The master and disciple headed towards Luoyi.
After walking for half a month.
Jiang Yuan gazed into the distance, where the outline of a city emerged, purple qi swirling above it, an indescribable grandeur.
This must be Luoyi.
Jiang Yuan turned to his master and said, “Master, we have arrived.”
The master paused, turned back with a smile, and asked, “Child, has this journey been long? Do you feel tired, fatigued, hungry, or starved?”
Jiang Yuan shook his head, “Disciple is not tired, not fatigued, not hungry, not starved.”
Time passed like floating clouds, and the cold did not know the years; this was the norm, how could there be any difference in this short span?
The master nodded in approval, “Very good, child, keep it up.”
After saying this, the master walked ahead.
Jiang Yuan closely followed, occasionally glancing at the purple qi of Luoyi.
As they approached Luoyi, the traces of merchants and laborers were everywhere, bustling with life.
Jiang Yuan remained silent, focusing on walking alongside his master.
Upon reaching the front of Luoyi City, they saw an old man waiting at the gate; it was Laozi.
The purple qi was emanating from behind Laozi, enveloping the area.
Ordinary people walked through the purple qi, unaware of its significance, coming and going freely.
The mysteries of the Dao were present, yet could not be heard; how lamentable.
Jiang Yuan observed the ordinary people walking with their heads down, their mud palaces having spiritual awareness of the purple qi, about to perceive the Dao, yet they were blinded by desire and ignorance, missing the opportunity.
Indeed, as the master said, the beings of the Southern Zhanbu Continent were ignorant, driven by desire and greed for power, neglecting the cultivation of their primordial spirit.
The master asked, “Child, what do you think?”
Jiang Yuan replied, “The Dao always exists.”
The Dao is by one’s side, the Dao always exists; those who perceive the Dao rejoice, yet those who are oblivious are a hundred to one.
The master laughed heartily, feeling great joy in Jiang Yuan’s quick understanding.
“You two, how should I put it? I was waiting here, and if you hadn’t come, I would have left.”
Laozi’s voice came from afar.
The master said, “Go, go, go! Don’t let the host feel displeased.”
He laughed as he approached Luoyi.
Jiang Yuan quickened his pace to keep up.
Laozi welcomed the master and disciple, leading them into Luoyi.
Without further ado, they arrived at a small house, where Laozi invited the master and disciple inside.
A young man stepped out, “Master.”
Laozi nodded and said, “These two are esteemed guests; treat them with courtesy. You may leave now; if there is something important, I will call for you.”
Upon hearing this, the young man withdrew.
Jiang Yuan glanced at the young man, sensing something mysterious; if he was not mistaken, the young man had a talisman within him, identical to the Tai Xuan Qing Sheng Talisman at his waist, hence he felt a three-part resonance.
The master teased, “Bai Yang, why are you still hiring someone?”
Laozi took out three cushions for them to sit on and said, “My position is small; I am merely a ‘Cang Shi’ (Keeper of the Storehouse). My home is bare, and I cannot afford to hire someone for chores. Don’t say I am deceiving people; I plan to give him a hundred coins for his life’s troubles, and I will give him a Tai Xuan Qing Sheng Talisman, which is not unfair treatment.”
Jiang Yuan waited for the master to take his seat, not daring to overstep, serving the master to sit first before he took his place on the cushion behind.
The master said, “Bai Yang, show a bit of your hand; how can a ‘Cang Shi’ be said to be small?”
Upon hearing this, Laozi stuck out his tongue, surprised by the master’s words, and said, “I am not someone who comes to be an official; why would I want to be a high-ranking official?”
The master replied, “Bai Yang, you teach the purple qi to emerge; what is the purpose? My disciple and I were originally going to the Ling Tai Fang Cun Mountain in the Western Niu He Zhou, traveling for seven or eight days. Upon seeing the purple qi of Luoyi, we knew you had arrived, and thus we came to see you.”
Laozi stroked his beard and said, “To see the Zhou royal family, is there anyone who perceives the Dao? Your disciple has entered the Dao, yet you are so eager to go to the Western Niu He Zhou’s Ling Tai Fang Cun Mountain.”
After saying this, he fixed his gaze on Jiang Yuan, noticing the spiritual energy in his mud palace, calm and composed, not like an ordinary person, moving with grace and Dao, truly a remarkable person on the verge of entering the Dao.
Laozi was astonished, “You, this child, are truly remarkable, very close to entering the Dao; you are just a bit short of the right timing. Bodhi, you have seen the chaos of the Southern Zhanbu Continent; why not take the child along and use the journey as a way to hone your skills?”
The master nodded with a smile, feeling satisfied with Jiang Yuan as well.
Jiang Yuan stood up and performed a grand salute to Laozi.
Laozi asked, “Guangxin, why do you perform such a salute to me?”
Jiang Yuan expressed his gratitude, “Mr. Bai Yang gifted me the Yu Ding years ago, aiding me greatly; I should thank you.”
Laozi shook his head and said, “Those who are skilled in business and trade, no matter how wealthy, will act as if they are poor, hiding their wealth as if it were empty. A wise gentleman has abundant virtue, yet he will behave like a fool, great virtue appearing foolish. If you had received the Yu Ding with arrogance, allowing the two spirits to find a flaw, then you should thank me. Now that you are not arrogant, the two spirits have no flaws to exploit; you need not thank me.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuan felt Laozi was indeed a divine being; he wanted to bow again but found it inappropriate, so he had to give up.
The master laughed and said, “Bai Yang, you do not let the child thank you; the child’s heart is difficult to reach.”
Laozi pondered for a moment, his eyes turning towards several chessboards not far away.
He clasped his hands and said, “How about this? Bodhi often says Guangxin’s chess skills are remarkable. This chess game, both Xiangqi and Weiqi, were created by Guangxin. Let Guangxin and I play a game, how about that?”
Jiang Yuan did not dare to answer recklessly and looked towards the master.
After receiving the master’s nod of approval, Jiang Yuan finally agreed.
Laozi then led the master and disciple to the table.
Jiang Yuan sat at the opposite table, seeing that it was a Xiangqi board, he spread it out.
If it were Weiqi, he would have to be cautious, prolonging the game; but if it were Xiangqi, the offensive and defensive strategies were different.
Laozi said, “This is not a complete game; it is actually an endgame.”
As he finished speaking, golden light flashed, and suddenly, most of the pieces on the chessboard disappeared.
Jiang Yuan stared wide-eyed; sitting on the brown side, he had only a few pieces left, looking pitifully sparse, while Laozi’s white side was intact, not a single piece moved.
How could it be an endgame? Was he the one who was left with remnants, while the enemy remained whole?
This was the first time he had seen such an endgame.
Jiang Yuan stammered, “Mr. Bai Yang, how come you have so many pieces?”
Laozi laughed and said, “In chess, winning or losing does not matter; there is no need to be concerned.”
Jiang Yuan had no choice but to comply; he looked down and saw he still had two pawns, a chariot, a cannon, a horse, and an elephant.
Even in an endgame, there were still ways to play.
Laozi said, “Child, how should I play first?”
Jiang Yuan nodded, “Mr. Bai Yang, please!”
Laozi moved the cannon from two to five, making a ‘Head Cannon’ move.
Jiang Yuan was not afraid and moved the elephant to block.
The two sides clashed fiercely on the chessboard.
Jiang Yuan was very close to entering the Dao, his thoughts agile, and his chess skills improved by three points.
With fewer pieces, he pulled and tugged, using the enemy’s pieces to block the enemy’s path, using enemy pawns to obstruct the enemy chariot’s route, and using enemy horses to hinder the enemy cannon’s path.
With various strategies, the chessboard truly came alive under Jiang Yuan’s manipulation; he also felt that Laozi seemed not to be playing seriously, the chess moves were ordinary and loose.
Ultimately, Jiang Yuan seized the opportunity with a ‘Cannon Behind the Horse’ surprise move, ending the game.
Laozi, upon the conclusion of the game, was neither angry nor upset, and asked with a smile, “Guangxin, how was this game?”
Jiang Yuan pondered for a moment and said, “The game begins with the ordinary and ends with the extraordinary.”
Laozi clasped his hands in admiration; he lightly waved his sleeve, and the chessboard transformed again, the white pieces forming the character ‘侯’ (Marquis), while the brown pieces formed the character ‘王’ (King).
Jiang Yuan was taken aback; what kind of endgame was this? It was the chess game of the Zhou Dynasty and the feudal states.
Now at the beginning of the Eastern Zhou, the Eastern Zhou still had three parts of its foundation, with very few remnants; the feudal states were gradually growing stronger, just like the white pieces on the chessboard, in full bloom…
(End of Chapter)