act19mini

We're just here to take a rest—

'We'? But it's just you.

Just me? The lady I was climbing the mountain with...

Strange... She was here just a moment ago...

Yun Qingping looks all around him, but there is no sight of the woman.

There is only a young man, sitting at a weiqi board in silence.

And this gentleman is...?

*sigh* He's trapped in that game. There's no getting him out of it.

If you know how to play, help him out a bit.

This game state...

A three <i>jie</i> cycle. A prolonged battle that can only end in a draw.

But he's dead set on victory, so in the end, he trapped himself here.

I can't think of a way to get him out...

(Observes the board)

(Contemplates)

H-Heaven above, it's trapped another.

One after another, *sigh*...

A refusal to draw, victory the only satisfactory option...

If one focuses only on the <i>jie</i>, can one truly demonstrate superiority on the battlefield?

This boy... He yet lives.

But with such grievous wounds, he will have to endure many hardships.

I can't practice kung fu with this body of mine, so what use is there in me recording all the many styles under Heaven?

I don't understand, Grandmaster...

Yun, have you ever questioned the Grandmaster's plans for you?

Of course I have. When I first took this job, my heart still harbored some resentment. I felt like making me watch everyone practice kung fu every day was like chaining me atop a stake while dangling meat before my eyes.

The scent hits you like a fist, your eyes go wide with greed, but you can never have even half a bite. I tormented myself with an endless barrage of complaints as I suffered in discontent.

You don't look like you're suffering now.

Even though my progress is only theoretical, it is enough to soothe me.

But more importantly, I believe I understand some of the reasoning behind it.

Have I told you about my recent dreams, Zuo?

No, might as well tell me now.

One night, I dreamed that I would return to the countryside someday, a nameless, obscure man. All those many martial moves and techniques, when used upon the fields, will let you save a considerable amount of strength in tilling and hoeing the land.

Another night, I was a passionate warrior, quick to kindness and vengeance, an imitator of the Grandmaster. Strike, and sunder the tides cleft. Retract, and leave no peace bereft. A legend born from a single punch, before dying after all my breath is spent.

They both sound really different from the Yun I know...

Obsession is a quagmire. It is natural for those trapped within to not understand.

After much deliberation, there is but only one answer...

First give, then observe, and finally, take.

The stone should go here.

Yun Qingping picks up a white stone, paying no heed to the massive hundred-point battle raging on the board as he nonchalantly places it on the other side of the board.

Black takes the opportunity to wipe out the majority of white stones atop the board, but then comes a stunning reversal, leaving white with a clear advantage.

Lan Ke watches in stunned silence as the countless stones, both black and white, disappear as if they were but mirages. All that is left is a clear board, and three men surrounding it.

The stalemate has been broken.

My word... To think there was a move like that!

Duoxie, my friend, duoxie! I couldn't come up with anything despite thinking for so long. I never expected you to break it open the moment you arrived. You have my admiration!

You flatter me. I don't actually know much about weiqi. I simply thought that, since all things on this land are connected, martial doctrines that espouse give and take could be applied to weiqi as well. I didn't think it would work out so well.

Your weiqi skills far exceed mine, but since you were so focused on winning the <i>jie</i> cycle, you overlooked the overall state of the board.

No matter how you put it, this game is won!

Is that you... Luo Qin?

I'm Luo Qin's grandson.

When he was still alive, he'd always talk about the strange man back home playing weiqi atop the mountain. I've visited you many times, thinking I'd have to pass this task on to my own grandson. Didn't think this man'd put a stop to it all, youngster.

That means I've spent...

Over a hundred years here. The town's changed too.

So I've been... separated from Jin'er... for all these years...

My dear.

Jin'er?!

Yes, it's me.

Long time no see... dear.

It's really you! That Xian wasn't lying to me! I really did meet you again!

Amazing... Truly incredible...

Let's go home right away! Mom and Dad are still waiting for us—

Jin'er...? Why won't you... say anything...?

I see... Hahaha.... So that's how it is...

I was already... long ago...

But it doesn't matter. I got to... see you again...

With the game ended, the Xian keeps his promise.

And so, Lan Ke is free of his regrets.

Madam Bai...

No, you are not the Madam Bai of this tale.

Yes. After seeing my love, what more have I to pine for?

I was but a stack of joss papers before her cenotaph, soaked in his tears and longing.

Her desires, my destiny, were bound together in this meeting with him.

With him gone, there is no reason for me to stay here.

I beg the two of you, fulfill my final request. Place my love's grave by her cenotaph, then burn 'me' as an offering.

We may not have been able to grow old together in this life, but I hope that in the next... we will meet again...

'Madam Bai' falls silent, then bows deeply. And in an instant—

There is only a stack of joss papers, fluttering in the wind.

Joss paper... So this particular Bai Jin was a geist?

*sigh*...

A hundred and twenty years ago, for reasons unknown, a horde of geists fell upon the town one night, wantonly lashing out at anyone and everyone. Truly a calamity.

My granddad was saved by the young man named Lan Ke.

He helped many townspeople escape with their lives that night... but he himself had to be saved from the flood of geists by Bai Jin.

As for her... She died that night.

Mr. Lan and Madam Bai were kind people...

I heard those geists are born from thoughts. Once those obsessions are gone, they go back to being regular objects.

The secret passed down my family for three generations has finally borne fruit, so why do my tears refuse to stop...

I'm heading down the mountain, youngster. I need to make sure Sister Bai's request gets done, and also tell my granddad about what happened.

How about you?

There's someone I'm meeting on the mountain. I need to get going.

This mountain's so lively nowadays. No idea what kind of bigshot asked you to climb up the back side to meet up.

Well, I'll be off then.

If, by any chance, we meet again, you're welcome at mine for a cup of tea.

Old Luo carefully packs up the things on the ground, putting them in his basket before tottering down the mountain.

Was it you who broke the stalemate?

May I inquire as to who is speaking?

A half-life who deals with menial tasks, a hard-working geist is all.

You are Da—Chongyue's record-keeping man, the one by his side.

I presume you are one of the Sui proxies, then.

Forgive me for inviting you in such a matter. Let us ascend. There is a guest at the peak awaiting you.

So I was 'invited'...?

Indeed. At first, it was for other matters... but who could have expected you to chance upon that game and break the deadlock with a flick of your wrist?