Chapter Twenty: The Duel

Although Liang Yan was deeply eager for the Barrier-Breaking Pill, he couldn’t help hesitating at this moment. The value of such a pill typically ranged between eighty and ninety spirit stones. That it had soared to two hundred and sixty was an outrageous price—paying so much would not only make him look like a fool but might also draw the covetous eyes of others.

Liang Yan understood well the wisdom of not flaunting one’s wealth. As an ordinary menial disciple, being able to produce over a hundred spirit stones was already his limit. If he continued to bid, he would surely attract unwanted attention.

Most crucially, the woman in white had remained unruffled from the start, as if to say, “Bid as you will, I won’t raise the price. If you win, I lose.” How could this not make Liang Yan grit his teeth with frustration?

After much deliberation, he ultimately decided not to bid. The dark-faced man clearly hadn’t expected the Barrier-Breaking Pill to fetch such a price and was grinning ear to ear. After the final three counts, he announced the pill belonged to the woman in white.

The auction for the Barrier-Breaking Pill had been but a small episode, yet it set the audience abuzz and brought the atmosphere to a minor climax.

Alas, Liang Yan had lost all interest by then. Although he glanced once at the woman, there was nothing he could do despite his unwillingness. Resigned, he quietly left the venue alone.

The next day, Liang Yan returned to the sect with Lin Fei. Lin Fei was in high spirits, lavishing praise upon Liang Yan for his remarkable skill with formations and noting that the auction had proceeded flawlessly thanks to him, promising to record a great merit on his behalf.

Though Liang Yan responded politely on the surface, inwardly he was bitterly disappointed. His greatest purpose in coming here had not been achieved, and the next opportunity might not arise for another three years.

...

Upon returning to the sect, Liang Yan threw himself once again into his cultivation with single-minded focus—working and reading during the day, cultivating through the night.

Two more months passed thus. During this time, he tried every method he could to break through his bottleneck, even dabbling in some dubious techniques he’d heard in passing. Yet his own innate talent seemed like an invisible shackle—no matter his efforts, it could not be broken.

That afternoon, after completing his duties as a Formation Attendant, Liang Yan, uncharacteristically, did not go to the library. Instead, he wandered aimlessly alone through the valley.

Repeated failures to advance had quietly planted demons of doubt in his heart. He felt as though the great way of heaven and earth was pitiless; no matter how hard he strove, he found himself powerless against fate’s predestination.

Lost in thought, he wandered into a bamboo grove. Meandering without direction, he had no idea where he was.

Suddenly, he heard the sound of pebbles clacking deeper within the grove. Driven by curiosity, he followed the sound and soon found its source: two men were standing there. One wore blue robes with white hair and a ruddy, almost youthful face; the other was a tall, thin, middle-aged man with sallow skin.

On the ground between them were nineteen perfectly straight lines, carved as if by a knife, forming a Go board.

The youth in blue reached out and, with a wave, sliced a short section of bamboo from a nearby stalk. With a quick rub and a spark of fire, he tossed it onto the board, where the charred bamboo became a black Go stone.

The tall, thin man picked up a pebble from the ground, rubbed it as well, and when he placed it on the board, it had transformed into a gleaming, pure white stone.

At this point, the board was covered with black and white stones; clearly, the game was at a fever pitch. Both men pondered deeply, only placing a stone after a long interval.

Liang Yan, with nothing else to do, began to watch the game. As a child, he had been clever and quick-witted, having learned Go from a teacher in his hometown. Within two years, he was defeating his instructor handily. But, being young and easily distracted, he soon abandoned the game for other amusements.

Now, as he watched, he found every move the two made utterly confounding, completely overturning all his previous understanding of Go. The further the game progressed, the less he understood.

Proud as always, Liang Yan never considered that their skill might far surpass his own. Instead, he assumed they were simply two amateurs, playing recklessly with half-baked knowledge.

Frowning, and unable to restrain himself, he finally spoke from the side, “That was a mistake for White. Now Black will be able to rampage across the board!”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than he realized his error. The saying goes, “A true gentleman does not speak while observing a game.” Though he did not consider himself a gentleman, he knew he should not spoil others’ enjoyment.

Nervously, Liang Yan looked up at the two men, but they remained utterly absorbed in the board, apparently oblivious to his comment.

“Could they be deaf?” Liang Yan wondered to himself. “No matter, if they didn’t hear, I’ll just pretend I never said anything.”

But just as he relaxed, a crisp and melodious voice sounded from behind: “Heehee, how amusing! Where did this country bumpkin come from, pretending to understand what he doesn’t?”

He turned to see a young woman in white standing not far behind—a slender figure, skin fairer than snow. Her delicate features were exquisitely beautiful, as if carved from jade.

She was smiling at him, but her expression was clearly laced with mockery.

“That voice sounds familiar…” Liang Yan mused, suddenly realizing, “It’s her!”

This girl was none other than the masked woman who had snatched the Barrier-Breaking Pill from him at the auction.

She recognized him too, and laughed, “So it’s you—the penniless fellow who dared to compete with me for the Barrier-Breaking Pill that night.”

From the moment they met, she had called him a country bumpkin and a pauper; even a clay statue would be angered by such words. Liang Yan could not help retorting, “And I see you’re just a village lass. So the rural girls nowadays also try to appear cultured by watching Go?”

“You!” she huffed, her cheeks flushing. But a glint flashed in her eyes, and she quickly regained her composure, smiling as before. “Oh? Upset by my words, are you? Do you even know who those two are? With your half-baked Go skills, you dare show off here!”

“Oh? Then tell me, who are they?”

“Listen well—those two are the top-ranked senior brother of our sect’s Go division, Lei Hao, and the third-ranked senior brother, Xu Xian!”

“Inner disciples!” Liang Yan was startled, involuntarily glancing at the pair, who remained completely focused on their game, as if unaware of anyone else’s presence.

“No need to look,” she continued, “Senior Brother Lei and Senior Brother Xu have already entered the heart-game stage of Go—they won’t notice you.”

Her words exposed his thoughts, and Liang Yan blushed deeply. Still, he steeled himself, saying, “Even inner disciples can sometimes make mistakes. In Go, is it not true that the onlooker sees more than the players themselves?”

At this, the woman in white couldn’t help but laugh, clutching her stomach, “And you think you’re the insightful onlooker? You, with your pitiful Go skills?”

Liang Yan’s face darkened with indignation. “What makes you say I’m no good at Go? You know nothing yourself!”

Finally regaining her composure, she said, “Very well. Since you claim I know nothing, why not wager a game of Go with me?”

Liang Yan was taken aback by the challenge, but pride would not allow him to back down. He straightened and replied, “Fine! But let’s settle the stakes first—what are they?”

“If you win, I’ll give you the Barrier-Breaking Pill. But if you lose, you must kowtow to me three times and call me ‘auntie’ three times!”

“No!” Liang Yan refused instantly. Such a thing was an affront to his family’s dignity—he would never agree.

“You!” The woman in white was momentarily flustered by his blunt rejection, but quickly recovered. Smiling slyly, she said, “All right, another wager. I heard from Uncle Lin that you know a bit of formation technique. If you can teach me a few formations, the bet will be that you must respectfully address me as ‘senior sister’ three times.”

“Deal!” This time, Liang Yan didn’t hesitate at all. He had long felt aggrieved—old scores and new could now be settled together. He was determined to thoroughly put this girl in her place on the Go board.