Time was slipping away, and the two players had accumulated two stacks of chess pieces they had captured at the table.
Xu Zhengyang thought to himself that this old man was indeed a terrible chess player. Even someone like me, who was not even a mediocre chess player, could not make a decisive move. Should I give him a couple of moves?
The old man was secretly amazed. He never expected that Xu Zhengyang, this country boy, would have such superb chess skills. His seemingly ruthless and aggressive moves were actually the result of meticulous planning, with each move linked to the next, a steady and methodical advance.
The two players are playing slower and slower...
"Zhengyang, what do you think of Bingjie's condition?" the old man suddenly asked, without raising his head, still staring at the chessboard, seemingly pondering his next move.
Xu Zhengyang paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Things will get better eventually."
"Only you could put up with her personality," the old man sighed, not bothering to acknowledge that Li Bingjie was sitting right next to him.
"I think it's great." Xu Zhengyang said honestly. He had never been annoyed by Li Bingjie's personality. Although he would feel a little depressed sometimes, he felt very comfortable with Li Bingjie most of the time.
The old man smiled, raised his head slightly to look at Xu Zhengyang, and asked, "Do you want to know why Bingjie has become like this?"
Xu Zhengyang shook his head and chuckled, "What's the point of knowing all this?"
Indeed, Xu Zhengyang wasn't curious about this, nor did he want to know what had happened to Li Bingjie in the past, such as why she had this illness, or why she had to attend a rural middle school despite her family's financial situation... If he wanted to know, as the chief judge under the Fuhe City God, he could easily find out a great deal. However, he didn't, firstly because he felt it was unnecessary, and secondly, because he had to respect Li Bingjie's wishes.
"Zhengyang, you are truly unfathomable." The old man sighed softly.
"Well, it's nothing, I just got lucky." Xu Zhengyang scratched his head again, his simple smile revealing a hint of restraint and shyness.
If it were an ordinary person, they would surely have their internal organs laid bare before this wise and cunning old man, who seemed almost otherworldly. Unfortunately for him, Xu Zhengyang was no ordinary person; he was a god, and currently, the only deity in the Three Realms.
Xu Zhengyang knew, of course, that he possessed many inexplicable qualities that even the old man couldn't comprehend or see through. If the old man could see through things, there was only one possibility: he too was a god. However, while the old man was puzzled, Xu Zhengyang couldn't understand the old man's heart. His once incredibly wise mind was now unable to see or understand things; wasn't he feeling a little disappointed and discouraged?
Xu Zhengyang couldn't tell the old man that he was a god, because the old man wouldn't believe him anyway.
Thinking of this, Xu Zhengyang glanced at Li Bingjie, inwardly marveling at this friend and confidante who had always been like an unyielding iceberg—truly a strange and wonderful person. He had clearly told her his identity as a god, yet she had truly kept this secret, not even telling her closest relative, her grandfather.
The old man, probably tired from sitting on the sofa for so long, leaned back and said softly, "This game is a draw."
Xu Zhengyang was taken aback, then realized that in their casual conversation, he had actually followed the steps he had planned beforehand and managed to draw the game. He felt deeply ashamed and remorseful. If he had known that the old man was such a terrible player, he would have let him win from the beginning.
Xu Zhengyang, who was always self-aware, was unaware that his chess skills, or rather, his ability to calmly consider moves, had reached an astonishing level. He still thought of himself as the stubborn boy who used to play chess with the elderly in the village, preferring to be wiped out and left with nothing rather than let the old man give him a handicap at the start of the game.
"Do you believe that God exists in this world?" the old man suddenly asked, his face calm, still radiating kindness and gentleness.
"I don't know, maybe... there might be," Xu Zhengyang said, feigning ignorance.
The old man smiled and said, "A few months ago, you were still telling people that Heaven is watching what people do, and that there are gods three feet above your head. You haven't said those things much lately."
"Back then, I was dissatisfied and annoyed by many things," Xu Zhengyang said with a slightly embarrassed expression.
"There are many believers in your village."
"Well, I didn't expect it either. I just wanted to scare Han Dashan at first..."
The old man smiled gently, reached out and took the purple clay teapot handed to him by the aloof and indifferent Li Bingjie, took a sip of tea, and slowly said, "People used to say that faith is something that exists if you believe in it, and doesn't exist if you don't believe in it. What do you think?"
"It's probably a matter of mindset," Xu Zhengyang said after a moment's thought. "I think it's mostly because of a guilty conscience."
"Yes, that's right." The old man nodded in satisfaction. "Zhengyang..."
Xu Zhengyang looked at the old man intently, not understanding why the old man had taken a long breath.
"I now have some doubts, or rather, I believe, that God exists." The old man narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at Xu Zhengyang with a smile.
"..." Xu Zhengyang frowned, just like the old man in front of him, and just like his own usual habit, he narrowed his eyes and said calmly, "Sometimes, I believe it too."
"Sometimes you don't believe it?"
"Um."
The old man nodded, took another sip of tea, handed the purple clay teapot to Li Bingjie, and said, "I think you are like a god."
“Grandpa, I really want to be a god.” Xu Zhengyang replied casually without any pause or surprise.
"In just six months, you've come this far. If you're not a god... is there really a local deity helping you?" The old man's expression suddenly turned serious.
A rare, cold glint flashed in Xu Zhengyang's narrowed eyes, but this glint was not noticed by the old man's profound gaze because Xu Zhengyang deliberately lowered his eyelids when it appeared.
Xu Zhengyang said softly, "Actually, it's all luck."
"It doesn't make sense." The old man's voice trailed off, seemingly dissatisfied with Xu Zhengyang's answer.
Xu Zhengyang raised his head, opened his squinted eyes, his expression calm, but his tone was very serious as he said, "Grandpa, I don't like being followed. It makes me angry."
"Well, that's only human nature." The old man wasn't angry at Xu Zhengyang's disrespectful and obviously hostile words. He smiled and said, "The person you discovered last time was someone I arranged. I apologize to you."
"Grandpa, your words are shortening my lifespan again." Xu Zhengyang's expression relaxed, and he smiled somewhat apologetically, "Actually, I understand, it's all for Bingjie's good."
The old man clasped his right and left hands together slightly and placed them in front of his abdomen. He said calmly, "There are very few things that I can't understand or see through... This statement is a bit presumptuous, a bit like taking advantage of my age."
Xu Zhengyang chuckled silently, looking at the old man like a primary school student attentively listening to a teacher's lecture.
"In this world, there is actually no need for gods," the old man said calmly. Perhaps noticing Xu Zhengyang's slightly disapproving look, he continued, "Good and evil, as well as selfishness, are all inherent in human nature. This is why injustice and sin exist. Yet, people yearn for equality and a good life. This contradiction is the driving force behind human development. However, if we truly lived a life of boundless happiness, without worries or troubles, the meaning of human existence would be lost..."
Xu Zhengyang frowned slightly, pondering the meaning of the old man's words. They were indeed profound and difficult to understand in a short time.
At the same time, Xu Zhengyang felt uneasy and doubtful. Could it be that the old man had already confirmed that he was a god?
Xu Zhengyang's heart skipped a beat. He decided to use his supernatural powers to probe the old man's thoughts, because he felt this was a very dangerous signal.
However, at this moment, the old man smiled and said, "I'm just saying this to remind you that you are still young. Don't have too many high expectations and dreams. It is right to punish evil and promote good and be a hero. It is a thought that every young person has, but you should pay attention to the way you do it and not be too extreme."
Xu Zhengyang was slightly puzzled.
“For example, before, you promoted the existence of a so-called god, but fortunately, it didn’t have much influence and was just called superstition. But if you continue doing that, it might be classified as a cult.” The old man was kind, with the kind of expression an elder would show when caring for a younger generation.
"Yes, I know, thank you for reminding me, Grandpa." Xu Zhengyang nodded. He had thought of these things too.
"I suppose you understood this a long time ago, otherwise you wouldn't have been deliberately keeping a low profile lately. You're a smart kid." The old man nodded approvingly, looking somewhat pleased.
Xu Zhengyang scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly and said, "Sometimes I go a little overboard. Actually, it's just good luck. There are some things that I didn't expect."
"Perhaps," the old man nodded.
Xu Zhengyang remained silent.
After a long silence, Li Bingjie suddenly said, "You're fine."
"Mm," Xu Zhengyang replied without blushing.
The old man smiled, looking quite pleased, and said, “Everyone is selfish, Zhengyang. If you can help Bingjie improve her condition, or even recover completely, then in the future… perhaps if you make a mistake, I can forgive you. Well, of course, the prerequisite is that I'm still alive at that time, haha.”
Xu Zhengyang said, "May you enjoy boundless happiness and longevity."
"Haha..." The old man laughed heartily.
“Actually…” Xu Zhengyang narrowed his eyes and smiled, but he didn’t look honest. He said softly, “You don’t need to give me any benefits. I will try my best to help Bingjie. You know that I’m always very loyal to my friends.”
The old man nodded and smiled, but remained silent, seemingly still pondering whether Xu Zhengyang's words held any other meaning.
Yes, there are.
Xu Zhengyang secretly wondered what the old man meant by accommodating his future mistakes that he had just made. What could it be that required such a high-ranking and unapproachable old man as him to accommodate?
Therefore, Xu Zhengyang did not hesitate this time and sent a wisp of his mental energy into the old man's mind.
Xu Zhengyang's face broke into a simple, honest smile again. He knew he had guessed correctly.
However, Xu Zhengyang no longer harbored such deep-seated fear or apprehension. He had long since overcome his anxieties and determined his future path: to be a humble god and a peaceful human being. Perhaps the old man before him felt he had won this game, but how could he know that while Xu Zhengyang lacked the other man's shrewd and almost demonic wisdom, he possessed supernatural abilities beyond the comprehension of ordinary people—the ability to know the thoughts and intentions of everyone within the Fuhe region?
So even when the old man was certain that Xu Zhengyang possessed some kind of extraordinary ability, he never imagined that Xu Zhengyang would know what he was thinking and measuring.
Therefore... under Xu Zhengyang's deliberate act of being honest and low-key, this was nothing more than a draw that Xu Zhengyang reluctantly agreed to.
"Let's have a simple lunch here," the old man said, his face showing signs of weariness.
Xu Zhengyang stood up and said politely, "No, the shop is busy and I have to go back. I'm sorry to disturb your rest. I have to go back now."
The old man smiled and nodded, saying nothing more.
Xu Zhengyang glanced at Li Bingjie, smiled, and then slowly walked out.
Li Bingjie rose gracefully and walked out as if on cloud nine. Whether out of politeness or some other reason, she made the gesture of seeing the guest off.
Volume 3, Judge, Chapter 136: The Shy Big Boy
It was freezing cold outside, but warm and cozy inside.
In Xu Zhengyang's office on the second floor of Gu Xiang Xuan, all sorts of ebony carvings, large and small, were piled up on his desk, coffee table, and even the floor. From small pendants to large chairs or screens, they were all genuine ebony carvings.
These ebony pieces are inherently hard and come in various colors, including dark brown, dark red, golden, and yellowish brown. The colors are all quite dark, and some pieces are even similar to rosewood. The wood has a smooth surface and fine grain, and the carved artifacts do not need to be painted or colored. After being carefully polished, they become as bright as a mirror.
Yao Chushun said that these ebony pieces were all of the highest quality, guaranteed not to fade, rot, or get infested with insects...
Xu Zhengyang didn't care about any of that; what he cared about was Yao Chushun's comment on ebony: "The finest ebony embodies the spirit of heaven and earth, and gathers the essence of the sun and moon. It is the spirit of all trees, the most revered of all woods."
Goodness, no wonder this thing can be used to make a soul-beating whip.
What excited Xu Zhengyang the most was that all these ebony handicrafts were carved from ebony roots. Even Yao Chushun himself hadn't expected to be able to collect so many ebony root artworks. It seems that money really does make things easier; this pile of miscellaneous items certainly cost a lot of money, over 580,000 yuan... Yao Chushun explained that if it were just ebony and not artwork, it wouldn't be worth so much; a large portion of the price was in the carving craftsmanship.
At first, Yao Chushun would ask Xu Zhengyang for money one or two items at a time, and then ask Xu Zhengyang if he wanted more. Xu Zhengyang would then say yes, yes, as much as he could get...
Xu Zhengyang initially thought this item was extremely rare, and that finding one was pure luck; he figured he might not get another chance. So he spent lavishly, without a second thought. Little did he realize that his spending had accumulated to such an extent that he was furious and accusing Master Gu and Yao Chushun of profiting from the situation.
Yao Chushun cried out that he was wronged and cursed, "You son of a bitch! You're like a dog biting Lü Dongbin, not recognizing a kind heart. I'm listening to you seriously. You're so anxious to get ebony roots, calling friends and acquaintances every day to ask them to help you search for them. You've incurred so many favors..."
Xu Zhengyang could only smile wryly, blaming himself for being so clueless.
Should he make a Soul-Slaying Whip and then coerce some ghosts to search for treasures in other places to recoup his losses? Xu Zhengyang thought viciously, but then he realized that it was like taking off his pants to fart, going to unnecessary trouble. With his current status, he didn't need to take out the Soul-Slaying Whip. Which ghost would dare to disobey him?
As usual, Li Bingjie arrived at Gu Xiang Xuan in the morning. This time, she no longer sat in the lobby but went to Xu Zhengyang's office. The two gazed at each other for a moment, then Li Bingjie watched Xu Zhengyang busy himself with other things before disappearing like a fleeting cloud, coming and going quietly… Xu Zhengyang was already used to this and didn't pay much attention. After Li Bingjie left, he lingered around the ebony handicrafts for a while before sitting down at his desk. He began flipping through a picture book he had bought, filled with pictures of ancient weapons. Xu Zhengyang turned to the page with pictures of whips, thinking that since the money was already spent, there was no use regretting it. Now he needed to consider what shape to make the Soul-Slaying Whip to look good, stylish, and imposing.
He didn't want to make the Soul-Striking Whip into a soft, long thing, thinking it was too effeminate. He also didn't consider making it into a nine-section whip or a three-section staff. He felt that such a thing couldn't be played with casually without some skill. If it were swung and hit him, knocking his soul out, it would be a huge loss, making him the most tragic god in history.
If a real man were to use it, it would have to be the kind of hard steel whip used by Qin Qiong, the door god—majestic and domineering.
With so many materials in the room, how many could be made according to the size of the Soul-Slaying Whip he imagined? Enough for mass production and market sales.
Xu Zhengyang scratched his head. Making one piece would consume some divine power, and making so many wouldn't be useful for the time being, so... he'd make about ten pieces for now and store them inside his body. As for the other ebony, he'd sell them at the Gu Xiang Xuan shop to recoup some of his costs. Anyway, these things weren't particularly rare these days; he could just buy more if he needed them later.
Just as he was thinking this, his phone rang. Xu Zhengyang frowned; he really didn't want to hear it ring. He was afraid it was another media reporter trying to interview him. Although almost a month had passed and no reporters had called recently, Xu Zhengyang's poor heart was still burdened by the heavy shadow of his celebrity status.
He got up and walked to the side of the locker, took the leather jacket off the hook, took out his phone and looked at it. It was Dong Yuebu calling.
Xu Zhengyang looked embarrassed. Why do people always forget this and that? Dong Yuebu had called him several times to sincerely invite him, but he always forgot about this.
A while ago, Dong Yuebu understood Xu Zhengyang's situation. He was simply too busy with his phone all day, so Xu Zhengyang had been keeping it off for extended periods. Dong Yuebu didn't directly visit Xu Zhengyang to invite him to his home or take him to a nice restaurant. Dong Yuebu figured that a wealthy person like Xu Zhengyang couldn't possibly be as carefree as he seemed when he was learning to drive; he was definitely incredibly busy most of the time.
Therefore, Dong Yuebu always felt a little awkward when making the call. However, he felt guilty if he didn't invite Xu Zhengyang, and it would seem pretentious not to invite him because he was busy.
"Um, Mr. Xu, could you spare some time? It's almost Chinese New Year... My husband and daughter have been nagging me to see you every day."