The Azure Mountain

Chapter 88: Sages

Oh no!

Chen Ji's pupils suddenly contracted. The biological father of this body of his was right in front of him, and he hadn't recognized him!

No wonder the other party had been sizing him up frequently just now, and no wonder the other party had asked in surprise "You call me Lord".

How should he smooth this over?

In this era of feudal superstition, if he didn't even recognize his own father, he would be treated as something unclean and burned to death...

He saw Chen Liqin standing before him wearing a blue official robe, a leather belt around his waist, and a face tanned dark from supervising work at the riverbanks for several consecutive months.

Unlike Zhang Zhuo's ruddy complexion, Chen Liqin at this moment didn't look like a civil official, but rather more like a military general.

Prince Jing looked at Chen Liqin and asked curiously: "Lord Chen, did you teach Chen Ji his Go skills? Presumably, Lord Chen's Go skills are also formidable."

Chen Liqin cupped his hands and answered humbly: "This humble official is not skilled in Go and has never taught him Go either. This dog-son is like useless mud that can't be plastered onto a wall; to be able to win against you, presumably it's because you yielded to him."

Hearing the word 'dog-son', Chen Ji recalled his own father who had already passed away.That father of his had been a humble person, but when thirteen-year-old Chen Ji was taken to participate in a Go tournament and won second prize, that father of his smiled and told everyone "This kid merely plays Go in his spare time, otherwise none of you would be a match for him," angering the other Go players half to death.

To the side, Zhang Zhuo smiled and said: "Your Highness, your Go skills have long reached the pinnacle of perfection. I remember at the Jiangnan literary gathering seven years ago, when you played against the abbot of Famen Temple, Monk Huitong thought you would concede the game after he placed his one hundred and thirty-seventh move. He even discarded his meditative composure, complacency written all over his face. But what he didn't expect was that the one hundred and thirty-eighth move you made would be a brilliant 'wedge', rendering all his calculations futile. To think that the Chen family kid could win against you, you must have given him a handicap, right?"

Hearing this, Prince Jing smiled and said: "I indeed gave Chen Ji a two-piece handicap, but only for one game. Afterwards, even without a handicap, I still lost several games in a row."

"Eh?" Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin both looked at Chen Ji.

Prince Jing picked up a Go piece and explained: "Chen Ji is a partial genius in the Way of Go, you will understand once you have the time to play with him in the future... but speaking of it, Lord Chen, why does it seem that you father and son are somewhat estranged? You didn't even greet each other when you met. Just now Chen Ji even called you Lord, instead of calling you father."

Chen Ji's suspended heart died again, along with the Prince Heir and Bai Li's.

He thought everyone's attention had already shifted to Go, so how was there another finishing blow?

Chen Liqin glanced at Chen Ji, then turned to Prince Jing and cupped his hands, "Reporting to Your Highness, this humble official also doesn't know what's going on. The dog-son looked at me as if I were a stranger just now, making this humble official quite astounded as well."

Prince Jing looked at Chen Ji and asked with an amused smile: "What, you don't even recognize your own father?"

Chen Ji hesitated.

Just as he was pondering how to answer, he heard Old Yao sneer coldly at Chen Liqin: "Your Chen Estate sent Chen Ji to my place to be an apprentice, yet during holidays and festivals, not a single gift could be seen. Now even the tuition fee is delayed time and time again, making things tight. It's perfectly normal that he doesn't want to acknowledge you. You scholars talk about the ruler being a ruler, the minister being a minister, the father being a father, and the son being a son every day, but if the father is unloving, the son naturally doesn't need to be filial."

Hearing his own Master speak up, Chen Ji suddenly turned his head in astonishment to look at him.

In the clinic, Chen Liqin paused for a moment: "Physician Yao, please don't speak nonsense. When I sent Chen Ji to the clinic, I had instructed the servants that the monthly tuition fee must be delivered on time and that modest gifts must be prepared for you during holidays and festivals. The Chen family passes down its heritage through scholarship and propriety; we wouldn't be ignorant of these rules."

Old Yao said plainly: "Oh, so I'm lying? At any rate, I haven't seen much of your Chen family's gifts. Furthermore, your Chen family is so wealthy, why do you only give Chen Ji three hundred wen a month? It truly doesn't match your Chen family's status. How about this, the Chen family doesn't need to pay the tuition fee in the future anymore. I will accept Chen Ji as a 'Son Disciple'. From now on, I will manage his living needs, and he will care for me in my old age and arrange my burial."

Zhang Zhuo, with his hands tucked into the sleeves of his official robe, looked at Chen Liqin with doubt upon hearing 'three hundred wen'.

Just the rank badge on the chest and back of Chen Liqin's official robe was probably worth a hundred times 'three hundred wen'.

The rank badges of Ning Dynasty officials were issued by the imperial court, but many officials felt the court-issued badges weren't exquisite or bright enough. So, they would hire embroiders to re-embroider them using gold, silver, and colorful silk threads. It had even gradually formed a trend of 'rank badge consumption'.

A rank badge cost thirty taels of silver, yet he only gave his own son three hundred wen a month? Could there be some deep-seated hatred between father and son?

Chen Liqin didn't argue further with Old Yao; he also noticed something was amiss.

He remained silent for a moment before asking: "Physician Yao, for the Mid-Autumn Festival this year, I specifically instructed the butler to deliver gift money and presents. He said he had already sent servants to deliver them to you; did you receive them?"

Old Yao stroked his beard: "You mean the one hundred wen your family's servant delivered? Yes, I received it, thank you for your meager pittance."

Chen Liqin: "..."

Chen Ji: "..."

His own Master's mouth was truly toxic; it was as if it was quenched in poison from the inside out.

Chen Liqin frowned, cupping his hands and bowing to Physician Yao, "Physician Yao, I will definitely investigate this matter clearly and give you an explanation."

Prince Jing smoothed things over with a smile: "This must be a misunderstanding regarding the Chen family's domestic affairs; presumably a servant made a mistake. The Chen family has been a family of nobility and scholars for generations; you wouldn't lose your manners over something like this. Thinking back to when we were still in the Capital City, I often accompanied my Second Uncle as a guest at the Chen Estate. The Chen family was hospitable, refined, and courteous, leaving a profound memory... I remember Lord Chen had just finished participating in the Autumn Examination back then, right?"

Chen Liqin cupped his hands: "Your Highness remembers correctly."

Prince Jing waved his hand: "Alright, I also have domestic affairs to deal with, everyone please return. Come to Jing'an Hall tomorrow to discuss official business."

Chen Liqin looked at Chen Ji: "Chen Ji, return to the estate with me. I will investigate the truth for you today."

However, Chen Ji remained silent.

He didn't want to return to the Chen Estate.

Although Chen Liqin had a blood relationship with him, he only had one father in his heart and didn't plan on adding another.

The rights and wrongs of the Chen Estate had nothing to do with him from the moment he set down the three hundred copper coins in front of the Chen Estate's door.

Amidst the quiet atmosphere, Chen Ji stood behind the mahogany counter and cupped his hands towards Chen Liqin: "Lord Chen, please return. I still have schoolwork to review, I won't return to the Chen Estate before my studies are completed."

"Lord Chen?"

The moment these words came out, Bai Li and the Prince Heir's eyes widened simultaneously.

In this era, the education everyone received dictated that the ruler acts as a ruler, the minister acts as a minister, the father acts as a father, and the son acts as a son. No one had ever dared to act rebelliously and defy their own father. Once a reputation for unfilial behavior spread out, high society wouldn't tolerate you, and the officialdom wouldn't tolerate you either.

But ultimately, Chen Ji did not belong to this era.

Chen Liqin's face darkened: "If you feel wronged regarding the tuition fee matter, I will find out the truth for you today. If you resent me sending you to the clinic, then think about what you did in the past. Could it be that you want me, as your father, to apologize to you instead?"

Chen Ji pondered for a moment, ultimately choosing not to take out Chen Wenxiao's confession.

He merely smiled and said: "Lord Chen has misunderstood, I haven't suffered any grievances. Nowadays I live very well at the clinic; Master takes good care of me, my fellow disciples are harmonious, and my life is very fulfilling. Please return, there are already patients lining up outside the door, don't delay the diagnosis of the patients."

Chen Liqin opened his mouth repeatedly, hesitating to speak.

Due to Prince Jing's presence, he couldn't burst out on the spot, so he had to flick his sleeve and leave: "Look out for yourself!"

...

...

Dozens of official sedan chairs slowly departed, and the Taiping Medical Clinic became quiet once again.

Prince Jing played with a Go piece and looked at Chen Ji: "The Chen family's status is something many people couldn't climb up to even if they tried. You are still young, so you don't know exactly what you just gave up."

"Simple tea and plain rice are quite good too." Chen Ji looked at Old Yao: "Master, thank you."

Old Yao sneered: "There's no need to thank me, the tuition fee that should be paid still has to be paid."

Chen Ji: "...Alright."

While speaking, Prince Jing turned to look at the Prince Heir again: "I was interrupted just now and still haven't talked about your matter. What do you think your punishment should be?"

The Prince Heir carefully probed: "Not allowed to eat for a day?"

Prince Jing's face instantly darkened: "Starting today, your and Bai Li's monthly allowance is cut off. Go kneel at Mingzheng Pavilion for three days without food, and you are grounded, forbidden from leaving the Prince's Estate for half a year!"

The Prince Heir's face changed drastically: "Dad, isn't half a year a bit too long?!"

Bai Li also became anxious: "Dad, it's fine if you just lock up my brother, can you not lock me up?"

Prince Jing laughed out of anger: "You guys sure are very loyal to each other."

Chen Ji discovered that this Prince Jing was very patient with other matters, but only when facing his children did he seem like an ordinary old father, who might violently whip out his belt at any time.

At this moment, Bai Li and the Prince Heir winked at Chen Ji together, signaling him to help think of a solution.

If they really couldn't leave for half a year, they wouldn't be able to participate in the Lantern Festival, couldn't go spring outing, and would rot inside the Prince's Estate.

Chen Ji said: "Your Highness..."

Prince Jing raised his hand and spoke with a condensed voice: "Don't speak. You also have a share in this matter. If it weren't out of respect for Physician Yao, you would be punished together with them."

Physician Yao had just finished grabbing the medicine for Prince Jing. He casually said while tying up the yellow paper package with hemp rope: "No need to show respect for me."

Chen Ji, however, suddenly said: "Your Highness, let's play another game of Go. If I win, you will listen to what I have to say, giving the Prince Heir and Commandery Princess a chance to atone for their crimes through meritorious service."

"Oh?" Prince Jing turned his head to look at Chen Ji: "That technique of managing isolated pieces of yours doesn't work well against me anymore, yet you still have the confidence to win?"

Chen Ji gently rolled up his sleeves and said earnestly: "Let's try."

Prince Jing became interested: "Seems like you still have some bottom-of-the-box skills you haven't brought out yet. Guess first!"

After speaking, he held a few Go pieces in his hand, and Chen Ji guessed: "Odd numbers."

Prince Jing opened his palm, dropping two Go pieces: "You guessed wrong, I will take black and play first."

Bai Li watched this scene in astonishment. In the past, whenever her father met friends whose Go skills were weaker than his, he would proactively let the other party take black and play first. But now, he acted like a competitive general, fighting over every inch of territory and refusing to give an inch.

Prince Jing started with the 'carefree corner' (wuyou jiao). He wanted to bully the isolated white piece with thick influence, completely cutting off Chen Ji's thought of managing isolated pieces and swallowing dragons.

But this time, Chen Ji's white piece stuck close to it without hesitation.

The weakness of an isolated piece was that it was like a remnant candle in the wind, liable to extinguish at any time. However, few people realized that thick influence also had a weakness; it was afraid of becoming overly thick, becoming increasingly clumsy.

Chen Ji placed the white piece down like a legendary antelope hanging its horns from a tree to hide from hunters, leaving no tracks to follow. His Go style was bizarre and ethereal, yet cold and rational.

Prince Jing couldn't understand it anymore. The usually invincible 'carefree corner' sequence was forcefully smashed apart by the white pieces in a mere four moves.

These few moves of Chen Ji's completely overturned his entire understanding. In the cognition of all Go players in the Ning Dynasty, being 'flying pressed' while conducting a pincer attack was a disadvantage, yet in Chen Ji's hands, being flying pressed had actually become an advantage.

Bizarre!

Prince Jing asked in confusion: "How are you able to turn a flying press into an advantage, which sage's method is this?"

Chen Ji did not answer, continuing to place pieces.

The more Prince Jing played, the more confused he became. In a simple seventy-two moves, he felt as if he could see the shadows of all past sages within the paths of these seventy-two moves, yet it was also entirely different!

So Go could also be played like this?

Prince Jing surrendered his piece and admitted defeat: "Again, I will take black and play first."

Bai Li watched silently. Her father actually skipped the step of guessing first, defaulting himself as the side that needed to take black and play first.

In the second game, Prince Jing started with the 'Xiaolin style' (Kobayashi style), wanting to build influence using three points on the left, middle, and right. However, facing Chen Ji's close-combat entanglement, the brilliant move in the middle that should have connected the grand scheme into one contiguous piece ended up looking like an idiot—isolated alone in the middle and completely useless.

In the third game, Prince Jing started with the 'Three Musketeers' star positions, yet still suffered a crushing defeat.

He looked at the Go board, then looked at Chen Ji, and eventually threw the black piece onto the table. He suddenly remembered what he had said previously: "You are not suited to be a Go player, you are only suited to be a Go piece."

Yet Chen Ji had retorted: "Must one live within this Go board?"

At a certain moment, Prince Jing vaguely truly believed that sitting across from him was not a lowly medical clinic apprentice, but some sage of Go sitting in the long river of time, playing against him.

The wheels of the era effortlessly crushed over the Go board, making the old era history from then on.

Prince Jing asked solemnly: "Kid, who is your Go teacher?"

Chen Ji couldn't answer, because he couldn't tell Prince Jing that this was the playstyle of AI.

Chen Ji had also experienced Prince Jing's confusion. He had won the second prize in Go at the age of thirteen and had wanted to continue studying it, but then the AI era arrived.

In the past, humans loved endowing the Way of Go with philosophy and the Heavenly Dao. However, from the moment AI was born, Go reverted back into a competitive game of memory and calculation. Since then, Chen Ji rarely touched Go anymore.

He initially hadn't wanted to use those new AI sequences to beat Prince Jing, but now he had something more important he wanted to do.

Prince Jing let out a long sigh: "Speak, since you've won against me, then let's hear it. How do you intend to lead Yunxi and Bai Li to atone for their crimes through meritorious service?"

Chen Ji pondered for a moment: "Your biggest predicament right now is how to allocate enough glutinous rice to the borders to build cities. But glutinous rice conflicts with the people's livelihood; if you ruthlessly allocate the glutinous rice, many commoners will starve to death."

While gathering the Go pieces from the board into his palm, Prince Jing slowly said: "This matter is difficult to resolve. The world inherently lacks methods to have the best of both worlds; I can only make a choice and sacrifice."

Chen Ji said with certainty: "I have a method for the best of both worlds."

Prince Jing's movements stalled: "Requisitioning glutinous rice is a military strategy. Do you know that there are no jokes in the military?"

Chen Ji spoke resoundingly and forcefully: "Lend the Prince Heir and Commandery Princess to me for use, give me half a month. If I succeed, I will sell you a method for the best of both worlds. If I fail, the Prince Heir and Commandery Princess will be grounded for one year, and I shall be exiled to Lingnan."

Prince Jing sized Chen Ji up with interest for a moment: "Deal."