Chapter 856 – A New Mahjong Game (2/2)

Tang Thirty-Six raised his head and said, ”Then today, I won't use the clan's tiles. I'll use my own tiles to fight a round with you.”

As he said this, he looked the Old Master straight in the eyes, their eyes level. This was incredibly impolite, and also firm.

The Tang Old Master scornfully said, ”What good tiles does a little cub like you have?”

Tang Thirty-Six replied, ”His tiles are my tiles, and who would dare say that those tiles aren't good?”

He then turned to face Chen Changsheng and asked, ”Is there a problem with my borrowing them?”

Chen Changsheng answered, ”They aren't books. If you want to use them, take them.”

”Why feign generosity?” Tang Thirty-Six said derisively. ”When I wanted to see that sword of yours, you weren't willing, so nervous like it was some sort of big deal.”

He was speaking of that old matter in the Plum Garden Inn.

The two looked at each other and smiled, no longer arguing about anything.

The Tang Old Master did not smile. For the first time, his expression turned grave.

……

……

There was only one spectator to this match between the Tang clan's grandfather and grandson, and that was Chen Changsheng.

Although he was not a participant, he was also not purely a spectator. After all, it was his tiles on the table, stacked in front of Tang Thirty-Six.

This mahjong game was not played according to the capital's rules, nor was it the bloody battle to the end popular in Wenshui City, nor the blood flowing out in rivers so beloved by the disciples of the Mount Li Sword Sect.

The method Tang Thirty-Six chose was one extremely in line with his personality, and it was also one method that a beginner like Chen Changsheng could more easily understand.

Comparing sizes.

The clicking of tiles rang out in the quiet room.

This was the collision of jade tiles against the hard pear wood of the table.

These tiles were being thrown on the table, where they quietly lay, like Dragonhorses lying on a meadow, baring their bellies to the warm sunlight.

With an order, these soldiers and horses would array themselves and charge ceaselessly forward.

The red '中' was a banner dyed red, flapping in the wind: the Orthodoxy cavalry, the Mount Song Army, the Cong Province Army.

The 'two bamboo' tile was a spear, the Painted Armor Xiao Zhang who had been pursued by the Imperial Court for three years but had countered by killing no small number of its experts.

There was also a blade, a dragon, a tiger, and millions upon millions of believers.

The little chick was a Peacock, and also a Phoenix1.

……

……

Tang Thirty-Six had flipped over all the tiles in his hand.

Chen Changsheng somewhat uneasily asked, ”This sort of description would make both of them unhappy, wouldn't it?”

Tang Thirty-Six said, ”The calamity of this being inferior to that… it's just a description, so why so serious? And besides, are you going to pick out a tile with a Phoenix on it?”

Chen Changsheng had only just familiarized himself with the tiles yesterday, so he certainly couldn't pick one out. He was forced to remain silent.

This was quite amusing, but the Tang Old Master still did not smile. His expression was even graver than earlier.

Tang Thirty-Six had already finished playing out his hand, but the Tang Old Master still had not moved.

The countless mahjong tiles represented the strengths of each side. If one only looked at the strengths represented on the tiles, it was not clear who would gain the final victory.

If the Tang Old Master used his tiles to speak reason to these two juniors, he would assuredly win.

But the Tang clan would assuredly lose.

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1. The red '中', 'two bamboo', and 'little chick' are all mahjong tiles. 'Two bamboo' is a spear because it is two 'sticks' stacked on top of each other lengthwise. I believe 'little chick' refers to the 'one bamboo' tile, which is usually represented by a bird. As for the rest, I can only say that the Tang clan must be using a very unique set of mahjong tiles.↩