"Mhm!"
Lu Yang nodded slightly, a hint of awkwardness on his face, not even daring to look up.
Dressed like this, Ling Que Wang instantly exuded a feminine charm and allure, no less than Shen Yiman and Tang Shimin. In fact, her unique aura far surpassed theirs.
"This is my home. You're a guest, so please sit freely. Don't be reserved!"
Ling Que Wang continued, and soon, someone handed Lu Yang a cup of tea.
"Have a taste. This is top-grade Oolong tea!"
Ling Que Wang added.
"Thank you!"
Lu Yang nodded and took a sip. Instantly, a refreshing aroma filled his senses, incredibly invigorating.
"You can stay here for a while. If you need anything, just let me know!"
This wasn't actually Ling Que Wang's idea, but the previous Ling Que Wang's. She felt indebted to Lu Yang and wanted her granddaughter to compensate him properly through this opportunity. Even if she knew Cheng Wanyun had no romantic feelings for Lu Yang, becoming friends would be good. This was how the current situation came about.
Cheng Wanyun was trying to interact with Lu Yang as a friend. Her personality was too strong, and she hadn't made many friends over the years. Most people who approached her had ulterior motives, which greatly annoyed her. Especially last time, when Bai Jingying colluded with a traitor behind Cheng Wanyun's back, nearly leading Cheng Wanyun to a bitter defeat in the northwest. After that incident, Cheng Wanyun recognized Lu Yang's character and accepted her grandmother's advice to treat him as a friend.
"Miss, the number one Go queen of Yan Jing, Guo Manxue, has issued a challenge to you online. She claims her Go skills can crush yours, and if you don't accept, you'll have to leave Yan Jing and guard the border permanently!"
As the two were enjoying their tea, a woman in elegant attire rushed in and addressed Ling Que Wang directly.
"What?"
"Is Guo Manxue trying to turn against me?"
Upon hearing this, Cheng Wanyun's anger flared. She had only ever been interested in martial arts and criminal investigation. Previously, she was a detective in the police department. Now, having inherited the title of Ling Que Wang, she was one of the four leaders of China's special departments. In Yan Jing, the Martial God Saintess Cheng Wanyun and the Go Saintess Guo Manxue were equally renowned. However, Cheng Wanyun had always dismissed such titles. Even after becoming Ling Que Wang, she didn't pay much attention. But Guo Manxue was different. She had been arrogant and dismissive of everyone since childhood. Upon hearing this news, her anger erupted.
"There is only one Saintess in Yan Jing. How can someone who only knows how to wield weapons be called a Saintess!"
Because of this, Guo Manxue had been sending challenges to Cheng Wanyun, aiming to defeat her and drive her out of Yan Jing. She hadn't expected this current move, publicly posting the challenge online. If Cheng Wanyun refused to fight, it would mean she was cowardly and become a laughingstock of Yan Jing. And if Cheng Wanyun accepted, given her skill in Go, she stood no chance against Guo Manxue. Guo Manxue would likely defeat her with ease. Therefore, Guo Manxue was deliberately doing this to drive Cheng Wanyun out of Yan Jing.
"The Guo family of Yan Jing? They dare not put you in your place?"
Lu Yang frowned slightly upon hearing this. Given Cheng Wanyun's status, no noble family in Yan Jing would dare speak to her in such a manner. He wondered what kind of background the Guo family of Yan Jing possessed to be so bold in confronting Cheng Wanyun.
"The Guo family of Yan Jing is not a simple secular family, but a martial arts family. However, Guo Manxue of the Guo family is an anomaly. She loves Go and has achieved an astonishing level of skill. At only twenty-five, she has already become a nine-dan Go master in China, almost invincible!"
"She and I were equally renowned and called the Twin Saints of Yan Jing, but it's precisely this title that causes Guo Manxue to constantly刁难 me. I really don't understand her, why is a title so important?"
"If she likes it, I can give her the entire title!"
Cheng Wanyun explained to Lu Yang, shaking her head.
"Miss, it's not about the title. That Guo Manxue is simply a psycho who constantly harasses our Miss. Our Miss has always been tolerant, but that Guo Manxue is like a mad dog, always jumping out and biting our Miss!"
"Miss, you don't need to pay attention to her. Let her say whatever she wants!"
The woman beside Cheng Wanyun shouted angrily.
"Whatever? How can it be whatever? Ling Que Wang, accept it, fight her, don't back down!"
Lu Yang directly said to Cheng Wanyun.
"Accept? Fight?"
"Are you kidding me?"
"I know nothing about Go, I don't even know how to place a stone. How can I fight her?"
Cheng Wanyun glared at Lu Yang and said coldly.
"Don't you have me? I believe my Go skills should be comparable to hers!"
Lu Yang smiled slightly.
"What? Your Go skills? Are you not kidding me? I've investigated your background, and you have no achievements in Go. How can you possibly be Guo Manxue's opponent?"
"She is a nine-dan Go master. One more promotion and she'll be a Grand Master, a title only a few in all of China possess. Moreover, I have a strong feeling that Guo Manxue has already reached the realm of a Grand Master, which is why she's so arrogant this time!"
Cheng Wanyun shook her head, believing that even if Lu Yang's Go skills were good, he was no match for such a monstrous talent.
"How will you know if you don't try? What if I help you win the match? Then this mad dog won't bother you anymore, won't that be much more convenient?"
Lu Yang continued.
"What if? Do you know that if I lose, I have to leave Yan Jing and go to the border? I still have many unfinished matters in Yan Jing, and I cannot leave yet!"
Cheng Wanyun said coldly, thinking Lu Yang was just giving her bad advice.
"That's easy. You can just say your account was hacked and the game wasn't played by you, or I can step forward and say it was me playing and I lost to Guo Manxue. That way, you suffer no losses. At most, I'll lose some face, but my face isn't worth much anyway!"
Lu Yang looked at Cheng Wanyun and continued. For some reason, Lu Yang felt a strong desire to help Cheng Wanyun this time, to help her win this match.
"But... if we lose, our Cheng family will also be disgraced!"
Cheng Wanyun said helplessly.
"Miss, why don't we let this gentleman try? I feel this gentleman has an extraordinary presence and should not be a simple person. Perhaps he can turn the tide and defeat Guo Manxue!"
The woman beside Cheng Wanyun quickly said.
"Alright, since it's come to this, I'll let you try!"
Cheng Wanyun thought for a moment and agreed.
"Great, don't worry, I'll give it my all!"
Lu Yang said with a smile.
"Miss, please send a message to that Guo person, saying Miss Cheng accepts the challenge. Let's set the time for three in the afternoon for an online showdown!"
Lu Yang said directly.
"Alright!"
Cheng Wanyun's attendant excitedly agreed and went to send the message.