Chapter 563 Well Deserved Break
Somewhere, far away.
It was so far that the distance itself was absurd to even speak of, it was so far that the mere fact of speaking such distance would take years to finish.
All high above, and so far, away, a land that seemed endless, and limitless hovered in an even greater space.
There was an abode that seemed to be flying aimlessly above these lands, it was there since ages before, and it is presumed to remain for ages to come.
In this white abode, which was domed with a marbled roof was a man who seemed to be of an age that would equate him to the oldness of the very stars.
He wore a set of pure white robes that perfectly matched his white beard, brows, and hair.
In front of him was a similar man, who also wore pure white. The two looked to be of the same dignity, yet there was a distinction between the two.
The oldest of the two had a symbol of yin and yang on a symbolic hat he was wearing. The other person was attended by a servant who stayed with him for as far as the world itself remembers.
Between these two men was a table for a game, a simple game that's been known to be the true trial of mind.
A game of Go
From the looks of the board, the oldest of the two seemed to be gaining control over the situation, after all, he was known as the Wisest Sun.
"So," spoke the Wisest Sun of the two, "How fares your trove?"
"He's doing fine, my retainer here was with him a decade or so ago, it seems that he's on the right track to solve the issue he was plagued with," he said.
"Lord of Lords, you should know well, that my Keys aren't simple, especially for people of the Vast Expanse, they're too far away from the true Dao, that understanding the origin of the world, and the source of all things is not even something that their mind would even question, they're far too young," he said.
"Indeed, as it may be, young and foolish, but ambitious still, you must not think of them as unworthy or incapable, I've seen what the younger ones could do, and I can promise you one thing… you should never take things for granted!" he said and moved one of his pieces fully encircling the Whitest Sun.
The Wisest Sun smiled, he expected the Lord of Lords to move as such and was already prepared for it as he retaliated with another piece placing it in such a strategic position that the board seemed to be back in his control.
"You have played with me for many years, and this is the seventh millionth two hundred thousandth and fifty-fifth time you attempted this same move, you do know that your loss is inevitable," spoke the Wisest Sun.
"Indeed I may have played this very move millions of times, but I learned something form watching that child," said the Lord of Lords.
"You? Learned? From someone far younger that even if he lived hundreds of times his age he wouldn't equate to the time you spent playing this game with me, tell me, what have you learned?" he asked.
"I learned that, if all the paths are blocked," spoke the Lord of Lords as he placed a new piece in a worthless position.
This caught the Wisest Sun by surprise, that move means complete and utter defeat for the Lord of Lords because as soon as his turn comes he'll place his last piece and the game will be over.
If the Lord of Lords placed a normal piece in a normal spot he may have struggled a bit more, and may have attempted something new but from what the Wisest Sun knows, nothing would ever allow the Lord of Lords to win. So why go for a suicidal move that gave no benefits and only hastened his loss?
"That child taught me, that if the game is unfavorable for you, and if all your odds are forfeit, if you're facing defeat and loss, then why play the game still?"
The Wisest Sun frowned, he didn't understand what the Lord of Lords meant.
Then the Lord of Lords added, "You should have seen it, when that child was faced with complete and utter devastation, inescapable death, and a foe that he knew well that he could defeat, do you know what he said?" spoke the Lord of Lords pride filling his eyes.
"What did the child say?"
"If you cannot win, then just don't lose," he said as he pressed on his piece, causing the entire board to shatter.
This was something that the Wisest Sun didn't expect.
"With the game destroyed, there is no winner, and there is no loser, you could have won, and I denied it, and I could have lost, but I denied it."
"Then it is a draw?" he said.
"Is it really a draw? For me, a Draw is a victory, for you a Draw is a defeat, you could have achieved all and you were denied it, I could have lost all and I have kept it, it is a victory hidden under the guise of a Draw, the child sees not how we see things ancient one,"
The Wisest Sun raised his head up, and spoke the words again as if confirming them, "If you cannot win, then do not lose…"
Then as if a lightning strike went through the Wisest Sun's mind his head snapped down.
This caught the Lord of Lords by surprise, as he never saw his old friend react like this.
A wide smile appeared on the Wisest Sun's face.
"Incredible… truly, incredible, marvelous in fact, how come, this child, who never even reached the realm of the true cultivation, was able to understand laws and the heavenly design. I have had several bright disciples, many of them who have hand taught and are considered to be geniuses of their ages, I taught them instructed them, and pushed their mental prows to be far above their peers, yet none of them was able to understand the Keys… but this child, who didn't have my guidance and teachings, didn't have my knowledge and the basis of understanding, managed to solve the riddle within the Key? How?! I must see the child!"
"You cannot Wisest One, the laws forbid us from interfering with the Vast Expanse, your mere presence will shatter it completely."
"You've been there before! Take me!"
"And I almost broke it, I could only send a figment of my essence to watch and oversee, it cannot touch or move anything there. So you'll be able to see but not touch," said the Lord of Lords.
"It would be enough!"
"Then follow me," said the Lord of Lords.
***
Within the Lord of Lords pagoda, and in the white space, was a dark domain that was produced by the child standing in the middle of this room.
The Lord of Lords and the Wisest Sun were both looking at him as he worked.
He moved his hands briskly and retracted his domain, immediately he wiped the sweat off his forehead.
"That was damn difficult," he sighed as the first Key was repaired.
It was in his hand, brimming once again with life, and just as he placed it on the table to work on the second key it jumped back again into his hand.
"I know you're grateful, but let me work, I need to fix the other one too," he said.
"Hmm…" muttered the child, "Why are y'all moving…" he said as he noticed the keys suddenly shaking as if they wanted to jump.
"Wisest Sun, your keys sense your presence, it will ruin his mindset," said the Lord of Lord.
"My fault!" The Wisest Sun said and then waved his hand immediately calming the keys down.
Shen Bao frowned as he noticed that the keys were calm now, "Strange… were they happy that one of their brothers was turned back to life? I guess, I doubt it… but I can't bother thinking why that happened, as I still have so much work to do," he said and slumped down on a chair as he began drinking form a random jug of wine.
"What is he doing? Wasn't he supposed to be working?" said the Wisest Sun.
"It seems there is a first for everything, today's the first time I saw you surprised, and the first time I saw you impatient. But worry not, I presume that after solving that Key of yours and fixing it, the young man earned his break, and I've seen him do things like this before, he'll be up and running by no time working on the second key, just be patient,"
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