Why do I have so many masters?

Yuchi Jie became even more relaxed. Ever since he emerged from that group of dragons, he had been guiding the grand trend of the chess game. He didn't care about the intricate layout of the battles, yet he had the direction of the game completely under control.

Faint sounds of swords clashing could be heard in the distance.

In his hand, Yuchi Jie held a chess piece, rhythmically tapping it onto the board, then turned to jest with the delicate-looking young girl, saying it was a pity it wasn't nighttime, or else playing chess under the lamplight would be a truly beautiful scene to behold.

The young girl merely forced a smile, not knowing how to respond to him.

A streak of cold light shooting towards the sky suddenly appeared above, heading straight for the Baiyang Sword Sect.

In three to five breaths, the light of the blade diminished, and a streak of light fell from the sky, landing steadily beside Yuchi Jie. The figure was tall, holding a broken sword in hand, and whether it was the man or the sword, both were entangled with the astonishing murderous aura of the Military Family.

Liu Qizheng's heart jolted, and his palm was already on his sword, as an astonishing blaze of energy rose from his body.

Yuchi Jie stood up, raising his hand to stop him, and laughed repeatedly:

"Elder Liu, no need to be hasty, no need to be hasty."

"This is my subordinate, who has come especially to deliver the promised artifact."

Only then did Liu Qizheng notice the sandalwood box in the big man's hands. His caution eased slightly, but his palm still gripped the sword hilt, not moving away.

All the disciples around them drew their swords.

Yet Yuchi Jie smiled leisurely, gesturing for Lao Lu to come forward. With a silent countenance, Lao Lu opened the wooden box and presented it.

Upon opening the box, the severed head of a woman with a thousand charms was revealed.

Liu Qizheng just took one glance before his expression drastically changed. The sword in his hand was drawn swiftly, and in the resonating cry of the blade tearing through the air, it was thrust directly at Yuchi Jie's throat. Even though he held back, the killer intent was so intense that it carved a wound on Yuchi Jie's face, drawing blood.

The female disciple wrapped in Yuchi Jie's arms couldn't help but cry out in surprise, but Yuchi Jie remained extremely calm, teasing the beauty in his arms without lifting his head, and said indifferently:

"As I discussed with Yue Hongzhe, you and I would join forces to besiege the Red Cliff Sect."

"And at this moment, Yue Hongzhe is still alive."

Liu Qizheng's face went through several changes as his mind felt like it was struck hard, and he was utterly bewildered. After pulling himself together with great difficulty, his eyes were already bloodshot as he gritted his teeth and said:

"You deceived me..."

Only bitterness was expressed in these three words.

He deeply regretted his past decisions now.

Yuchi Jie looked up leisurely and said:

"Deceive you?"

"I am saving you, Elder Liu. Here is a proposal: you and I, along with the Cangyu Separate Courtyard, shall join hands and advance or retreat together. How does that sound?"

Lao Lu took out several sheets of paper from his bosom and tossed them onto the table.

They were densely packed with written terms and conditions.

Liu Qizheng just glanced over them, then laughed out of extreme anger, bellowing, "Impudent youngster, ignorant of the immensity of Heaven and Earth! You harm my Sword Sect, and yet expect me to be your servile worker? Where in the world is there such reasoning?!"

In the midst of his furious shout, the sword in his hand was poised to decapitate Yuchi Jie.

Lao Lu violently stepped forward a pace, a fierce and murderous aura exploding from his body. With a cracking sound, it turned out that the Baiyang Sword Sect disciples around them were carrying powerful crossbows, and at this moment all crossbow bolts were aimed and ready, a chilling intent soaring to the heavens.

Murderous intent crisscrossed; he himself was the weakest link. The young girl in his arms turned deathly pale, but Yuchi Jie suddenly burst into mad laughter and said:

"Elder Liu, with things having reached this point, why put on such an act!"

"Today, Red Cliff Sect suffered a great defeat, Yue Hongzhe fled without fighting, and the internal factional strife within the sect grows ever more severe. Initially, the external conflict was expected to stabilize the situation, but now there is discord, tarnishing the sect's reputation completely!"

"The head of the sect wants to shift the internal conflict."

"Yue Hongzhe is in dire need of achievements to compensate for his mistakes and protect his own life."

"The entire Red Cliff Sect must revive its prestige to wash away the shame of their great defeat."

"The Cangyu Branch is but a minor faction, yet my Jade Ruin Temple has defeated the Red Cliff Sect. Spanning three hundred miles of Yan Mountain, seven thousand miles of Heaven and Earth's mighty expanse, Elder Liu, who do you think the Red Cliff will strike at next?!"

"Jade Ruin Temple? Cangyu Branch? Or you Baiyang?!"

With every word Yuchi Jie spoke, he took a step forward, his face bleeding from his wounds, his black hair slightly disheveled by the Sword Qi, but it only made him appear more casual. In his laughter, there was a proud arrogance that truly resembled a Madman.

Liu Qizheng seemed to have lost his grip on his weapon.

He retreated again and again, until he could retreat no further.

Yuchi Jie, holding the young girl, approached the highly reputed swordsman from Guangwu County. He stopped laughing and said softly,

"Elder Liu says the world doesn't work that way?"

"Well, today this insignificant, ignorant youth will teach you that very principle!!"

A thunderous shout!

Liu Qizheng's hand trembled, unable to hold his weapon any longer, the Tiger Swallowing Sword dropped to the ground, emitting a continuous low ringing.

The blade's reflection was as pale and cold as the old man's complexion.

The girl in Yuchi Jie's arms had never seen such a spectacle; her body trembled slightly, and tears even began to seep from the corners of her eyes out of fear.

Yuchi Jie had gone to great lengths just to hold her slender waist, but now he let go without any reluctance, released the girl's waist, and gently dried her tears without any concern for his own exposed back, saying softly,

"Don't cry."

"A sister as beautiful as you shouldn't ruin her looks by crying."

The girl looked up to see the youth's disheveled black hair, his face still handsome despite the wounds on his cheeks, which only added to his charm.

The smile on his lips was still intoxicating.

Yuchi Jie smiled, and seeing the girl stop crying, he looked around assertively. With the beauty close at hand and his pride undiminished, he simply bent down and kissed her cheek heavily, startling her into gasping.

But Yuchi Jie had already stepped back, casually taking the pearl hairpin from the wooden case's head and inserting it into the girl's hair, examining her for a moment, then bursting into laughter. His black hair was disheveled as he brushed his sleeve, hands behind his back, and walked away.

From start to finish, he never gave Liu Qizheng another look.

Looking around, though there were many enemies, they were no more than insignificant creatures, not worthy of battle!

The girl turned pale, her body went limp, and she fell to the ground.

Touching her cheek, her heart still raced uncontrollably.

Watching Yuchi Jie stride away, Liu Qizheng lacked the courage to take action. His body shook, and he stumbled back half a step with a bewildered expression, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.

He looked down at the chessboard, with its distinct blacks and whites.

One piece in the Tian Yuan position, right from the start, had already blocked all his retreat paths a hundred moves later!

The old man's complexion turned pale, suddenly recalling what Yuchi Jie had said with a laugh at the start of the game.

"When one walks the grand path, others dare not block the way, and a true man should act thus. Placing a piece in the Tian Yuan position embodies such a bold spirit, which I like the most."

"A true man should act thus."

Liu Qizheng watched the master and servant leave with impunity, murmuring softly and finally letting out a bitter laugh.

He could no longer muster the spirit to fight.

PS: Today's chapter is a combination of two, I've somehow managed to get past this, a full seven thousand words. It's a bit late, apologies to everyone...

Also, I need to revise my outline for the next step one more time. Tomorrow's update may be less, but it won't be missing, that's all (clasping fist).