The next day, just after chen shi.
The sky over Qingyang City was as blue as if it had been washed, with a few wisps of thin clouds drifting leisurely. It was a rare fine day. However, the spies from the various major powers in the city were in no mood to appreciate this leisurely scene. Their gazes were all focused on one place — the northern part of the city, the estate of the Zhuge Clan.
The heavy and ancient vermilion-lacquered main gates slowly opened to both sides with a creaking sound. This central gate, symbolizing the dignity and status of the Zhuge Clan, was usually only opened to welcome the most honored guests or for major celebrations.
Today, however, it was opened for a matter that was enough to be nailed to the clan's pillar of shame.
The news, like a winged sparrow, spread through every street and alley of Qingyang City in just half an hour.
"Have you heard? The Zhuge Clan is really going to accept the Wang family's compensation!"
"Tsk tsk, how the times have changed. To think how prestigious the Zhuge Clan was in the past, and now they have to bow their heads to their enemies."
"What else can they do? Isn't that genius of theirs, Zhuge Xuan, crippled? Without their pillar, they have to tuck their tails between their legs and behave."
"That's true, an arm can't twist a thigh. With the Wang and Li families joined together, who can afford to provoke them?"
In teahouses and wine shops, on street corners and in alleyways, discussions rose and fell. There was sympathy, there was pity, but more than that, there was schadenfreude and cold observation. The fall of a behemoth always made for the best topic of conversation after a meal.
Wang Clan Estate.
Wang Teng was lounging on a soft couch covered with a white tiger skin. Two beautiful maids were carefully peeling crystal-clear purple jade grapes for him and placing them in his mouth. His left arm was still wrapped in thick bandages; it was an injury sustained during his fight with Zhuge Xuan a few days ago, when the latter had fought back desperately at the last moment.
A servant who looked like a steward walked in quickly, his face filled with unconcealable joy. He bowed and reported, "Young Master, on the Zhuge Clan's side... they've opened the central gates."
Wang Teng's chewing stopped. He slowly sat up straight. "Oh? That old fool Zhuge Yuan can really bring himself to lose face like this?"
"Replying to the Young Master, it is absolutely true. According to the report from our spy planted in the Zhuge Clan, the Zhuge Clan's assembly hall was in an uproar last night. The Third Elder, Zhuge Lie, even threatened to die, but in the end, Zhuge Yuan forcibly suppressed him."
"Hahahahaha!" Wang Teng burst into a fit of hearty laughter. The wound on his chest seemed to ache faintly from the violent movement, but he paid it no mind. "Good! What a Zhuge Yuan! It seems that once his precious son was crippled, his guts were crippled along with him!"
He waved his hand, dismissing the maids, then stood up from the couch and walked to the window, looking towards the north of the city with contempt-filled eyes.
"Zhuge Xuan... you former genius. You're probably lying in bed right now like a dead dog, listening to your own clan's face being trampled on the ground, aren't you? This feeling must be worse than death, right?"
He muttered to himself, a sick pleasure on his face. He would never forget how he had been suppressed by Zhuge Xuan's halo for the past ten-odd years. No matter how hard he tried, how much he struggled, in the eyes of the world, he was always just the "second place" that served as a foil to Zhuge Xuan. That jealousy and resentment had long taken root in his heart, growing into a twisted, poisonous vine.
Now, he had personally destroyed this nightmare that had been hanging over his head, pulling the lofty genius down from his pedestal and stomping him into the mud. The thrill of this revenge intoxicated him.
"Pass on my orders," Wang Teng turned around, the smile on his face turning sinister. "Tell the person in charge of the handover to adopt a more arrogant posture. Since the Zhuge Clan wants to save face, we'll give them none. I want everyone in Qingyang City to see what happens when you offend me, Wang Teng, and my Wang Clan!"
"Yes, Young Master!" The steward accepted the order and exited excitedly.
...
In front of the Zhuge estate, the area was already packed with onlookers.
Two lines of Zhuge Clan guards in black clothes stood expressionlessly on either side, doing their best to maintain order. But their hands gripping their sword hilts and the bulging veins on their foreheads exposed the suppressed anger and humiliation in their hearts.
A magnificent carriage pulled by four handsome "Snow-Treading Black Steeds" slowly drove up under the watchful eyes of the crowd and stopped in front of the Zhuge estate.
The person who stepped down from the carriage was a branch family deacon of the Wang Clan, named Wang Kun. This man was slightly overweight, with a fair, beardless face, and always wore a smiling expression, looking like a wealthy merchant who valued harmony. But those who knew him knew that behind this smiling face was a shrewd and ruthless heart.
Wang Kun got out of the carriage, looked at the wide-open central gates of the Zhuge Clan and the solemn formation in front. He cleared his throat and said in a loud voice, loud enough for half the street to hear, "The Wang Clan of Langya, by order of the Clan Head, has come to offer apologies for the matter of Young Master Wang Teng accidentally injuring your esteemed clan's Young Master Zhuge Xuan at the Qingyang Banquet."
He deliberately emphasized the words "accidentally injuring" and "apologies." His hypocritical manner made the Zhuge Clan guards present turn red-eyed with anger, their teeth clenched.
However, before they could react, a steady voice came from within the gates.
"Deacon Wang is too polite. The Clan Head has been waiting in the hall for a long time. Please."
The crowd looked towards the source of the voice and saw the Fifth Elder, Zhuge Ming, surrounded by a group of clan deacons, slowly walking out from the gates. He had a perfectly measured expression of grief and helplessness on his face. He cupped his hands towards Wang Kun, his posture extremely low.
Seeing this, Wang Kun's heart filled with even more triumph. He laughed, returned the gesture, and said, "Fifth Elder is too kind. A few meager gifts are nothing. I am truly unworthy of you coming out to greet me personally."
The two of them walked into the estate side by side, exchanging false pleasantries. The scene of them "enjoying each other's company" deeply stung the heart of every member of the Zhuge Clan present.
And all of this was clearly transmitted to every corner of the city through countless pairs of eyes.
Inside the study of the Li Clan estate.
The Li Clan Head, Li Jianye, was listening to his subordinate's report. He was toying with two smooth iron balls in his hand, his expression unreadable.
"Oh? Zhuge Yuan didn't show up, he sent Zhuge Ming out?" he asked with great interest.
"Yes, Clan Head. It is said that Zhuge Yuan has been staying behind closed doors ever since his son's accident. His mood... seems to be very low."
Hearing this, the corners of Li Jianye's mouth turned up slightly.
"A hero in his twilight years... To think how high-spirited Zhuge Yuan was in the past. Now that he has lost his beloved son, it is only natural for his spirit to be broken." He paused, then asked, "What about the Wang family? Who did they send?"
"It was Wang Kun."
"Wang Kun?" Li Jianye's eyebrow twitched. "That confidant of the Wang family's second master, Wang De? That man has always been arrogant and mean. For the Wang family to send him, it seems they don't intend to leave the Zhuge Clan any face at all."
"Indeed," the subordinate agreed. "I heard that Wang Kun's words were quite arrogant in front of the Zhuge estate, and the Zhuge Clan's people... endured it."
"Endured it?" The iron balls in Li Jianye's hand stopped spinning. "Good that they endured it, very good..."
He stood up, walked to a map, and looked at the distribution of power of the three great clans in Qingyang City, lost in thought.
The Wang family's move, though seemingly glorious, was in fact too ostentatious, completely and utterly offending the Zhuge Clan. And the Zhuge Clan's forbearance, in his opinion, was not necessarily all cowardice. A lion forced into a corner is often unusually quiet before it erupts.
"Pass down my orders," Li Jianye's voice became deep. "Prepare a lavish gift and send it to the Zhuge Clan. Say it is to comfort Nephew Xuan."
The subordinate was stunned. "Clan Head, at this time... for us to show goodwill, isn't it a bit..."
"A bit what?" Li Jianye glanced at him coldly. "The Wang family has played the bad guy, so naturally, we must play the good guy. What the Zhuge Clan needs most right now are not enemies, but friends. Even if this friend... is only on the surface."
He turned his gaze back to the map, a profound smile playing on his lips.
"An injured lion, and a venomous snake that becomes arrogant with success... which one do you think is a more suitable ally? Go. The gift must be substantial, and the gesture sincere. I want Zhuge Yuan to know that in his most difficult time, in Qingyang City, there is still my Li Clan standing on his side."
...
In Zhuge Xuan's room, he was still alone.
That game of Go had reached its most intense mid-game stage.
Uncle Quan had long since left to handle various matters in the estate. But just half an hour ago, he had come in briefly to report to Zhuge Xuan what had happened outside the gates.
From Wang Kun's arrogance to the Fifth Elder's "enduring humiliation for the greater good," to the discussions of the onlookers, he had heard it all clearly.
However, there was not the slightest ripple on his face. It was as if none of it had anything to do with him.
He just looked at the board quietly, then picked up a white stone from the Go bowl.
He had pondered this move for a long time.
His gaze swept over the entire area occupied by the black stones, and finally, it landed on a very inconspicuous spot in the upper left corner of the board.
There, the black stones had already formed a solid block, seemingly impregnable. Any white stone placed within it would be like a stone thrown into the sea, instantly swallowed up without causing the slightest ripple.
But a faint smile appeared on the corner of Zhuge Xuan's mouth.
Without the slightest hesitation, the white stone in his hand landed in that black ocean.
Pa.
The crisp sound of the stone being placed was exceptionally clear in the quiet room.
This move, to any Go player, was an out-and-out "wasted move," even a "suicide" move. It had no effect and would only result in the loss of a stone for nothing.
But as Zhuge Xuan looked at this move, his eyes were surprisingly bright.
Because he knew this was not a wasted move.
This was the first... kindling he had cast.
He whispered to himself, his voice so low only he could hear:
"Fifth Uncle, the stage has been set for you. Now, let's see... if you are a competent actor, or a clumsy clown."