Buzz!
Suddenly, Gu Hai seemed to startle awake. He opened his eyes and looked around. I’m still seated in the Dragon Pinning Sect’s Leisure Valley? What’s going on?
Guan Ninth sat on the other side of the crystal Go table, looking at Gu Hai with the shadow of a smile.
Gu Hai showed a strange expression.
“Mister Gu, it’s your move!” Guan Ninth smiled.
Gu Hai remained silent for a while before picking up a Go stone and setting it down.
——
Clack! After Gu Hai played the Go stone, his consciousness returned to that sea.
There seemed to be only Gu Hai and Guan Ninth in that vast world.
“What’s going on? Why is my consciousness here again? This is the world within the Go puzzle?” Gu Hai asked in shock.
“This is not the complete Twenty-Nine Line-Pair World. Only your consciousness entered. If this were the Twenty-Nine Line-Pair World Go Puzzle formed by the three thousand Go puzzles, it wouldn’t be just your consciousness but also your physical body!” Guan Ninth nodded.
“The Ninth Young Master I met in the Innate Puzzle World previously was a fake? You are the true Ninth Young Master of the Heavenly Go Pavilion?” Gu Hai raised his eyebrows as he stared at Guan Ninth.
Guan Ninth smiled faintly as he said, “Mister Gu is wise!”
“This is the world of the Twenty-Nine Line-Pair World Go Puzzle? A Go puzzle can also create a world?” Gu Hai marveled.
“This is not complete. However, even the perfect Twenty-Nine Line-Pair World Go Puzzle cannot create a perfect world. Twenty-eight line-pairs is a cloud-beast killing ritual array. The twenty-nine line-pairs creates a world. No, it should be a rudimentary world.” Guan Ninth nodded.
“A rudimentary world? There is a Twenty-Nine Line-Pair World Go Puzzle in the Great Feng Mafia Family, but there is also one in the Dragon Pinning Sect?” Gu Hai stared at Guan Ninth.
“That’s right. This is one of the pavilion master’s arrangements!” Guan Ninth nodded.
“Old Mister Guan Qi again?” Gu Hai frowned heavily.
Gu Hai continued looking straight at Guan Ninth as he said, “Ninth Young Master, you did not play Go with me just for the sake of it, right?”
Guan Ninth smiled faintly as he said, “Mister Gu, good guess. I am here this time to give you an opportunity!”
“Oh?” Gu Hai said, feeling suspicious.
“Although the pavilion master died, he left his inheritance behind. I obtained a portion of the inheritance that contains the pavilion master’s effort. I would like to pass it on to Mister Gu. What do you think?” Guan Ninth said with a smile.
“Old Mister Guan Qi’s inheritance?” Gu Hai raised his eyebrows.
According to Venerable Liu Nian, Old Mister Guan Qi was among the strongest people in the world back then. His inheritance could cause countless cultivators to go crazy over it. Yet, Ninth Young Master wants to pass it to me?
“Ninth Young Master, what is your purpose in doing this?” Gu Hai asked, feeling suspicious.
“Do you recall the ‘Ninth Young Master’ in the Innate Puzzle World? Unfortunately, he is too stupid. I passed the inheritance to him, but he failed to comprehend even one-ten-thousandth of it. I think that Mister Gu should not find it difficult to comprehend it, given your wisdom. I’ll pass on the pavilion master’s inheritance, and you will be Ninth Young Master. What do you think?” Guan Ninth smiled.
“You want me to be your substitute?” Gu Hai frowned.
“You could say that. You only need to travel the world under the name ‘Ninth Young Master’ and announce to the world that you are the Heavenly Go Pavilion’s ‘Ninth Young Master. You can keep your name, Gu Hai. You can also control some of the Heavenly Go Pavilion’s factions that are outside, in addition to obtaining the pavilion master’s inheritance. You just need to carry the name of the Heavenly Go Pavilion’s ‘Ninth Young Master. What do you think?” Guan Ninth smiled.
However, Gu Hai stared at Guan Ninth. The expression in his eyes grew more complicated as he countered, “Why?”
“There’s no why. This is just a transaction. Previously, the East Sea Pirate King, the Southern Sea Go Master, and the Northern Sea Go Master all dreamed of getting the pavilion master’s inheritance. Now, I am offering it to you. Mister Gu, why are you hesitating?” Guan Ninth asked seriously.
Gu Hai exposed a trace of mixed emotions as he replied, “I, Gu Hai, firmly believe that there is no free lunch in the world. There will always be a price for everything. Ninth Young Master, your offer is incredibly tempting, and the price appears to be very simple. However, I am not aware of the fine details and cannot agree now!”
“Oh?” Ninth Young Master raised his eyebrows.
This was the first time someone rejected him.
“Let’s continue playing!” Gu Hai said.
Ninth Young Master gave Gu Hai a complicated look.
——
Gu Hai closed his eyes, and his consciousness left. He continued to play Go.
Ninth Young Master continued playing as well. Every time they made a move, they entered into this mental world again.
——
“Do you see it? This Twenty-Nine Line-Pair World Go Puzzle is just part of the pavilion master’s inheritance. This is not all; there are other Go puzzles as well, many of them! As long as you agree, I can give them all to you. How about that?” Ninth Young Master continued tempting Gu Hai.
After all, Ninth Young Master had been observing Gu Hai. Gu Hai was perfect for his substitute.
As Gu Hai played, he stared at Ninth Young Master, “Ninth Young Master, can I hazard a guess? If I become your substitute, I will have to help you shoulder some sort of calamity?”
“Yes?” Guan Ninth raised his eyebrows as he stared back at Gu Hai.
“Your condition was too simple, but the payout was too great. This is the only thing I can think of. Are there risks to being Ninth Young Master?” Gu Hai said with a frown.
Guan Ninth frowned back at Gu Hai. “Mister Gu, you should know that risks and benefits come hand in hand. If you want a big reward, you need to pay the corresponding price.”
“You are only finding a substitute to help you shoulder the calamity? In that case, what calamity will you, Ninth Young Master, experience? Why would someone who obtained Old Mister Guan Qi’s inheritance fear it so much?” Gu Hai said.
Guan Ninth remained silent, not speaking anymore.
——
Clack! Clack! Clack!
The two continued playing Go outside. The one thousand Go puzzles changed endlessly. Ninth Young Master turned more sullen as he looked at Gu Hai. Unexpectedly, Gu Hai did not act according to his expectations.
The two placed Go stones, stuck in a tug-of-war for a while.
“Huh?” Ninth Young Master’s expression changed.
Bang!
When Gu Hai made his move, one hundred Go puzzles suddenly exploded and scattered.
“Solved? Gu Hai solved one hundred Go puzzles?” someone suddenly cried out.
Ding Dong gazed at this scene in shock. It was true. One hundred of the Go puzzles turned into clouds and fog as they soared into the sky. Furthermore, the original Go puzzles in the sky also scattered, proving that Gu Hai had solved them.
——
Inside the Go puzzle’s mental world:
Ninth Young Master stared at Gu Hai in shock as he said, “That’s not right. That’s not right. Did I get it wrong?”
“Huh?” Gu Hai looked at Ninth Young Master in bewilderment.
“You solved it? You actually solved it? You are the future Eight…!” Ninth Young Master’s eyelids suddenly twitch wildly.
“What do you mean? Eighth what?” Gu Hai wondered.
Ninth Young Master eyed Gu Hai uncertainly. After a while, he revealed a trace of bitterness as he said, “So, that’s the case. I had overthought it. Hahahaha! I overthought! I should not have come to Nine-Five Island. Hahahaha!”
“Ninth Young Master, what do you mean?” Gu Hai asked in surprise.
“Since you could solve this one-third of the Twenty-Nine Line-Pair World Go Puzzle with such ease, you probably can solve the complete Twenty-Nine Line-Pair World Go Puzzle as well. Nine-Five Island? Nine-Five Island? I overthought. I should not have come here looking for a substitute. Ha! The pavilion master is probably interested in you!” Ninth Young Master smiled bitterly.
“Old Mister Guan Qi is interested in me? Didn’t Old Mister Guan Qi die already?” Gu Hai said while staring at Ninth Young Master.
“He is dead. However, you don’t understand the pavilion master’s planning skills. Since he can lay out such a huge plan in Nine-Five Island, then all those who enter it cannot escape. He already predicted everyone while he was still alive. Given your strong Go skills, you definitely cannot escape his plan. Since you can solve the Twenty-Nine Line-Pair World Go Puzzle, the plan that the pavilion master set in motion definitely targeted you. Hahahaha! I searched for so long, and it turned out that I was just searching on behalf of the pavilion master. Gu Hai, you will share the same fate as me. Hahahaha!” Ninth Young Master’s laughter contained a trace of bitterness.
“Eighth? Do you mean an Eighth Young Master?” Gu Hai said, raising his eyebrows as he stared at Ninth Young Master.
“Mister Gu, it is not necessarily a good thing to be too smart.” Ninth Young Master smiled bitterly.
“Oh? Setting up the situation in Nine-Five Island was for the sake of choosing an Eighth Young Master?” Gu Hai goggled as he looked at Ninth Young Master.
“Something like that. There’s a ninety percent chance of you becoming Eighth Young Master. Ha! It’s your fault for having such strong Go skills, even better than mine. Before I received the pavilion master’s inheritance, my Go skills weren’t even as strong as yours.” Ninth Young Master smiled bitterly.
“Ha! Ninth Young Master, you overthought, indeed. While Old Mister Guan Qi can lay out this plan to choose an Eighth Young Master, why can’t I refuse?” Gu Hai said with disdain.
“Refuse? Hahaha! You won’t be able to resist the temptation. You will understand when the time comes. It will be soon, very soon. You will become the Eighth Young Master, unable to resist the pavilion’s temptation. The pavilion master’s inheritance has always been incredibly generous. I could not resist the temptation. I had no other way. Left with no other choice, I went about searching for a substitute, all because I could not resist back then. Ha!” Ninth Young Master smiled bitterly.
Gu Hai stared at Ninth Young Master as a complicated expression flashed in his eyes.
“Never mind. Since the pavilion master targeted you, it would be useless no matter how hard I try. Make your move, solve the remaining nine hundred Go puzzles!” Ninth Young Master sighed softly.
Gu Hai said with a solemn expression, “Ninth Young Master, many thanks for the warning!”
“Huh?”
“Although I do not know what Old Mister Guan Qi’s inheritance is, I at least can keep my guard up. The name of Eighth Young Master might be prestigious, but I will do my best to resist that temptation!” Gu Hai said gravely.
“You cannot resist it. You do not understand how generous the pavilion master can be. The dragon vein here is just a minor gift. Others would die to become the Eighth Young Master, but you want to refuse? Hahaha! There’s no point saying so much. You will understand when the time comes. However, I’ll give you a warning.” Ninth Young Master’s expression turned solemn.
“Oh?”
“A few days ago, I discovered that Long Wanqing is locked up in the Dragon Pinning Sect. Ding Rui locked her up. That Ding Dong is Ding Rui’s distant relative. Do you understand now?” Ninth Young Master said gravely.
“Oh? The hall master is locked up here?” Gu Hai’s face sank.
Ninth Young Master nodded. “Also, that Life Slaughterer Go Master is an old friend of yours. He is Meng Tai in disguise!”
“Meng Tai?” Gu Hai raised his eyebrows.
Three Go masters: the Northern Sea Go Master, the Southern Sea Go Master, and the Life Slaughterer Go Master? No wonder the Life Slaughterer Go Master ignored me all the while.
“Make your move, then!” Ninth Young Master said.
Then, Gu Hai closed his eyes and left.
——
Clack!
Gu Hai played a black Go stone.
Rumble…!
Nine hundred Go puzzles in the surroundings exploded and shattered, turning into clouds and fog as they rushed to the large floating island.
Ding Dong and the other cultivators immediately gaped.
Those were Go puzzles we could not solve no matter what? Yet, Gu Hai solved one thousand Go puzzles in just one go? Am I dreaming?
