Free Web NovelChapter 336: Chapter 65: A Long-Awaited Friends’ Gathering
The Mountain Peak Dojo.
Beneath a centennial Spirit Wood tree, Wang Ping and Guangxuan sat facing each other across a stone table. The game of Go between them had reached its middle phase. Guangxuan was slightly outmatched, but his competitive spirit was strong, and he furrowed his brow as he contemplated a counter-strategy.
Wenhai stood to the side, pouring wine for them and occasionally exchanging a few words with Wang Ping. Yu Lian darted about, one moment hanging from a branch of the Spirit Wood behind Wang Ping, the next perched on his shoulder, seeming even more anxious about the game than he was.
CLICK. Wang Ping placed a stone, then glanced casually at Wenhai. "Have you been to see Fellow Daoist Zi Luan?"
"I have, Daoist," Wenhai replied truthfully.
Wang Ping nodded, raised his wine cup, and asked, "And what are your plans for the future?"
"Daoist Zi Luan instructed me to follow all of your arrangements."
Wenhai cupped his fist in a salute.
His promotion was entirely due to help from Wang Ping and Zi Luan, which was tantamount to him selling his life to them. From now on, his fate would be tied to theirs, and he would also be obligated to help the Pingdong Sect.
Just as Wang Ping was about to speak, Guangxuan placed a stone with a CLICK, drawing Wang Ping’s attention back to the board. He glanced at the new stone and, with a smile, continued speaking to Wenhai. "I have two options for you. First, you can continue working at the Daoist Scripture Hall. Xuanhe Daoist seems to be up to no good lately; his people have been very active along Mozhou Road."
"Second, you can go to the Northwest. They’re desperately short on people there, so you’ll have a grand stage to realize your ambitions. You might even find an opportunity to break through to the Third Realm."
’The choice should be simple.’ Wang Ping definitely wanted Wenhai to go to the Northwest; Zhang Xinghuai had written to him multiple times about his lack of capable people. However, Wang Ping also knew that Xuanhe Daoist was Wenhai’s Heart Demon, which was why he had presented it as a choice.
"I wish to continue my work at the Daoist Scripture Hall. I ask for your approval, Daoist!"
Wenhai bowed deeply and solemnly.
Wang Ping looked slightly disappointed, but then nodded. "Very well. You should know He Jiu of Mozhou Road. Go and find him. There is also Daoist Li Lin. From now on, they will both work under you."
As he spoke, he tossed a token to Wenhai. It was a command token for the investigation department of the Daoist Scripture Hall.
"Thank you for granting my request, Daoist!"
Wenhai bowed in gratitude once more.
Wang Ping waved his hand. "Go on, then. Get to your work."
"Yes!"
Wenhai bowed and took his leave.
Yu Lian watched his retreating figure and commented, "He seems very excited."
Guangxuan followed her gaze and chuckled. "Whether a person lives for a few decades, a few centuries, or a few millennia, there are always things they can’t let go of. And hatred... that is an obsession no one can ever truly escape."
Wang Ping gently placed a stone and drained his cup of fine wine. Yu Lian cleverly rose on a small cloud, levitated the wine jug, and refilled his cup. "How pitiful for him, then," she responded.
"Perhaps he revels in it?" Guangxuan countered.
As Guangxuan spoke, he frowned, but his expression was for the Go board. Just then, his Spirit Bird descended from the sky and landed on his shoulder. It had a carp in its beak, which it swallowed before tilting its head to look at Yu Lian.
Whether she was annoyed by Guangxuan’s contrarian remark or the Spirit Bird’s stare, Yu Lian huffed, "What are you still playing for? Just concede!"
Guangxuan chuckled. "Even a dying man struggles for a final breath. Besides, this game is far from over for me."
"That’s right," Wang Ping chimed in. "A hopeless position is always more interesting when you fight back."
But a hopeless position was still a hopeless position. Half an hour later, Guangxuan conceded. As the two began to count the stones, Yu Lian flew off with the Spirit Bird toward Shen Xiaozhu’s Dao Field.
The second game began quickly, with Guangxuan playing black and taking the first move. Wang Ping gave him a two-point handicap, which Guangxuan did not refuse—his way of admitting that Wang Ping was the better player.
This time, the game was finally a bit more interesting for Wang Ping. By the middle phase, Guangxuan was no longer as tense as he had been in the previous game, and their conversation eventually drifted from Mozhou Road to the disciples of their respective sects.
"Is there really such a great opportunity in the Northwest?" Guangxuan asked, picking up on the earlier conversation between Wang Ping and Wenhai.
"It’s true. Our people in the Northwest are currently cooperating with the Imperial Family, so they’ve established a firm foothold. The support they’ve obtained is enough to train twenty Second Realm Cultivators."
"The Imperial Family? But in the future, they might..."
"Even if they are overthrown, their successors won’t be able to slaughter every last one of them, will they? In fact, it might be more beneficial for us if the Imperial Family is truly replaced. Once they’re shattered and scattered, some of them will have to rely on us. At the very least, they’ll become allies."
After painting this rosy picture, Wang Ping’s expression turned serious as he looked at Guangxuan. "But nothing in this world is guaranteed. All we can do is our best. No one can promise what the final outcome will be."
"I understand that."
Guangxuan placed a stone. "Once two of my disciples reach the next realm, I’ll have them take some members of the Inner Sect to the Northwest."
"Good," Wang Ping said, quickly placing a stone in response. He then brought up another matter. "Find a hidden spot beneath the network of waterways and caves in Sanhe Prefecture and build a dry, well-ventilated secret chamber. Remember, this location is extremely important. Not a word about it can get out."
"Oh?"
Guangxuan’s expression was puzzled. He needed more details, as the way Wang Ping spoke hinted that this task was something drastic and perhaps even ruthless.
Wang Ping then told Guangxuan about the communication device.
...
Guangxuan lost the second game to Wang Ping as well, this time by two and a half points.
They didn’t start a third game, instead turning their discussion to more serious matters. Finally, Guangxuan said, "I’ll organize a gathering within three months so we can all share intelligence. What do you think?"
"Sounds good."
Once Wang Ping agreed, Guangxuan transformed into a streak of light and shot toward the back of the mountain to pay a visit to Yu Cheng Taoist.
Wang Ping finished the wine on the stone table, then returned to his workshop to continue his research on constructs.
He was currently working on three constructs. The first was a request from Wu Quan from when they divided their loot. The second was for the Spirit Body of a Fire Cultivator. The third was a Corpse Soldier with above-average aptitude that he had selected, which he intended to modify so it could cultivate the Taiyan Talisman in preparation for his own breakthrough to the Fourth Realm.
The third construct was proving difficult. Among the Corpse Soldiers he had received, all the ones with above-average aptitude were severely damaged. They could be repaired, but it would take a very long time, and the process was incredibly complex.
Therefore, Wang Ping decided to work on repairing this Corpse Soldier while simultaneously building the construct Wu Quan had requested. He also needed to design new Golden Armor Soldiers, figure out how to repair the Fire Cultivator’s Spirit Body, and research new toxins.
He was so busy that he had to create a daily schedule for himself, which reminded him of cramming for exams during his school days.
Time trickled by, and soon it was autumn. There was still no reply from Xiao Shan Lord, but a message arrived from Guangxuan: the new gathering would be held on October twentieth.
「On the third day of October.」
Wang Ping’s progress in integrating the Heaven-Reaching Talisman suddenly jumped to (3/100).
That day, Wang Ping had finally decided to take a day off and go fishing at Baisui Lake. But at that very moment, he sensed a sudden, violent imbalance in the spiritual energy to the southwest, in the direction of Nanlin Road.
