Return of the Immortal Emperor Daddy

Chapter 16 Verse 1 Zi Ding Qiankun

"That... That’s your temperament. It’s really great," Liang Qingren said, scrambling for an excuse.

Wu Tian laughed. No woman dislikes being called beautiful, just as no man dislikes a pretty woman praising his handsome features or fine demeanor. Hearing Liang Qingren’s words, a smile touched the corners of his lips.

But he knew she was just making an excuse. He was confident that she had noticed him for a specific reason.

Next, Liang Qingren began to tell Wu Tian about the Qin Corporation’s rules, how goods were classified, and some of the Logistics Department’s special duties.

"Okay, what a hassle. If there’s an issue with the power, we have to help? If there’s a problem with documents, we have to help too? Aren’t we basically an All-purpose Pavilion?" Wu Tian said in frustration after her introduction.

"Yes," Liang Qingren nodded. Her current goal was to get familiar with Wu Tian. Then she could bring him home to meet her grandmother, which would make the old woman happy.

Taking a deep breath, Liang Qingren blushed and said, "Director, since we’ll be working together from now on, you can just call me Little Honey."

"Little Honey?"

"Yes, that’s what my grandmother calls me."

"Isn’t that a little inappropriate?"

"It’s fine," Liang Qingren said, laughing and shaking her head. Her laughter, brimming with youthful vivacity, was pleasant.

Afterward, Liang Qingren continued showing Wu Tian around the Logistics Department. Just then, a girl about her age approached. She had an average appearance but seemed very well-behaved. Approaching Liang Qingren, she said with concern, "Qingren, bad news. That woman from the Procurement Department is asking you to buy a vase again."

Hearing this, Liang Qingren faltered. Her expression soured as she said worriedly, "I know, Xinxin."

"I’m sorry, I can’t help you with this. I have to get back to work." The girl named Xinxin then left.

Liang Qingren kept her head bowed, silent, her pretty brow tightly furrowed.

Seeing Liang Qingren look so pitiful and helpless, Wu Tian felt an urge to help her. It also seemed like a good opportunity to ask about the Martial Path in the city.

"Are you alright?"

"I’m fine," Liang Qingren said, forcing her spirits up. "But I have to step out for a while. I’ll finish showing you around when I get back, Director."

"No, let me help you," Wu Tian said. It’s just buying a vase. Why would it trouble her so much?

Liang Qingren looked at Wu Tian. This is a good chance to learn more about him and find out if he is truly an Innate master.

Taking a deep breath, she nodded. "Alright, you can come with me to buy the vase."

Wu Tian smiled.

"Don’t you work at a flower shop? What are you doing here at the Qin Corporation?"

"The flower shop is my family’s business. I’m interning here because I want to be self-reliant."

"I see." Wu Tian nodded, then asked the question that had been puzzling him. "Why is buying a simple vase causing you so much trouble?"

"Well..." Liang Qingren hesitated before sighing and explaining the reason.

The Director of the Procurement Department, Wei Chunhua, had once been known as the corporation’s number one "commoner beauty." However, since Liang Qingren’s arrival, she had been outshone in every aspect. The men who once pursued Wei Chunhua had all fallen for Liang Qingren instead.

As a result, Wei Chunhua started making trouble for her. For instance, the Procurement Department needed a vase for Qin Yuhan’s office. Their director claimed none of her staff could find a suitable one, so the task was passed to the Logistics Department. But no matter what kind of vase Liang Qingren bought, Wei Chunhua would declare it unsatisfactory. This had become a constant source of frustration for Liang Qingren. A good vase? How much would something like that even cost?

"Is there an Antique Street around here?" Wu Tian asked, an idea forming in his mind.

"Yes, there is," Liang Qingren nodded.

"Then take me there."

"Okay." Though she didn’t know what Wu Tian was planning, Liang Qingren nodded and led him to Antique Street.

Antique Street was very close to the Qin Corporation headquarters, only about fifty paces away.

It was afternoon, so the street wasn’t as bustling as it was in the morning, but it was far from deserted. The roadside was lined with vendors’ stalls, antique shops, and jade stores.

Wu Tian smiled to himself. If I want to buy the best vase for the lowest price, Antique Street is the only place it’s possible. Besides, as an Immortal Emperor, he was supremely confident in his judgment; no treasure could escape his Dharma Eye.

Just then, a girl dressed like a simple village maiden, with a pitiful expression, hurried into a nearby shop. The store’s sign read: "Yang City’s Number One Antique Store."

What a bold claim. Wu Tian’s interest was piqued, and he led Liang Qingren inside.

The shop’s interior was indeed quaint and charming, decorated with numerous old items that created a rich, antique atmosphere.

As soon as the village girl entered, she asked, "Boss, do you buy chessboards here?" As she spoke, she took a chessboard out of the basket on her back.

The shop owner was a portly fellow who looked prosperous and affable, giving him a very approachable air. But Wu Tian saw something else in the man’s eyes. He’s a sly merchant, no doubt. The eyes are the windows to the soul, and no one can hide their true nature from an Immortal Emperor’s Dharma Eye.

The portly owner stepped forward to inspect the item. The village girl handed it to him, and Wu Tian and Liang Qingren, their interest piqued, moved closer to watch.

It was a square Go board, with a grid formed by nineteen vertical and nineteen horizontal lines, creating 361 intersections. The board had nine star points marked on it. The central one is known as Tianyuan. On this particular board, however, the Tianyuan point was marked with a speck of what looked like blood.

Two characters were carved into the edges of the board, though they were blurred with age. One could still be made out as "Zhang." The other was illegible, but it clearly had a "wood" radical at the top.

The sight of it brought a famous legend to both Wu Tian’s and Liang Qingren’s minds. At the end of the Sui Dynasty, during the tyrannical rule of Emperor Yang of Sui, the empire fell into chaos, and heroes rose from every corner of the land. Two of the most outstanding figures of that era were Li Shimin and the Qiu Ran Guest, Zhang San. The two once met and determined their destinies over a game of Go. Legend has it that Li Shimin played his decisive stone on the Tianyuan point, giving rise to the tale of how he "decided the fate of the world with a single move."

Could this be the very chessboard from that legendary game?

If Wu Tian and Liang Qingren could make this connection, the antique shop owner certainly could as well. He immediately took out a magnifying glass and began to examine the board meticulously. He scrutinized it from top to bottom, paying close attention to the carved "Zhang" character and the other, blurred character with the "wood" radical.

After a moment, he lowered the magnifying glass, looked at the village girl, and finally spoke. "I’ll take this item, but..."