398 (third watch of the night)

Xuanyuan Shangchen seated himself on the floor, looking at Chu Jin's sleeping face with a faint arc forming at the corner of his mouth. The wide brim of his hat cast a shadow over his face, concealing his features and giving him a mysterious aura.

"Feng'er," Xuanyuan Shangchen spoke softly, his voice deep and subdued, yet filled with indulgence, acceptance, and a tender entanglement.

No one on the opposite side responded.

After a long while, Xuanyuan Shangchen withdrew his gaze, looked down at the chessboard with a smile lingering on his lips for a very long time, unmoving. Suddenly, he swept his hand across the table with a loud crash, the teaware and chessboard falling to the ground, creating a mess.

At this moment, he resembled an infuriated lion, ready to deliver a fatal strike at any moment!