"Clan Head! Think thrice!"
Inside the Zhuge Clan's assembly hall, the atmosphere was so heavy it felt as if water could drip from it. An elder with a full head of white hair and a beard, dressed in the purple robes of a clan elder, stood up emotionally, his wrinkled face flushed red from the rush of blood. He was the clan's most senior elder, known for his fiery temper, the Third Elder, Zhuge Lie.
"My Zhuge Clan has stood in Qingyang City for over 300 years, when have we ever suffered such a monstrous humiliation! Xuan'er is a qilin that appears in our clan but once a century, and now he has been ambushed by despicable villains, nearly losing his life. As his elders, not only do we not seek justice for him, but we are to accept that insulting handout from the enemy? If word of this gets out, where will the face of my Zhuge Clan be! How will the people of Qingyang City view us!"
As soon as his voice fell, it was met with a chorus of agreement.
"Third Elder is absolutely right! The Wang family has gone too far. If we do not avenge this, we swear we are not human!"
"Clan Head, please give the order! I am willing to be the vanguard and flatten the Wang family's estate!"
"Better to be a shattered piece of jade than an intact clay tile! War!"
The impassioned cries for battle rose and fell, echoing throughout the entire assembly hall. Seated in the main seat, Zhuge Yuan's face was as placid as still water. His deep gaze slowly swept over every face below — some indignant, some grave, some flickering with uncertainty — but he remained silent.
When the clamor in the hall had subsided slightly, the Fifth Elder, Zhuge Ming, who had been sitting opposite the Third Elder with his eyes closed in meditation, slowly opened his eyes. He looked much younger than Zhuge Lie, around his early 50s, with a neatly trimmed goatee and a shrewd, calculating light that always shone from his eyes.
"Third Brother's words are a bit driven by emotion," his voice was unhurried, clashing with the passionate atmosphere around him. "War, certainly, can show the backbone of our Zhuge Clan. But what of the consequences? The Wang and Li families have joined forces, their strength is already above ours. What's more, they planned this with intent while we were unsuspecting; they are well-prepared. If we attack rashly, what are our chances of victory? Once we are defeated, the foundation of our Zhuge Clan, built over hundreds of years, will be destroyed in one fell swoop."
He gently stroked his goatee and continued, "What's more, Xuan'er... alas, everyone should be clear about Xuan'er's current condition. The clan has lost its future hope; this is precisely the time when we need to rest and recuperate the most. To start a war at this moment is truly not a wise move."
These words were like a basin of cold water poured over everyone's heated heads. The assembly hall immediately quieted down considerably. Many who had been shouting for war just moments before now showed hesitation.
"Fifth Brother! What is the meaning of this!" Zhuge Lie flew into a rage, pointing at Zhuge Ming's nose and cursing, "Xuan'er suffered for the clan, and instead of thinking of avenging him, you are here boosting the enemy's morale and dampening our own! In your eyes, is the honor of our Zhuge Clan not even comparable to some illusory chance of victory?"
"Third Brother, calm your anger," Zhuge Ming still had that detached and nonchalant demeanor. "I am merely stating the facts. Honor is important, but the survival of the clan is even more so. As long as the green hills remain, there will be no shortage of firewood. We can swallow this insult for now; it won't be too late to seek revenge in the future."
"You... those are the words of a coward!" Zhuge Lie trembled with anger.
Seeing the two elders about to quarrel in the hall, Zhuge Yuan, who had been silent all along, finally spoke.
"Enough."
His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable authority that instantly suppressed all disputes. The hall fell silent, and everyone's gaze focused on him.
"On this matter, my mind is made up." Zhuge Yuan's gaze swept past Zhuge Lie's and Zhuge Ming's faces, finally settling in the center of the hall. "Uncle Quan."
Uncle Quan, who had been standing silently behind Zhuge Yuan, took a step forward in response.
"Relay my orders," Zhuge Yuan's voice was icy and clear. "Tomorrow at chen shi, open the central gates, prepare grand gifts, and send men to the Wang family to receive the 10% of the Crimsonflame Ore Vein profits they are compensating us with. This matter is to be handled with ceremony. I want everyone in Qingyang City to see the 'sincerity' of my Zhuge Clan."
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall was shocked.
No one had expected that the Clan Head, after hearing both sides, would actually make such a... humiliating decision.
"Clan Head! You mustn't!" Zhuge Lie dropped to his knees with a thud, tears streaming down his old face. "You are personally breaking the spine of my Zhuge Clan!"
Several elders and deacons from the pro-war faction also knelt one after another, loudly pleading with him.
As for the faction led by the Fifth Elder Zhuge Ming, they secretly breathed a sigh of relief, the corners of their mouths hooking into a subtle arc, but on the surface, they still wore expressions of grief and concern for the clan's future.
Zhuge Yuan turned a deaf ear to the pleading cries at his feet. He stood up and looked down at the Third Elder kneeling on the ground, his tone grim. "Third Elder, are you questioning my decision?"
A majestic aura erupted from his body, like an invisible mountain pressing down heavily on the heart of everyone in the assembly hall. Zhuge Lie felt his breath catch; the pressure from a "Profound Opening Realm" expert made his aged body begin to tremble slightly.
He knew the Clan Head was truly angered. This decision could no longer be changed.
"...This old servant, would not dare." After a long moment, Zhuge Lie managed to squeeze these few words from between his teeth and dejectedly lowered his head.
Zhuge Yuan snorted coldly and retracted his aura. The pressure in the hall instantly lightened. He looked at no one else, turned, and swept his sleeves as he left, leaving behind only a single cold sentence.
"Do as I have said. Anyone who dares to feign compliance will have the merciless clan law to answer to."
...
At the same time, in Zhuge Xuan's room.
That unfinished game was still on the small table, only now there were dozens more black and white stones on the board. The whole situation had become more complex. Two large dragons, one black and one white, were entangled in a fierce battle in the center of the board, fighting for every inch. The sporadic battles in the corners were also fraught with hidden killing intent.
Zhuge Xuan leaned against the headboard, toying with a warm, smooth white stone in his hand. His gaze, however, was not on the board, but on the sky outside the window, which was dyed golden-red by the setting sun, as if he was waiting for something.
The door was gently pushed open, and Uncle Quan's figure walked in.
"Is everything arranged?" Zhuge Xuan asked without turning his head.
"Yes, Young Master," Uncle Quan walked to the bedside and replied respectfully. "The Clan Head has already announced in the assembly hall that the central gates will be opened tomorrow to receive the Wang family's compensation. This matter... is settled."
"What were the reactions?"
A complex expression appeared on Uncle Quan's face. He described in detail the disputes that had occurred in the assembly hall, especially the fierce debate between the Third and Fifth Elders, and how the Clan Head had ultimately overruled all objections and made the final decision.
After listening, a knowing smile slowly formed on Zhuge Xuan's lips.
"Third Elder still has that fiery temper. And Fifth Uncle... is still so 'mindful of the bigger picture'."
His tone was flat, with no hint of praise or criticism, but it made Uncle Quan, who was standing beside him, feel a chill in his heart. The "Fifth Uncle" the Young Master spoke of was the Fifth Elder, Zhuge Ming. Zhuge Ming was the Clan Head's cousin and was in charge of the clan's finances and external affairs, wielding great power. He had always been known for his cautiousness, advocating that the clan's interests should come first in all matters and that all unnecessary conflicts should be avoided.
To many, his views were not improper, and could even be considered mature and prudent.
But in Zhuge Xuan's eyes, this excessive "cautiousness," at a time when the clan was facing such monstrous humiliation, seemed rather thought-provoking.
"Uncle Quan," Zhuge Xuan gently placed the white stone in his hand back into the Go bowl. "You have been by Father's side for many years. What do you think of Fifth Uncle as a person?"
This was an extremely sensitive question. In a rigidly hierarchical clan, it was a great taboo for a servant to wantonly discuss their masters.
Uncle Quan, however, did not hesitate. He pondered for a moment before giving a pertinent evaluation, "The Fifth Elder is skilled in calculation and good at management. He has accumulated a great deal of wealth for the clan over the years, and his contributions cannot be denied. It's just..."
"Just what?"
"It's just that his style is too profit-oriented. He approaches everything from the perspective of gains and losses, and sometimes... he lacks a bit of human feeling and mettle."
Zhuge Xuan smiled. This evaluation was almost a perfect match for the Fifth Uncle in his memory.
Seeking advantage and avoiding harm is human nature, and there's nothing wrong with it. But when this nature overrides everything else, including the honor of the clan and the blood feud of a kinsman, then it becomes worthy of vigilance.
"I understand." Zhuge Xuan did not press further. He pointed at the Go board. "Uncle Quan, come look at this game."
Hearing this, Uncle Quan cast his gaze upon the board. Although he was not an expert in Go, he could still understand the basic situation. The black and white sides were locked in a stalemate, intertwined like a dog's teeth. It looked like an even match, but on closer inspection, one would discover something strange.
The black dragon, which appeared ferocious and was invading everywhere, had an unstable foundation. Several of its connections seemed very tenuous, as if they could be cut off by the white stones at any moment. In contrast, the white stones, although constrained and retreating at every step, had each of their placements echoing one another, forming a vast and resilient net that was silently and slowly tightening.
The more fiercely the black stones attacked, the more of them became trapped in the net. When the time came for the white stones to close the net, it would be the moment the black dragon was completely strangled.
Uncle Quan's breath caught suddenly. He seemed to understand something.
"This game..."
"This game is Qingyang City." Zhuge Xuan's voice was light and airy, yet it carried a penetrating power that saw through everything. "The Wang and Li families are this black dragon that appears to be baring its fangs and brandishing its claws. They think they have all the advantages and can wantonly devour our territory. And we, the Zhuge Clan, are this seemingly passive white net."
He stretched out his slightly pale finger and tapped lightly on the board.
"What we need to do now is not to clash head-on with the black dragon. That would be foolish. What we need to do is to retreat, to show weakness, to entice. Let them throw more of their stones into this net."
His finger slowly traced over several inconspicuous empty points on the board.
"When the time is right, we only need to place a few key stones in these spots..."
He looked up at Uncle Quan, his eyes glinting with a cold and sharp light.
"And we can make it so the entire black dragon's head and tail cannot support each other, causing it to collapse in an instant."
Uncle Quan felt a chill run from his spine to the top of his head. He looked at the boy before him, who was no more than 15 years old, and for the first time, he felt a kind of... fear from the bottom of his heart.
This was no longer strategy. This was a terrifying ability, almost akin to the "Dao," that played with the hearts of men and the great trends of the world in the palm of his hand.
"Young Master..." Uncle Quan's voice was a little dry. "Then these key stones, are...?"
Zhuge Xuan smiled slightly, but kept him in suspense.
"Tomorrow, the first stone will deliver itself to our door."