Kong Fang stood in his study in the Golden Cauldron Pavilion, his gaze sweeping over the precious notes and manuscripts on the desk, pondering his future layout.
Chen Hui and Lin Wanying had already left. The judge's brush technique and mathematical manuscripts they left behind were not only a wealth of wisdom for the Commercial Republic, but an incredibly rare legacy.
However, the problem followed—who would teach Kong Ning and Chen Wenbin?
Kong Fang was meticulous, knowing well that he could not bear this responsibility alone. Thus, he made two arrangements.
On the one hand, he handed the martial arts portion to Shen Cuodao, ordering him to study the judge's brush technique left by Chen Hui and teach it to Kong Ning and Chen Wenbin. Shen Cuodao had a mysterious background, and it was inconvenient to expose his past martial arts routines. The judge's brush technique was unique and rare, which perfectly helped him disguise his foundation and shape a new martial arts identity.
On the other hand, Kong Fang handed the teaching of mathematics and mechanistics to Fu Yunxing, having him study Chen Hui's mathematical manuscripts and notes, and then teach the two children alongside Liu Wenzhou. Liu Wenzhou had studied at the Holy Scholar Academy and had a solid foundation in mathematics and logic; this task was perfect for him. If necessary, he himself could also join in.
——
Shen Cuodao sat quietly on the wooden platform of the martial arts training ground, his fingertips gently stroking a pair of judge's brushes on the table.
This was the first time he truly examined this weapon. The judge's brush was different from long swords, sabers, or spears. It had no sharp edge, nor heavy destructive power. Yet, it contained a peculiar fluidity, emphasizing transformation and precision, which shared similarities with the samurai sword he had studied in the past.
"This is a good opportunity..."
He pondered.
Since coming to the Commercial Republic, he had been deliberately hiding his past, unwilling to expose any traces of his former use of the samurai sword. If he could thoroughly master the judge's brush technique, it would become part of his brand-new identity, making it impossible for people to easily trace his origins.
Over the years, he had learned countless killing techniques, but had never attempted a martial art where the brush strokes flowed, hiding calculations within.
He reached out to grasp the brush body, turning it slightly. The tip flicked lightly, making a crisp sound.
"It seems this martial art is indeed worth learning."
Behind him, light footsteps sounded.
"Mr. Shen, Father said that starting today, you will teach me and my junior brother martial arts." Kong Ning's voice was crisp and loud, carrying a bit of curiosity. "But do you really know the judge's brush technique?"
Shen Cuodao smiled slightly, standing up. His gaze fell on Chen Wenbin standing nearby.
This boy's eyes were focused and calm, entirely different from Kong Ning's nimbleness, but equally carrying a firm thirst for knowledge.
"Starting today, I will also begin learning." Shen Cuodao said slowly. "You want to learn, and I want to learn too."
Kong Ning blinked, asking curiously: "Then how are we going to learn?"
Shen Cuodao didn't answer, but raised his trembling hand—in his mind, the firelight from that night in the Moonrise Empire and the roars of pursuers suddenly surfaced. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. The judge's brush in his hand quickly slashed out a stroke, cutting through the air, the wind from the brush vibrating slightly, as if to cut off thoughts of the past.
"The brush shadow is traceless, power lies in the wrist." He said in a low voice. "Since we are going to learn, let's start with this."
——
In another study, Fu Yunxing and Liu Wenzhou sat at the desk, flipping through the mathematical manuscripts left by Chen Hui.
Liu Wenzhou picked up a scroll recording the "Method of Surplus and Deficit," examined it closely, and then smiled slightly: "These mathematical deductions are indeed no small matter. Chen Hui truly is a brilliant disciple of the Holy Scholar Academy."
Fu Yunxing frowned while flipping through another scroll of records: "These teaching notes are written in extreme detail, even leaving behind parts of classroom dialogues. Judging from these contents, he isn't just teaching mathematics, but teaching how to think."
Liu Wenzhou put down the notes in his hand, turning to look at Fu Yunxing: "It seems this will be an interesting teaching experience. We two should also gain something from it."
Fu Yunxing smiled slightly, nodding: "Then let us begin."
——
From this day on, Kong Ning and Chen Wenbin began a brand new learning journey.
Shen Cuodao taught the judge's brush technique, letting the two master this martial art step by step, from brush strokes and wrist strength to practical combat skills.
Fu Yunxing and Liu Wenzhou taught mathematics and mechanistics, letting the two learn how to analyze and solve problems through mathematical deduction. Kong Fang would also sometimes appear to personally give guidance.
Every day, they were learning. Every day, they were growing.
And in this storm of learning, Shen Cuodao gradually mastered the judge's brush technique. Fu Yunxing and Liu Wenzhou found new insights in mathematics and teaching. And Kong Ning and Chen Wenbin gradually molded brand-new versions of themselves amidst the dual learning.
A year flew by. The flames of war in Qingzhou from the past had subsided, yet in the chessboard of power, the real game had just begun.
When Chen Hui and Lin Wanying returned to the Shuntian Dynasty, the Emperor formally granted an audience and officially appointed Chen Hui as the Regional Inspector of Qingzhou, commanding the military and civil affairs of Qingzhou, responsible for rectifying local order and restoring the livelihood of the people. However, the waves in the imperial court had not settled, especially since the Minister of War, Chang Yanjiao, did not entirely welcome Chen Hui's return.
After Chen Hui took office, he quickly set about rectifying Qingzhou's granaries and supplies. However, not long after, he discovered that the Ministry of War deliberately delayed allocating military supplies and grain, and even shortchanged some links, making it difficult for the Qingzhou military and civilians to receive sufficient provisions.
This was no accident, but Chang Yanjiao's handiwork.
"Making you Regional Inspector doesn't mean letting you truly control Qingzhou."
Chang Yanjiao secretly orchestrated things, attempting to plunge Qingzhou into a predicament, preventing Chen Hui from consolidating his foundation, and continuously attacking Chen Hui's governance capabilities.
One day, at the imperial court, a Ministry of War battle report was presented to the Emperor: "In one month, merchant ships in the outer seas of Qingzhou were attacked three times. The pirate ships flew banners bearing the character 'Chen'!"
Chang Yanjiao lowered his head, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.
Then, he discovered something surprising—
The Minister of Revenue, Wang, stepped forward at this moment: "Your Majesty, surely this must be a conspiracy to frame Lord Chen. This is a tactic by the Pirate Alliance to sow discord in order to seize Qingzhou again. For the safety of the court and the future of our finances, my Ministry of Revenue will definitely cooperate with Lord Chen to restore stability and tax revenue in Qingzhou!"
And whenever Chang Yanjiao secretly had the Ministry of War withhold military supplies from the Qingzhou garrison, the Ministry of Revenue would quickly issue extra allocations and rations. When Qingzhou's grain and forage were delayed, the Ministry of Revenue would quickly supplement the grain merchants' allocations, even providing numerous extra trade privileges, making Qingzhou's trade routes more prosperous than in the past.
"This cannot be a coincidence."
When Chen Hui received a secret letter from Minister Wang of the Ministry of Revenue, he finally realized—this must be the "special gift" Kong Fang had mentioned.
——
A year ago, during that transaction in the Commercial Republic, Kong Fang not only facilitated the cooperation between Chen Hui and the Wealth Sect, but also secretly arranged an invisible path for him. Relying on financial power and influence, the Wealth Sect placed pieces within the Ministry of Revenue, pulling in Minister Wang to ensure Chen Hui would not be isolated and helpless under the Ministry of War's suppression in the court.
"The trade routes of Qingzhou are closely tied to the profits of my Commercial Republic. I can't just let you die at the hands of the Ministry of War. That wouldn't be good business."
Kong Fang rolled a gold coin in his hand, saying to the emissary before the screen: "Tell Minister Wang, the salt routes of Qingzhou belong to his Ministry of Revenue, but we already agreed on the wholesale paper trade at sea, didn't we?"
The emissary said: "Sect Leader Kong calculates well. The sound of this calculation is louder in my ears than the tide of the West Sea."
——
To repay Kong Fang's assistance, and to fulfill the promise made in the Commercial Republic, upon returning to Qingzhou, Chen Hui immediately submitted an important memorial to the court.
Policy for Opening the Seas and Trade
He suggested the court lift the maritime ban, allowing formal commercial exchanges between Qingzhou and the Commercial Republic, supervised by the Ministry of Revenue, as a supplementary source of national tax revenue. At the same time, he further proposed that the court should initiate formal cooperation with the Wealth Sect, making them the dynasty's recognized official trading partner, further developing maritime transport and enhancing the economic prosperity of the coastal areas.
However, the true key to this memorial was not just trade, but his other proposal—
Strike against the Pirate Alliance!
"The trade of the Commercial Republic should be guaranteed by stable trade routes. However, the existence of the Pirate Alliance seriously affects the order of our dynasty's seas. The court should unite with the Wealth Sect to jointly eradicate the pirate forces and restore coastal stability!"
As soon as this memorial came out, the entire court was shaken!
The Ministry of Revenue strongly supported this, because it meant a stable source of tax revenue in the future. Many naval generals also expressed agreement, after all, suppressing pirates was in the navy's interest. However, Chang Yanjiao's Ministry of War fell into silence, because this meant Chen Hui's influence would further expand, and it also proved that he did not collude with the pirates and could control coastal military forces!
With this move, Chen Hui not only opened up maritime transport for Qingzhou but also solidified his own power.
Behind the scenes of the court, Chang Yanjiao sat in his chair, his gaze gloomy. He slowly closed the intelligence report in his hands, sneering in a low voice: "Chen Hui, Kong Fang... you two played this move beautifully."
——
And far away in the Commercial Republic, when Kong Fang received the news of Chen Hui submitting a memorial to open the seas and cooperate in trade, he merely gently swirled the wine glass in his hand, a meaningful smile rising on his lips.
"Worthy of Chen Hui. He indeed did not disappoint me."
Five years slipped away quietly like flowing water. This period not only changed the situation of the world but also allowed Kong Ning and Chen Wenbin to each reveal their brilliance in scholarship and martial arts.
The First Year: Initially Testing the Blade
After Chen Hui and Lin Wanying returned to the Shuntian Dynasty, Kong Ning and Chen Wenbin entered formal instruction under Shen Cuodao, Fu Yunxing, and Liu Wenzhou.
In the study of mathematics and mechanistics, Chen Wenbin's talent had long been apparent. He had an almost instinctive intuition for numbers. Complex calculations could yield results in his mind in an instant. He could even point out the key elements beforehand while Shen Cuodao and Fu Yunxing had not yet fully understood.
However, such talent caused the older Kong Ning to feel an unprecedented sense of frustration.
She considered herself sharp-minded and quick to adapt, able to easily comprehend many fields. Yet, in pure mathematical calculation, she was always surpassed by her younger junior brother. By the time she was still deducing, Chen Wenbin had already arrived at the answer. Even Liu Wenzhou marveled at his progress.
"Why? I'm older, I should be the smarter one, right?" Kong Ning was secretly unconvinced, but could never find a way to break through.
But soon, she discovered her own advantage—her application of mathematics was far more flexible than Chen Wenbin's!
The Commercial Republic was inherently a nation that emphasized trade and calculation. Influenced by what she saw and heard, Kong Ning had been accustomed to finding ways to profit within numbers since childhood. She might not surpass Chen Wenbin in pure theory, but when these numbers were transformed into negotiations, profit calculations, and market changes in commerce, she could quickly seize opportunities and make decisions with the most practical value.
The Second Year: The Brush Shadow First Appears
Just as she gradually adapted to this competition and difference, another field made her shine brilliantly—the judge's brush technique!
No one expected that Kong Ning's talent in martial arts would manifest entirely in this delicate and unique martial skill.
Her wrists were nimble, the brush tip fast and accurate. Every attack carried clever calculation, as if she could predict the opponent's movements, making her elusive. This trait even made Shen Cuodao often feel surprised when teaching her: "This girl's comprehension is a bit too fast."
Far away in the Shuntian Dynasty, Chen Hui also learned of this through correspondence, feeling surprised. He knew deeply that the judge's brush technique emphasized balancing hardness and softness, with myriad changes. Although exquisite, it was extremely difficult to master; even many senior martial artists found it hard to control.
Yet Kong Ning could use it like a fish in water, even developing a style of her own.
Thus, Chen Hui specially designed a set of brush technique training methods tailored specifically for Kong Ning, and asked Shen Cuodao to apply them flexibly in teaching.
Although Shen Cuodao had been a samurai sword expert, his understanding of the judge's brush had deepened over the past few years. He simply integrated this martial skill completely into himself, making it his new weapon, rather than just a teaching tool.
Under such teaching and self-training, Shen Cuodao gradually developed the judge's brush technique into a more aggressive school, while Kong Ning explored her own path within it.
The Third Year: Parting Ways
Unlike Kong Ning, although Chen Wenbin was also interested in martial arts, he could never develop a true passion for the judge's brush.
This weapon was too delicate, requiring calculation and precision, while his thinking was of another style—straightforward, fierce, and unmatched.
Over these few years, his body became increasingly robust. As his arm strength and physique slowly grew, he preferred contests of strength, feeling that as long as calculations were accurate and precise, finding the right angle of attack, he didn't need excessive variations; he could just strike down the enemy directly with speed and power. This made him always feel awkward when learning the judge's brush technique.
But by a certain twist of fate, he discovered another secret of Shen Cuodao's—he also knew saber techniques!
"Teach me saber techniques." One day after training, Chen Wenbin suddenly spoke.
Shen Cuodao frowned slightly: "Aren't you practicing the judge's brush?"
"I don't like it," Chen Wenbin said frankly. "It's too delicate. It doesn't suit me."
He clenched his fists, his tone firm: "But saber techniques are different. They are direct enough, strong enough, able to cleave the opponent in one strike."
Shen Cuodao fell silent for a moment. After a flutter in his heart, he sighed and smiled slightly: "Alright, I'll teach you."
The Fourth Year: Each with Their Own Strengths
From this year on, Kong Ning and Chen Wenbin completely parted ways on the path of martial arts.
Kong Ning's judge's brush became increasingly nimble, combining offense and defense, emphasizing calculation and precision. She had gradually begun to display the aura of a top-tier martial artist.
Meanwhile, under Shen Cuodao's guidance, Chen Wenbin began to come into contact with various weapons, gradually confirming that his combat style suited heavy weapons.
Although he still practiced the judge's brush, he preferred using a saber over a brush, and even began to show interest in even heavier weapons—staffs, axes, weapons capable of exerting immense power.
"Although the judge's brush is good, it doesn't suit you. The saber is more comfortable for you, but it might not be the most suitable weapon for you either." After a certain training session, Shen Cuodao guided Chen Wenbin in wiping the edge of his blade, saying faintly, "Your strength is great enough, your strikes fast enough. If you use heavier weapons in the future, you should be able to unleash even greater power."
The Fifth Year: The Twin Gems Take Shape
Five years later, Kong Ning and Chen Wenbin were no longer the tender children of the past, but had grown into two entirely different geniuses.
Kong Ning was shrewd in calculation, excelling in the judge's brush and commercial logistics.
Chen Wenbin was fierce and decisive, possessing extremely high attainments in mathematics and mechanistics, but in martial arts, he had walked a path different from the judge's brush.
Their competition and complementarity made the future of the Commercial Republic even more unpredictable.
When they stood on the martial arts training ground again and looked at each other, their eyes no longer held childhood banter, but the recognition and rivalry of true powerhouses.
This tempering over five years eventually brought the twin gems into shape—one hard, one soft; one calculating, one forceful.
The dark chessboard had been laid. Chang Yanjiao coldly observed the situation in the court and the martial world, waiting for his prey to step into the trap step by step.
He had been planning this layout for many years, beginning the operation from the day Chen Hui returned to Qingzhou. He understood that to destroy Chen Hui, he could not strike directly, but had to gradually weaken his credibility, isolate him, and plunge him into a predicament of mass desertion, ultimately rendering him powerless to recover.
However, Chen Hui stood firm in Qingzhou, even leveraging the opening of maritime trade and cooperation with the Wealth Sect to bring the Ministry of Revenue to his side, rendering the Ministry of War's suppression ineffective. This made Chang Yanjiao realize that to completely pull Chen Hui down, he had to shift his attack to the person closest to him—Lin Wanying.
And the best means were Shushan and the Blood God Sect.
He began to spread rumors. The rumor that "Lin Wanying colluded with the Blood God Sect, and even had close ties with Blood God Sect masters" quietly appeared in the martial world.
At first, these were just martial world rumors that no one took seriously. But Chang Yanjiao knew that this stigmatizing tactic was not meant to take effect immediately, but to ferment over a long period, like a latent poison slowly eroding Lin Wanying's reputation.
As time passed, the rumors spread wider and wider. Even if many martial artists knew in their hearts that this was merely a tactic of political struggle, the Shushan interior had to face these rumors head-on.
"A Shushan disciple, actually suspected of colluding with the Blood God Sect?"
This not only affected Lin Wanying's reputation but directly shook Shushan's image. Although the Shushan Sect had close ties with the court, it was still the number one righteous sect in the martial world; reputation was paramount to it.
Therefore, when the Sect Leader of Shushan received a letter of inquiry from the Martial Alliance, he had to take action.
"If these rumors are not clarified, it will affect Shushan's prestige in the martial world." The Shushan Sect Leader's face was gloomy. "If Lin Wanying remains uninvolved, I'm afraid the outside world will think our Shushan is shielding evil-doers."
Thus, a decision was made—let Lin Wanying participate in the operation to eradicate a Blood God Sect branch, to prove she had nothing to do with the Blood God Sect.
——
This order reached Lin Wanying's ears. Her first reaction was to refuse.
She had long ceased to be a Shushan disciple; why should she still risk her life for Shushan's reputation?
However, Shushan gave her no choice.
A few days later, her master, Zhou Tianhuan, personally came to Qingzhou, bringing an order from Shushan—
"You must prove your innocence."
In that moment, a trace of coldness flashed in Lin Wanying's eyes: "I don't need to prove anything to anyone."
Zhou Tianhuan sighed: "Wanying, this matter has already affected Shushan's stance. If you don't act, Shushan will be questioned by the outside world. This not only affects your reputation, but also your master's sect."
Lin Wanying was silent for a long time, eventually whispering: "So, you are here to force me to act?"
Zhou Tianhuan did not answer. He just looked at her quietly, waiting for her decision.
She knew this trap could no longer be avoided.
Finally, she whispered: "Alright, I agree."
At this moment, Chang Yanjiao's conspiracy finally began to take effect—
Lin Wanying was dragged into the operation to eradicate the Blood God Sect branch, and this operation was exactly the moment Chang Yanjiao prepared to hunt her!
——
Chang Yanjiao designed two layered killing traps for the two of them:
Lin Wanying's Killing Trap
Lin Wanying was forced to participate in the operation to eradicate the Blood God Sect branch, forcing her to leave Qingzhou and go to the battlefield herself.
Chang Yanjiao had already sent people to infiltrate this operation. When the Blood God Sect branch was attacked, the assassins and martial artists he secretly arranged would strike amidst the chaos, setting up several ambushes, absolutely ensuring Lin Wanying would die in this battle!
These assassins came from different factions. Some were death squads he had secretly cultivated for years, some were martial artists bought off for profit. They would cooperate and act separately from the Blood God Sect. There were even some heretical disciples from within the Shushan Sect. Their mission was only one—
To make Lin Wanying die in the battle to eradicate the Blood God Sect, making everything look like she was sacrificed in the eradication operation!
And the planned Killing Trap for Chen Hui would take place after Lin Wanying left Qingzhou. Lin Wanying's absence meant that Chen Hui's closest protection was reduced, and he would be more easily plotted against due to worry. This would be a great opportunity for assassination!
Chang Yanjiao secretly hired several groups of martial world underworld figures, using the excuse of commercial disputes and conflicts among coastal factions to create a disturbance aimed at Qingzhou. The true target of this disturbance—was to make Chen Hui fall into the ambush set by Chang Yanjiao! In order to create a deadly situation for him, not only did he deploy several groups of assassins, but at the cost of yielding Qingzhou's underground forces, he hired masters from the Fist Gang to serve as ambushers. For safety's sake, he even conceded half a tenth of the next smuggling profits to ask the Pirate Alliance to send masters to assassinate Chen Hui. Chang Yanjiao wanted to meticulously lay an inescapable net, ensuring Chen Hui would definitely die this time!
——
Once this conspiracy succeeded, pushing the situation to a climax under his control, the entire chessboard of the world could return to his hands.
Chang Yanjiao stood quietly in his study, looking down at the map of Qingzhou. His gaze was like an eagle's, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly.
"I've played this hidden board for several years. A part of the chess game in the West has reached its conclusion. Next, I will place my pieces in the center."
He put down his teacup, turning and stepping into the darkness.
The night wind blew. The killing trap was set. Ultimately, someone would become a casualty of this war of machinations—
And this time, whether it was Chen Hui or Lin Wanying, they would have nowhere to run!
Night fell. The candlelight flickered slightly within the imperial city of the Shuntian Dynasty. In the study of the State Preceptor's Manor, Chang Jin stared at a secret report on his desk, his brows furrowed slightly.
He had received intelligence regarding unusual movements from the Minister of War, Chang Yanjiao, for several consecutive days.
Initially, he thought this was merely a new round of suppression by the Ministry of War aimed at Qingzhou. After all, Chen Hui's "Policy for Opening the Seas and Trade" had already escalated the power struggle between the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue to a fever pitch. But when he analyzed these actions carefully, he discovered an abnormal thread—
This didn't look like a simple court game, but more like a meticulously planned killing trap.
Several key points raised his alarm:
The spread of martial world rumors was too rapid, and all pointed towards Lin Wanying and the Blood God Sect.
Shushan was suddenly dragged into this matter, and forced Lin Wanying to join the operation to eradicate the Blood God Sect branch.
The turmoil within Qingzhou began to intensify. The unusual movements of local powerful figures and coastal merchant gangs faintly revealed signs of organization.
Piecing together this information, Chang Jin was almost certain—Chang Yanjiao was about to make a move!
At this moment, a thought surfaced in his mind: If not stopped in time, this killing trap might not only target Lin Wanying, but simultaneously take Chen Hui's life!
——
Chang Jin did not hesitate, immediately writing two urgent letters with a wave of his brush.
The first, sent to Shushan, directly into the hands of the Discipline Hall Elder Feng Daoshan.
"Lin Wanying has been plotted against. The journey to eradicate the Blood God Sect may hold murderous intent. Those sent by Shushan must be careful and must not easily trust any external intelligence. The Discipline Hall should immediately send people to supervise this matter, strictly guard against unusual movements in the martial world, and do not allow anyone to seize the opportunity to act."
The second, sent via a secret spy to Qingzhou, attempting to warn Chen Hui.
"The situation in Qingzhou is unstable, and Chang Yanjiao's movements are unusual. I fear there is a killing trap. You must strictly guard against assassination and beware of uninvited guests nearby. Be cautious, be cautious!"
He knew deeply that whether these two letters could be delivered in time would determine the life-and-death direction of this chessboard.
But even so, he still felt a trace of unease.
"I'm afraid... it's too late."
——
Far away in the Commercial Republic, Chen Wenbin of the Wealth Sect sat in the study of the Golden Cauldron Pavilion. He held a mechanical part engraved with special calculation patterns, pondering a problem of mechanical design.
However, tonight, he could not concentrate.
An indescribable chill quietly rose from the bottom of his heart, forcing him to stop what he was doing and frown slightly.
"This feeling... is it an illusion?"
He remembered this was not the first time he had this premonition.
When he was little, on the isolated island, he once had an inexplicable sense of crisis. As a result, not long after, the secluded home of him and his parents was struck by a storm and almost destroyed.
And now, this feeling had surfaced again.
He subconsciously took out his abacus, turning the beads, trying to rely on the I Ching he had learned to calculate the variables in Qingzhou and the Shuntian Dynasty in the near future. But no matter how he deduced, he could not find a clear result, as if a thick layer of fog shrouded the future.
"No... something must have happened."
His heartbeat accelerated. He suddenly stood up, walking quickly out of the study.
"Send people to gather news about Qingzhou, especially the movements of Father and Mother!"
The night wind was cold and thin. The lights outside the Golden Cauldron Pavilion reflected in his eyes, while that nameless chill made him clench his fists.
——
Inside the State Preceptor's Manor, Chang Jin looked at the night sky where the carrier pigeon had flown away, his gaze deep.
Inside the Commercial Republic, Chen Wenbin stared directly into the distance, the unease in his heart growing stronger.
And at this time, the dark tides of Qingzhou and Shushan had already surged forth.
The killing trap was gradually closing.