Gu Hai and Sima Changkong turned their heads and looked over. However, they smiled, not worried that Mo Yike would report them. The wise had their pride. Unless it were a matter of life and death, they would not take such vile action. Furthermore, Lu Yang was currently suspicious of Mo Yike.
“How bold we are does not matter. Mister Mo, it has been a long time.” Sima Changkong smiled.
“Mister Sima, how excellent! You still owe me an account for Silver Moon City, yet you continuously caused further trouble for me after that. Even so, you still dare to come?” Mo Yike smiled.
“The one causing trouble for you is not me. It is this Mister Gu. If you want an account, get it from him.” Sima Changkong smiled.
“Mister Gu, I have been waiting for you. That’s right. You came about when I expected you to,” Mo Yike said with a smile.
“Oh?” This slightly surprised Gu Hai.
Sima Changkong also appeared somewhat puzzled.
“Please, have a seat. Oh, right, Lord Chen, since you are here to attend the banquet, you had best head to the banquet hall,” Mo Yike said with a smile.
Lord Chen looked at Sima Changkong. Then, Sima Changkong nodded.
Lord Chen bowed respectfully before leaving.
“They have gone to participate in the banquet. What about you? You are the host,” Sima Changkong asked out of curiosity.
“It does not matter. There will be a double attending in my place. You two came from far away. How can I not attend to you two properly? Please, sit,” Mo Yike said with a smile.
A double? Sima Changkong’s expression changed. Then, he no longer bothered with it. Since Mo Yike already thought this through, there was nothing more to worry about.
The three sat down. Then, Mo Yike brewed tea for all of them.
“Please sample my tea. Give me your opinions?” Mo Yike invited with a smile.
Sima Changkong and Gu Hai picked up their cups and took a sip.
“Excellent tea. There is a fragrance upon sipping it that moves one deeply.” Gu Hai smiled.
“Excellent tea!” Sima Changkong nodded as well.
However, Mo Yike looked at Sima Changkong and smiled. “Mister Sima, you are not as open as Mister Gu. Are you thinking that there is poison in my tea?”
After saying that, Mo Yike also took a sip.
Sima Changkong showed a bitter smile and said, “Sorry, I failed to control this force of habit. I should be punished for that.”
Sima Changkong drained the tea in one go. When Sima Changkong took a sip earlier, he had not swallowed.
“Mister Mo’s nightly banquets are an excellent move. Even though Lu Yang restricts your movements, you use the nightly banquets to extend your reach?” Gu Hai smiled.
It was just like how. Although Gu Hai and Sima Changkong came, no one knew about it, and no one stopped them. All the banquet guests had been deceived.
“Mister Gu is cracking jokes. Isn’t all this thanks to you?” Mo Yike smiled back.
“Mister Mo, please don’t say that. I did not have a choice, either. After all, Mister Mo is too capable.” Gu Hai’s smile turned bitter.
Mo Yike’s expression turned solemn. He sighed, “Hah! Back then, I advised His Majesty. Unfortunately, my words did not hold enough weight, and Long Wanqing…”
“Oh? Mister Mo knows about it? That means that we have not cleared out all the spies in our camp?” Sima Changkong frowned slightly.
“Mister Sima, there’s no need to worry. That spy works for only me. He will not disrupt your military, nor is he capable of it,” Mister Mo said while shaking his head.
“Ha! Mister Mo has excellent reach!” Sima Changkong marveled.
“Mister Mo, Gu Hai can only apologize for your current situation. However, you can offset your losses with other gains. This might not be a bad thing. With Mister Mo’s talent, the Ying Royal Dynasty is unworthy of you,” Gu Hai sighed.
Mo Yike picked up his teacup and looked at the two. Then, he took a sip and showed a faint smile. “Huh? The Ying Royal Dynasty is unworthy of me? Then, what place is worthy of me?”
“My prince, Long Shenwu, commands the Southern Suppression Army, commanding millions of soldiers. If Mister Mo joins my prince’s official residence, you will be my prince’s top advisor. I am willing to hand my position over to you. What do you think?” Sima Changkong immediately put in his pitch.
“Oh? Become Long Shenwu’s top adviser?” Mo Yike revealed a faint smile. However, he looked at Gu Hai.
Gu Hai also showed a faint smile as he said, “Perhaps Mister Mo does not think much of it, but this Gu Hai will be thick-skinned and recommend myself. My Han Royal Dynasty urgently needs wise people like Mister Mo to point the way out.”
Mo Yike looked at Gu Hai. “Hahaha! Mister Gu, I never said that I looked down on your Han Royal Dynasty. With Mister Gu in charge, even if the Han Royal Dynasty is like a pile of mud, it is still a diamond in the rough.”
“Oh? Is Mister Mo willing to join my Han Nation?” Gu Hai asked probingly.
Mo Yike sipped his tea and looked at the two, who were filled with anticipation. Then, he revealed a faint smile and said, “The two of you are that sure that this Mo has already reached the point where I have to start picking another side?”
“Mister Mo misunderstands. You are a treasure. Anyone would fight over you. It is not due to your circumstances.” Sima Changkong shook his head.
However, Mo Yike smiled and said, “Mister Sima, Mister Gu, there’s no need to continue persuading me. This Mo is only in a slump. I will eventually rise again. There’s no need for you two to worry about my future. Let’s talk about your purpose in coming here, then.”
Sima Changkong saw Gu Hai reveal a bitter smile. It had gone as they previously discussed. Mo Yike was indeed stubborn, and he could not be persuaded to surrender.
“Alright. I’ll not beat around the bush. I do have something to ask Mister Mo. Furthermore, since Mister Mo anticipated my visit, I think you probably guessed what it is, right?” Gu Hai said with a solemn expression.
“Oh? Mister Gu, speak. I’ll listen.” Mo Yike’s expression also turned solemn.
“Back then, Lu Yang controlled Li Haoran to kill Long Xiaoyue and obtained Long Xiaoyue’s three spiritual souls. Then, he used Long Xiaoyue’s three spiritual souls to threaten the Unborn Man, sending the Unborn Man to assassinate me. I believe Mister Mo knows about that?”
“I learned of it afterwards.” Mo Yike nodded.
“Lu Yang gave Long Xiaoyue’s mortal soul to the Unborn Man. I would like to know the location of her earthly soul and heavenly soul,” Gu Hai said gravely.
Sima Changkong also looked at Mo Yike with a grave expression.
Mo Yike remained silent for a while. Then, he took a sip of tea and smiled faintly. “I have investigated Mister Gu before. You previously played Go with the Heavenly Go Pavilion’s Ninth Young Master at Nine-Five Island?”
Mo Yike changed the topic. However, Gu Hai’s eyes lit up. Mo Yike’s words meant that he had some information and wanted to negotiate terms.
“That’s right. I played with him at the Dragon Pinning Sect.” Gu Hai nodded.
“I also played Go with Ninth Young Master before,” Mo Yike recalled.
“Oh?” Gu Hai looked at Mo Yike.
“After that, Ninth Young Master wanted to make me his substitute. However, I did not agree.” Mo Yike smiled.
However, Gu Hai frowned. Ninth Young Master’s substitute? Ninth Young Master is very picky when it comes to his substitute. Furthermore, he seeks only people strong in the Go Dao. Back then, he sought me out, and I rejected him.
“At that time, Ninth Young Master played a particular Go puzzle with me, the Twenty-Nine Line-Pair World Go Puzzle. Unfortunately, we did not complete it. That Go puzzle was extremely interesting. It used twenty-nine line pairs. Mister Gu, you know it too, right?” Mo Yike looked at Gu Hai.
“That’s right.” Gu Hai nodded.
“I did not finish the puzzle back then. However, that Go puzzle lingers in my mind. Mister Gu, this Mo is not talented but has studied the Go Dao a little. I have seen countless Go puzzles in my life, but that Go puzzle captivates me the most. If Mister Gu does not think me beneath notice, I would like for Mister Gu to set up the original Go puzzle so that I can try solving it,” Mo Yike said seriously.
The Twenty-Nine Line-Pair World Ritual Array?
“Of course, to be honest, I do not know much about Long Xiaoyue’s heavenly soul and earthly soul. However, I do know a clue. If you do not mind the trouble, you can try investigating it. What do you think?” Mo Yike smiled at Gu Hai.
“Since Mister Mo loves Go, naturally, this Gu is willing to show you. It is hard to find a match in Go. This is something that this Gu has always dreamed of, whether friend or enemy.” Gu Hai smiled back.
“Mister Gu, please.” Mo Yike immediately took out a Go board.
This Go board had twenty-nine line pairs, and there were white Go stones and black Go stones placed at the side.
Gu Hai waved his hand, and black and white Go stones arranged themselves on the Go board, looking incredibly complicated.
“Mister Mo, have a look. This is the Twenty-Nine Line-Pair World Ritual Array’s perfect state. This is the life puzzle of the life-and-death Go puzzles back then.” Gu Hai smiled.
Mo Yike immediately got immersed in the Go puzzle.
Sima Changkong watched gravely from the side. He understood a little of all four cultural cultivations—music, Go, calligraphy, or painting. However, his main focus was calligraphy. He was not as engrossed in Go as Gu Hai and Mo Yike were. However, he still understood a little. When he looked at the Go puzzle, he frowned extremely heavily.
Gu Hai sat at the side, drinking tea, while Mo Yike stared at the board, completely immersed.
This continued for two hours.
Then, Mo Yike slowly took out a white Go stone and placed it on the Go board.
Clack!
Mo Yike placed the white Go stone in a different position from when Gu Hai played the life puzzle. Back then, Gu Hai had already solved it before he made a move. Mo Yike did not solve the puzzle in one move.
Gu Hai completely understood the Go puzzle. Naturally, he played a black Go stone to continue the puzzle, making the puzzle adapt.
“Huh?” Mo Yike frowned slightly. Then, the two sat there for another two hours.
Clack!
Mo Yike played another Go stone.
This move slightly startled Gu Hai. This Mo Yike was indeed extraordinary. To think that he managed to gain a rough understanding of this Go puzzle.
Clack!
Gu Hai played another black Go stone.
Mo Yike continued staring at the Go board, sitting there for another two hours. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
I can’t solve it?
Then, Mo Yike suddenly closed his eyes and completely relaxed, no longer thinking about this Go puzzle.
After half an hour, Mo Yike took a deep breath as he opened his eyes and played another move.
Clack!
Rattle!
The entire Go board immediately trembled.
“Ha! Hahahahaha! So, that is the case! So, that is the case!” Mo Yike cried out excitedly as though he had broken through a mental barrier.
Gu Hai looked at Mo Yike. Although Mo Yike could not solve the Twenty-Nine Line-Pair World Ritual Array in one move, he still solved it. This already proved his extremely horrifying Go skills.
“Congratulations, Mister Mo. You solved the Twenty-Nine Line-Pair World Ritual Array in a mere six hours,” Gu Hai marveled.
“Mister Gu is too polite. How is it six hours? It has already been close to a year. Ever since I saw Ninth Young Master set it up, I kept thinking about it. Furthermore, Mister Gu’s two moves prodded me in the right direction, helping me solve it, revealing the truth!” Mo Yike said excitedly.
Gu Hai smiled faintly. He did not feel uncomfortable because Mo Yike solved the Twenty-Nine Line-Pair World Ritual Array. Instead, he felt somewhat happy.
Mo Yike only just solved the Twenty-Nine Line-Pair World Ritual Array. However, he would still need some time to grasp it thoroughly. However, that was just a matter of time.
Mo Yike stood up and bowed respectfully to Gu Hai. “Many thanks, Mister Gu.”
“Don’t. There is no need for Mister Mo to do this. I do still have something that I need Mister Mo’s help with,” Gu Hai reminded with a smile.
Mo Yike nodded and said, “I am not too clear on the details regarding Long Xiaoyue’s three spiritual souls. I did not know about Long Xiaoyue’s killing back then, either. Hah! Had I known, I would have stopped His Majesty.”
“Oh?”
“There is a lifespan cultivator under His Majesty called Mister Dongfang. Although His Majesty prevents me from coming in contact with him, I do know some information. He is currently in Army Breaker’s camp. If you want to know about Long Xiaoyue’s three spiritual souls, you have to seek out either His Majesty or Mister Dongfang,” Mo Yike said gravely.
“Mister Dongfang? A white-robed lifespan cultivator?” Sima Changkong said, raising his eyebrows.
“White-robed lifespan cultivator?” Gu Hai repeated, feeling puzzled.
“Indeed. There are eight lifespan cultivators in the world—four white-robed and four black-robed. One of the white-robed lifespan cultivators is called Mister Dongfang. No matter how many generations the inheritance is passed down, they always carry the Dongfang family name. I do not know what this generation is called,” Sima Changkong said with a frown.
“White-robed? Black-robed? What is the difference?”
“The white-robed cultivate life, and the black-robed cultivate death. Most of the white-robed lifespan cultivators appear childlike. They primarily ally themself to the powerful and influential, tempting the powerful and influential to kill. Take Lu Yang, for example. When Lu Yang kills people, Mister Dongfang collects the souls. However, Lu Yang shoulders the sin. If there is any retribution, it will descend on Lu Yang first. Hence, this kind of lifespan cultivator is very crafty,” Sima Changkong said with a frown.
“I have a small thing that can help you. Here are two of Mister Dongfang’s soul seeds. If you bring them with you, you can avoid interference from Mister Dongfang’s lifespan ritual array. Otherwise, you will be trapped in his lifespan ritual array the moment you get close.” Mo Yike proffered two black seeds.
“Oh?” Gu Hai received the soul seeds, with some misgivings.
“Whether you can find him or not depends on yourself. His Majesty gave this to me previously, in case I accidentally entered that lifespan ritual array and got injured. Keep it. At the very least, it will allow you to remain lucid in the lifespan ritual array,” Mo Yike said gravely.
“No wonder! No wonder we strangely lost all contact with the assassins we sent. They entered the lifespan ritual array? Ha! Mister Dongfang?” Sima Changkong revealed a bitter smile.
Gu Hai carefully put away the two soul seeds. Then, he bowed extremely gravely and said, “Many thanks, Mister Mo.”
“Mister Gu is too polite. This is just a deal that benefits both of us; there is no need to thank me. I hope nothing will happen to you. In the future, we can spar in Go again.” Mo Yike smiled.
“Definitely,” Gu Hai said with a smile.
After they chatted for a while, the banquet that Mo Yike’s double hosted also came to an end.
Then, Gu Hai and Sima Changkong followed Lord Chen out of the Mo Residence. Lest trouble arose from lingering for too long, the three left Northern Lookout City during the night.
