Tianyan Sect, Zhuji Peak.
On a cold jade go board in a small courtyard, Xie Lingyu held a black stone, pondered for a moment, then gently placed it.
Seeing this move, Bai Xuanling raised an eyebrow and said:
"Your cultivation progress has been so-so, but your go skills are impressive. Looks like you've been taking plenty of leisure time."
Xie Lingyu lifted her gaze to Bai Xuanling's relaxed expression and responded with barely a thought.
Facing the teasing, she replied in a calm tone:
"It is a bit more than before, but I don't think my cultivation progress has fallen behind."
Bai Xuanling nodded in satisfaction.
"Your temper has improved too, much easier to talk to. You can even take a joke now."
Xie Lingyu pressed forward with every move, dragging Bai Xuanling's unsettled stones into a deadly siege.
"Master has been acting strange lately."
"Me, strange? What's strange about me? Don't tell me it's because I've grown even more beautiful? Truly, time spares no beauty."
"I don't ask because I'm foolish, but because I believe Master knows your own limits."
She paused.
"But looking at things recently, Master doesn't seem to have any limits at all."
Even as they talked, neither slowed their pace on the board.
Xie Lingyu's style was fierce and aggressive — either she won by slaughter, or she lost.
Bai Xuanling picked up a white stone and studied the board, brimming with killing intent.
It was unclear whether she was pondering the game or how to answer Xie Lingyu.
"If I had no sense of proportion, I wouldn't have lived this long."
Bai Xuanling placed her stone and looked up.
"Are you worried about me?"
Xie Lingyu placed her stone without hesitation.
"Yes. I am very worried about Master."
A faint smile appeared on Bai Xuanling's face.
"Lingyu has grown up, starting to care about her master."
"Even if I hadn't grown up, I would still worry about Master."
Xie Lingyu's gaze was fixed on Bai Xuanling.
"I know what Chu Xingchen is doing, so naturally I also know what Master is truly busy with."
Bai Xuanling nodded gently, propping her chin with one hand as she looked at Xie Lingyu.
A hint of reminiscence flickered in her eyes as she spoke softly:
"Someone has to do it, and it's not just me. Isn't your little sweetheart also running around busy with all of this?"
"Chu Xingchen is slick by nature. He wouldn't be like Master, completely disregarding himself without any sense of proportion."
"Oh? But from what I've seen, though that boy is slick, there are things in his heart he absolutely won't back down from."
She studied Xie Lingyu for a moment.
"I'd say his chances of having no sense of proportion are higher than mine. You'd do better to keep a closer eye on him."
As Bai Xuanling's words fell, so did her stone.
Xie Lingyu's all-out attack naturally exposed irrecoverable weaknesses.
Once seized upon, it would mean total defeat on the board.
The outcome was already decided.
Xie Lingyu looked at the clearly decided board but continued placing stones.
Her voice was firm.
"No matter who it is, I don't want to lose them."
"No one's life is spent only in gaining, and no one's life is free from loss."
Bai Xuanling stood up, picked up two black stones, and gently placed them on the board.
"Well played. I concede."
With those words, Bai Xuanling turned to leave.
Xie Lingyu stared at the two stones representing the concession and suddenly called out to stop Bai Xuanling.
"Master, you always ask me who I learned this stubbornness from."
She continued.
"Knowing that a single step back would open up the sky, yet insisting on crashing headfirst until blood is drawn."
Bai Xuanling didn't answer, only turning her gaze slightly toward Xie Lingyu.
Xie Lingyu continued speaking.
"My personality was learned from Master. Aren't you also always pursuing that answer in your heart, refusing to take even a single step back?"
"I also understand — once you've made your decision, I can't change it."
"Whether I say these things or not, perhaps nothing will change."
"I have my own selfish motives too. If more strangers die so that Master can return safely, that's fine by me."
"Call me Lingyu one more time."
Bai Xuanling turned her face away and continued walking out.
Only when she reached the doorway did she leave a single parting line.
"I know."
Xie Lingyu sensed the spiritual energy fluctuations of Bai Xuanling's departure and looked back at the go board.
She gazed at the two black stones Bai Xuanling had placed to concede.
Master had always been fiercely competitive, refusing to concede in anything.
From rock-paper-scissors in childhood, to little games, even coaxing her to eat and competing over who ate faster — she would never go easy.
She would patiently win again and again.
There were times when she broke down crying from losing. Master would only coax her, saying she would definitely win next time.
And then win against her, time and time again.
In this game, the outcome was decided. She was the one who lost.
But it was Master who conceded.
She didn't know how long she sat there before Qinghe's voice came from outside the courtyard.
"Oh wow, you really are here."
Qinghe walked closer and glanced at Xie Lingyu, who was staring blankly at the go board.
Curious, Qinghe took a couple more steps and looked at the board.
In just a moment, even Qinghe — who wasn't particularly skilled at go — understood the situation. A grin spread across his face.
"Whoa, these white stones are completely dead. Lingyu, who were you playing against?"
He laughed.
"They actually conceded to you? Don't tell me it was Yan Yun who came to play you?"
Xie Lingyu didn't answer. She merely looked up at Qinghe and asked:
"What do you need me for?"
"Oh, Cui Hao and that snake seem to have broken through successfully. I heard they're already preparing a celebration feast."
Qinghe sat down in a chair, beaming.
"I wanted to invite you to join the fun. There's definitely going to be a big gathering tonight. You'll come, right?"
Xie Lingyu looked at Qinghe's expectant face.
"Understood. I'll go if I'm able."
"Great! Tonight I'm definitely going to feast at Chu Xingchen's expense."
Qinghe grinned.
"Otherwise, what's the point of being his gatekeeping divine beast for so long?"
Qinghe took one more look at the board, then stood up with a smile.
He had really only come to notify Xie Lingyu.
After staying at Wanhua Ridge for so long, there was no reason not to go.
So Qinghe took Xie Lingyu's noncommittal answer as her just being tsundere.
Come to think of it, "tsundere" really did suit Xie Lingyu well.
Who knew how Chu Xingchen had come up with that word.
With Qinghe's departure, the small courtyard fell quiet once more.
Xie Lingyu glanced at the board and began putting the stones away.
Perhaps she had been a bit too lax lately...
——————
Tianyan Peak.
"Elder Bai, you've arrived. Master is already waiting for you inside the hall."
Yan Yun stood at the hall entrance, watching Bai Xuanling land with swiftness.
She stepped forward to greet her and reminded:
"Master's anger hasn't subsided yet. You might want to choose your words carefully."
Bai Xuanling strolled forward, her tone calm and unhurried.
"Rest easy. If your master dares to cross words with me, I'll hammer his head straight into Tianyan Peak to use as a foundation stone."
She smiled.
"I'll even avenge you while I'm at it — I know you've wanted to punch your master for more than a day or two, haven't you?"
Yan Yun kept pace with Bai Xuanling, looking slightly helpless.
"Elder Bai, what are you even saying? Master is only worried about you."
Bai Xuanling stepped into the hall and looked up at Lü Xuan, who sat in the seat of honor.
Their conversation was neither quiet nor restrained — and neither were their methods.
With Mahayana cultivation, Lü Xuan naturally heard every word.
Lü Xuan had intended to keep a stern face and let Bai Xuanling know his disapproval.
But actually getting punched by her over it seemed like a bad deal, yet letting her off too easily would only encourage her to go further next time.
But before he could speak, Bai Xuanling slightly cupped her hands, and her tone softened.
"I've troubled you again this time, Sect Master."
Lü Xuan swallowed all his prepared words and let out a light sigh.
"Forget it... Who made me this Sect Master anyway?"
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