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A hint of surprise flashed in Shi Feixuan's clear eyes. She raised her eyelids and glanced at Yi Huawei. Seeing that he still looked calm and collected, she pondered for a long time before carefully placing a piece in another spot, trying to restrain him, yet unwilling to easily get involved in the chaotic battle in the center that seemed like a trap.

The two players had vastly different styles of play: one was unrestrained and imaginative, like a gazelle leaping across a cliff, while the other was steady and methodical. The only sounds in the pavilion were the crisp clatter of chess pieces hitting the wooden board and the rustling of the breeze through the lotus pond outside, creating a tranquil and subtle atmosphere.

Wanwan stood on this side of the stone bridge, looking at the couple playing chess in the pavilion. The man was dressed in a simple blue robe, while the woman was dressed in white like a fairy. Under the soft glow of the glass lamp, they seemed to form a perfectly harmonious picture.

A sour feeling inexplicably rose in her heart, like tiny vines coiling around her, making her somewhat uncomfortable. That wretched woman, clearly a disciple of Cihang Jingzhai, is now following the Alliance Leader around every day—what's going on?

Wanwan composed herself, her charming smile returning to her face. She stepped onto the winding stone bridge, her bare feet touching the ground, her figure swaying like a red elf walking on water, and walked straight into the pavilion.

"Leader~"

Wanwan's voice, sweet and delicate, broke the atmosphere in the pavilion. She first curtsied to Yi Huawei, her eyes darting around as if she had just noticed Shi Feixuan, feigning surprise as she said:
"Eh? Fairy Shi is here too? What a refined taste! Why aren't you in quiet cultivation at this late hour? Why are you always by our Alliance Leader's side? Could it be... that you've been tempted by our Alliance Leader's wisdom and might, and want to join our Heavenly Dao Alliance?"

Wanwan's words were laced with undisguised sarcasm and jealousy. Her gaze was fixed intently on Shi Feixuan, trying to discern any embarrassment or anger on her face.

Upon hearing this, Shi Feixuan slowly placed the white chess piece that had lingered on her fingertip back into the chess jar. She raised her eyes, her clear, autumn-water-like eyes calmly looking at Wanwan, without the slightest ripple, as if the sharpness in Wanwan's words was merely a gentle breeze. Then she turned her gaze to Yi Huawei, her expression indifferent, her tone calm yet earnest, and softly said:
"That is my wish, but I dare not ask you."

Upon hearing this, the pavilion fell into a slight silence.

Even Yi Huawei, who was resting his chin on his hand, paused slightly. He looked up at Shi Feixuan, and beneath his blue robe, a faint hint of surprise seemed to flash across his calm eyes, but it vanished in an instant. He truly hadn't expected Shi Feixuan to give such a direct, almost declarative, answer. This was inconsistent with Cihang Jingzhai's usual detached attitude.

Wanwan was stunned, then a nameless rage surged within her. This bitch, she actually... she actually went along with it?! What did she mean? Was she really going to abandon her old trick of choosing a master and join the alliance leader's ranks? What gave her the right?
Yi Huawei's gaze swept over the two of them, then he waved his hand dismissively and said to the two rows of maids standing outside the pavilion, "There's no need to serve you here. You may go and rest."

"Yes."

The maids responded in unison, their voices soft, and they bowed in neat steps before carrying their lanterns and retreating one by one, disappearing into the darkness in the distance.

Suddenly, only the three of them remained in the pavilion, along with a few ever-burning lamps hanging from the corners. The light seemed to dim, making the space even more tranquil. The sounds of the pond, the wind, and the faint chirping of insects in the distance became clearer.

Yi Huawei's gaze returned to the chessboard. He picked up the black piece and casually placed it in a seemingly insignificant position on the board.

This move suddenly revitalized a corner area that had been subtly restrained by Shi Feixuan's white stones, posing a potential threat to the large white group in the center.

Shi Feixuan's attention was immediately drawn to the chess game. Her delicate brows furrowed almost imperceptibly as she fell into deep thought once more. She seemed completely unaffected by Wanwan's disturbance or her own astonishing words just now; her unwavering resolve was truly admirable.

Wanwan looked at the two men; one was calm and composed, the other completely absorbed, as if she had become an unnecessary spectator. Her jealousy and dissatisfaction intensified. She bit her lower lip, walked to Yi Huawei's side, and sat down next to him. She could almost feel the faint warmth and an indescribable, vast aura emanating from his blue robe.

She leaned closer to Yi Huawei, her breath sweet as orchids, her voice tinged with grievance and coquettishness:
"Alliance Leader, look at her! The people of Cihang Jingzhai are the most hypocritical. Who knows what she's up to? She's always by your side; maybe she's just looking for an opportunity to harm you! You must be on guard!"

Yi Huawei continued to look at the chessboard, showing no reaction to Wanwan's almost touching move. He simply replied calmly, "If she has any ill intentions, she will have her own way to die."

His tone was calm, yet it conveyed absolute confidence and control. He didn't care whether Shi Feixuan harbored any disloyalty, nor was he afraid of any underhanded tricks she might pull. Before absolute power, all schemes and tricks were futile.

These words left Wanwan speechless, but also brought her some peace of mind. The Alliance Leader seemed to treat Shi Feixuan no differently, maintaining the same condescending attitude towards all living beings.

Shi Feixuan seemed not to hear their conversation. After a long period of thought, she finally picked up a white stone and gently placed it down. This stone was not a direct response to the threat from the black stones, but rather it was placed on another seemingly unrelated star point. In a subtle way, it seemed to echo the large group of stones in the center, demonstrating her extraordinary strategic vision and resilience.

Yi Huawei's lips twitched almost imperceptibly, as if in approval or amusement. Without hesitation, he placed his stone again, this time aiming directly at the center. The chaotic momentum of the black stones suddenly tightened, like dark clouds pressing down, threatening to completely devour the large white dragon.

The game had reached its most crucial mid-game stage, and the atmosphere inside the pavilion was once again enveloped by the silent clash of swords.

Wanwan looked at Yi Huawei's focused profile, then at the beautiful and resolute Shi Feixuan opposite her, and knew that anything she said would be futile. She pursed her lips, quieted down, and her gaze fell on the chessboard.

Shi Feixuan picked up a white piece, gazing intently at the settled situation on the chessboard. The black pieces, like the beginning of chaos, encompassed all things, firmly locking down the seemingly grand but actually fragmented and disintegrated white forces, leaving no possibility of a comeback. Her beautiful face showed no sign of defeat, but rather a clarity as if she had seen through the fog.

"Sir, your chess skills are profound. I, Feixuan, have benefited greatly from them and humbly admit defeat. It is late and I will not disturb you any longer. I, Feixuan, will take my leave."

Shi Feixuan gently placed the remaining white pieces back into the chess set, her movements elegant and composed, showing no sign of frustration at losing. She raised her clear eyes to look at Yi Huawei, her voice as calm as ever.

Yi Huawei nodded slightly in response, without saying anything more.

Shi Feixuan rose, her white robes as pure as snow, appearing like an ethereal fairy untouched by the lamplight. She gave a slight bow to Yi Huawei and Wanwan as a gesture of respect, then turned and walked gracefully out of the hexagonal pavilion. Her figure quickly disappeared around the corner of the corridor, leaving only a faint, almost imperceptible fragrance.

Inside the pavilion, only Yi Huawei and Wanwan remained.

Wanwan glanced in the direction Shi Feixuan had left, pursed her red lips, and snorted, "Pretentious." Then, a bright smile returned to her face. She turned around and naturally sat down next to Yi Huawei, almost nestled beside him, looking up at him with her pretty face.
"Alliance Leader, you are truly amazing! You even routed that arrogant Fairy Shi!" Wanwan's tone was filled with undisguised admiration and flattery, her crimson skirt spreading out like a blooming rose on the stone bench.

Yi Huawei didn't respond to her words, his gaze remaining fixed on the chessboard, his slender fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the edge of the board, making a soft tapping sound.

Seeing his silence, Wanwan was not discouraged. She continued to report on important matters, her voice light and cheerful: "Alliance Leader, the trivial matters at the Heavenly Lotus Sect have been mostly resolved. Sun Qiniang and Ouyang Xu are quite sensible; with your 'Mysterious Ice Restriction,' they dare not be negligent. The accounts of 'Hexinglong' are basically cleared up, and a few corrupt officials have been identified, those who should be killed have been killed, and those who should be replaced have been replaced. New rules have also been established. At first, those merchants were skeptical, but seeing that we have truly settled old debts and acted according to the new contracts, they are now very obedient and eager to cooperate with us long-term."

She spoke slowly and clearly, recounting her achievements over the past few days. When she talked about how she had single-handedly won over Zhu Mei and Lian Rou, a hint of pride appeared in her eyes, like a child who had finished their homework and was waiting for praise.

Yi Huawei listened quietly until she finished speaking, then slowly shifted his gaze from the chessboard to her beautiful face. His eyes were calm and still, like a bottomless ancient pool, instantly causing Wanwan's slight smugness to vanish, and she became serious.

"Well done."

Yi Huawei spoke calmly, using four words that acknowledged Wanwan's hard work during this period.

Wanwan was overjoyed, her smile widening. Just as she was about to say something more, Yi Huawei changed the subject, asking, "What do you plan to do with Zhu Mei and Lian Rou?"

Wanwan had anticipated this question and already had a plan in mind. She sat up straighter and said seriously, "I was just about to report this to the Alliance Leader. Zhu Mei and Lian Rou are currently imprisoned in the dungeons of the separate courtyard, under the close guard of our people. The poison wound on Zhu Mei's shoulder has been brought under control, but it will take some time to completely remove it. Lian Rou's internal injuries are not serious; the main problem is that her acupoints have been sealed."

After a pause, Wanwan observed Yi Huawei's expression and continued, "These two people have special identities. One is Zhu Jie's only daughter, and the other is Yun Shuai's beloved daughter. Killing them would certainly be satisfying, but it would immediately provoke Zhu Jie's furious retaliation and the hostility of the Western Turks. Although we are not afraid, our current focus is on integrating the forces in the south and the Demonic Sect. It is not advisable to launch a full-scale war against both the pseudo-Chu and the Western Turks at the same time, which would add more variables."

"What if we release them?"

Yi Huawei asked in a flat tone, making it impossible to tell whether he agreed or disagreed.

"Releasing them unconditionally would be too lenient for them, and it would make it seem like our Heavenly Dao Alliance is afraid of the forces behind them."

Wanwan shook her head, a sly glint in her eyes: "So, Wanwan thinks it would be better to... use them to gain some benefits for us."

"Oh?"

Yi Huawei's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly, signaling her to continue.

Encouraged, Wanwan perked up and spoke eloquently: "Zhu Mei is arrogant and ruthless, but she's not entirely brainless. She knows that once she's in our hands, her life is not in her own hands. We can use her to extract information about the pseudo-Chu regime, and perhaps... we can even try to influence some of Zhu Jie's decisions through her. Although Zhu Jie is cruel, he seems to dote on this daughter. Even if we can't make him side with us, we can at least make him hesitate to act against us at times, or pass on some useful information to us."

"As for Lianrou,"

Wanwan's lips curled slightly: "The Western Turkic forces are not to be underestimated, and Commander Yun is one of the most renowned masters in the Western Regions. Rather than making enemies, it's better to try to forge a good relationship. We can connect with Commander Yun through Lian Rou. The trade routes in the Western Regions are extremely profitable. If we can open them up, it will greatly benefit the future financial and material resources of 'He Xinglong' and the Heavenly Dao Alliance. Moreover, the Western Turks have complex relationships with various forces in the Central Plains. If we can win them over, or at least keep them neutral, it will also be a great help to our future cause of unifying the world."

After speaking, Wanwan looked at Yi Huawei cautiously: "Of course, this is just Wanwan's humble opinion. How to operate in detail and whether it is feasible still needs to be decided by the Alliance Leader. These two are hot potatoes. If used well, they can be a help; if used poorly, they can backfire."

After listening, Yi Huawei did not immediately express his opinion. He picked up the slightly cooled tea from the stone table beside him and took a small sip. He put down the teacup and looked at Wanwan: "It's good that you can think of these things. No longer being limited to momentary pleasure, but knowing how to weigh the pros and cons and take advantage of the situation, is the mindset that a player should have."

His affirmation relieved Wanwan of a great weight, and her beautiful eyes lit up with joy.

"but,"

Yi Huawei changed the subject slightly: "To negotiate with a tiger, you need not only the strength to subdue it, but also the wisdom to drive it away. Zhu Jie is tyrannical and not someone to be trifled with; Commander Yun, who dominates the Western Regions, is no benevolent figure either. If you want to use his daughter, you must consider that they might also turn the tables on you, or even bite you back."

"Wanwan understands!"

Wanwan nodded vigorously: "So, the specifics of how to make contact, what conditions to propose, and how to maintain appropriate boundaries still require guidance from the Alliance Leader. Especially... whether or not they need to know that it's you, Alliance Leader..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but her meaning was clear: whether or not to use Yi Huawei's prestigious reputation to intimidate others with absolute power.

Yi Huawei shook his head slightly: "It's a minor matter, you can handle it yourself. If they ask, just say it was your idea."

These words were tantamount to completely delegating the power to deal with Zhu Mei and Lian Rou to Wanwan, and were yet another test and test of her abilities.

Wanwan was taken aback at first, then a surge of warmth welled up in her heart, a mixture of gratitude for being trusted and a sense of pressure. Taking a deep breath, she solemnly replied, "Yes! Wanwan will act with utmost care and will never betray the Alliance Leader's trust!"

Yi Huawei said no more, turning his gaze back to the pond in the night outside the pavilion, where moonlight shone on the water, breaking into thousands of silver scales.

Looking at his calm profile, Wanwan felt a surge of indescribable emotions. There was awe, dependence, ambition, and a faint, almost imperceptible feeling that even she herself wasn't fully aware of. But she knew she had to handle this matter flawlessly to secure a more important place in the heart of this unfathomable leader. (End of Chapter)