CHAPTER 257: CHAPTER 257: YOUNG MASTER QIN ON THE SONGHUAI RIVER

After a long while, the system spoke.

"Ding! A request like the host’s is something this system has never encountered in a lifetime, but after extensive calculation, a conclusion has been reached."

The system paused and said:

"Wearing the Forgiveness Hat on yourself means forgiving yourself, allowing you to overcome all negative emotions!"

Qin Chuan’s eyes lit up at these words:

"So, if I’m consumed by murderous intent, possessed by evil thoughts, or fall into madness, it can all be resolved?"

"Ding, yes... it is possible."

At this moment, the system seemed quite unsettled internally—how irritating! Once again, this brat has cornered his father!

Meanwhile, Qin Chuan was grinning from ear to ear as he gazed at the three green hats that magically appeared in his mind, suddenly finding the color green rather refreshing.

Green, eye-friendly!

...

In the blink of an eye, half a year passed.

Qin Chuan and his son lived in seclusion in a city within the Fiery Sun Domain, finding a unique pleasure in cloaking their grandeur in anonymity.

The father and son bought a courtyard.

Qin Zi was continually in seclusion, consolidating his Realm Emperor status and diligently assimilating the primordial energy within him.

As for Qin Chuan,

he often indulged in worldly pleasures, frequently visiting the painted boats on the Song Huai River at the city’s edge.

He was elegant in demeanor and extraordinary in temperament.

Not only was he skilled in poetry and impromptu verse, but he was also generous, earning the favor and admiration of numerous songstresses and boat maidens.

In fact, many virtuous young women and beautiful married women in the city would often pass by the riverbank, stealing glances along the embankment...

Of course, he was destined to be the man they could never have.

As the saying goes, "How much sorrow can one have? It is like a spring flood flowing east... Love arises unknowingly, as a diligent net mends deep."

"Marvelous, Young Master Qin’s Ode to the East truly possesses a profound ambiance, making me envision a great figure standing tall amidst heaven and earth, gazing proudly across eternity, unmatched in the world, unbeaten by any challenge!"

"Yet when he looks back, he sees overwhelming vicissitudes, with people and events having changed... Sob sob, I’m touched again."

A comely songstress remarked sentimentally.

"Here, wipe your tears."

Qin Chuan handed over a handkerchief.

"Um, Young Master, could you... turn around, I feel a bit... shy with you watching."

The songstress lowered her head, her pretty face flushing with embarrassment.

"It’s fine, I’ll watch you wipe."

Qin Chuan said with a smile.

"Well... alright then."

The songstress nodded shyly and then began to dab her eyes with the silky handkerchief, looking even more bashful in doing so.

"Junior Brother Qin, I’m here again!"

At this moment, a white-haired old man appeared at the edge of the embankment, holding a chessboard with a spirited expression.

"After deliberating for three days and nights, I’ve finally found a way to counter your move; this time I will surely win!"

He laughed heartily three times, then leapt up, stepping lightly over the river’s surface to board the painted boat.

This display drew slight attention from the surrounding crowd.

Of course, that was all.

In this moderate city, people who could fly were not few, and there were even a few Supreme Realm experts in the city.

Indeed, on the Main Continent, most cities were relatively harmonious; even the greatest powers within them dared not be too presumptuous, as any passing traveler might be a hidden powerhouse!

During this time,

Qin Chuan had long been silently regarded by the city folk as a reclusive super expert, for... his air was too transcendent!

Could an ordinary person be this handsome?

That tall and perfect physique, that strikingly handsome face, that otherworldly aura, those eyes deep as the starry night... each trait stirred admiration and profound respect.

Everyone knew he was an exceptional existence, yet all tacitly agreed never to mention it.

They dared not have any unrealistic hopes, nor did they expect to earn the favor of this great figure, not even daring to try to win his goodwill, because they believed that whatever they thought would be seen through at a glance.

They only hoped to maintain a gentlemanly acquaintance as calm as water with this great figure for some time.

Such an interaction might not yield any tangible benefits, but it could serve as a cherished memory for a lifetime, even something to recount to future generations in years to come...

"Junior Brother Qin, this time I will surely defeat you, so about our wager, you mustn’t renege."

The white-haired elder said eagerly.

"Naturally, but I still think you won’t win."

Qin Chuan replied with a smile.

"This..."

A hint of worry flashed in the white-haired elder’s eyes, then he took a deep breath and forced a cheerful smile: "There is still hope!"

Qin Chuan smiled without saying a word.

Is there hope?

With the Martial Emperor’s computational power, encompassing everything from the growth of all things to the movement of stars and the Laws of Heaven and Earth, all is within its calculations.

An Emperor of Eight Tribulations, how could he win?

"It’s begun!"

The white-haired elder took a deep breath, quickly set up the chessboard, and said, "Last time, we played to this point, and you blocked my retreat with one piece, defeating me so thoroughly that I was almost driven to a dead end."

"For the past three days, I’ve pondered day and night, discovering that no matter where I place the piece, it’s a dead end."

"But this morning, my granddaughter accidentally knocked the piece from my hand, and it happened to land in a certain spot!"

"At first glance, it seemed to be a dead end, but upon closer inspection, it actually contained a chance for reversal. Sacrifice six thousand to kill ten thousand!"

"Watch closely!!"

In the next moment, the elder picked up a white piece, raised it high, and the piece began to glow.

"Great Harmony of Heaven and Earth!!!"

The elder shouted fiercely, slamming the white piece onto the board, immediately causing beams of brilliant light to burst forth.

Not just that, a massive power spread out, causing the entire pavilion to suddenly sink by two feet.

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Massive explosions occurred in the river on both sides of the pavilion, sending sprays of water dozens of meters high, a spectacular sight.

"Ah! What’s happening!"

"What a huge wave!"

"Miss, come down quickly!"

"Ah, it’s stuck!"

"Young Master, quickly get out!"

"I can’t, I’m trapped!"

Across the hundred-zhang wide Songhuai River, gigantic waves surged, causing many pavilions to sway as if about to be overturned by the waves.

Suddenly, everything was in chaos.

The power of a Realm Emperor, terrifying indeed!

"Great Harmony of Heaven and Earth? Quite a nice name."

Qin Chuan remained unfazed, not even glancing at the board, as if he had anticipated the move, and smiled:

"Luck is indeed on your side to find a way out, but of course, it could also be said to be the worst luck."

"What appears to be a path to life is actually a path to certain death. The last sliver of life has been exhausted, and what follows is inevitable death!"

Qin Chuan slowly raised a black piece, without a trace of emotion, gently placing it on the board.

"Thud!"

A soft sound, extremely subtle.

Yet it was like the first spring thunder in the world, heralding the creation of heaven and earth, divine drums sounding, evil retreating!

"Whoosh——"

Without any warning, the turbulent river surface instantly calmed down, reflecting like a mirror.

"This!!!"

The white-haired elder’s eyes widened, staring intently at the board, even as bloodshot veins appeared in his eyes.

"Dead end, still a dead end, always a dead end... It’s over, it’s completely over..."

He growled in a hoarse voice, which gradually softened, as if drained of all strength, slumping onto the deck of the pavilion.

Qin Chuan watched the despairing elder, sighed softly, then slowly raised his head, looking toward the celestial vault.

"Booming!"

Suddenly, in the sky, the winds and clouds underwent drastic changes, and powerful energies spread out unrestrainedly.

The black clouds pressed down on the city as if to crush it!

Within the black clouds, lightning flickered, illuminating cold and towering figures, solemn and indifferent.

A dozen Emperors.

And even a few quasi-emperors!

"Yu Jingzhi, let’s see where you can hide this time?!"

The leading burly man stood at the center of the black clouds, which swirled around him, the power of lightning flashing around him like a celestial deity!

The white-haired elder’s face turned pale.

He raised his head, his face showing anguish and rage: "We share the same roots, must we really be so cruel in persecution?!"

"Hmph, your granddaughter stole something that rightfully belonged to the Young Master, she must naturally return it!"

The burly man snorted coldly.

"But she’s already absorbed it!"

The white-haired elder gritted his teeth.

The burly man was unsurprised, responding coldly:

"We know she absorbed it, which is why we want to take her back, to draw her blood and marrow, refine as much as we can."

"You’re too cruel! Wanqing is also a bloodline of the Yu Family, why can’t you let her go!"

The white-haired elder roared with red eyes.

"Hmph! Our Yu Family, after developing for so many years, has finally produced a Young Master capable of competing for the divine child of the Sun-devouring Imperial Palace, yet your granddaughter dared to snatch food from the Young Master’s mouth, where does that leave the family interests?!"

The burly man rebuked sternly.