Chapter 62: A Match Against the Monarch
No matter how chaotic the Xuanying Continent was outside, at this moment, in the heart of a certain lofty Saint Venerable, there was room only for this small valley.
Chen Chang'an stood before Ji Hongli's cave dwelling, pacing back and forth countless times, his brows knitted tightly, fingers opening and closing unconsciously.
This cannot go on…
His mind flashed again with the image of his daughter Chen Xingcai, clutching that book I Was Trapped by the Cold Saint Venerable · Volume Four. The veins at his temples throbbed violently.
What nonsense! As his daughter's teacher, how could she let Xingcai read such scandalous storybooks?
That was why he had come here today—to confront Ji Hongli!
He drew in a deep breath, firming his resolve. Today, he had to have a proper talk with her!
If she remained stubborn and refused to change, then… then he would strip her of the right to be Xingcai's teacher!
He, Chen Chang'an, was—after all—a Saint Venerable!
Yes, Chen Chang'an was swelling with pride!
He recalled the recent experiences of his split body roaming outside. Those cultivators he once viewed with awe and fear no longer seemed all that powerful.
So… that black serpent must have only been an accident!
Perhaps he was unexpectedly strong after all!
The confidence he had lost began to return. He wasn't quite ready to rush out of the valley shouting, "If heaven does not birth me, Chen Chang'an—" but at least… he thought a mere village woman, even one who happened to be a little more beautiful, should be easy enough to handle!
The key was that she must not continue corrupting his daughter!
Finally, he drew in a deep breath, straightened his back, and prepared to call at the door.
But just then—
"You've been pacing here for half an hour. Do you have something to say to me?"
A voice, cool yet tinged with curiosity, sounded from behind.
Chen Chang'an froze, then slowly turned.
Ji Hongli, clad in white, leaned lazily against an ancient tree by the cave. Her fingertips played with a lock of hair, her lips curved in a faint, knowing smile.
Sunlight fell through the leaves, draping her figure in soft brilliance, her skin like snow, her features exquisite as a painting.
When had she appeared? Why had his senses not detected her? Chen Chang'an frowned—but the next instant, he was distracted by the sight before him.
There was an old saying: to be truly stunning, wear white in mourning.
Ji Hongli's white gauze robe fluttered in the breeze, utterly unlike the sultry black dress he had once seen her wear.
Her snow-like attire highlighted her jade-like skin, flawless and translucent. Yet with the faint curl of her lips, a lazy allure slipped through, undermining the coldness.
Her bare feet rested lightly upon the earth, slender ankles crossed delicately, toes touching the ground as if half in play. The arch of her foot curved like a fine bow, pale veins faintly visible beneath the skin.
Her ten toes were shaped like pearls, the nails unstained by dyes yet tinged with natural pink, like peach blossoms just in bloom.
A passing breeze lifted her hem, revealing a stretch of pale calf, smooth as a master's brushwork.
Though the soles of her feet bore faint traces of dirt and grass, it did not diminish her beauty—it added instead an otherworldly air.
As she carelessly swayed her feet, the silver bell at her ankle chimed with crisp clarity, echoing through the quiet forest.
Chen Chang'an's throat tightened, his prepared speech suddenly stuck.
Damn it…
Only then did he realize—he had rarely ever been alone with a woman. Especially not one like Ji Hongli: excessively beautiful, with an ever-present air of danger.
Yet the responsibility of a father finally pulled his eyes away, though with effort.
"I…" He opened his mouth, his voice oddly dry. "I'm here to talk about Xingcai."
Ji Hongli arched a brow, her red lips parting slightly. "Oh?"
Just that single word made Chen Chang'an feel as though his momentum had been cut in half.
No—this could not go on!
Chen Chang'an was still hesitating over how to begin when his gaze suddenly fell upon the chessboard beneath the ancient tree—
the very one he had crafted personally, gifting it to Ji Hongli along with the refined spirit-imbued pieces.
Yes!
His eyes lit up as a plan formed in his mind.
"How about this… before we speak, let us play a match?" he suggested with forced calm, intending to use the game as a chance to assert dominance.
Ji Hongli's brows arched slightly, her lips curving into a playful smile. "Very well."
The two seated themselves on opposite sides of the board.
Though the board appeared ordinary, it was imbued with subtle mysteries, its paired pieces refined painstakingly by Chen Chang'an himself.
But… he had no real intention of playing properly.
Instead, spiritual power surged at his fingertip, condensing into an inky-black piece that dropped onto the central star point with a sharp snap.
"Please." His gaze burned toward Ji Hongli, a trace of pride flickering within.
To his surprise, Ji Hongli only smiled faintly. With a flick of her slender fingers, a lustrous white piece formed from pure light, landing steadily upon the board.
Chen Chang'an's pupils tightened—but soon eased again.
Fine. Let's see how long she can keep this up.
Snap. Snap. Snap.
What seemed like ordinary moves were in truth collisions of spiritual might. Each piece landed with the weight of crushing pressure, shaking the air between them.
Before long, Chen Chang'an, who had thought himself in control, realized with growing alarm that he was being pushed back step by step!
Impossible!
Beads of sweat formed on his brow, his spiritual flow turning sluggish.
Across from him, Ji Hongli remained tranquil, even idly brushing aside a strand of hair.
At last…
The final piece fell. By the narrowest margin, Chen Chang'an was defeated.
He sat frozen before the chessboard, waves crashing violently within his heart.
Only moments ago, he had regained the confidence lost to past humiliations. Now, Ji Hongli had shattered it utterly in a single stroke.
The black serpent… that had been an accident.
But Ji Hongli—surely she could not also be an accident?!
Encountering a serpent that turned out to be a boss was one thing. But could a neighbor, casually met, also be a hidden boss?!
Why? Why was it that the world outside seemed filled with weaklings… yet here—
A sudden flash of realization struck him. A terrifying thought surfaced in his mind:
Of course! In those novels he had once read, when the protagonist was still weak, higher-level experts were rare. A single Nascent Soul cultivator could be revered as an ancestor.
But as the protagonist grew stronger, hidden ancient monsters would emerge one after another. The power scale would collapse, soon reaching the era of "Heavenly Humans everywhere, Saints as common as dogs."
So it was because the children of destiny—his own two disciples—were still in their youth that he could flaunt himself so easily now.
Once those monsters matured… soon, indeed, it would be Heavenly Humans everywhere, Saints not worth a thought!
Yes, it had to be so!
Fool, Chen Chang'an! Why rush to your death when lying low is the wiser path!
…
Ji Hongli, watching the man before her lost in shifting emotions, let out a soft laugh. "Shall we continue?"
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, dappled across her flawless face—yet it could not reach the chill sinking into Chen Chang'an's heart.
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