Sixteen border army identity tags.
Among them was one soaked in tung oil, slightly larger and engraved with markings—this denoted a Wuzhang (squad leader). On its side were seven blade marks, symbolizing seven enemies killed during clashes with the State of Ying.
This was a battle-hardened soldier who had survived at least ten battles.
And yet, he died at the hands of this youth.
The old man's gaze froze for a moment, but his seasoned mind quickly resumed its sharpness. He asked directly, "Where are the bodies?"
Li Guanyi truthfully described the location. "I've already done some cleanup."
"Good."
The old man tapped the table.
A white-haired, silent old servant appeared beside him, head lowered, awaiting orders. Xue Daoyong gave concise instructions: "Take men there immediately. Handle the bodies properly. Be quick."
The servant nodded and left.
Xue Daoyong looked at the military tags. With a sweep of his voluminous sleeve, the border army tags were brushed aside, landing on a nearby cushion without a sound. He gestured to the food on the table and said calmly, "Eat first."
Li Guanyi sat across from Xue Daoyong, one old, one young.
The old man's expression remained composed.
Only the White Tiger Aspect on his shoulder showed clear emotion—curiosity, astonishment, even awe—as it paced around Li Guanyi. It sniffed his head with its damp nose, then licked the small white tiger resting on the youth's shoulder, sending it tumbling with flailing limbs and growling frustration.
Li Guanyi could almost read its expression:
Holy crap, holy crap, what kind of little cat is this? So tiny, but so fierce?!
Lick. Sniff.
Even this mighty old man couldn't hide his inner shock.
Strangely, the bronze cauldron made no ripple this time.
It seemed that for the same Dharma Aspect, once its "jade nectar" capacity was full at the current realm, no more accumulation could occur—like a filled progress bar.
Today's millet porridge contained herbs to calm the spirit—warm in nature and restorative. Li Guanyi felt a gentle comfort spreading through his limbs and bones. After finishing the meal, the old man had the dishes cleared and began brewing tea.
"All combat and slaughter inevitably damage the body," he said.
"They consume vital energy severely. Seasoned warriors who don't know how to replenish often die young or fall ill. Ginseng tea nourishes qi and calms the nerves—it's best."
Though Li Guanyi had arrived with forceful momentum, the old man met it with slow steadiness. By making him eat and sip tea first, Xue Daoyong reestablished control. Li Guanyi, however, also sat quietly, maintaining calm. As tea brewed, the old man brought out a Go board and asked with a smile, "Do you play?"
Li Guanyi thought of the brutal losses to his aunt and nodded. "A little."
"But not well."
Xue Daoyong laughed heartily. "It's just a game—no need to care about winning."
"Come, come. Frost-Tao and Changqing both dislike playing, so I'm left to entertain myself."
He set the board with gusto and picked up a white stone. While playing, he finally asked:
"You must've come to me with a request, right?"
Rather than asking what Li Guanyi wanted, he asked what he didn't want—revealing his veteran cunning.
Li Guanyi placed a black stone on the board. "I don't want trouble."
The old man burst into laughter:
"Haha, trouble indeed. Big trouble. They say these deserters turned bandits, but real deserters wouldn't carry their military tags. This smells like a mutiny caused by problems at the border. After deserting, they preyed on civilians—an unforgivable crime. But those who can see through it will know the deeper cracks in the army."
"The higher-ups won't want that known."
Li Guanyi asked, "So they'd rather hide the problem than fix it?"
The old man replied coldly, "That way, to the emperor, it's still a golden age."
Li Guanyi pressed, "Aren't they afraid it'll get worse?"
Xue Daoyong chuckled. "'Worse'? They even recalled Marshal Yue from the border. They're past caring. With no one strong enough to control the troops or defeat Ying's generals, chaos is inevitable. If ordinary people kill these deserters and learn the truth, they'll be silenced."
"Whether by money—or something else."
Li Guanyi nodded. "That's why I came to you."
The old man smiled. "So confident I can help?"
"You don't want trouble—do you also not want the bounty?"
"The Xue family could get you the reward without trouble, you know."
He meant to pressure the youth with words.
But Li Guanyi pointed to his bow. "The Su Ni Bow—made of zhè wood, rhino horn, crocodile sinew, and shark glue from the South Sea. Worth 1,530 guan. The young miss gave it to me."
Then he pointed to his blade. "A triple-forged heavy saber with yellow brass-inlaid scabbard—worth 100 guan."
He sat up straighter.
"The young miss gave it to me."
Implying he did not need to care for a mere 100 taels of silver.
The old man snorted in amusement.
"Ah, fooled by a little girl's affections."
"My granddaughter outsmarted me!"
Xue Daoyong chuckled, then said, "Alright, alright… I'll seal the traces and news about those men for you. As for the reward, I'll pay the 100 taels myself. You don't want the fame or the bounty? Seems ridiculous to most—but not so for you."
The old man sat cross-legged, left elbow on his knee, hand supporting his chin. With his right hand, he dropped a white stone onto the board with a sharp clack, eyes rising to meet Li Guanyi's:
"After ten years on the run, you're finally here. One step from crossing the border. Of course, you want no accidents now, right? I'd do the same in your shoes."
A breeze stirred the lotus pond, rippling its surface.
A great secret had been laid bare in a single sentence.
Li Guanyi's heart thudded. He looked up at the old man, who wore a half-smile. The White Tiger Dharma Aspect crouched silently, its eyes not hostile.
The man's words and Go moves alike pierced defenses—sharp and direct.
But Li Guanyi felt no fear.
He straightened his spine, set down a black stone, and replied:
"No wonder they call you the 'Master of the Chessboard,' Lord Xue."
"Your intelligence network surpasses even the imperial censors."
The old man's smile faded slightly.
His opponent's move and tone carried an equal edge.
Yet he didn't dislike it.
He admired it more.
A man with only martial strength was a brute. The world had plenty of warlords who spread chaos. What it lacked was true heroes. Strength alone wasn't enough. He wouldn't bet heavily on mere power.
Xue Daoyong smiled.
"Just curious—what crime got you hunted for ten years?"
"As for intelligence... haha, you're part of the Xue household now. Of course, I'd want to know if the family's guest is trustworthy. Isn't that natural?"
Li Guanyi picked up five stones.
Each he placed on the board while softly speaking a name:
"Chen Kingdom. Ying Kingdom."
"Tuyuhun."
"Turkic."
"Tangut."
He said no more.
These were part of the Xue family's known business—open secrets.
The old man laughed loudly. "Ha! Merchants chase profit. Sell Chen's goods to the Tanguts and you earn tenfold. How could we resist? You're still too idealistic."
Li Guanyi retrieved his hand and spoke the final blow:
"But nowadays, the common folk say the Xue family is merciful—while the emperor's taxes are crushing."
The old man's smile vanished.
His eyes locked onto Li Guanyi. The massive White Tiger beside him stood, fur bristling, brows tightening into a character, fangs bared—but not in hostility.
Li Guanyi didn't flinch. His eyes went past the Dharma Aspect to the old man himself.
"Merchants seek profit," he said.
"But petty merchants chase profits."
"True merchants pursue the fate of nations!"
Xue Daoyong's gaze faltered. The youth had voiced the very thought buried deep in his heart. No killing intent arose—only amazement and appreciation.
The message was clear from the White Tiger as well.
The old man's smile faded into a thoughtful look as he leaned back, and the youth sat upright.
The wind stirred again, and ripples covered the pond.
This wasn't just a game of Go. The whole Tingfeng Pavilion was the chessboard. Their words were the stones.
The old man exhaled and said, half-smiling:
"Then let me ask you, young sir—do I seek profit, or do I seek a nation?"
Li Guanyi answered in turn:
"Then let me ask you, Elder Xue."
He raised his head, black hair brushing his cheek.
"Do you seek to rule the realm—"
"Or do you seek peace for ten thousand generations?"
To rule the realm, or peace for ten thousand generations!
The old man had expected him to say "to serve the nation," but these words struck him like a thunderclap, shattering his assumptions. Blood surged with youthful fervor.
He laughed aloud:
"Hahahaha! Good, good, good! I misjudged you!"
"You—both learned and brave, decisive and ruthless!"
"I once said you were a fine minister. I was wrong."
"A dragon caged in a well. In a time of chaos, you'll be a pillar of the world!"
"If only I'd met you a hundred years earlier…"
At that moment, the old servant returned in haste.
He leaned close to whisper, and Xue Daoyong asked:
"When did they die?"
"Near the end of Chou hour," the servant answered.
Exactly when the Thunder-Bursting Divine Bow had sounded.
Everything lined up.
As blood sprayed from the bandits' necks, the bow cried out in defiance.
It all matched.
This youth—he was the White Tiger's Grand Lineage reborn after five centuries.
A celestial god of war.
The old man sighed. Looking at this learned and martial youth, he made his decision and smiled slightly:
"About your bounty—"
"I have another proposal."
Li Guanyi was puzzled.
Hadn't he already gotten what he wanted?
Xue Daoyong said calmly, "I happen to have a blank identity here—a Ninth-Rank Dispersed Military Officer. It has rank but no assignment, and is tasked with hunting fugitives."
"The Xue family can give you this blank identity and rank."
Li Guanyi was about to refuse.
The old man continued, "With rank, you may bear a spear, carry a crossbow…"
"And—"
"Wear armor."
Li Guanyi froze.
That—was a heavy wager.
The old man rose, smiling. He stepped aside, pointing to the divine bow resting quietly on its ebony rack:
"And... how about going to hold that bow again?"
(End of Chapter)