Chapter 859: Underestimated

Chapter 859: Chapter 859: Underestimated

Eastern Divine Continent. The Xiaoyun Hall Central Hub.

Chu Xingchen, looking thoroughly languid, yawned and picked up a Go stone from the side. After a moment’s consideration, he placed it on the board.

His opponent was Xie Lingyu. The two of them playing Go was a genuine contest of two amateurs pecking at each other — truly evenly matched, with neither letting the other win.

Chen Baiqing was still handling affairs. Xiaoyun Hall’s response to the rumor campaign remained cold management — or rather, no management at all.

They still dispatched people. But whenever the task involved this matter, those people became useless. If you asked a Xiaoyun Hall disciple how the investigation was progressing, whether there was any news or intelligence...

The disciple would answer: under investigation, will continue to investigate.

Eastern Divine Continent was not Tianyan Sect or Xuanqing Heavenly Sect’s territory. The situation was already sensitive, and the two sects could sneak their hands in — but they could not openly slap Xiaoyun Hall across the face.

At least while Xiaoyun Hall maintained its cold stance, neither sect could make much headway on this matter.

Chu Xingchen had now been lingering in Eastern Divine Continent for quite some time — over half a month by his count.

If Runan knew that Chu Xingchen had raced to Eastern Divine Continent in a hurry just to play Go and drink tea, he would probably drag Chu Xingchen back to Western Niu Continent.

Cui Hao’s situation in Southern Zhanbu Continent did not seem to be going as well as hoped.

At least, there was no good news for Chu Xingchen at the moment. But for now, he could only remain stationed in Eastern Divine Continent — a continent that appeared, on the surface, to be still at peace.

Sometimes the matters that did not immediately turn bloody were the most dangerous, and the ones that demanded the most vigilance.

Since Xiaoyun Hall’s reason for cold-managing the slander might be fear, then what mattered was placing that fear more firmly before Xiaoyun Hall.

If fear had no solution, then deepening the fear was not necessarily the wrong answer.

The only one who might resolve this was probably Chu Xingchen himself.

Chu Xingchen — so busy he hadn’t even had time to return to Tianyan Sect — now sat quietly in the temporary hub of Xiaoyun Hall’s Eastern Divine Continent operations for half a month, doing nothing but playing Go, drinking tea, and chatting.

This peculiar situation was naturally not something Xiaoyun Hall could tolerate forever.

Yunxiao, Xiaoyun Hall’s core disciple, voluntarily materialized at the temporary hub.

In the main hall.

Chen Baiqing sat in the principal seat, head not even lifted as she worked through affairs. Lin Luoyu sat just behind, providing support.

Chu Xingchen lounged lazily, playing Go against Xie Lingyu.

When Yunxiao arrived, all four of them glanced up once, then paid him no further attention.

The only one who greeted him was his own younger sister, Ye Antao.

Yunxiao understood this was a deliberate slight. But being given the cold shoulder inside Xiaoyun Hall’s own central hub — by this particular group...

One could only say — that was Chu Xingchen for you.

Yunxiao did not speak immediately. He turned to Ye Antao:

"You’re the overall commander here. How can you be so idle you don’t even need to read any reports?"

Ye Antao blinked, her gaze hesitant as she looked at Yunxiao twice.

Hadn’t it already become common knowledge that everything here was arranged by Chen Baiqing?

Her title as "overall commander" was generous if described as existing in name only. Whether she read reports or not... what difference did it make?

Hadn’t this dear brother praised Chen Baiqing numerous times and even urged her to learn from her?

Ye Antao thought for a moment, then answered with a solemn expression:

"I have naturally reviewed all necessary information. Baiqing also separately flags important matters for my attention."

Yunxiao: "..."

He watched Ye Antao’s earnest expression, the look of someone who had truly figured it out, delivering this answer with perfect seriousness.

If Ye Antao’s eyes could speak, Yunxiao guessed they would say — don’t worry, I’m learning well from Baiqing!

Yunxiao’s divine sense twitched. He sighed inwardly — as expected, expecting his rather single-minded sister to play配合 was a tall order.

Identifying Ye Antao as useless.

Yunxiao adjusted his composure and turned to Chu Xingchen, who was stroking his chin in apparent deep thought about his next move. Yunxiao smiled lightly:

"Fellow Daoist Chu, it’s been a while. I assumed you’d still be quite busy with matters."

"Of course I’m busy," Chu Xingchen replied without missing a beat.

Yunxiao looked at Chu Xingchen, who was still playing Go, and for a moment genuinely could not think of what to say.

Chu Xingchen raised his eyes and looked at Yunxiao:

"You seem rather free these days. Quite available."

Yunxiao felt a flash of wariness, afraid Chu Xingchen might conscript him on the spot. He found an excuse:

"I only came during a brief window. All the sects are in flux lately, and there are many matters to coordinate."

Chu Xingchen placed a stone, leaned languidly back in his chair, and looked at Yunxiao with a slightly lazy tone:

"So you’re here today to coordinate me? Does Xiaoyun Hall have some assignment for me?"

Yunxiao remembered his Sect Master’s instructions and their internal strategy well. His reply came quickly:

"Of course not. This is Xiaoyun Hall’s central hub — the sect pays close attention to it. Whenever I have a moment I come personally. I merely happened to find you here, Fellow Daoist. I know you have many matters to attend to and would not dare impose."

Chu Xingchen laughed softly: "In that case, take your look around. I won’t keep you from your inspection."

Xie Lingyu studied the board, her brow tightly furrowed. She had been suppressed for most of this game. Chu Xingchen’s moves were vicious, and he kept poking at weak points to take advantage. She felt deeply wronged. Suddenly, her eyes lit up as she played a sharp move.

Chu Xingchen heard the stone drop, glanced at the board, saw his dragon was about to die, and did not hesitate:

"Good move. I concede."

Continuing to play from here would only be asking for punishment. He had enjoyed himself enough earlier.

Whether he won or lost didn’t matter — the real question was: was it fun?

Xie Lingyu’s face had begun to brighten at hearing this, but the expression melted away almost immediately.

She had won. But why did winning feel so unsatisfying?

Xie Lingyu quickly seized on the key point: "No! You can’t just concede the moment you fall behind."

Chu Xingchen’s tone was shocked and tinged with grievance:

"You won — isn’t that enough? Must you humiliate me further?"

Xie Lingyu picked up a stone, her tone不满: "I’m not playing with you again next time."

Chu Xingchen smiled. He had heard Xie Lingyu say this at least six or seven times now. But whenever he asked, she always agreed.

Only after the two finished speaking did Yunxiao continue:

"Since I happen to have run into Fellow Daoist Chu today — if you have any needs, you may tell me now."

"Sure." Chu Xingchen answered quickly, then smiled. "I’ve noticed your Xiaoyun Hall disciples lack experience in certain matters. I’d like to bring in disciples from Xuanqing Heavenly Sect and Tianyan Sect to Eastern Divine Continent to assist in the investigation."

"After all, we’re all saving the world together. I’m sure Xiaoyun Hall has the magnanimity to trust and accept this modest request?"

Yunxiao did not respond. He did not speak. He simply looked at Chu Xingchen with a calm, steady gaze.

Chu Xingchen met it openly.

The atmosphere grew slightly tense.

"Shifu." Chen Baiqing’s voice broke through the taut silence.

Chu Xingchen turned to see Chen Baiqing holding a Tianyan Sect jade token and bringing it before him.

He reached out and took it, then sent his divine sense inside.

Chu Xingchen read the message, and his expression shifted to one of barely concealed shock.

All he could say now was.

Everyone had underestimated Li Junzi.

Even Chu Xingchen himself.

Would this mortal world truly produce another Sub-Sage?