Chapter 280: Qingqing (Gentle Limited Edition)

"Woof?"

The sound was soft and thin; one listen and you knew it wasn't a dog.

The white cat raised its head, a few crumbs of egg yolk still stuck to the side of its mouth, staring straight at him, then tilted its head slightly.

"It's fine."

Chen Shu said to it: "Eat up."

"Woo-wah?"

"Eat!"

"An~"

The white cat glanced at him, then lowered its head to continue eating.

Chen Shu checked the Ancient Cultivation Group; there was no activity, so he continued picking up a steamed bun and eating it slowly.

Ten-odd minutes later.

Chen Shu carried Taozi into the Vice Sect Master's small courtyard.

The chirping of mountain birds became clear.

On the stone table, two figures sat facing each other, each brewing a pot of tea; a chessboard grid was carved into the table, with black and white pieces dotted among them.

Chen Shu was somewhat surprised, but still walked in: "Sect Master, Vice Sect Master, Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year."

"Happy, happy, come over here."

Chen Shu put Taozi down, letting it run around the courtyard, then walked over honestly and glanced at the Sect Master.

Usually, the Sect Master is quite a homebody.

At this moment, the Vice Sect Master tilted his head and asked:

"Do you know how to play?"

"I only know how to play Chinese chess."

"How is your Chinese chess?"

"Not very good." Chen Shu paused, "When playing with people around me, I've basically never won."

"Then it is indeed not very good." The Vice Sect Master picked up a piece to play against his own master, and said to him at the same time, "This game will be over soon."

"Okay."

Chen Shu didn't leave; instead, he sat down to watch.

Go is an intellectual game; those who play well must have high intelligence, but those who don't play well aren't necessarily inferior—it still depends on proficiency.

Judging by their expressions, the Vice Sect Master had the upper hand.

The two drank tea and occasionally placed a few pieces.

At the same time, they kept chatting.

From their conversation, he heard that urgent news had been sent back from Puluo last night, and the Emperor had summoned the Sword King to the Capital overnight.

The Sword Light traveled over a thousand kilometers, arriving at the Capital in just over a quarter of an hour.

The kidnapping of a direct descendant of the Imperial Family would be a major event in ancient times, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that an army would be pressing on the border.

It is also a major event in the present.

It's just that the era is different after all; procedurally speaking, the Imperial Family can no longer mobilize the army. It's not that the army can't go to rescue the Lord of the County, but that they must follow formal procedures. And this is even more complicated than the disappearance of an ordinary officer; if it were an ordinary officer, the Yiguo army could even mobilize powerful forces for a rescue just for propaganda purposes, but the Yiguo Imperial Family has always upheld the philosophy of "diluting privilege," unwilling to let the public think that members of the Imperial Family are still above the common people.

Now the Imperial Family is in a period of weakness.

Previously, the Imperial Family had two Ninth Stage cultivators, but now only one remains, and they were injured a year ago; the new Emperor is only at the Eighth Stage, with a foundation vastly different from the Former Emperor, so the only one who can be mobilized at will is the Sword King.

The Wang Court has been loyal to the Imperial Family for generations.

The Vice Sect Master picked up a piece from the table and glanced at Chen Shu from the corner of his eye: "Do you know that kid?"

"Quite well."

Chen Shu was very grateful to the Vice Sect Master in his heart; this was actually giving him a chance to interject and ask about the questions he cared about, but he didn't ask sensitive questions like why Cao Ci kidnapped the Lord of the County, nor did he even use an interrogative tone. Instead, after a pause, he said with a tone bordering on lament: "I wonder if my friend will be able to return safely after this ordeal..."

The Vice Sect Master couldn't help but smile.

Chen Shu knew what he was smiling at; he was smiling at him for being too reserved, but Chen Shu just pretended not to understand.

The Sect Master pinched a piece, frowned in thought, looked up at him, and comforted him: "Don't worry. Although Cao Ci has reached this point, he was, after all, an old acquaintance of the Former Emperor, so he wouldn't do something like killing the Former Emperor's descendant for no reason. Besides, killing a direct heir to the throne has already touched the bottom line; he isn't that stupid."

"Many thanks, Sect Master."

Chen Shu felt slightly relieved.

Moreover, seeing the attitude of the two big shots gave him the feeling that they were neither surprised nor worried.

"Haven't figured it out yet, Master?"

"Sigh..."

The Sect Master messed up the chessboard and admitted defeat in frustration.

The Vice Sect Master smiled slightly, gestured with his hand, and all the pieces flew up and landed back into their respective bowls, then he said to the Sect Master: "Master, please go back. I still need to exchange insights on spiritual bodies with this little friend; we shall battle again in the future."

"Very well."

The Sect Master stood up and left quietly.

Chen Shu found their interaction very interesting.

Perhaps because the distance between them had been worn away by two or three hundred years of time, they no longer acted like master and disciple in private, but more like peers. Come to think of it, let alone a master and disciple of two or three hundred years, even a father and son of one hundred and eighty years can often converse as equals.

They were nothing more than two old people.

While putting away the teacups, the Vice Sect Master said to Chen Shu: "His personality is very straightforward; I was the one who taught him how to play chess, so I can always see through his thoughts.

"When you talk to him, don't be so formal. He spends his days researching Spells; he has no airs, nor does he like beating around the bush... Besides, he doesn't have many years left to live. You are young, what are you afraid of him for?"

The first half of the sentence was fine, but the second half truly left Chen Shu not knowing how to respond.

"Last night, I already connected my Spirit Sea to the outside world, but it only lasted for two seconds, and the connection was very unstable; I couldn't project any Spirit Power, nor could I manifest the appearance of a spirit body. And that was the only time; I haven't been able to succeed since."

"No rush. It's the New Year, come, let me teach you how to play chess."

The Vice Sect Master set up the chess bowls again.

Chen Shu then sat down opposite him.

"Woof~"

Taozi had returned to his feet at some point.

The Vice Sect Master lowered his head and glanced at it: "Is this one yours?"

"More or less."

"A spirit cat?"

"How did you tell?"

"The Spirit Power on its body is very unique, like a demon from Dongzhou." The Vice Sect Master paused, lowered his head to meet Taozi's gaze, his expression gentle, "I used to keep a spirit cat too. Their eyes and behavior are very different from normal cats; anyone who has kept one can tell at a glance."

"What happened to that spirit cat?"

"It underwent Transformation. It stayed on this mountain for too long, so it transformed naturally," the Vice Sect Master said. "Then it was sent to Dongzhou."

"Sent away?"

Chen Shu was somewhat surprised.

Although Dongzhou and various countries have extradition treaties, given the Vice Sect Master's status and position, it would have been very easy to keep a small demon.

Even following standard procedures, it would be easy; one would only need to send it to Dongzhou, obtain a legal identity, and then let it go abroad to study. As long as it was willing, the paperwork would be simple. After all, Dongzhou demon citizens rarely go abroad, but it is not forbidden.

The Vice Sect Master saw his confusion and smiled: "This is the same as with children. When they grow up, some are willing to stay by their parents' side, so they stay; others hope to have their own world, so let them go out and explore."

"I see."

"Woof~"

Taozi jumped onto Chen Shu's lap, its hind feet stepping on his legs, its two front paws gripping the stone table, its eyes round as it peered at the chessboard.

"This cat's bark is quite interesting."

"Many cats bark like this." Chen Shu smiled, rubbing Taozi's head.

"The cat I had before didn't meow either."

"How did it bark?"

"It went 'ah-ah'."

"It can bark like that too." Chen Shu looked down at Taozi, "Come on, say 'ah'."

"Ah~"

"Again, say 'meh'."

"Meh!"

The Vice Sect Master watched from the side, smiling. Once Chen Shu finished teasing the cat, he pointed to the chessboard and said to him: "Look, nineteen horizontal lines and nineteen vertical lines form three hundred and sixty-one intersections. This is a Go board. The black and white sides take turns placing stones..."

One person and one cat listened attentively.

One understood quickly, and one pretended to understand quickly.

At night.

Chen Shu finished his shower, lay on the bed, his left arm holding Taozi, his right hand opening the Ancient Cultivation Group.

As expected, everyone had already discussed the news of the group owner's disappearance during the day. Everyone was very worried, but they truly couldn't help. The gap between a Top Ninth-tier and a Fifth or Sixth Stage is as vast as that between a human and an aphid. In the end, it was Zhang Suannai who asked the Sword Master, which finally set everyone's minds at ease.

From this, one can also see that the styles of the major sects are different.

The relationship between Zhang Suannai and the Sword Master is like an unserious grandfather and a spoiled little granddaughter, while the Spirit Sect Sect Master is more like a university president or the chairman of a giant corporation. As for the Gate of All Wonders, the Dao Head is more like a traditional master of a sect, the kind one must look up to with awe. The Buddhist Sect's Tribulation-Transcending Bodhisattva adds a layer of religious faith, having already stood at the edge of the God Altar; even seeing him amidst the green lamps and ancient Buddhas is difficult.

May the group owner be safe and sound.

May the country eradicate Cao Ci soon.

Chen Shu turned off his Mobile Phone, lay down, and turned his head to face Taozi: "Say goodnight to me."

"Woof!"

"So blunt? You're scolding me, aren't you?"

"Woof~"

"Careful, or I'll sell you."

"Meh~"

"Heh..."

Chen Shu revealed a faint smile.

This little thing is also interesting—

Usually, when Qingqing is around, it shows him nothing but disdain and refuses to stay by his side for even a moment, but when Qingqing is away, it becomes very clingy to Chen Shu. Chen Shu's priority is even higher than the little girl's; only when both he and Qingqing are away will it go look for the little girl.

"Are you enduring humiliation by my side every day, putting on a show, afraid I'll lose you, all just to go back and see Qingqing?"

"Woof?"

"Fine, you aren't. Goodnight."

"Night~"

Chen Shu turned off the light, and Taozi also closed its eyes beside him.

When there was a fluffy, cute little thing beside him that trusted him completely, Chen Shu felt inexplicably at ease. He didn't even have many distracting thoughts, nor did he dwell on those troublesome matters, and he quickly sank into a deep sleep.

Continuous sunny days below the mountain.

The rapeseed flowers were turning yellower by the day, but they were still missing something.

After two days of overcast rain, the earth was nourished, and when the sun came out again, it felt as if in just a single day, the blooming rapeseed flowers had connected into a vast expanse.

Chen Shu brought Qingqing, Xiaoxiao, and Chen Banxia over, which counted as their winter vacation trip.

Because the weather had turned warm, on the day she arrived, Qingqing wore a light pink shirt, a very gentle and intellectual color; it seemed to be newly bought, as he had never seen her wear it before, and paired with simple jeans, the spring scenery became a few shades brighter.

Taozi yelped and ran toward her.

Qingqing crouched down, picked her up, and with a smile on her lips, turned her head to ask Chen Shu with a laugh, "Have you been treating her badly?"

Chen Shu stared at her blankly.

Taozi also seemed to sense that something was wrong; her expression suddenly froze, and she stared blankly at her owner.

At this moment, Ning Qing was radiating gentleness and sweetness from head to toe; her former coldness seemed to have melted away along with this spring, and beneath the ice and snow lay an infinite tenderness, all hidden within her brows and eyes that carried a hint of Joy.

Chen Shu looked at Chen Banxia and Xiaoxiao again.

Both of them had numb expressions.