act15side

I asked after you just now, as to our collective exit, and your reply to me was that you 'don't know.'

This answer truly is not a fine one.

Look now. You are still you, with your own ideas, your own emotional ranges, your own adorations, your own fancied persons, your own fond sceneries...

To live in this land is quite fine, is it not?

Whatever It may do.

Don't we have any responsibility for It?

—I am me. Why should I have much ado about It?

Myriad years the human realm was drunk, and it won't permit me one farcical dream?

So your answer is?

Haha...

—'I mind not.'

Lift your head and drink.

Tail as a brush, ink as a shadow.

Let wind rise, brilliant in sharp anonymity.

Let rain fall, tassels soaked within.

And thus let the might of wine cleanse my heart.

A board game? What game? I'm not too educated in the whole Art of the Piece.

Weiqi, the Go of Yan.

Now that's too complicated.

What say you, then?

How about that five-in-a-row one?

A child's game.

Quite fine enough for me. You like playing this chess stuff, then?

I don't. The chesses are extremely boring.

Here I thought you were a board game maniac. You know, those types who only stop to eat and then keep on playing.

Both sides of a board follow the same rules, black and white doing death unto each other along crossing lines. What's the meaning in it?

Pieces, in the end, are just a method of playing games.

So why fetch me?

A fight of I against I is far too boring.

Wh-Where... Were we not just at the mountain's foot...

Only they would be capable of this sort of thing.

Miss Ning, follow me closely, please.

There seems to be... a bright light in the room ahead.

Really, now, starting the game without even explaining the rules.

What about you all?

You'd really put me on the spot, asking me to play this stuff...

I only know general strategy.

No rush, no rush.

I've waited... a great many years for this match.

Now, what exactly is beating a layman like me going to do for you?

You should wait for your helper.

Lee? Why are you...

Liang Xun?! Er, and Miss Ning...

Greetings, Assistant Minister Ning.

There is much I wish to ask of the Candleholders, but now seems not to be not the time.

(Assistant Minister?!)

Sit, sit.

With this, it's more or less set.

What do you intend on doing?

Having a game of weiqi with you all.

You don't like weiqi, but you'd yank all these people in just to play with you?

I suppose.

That goblet of yours has done me some serious damage.

If that lady hadn't finally exposed the truth... how on Terra would I have ended up?

Uncertain. Perhaps at some waking, you would find yourself to be the illusory dream instead. The bubble pops, and the one who opens his eyes, is me.

What?

Now that's just plain terrifying.

Terrifying, indeed.

You don't seem to feel any way about it.

Really, I said it was terrifying.

Heh... I'll leave it at that, then.

Both of you may think it was random chance, that Liang Xun should choose to involve you in this.

But unfortunately, though it's true there is countless coincidence in this world, for this, you are the sole exception.

There is a man by the name of Huai.

Your expression changes. It seems you only let out that mote of superfluous seriousness when your friends are mentioned.

Come. It's your turn.

I must warn you.

One mindless move, and the whole game is lost.

Hmm.

Lee.

Be calm.

How did you escape, sir?

I thought for a long, long, long time, and realized one way. That's all.

A ko fight. How will you respond to this calamity?

This game...

In the game of weiqi, few can surpass you, sir, is that not so?

I've simply lived for a while. Any longer and it'd be boring.

Miss Ning, what say you to this one?

Don't overthink it.

Clack.

A white stone hits the board.

The outcome is clearly in sight.

I've been too recklessly about, these past few days.

It's not your fault.

What does this match signify?

It's only a game. Don't overthink it.

It's very hard not to.

Think about who wins and loses first. Your turn.

The state of things is evident to all at this point. You don't need to carry on mystifying them.

So you want to concede. What about the others?

I imagine—the meaning of this game isn't on the board at all.

Clack.

Hmm...

It's only right that our win or loss shouldn't be determined in this corner.

The best tactic, with people who love to confuse things, is to play just as mad along with them.

I'm not good at any kind of chess, but I am good... at reading people.

I'll answer the question you just posed, young Candleholder.

There was an accident previously. I lost a... younger sister. You may be young, but as the responsibility lies with you, I'm sure you can understand what I'm saying.

This isn't a topic you can discuss here.

That is true. Please speak, sir, with caution.