As Emperor Yu's voice faded, the scene before Fan Li shifted.
A grand city, radiating an aura of imperial authority, appeared. Fan Li instantly recognized it - Yangcheng, the capital of Emperor Yu’s Xia Dynasty.
He saw a procession, banners fluttering, drums beating, approaching the city from the outskirts.
The city gates swung open.
Music welcomed the arriving guests.
Emperor Yu himself stood outside the city, greeting the newcomers with grand ceremony.
“I am the Emperor, but Danzhu is Yao’s son. I must show him respect.”
Emperor Yu’s voice echoed in Fan Li's mind. His tone, aside from imperial authority, was laced with a hint of helplessness.
Danzhu’s procession was not only vast but also incredibly extravagant.
A golden carriage, pulled by six horses. Five accompanying carriages, each pulled by four horses. Attendants and servants riding in thirty-six more carriages.
Fan Li recognized it at a glance. This was the “Grand Procession” described in ancient texts, a level of ceremony reserved only for the Son of Heaven.
So, Danzhu was using the Emperor's own ceremonial procession to meet with Emperor Yu?
As they approached the city, Danzhu’s entourage shouted in unison, “Danzhu pays his respects to Emperor Yu!”
Fan Li’s expression twisted.
“Pays his respects” was considered a polite term, usually used when a junior visited a senior.
But Emperor Yu was the Son of Heaven, the supreme ruler, while Danzhu was, at most, a vassal lord.
He should be “paying homage” or “offering tribute,” not “paying his respects.”
Emperor Yu stood at the city gates, while Danzhu remained seated within his carriage. He didn’t even bother to dismount as he offered a simple bow.
Thus, it appeared that Danzhu held a higher position, forcing Emperor Yu to look up at him.
This… This was truly a traitor’s style!
Fan Li blushed slightly. In truth, he didn’t feel a sense of camaraderie towards Danzhu.
The scene shifted again.
Emperor Yu and Danzhu entered the palace, taking their seats facing each other, one to the south, the other to the north.
Between them sat a square box, covered in white silk.
Danzhu removed the silk, revealing a blood-red object.
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It was a square Go board!
Fan Li’s eyes widened. He instantly recognized it. This blood-red board was identical to the giant Go board that had appeared in the sky above Nanchao, the board that spanned the heavens!
Nineteen lines crisscrossed the board, each line a flowing river.
Black and white stones, each shaped like a mountain.
But the board Danzhu had presented was merely of normal size, a far cry from the colossal board that covered the sky.
Danzhu began to explain the rules of Go. Emperor Yu listened intently. Gradually, he began to ask questions like a student seeking knowledge from his teacher.
Emperor Yu’s voice echoed in Fan Li’s mind.
“Nineteen lines crisscrossing, how many have they misled?
Danzhu explained the Dao of Go. At the time, my cultivation had reached a bottleneck. I felt a flicker of enlightenment, a sliver of understanding, from his words.
I was overjoyed! I believed that by studying Go, I would achieve a breakthrough. Blinded by greed, I forgot Danzhu’s true nature.
He was Yao’s son, and Shangjun was Shun’s son. They were close friends. And yet, Danzhu had killed Shangjun.
But I, eager to learn, had lowered my guard. I had trusted him completely.
And I… fell into his trap…”
Fan Li remained silent. His cultivation, even now, was only at the Golden Core Realm. And as a transmigrator, he lacked the same desperation for strength as those born into this world. He couldn’t truly understand Emperor Yu’s desire for a breakthrough.
Within the scene, Danzhu continued his explanation.
“Your Majesty, the game I created, it uses the empire as its board. You can see the Go board as a miniature representation of your kingdom.
The Dao of the Emperor is to rule the land, to care for the people.
Your Majesty, why not use Go to cultivate? To study the rise and fall of nations, to temper your heart, to achieve the ultimate Dao of the Heavenly Emperor?”
Danzhu’s words tempted Emperor Yu.
“I would be delighted to try. But… to play Go, we need two players. Even if you offer me this game, I cannot play alone, can I?”
Danzhu nodded. “To study Go in solitude is like building a chariot behind closed doors. You might exhaust your efforts, but you will only see a limited view of the world. It is far less effective than playing against a skilled opponent.”
Emperor Yu, incredibly intelligent, instantly understood. To study alone, or to exchange ideas and strategies with another?
Clearly, the latter was far more beneficial!
“Then, Master Danzhu, I ask you to spread the Dao of Go throughout the land. I will play against the world’s best Go players. Together, we will achieve enlightenment.”
Emperor Yu spoke cautiously. He watched Danzhu intently, worried that he might refuse and offer some pre-prepared excuse.
His intuition told him that Danzhu’s gift was a trap.
“This subject obeys.”
Emperor Yu was surprised by Danzhu’s immediate agreement.
Even Fan Li, observing the scene, was puzzled.
“I underestimated Danzhu. An ordinary man might undergo a transformation after a significant life event. But Danzhu? He was ambitious. He yearned for power, unwilling to remain in a small territory like Tang.
That’s why he killed Shangjun, offering his blood and bones as a gift, hoping to gain my trust. His heart was so dark. And yet, blinded by the allure of Go, I ignored the danger.”
“What happened?” Fan Li couldn’t help but ask.
Emperor Yu didn’t answer, but the scene before Fan Li shifted.
More and more wise men studied Go, becoming skilled players.
Emperor Yu played against countless opponents. He won some, lost others.
During this time, his cultivation progressed to the next major realm. He was overjoyed, even rewarding Danzhu handsomely for offering him the gift of Go.
But on the eleventh year of his Go journey, Emperor Yu encountered another bottleneck.
This one was even more terrifying than the previous one. He had already defeated all the renowned Go players in the land! He couldn't improve by playing against weaker opponents.
“The pain of this second bottleneck was far greater than the first. I was anxious, frustrated, unable to eat or sleep! I yearned for a worthy opponent, someone who could push me to the next level. But I couldn’t find one… except for him.”
Fan Li instantly thought of Danzhu!
During those ten years, Danzhu had diligently spread the Dao of Go, traveling across the land, training countless disciples.
And he himself, having displayed his profound understanding of Go, was hailed as the “Chess Sage” by his students!
The Chess Sage, the undisputed master of Go.
Emperor Yu had defeated all of Danzhu’s students. But he had never played against Danzhu himself.
“Finally, one day, unable to bear it any longer, I formally invited Danzhu to return to Yangcheng. I requested a game.”
Emperor Yu’s voice was filled with regret.