Chapter 13 — Three Thousand Hairs Fall All Over The Ground, The Royal Regret Goes Crazy

The temple is very quiet. Only the sound of chess pieces hitting the table remained. And the sound of the mountain wind rustling in the forest. The afternoon light shines through the roof of the communal house onto the chessboard. Dyed in black and white with a warm gold border. But this game of chess is cold to the bone.

“Miss Su, you don't look like a Jiangnan person.”

In the end, Tieu Huyen still couldn't stand the bitterness and spoke up to probe. His eyes looked like they were on a chessboard. But the corners of his eyes still locked on me. As if wanting to see something on my face. I took down the white piece, blocking his great dragon's path. Only then did I raise my head and look straight at him.

“Master Tieu, why do you say that?”

My voice is very faint. Bring just enough distance.

“Jiangnan women are mostly gentle.”

“The wind is also often soft.”

“But the lady's flag is like the ice of the North, like the sword in the army.”

“Calm, precise, moreover—each move is deadly.”

A very light, very faint smile:

“Young Master Tieu is too complimentary.”

“This young lady is just… a bit aggressive.”

"If you don't do something, then don't do it."

“If you do it... you must do it to the best of your ability.”

My eyes fell on the chessboard again:

“Chess… same thing.”

“I don't like losing.”

My words made him pause slightly. He looked at me, his eyes became deeper and more searching:

"You're so young, but you already have such courage."

“Probably the family... is not an ordinary person.”

He started a new round of exploration.

“Father is just an ordinary businessman.” I answered discreetly:

“It's just that you often taught me that—”

"A woman living in this world must have her own spirit and bones."

“Don't rely on, don't cling to.”

"That way we can live... with dignity."

“Or for the sentence of not relying on, not clinging to.”

A complex, incomprehensible light flashed in Tieu Huyen's eyes.

“The Venerable Order is truly a strange person.”

I won't answer anymore. Just put all your mind into the game. Time passes slowly. It's getting dark. The mountain mist also began to spread. The killing spree on the chessboard also entered its most intense phase. Every country—It's a life and death struggle. Tieu Huyen's forehead was covered with a thin layer of sweat. His eyebrows were locked tightly. Those eyes that once plotted and determined to win thousands of miles—Now were filled with disbelief. He's about to lose. He... actually lost to an unknown woman. In what he is most proud of—his skills. I looked at his slightly out of control face. There is no bitterness or pity in my heart. There is only one kind of cold pleasure. We pick up the last white piece. Slowly placed it in a position—A position that he absolutely did not expect. A soft sound rang out. Everything is decided. The last great dragon he worked so hard to build— I slaughtered him cleanly. The whole table—All lost. The space seemed silent. Tieu Huyen stiffened on the spot. He stared at the chess board. As if wanting to see through those two colors, black and white. A long time later. He slowly raised his head. Using an extremely complicated look that I had never seen before— There was surprise in it. There are failures. Yes enjoy. But more than that— A kind of excitement so intense that even he felt scared.

“I lost.” He spoke, his voice a bit hoarse.

I stood up and bowed my head slightly.

“Thank you for giving in.”

Having finished speaking, I turned around and left. No hesitation.

“Miss Su!”

He suddenly called me from behind. I don't stop walking.

“It's already dark, The mountain road is difficult to travel.”

"Shouldn't I let you... take the lady for a while?"

We finally stopped. I turned to look at him. Look at those eyes filled with desire to conquer.

“No need.”

“My path… I walk on my own.”

“Don't dare bother Mr. Tieu.”

Having finished speaking, I didn't pay attention to him anymore and just walked straight into the sunset where the mountains were gradually becoming thicker. Leaving only him alone, with that cold game of chess, the game clearly foretold his defeat. Return to Su Palace. It was late at night. I showered, changed my clothes, and sat alone in front of the bronze mirror. The light swayed, reflecting the face in the mirror, familiar yet strange. It's still the same face... but the charisma is different. It's no longer A Dao from back then, her eyes only revolve around one person. The person in the mirror at this moment was as quiet as deep water, as cold as night dew, and carried a kind of awe that made people not dare to look directly at him. A beauty that has been forged through pain, through betrayal, through even her own death. So beautiful that... even Tieu Huyen, when facing her, only dared to doubt, but did not dare to believe. Can't believe it's A Dao. I don't dare to believe that the woman who once loved him to the point of forgetting herself could become what she is today. I gently touched the mirror, my fingertips were cold. A Dao died a long time ago. The one who's alive...It's just me. Outside the door, the moonlight is like water. But my heart is like a frozen lake. Chess game today at Quan Van Dinh. Looking at it, it seemed like the wind was calm. But actually, that was the first real meeting between me and Tieu Huyen. I won. Won very thoroughly. I didn't just win his game. But also won his heart. I have successfully carved a deep mark on his arrogant but cold heart, a mark called "To Dao". He has developed an extremely strong interest in me.