The Cycle of Reincarnation in the Four-Courtyard House: A Journey Through the Heavens

At this moment, her fingertips touched the fabric of his sleeve, and she could still feel the warmth of his body from the fierce battle. The girl's heart was already trembling uncontrollably, and even her cheeks were burning hot.

"Brother Li!"

Zhong Ling's voice trembled slightly, yet every word was clear: "Where are you going? Why don't you take me with you?"

Afraid he would refuse, she unconsciously clenched her fists tighter, her eyelashes trembling slightly. "I don't want to go back to Wanjie Valley for now. I want to wander the world with you, okay?"

A gentle breeze blew by, ruffling the stray hairs at her temples. Her eyes were filled with anticipation and trepidation, much like a lost fawn that had found its way.

Looking into those expectant eyes, Li Xiao's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, but he swallowed back the refusal that was on the tip of his tongue.

Having lived two lives, he had naturally witnessed countless dangers in the martial world.

He originally wanted to persuade her to obediently return to Wanjie Valley, but when he caught a glimpse of her clutching his sleeve, as if afraid of being abandoned, his thought of refusing her instantly crumbled.

The purity and dependence in the girl's eyes made it impossible for him to say "no."

"That's enough!"

He sighed softly, his voice carrying a hint of helplessness, yet also a kind of indulgence that he himself was unaware of.

"Come on up."

Li Xiao extended his left hand to her.

Zhong Ling's eyes widened suddenly, as if she couldn't believe her ears. After she came to her senses, a bright smile bloomed on her face.

At this moment, the two small dimples on her delicate face looked especially cute and alluring.

The anxiety from before had long since vanished, and his eyes were so bright they could reflect the light and shadow of the forest.

She excitedly grabbed Li Xiao's large hand and nimbly flipped herself onto the horse.

Zhong Ling carefully pressed herself against Li Xiao's back to settle down. The faint smell of blood and grass lingered around her nose, and her cheeks began to burn again. She subconsciously gripped the hem of his clothes.

With a smile on his face, Li Xiao gently squeezed the horse's belly with his legs, and the magnificent black horse neighed and galloped off northward.

A breeze blew through the woods, ruffling Zhong Ling's skirt and hair. She couldn't help but tilt her head back slightly, feeling the speed of the wind and the warmth of the person beside her, the smile on her lips never fading.

She secretly turned her head to look at Li Xiao's tall and straight back, and listened to his steady heartbeat. She felt that the world at this moment was more charming than any scenery in Wanjie Valley.

Li Xiao gripped the reins, gazing at the winding road ahead, while his mind raced with plans.

Leigu Mountain is a long way away, and the world is full of turmoil. Traveling with Zhong Ling will inevitably bring many more entanglements.

But when he turned his head and saw the girl's hair that was ruffled by the wind and her eyes full of trust, he felt that this bond might not be a bad thing.

He spoke softly, "The journey to Henan is long and treacherous. If you regret it, you can tell me anytime."

Upon hearing this, Zhong Ling immediately shook her head, saying firmly, "Brother Li, I won't regret it! As long as I can be with you, I'm not afraid of anything!"

The black horse's hooves pounded as it carried the two figures away, disappearing into the twilight of the forest.

Ten days later.

The horse's hooves shattered the morning mist in the mountains, and the iron hooves, covered in dust from the journey, slowly came to a stop in front of the main peak of Leigu Mountain.

Li Xiao reined in his horse, which neighed loudly, its nostrils emitting two puffs of white vapor, its mane still glistening with dewdrops.

He dismounted with a swift and fluid motion, his gaze immediately falling on the giant stone chessboard that had suddenly appeared not far away—carved from a single piece of black jade, it was three zhang square, and the black and white chess pieces on the board were all the size of a fist, polished from an unknown jade, gleaming with a warm and deep luster in the morning light.

Zhong Ling also jumped off the horse. The little girl was covered in dust from the journey, but she still couldn't hide the curiosity in her eyes.

She tugged at Li Xiao's sleeve, her voice as clear as a nightingale's song: "Brother Li, is this the Precious Chess Game you mentioned? Why is there only one old man here?"

Li Xiao did not respond, but his gaze was already fixed on the old man sitting quietly in front of the chessboard.

The old man sat cross-legged, dressed in a faded white cloth robe. His hair and beard were as white as frost and snow, yet not a bit disheveled. His hanging hair and beard shimmered slightly with silver light in the morning light.

He sat upright, still and quiet, yet possessed an air of profound composure, as if he were one with the green mountains behind him, or perhaps part of the chessboard.

The old man lowered his eyes, his gaze focused intently on the chessboard, his brows furrowed slightly, his expression deep in thought. He was unaware of Li Xiao and his companion's arrival, as if an invisible barrier enveloped him, shutting out all the noise from the outside world.

Li Xiao walked quietly, leading Zhong Ling closer.

The closer he got to the chessboard, the more he felt an inexplicable pressure.

This was not the oppressive aura of a martial arts master, but a mysterious energy originating from the game itself, as if every piece on the chessboard contained immense power, and every line of latitude and longitude concealed the secrets of life and death.

The black and white chess pieces are arranged in an alternating pattern, seemingly chaotic, yet subtly forming an eerie arrangement that makes one feel suffocated at first glance, as if countless thoughts are churning in one's mind, wanting to reach out and place a piece, yet not knowing where to begin.

"Greetings, senior!"

Li Xiao bowed respectfully, his voice steady, as if afraid of disturbing the old man's contemplation, "This junior, Li Xiao, accompanied by my friend Zhong Ling, has taken the liberty of visiting Leigu Mountain. I wonder if this is the place where Senior Wuyazi set up the Zhenlong Chess Game?"

Upon hearing this, the old man slowly raised his head. It was a face covered with wrinkles, with the years having etched deep marks on it, but his eyes alone were as deep as an ancient pool, showing no signs of age, but rather revealing a clear and sharp understanding of the world.

His gaze swept lightly over Li Xiao and Zhong Ling, but it did not stir up the slightest ripple. He slowly uttered a few words: "The game has not yet begun. Those who are destined will come, and those who are not will return."

Zhong Ling blinked, looking at Li Xiao with some confusion: "Brother Li, what does the old man mean? Aren't we here to break the chess game?"

Li Xiao's heart stirred slightly. He knew that the old man in front of him must be Su Xinghe, Wu Yazi's disciple.

In the original storyline, the Zhenlong Chess Game would only be opened after all the martial arts figures gathered. Now they have arrived early, yet they have already witnessed this scene. It seems that the mystery of this chess game is far more profound than they imagined.

He looked at the seemingly chaotic pieces on the chessboard and suddenly noticed something unusual.

In his previous life, Li Xiao also understood Go. The arrangement of those Go pieces subtly revealed the Taoist principle of Yin and Yang, the interplay of emptiness and fullness, yet it also carried a sense of mystery beyond the rules of Go, as if it concealed some kind of martial arts principle, or perhaps it was a test of one's character.

"This junior understands your meaning, senior!"

Li Xiao cupped his hands again, speaking respectfully: "This junior is not forcing a solution, but I have heard that the Zhenlong Chess Game contains profound martial arts secrets, and I yearn for it, which is why I have traveled all the way to Leigu Mountain."

He then took out two scrolls from his pocket and handed them over.

"I would also like to trouble you, senior, to present these two scrolls to Senior Wuyazi for his perusal!"

Su Xinghe's expression froze for a moment, then he nodded and said, "Please wait a moment, young hero, I'll be right back!"