Li Guanqi, Don't Come Save Me

Meng Jiangchu froze slightly. He had not expected Li Guanqi to care so deeply about Tang Ru's abduction. Nodding, he said in a grave voice, "Right. Tang Ru as well." As he said this, Meng Jiangchu gave Li Guanqi a searching look, a certain possibility already crossing his mind. The others hesitated, wanting to speak yet holding back, but Li Guanqi spoke with a calm expression. "I know. They are simply gambling on just how much Tang Ru means to me." Meng Jiangchu narrowed his eyes at Li Guanqi. "It's good that you understand. They will undoubtedly use him to bait you next, and when that time comes, I hope you can keep your composure. Just give us old fellows a bit of time, and we will definitely root out the Lu clan!" Nearby, Youming sneered. "Hah! Their open plot has already succeeded, so what is there left to discuss? With this brat's personality, it'd be a miracle if he didn't go. Even knowing it's a trap, he'll definitely walk right into it." At that, Youming leaned forward with a cheeky grin and looked at Li Guanqi. "Am I right?" Li Guanqi glanced at Youming without saying much, but he did not deny the words either. Seeing Li Guanqi's reaction, Youming chuckled to himself. "Hahaha, told you so. I know you pretty well, after all." Nangong Xuandu frowned and said in a heavy voice, "Guanqi, no matter what happens, you must not fall into their trap!" Xiang Huaizhi's expression turned equally stern. "When they contact you, tell the two of us right away. Fuck them—I'll burn them to ash with a single flame!" A strained smile managed to surface on Li Guanqi's face as he nodded. Throughout it all, only Meng Wanshu and Gu Li exchanged a glance. Both of them knew full well... Given Li Guanqi's nature, even if he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was a trap, he would not hesitate for an instant to go alone! Li Guanqi's thoughts were a tangled mess. Without him realizing it, whenever trouble arose, countless people had begun stepping forward to help him. Gradually, he had lost his usual rationality and caution. His reliance on external power had grown heavier, and as a result, whenever something slipped beyond his personal control, he became completely powerless. Because the level of people he was dealing with had grown too high... Li Guanqi's chest rose and fell slightly. Exhaling a breath of turbid air, he stood up. "Seniors, I'd like to step outside for some fresh air. Please, continue your discussion." As Li Guanqi rose to leave, Meng Wanshu and Gu Li stood up as well. None of the others said anything; it was entirely understandable that Li Guanqi was in low spirits. Once outside, Gu Li clasped his hands behind his back, looking calm. Li Guanqi spoke with a hint of apology in his voice: "I'm sorry. Your Gu clan suffered this unwarranted calamity because of me." Gu Li gave an annoyed shrug. "What's the point of spouting that nonsense? It's already happened. Let's just figure out how to solve it. Besides, they took so many alchemists; there's no way they'll slaughter them. If they intended to kill, they would have done it on the spot. Our family's losses aren't nearly as severe as you think." Gu Li spoke casually, trying not to burden Li Guanqi with too much pressure. Glancing at the silent Meng Wanshu, Gu Li turned to Li Guanqi and sent a solemn voice transmission: "So, what do you plan to do next?" In Li Guanqi's hand, the purplish-black mini pagoda flared with lightning, faint, mosquito-thin wails drifting into his ears. With a chillingly cold face, Li Guanqi whispered, "When soldiers come, block them with generals; when water rises, stem it with earth. Since they want to draw me into their game, I will simply accept their move!" *Boom!* An oppressive wave of killing intent rippled outward. Gu Li reached out, produced an inscribed talisman, spat on it, and slapped it right onto Li Guanqi's forehead with a sharp *smack*. In an exasperated tone, Gu Li barked, "Calm the hell down first! Looking like this, forget saving anyone—you'll only throw yourself away alongside them." Li Guanqi's turbulent emotions settled in an instant. The abrupt, forced calm momentarily stunned him. Reaching out a hand, he said, "Give me a few more of these inscribed talismans." Gu Li curled his lip, pulled out a thick stack of several dozen, and shoved them into his hands. With earnest concern, he urged, "If they really do come looking for you, you'd better call me! If you don't call me, I'm disowning you as a friend." Li Guanqi took the inscribed talismans, smiled, and said nothing. Turning to Meng Wanshu, he said softly, "Wanshu, I'd like to be alone for a bit." Meng Wanshu pressed her lips together and nodded gently. "Alright. Just don't blame yourself too much. We will face it together!" The two turned to leave. Gu Li had family affairs to help manage, while Meng Wanshu headed back into the main hall. After they departed, Li Guanqi stood alone on the ruined mountain peak, sensing the residual power left behind by the clash of Mahayana realm experts, and sighed. Sitting cross-legged on the summit, he raised a hand and manifested a small Go board of light. Pinching a white stone between his fingers, he hovered his hand over the board, where a dense cluster of pieces formed an intricate, tangled struggle. Li Guanqi stared fixedly at a single corner. A white stone near the edge, originally played at random, was now surrounded by black stones, leaving behind only a single liberty! Yet this single liberty held the key to the entire outcome. If he wanted to rescue the white stone and keep that solitary sliver of life alive, he would have to commit even more white stones. Yet the enemy's encirclement had already taken shape. This move... was an open trap! A move... an open scheme that forced one to step right into the snare. They were gambling. They weren't gambling on Li Guanqi's malice; they were gambling on his kindness and humanity! As long as Li Guanqi was not a cold-blooded, heartless man, he would have to make this move! Li Guanqi drew out one of the inscribed talismans Gu Li had just given him and slapped it over his heart. The talisman flared with spiritual light, making Li Guanqi exceptionally calm and rational. He studied the board for a long time, yet failed to find any way to bring the piece to life and break the impasse. Just as Li Guanqi furrowed his brows in deep frustration, Pengluo popped out from who-knew-where. Perching on Li Guanqi's shoulder, Pengluo mimicked his posture, theatrically frowning in thought. After a while, Pengluo stood up in utter boredom and muttered a curse: "Who the hell could play on a board this tiny? Who even came up with this lousy game?" With that, he dusted off his rear and dived back into the void, vanishing. He left behind Li Guanqi, who stood dazed, holding the stone in his fingers, unmoving for a long time. Suddenly!! Primal energy surged around Li Guanqi, and his brow relaxed. The grid lines on the board before him multiplied out of thin air. A faint curve touched the corner of Li Guanqi's lips as he murmured softly, "Right... who says the board... has to stay this small?!" *Boom!* Li Guanqi experienced a sudden flash of clarity, and the board expanded by more than double its size. Raising his hand, Li Guanqi held the stone over the empty air above the board, keeping it suspended without dropping it. He pulled out two jade slips. The first was Tang Ru's, detailing the situation at the time. Just as Li Guanqi was about to lower it... The jade slip suddenly glowed faintly, and Tang Ru's resolute final words rang out from within! "Li Guanqi, don't come save me." Li Guanqi froze, clutching the jade slip for a long time. The inscribed talisman over his chest abruptly burst into flames, entirely failing to suppress the violent tempest surging in his heart!!