Chapter 341: The Couple Plays Chess
The night was like water.
Inside Immortal Spirit City, a bright moon hung high in the sky, scattering a cold radiance.
Chen Chang'an and Ji Hongli sat side by side in their small courtyard. Flowers and grass bloomed on all sides, releasing a faint, delicate fragrance.
"That is how matters stand..."
Chen Chang'an sighed and slowly recounted the events of the past two days to Ji Hongli.
Ji Hongli turned her body, and the moonlight cast a soft halo upon her exquisite face. She stared fixedly at her husband's worried expression, then suddenly laughed aloud with a "pfft."
"What are you laughing at?"
Chen Chang'an was somewhat puzzled, and his brows knit slightly. "I am serious."
Ji Hongli pursed her lips, and a look of understanding flashed through her eyes.
She gently shook the jade cup in her hand, causing ripples to form in the spiritual tea within. "I understand—"
She deliberately lengthened her tone. "After all, the fault does not lie with you..."
Seeing that Chen Chang'an was about to speak again, she suddenly changed the subject. "However, in doing so, I actually have a method."
"What method?"
Chen Chang'an immediately straightened his posture, a glint of anticipation in his eyes. "Is it to teach Chen Xingcai how to choose a Dao companion in the future?"
Under the moonlight, the corner of Ji Hongli's mouth curled into a mysterious smile.
She gently set down her teacup but did not answer immediately; instead, she gazed meaningfully at the distant mountain peaks shrouded in clouds and mist. The night wind brushed past, lifting a few strands of black hair by her temples that shimmered with a silver luster in the moonlight.
Time flowed quietly like running water, and in the blink of an eye, a few more uneventful days passed.
Chen Chang'an's life remained tranquil and harmonious. Every day, apart from monitoring developments in the Spirit Realm, he pondered his daughter's future, and actually cast the matter of confessing the truth to his daughter to the back of his mind.
Although the "method" Ji Hongli mentioned had yet to materialize, he had always been full of confidence in his wife. He thought that perhaps Hongli had already spoken privately with Xingcai.
It was another evening, and the afterglow of the setting sun dyed half the sky red.
Chen Chang'an was browsing through ancient texts inside the wooden hut when he suddenly heard familiar footsteps outside the door. He set down his book and rose to open the door, only to unexpectedly see Ji Hongli standing there, her pale purple long skirt fluttering gently in the evening breeze.
"Hongli?"
Chen Chang'an raised his brows slightly in surprise. "I thought you wouldn't come to see me?"
Ji Hongli blinked, and a trace of confusion flashed through her moonlight-like eyes. "Why?"
Chen Chang'an opened his mouth but was momentarily speechless.
That was right; why did he always feel that Ji Hongli would not come to see him? This thought came inexplicably, yet it felt real. He shook his head and cast this strange idea to the back of his mind.
"Nothing."
He smiled and stepped aside. "It is rare for you to come over; shall I stir-fry a couple of dishes for us to have a drink?"
Ji Hongli, however, gently shook her head and retrieved an exquisite chessboard from her storage bag. "There is no need. We have not played a game of chess in a long time; why not accompany me for a match?"
Chen Chang'an looked closely and saw that it was not the chessboard he had given Ji Hongli all those years ago, but merely an ordinary one.
The chessboard was crafted from thousand-year spiritual wood, and the crisscrossing lines on it shimmered with a faint golden light. Although it could not be considered a magic treasure, in the mortal realm it was still a rare and precious item.
The black and white chess pieces were stored in jade containers, shimmering with a warm luster under the setting sun. For such a simple request from his wife, Chen Chang'an naturally would not refuse.
The two sat facing each other before a low table by the window. Outside, the sky was gradually darkening, and the calls of returning birds could be heard in the distance.
Ji Hongli held the black pieces and moved first. Her slender fingers picked up a black piece and gently placed it on the board, producing a crisp "click" sound.
Although Chen Chang'an's skill in chess was average, the calculating power granted by the Immortal Venerable Realm was sufficient for him to crush any Chess Saint. Chen Chang'an held the white pieces, and his slender fingers picked up a white jade piece.
Just as he was about to place it, his hand was gently pressed down by Ji Hongli's soft, pale hand.
She puckered her red lips in dissatisfaction. "If my husband uses his cultivation to bully me, then this game of chess would be far too boring."
Those eyes, clear as autumn water, held a hint of coquettish anger, and the corners of her eyes tilted slightly upward, shimmering with a moist luster in the candlelight.
Faced with his wife's rare display of coquetry, Chen Chang'an chuckled helplessly. With a single thought, the surging Immortal Essence throughout his body was instantly retracted completely. Even his breathing became indistinguishable from that of a mortal. At this moment, anyone who looked would only take him for an ordinary scholar in the mountains.
Only then did Ji Hongli withdraw her hand in satisfaction, the corner of her mouth curling into a triumphant smile.
Before long, the chessboard was covered with interlaced black and white pieces.
Although Chen Chang'an was not well-versed in the Way of Chess, he had the advantage of quick thinking. Ji Hongli's skill was exquisite, yet she frequently "made mistakes."
The two exchanged moves, engaging in a battle that was surprisingly difficult to resolve.
"Snap!"
Chen Chang'an placed a piece, delighted to discover that his white chess pieces had formed a live path in the northwest corner. He could not help but stroke his chin, a hint of joy flashing through his eyes.
Ji Hongli's slender finger, holding a black piece, hovered in mid-air, as if she were hesitant.
The candlelight cast flickering shadows upon her exquisite profile, and her long lashes threw a shadow beneath her eyes.
On the chessboard, the black and white pieces were interlocked like the teeth of a dog. Chen Chang'an's white pieces had enclosed a living eye in the top right corner, while Ji Hongli's black pieces had formed a strong position in the bottom left.
In the central region, the pieces from both sides were inextricably entangled, and every step hid hidden danger. Chen Chang'an stared at the "small flying move" he had just played; this move had unexpectedly opened the Qi pathways for his white pieces.
He could not help but tap the edge of the chessboard lightly with his finger, producing a crisp sound.
Opposite him, Ji Hongli seemed to have fallen into deep thought; the black piece at her fingertip moved back and forth above the board, unable to descend for a long time.
Outside the window, the night wind brushed through the bamboo forest, emitting a soft rustling sound. A drop of candle wax slowly slid down the candlestick, appearing exceptionally distinct in the silent room.
Chen Chang'an's gaze scanned the chessboard; the more he looked, the more he felt that his white pieces held a winning position.
He could not resist placing another piece; this "diagonal thrust" directly tore a hole in the black pieces' defensive line.
"Wife, it seems you are going to lose a game to me tonight."
Chen Chang'an's voice carried unconcealed pride. He picked up the teacup and took a light sip; the fragrance of the tea filled his mouth, adding to the sense of comfort.
Ji Hongli suddenly gave a soft laugh, and the suspended black piece finally landed on the board with a "click."
When she raised her eyes, a gleam of slyness flashed through them. "Husband, how about we add a wager to this game?"
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