Taking a sip of clear porridge, Lu Fan accepted the white cloth that Ning Zhao handed over.
This cloth recorded Lu Changkong's blood-moving technique.
Lu Fan glanced at it and silently compared it to the Daoist Sect's blood-moving technique. In comparison, Lu Changkong's recorded technique seemed to be even stronger.
This surprised Lu Fan a bit.
After putting away the cloth, Lu Fan planned to collect the remaining four blood-moving techniques before conducting a unified deduction.
"Has Father gone to the capital? Isn't he afraid of the Northern County Army led by Dantai Xuan making a comeback?" Lu Fan asked while taking a bite of side dish. The sour taste of the dish spread in his mouth, a mix of sour and sweet. However, it was precisely because of this kind of side dish that it complemented the porridge even more.
"Young Master, there's no need to worry. Master has received intelligence long ago. After the Northern County Army failed to capture the city, they went to join forces with the Western County Army, intending to use the Western Drunk Dragon's defense as a breakthrough point."
Ning Zhao replied.
Lu Fan nodded. Although he didn't have much detailed understanding of the overall situation in the world, since Lu Changkong could confidently leave Beiluo City, it was evident that he had a grasp of the situation.
Of course, Lu Fan felt somewhat skeptical about Lu Changkong's judgment. The situation during the defense of the city was still vivid in his mind.
His own father didn't seem too reliable.
However, even if the army attacked, it would be impossible to break through Beiluo City in a short period of time. After all, the three major clans in Beiluo City were already closely watched by Lu Changkong's dispatched troops. Even the powerful sword sects within the clans didn't dare to act rashly.
Breaking through a city under the circumstances of lacking internal support was not easy.
"Let's go outside and bask in the sun. Ning Jie, go and see if the three major clans have sent any land deeds." Lu Fan finished his breakfast, lazily stretched, and said.
"Alright."
Ning Zhao nodded and left the room.
"Yueyue, go find the best craftsmen in the city. According to the size of this chess box, customize a wheelchair and add two secret compartments next to it." Lu Fan told Yueyue.
Yueyue curiously glanced at the two chess boxes in Lu Fan's hand, which contained black and white chess pieces.
After some thought, Lu Fan beckoned Yueyue closer, leaned in and whispered something in her ear. Yueyue's expression became serious, and after understanding, she quickly left.
"Xiao Ni, carry the chessboard."
After Yueyue left, Lu Fan smiled and handed the pressure chessboard directly to Ni Yu.
Ni Yu took it, tied it with a rope, and carried it behind her back. The chessboard almost reached her ankles, appearing quite heavy and comical.
"Young Master... Do you want to play chess?" Ni Yu blinked her big eyes, full of curiosity.
"Yeah, do you know how to play?"
"Shall we play a game?"
Lu Fan's eyes lit up as he glanced at Ni Yu.
"Let's go, let's play in the courtyard."
Lu Fan said with a smile.
Carrying the chessboard, Ni Yu pushed Lu Fan out of the room.
In the distance...
Nie Changqing stood with his hands behind his back, a pig-killing knife hanging from his waist. Behind him was Nie Shuang, covered in sweat.
The two of them crossed the winding stone bridge in the garden and arrived at Lu Fan's courtyard.
"Young Master Lu."
Nie Changqing slightly bowed.
In the courtyard, Lu Fan and Ni Yu were playing chess.
Lu Fan held the white pieces, pressing them with his index and middle fingers, placing them on the board skillfully.
Upon hearing Nie Changqing's greeting, Lu Fan waved his hand.
"Old Nie, just call me Young Master like Ning Jie and the others..."
"Do you know how to play chess? After I finish beating this little girl, we can have a match."
Lu Fan chuckled.
Nie Changqing was slightly taken aback, but a smile gradually appeared on his face.
"It's been many years since I played chess. My skills might have declined a bit, so don't blame me, Young Master."
Then, Nie Changqing turned to Nie Shuang, and his expression gradually turned serious.
"Shuang'er, take a good horse stance for an hour."
Nie Changqing's tone was stern.
Nie Shuang pursed her lips, not retorting. She withdrew her curiosity about the chess game and settled into a proper horse stance on the spot.
In fact, early in the morning, Nie Changqing had pulled her out for a run around the garden. Although she was a bit tired mentally and physically, if she wanted to learn martial arts, hard work was inevitable.
There was no martial artist who achieved success overnight.
Nie Shuang stood with a stance, and Nie Changqing walked up to Lu Fan and Ni Yu, who were playing chess.
Lu Fan, Lu Ping'an, the young master of Beiluo City, renowned as a great talent appointed by the national teacher.
He was known for his exceptional talent and skill in chess.
Chess can cultivate one's character and temperament. As a martial artist of the Daoist sect, one must have a broad knowledge of qin (musical instrument), chess, calligraphy, and painting.
Nie Changqing's gaze fell on the chessboard.
Huh?
As his eyes landed on the chessboard, Nie Changqing felt a surge of radiance pass through his eyes.
The chessboard seemed to be emitting light.
Just the chessboard alone gave him a suffocating feeling.
This chessboard, these chess pieces... how extraordinary!
With astonishment in his heart, he moved his gaze and observed the game.
Nie Changqing's face initially showed eagerness and anticipation...
But as he watched, the smile on his face gradually disappeared.
He glanced at Lu Fan, who was serious and focused, and then at Ni Yu, who was supporting her plump chin...
Both of them were deeply contemplating their moves.
Nie Changqing twitched his mouth and his face twitched.
He had thought it would be a clash between top-level players, but it turned out to be...
Amateurish moves.
This phrase described Lu Fan and Ni Yu's chess skills perfectly.
At his level, it seemed that the chessboard was full of loopholes.
Lu Fan, while placing his pieces, looked extremely serious, as if engaged in an epic battle.
After watching for a while, Nie Changqing couldn't bear to look any longer and turned his face away.
Snap!
The chessboard experienced a silent struggle.
Ni Yu made a move, and a large area of black pieces was captured from Lu Fan's extended face.
Lu Fan leaned back in his wheelchair, his face dark.
Ni Yu pursed her lips, and her eyes curved like a crescent moon as she counted her fingers on the chessboard.
"Oh..."
"Little Ni won by two pieces."
Ni Yu stood up, her face filled with excitement.
"If you win, go do your horse stance. Yesterday you shouted the slogan of practicing diligently... Now you have to train twice as hard as Xiao Nie. Go quickly."
Lu Fan glanced at Ni Yu, smiled gently, and said.
Ni Yu's face froze, and even the tender flesh on her face trembled involuntarily.
Young master... Is your mind really as small as a sesame seed?!
"Old Nie, come on... Shall we play a game?"
Ignoring Ni Yu, Lu Fan turned his head and looked at Nie Changqing with bright eyes.
"Master... Master... I'd better not play. My chess skills... aren't that good."
Nie Changqing hesitated with a doubtful look on his face.
"Don't be afraid of losing. Come."
Lu Fan's eyes grew brighter, and he began to put the chess pieces back into the box.
Nie Changqing's face was full of conflict, but he sat opposite Lu Fan, picked up a chess piece, and placed it down as instructed.
Outside the garden.
Ning Zhao walked in.
"Young master, Chen Xu, the son of the Chen family, requests an audience."
Lu Fan was concentrating on playing chess and slightly frowned. "Oh" was all he said before continuing to contemplate the game.
Ning Zhao hesitated for a moment but continued, "Chen Xu, accompanied by the land deeds of the Liu and Zhu families, has brought four thousand two hundred taels of silver to pay a visit."
Lu Fan relaxed his brow.
"Have you agreed?"
His mouth slightly curved, thinking that the Liu and Zhu families had no reason to refuse.
"They came quickly. Right after Father left, this Chen Boxun came. It seems... these land deeds are quite troublesome."
He put the chess pieces back into the box again. Thinking about the land deeds from Drunken Dusk Tower, he lost interest in playing chess and looked somewhat regretful at Nie Changqing.
"Old Nie, it's a pity. Let's postpone this game."
Lu Fan said regretfully.
Nie Changqing let out a long sigh of relief in his heart.
"Sister Ning, let them in."
Lu Fan leaned back in his wheelchair, supporting his chin with one hand, and placed the other hand on the wool blanket on his knee.
Ning Zhao nodded and turned to leave.
And Lu Fan looked at Nie Changqing, his mouth slightly upturned.
"We'll stop playing chess. Let's talk about something important, Old Nie. Yesterday, you said you wanted to learn 'Ling Pressure', but you lack an opportunity... Now, I'm giving you this opportunity."
Lu Fan leaned back in his wheelchair, looking at Nie Changqing, and said.
Nie Changqing was taken aback.
Lu Fan reached out his hand, intending to hold Nie Changqing's hand, just as he had transferred Spiritual Qi to Ning Zhao before.
But when he thought of Nie Changqing's rough and calloused hand, like a butcher's rough palm...
His mouth twitched.
He decided to choose a different method.
"Old Nie, sit here."
Lu Fan gestured to the space in front of the wheelchair.
Nie Changqing didn't understand, but he followed Lu Fan's instructions and sat down in front of the wheelchair.
Lu Fan's expression became serious.
A pale blue aura began to circulate around his body.
One strand, two strands, three strands...
The dense and intertwined aura flowed around his body.
His hair floated, and his eyes sparkled.
Lu Fan raised his hand, with divine grace and Daoist elegance, gently touching Nie Changqing's head.
"Activating permission [Spiritual Qi Transmission]."
"Target... Nie Changqing."
With a thought.
Nie Changqing suddenly felt a tremor throughout his body. A surge of heat penetrated into his heavenly acupoint and spread throughout his body.
The Qi and blood in his body, which were originally barren and broken, suddenly revived under the catalyst of this surge of heat.
They began to boil, began to explode.
Bang Bang Bang!
Seated on the ground, Nie Changqing's eyes blazed like torches, and his hair stood on end.
Strange sounds could be heard from within his body, as if shackles were being broken, as if a sleeping lion was awakening.
Six consecutive sounds shook the falling leaves in the courtyard.
Coincidentally.
As they just entered the courtyard, Chen Boxun, together with the sons of the Liu and Zhu families, shivered at the sound of the Qi and blood bursting forth from a martial arts master, causing their bodies to tremble.
The sound echoed in their ears like thunder!