Chapter 612: The Best Opportunity
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
"What did Tang Yishou say?" asked Sir Bi.
"Tang Yishou racked his brain until he vomited blood from overexertion, but he couldn't think of anything… He's resting right now," answered Yun Yang.
"Vomited blood? Resting? If one didn't see it with his own eyes, how could one imagine there to be such a ga in this world? A playbook that makes people vomit blood indeed…"
Sir Bi breathed in deeply; suddenly, his eyes brightened as he said, "Could this be the legendary Hematesis Manual that no one has ever solved?"
"Hematesis Manual? The secret manual of Go?" Yun Yang uttered in shock. He then nodded imdiately and spoke in tones of agreent, "No wonder… The legendary fantasy of Go… what could we ever do about it?"
Sir Bi was deep in thought as he tried out all the approaches he thought of, in consecutive steps. He ca to a swift conclusion - one must not break the ga using ordinary tactics.
Coming to this conclusion, he attempted it again, beginning to derive various changes in his mind. The more complex his thoughts, the more changes there were; ultimately, it was in vain and the losing ga could hardly be corrected.
As ti passed, the black and white stones on the Go board in his mind slowly turned into a black and white army standing by; the thousands of military steeds and n ca and went like a sweeping tornado. Two outstanding marshals dished out their best strategies, the battle kept on evolving as the massacre turned heated.
Sir Bi gradually showed signs of being dazed, as he murmured, "No way to go forward and no place to draw back… what is one to do about such an impasse? How can this defeat be turned around? How can the disadvantage be flipped over? How can this be?"
His face paled as he spoke, his form swaying. Sir Bi was thoroughly imrsed in the Go ga. There were mirages before his eyes as he began to look worse for wear, but he was unaware of it.
Yun Yang wore the sa look of contemplation, as if he was in a trance. In reality, his focus was not even on the ga; he felt only amused, thinking, 'The God of Wine Feng Xiange has been studying this Go playbook for a large portion of his life, already reducing years of his life from vomiting blood… While you're reserved and are a part of the civil and martial mandarins of the Four Seasons Tower, you're still so distance away from the last generation's expert, the Phantom Physician God of Wine, Feng Xiange, aren't you?'
'Let us see if it kills you once you're totally absorbed in it!'
"Bang!"
The crown prince suddenly slapped the table, making a loud noise.
Sir Bi broke out of his trance when he heard the noise, spitting out a mouthful of blood and looking disoriented. He opened his eyes and said, "So close…"
Before his words echoed in the air, there was a noise that ca from Yun Yang's side. It was as if a mouthful of blood had gushed to his throat but he had shut his lips tight and swallowed the blood back down with a gurgle. In spite of his best efforts, the flush on his handso face was plain to anyone's view; he reeled and had used his sleeve to wipe the blood from the edge of his mouth. All of it showed that he was equally affected and was not any better than Sir Bi. He chuckled humorlessly and said, "How is this a manual? It's a lethal saber! I've laughed at the King of Go for being too much a fanatic for Go and lacked endurance. Now that I'm experiencing it myself, I know how bad it can be!"
Sir Bi let out a dry chuckle as well, and a vague sense of doubt that just rose from the deeper part of his eyes vanished.
"Looks like this manual isn't sothing that we can solve. Forcing it will only bring more harm than good!"
Yun Yang kept the Go playbook away and laughed bitterly, "It's better to store this thing and never let it be seen again. The multitude of ways of the world lead to the sa path; be it the art of Go or the martial art, once one is fully engrossed in it and doesn't manage to remove oneself, it becos an obsession. Falling deep into it will bring only bane. It's better to avoid it altogether."
Sir Bi heaved a long sigh gently and said, "Indeed, indeed. Young Master Yun is right. It's the forefathers' painstaking effort that built this amazing ga. How can we treat it lightly?"
Despite already making a decision, Sir Bi was inexplicably reluctant when he saw Yun Yang tucking the Go playbook into his embrace and said, "Are you truly not going to study it anymore, Young Master Yun? Are you stopping right now?"
Yun Yang chuckled and said rather self-depreciatingly, "Sir Bi is a wise man, you must understand the situation. This is a ga that must not go on. Forcing it will be greatly damaging to both you and . Forgive my directness, I have no acquaintance with His Highness nor do I take the sa side in terms of politics. We have different stances, we can only bear the consequences on our own."
"I'd be reluctant to et doom and if anything happens to Sir Bi due to this manual, His Highness' fury will unavoidably land on . This won't be good for both sides. Let's end the chance of that happening right here!" Yun Yang chuckled.
A ghost of a smile appeared on the crown prince's originally grim face as he said "Heir Yun's words are very true. The art of such a ga is intricate, but it's an avocation after all. To be damaged for it isn't a pleasurable experience. Now that we're all fine, it's for the best."
Sir Bi smiled without hard feelings and said, "Young Master Yun is right. Then we shall leave this at that. I hope there'll be a chance in the future to crack the code with you again."
Inside, he thought, 'I've rembered the key of the first ga anyway. I'll study it slowly when I get back. If I can crack this ga, it'll be my personal gain - better than sharing it with anybody else. I should be the only one to enter the hall of fa in the history of Go!"
Yun Yang kept the Go manual promptly and bid farewell before leaving. His steps were light like he had put down sothing heavy in his mind.
Sir Bi's eyes were sparkling as he watched Yun Yang step out of the Residence of Crown Prince, saying, "Your Highness, today is the best opportunity to ambush Yun Yang!"
The crown prince turned abruptly to look at Sir Bi questioningly. It was evident that he was utterly confused about how this opinion ca about.
Sir Bi took in a deep breath and said, "It's all about timing. Now that Your Highness has built a friendly relationship with Yun Yang by chance, Your Highness has an explanation ready to erase the suspicion should anyone raise doubts after we make a move on him. Besides, this is when all the assassins are resting from the battle, but still a chaotic ti. It's extrely convenient to make the move right now!"
The crown prince nodded faintly and said, "That is correct. It is indeed our best opportunity to ambush him now. No one will ever suspect a friend who has just expressed his amicability. Sir Bi is truly wise."
Sir Bi nodded with a smile and comnted casually, "It's destined that Your Highness will accomplish the operation. It'd be preposterous not to take what heaven gives!"
Without further ado, His Highness sent his order. When his instruction was just about completed, Sir Bi added sothing else, "Rember to bring back the Go manual from Young Master Yun. Do not damage it."
The crown prince was baffled.
'What the f*ck are you killing Yun Yang for? Is it for yourself or is it for yourself?'
'It's only a Go playbook. Do you have to be so brazen as to abuse your official powers just for this thing?'
His Highness could not understand Sir Bi's attitude regarding such a decision at all.
…
Yun Yang walked out of the Residence of Crown Prince and t soone familiar just as he made a turn.
It was Shangguan Lingxiu.
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