu Wenxiu. If Yu Wenxiu was a toddler just learning to walk beneath Heaven's blessing, then Lu Fan was a prodigy born of divine favor—the gap between them… was immense.
Ascending the stone steps, the Grandmaster was followed by Lu Changkong and Luo Yue. Suddenly, he paused, his gaze drawn to two vertical plaques mounted before the pavilion.
All who approached White Jade Capital were inevitably captivated by this poetic couplet—and Lu Fan was not surprised in the least.
The Grandmaster's smile faded. His expression grew solemn. He stared long and hard—nearly half a stick of incense's time passed before he stirred again.
In the depths of his cloudy eyes flickered a restrained tremor of awe."This couplet… was it written by Ping'an?"
He turned away from the plaque and asked quietly. Unlike the thunderstruck reactions of Nie Changqing and Lü Mudui, the Grandmaster's tone was calm and unhurried.
"No," Lu Fan replied. "It was written by my teacher."
His wheelchair turned gently toward the depths of the pavilion. He suspected the Grandmaster had gleaned some insight from the verse, yet the elder gave nothing away—and so he did not press.
At the answer, the Grandmaster's body stiffened briefly, then relaxed. But Lu Changkong and Luo Yue fared far worse.
Lu Changkong, fortified by spiritual energy, merely staggered back a few steps and regained his composure. Luo Yue, however—no more than a first-rate martial artist—was hurled backward by the oppressive force. He dropped to one knee and coughed blood, his face pale with lingering dread.
Lu Changkong did not follow into the inner pavilion. He knew the Grandmaster and Lu Fan had matters to discuss. Instead, he wandered the island, eyes drawn to a cluster of chrysanthemums dancing in the sunlight.
The Grandmaster ascended to the second floor. On the terrace, Yi Yue had just finished brewing the wine and rose to her feet. Ni Yu and Nie Shuang stared wide-eyed as Lu Fan and the Grandmaster took their seats.
The board was laid out. The white and black stone boxes sat ready on either side.
The Grandmaster settled into his chair, stroking his beard thoughtfully as he gazed at the board. Lu Fan reclined in his wheelchair. The two sat opposite one another, the board between them.
Yi Yue poured the heated plum wine for them both. The fragrance of sour plum mingled with the rising steam.
"Master," Lu Fan said with a grin, "shall we play a match?"
The Grandmaster chuckled, savoring a sip of the wine, utterly at ease.Sipping wine, playing Go—such simple joys warmed his heart.
The pieces fell on the board with crisp, deliberate clicks. They played and drank, chatting idly of daily trifles. Sandalwood incense curled into the air, its calming scent filling the space.
When the game concluded, the board was covered in stones. Lu Fan, with a rueful smile, dropped the black piece he held back into its box.
"Your skill is truly unmatched, Master. I concede without shame."
He chuckled bitterly. Though he possessed the rare manual Strategies of the Heavenly Game, he had studied it too briefly. Against a grandmaster of such stature, he was still far from equal.
Ni Yu's eyes were wide with disbelief.Something wasn't right—since when had her young master become this good at Go?
The Grandmaster held his wine, coughing lightly. His figure appeared frail, as if nearing the twilight of life."Of all the players in the world who could match me…"
4o