NOVPUBThe young monk looked down at the disgraced grandmaster, frowned, and said seriously,
"Chess players shouldn't be like this. You've disappointed me greatly. Is there no one stronger than you in Yu Country?"
No... He didn't break down because he lost a game of chess, but because he thought of the cruel consequences he was about to face... Zhao Douan sighed softly.
Princess Wen Zhu also displayed a complex expression mixed with pity and disappointment.
As a princess married off to another land, she couldn't take sides in her position, but in her heart, she undoubtedly hoped Chen Jiuyan would uphold Yu Country's honor.
Dan Che looked around at the faces and the crowded Yellow Court Alley and calmly said,
"Next, anyone else?"
No one responded!
Even such a grandmaster was utterly defeated, who else would dare step forward?
"Someone has already gone to get the other grandmasters. Young monk, don't be arrogant!" Someone shouted.
Immediately, a few echoed.
But more people remained silent and pessimistic—so much time had passed, the other grandmasters must have received the news long ago, yet no one had come.
Even if someone did rush here, if Chen Jiuyan lost so decisively, could any other "awaiting players" turn the outcome?
After today, the news that a boy from the Western Regions swept over Yu Country's chess world would undoubtedly spread far and wide.
A grave humiliation, yet powerless to resist.
Princess Wen Zhu sighed deeply, feeling dispirited for a moment, slowly stood up, and prepared to leave.
The young monk Dan Che once again scanned the crowd and smiled, "No one will challenge?"
However, in the silence, Chen Jiuyan, slumped where he sat, suddenly felt a strong hand pressing down on his shoulder.
Then, the dazed grandmaster heard a voice in his ear, unfamiliar yet somewhat familiar:
"Hou Da, help him to the side to rest."
Zhao Douan dusted off his robes, took the still-warm seat, glanced helplessly at Dan Che, the little monk in a daze, and smiled:
"Go ahead, I'll play a game with you."
Dan Che blinked, his gaze passing over Zhao Douan and looking at the departing Princess Wen Zhu.
"Mr. Lin?!"
Princess Wen Zhu's expression froze in astonishment as she looked at Zhao Douan.
She thought this Mr. Lin was being ridiculous. Why would you, a young gentleman visiting Yellow Court Alley for the first time, want to embarrass yourself in public?
Even acts of chivalry should be evaluated by one's ability.
This wasn't as simple as defeating some bullies or rescuing a few poor citizens.
But Dan Che misunderstood Princess Wen Zhu's intentions, thinking she had invited a formidable chess player, so he dared not take it lightly. He nodded, raised his hand, and gently stroked it.
The black and white chess pieces rustled back into the chess box.
"Please guide me," the young monk said.
Before he finished speaking, Zhao Douan placed a piece, "Stop talking, I'm in a hurry."
...
...
The Western Regions Mission was staying in the Capital at a guesthouse specially for receiving officials from the Western Regions.
It was named "Golden Wind Pavilion."
Days of snowfall covered the guesthouse rooftops in a blanket of snow.
When the sun came out, the snow on the roof melted, paradoxically making it even colder.
"Squeak."
Inside the Golden Wind Pavilion, a window in a tower was opened, revealing a dark-skinned monk standing by the window, resembling an old monkey.
The red monk robes and the red monk hat on his head stood out against the snowy landscape, and the ivory beaded necklace around his neck shone with an aura of depth, his sunken eyes full of contemplation.
The Red Sect Monk Group Master, known as the "Holy Monk," felt invigorated by the cold wind blowing in from outside.
Behind him, the table was stacked with thick "reports."
These included details about the current status and activities of the Divine Dragon Temple, as well as thorough investigations of related personnel.
Even more were the names of individuals who had risen to fame in the Capital since the beginning of the year.
Upon entering the city to look for "Wisdom," the old monk ordered a thorough investigation.
There were many names on the list.
This was not unexpected.
The Female Emperor's rule had lasted barely three years, with significant turmoil in the court this year. The list of officials who fell from grace was long, and where someone fell, someone else inevitably rose.
The power shifts in the court transmitted downwards, leading to broader power changes. For example, with the fall of Pei Kaizhi, all the forces and figures aligned with him in the Capital were replaced.
This allowed many new faces to emerge.
Unsurprisingly, Zhao Douan was at the top of this list.
"The Female Emperor's gigolo... could he be the Worldly Venerate incarnate in the mortal world?"
The Red Sect Master whispered softly, then even laughed at himself, shaking his head and ruling out this main suspect.
While Zhao Douan perfectly matched the timeline for "Wisdom's" emergence, the old monk first dismissed him after looking carefully.
One reason, similar to Princess Wen Zhu's judgment, was that Zhao Douan's achievements seemed inflated.
There were noticeable traces of the Female Emperor's deliberate promotion.
Additionally, the more crucial and core reason was:
The Worldly Venerate of Buddhism was said to be a benevolent deity. How could he incarnate as a deceitful, villainous traitor denounced as "King Yan" by all the citizens in the city?
It was too unreasonable.
Not to mention Zhao Douan suppressed the Divine Dragon Temple in the Buddhist Tao struggle... even if "Wisdom" was unaware of his true identity as the "Worldly Venerate."
In summary, the Red Sect Master was more suspicious of those ranked after Zhao Douan.
For example, the Xiuwen Pavilion's scholar "Han Zhou" seemed like a likely candidate. The only inconsistency was that although Han Zhou only entered the Xiuwen Pavilion and rose in status this year, he was already a well-known talent and hadn't changed much.
"Indeed, 'Wisdom' cannot be so easily found by us believers. If it were obvious at a glance, it would be false."
