Playing Chess

Upon seeing that the old man was no longer as composed and indifferent as before, Xu Yan smiled and said, "Of course, I painted it myself. Are you satisfied, old sir?"

It seemed that even the old man found the painting excellent, but that was within Xu Yan's expectations. The old man gazed at Xu Yan with a mix of surprise and suspicion but eventually believed that the painting was indeed Xu Yan's work. Only someone who had witnessed him and the green-haired turtle together could capture such a lifelike scene.

After hesitating for a moment, the old man apologized, "Senior, it is me who has been narrow-minded all these days. Please accept this turtle as compensation for my rudeness."

This time, it was Xu Yan's turn to be surprised. Why would the old man call him a senior and want to give him the turtle? Was he conquered by his talents as well?

Nevertheless, regardless of the reason, Xu Yan was pleased and said, "Old sir, you seem to have a certain understanding of calligraphy and painting. Please accept this painting."

After a brief hesitation, the old man replied, "Well, I'll accept it then."

Trembling, he took the painting titled "The Old Man and the Green-Haired Turtle." He felt extremely excited and joyful that someone would gift him a painting imbued with the supreme Tao. He looked at Xu Yan with even greater awe, considering him a true hidden expert.

Xu Yan pointed to the water tank with the green-haired turtle and said, "Then I will take this green-haired turtle with me."

Trading a painting for a turtle priced at a hundred thousand copper coins seemed like a great deal to him.

Folding the painting, the old man said, "The green-haired turtle is destined to be with you. It's an honor for it to follow you."

Eager to leave the place, he believed that the profound Tao depicted in the painting would be of great help to him in breaking through his stagnant cultivation.

Feeling that the old man's words were somewhat strange, Xu Yan remarked, "Old sir, you really have a way with words."

Though the phrase "destined to be with you" was intended as a compliment, it sounded a bit odd. However, Xu Yan didn't dwell on it and left the market with the small water tank.

After Xu Yan left, the old man soared into the sky and disappeared above Tianren City, attracting no attention.

Back at the small shop, Xu Yan placed the small water tank on an outdoor table. This marked the beginning of his venture into pet ownership.

He was quite satisfied to acquire the green-haired turtle without spending a single coin. The only somewhat bothersome aspect was the turtle's striking green color.

Outside the shop, a young woman approached the door and peered inside. She called out, "Senior Xu, may I come in?"

Looking towards the entrance, Xu Yan recognized her as Qin Yudie. He replied, "Miss Qin, please come in."

He admired Qin Yudie. Coming here again today, it was evident that her fondness for calligraphy and painting ran deep. She was destined for greatness in the future.

The luminous green-haired turtle in the water tank piqued Qin Yudie’s interest, and she walked over to take a look at it. She smiled and said, "What an adorable green-haired turtle."

In her mind, she thought, "Indeed, Senior Xu is remarkable. He keeps such a turtle as a pet. This is the demeanor of a hidden expert."

Xu Yan inquired, "Miss Qin, did you come today to learn calligraphy and painting?"

If someone sought guidance in calligraphy and painting, he would gladly teach them. After all, these arts needed to be passed down.

Feeling a bit nervous, Qin Yudie replied, "I just came to visit Senior Xu, without any other intentions."

She didn't have much knowledge of calligraphy and painting. If she let Xu Yan teach her, he would surely see through her pretense as a fake art enthusiast. Thus, she needed to find a way to dispel such dangerous thoughts from Xu Yan's mind. Meanwhile, she planned to study calligraphy and painting more thoroughly after going back.

Xu Yan, feeling there was nothing much to visit in his small shop, suggested, "How about a game of chess?" He enjoyed playing chess and used to play with the locals, but the skill gap was significant, making it less enjoyable. Chess, after all, was about competition, and playing against opponents with a wide skill difference lost its meaning.

Excited at the prospect of a chess match, Qin Yudie proudly responded, "Sure, I'm quite skilled at chess. In our se ... family, I am considered top-tier."

She almost slipped and said "our sect" but swiftly corrected herself to "our family." Nevertheless, it was a genuine statement; within the Tianren Sect, only one person had defeated her in chess.

Eager to play, Xu Yan said, "Wait a moment!"

He went inside and returned with a chessboard, setting it on the outdoor table. The two sat opposite each other, and Xu Yan suggested, "You can go first."

It had been a while since he played chess, and today seemed like a good opportunity. Perhaps he could have a satisfying match.

"Alright!" Qin Yudie accepted the challenge. Since Xu Yan asked her to start, she planned to showcase her skills and impress him. Without much thought, she made her first move.

In response, Xu Yan made his move. However, as Qin Yudie witnessed the piece being placed, she felt a profound impact on her mind and body. It wasn't a chess match; it was a contest of the Tao.

She realized that this wasn't a chess game but a duel of the Tao. Her initial excitement turned into shock and awe. She wondered if Senior Xu was guiding her in her cultivation. After all, how else could she experience the Tao so intimately, let alone engage in a Tao contest?

Suppressing all her confidence, she made her next move cautiously. In Xu Yan's eyes, however, her move seemed quite amateurish. He couldn't help but question if Qin Yudie lived alone. Her claim to being among the top-tier in her family's chess skills was questionable, unless everyone else in her family was worse.

After six rounds of moves, the game concluded. Even though Xu Yan held back a sea's worth of strength, he still effortlessly won. He was exhausted, wondering how he could hold back more. Meanwhile, Qin Yudie, on the other hand, was elated. The brief contest had significantly improved her cultivation.

Feeling invigorated, she couldn't help but suggest, "Senior Xu, let's play another round!"

Xu Yan decided not to dampen her enthusiasm. After all, she kindly visited him, and he was a handsome young man with a good demeanor. So, he agreed and said, "Sure, let's play another round."

This time, he held back even more, making the game more challenging for himself. Nevertheless, after six rounds, he “managed” to win again. Feeling a bit tired from the mental exertion, he jokingly thought, "Miss, who taught you chess? Can I take them mountain climbing?"