Chapter 84: Helping Qi Zheng Wise Up
The expressions of the two brothers, Shang Jijiu and Shang Zhizhou, did not look very good. They exchanged a glance.
Two Go boards were placed before them, while Ruo Hong sat opposite with a smile on his face, waiting for them to place their stones.
One against two. In Go, this was called “facing two,” meaning one person played against two people at the same time, greatly increasing the difficulty.
But even under such circumstances, Shang Jijiu and Shang Zhizhou had still been forced into a dead end. The other party was even someone playing Go for the first time.
The stones in their hands simply would not fall, because once they placed them, they would lose.
That was the current situation. They were stuck in a stalemate. The two brothers did not quite want to admit defeat, but there seemed to be no way to turn things around.
Just then, a little head squeezed out from the crowd. It was Gu Bao’er. “Brother Bai asked me to pass on a message. Cloudtop Academy admits defeat in this game.”
With such a big commotion downstairs, how could Chen Bai possibly not know?
Qi Zheng found it somewhat strange. “You’re admitting defeat just like that?”
Chen Bai shrugged. “What else can we do? It has already become a dead game. Even an immortal couldn’t save it. Besides, this is the game Shang Jijiu and Shang Zhizhou set up themselves. If someone else helped them, it would lose the meaning of playing chess.”
“Moreover, this group of students has never experienced defeat before. Their spirits are so high that who knows where they’ve floated off to. They even look down a little on the disciples of the sages. Letting them know today what it means that there are always people beyond people and heavens beyond heavens is a good thing. It’s better than them meeting a losing game later and not knowing what to do, having their minds directly crushed.”
Downstairs, Gu Bao’er said to the dispirited students of Cloudtop Academy, “Brother Bai said failure is the mother of success. What Cloudtop Academy fears has never been failure. What we fear is continuous success without opponents, because that would make us lose our direction and goals. Failure isn’t scary. What matters most is standing up from failure, summarizing experience, and seeking success.”
What a bowl of motivational chicken soup. Chen Bai was also afraid these students would be left with some psychological shadow.
A group of people who had always succeeded would, in truth, hide a pride that no one else could see. Once they suffered a setback, that pride would receive a devastating blow. If it was not handled properly, perhaps they would sink into discouragement, especially children with particularly strong self-esteem. The impact on them would be enormous.
Gu Bao’er continued, “Brother Bai also said class time has already passed, yet you’re still loitering outside. Today, as punishment, you must clean the academy until it is spotless. Hurry back to class.”
At this moment, Ruo Hong suddenly said, “Wait.”
“When I played chess with you just now, my victory was somewhat unfair.”
The ones opposite him were merely a group of students, while he had already become famous throughout the world many years ago. It was like making a university professor compete with primary school students. Winning truly did not give him much sense of accomplishment.
Ruo Hong’s eyes shifted. “Just now, I heard that your academy has a chess expert named Computer. May I ask if this person can formally represent the academy and wager a game with me?”
A formal wager?
The students, who had originally been drooping their little heads, suddenly raised them. “Really?”
“Even Brother Bai can’t beat Computer.”
They had lost just now, and quite miserably at that. They felt as if they had disgraced the academy. Cloudtop Academy had a great reputation in Shangjing. Once this matter spread back to Shangjing, wouldn’t they have brought shame upon the academy? Others might say they were still young and so on, but a loss was a loss. No excuse could cover that fact. Others would only think Cloudtop Academy had lost to Ruo Hong, the former crown prince of Yan.
But now, Ruo Hong was actually going to challenge their academy’s computer?
Gu Bao’er had already run back into the academy on his little legs. When he came running down again, the crowd opened a path for him. From afar, they heard Gu Bao’er shout, “Accepted! Cloudtop Academy is willing to wager this game with Your Highness Ruo Hong.”
Ruo Hong smiled. “Since it is a wager, there must be stakes. How about this: if I win, let me enter Cloudtop Academy and take a look around.”
His eyes narrowed. “Let me tour freely, including… the areas of your academy that are forbidden to outsiders.”
The condition seemed simple, but Cloudtop Academy’s threshold was now very high. Even disciples of the sages could not enter.
Moreover, even if one entered, it was not fully open. It was said that several floors had special mechanisms installed, and only students of the academy could open them.
In everyone’s eyes, Cloudtop Academy was now like something covered by a veil, mysterious to the extreme.
The students froze as well. He was actually betting this?
Even though they were students of the academy, they had signed confidentiality agreements. Many things in the academy could not be explained to outsiders. Once they leaked the secrets within, Brother Bai had said it was very likely they would be expelled from the academy.
So even if they sometimes let something slip, they would immediately correct themselves. Outsiders might hear some specialized terms, but there was no way they would understand what they meant as long as the students stubbornly refused to explain.
Ruo Hong’s lips curved upward as he continued, “If I lose, I shall offer one thousand taels of gold, all of it.”
As soon as his voice fell, an uproar broke out.
One thousand taels of gold. Did they know what kind of number that was?
When Chen Bai first helped Qi Zheng raise a mountain of rabbits, it had only been three hundred taels of gold.
It had to be said, Yan was far too wealthy.
When Ruo Hong first arrived in Shangjing, he brought ten li of bridal gifts. Now he threw out a thousand gold without blinking. Truly…
And to use one thousand taels of gold merely to ask for a chance to tour the academy—if this news spread, it would probably shock the world.
If the shocking message spread by the direct disciple of the upper path of Guigu had only been widely circulated among the disciples of the sages, then once this news spread, it would probably truly shake the entire world.
“The former number one crown prince of the states throws out a thousand gold merely for a chance to enter Cloudtop Academy.”
One could imagine what the result would be after such news spread.
After Chen Bai and Qi Zheng received the news, both of them frowned.
Chen Bai said, “Why do I feel that Ruo Hong’s move carries some deeper meaning?”
Qi Zheng also frowned. “Ever since Ruo Hong withdrew from the position of crown prince of Yan back then, he has lived in seclusion and has never again involved himself in the affairs of the states. Is this wager intentional or unintentional?”
It was possible to call him extravagant and absurd. Once this news spread, people would probably only feel that Ruo Hong, the former crown prince of Yan, was thoroughly ruined. After all, no responsible crown prince would do something this absurd. Yan’s money was not blown in by the wind.
But it still felt as if there were another purpose behind it.
Chen Bai said, “He proposed the wager in front of so many disciples of the sages, and from any angle, it looks like the academy is taking a huge advantage. If the academy doesn’t agree even under such circumstances, the disciples of the sages may look down on Cloudtop Academy.”
Right now, Great Qian was using Cloudtop Academy to attract these disciples of the sages back into Great Qian. That sort of outcome was not something they wanted to see.
Qi Zheng said, “Are you confident?”
Chen Bai laughed. “Human strength has its limits.”
Unless he had already surpassed humanity, how could he possibly beat a computer?
This time, Chen Bai and Qi Zheng both went downstairs together and walked into the crowd.
Chen Bai looked toward Ruo Hong. This was the first time Chen Bai had seen the world-famous number one crown prince of the states from such a close distance. Judging purely from his appearance, he truly was talented and graceful, elegant as jade, a dragon among men. Standing beside Lan Ruoyun, who was like a secluded orchid in an empty valley, the two truly complemented each other.
For such a pair of jade-like people to exist in this world was perhaps the most beautiful thing in this chaotic era.
Chen Bai cupped his hands. “Since Your Highness Ruo Hong has such refined interest, how could the academy refuse? I am Chen Zixiu. While my master is away, all matters of the academy are temporarily handled by me.”
“Only, in this wager, the academy is gaining far too great an advantage. I’m afraid it is somewhat unfair…”
Before he could finish, Ruo Hong smiled and said, “Since these are the conditions I proposed myself, if I say it is worth it, then it is worth it. The threshold of Cloudtop Academy, which can keep the disciples of the sages outside its doors, seems to me worth even more than one thousand gold.”
The corner of Chen Bai’s mouth twitched. “Since that is the case, let the wager begin.”
Everyone thought that the person from Cloudtop Academy named Computer should now appear.
In the end…
The chessboard was set up, but across from Ruo Hong sat only empty air.
Chen Bai said, “Due to various inconveniences, we can only have the students relay the moves on behalf of the player.”
Everyone: “…”
What a strange game.
Ruo Hong also raised his head and looked at the tall tower before him. “A spiritual meeting across empty space. That is not bad either. Only, it is somewhat regrettable that I cannot see the player’s true appearance.”
In any case, his purpose had already been achieved.
The game began.
Gu Bao’er ran upstairs with his little face flushed. In the multifunctional computer classroom, he turned on a computer, set the computer AI to the highest level, and started the game.
At the beginning of a Go game, one had to guess who moved first.
Unexpectedly, the computer took the first move, though in Chen Bai’s eyes, who went first or second had no meaning at all in this game.
The students, however, were so excited they could hardly stand it. Originally, only one student was needed to run up and down to relay the moves, but these students simply could not stay still. They ran in a little train, and the ones behind even puffed up their cheeks in anger.
“Computer’s first move, Great Flying Dragon joseki opening…” The students’ voices trembled.
“…”
“Sixteen-fourteen, pincer!”
“…”
In truth, these were just terms for positions in Go. Most people probably did not understand them, but for some reason, listening to them gave people a feeling of surging excitement.
This game had actually been turned by a group of students into something like a battle of the century. Chen Bai found it rather amusing.
As for the spectators, they were somewhat affected by this atmosphere, their hearts both boiling and tense.
A game of chess could actually be played with such momentum?
Also, the words spoken by these students sounded quite pleasant, such as “Great Avalanche joseki” and “small knight’s approach at an angle”…
They sounded rather poetic.
Go had a history of thousands of years in ancient times. As early as the Southern Liang period, there had been chess officials specifically tasked with playing Go with emperors. The game had nurtured an unimaginable cultural depth within it.
Go also contained the principles of heaven and earth, the Daoist theory of black and white, and so on. Even if one exhausted an entire lifetime, one could perhaps only study one or two parts of it.
The people watching did not quite understand the content the students relayed, but those beautiful terms faintly allowed them to sense the hidden charm within.
Of course, all descriptions ultimately turned into a single stone placed on the board, and that much they could understand.
Some people began explaining the rules of Go to latecomers.
Gradually, more and more stones appeared on the board.
Ruo Hong, who had originally looked relaxed, slowly grew solemn. His speed of placing stones also became slower and slower.
Ruo Hong of Yan had displayed extraordinary talent from the moment he was born.
Back then, when he was young, he had been high-spirited and brilliant, contending with the states without ever suffering defeat. His intelligence had shocked the world, stirring the realm. At a young age, he had already been given the title of the number one crown prince among the states.
Because of him alone, the states had felt that Yan would overpower them all and rise above every other state.
One could imagine what kind of existence such a person had been at that time.
It was also because of him alone that the states formed a united front and reached a common understanding to attack Yan.
If not for some unexpected events later, when Ruo Hong was demoted, lost the position of crown prince, and sank into despair beyond redemption, the states’ alliance would not have ended without result. Otherwise, what the world would look like now was still uncertain…
Even though Ruo Hong had been dispirited for so many years, the moment he arrived in Great Qian and did something absurd like bringing ten li of bridal gifts to marry a man, did it not still draw everyone’s attention? Perhaps while everyone was laughing at Ruo Hong, in their hearts, there was also a kind of looking up at his former glory.
For a single person to still possess such influence even now—one could imagine how monstrous Ruo Hong had been back then.
Now, Ruo Hong’s expression gradually became serious. He slowly sank into the chess game.
And as Chen Bai looked at Ruo Hong’s appearance, his brows also slowly furrowed.
He glanced at the stones on the board. Even he could not have played this many moves against the computer. And this was Ruo Hong’s first time encountering Go.
A peerless man in this world was truly someone others could only chase after from far behind.
But…
Chen Bai suddenly lowered his voice and said to Qi Zheng beside him, “To play Go, aside from needing deep thought and the logical ability to calculate thousands of possibilities, one also needs an unwavering will and extraordinary perseverance. Like an old monk in meditation, one may go days without eating or drinking, unmoving even in the wind, like an ancient pine facing snow, standing proudly in the storm…”
Chen Bai’s gaze drifted toward Ruo Hong. “Do you think someone with a will as firm as an old monk’s would truly sink so deeply because of one person that the entire world was shocked?”
Qi Zheng’s eyes narrowed sharply. “You mean…”
Chen Bai did not confirm or deny it. “Look at Ruo Hong now. He is drawn into the chess game, so he is completely immersed in it, no longer disturbed by outside matters. That means the Ruo Hong right now is the truest version of himself. Do you think he looks anything like the absurd and unruly person he has shown himself to be since coming to Great Qian?”
“Or does he look anything like the Ruo Hong in the eyes of the world, the one who can never turn back?”
Qi Zheng narrowed his eyes. “…Perhaps some people really do lose their reason when facing love.”
Although he said that, Qi Zheng’s eyes had already narrowed dangerously, like a beast’s.
If… if the former number one crown prince of the states had never disappeared, then what?
Chen Bai, on the other hand, looked at Qi Zheng in surprise. He had not expected that such an icy-faced straight man like Qi Zheng would actually believe that someone could lose their reason because of love.
Chen Bai muttered, “There are indeed quite a lot of hopeless romantics.”
But could Ruo Hong, whose mind was as firm as an old monk’s, truly be such an incurable lovesick fool?
If not…
For some reason, Chen Bai actually shuddered, especially when he looked at Ruo Hong and Lan Ruoyun.
If not, then those two were probably terrifying enough to shock the world. That so-called beautiful tale among the states was probably…
There was a kind of cold that could chill a person to the freezing point, cold enough to make one doubt life itself and doubt whether true feelings even existed in this world.
Chen Bai quickly threw that thought out of his mind and forced a smile as he said to Qi Zheng, “Maybe I really am overthinking it. People are not fixed in one shape. Perhaps there truly is someone as deeply devoted as Ruo Hong in this world, unlike a certain someone who always wears an expression that keeps people a thousand li away. I’m guessing he has never even been in a relationship.”
Qi Zheng froze. “Why do I feel like there’s something hidden in your words?”
Who was he looking down on? He had people who admired him too, all right? Especially recently, the number seemed to have increased sharply. Only this Chen Zixiu did not know what was good for him.
Chen Bai laughed awkwardly. “No, no. Your Highness must have misunderstood.”
Qi Zheng glanced at Chen Bai. “A man’s ambition should lie in the four directions. How can he be confined by romantic affairs? You have some talent. In the future, you should be the same.”
Chen Bai: “…”
Why did it feel like Qi Zheng was telling him to go become a monk in the future?
How could that do?
“I don’t have any great ambitions. Now that there’s no crisis anymore, I have plenty of time to find someone I like,” Chen Bai said.
Qi Zheng’s expression darkened slightly. “You talk about romance all day long. Aren’t you ashamed?”
Chen Bai thought to himself, That’s still better than a certain someone openly and secretly hoping I become a monk in the future.
“Your Highness, that’s where you’re wrong. What’s wrong with romance? To put it plainly, once Great Qian becomes wealthy in the future, we will definitely need to increase the population to develop national strength. Without romance, how could that work? So not only should we not slander romance, we should promote it. I am contributing my strength to the development of Great Qian…”
Qi Zheng was so angry that he laughed. “Nonsense. You’ve made up so many excuses just to…”
Before he could finish, Qi Zheng suddenly paused. Then, without showing it, he looked toward Chen Bai. “You don’t… have someone you like, do you?”
Otherwise, why was Chen Zixiu repeatedly telling him that romance was more important than a man’s ambition?
Without waiting for Chen Bai to answer, Qi Zheng said, “Chen Zixiu, do not learn from that Ruo Hong. Neglecting proper duties and indulging in private affection—look at Ruo Hong. On the surface, many people envy his reckless feelings, but behind his back, how many people are laughing at him? He has become the joke of the states…”
“You possess astonishing talent, rare in this era. How could you let such talent go to waste? Making plans for Great Qian, displaying your grand ambitions, and leaving your name in history—that is what a man should properly do.”
Romantic affairs? They could go to hell.
The more Chen Bai listened, the more wrong it sounded. Was Qi Zheng trying to make him work like an ox and a horse, devoting his entire life to Great Qian?
This capitalist. This Huang Shiren. He had only just become crown prince, and he already wanted to exploit him.
Chen Bai’s eyes shifted. “I can have both, can’t I? Wouldn’t it be beautiful to have both?”
As soon as his voice fell, Qi Zheng replied, “No.”
Chen Bai was stunned with surprise.
Qi Zheng also froze for a moment, then said, “Isn’t Ruo Hong a lesson right in front of us? I’m also afraid you’ll become like him and sink from now on.”
Chen Bai: “…”
In his heart, ten thousand alpacas were galloping past.
The key point was that Qi Zheng had such a bizarre personality. Could he really be thinking this way?
How abnormal did one have to be to not even allow another person to have a relationship?
Chen Bai quietly moved one step away from Qi Zheng. “This is my personal matter. Even Your Highness the Crown Prince cannot interfere in someone else’s family affairs.”
Qi Zheng’s eyelids lowered. Why was this Chen Zixiu so stubborn? Did he not see how miserable Ruo Hong was right before him? Yet he kept wanting to jump into the pit.
Was that romantic affection really so important? One after another, they acted as if possessed.
Most importantly, Chen Zixiu even dared to talk back to him face-to-face because of this.
Qi Zheng glanced at Chen Bai. Recently… had Chen Zixiu come into contact with someone? Could he truly have developed feelings for someone? Or perhaps someone was leading Chen Zixiu down this path?
Chen Zixiu was delicate-looking, fair-skinned and tender. Perhaps someone really…
No. He had to persuade him more. How could someone as talented as Chen Zixiu be allowed to waste himself like this? Any so-called romantic affection had to be immediately strangled in the cradle.
Chen Bai was also sighing inwardly. Qi Zheng was completely the opposite of Ruo Hong, a total career-brained person. He had already gone mad to the point of requiring the people around him to work on their careers too.
Chen Bai felt that if this continued, Qi Zheng and Ruo Hong might, in some ways, be evenly matched.
Doomed to be single forever. Chen Bai shook his head. He had to stay farther away from Qi Zheng, or else that lifelong singledom might be contagious.
At this moment, Qi Zheng suddenly said, “Remember to come to my residence on time tomorrow to learn swordsmanship. Do not be late.”
Heh. Let’s see if you still have the chance to meet outsiders.
“Also, do not make friends with random, messy people. At your age, you are the easiest to influence. You must be cautious in choosing friends. As for those older, conventional grand scholars of Great Qian, you may interact with them more often.”
Chen Bai: “…”
Why did he feel as though he suddenly had an old father worried about his son falling in love too early?
Chen Bai’s eyes moved. Since he could not stay away from this career-brained man, then he would do the opposite and let this career-brained man know the beauty of romance.
Chen Bai remained calm, showing no emotion on his face, and quietly asked, “Your Highness, could it be that you have never even held someone else’s little hand before?”
Qi Zheng’s expression turned unnatural. In broad daylight, in front of everyone, Chen Zixiu actually discussed such private and shameless matters with him as if nothing had happened.
If others heard this, who knew what kind of arrogant and licentious person they would say he was?
Seeing Qi Zheng’s little expression, Chen Bai could more or less guess.
Tsk, tsk, tsk. No wonder his way of thinking was so straight.
“Your Highness, you’re not young anymore, yet you’ve never even held a little hand. How would you know what soft jade and warm fragrance feel like? Tsk, tsk…”
No wonder he was so career-brained. He had not awakened at all.
But Chen Bai did not notice that Qi Zheng’s expression was growing darker and darker.
“Your Highness, aside from work, we also need some entertainment, right? Tomorrow, after sword practice, I’ll take Your Highness out for a proper stroll.”
He had to help Qi Zheng wise up and learn what it meant for the heart to bloom with first love. Otherwise, perhaps Qi Zheng would really make him work for his career for the rest of his life. Then he would have to cry himself to death, washing his face with tears every day.
Qi Zheng: “…”
This Chen Zixiu was truly single-mindedly focused on those matters.
Qi Zheng and Chen Bai actually looked at each other at the same time, each with their own plans in mind.
Meanwhile, the chess game had reached an extremely tense point. With each stone that fell, Ruo Hong’s thinking time became longer and longer. His appearance even gave people the sense that he was strategizing everything in the palm of his hand, as if the momentum of the world was nothing more than the stones in his hand.
