Gas of strategy are the favored pasti of scholars.
They require calm and careful thought, honing one’s character, and are admired by so secret martial artists to a certain extent.
Snap!
Zhou Chihe placed his piece.
Li Xuan followed swiftly.
The two leisurely placed their pieces.
Beside them, the tea-brewing boy did not seem like an ordinary servant; he occasionally glanced at the board, his expression full of eagerness to try.
After a long ti...
The ga ended.
Li Xuan cupped his hands, saying, "I narrowly won by half a point."
Zhou Chihe stared at the board for a mont, then laughed heartily, saying, "The moves were in order, with no risky moves, stable like an old general, not like a young man. Marvelous, truly marvelous!"
The boy announced, "Uncle, the tea is ready."
Zhou Chihe waved him over, patting the boy, saying, "Li Xuan, this is the prodigy of the Zhou family, Zhou Jihai. Though young, he loves strategy gas, and even I may not be his match."
Li Xuan glanced at the boy.
The boy was about the sa age as his younger brother, with a high nose and focused, sharp eyes. Though young, he already exuded a touch of charismatic energy.
Such a boy was evidently different from the flamboyant Zhou Changye of the Zhou family, and Zhou Chihe’s deanor clearly showed that this boy was a key focus of the Zhou family’s nurturing.
Whereas Zhou Changye seed to be one they had raised in a decadent manner.
"Brother Li Xuan."
The boy greeted him with the manners of an adult, polite and with the deanor of a young gentleman.
Li Xuan smiled, "Though I am a few years older, if I may presumptuously call you Jihai, would that be alright?"
Zhou Chihe laughed, "You are full eight years older, naturally, you may call him Jihai."
The boy eagerly asked, "Brother Li Xuan, do you still have the interest to play another ga?"
Li Xuan smiled, "The green mountains do not tire of a thousand cups of tea, and the daylight is whiled away in just one ga of chess."
The boy said, "I did not expect to find a kindred spirit."
His eyes lit up with delight as he quickly fetched the brewed tea and offered, saying, "Brother Li, please enjoy."
Li Xuan looked at him, then at Zhou Chihe, and noticed they both had expectant expressions. With his perceptive and clever mind, he quickly understood. Yet, during this ti, he had not been practicing martial arts but was well-versed in literary pursuits.
So he took the tea, skimd the foam, sipped it, and pondered, "The tea is a mix of Mingyue and Biyong from Yunng Province, though slightly astringent, indicating that their quality is sowhat lacking.
The drought in Yunng led to no harvest, and the tea fields were also affected, hence the lower quality; additionally, during a severe drought, rchants were in chaos, so a mix-up of teas is not impossible."
The boy looked at him in surprise, then said, "Though mixed, it has a unique flavor. Imagining its origin during the year of drought, one can vividly see the barefooted people walking on cracked yellow earth and feel a sense of poignant sorrow.
The tea may be lacking, but it carries a story, making it unique."
After speaking, he asked, "Brother Li, it’s remarkable that you could discern the tea types.
But I wonder, do you know where this water cos from?"
Li Xuan took another sip of tea, closed his eyes for a mont, and said, "Though the residence has a well, the well water tastes muddy. While ordinary people might not notice it, it cannot please people like us, and if used for brewing, it would be exceedingly harsh.
This water, however, tastes slightly sweet and gentle, compensating for the tea’s slightly inferior quality...
This must be spring water from the sky.
With sumr approaching, violent rains are harmful and can’t be used for tea.
This spring water, given that spring has passed, should be your last supply of sky springs, Jihai?"
Sky springs refer to rain.
Sky spring water naturally ans spring rain.
The boy was montarily speechless, admiration in his eyes, and turned to Zhou Chihe, saying, "Uncle, Brother Li Xuan is truly amazing."
Zhou Chihe was overjoyed and said, "Knowing your brother is impressive, you should spend more ti together.
You both passed the academy exam as top scorers and will both participate in the provincial examination this year, so you must have much to discuss."
Zhou Jihai said, "Indeed, I should."
Zhou Chihe said, "You two chat, Li Xuan, don’t leave at noon today; dine at my residence."
Li Xuan said, "It would be rude to refuse."
Zhou Chihe, seeing his quick agreent and seeing his usually loftily prideful prodigy getting along well with him, felt content and left with a smile.
As soon as he left, Zhou Jihai sat opposite Li Xuan.
The two tidied up the chess pieces and began another ga.
This clash lasted the entire day.
Zhou Jihai’s style was risky yet steady, favoring isolated pieces deeply infiltrating, like spring waters secretly flowing.
Li Xuan’s style was grand and unswerving, flawless.
After a simple lunch, they soon returned to the tea house to continue their match.
By twilight, Zhou Jihai looked at the board, delighted, and said, "I lost again."
He looked up at Li Xuan and said, "Brother Li, let’s go again!"
Li Xuan looked at the sky and said, "It’s already dark."
"So what if it’s dark, Brother Li, let’s go again..." Zhou Jihai, despite losing, felt the thrill of playing against a master, and this high-level match was extrely satisfying, wanting nothing more than to play with Li Xuan all night.
The little adult deanor held a glimpse of childlike spirit.
Li Xuan thought for a mont, smiled, and said, "Then let’s do it, this ti... I will win by two points."
Zhou Jihai, recalling the previous two gas where Li Xuan won each by one point, imdiately understood but was even more excited, saying, "Co, co, I won’t let you win by two points."
They lit candles for a night battle, competing with great enthusiasm.
Zhou Jihai was not the type to "let you win by two points by purposely losing by three". He fought with all his strength, akin to a lone army reinfiltrating enemy territory, always feeling surrounded by ambushes, unable to break through, each ti retreating reluctantly.
And with each charge, turning back, he realized the outco was already determined.
With one more move, it was settled.
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