Chapter 293 (1/2)

Chapter 293: An Encounter

Sangsang didn't know how to play chess and had a terrible start. No matter how hard the old man contemplated, he still couldn't change her inferior position. As the game progressed, it was obvious that the black pieces were of the upper hand and about to win. However, there was no hint of pride on Chen Pipi's face. He looked extremely serious and earnest; his temples were even sweating profusely. The sweat dropped continuously down along his chubby face.

On the contrary, the old man appeared to be calm and relaxed. He drank the tea Sangsang handed him and put down his pieces casually, sighing. ”I haven't touched chess pieces for fourteen years. I'm afraid I'm quite unfamiliar with them now.”

Hearing the words ”Fourteen years”, Chen Pipi had to wipe the sweat off his face. Although he pretended to be calm, inside he was groaning and yelling, ”It's him! It's him!”

The old man raised his head and smiled at him, asking, ”I told you to put down your piece. Why do you want to leave?”

Chen Pipi answered respectfully, ”Because you are stronger than me. I can't defeat you, so I'd rather leave.”

Looking at the sweat falling down from his face, the old man smiled and asked, ”What are you afraid of?”

”I'm afraid of you.” Chen Pipi replied honestly.

The old man shook his head and sighed, ”The reason I spent my whole life serving Haotian, was not to frighten others.”

After a moment of silence, Chen Pipi answered, ”Often your original intention and the result can't be matched.”

The old man looked at him. He opened his mouth abruptly and said, ”Your surname is Chen?”

Chen Pipi replied, ”Yes, I'm Chen Pipi.”

The old man nodded and said, ”You know, I was newly released. But in prison, I had already heard you escaped from the Abbey and are now a disciple of the Headmaster of the Academy?”

Chen Pipi stared at the pieces on the chessboard and said, ”Yes.”

The old man smiled, ”Then why are you afraid of me? Even though you are not a core disciple of the Headmaster of Academy, I wouldn't treat you roughly for the sake of the Abbey. Anyway, Peach Mountain is not far from the Abbey.”

Chen Pipi raised his arm again to wipe the sweat off his face. He forcibly suppressed his nervousness and put down a black piece on the chessboard, without uttering anything.

The old man looked down to see the piece and slightly waved his head, saying, ”It's said that living in this world is like playing chess. But I say it is like the chess lines rather than the pieces. No matter how far they are from each other, they will eventually meet.”

Chen Pipi smiled bitterly. ”I'd rather be a chess piece. Black and white never touch each other.”

The old man replied, ”It just so coincidental that I came across a monk from Xuankong Temple yesterday.”

Chen Pipi thought this was strange. He asked, ”A monk from Xuankong Temple actually appeared in Chang'an? And now?”

The old man answered, ”He is blind, and may restore his soberness in several days.”

His calm ordinary tone actually shocked Chen Pipi. He rubbed his head in rage and glared at the old man. Trembling, he shouted, ”See?! See?! You want him blind, then he is blind, though he is from the Temple. Even if I'm from the Abbey, so what? It's unlucky for me to meet you, yet you tell me not to be fearful. Are you kidding me?”

The old man smiled and said, ”The monk is a b.a.s.t.a.r.d of the Manjusri preaching. You are totally different from him.”

Hearing this, Chen Pipi gradually withdrew his anger and restored his silence.

The old man asked, ”How is the abbey dean recently?”

Chen Pipi shook his head, ”I don't know because I've been in the Academy. Perhaps he is still on his tour.”

The old man nodded and said, ”He usually stays at the south side of the sea.”

Sangsang approached with her new urn. Preserved meat was still hung on the pine branches in the backyard. She had used big firewood which could help fire smaller, so she could relieve herself temporarily. She came to ask her teacher for his opinion, ”What do you think of this new urn?”

The old looked up and asked curiously, ”What's it for?”

Sangsang replied, ”For stewing chicken soup.”

The old man was confused. ”Don't we already have one?”

Sangsang explained, ”It is too small. I'm afraid that when young master comes back, it will not be big enough to make chicken soup for the three of us.”

The old man knew how important young master was to Sangsang. Hearing her answer, he realized that the girl still wanted him to stay once her young master returned. He had experienced

experienced and seen all the vicissitudes of the world as Great Divine Priest of Light, yet still felt somewhat warm in his chest. He was feeling incredibly happy.

Then he remembered something. He looked at Chen Pipi on the opposite side of the chessboard, slowly furrowing, and said, ”Do you know my girl disciple or... her young master?”

The question shocked Chen Pipi, and he was stunned and even speechless. The greatest Great Divine Priest of Light of the West-Hill Divine Palace over the past century actually took Ning Que's darkish handmaiden as his disciple?

Understanding his shock, the old man smiled and said, ”It is all by Lucky Chance, n.o.body can explain why.”

Chen Pipi carelessly wiped the sweat off his face and then rubbed his palm against his thigh, in an attempt to rid himself of his confusion. He then said, ”Her young master is my Younger Brother.”