Chapter 2014: Begging to Lose
After the Emissary Vigilant left, Xing Yuan looked at Zhang Ruochen with a cold light flashing in his eyes.
“Zhang Ruochen, you are lucky this time. But you must know that you won’t be lucky all the time. Waiting until you get the wrath of some big guys!”
Xing Yuan boarded the battleship that he had come in after saying that.
Immediately afterward, all the other powerhouses of the Heavenly Realm faction boarded the battleship, their faces sour.
They had mobilized so many men this time to attack Shengming City and Peacock Manor. Their men had been wiped on the Shengming City’s side, while they had failed to get any advantage here in the Peacock Manor. Not only that, even Shang Ziyan was killed by Zhang Ruochen.
When things had come to such a pass, they would become a laughing stock of others
Zhang Ruochen and others did not stop them when the Heavenly Realm people left in the battleship.
Doing anything now was tantamount to challenge the Emissary Vigilant’s authority, which was the last thing they wanted.
Zhang Ruochen looked grave. After killing Shang Ziyan and several leaders of the macroworld, he had made the world his enemy. More trouble would await him from now on.
He figured he must make himself stronger to deal with these troubles.
Like Xing Yuan said, he could not be lucky every time. He was the only person who could help himself and did not expect anyone to intervene on his behalf.
“What are you thinking about, Zhang Ruochen? That beauty over there is leaving.” Blackie suddenly spoken while Zhang Ruochen was still deep in thought.
Zhang Ruochen turned his head and just in time to see Fairy Tianchu leaving with Butcher and Dumbo.
At this time, the three of them had flown a far distance away.
He hesitated for a while and only then performed a Dimensional Shift to catch up with Fairy Tianchu, coming in front of her to stop them.
“Are you leaving?” Zhang Ruochen looked at Fairy Tianchu and asked softly.
She reached out to swipe her hair that was dangling on her forehead without any expressions on her face. “Yeah. There must be someone to guard Luoshui.”
“Thanks a lot this time.” Zhang Ruochen smiled.
Fairy Tianchu had come all the way from Luoshui in the Eastern Region, having no qualms to make the Heavenly Realm faction her enemy. This had really touched Zhang Ruochen’s heart. At the same time, he also wondered how Fairy Tianchu felt about him.
The situation was so dangerous this time that Fairy Tianchu had risked her life to help him. Was it just to repay his favor? Or did it mean that there were other emotions involved?
Zhang Ruochen took out a brocade box after some hesitation and handed it to Fairy Tianchu. “Take this. It is a Spring of Life. I reckon it might be useful to you.”
Tianchu Fairy reached to take the brocade box and opened it. It was an exquisite jade necklace, shaped like a winding Celestial River and dotted with dozens of stars.
Tianchu Fairy frowned when she saw the necklace and then she let out a faint smile. “This is the Spring of Life?”
Zhang Ruochen quickly explained, “This is actually a dimensional treasure. The pendant of the necklace contains a massive dimension, inside which contains the Spring of Life.”
Fairy Tianchu had a faint smile on her face. “Thank you. I have something here too, which I reckon you will find it useful.”
While speaking, she took out a lustrous jade and gave it to Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen was taken aback for a moment, and then reached to take the jade from her.
As he was doing that, his hand inadvertently touched hers. A strange feeling cropped up in his heart.
It was not until Fairy Tianchu pulled back her hand that he came to his senses and looked embarrassed.
But deep inside, he was recalling the wonderful feeling of that physical touch just now.
“I should go now,” Tianchu Fairy said softly.
Zhang Ruochen looked up and his eyes met hers. Just as he was about to say something, Fairy Tianchu had already left in a rainbow.
“See you around, Brother Zhang,.”
Butcher and Dumbo cupper their hands at him before leaving to catch up with Fairy Tianchu.
Zhang Ruochen turned around and watched her leaving. He clenched the jade stone given by her in his hand, the corners of his mouth curling up in a smile.
It was not until Fairy Tianchu had gone out of sight that he returned to Kong Lanyou and the others.
“We should also go now, Zhang Ruochen.”
The Nine-heavens Maiden spoke, but what came out of her mouth was Divine Scripture Maiden’s voice.
He looked at the Nine-heavens Maiden, Qing Xiao, and Bu Qianfan. “Why are you all leaving in such a
“The royal court’s war is ongoing. How can we be at ease?” said the Nine-heavens Maiden.
Facing the relentless attack of the Infernal Court, the royal court had overstretched itself. No one in the royal court already stretched, but no one in the royal court felt at ease.
This time, if it were not for the consent of the Blood Dripper’s sword spirit, the Nine-heavens Maiden, Qing Xiao, and Bu Qianfan would not have come to help Zhang Ruochen.
Qing Xiao nodded. “Yeah, there are many things to do in the royal. We can’t stay here for too long. We are relieved that you are safe, Sixth Brother.”
“Come over here, Han Xue. Meet the fellow of your master.” Zhang Ruochen beckoned Han Xue.
Han Xue hurried over and bowed to Qing Xiao. “Nice to meet you, Master Qing.”
“Be at ease. Sixth Brother, you not only are power but also have got yourself a talented student. Your master really has a keen eye.” Qing Xiao let out a smile.
“I have taken Han Xue as a student, yet I haven’t taught her anything. She has been with Master all this time,” said Zhang Ruochen.
“Is that old man alright?” Qing Xiao asked quickly.
Since the first battle between Sword Saint Xuanji and Sword Saint Jiuyou, Qing Xiao had never seen Sword Saint Xuanji again. He knew that Zhang Ruochen had rescured Sword Saint Xuanji, but he did not know Sword Saint Xuanji had been doing.
“Don’t worry, Master, everything is well. But there are still something needs to be done. So he can’t return just yet,” said Han Xue.
Qing Xiao nodded upon hearing that. As long as Sword Saint Xuanji was fine, he would have nothing to worry about.
Zhang Ruochen suddenly looked over at the Nine-heavens Maiden. “I have one thing that need your favor.”
“I am all ears.”
Zhang Ruochen waved his hand, and saint Qi emerged to form a chess table.
On the chess table was a special game in which blacks and whites intersected.
This chess game was exactly the one that Zhang Ruochen had recorded from Yao Chi, and it was played by Emperor Ming and Emperor Qing.
In Zhang Ruochen’s point of view, the chess strategies of Emperor Ming and Qing were strange. But he could not tell what it was.
Zhang Ruochen knew that the Divine Scripture Maiden had extremely high attainments in all aspects of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and might be able to see the secrets hidden in the chess game.
“Could you please help me take a look at this chess game and see what is hidden behind it.” Zhang Ruochen said with a serious expression.
This game of chess may be related to the secret of Emperor Ming’s disappearance, so he had to take it seriously.
In fact, before Zhang Ruochen spoke, the Divine Scripture Maiden had already cast her gaze on the chess board and studied it carefully.
“The play of this game is indeed strange. Both sides do not want to win but lose. That is why their strategies are so different from what normal people would play. The fact that they could play the game this way shows the two players extraordinary,” said the Nine-heavens Maiden.
Zhang Ruochen’s heart skipped a beat. “How could this be?”
He had seen Emperor Ming and Qing play three times with his own eyes, and each time they both played anxiously. At first, he thought both of them were eager to win and so they looked so tensed up.
But now it seemed that this was not the case. Emperor Ming and Qing looked anxious as they both wanted to lose. They both wanted the other to win.
Emperor Ming should have won this game in a sense, as he was begging to lose.
Just that Zhang Ruochen still could not figure out why Emperor Ming and Qing wanted to do this. Why did they do what they did?
Did Emperor Ming’s disappearance have something to do with his success in seeking defeat?
There were more questions than answers in Zhang Ruochen’s mind now. He did not know who to turn to for answers.
Apparently, no matter how smart the Divine Scripture Maiden was, she could only interpret the chess strategies, but not the intention of the players.
“Are you alright?” asked the Nine-heavens Maiden.
Zhang Ruochen came out of his daze. “I am fine. Just that something came to mind. Thank you for helping me solve this mystery; it has troubled me for a long time.”
While speaking, Zhang Ruochen waved to close the chess board.
“Think nothing of it. We have got to rush back to the Central Imperial City. Take care of yourself. The Celestial Realm faction has suffered a big loss this time. I’m afraid they won’t let you off just like that,” said the Nine-heavens Maiden.
“I know, and I will be careful. You all, too, take care. Inform me if anything,” said Zhang Ruochen.
The Nine-heavens Maiden nodded and then ascended to heaven like a goddess.
“Take care, Sixth Brother.”
“Take care.”
Qing Xiao and Bu Qianfan cupped their hands to say their goodbye before leaving with the Nine-heavens Maiden.