Chapter 0001: The Depth of the Mansion
The man wearing golden silk gloves, upon hearing this, respectfully walked to the entrance of the gate and quietly said, "Chief Gao, the person you wanted has been brought here. The brothers were very careful on the way, ensuring that no one knew." His voice was neither warm nor cold. After his words entered, the people inside did not respond immediately. After a short while, a thin old man with a pale complexion slowly walked out from inside. He was toying with a green ring on his left hand, his pair of slender eyes fixed coldly on the group of men in black. Each black-clad individual under his gaze felt as if they were being watched by a venomous snake, not daring to meet his eyes. After a brief moment, seeing the expressions of the crowd, this Chief Gao finally withdrew his gaze with satisfaction and replaced it with a smile, saying, "Guard Wang has always been careful and prudent in his work, which reassures me greatly. Now, do not linger outside for too long. Bring the person and follow me to meet the young master. At that time, I will naturally speak a few good words for you in front of the young master."
In the early morning, as all things begin to awaken, the morning mist envelops the surroundings. A piercing crow of a rooster cuts through the air like a meteor tearing through the void, and the sun slightly reveals its presence.
At this moment, Luo Yu was holding a book titled "The Ghost Path of Go". The pages had already yellowed in many places, yet there were no signs of decay. Moreover, the book was so old that it was unclear which dynasty it belonged to. It felt very smooth to the touch, as if it were not made of wood
Mengzhou is located in the eastern part of Xiliang, bordered to the east by another large state, Chizhou, which is the easternmost point of Xiliang. The land area of Mengzhou and Chizhou is considered below average among the thirty-three states of Xiliang. However, due to their proximity to the vast eastern sea, they are rich in various seafood and exquisite products such as precious pearls and agate. These geographical advantages have allowed the people of both states to enjoy a life of abundance and prosperity, unlike those in other states with poorer environments who often struggle with survival and livelihood, leading to turmoil and conflict. Therefore, Mengzhou and Chizhou have become places that many people yearn for.
The handsome man looked up at the executive and said, "The matter has been taken care of, no one knows, right?" His voice was tinged with superficiality, lacking in confidence, and he appeared to be in a state of excessive indulgence
The man wearing the golden silk gloves, upon hearing this, immediately showed a look of great joy. He gestured to the people behind him and quietly followed the senior steward into the Luo residence. Once inside, the senior steward led the way, with the others following in an orderly manner. It seemed that everyone was very familiar with the layout of the Luo residence, yet as they walked, their eyes occasionally darted to the sides, as if afraid of being seen by others. After entering the residence, the senior steward continued to lead the way, with the rest following closely behind, all appearing to know the route well, but still glancing around nervously as if concerned about being observed.
This left a deep impression on Luo Yu at the time. If only he could possess those abilities, he would be able to prevent others from bullying him. Moreover, the third sister who was taken away was the only person in the Luo family who cared for him and his mother, often bringing them delicious food and never looking down on their lowly status. Luo Yu had a profound impression of this sister and vowed that once he had the capability, he would definitely repay the third sister.
Before long, everyone arrived in front of a beautifully ornate house, the door adorned with intricate carvings of dragons and phoenixes playing together, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship. It was evident that the inhabitants of this residence were of distinguished status. A thick red carpet was laid on the ground, and from a distance, one could hear the sounds of men's laughter and women's playful teasing coming from within the house.
Despite the fact that Luo Yu studied all of this in hopes of gaining the favor of Li Xianren, holding onto a glimmer of hope that one day he could embark on the path to immortality, this may seem amusing to others. However, it must be said that, although he is young, his ambitions are indeed lofty
And no one expected that many years later, this moment, still filled with fantasy and hope as an innocent child, would ultimately undergo continuous transformation, becoming a renowned existence in the realms of immortals and demons, immortalized through the ages.
At this moment, in the capital city of Yuangjiang, Anding City, within the Luo residence, in a secluded and dilapidated small house in the backyard, the sound of clear and powerful reading can be heard. Upon closer inspection, one discovers a boy of about thirteen or fourteen years old, dressed in a white cloth garment, which has several noticeable patches. Although somewhat worn, it is exceptionally clean and tidy, clearly indicating that the wearer takes great care in maintaining cleanliness.
In the night, within the capital city of An Ding Cheng in the Yuan Jiang Kingdom, there are few pedestrians. The bright moon hangs high in the sky, casting a gentle and beautiful night scene. The soft moonlight spills over the earth, bringing with it a sprinkle of starlight. For those who have been busy throughout the day, it is time to take a good rest.
"Alright, you all wait outside now, I will come out shortly." The voice was somewhat airy and anxious, mixed with the sound of hurried dressing, quickly emanating from within, seemingly tinged with a hint of anger. The tall steward, however, maintained a calm demeanor, as if he was very familiar with the temperament of the person inside, merely standing by with his hands clasped, quietly waiting. After about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, a fair-skinned, handsome man emerged from the house, wearing a tall hat and adorned in a splendid golden silk robe. His fingers were adorned with several exquisitely crafted rings, sparkling and dazzling to the eye. If anyone were to see this scene, they would undoubtedly be astonished, for these rings, whether pearls or agates, were all expensive items, only worthy of being worn by the wealthiest individuals in the capital, which also reflected his prominent status.
In just a few breaths, they quickly arrived at the entrance of the Luo residence. At this moment, the man wearing the golden silk gloves slightly raised his right hand and made a gesture to stop. He then cautiously approached the door, his steps incredibly light, as if afraid of disturbing something inside. He raised his right hand, grasped the deep red door knocker on the right, and gently knocked three times. After that, he stood aside with his hands clasped, waiting quietly. The black-clad individuals behind him seemed to understand the gravity of the situation, as the previously faint sounds of conversation vanished without a trace, like wind scattering clouds.
The chief steward slightly bowed to the man and said: "The person has arrived; this is the manager Fang of the largest bank in the Song Kingdom, the Baotong Bank." As he finished speaking, he pointed with his left hand at the plump man in brocade clothing behind him
Not long after, a creaking sound was heard, and a palm-sized opening appeared in the red-painted door. Following that, a hoarse voice gently came from inside: "Wang Guard, how has the matter been handled?" The voice was sharp and hoarse, yet contained a hint of the aura of someone in a position of authority.
At this moment, a group of individuals dressed in black, their heads shrouded in black cloaks, hurriedly moved about, each carrying either a knife or a sword at their waists. They seemed to be in a great rush, as if there were some urgent matter that required their attention. Among them was a plump man dressed in luxurious attire, appearing to be in his forties or fifties. He wore a golden hairpin on his head, his face was marked by excess flesh, and his eyes were narrow and slanted. At this moment, he was engaged in a conversation with a man among the black-clad group, who wore golden silk gloves, laughing and speaking in a fawning manner. His narrow eyes, combined with his demeanor, gave off an impression of hidden malice behind a smiling facade.
The man known as Wang the Bodyguard quickly walked up to the elderly gentleman, clasped his fists together, and said, "Thank you for your concern, Chief Steward. We naturally know what to do." After he finished speaking, the Chief Steward nodded slightly, and then a group of people swiftly walked along the straight path.
However, there are a few brightly lit places that stand out, and the Luo residence is one of them. The tall and ancient red lion-embellished gate, approximately ten feet high, is flanked by two exceptionally fierce gilded stone lions, creating an atmosphere of great solemnity and grandeur
The boy has fair skin, a narrow forehead, thick eyebrows, and slightly sunken eye sockets. He cannot be described as handsome, but he gives off an impression of intelligence and wisdom. Even while studying, his brows are slightly furrowed, and his eyes are fixed on the book with a bright intensity, as if captivated by the wonders within.
The arrangement in the room is particularly peculiar, with numerous bookshelves filled with worn-out old books. The bookshelves, table, and chairs are arranged in a grid pattern reminiscent of a magic square. When an ordinary person enters, they must navigate through this grid from the door to their sleeping area, often wandering aimlessly and taking longer routes. In contrast, those skilled in this game can reach their destination directly from the center, slightly to the left. This can be considered a small contraption for deterring intruders; although it is not complex, it indeed demonstrates the remarkable intelligence of a thirteen or fourteen-year-old child.
At this moment, the executive turned to the men in black behind him, gesturing with his hand, and said: "You all wait here; I will go and bring the young master out." Without waiting for a response from the others, he quickly walked to the door, lightly knocked a few times with his right hand, and said: "Young master, the person you wanted has arrived." His voice was deep and powerful, seemingly startling those inside.
He is Luo Yu, originally supposed to be the third son of the Luo family, destined for wealth and honor. However, due to his mother's lowly status, who was originally a seamstress named Liu Qiao working for the Luo family, a series of unfortunate events occurred after Luo Zeng, in a drunken stupor, inadvertently engaged in a scandalous affair. When Luo Zeng's legitimate wife, Madam Fan, learned of this, she intended to have Liu Qiao killed. However, upon discovering that Liu Qiao was pregnant, Luo Zeng, unable to bear the thought, allowed her and her child to stay in the backyard, intending to treat them well. Unfortunately, Madam Fan caused too much of a ruckus, and as Luo Zeng was the Minister of Rites, he could not publicly take a concubine. Thus, he could only let them suffer in the backyard. Unexpectedly, Liu Qiao went out to seek work during her pregnancy, and despite living in extreme poverty, she successfully gave birth to Luo Yu. However, their status did not improve; instead, they faced repeated oppression from Madam Fan, who often sent servants to bully them. Luo Yu set up the Nine Palaces formation to protect himself from the frequent bullying.
Yuanjiang State - one of the thirty-three provinces of Western Liang, and one of the three states of Mengzhou
A friend of his father's named Li Xiao was said to be a person from Xianlin, elusive and mysterious, possessing boundless magical powers, living a life isolated from the world. When his father was young, the two met by chance through the game of Go, and later became good friends after a prolonged match that ended in a stalemate. When he was ten years old, that immortal, Li, reportedly visited to see if the descendants of the Li family had any celestial affinity. Luo Yu did not witness the specific process, as the people of the Luo family would not give him the opportunity. However, it was eventually heard that Luo Yu's third sister, Luo Qingqing, was taken away by that immortal, and she has not returned even once in the four years since her departure. Luo Yu only caught a distant glimpse of that immortal, who unleashed a blood-red long sword that shot straight into the sky, a flash of red light, and vanished in the distance with astonishing speed
As we walked a short distance, it seemed that Mr. Gao had also sensed the tense atmosphere. In a calm tone, he said: "There is no need to worry; all the guards and servants on this road have been assigned to other places by me, so no one will see us. However, once you meet the young master, please do not speak carelessly. The young master has not been in a good mood lately, and if you say the wrong thing, I cannot guarantee your safety." At this point, he glanced at the group of men in black, and his voice suddenly took on a chilling tone.
Our story takes place in this prosperous land, Mengzhou, the Yuanjiang Kingdom
However, he did not pursue the path of fame and fortune, for in the Yuanjiang Kingdom, apart from the emperor, no one dared to touch the Luo residence. He understood that no matter how much he studied, it would be of no use. What he sought was the elusive and mysterious path of immortality and cultivation.
This was an occasion when Luo Yu inadvertently helped an elderly man. Grateful for the assistance, the elderly man, upon noticing Luo Yu's diligence and hard work in studying, gifted him this book, which is said to be a family heirloom. Although the book itself is not worth much, it contains profound insights into the game of Go, from which Luo Yu learned a great deal.
On both sides of the Yuanjiang Kingdom, which is part of Mengzhou, are the countries of Yundu and Xixia
Fortunately, Luo Yu has been very sensible since childhood and has shown great filial piety towards his mother. As a result, his mother has been able to persevere in such an environment until now, feeling comforted. Luo Yu, having endured hardships and experienced the ups and downs of human relationships from a young age, has developed a hardened mentality, determined to master his skills and repay these debts one by one when he grows up