A Game of Poisoned Words and Wounds (1/2)

The servants and maids were dismissed from the main hall by Jiang Guangyi, who then turned his focus towards Jiang Xudong.

"Xudong, recall the day you returned home and inquired about the dragon chess set," Jiang Guangyi demanded abruptly.

The question was too sudden for Jiang Xudong and he blinked his eye's twice normally as he tried to look away from his elder brother.

''Jiang Xudong answer me!'' This time Jiang Guangyi almost shouted at his younger brother who seemed shocked.

''Are you okay?" Jiang Guangyi's urgent tone betrayed his worry as he observed his younger sibling's stunned demeanour.

Jiang Xudong quickly nodded and focused on recalling the events of the evening when he returned home. He was determined to get to the bottom of the missing dragon chess set and immediately inquired about it with his mother at the dinner table.

That day Jiang Xudong enjoyed a peaceful walk amidst the lively market on a lovely evening, hoping to find some fresh calligraphy brushes.

Jiang Xudong managed to find some good quality brushes for an incredible price. He felt quite satisfied and decided to take a break to quench his thirst. He recalled a newly opened tavern he heard from someone so he decided to head there.

When he walked into the tavern, he immediately noticed a figure sitting at a corner table. From the flickering candlelight, he could make out a person cloaked from head to toe, with a hood covering their face.

Jiang Xudong couldn't help but be intrigued by this mysterious figure, so he walked up and asked for a seat. To his surprise, the figure gestured for him to sit without saying a word.

Feeling a bit awkward, Jiang Xudong ordered a cup of beer and sat there, eyes still glued to this strange customer.

The tavern keeper brought Jiang Xudong his beer and then brought an empty cup to the cloaked figure. The figure reached out a hand from the cloak and revealed a gold token.

The tavern keeper just nodded knowingly and filled the cup with the finest expensive wine.

Jiang Xudong felt more than a bit curious and couldn't help but ask the cloaked customer what the token was.

The figure responded by offering the token to Jiang Xudong.

Jiang Xudong hesitantly accepted it and was shocked to find a golden ticket in his grasp. With confusion evident on his face, the cloaked figure leaned forward and explained,

"This is a ticket that grants you one chance of a lifetime. You can exchange it for a wish of your choosing. It may not be easy, but if you work hard and keep believing, you can make it come true."

Jiang Xudong was speechless. He felt the ticket in his palm with amazement, and it seemed to pulse with energy. He felt as if he was falling into a trance, and questions started popping into his mind. What kind of wish could he do with such a valuable token? What would be the outcome? And of course, was the mysterious cloaked figure giving him something for free?

But then something strange happened. Many unexpected questions started coming into his mind.

''Where is the secret room of Jiang's family?''

''Where were the valuables of the Jiang Family kept?''

''How does one get access to the secret room of the Jiang Family?''

And Jiang Xudong was answering these questions inside his mind without any delay.

''The secret room of the Jiang Family was in the garden of the main residence''.

''All the valuables were kept in that room''.

''One should have the special black ribbon around their wrist to get access to the secret room''.

It was after a few moments that Jiang Xudong breathed out heavily and looked around. There was no one around. The mysterious cloaked guy was nowhere. But the tavern manager and a servant were standing near him patting his shoulder and asking if he was okay. Because Jiang Xudong had been staring into the air for quite a few minutes, the edges of his eyes were moist.

Jiang Xudong quietly paid and left the tavern but unknowingly one question was left in his mind. THE DRAGON CHESS BOARD.

He had never heard about the Dragon chessboard before. His mother and elder brother never talked about any chess board then what was it?

Strange was it that his mind was continuously urging him to ask about the dragon chess board from his mother and at the dinner table, when he couldn't contain his inner thoughts normal, he suddenly asked about it which left his mother and brother too stunned to speak.

Jiang Guangyi listened to Xudong's story from that evening and turned to look at his mother.

''The Kunlun's speciality!'' He gritted his teeth. ''To read other's mind's and thoughts''.

''Wei Liuxian?'' Wang Yuling asked.

Jiang Guangyi nodded his head but he was somewhat doubtful. ''Wei Liuxian played a very big game with us''.

Wang Yuling's mind clicked something. ''Guangyi, if Wei Liuxian knew about the Dragon chess board if he knew how to access it..''

Jiang Guangyi nodded his head, ''It's already gone!''

''What?'' Wang Yuling was horrified. ''How can you be so calm then?''

''I am doubtful it was Wei Liuxian''. Jiang Guangyi said. ''Wei Liuxian and Jiang Xudong are of the same age. These mind-reading tricks need a lot of spiritual energy which Wei Liuxian can not harness''.

''Brother, It must be Wei Liuxian''. Jiang Xudong said.

Jiang Guangyi turned around quickly and choked Xudong, his back bumped into the wall.

''I've repeatedly emphasized the importance of being vigilant and safeguarding your well-being while you're outside. But no, why would you care about this older brother of yours who's always dying with worriedness if his younger brother is doing okay or not?''

Jiang Xudong stared at his brother's face with a hint of fear in his eyes.