I am invincible, that's why I lie down. You're using your entire clan to rebel?

Chapter 93 Cao Wei's Worries, Remnants of the Moonlit Kingdom

Jiangnan, Suzhou Prefecture.

It was early autumn, and the summer heat in Jiangnan had not completely subsided, but the mornings already carried a pleasant coolness.

Tingyu Villa, west of the city.

This is an extremely elegant villa owned by Li Wanjin, a wealthy businessman from Suzhou. It covers an area of ​​only a dozen acres, but every pavilion, terrace, and winding corridor is exquisite.

The garden is planted with lush bamboo and autumn chrysanthemums. At this time, the morning dew has not yet dried, and crystal dewdrops hang on the bamboo leaves, shimmering with tiny light in the rising sun.

Deep within the mountain resort, a waterside pavilion named "Tingtao Pavilion" is built over the lake.

The waterside pavilion has windows on all four sides, outside which is a half-acre pond with withered lotus leaves and a few red carp swimming leisurely in the water.

The interior of the pavilion was furnished in a simple and elegant style, with a rosewood chess table in the center and a set of jade chess pieces on it.

At this moment, two men are playing chess.

The man on the left, about fifty years old, slightly plump, with fair skin, was wearing a royal blue silk robe, a Hetian jade belt around his waist, and three jade thumb rings on his ten fingers, exuding an air of wealth and nobility.

It was Li Wanjin, the wealthy Suzhou merchant and owner of Tingyu Villa.

His brows were furrowed, and he held a white chess piece in his right hand, hovering it above the chessboard, not placing it for a long time.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and his breathing became somewhat rapid, clearly indicating that the game was extremely unfavorable for him.

The man on the right looked to be around sixty years old, with gray hair and beard, a gaunt face, and wearing a faded blue cloth robe. The cloth was ordinary and had been starched clean.

He sat upright, his back as straight as a javelin, his hands tucked into his sleeves, his expression calm, his gaze fixed on the chessboard, yet it seemed as if he were looking beyond the game to something much more distant.

It was Cao Wei, a former official of the Yuehua Kingdom.

Unlike Li Wanjin's anxiety, Cao Wei remained calm and composed.

He didn't even look at the chessboard; his gaze occasionally swept across the lotus pond outside the window, or fell on the sunlight dancing on the water's surface.

It was as if this game of chess was nothing more than a trivial matter to pass the time for him.

"Clatter".

Li Wanjin finally placed his white piece, the sound of which was exceptionally clear in the quiet waterside pavilion.

However, the placement of the piece looked somewhat forced.

Cao Wei then turned his gaze back to the chessboard.

He glanced at it, but did not respond immediately. Instead, he picked up the celadon teacup beside him and took a small sip.

The tea had gone cold, but he didn't care.

"Boss Li's move..."

Cao Wei spoke slowly, his voice low and steady, with a hoarse quality that suggested he had weathered many storms, "He seems to have secured the lower left corner, but in reality, he has cut off his own path to survival."

He put down his teacup and extended his right hand.

The hand was thin, with distinct knuckles, and the skin was covered with fine wrinkles, but it was unusually stable.

He picked up a black piece and gently placed it on the chessboard.

The move was made silently.

But with that one move, the entire game became clear in an instant.

Li Wanjin's white dragon has been completely trapped by the black pieces, leaving him with no room for maneuver.

"This..." Li Wanjin stared at the chessboard, his face turning pale and then red.

After a long pause, he slumped back and said with a bitter smile:

"Mr. Cao's chess skills have improved again. I, Li, have been practicing chess diligently over the years and thought I could compete with you, but I never expected... I still lost so thoroughly."

Cao Wei smiled faintly, but there was not much joy in his smile; instead, there was a hint of desolation.

He reached out and began picking up the chess pieces one by one from the board, his movements slow and steady, as if he were doing something extremely sacred.

"The way of chess is like the way of war, and also like the way of humanity."

Cao Wei slowly said, "Boss Li has too many thoughts and too many concerns. When playing chess, he's thinking about business, relationships, gains and losses... With such a distraction, how can he not lose?"

Li Wanjin gave an awkward smile: "Sir, you are right."

He paused, looking at Cao Wei's calm face, and suddenly said, "Sir... you seem rather down today? Are you still thinking about the attack a few days ago?"

When the word "attack" was mentioned, Cao Wei paused slightly in his action of picking up the chess pieces.

He raised his head, his gaze passing through the windows of the waterside pavilion to the distant, continuous gray walls and black tiles, a complex and unfathomable emotion flashing in his eyes.

"Those people's methods... are not simple."

Cao Wei spoke slowly, his voice lower, "Their moves are ruthless, their teamwork impeccable; they are no ordinary villains. Moreover..."

He paused, his brow furrowing slightly. "They seem to know the layout of the manor I'm staying in like the back of their hand. They've hidden the secret doors and the poisonous miasma perfectly. If I hadn't activated my backup plan in time, I probably would have been in deep trouble with them."

Li Wanjin's expression changed: "Sir, are you saying... there's a mole in your manor?"

"It might not be an inside man," Cao Wei shook his head. "It's also possible that the other side is more cunning and found out the details beforehand. But in any case..."

He placed the last piece, leaving the chessboard completely empty.

"I have lived in seclusion for twenty-one years, never making enemies, and rarely showing my face. Why would these people seek me out? And why do they know so much about my background?"

For the first time, Cao Wei's voice carried a hint of solemnity.

Li Wanjin opened his mouth, wanting to say a few words of comfort, but looking at Cao Wei's deep and worried eyes, he swallowed the words back.

He also found it strange.

Cao Wei lived in seclusion for many years, rarely venturing out except for the occasional chess game or philosophical discussion with others; he almost never saw outsiders.

The villa is riddled with traps and hidden poisonous miasma, making it difficult for ordinary people to even get close, let alone break in.

But a few days ago, that group of people not only broke in, but also went straight to Cao Wei's residence, "Bamboo Seclusion Residence," with a clear and alarming target.

If Cao Wei hadn't possessed unfathomable martial arts skills and been familiar with all the mechanisms and secret passages within the manor, the enemy might have truly succeeded.

"Perhaps...it was just a gang of itinerant bandits who stumbled upon this by chance?"

Li Wanjin tentatively said that even he himself felt that this reason was untenable.

Cao Wei glanced at him but did not refute him; however, the worry in his eyes did not disappear.

He slowly stood up and walked to the window.

A morning breeze swept by, ruffling his graying temples and rippled the autumn waters outside the window.

"I have a feeling..." Cao Wei murmured, gazing at the rippling water, "that something big is about to happen."

Li Wanjin also stood up and walked to his side: "Sir, you are overthinking it. I have increased manpower inside and outside the manor, and the traps and poisonous miasma have been rearranged. Even if those people come again, they will not come out unscathed."

Cao Wei did not respond, but simply looked out the window in silence.

After a long pause, he suddenly remembered something and turned around: "By the way, have you heard anything about what I asked you to tell Miss Xu a few days ago?"

Li Wanjin was taken aback, then realized: "You mean... Miss Jiang's matter?"

"Mm." Cao Wei nodded, a faint hint of tenderness flashing in his eyes.

"I haven't seen her for months. I wonder how she's doing? Have Miss Xu ask Longxiang about her; I'd like to... see her."

When the name "Miss Jiang" was mentioned, Cao Wei's voice softened unconsciously.

The deep concern hidden in his eyes was something Li Wanjin had never seen before.

Li Wanjin quickly replied, "Don't worry, sir, I've already sent someone to deliver the message. However..."

He hesitated for a moment: "Miss Xu seems to be very busy lately. There's been some trouble with the Zhao family's business, and she's been dealing with it. It may take some time before we hear back."

Cao Wei frowned slightly, but didn't say anything, only nodded: "Thank you for your trouble."

The words had barely left his mouth—

"No need to relay the message."

A clear, cool, and slightly magnetic female voice came from outside the waterside pavilion.

The sound wasn't loud, but it reached both of their ears clearly.

Cao Wei and Li Wanjin turned around at the same time.

A red figure slowly stepped into the waterside pavilion.