Chapter 646

"Master, you've finally shown yourself?"

Su Jing's lips curled slightly, a hint of anticipation in his smile.

Moonlight spilled like silk, and the heavens suddenly burst open with ten thousand drifting fireflies.

Third Master's gaze swept over the flower queens at the Gathering of Beauties, then down to the A, B, C, D sections below, and the array of high officials and nobles seated within—all heads tilted upward, as if this grand spectacle had been meticulously orchestrated by Bianjing Academy or the imperial court.

The sky blazed brilliantly, bright as noon.

Every eye was drawn to it.

Yet Third Master turned his gaze toward the direction of flood control and spoke slowly:

"This time, Master, you don't intend to hide anymore, do you?"

Su Jing nodded slightly. "Master's nature has always been cautious; without eight or nine tenths certainty, he would never reveal his true form. It seems this time, Master is ready to conclude."

He turned to Third Master with a smile. "Brother, today we were meant to settle matters—why not call it quits now?"

"Our grievances with Master must first come to a head."

Third Master's gaze shifted toward the academy, his expression darkening slightly. "Second Brother is still at the academy—I can't let go of my worries."

Su Jing, as if expecting this, remained calm. "Third Brother, if you miss this chance today, don't regret it later."

Third Master fell silent, saying nothing more.

Moments later, his voice returned, slow and carrying an almost imperceptible depth.

"Wu Xin, don't you feel even a flicker of curiosity? Don't you wish to see with your own eyes this mysterious being Master speaks of?"

Upon hearing this, Su Jing shook his head, his expression serene.

"A gentleman does not stand beneath a crumbling wall. A wise man does not fall into an overturned nest."

"I know well Master's methods and his terror. If he chose this moment, he has long since prepared everything."

"Moreover, Master never leaves a loose end. Every step carries intent. If I meddle rashly, he will have counters ready—and disrupt the entire layout, adding unpredictable variables."

Here, Su Jing's lips curled into a faint smile.

"A gentleman does not save. A sage acts without hesitation. But I, Su Jing, am neither gentleman nor sage."

"It's far wiser to be the fisherman than the heron or the clam."

Su Jing gazed out the window at the scene now as bright as day.

It lasted only a few instants.

Like fireworks soaring into the sky, it slowly faded.

The night sky remained as it had been.

A single moon still hung high on the horizon.

A few faint white clouds drifted overhead.

The grand spectacle had vanished as if it had never been—a fleeting illusion.

Third Master's eyes held a faint glow as he stared at the night sky above Bianjing.

Above it lay a layer of blue glazed tile, like a roof.

Ordinary people could not perceive it.

"Is this the Divine Shock Array Master obtained during his quest for immortals in the Eastern Sea?"

Su Jing, upon seeing it, also grew solemn.

The revelry of the Gathering of Beauties was winding down; lanterns dimmed, leaving only one final, most dazzling anticipation unfulfilled—the arrival of Su Shishi, the flower queen who reigned supreme in Bianjing and stirred the realm.

The beaded curtain trembled!

The eunuch supervisor whispered, "Master Su, today's competition among beauties has concluded—the top nine flower queens are decided. A seat has been reserved for Lady Su."

As he spoke—

A soft rustle, and a delicate scroll slipped through the curtain's gap, landing gently on the desk.

"This scroll records each flower queen's opening verse, the number of hairpins awarded, and the hairpins cast by Academy members and the Nine Surnames."

"Master Su, please designate the top ten rankings for today's Flower Queen Scroll."

Su Jing took the scroll, scanned it—the top nine flower queens each had over a million hairpins; the competition was fierce.

Two stood far above the rest: Gong Sun Niang of Zixiao Pavilion, and Ni Huang of Yuehua Pavilion.

Two others had slightly more than the rest, yet still far behind:

Hu Yunniang of Yuehua Pavilion.

Yun Wan of Yuehua Pavilion.

The hairpin counts were out, but the final decision rested with Master Su.

Su Jing glanced at the numbers, nodded in satisfaction.

The silver and gold raised for flood relief in Jiangnan had far exceeded expectations.

"It seems the Nine Surnames and Bianjing's officials and merchants have emptied their treasuries—and still, they understand the times, helping the state bear its burdens."

The Gathering of Beauties, ostensibly for flood relief, had always carried Master Su's intent.

It merely wore the guise of flower queens.

If any of the Nine Surnames had failed to contribute enough silver, Su Jing would have visited their gates tomorrow.

Su Jing's gaze drifted slowly over the opening verses of the nine flower queens, finally settling on the entry for "Ni Huang."

He lifted his head, eyes holding a knowing smile as he turned to Third Master. "I hear Ni Huang was once your beloved. She once lit incense for you, brushed your sleeves—true?"

Third Master said nothing, as if he hadn't heard.

Su Jing picked up the cinnabar brush and drew a bold "2" beneath Ni Huang's name, crimson as blood.

His tone was leisurely. "Of course I'll honor your face. If you'd only ask, I'd even give you the top spot."

With that—

His gaze turned to the other flower queens' verses, finally resting on Gong Sun Niang's entry.

The later verses were sharp, resonant, brimming with boldness:

"Throughout my life, my heart burns for others… Who understands this hero's breast? When the hero's path ends, he is ground down. In this dusty world, where can I find a kindred soul?"

Su Jing murmured the lines, a flicker of admiration in his eyes. "If Second Brother were here, he'd rejoice at this verse. And this Gong Sun Niang, famed for her sword dance, suits Second Brother's temperament well."

He lifted the cinnabar brush and wrote a "3" beside Gong Sun Niang's name.

Su Jing's gaze continued drifting among the flower queens' verses, finally pausing on those of Yun Wan and Hu Yunniang.

Yun Wan's poem was tender, lingering: "Leaning on the high tower, the wind is fine… Gazing far, spring sorrow darkens the horizon… My belt grows loose, yet I never repent—I waste away for you."

Each word dripped with devotion, as if it could shatter the heart.

Hu Yunniang's "Water Dragon Roar" was grand and sweeping: "The Chu sky stretches a thousand li in autumn clear, water merges with the sky, autumn endless… I gaze at my wu hook, beat the railing till my hands ache—no one understands my ascent… Who will call for red silk sleeves, green ribbons, to wipe the hero's tears?"

The poem wove heroism with solitude, lamenting talent unappreciated, fate unkind—evoking deep sorrow.

Su Jing savored it, murmuring, "I prefer this 'Water Dragon Roar.' 'I gaze at my wu hook, beat the railing till my hands ache—no one understands my ascent'—that's the finest part."

Su Jing savored it quietly and said, "I still prefer this 'Shuilongyin.' 'I've gazed upon my wu hook, pounded the railings, yet no one understands my ascent and longing'—that's the most brilliant part."

Third Master paused, then spoke: "Neither is superior. Both come from the same hand. Victory lies only in personal taste."

He paused again, his gaze lingering on Yun Wan's verse, his tone softening slightly: "I favor this line: 'My belt grows loose, yet I never repent—I waste away for you.'"

Su Jing's lips curved, a smile of understanding.

"Then let your preference decide."

Su Jing lifted the cinnabar brush, traced a "4" beneath Yun Wan's name, and wrote a "5" after Hu Yunniang's.

For the remaining flower queens, he had no patience for detail, assigning rankings at random.

Finally, his gaze settled on "Su Shishi." His brush paused, then firmly wrote "1."

The flower queen rankings were set. Su Jing handed the scroll to the eunuch supervisor, signaling him to announce the results.

Third Master caught sight of Su Shishi's name, frowned slightly, as if recalling something, and said coolly:

"The former princess of Da Sui—you keep her in the western pavilion? That doesn't suit your nature."

"According to your logic, shouldn't I have long ago summoned the Nine Surnames, like breeders pairing livestock in a dungeon, to make this former princess bear generations of dragon heirs, locking Da Sui's dragon fortune deep within Da Qi's imperial palace?"

Su Shishi, as the former princess of Da Sui, carried the dragon fortune of Da Sui. If she bore children in Da Qi, she could indeed shatter Da Sui's foundations across generations.

Su Jing shook his head, his voice rare with gentleness: "Shishi looks too much like A Mian. Every time I see her, I can't bring myself to use her as a pawn. Better to raise her as a child—this, perhaps, is the one good deed left to me, Su Jing, after all the evil I've done."

A Mian, in Su Jing's words, was his wife. When he still lived in a poor alley, struggling to feed himself with chess, she had followed him.

The Awan mentioned by Su Jing was his wedded wife, who had followed him through life when he still played chess in back alleys and struggled to feed them.

They loved each other deeply.

Though she had entered cultivation with his help, without breaking through to Primordial Spirit, she could not live beyond two hundred years.

Su Jing never remarried after her death.

Third Master listened, fell silent, and said nothing more.

At that moment—

A light footstep echoed below.

A eunuch in python robe stepped forward, bowed before the beaded curtain, and whispered:

"Master Su, Third Master—Xie Hong requests an audience."

Su Jing's eyes flickered with understanding. He waved his hand.

"Let him come up."

A man stepped slowly onto the floor, his steps steady.

The old eunuch showed no disrespect to Xie Hong—he gently parted the beaded curtain and bowed to let him pass, whispering:

The eunuch dared not show the slightest neglect toward Xie Hong; he gently parted the pearl curtain, bowed to make way, and whispered:

"Mr. Hong, please."

Immediately, he bowed his head and withdrew carefully, daring not to glance again.

Su Jing's gaze turned to the door, where a middle-aged man walked slowly forward.

He was slender, clad in a flowing, simple robe, his feet shod in plain cloth shoes, exuding an air of calm composure.

Among his black locks streaks of white hair threaded through; though his face still bore traces of his former elegance, it now carried a deeper weariness.

His expression was dim, his eyes lacking their former luster, appearing weary.

Su Jing smiled faintly, his tone marked by familiarity.

"Chongshan, you've been back from Qingliang Temple for over a month—why haven't you come by to pay your respects?"

Xie Hong, courtesy name Chongshan.

Hearing this, Xie Hong paused slightly, then straightened his robes and bowed deeply to Third Master and Su Jing, his voice steady.

"Greetings, Third Master. Fourth Master."

When Third Master and Su Jing were famed throughout the land, Xie Hong was still a greenhorn just stepping into the world.

Third Master was usually stern, but now he looked at Xie Hong with a rare softness in his eyes:

"Second Master often speaks of you. When you have time, visit him at the Academy."

Xie Hong and Second Master were an unlikely pair of close friends—a tale long celebrated in Bianjing.

His status within the Academy was extraordinary; once, Second Master had even intended to take him as a disciple in the Master's stead, making him the Academy's Fifth Master.

Upon hearing this, Xie Hong's eyes flickered with a barely perceptible pain, but it vanished instantly, his expression returning to normal.

Su Jing's gaze settled on Xie Hong, probing.

"Chongshan, what brought you to the fourth floor?"

Before the words had fully left his mouth!

Xie Hong dropped to his knees with a dull thud.

His posture bent like a broken sword, yet his spine remained rigidly straight:

"Xie Hong has come to beg for forgiveness!"

Su Jing's fingertip lightly touched the cold tabletop, his voice expressionless. "What crime?"

"Xie Hong conspired with the Heavenly Master of the Great Sui's Three True Teachings, inciting the demons of Ze Lake to infiltrate the Qunfang Banquet."

Xie Hong's voice rang clear: "Xie Hong is sorry to the Academy—and sorry to Da Qi."

Su Jing asked, "Is what you say truly so?"

Xie Hong lowered his head. "Every word is true. I dare not conceal anything."

Su Jing's expression was unreadable. "Then why come forward to confess yourself?"

Yu Ke watched as the great array on the horizon unfolded—its brilliance lasted but an instant.

Night fell once more.

A full moon hung in the sky.

The mist by the river once again wrapped around them.

In an instant!

Yu Ke felt as if a tidal wave had surged toward him, his body growing drowsy, as if drawn away by the current.

His memories grew hazy.

He forgot whether he was Yu Ke, or Lu Chen, or perhaps… Xie Guan.

The great cauldron in his heart-sea rang out with a deep hum, a divine essence flowing through his entire body.

The discomfort slowly faded.

Yet Yu Ke clearly sensed that after having personally participated, the invisible connection allowing him to end the participation at will had vanished entirely.

The radiant light of the great array on the horizon flickered like a Tanhua —gone in an instant.

Night returned.

A solitary full moon hung high, its cold light spilling onto the river, mingling with the drifting mist.

It enveloped Yu Ke and the Master.

Yu Ke felt an invisible tide sweeping over him, his consciousness dragged into the deep sea, rising and falling with the waves.

His memories blurred—he forgot who he was: Was he Yu Ke? Lu Chen?

Or Xie Guan?

Just as his awareness teetered on the brink of sinking, the great cauldron in his heart-sea suddenly rang—a deep, resonant sound like a bronze bell, clearing his spiritual mind.

A mysterious divine essence surged from the cauldron, flowing through his body, dispelling the drowsy force.

Yu Ke slowly opened his eyes, regaining clarity, his brow slightly furrowed.

It seemed the Bianjing Divine Shock Array still affected him.

No wonder the Master was so confident—this array was one of his chief supports. But how had he learned it?

He clearly perceived that after this 【personal participation】, the sense of control allowing him to withdraw at will had vanished completely.

Now, he felt bound by invisible chains, unable to decide to 【end personal participation】 by will alone.

The Master stood still, the moonlight stretching his hunched figure into a long shadow.

He slowly raised his gaze, a flash of sharp brilliance in his eyes:

"Now that the Divine Shock Array is open, you can no longer escape."

"Can you leave now?"

Yu Ke felt invisible restraints around him—as if countless threads bound him tightly to this world.

He nodded calmly. "Indeed, I cannot leave."

Dong Chen wore a mocking smile.

"How does it feel, O exalted one, to be outwitted by mortals?"

(End of Chapter)