In Emei, start by obtaining golden attributes.

Chapter 375 I have come specifically to address your esteemed gang and hold you accountable.
a few days later.

On Wangjiang Mountain, a hundred miles away from Zhanjiang Prefecture, Gu Shaoan sat on a huge rock. On the other half of the rock in front of him, there were dozens of crisscrossing scratches.

The Yin and Yang energies, infused with the vital energy, seemed to materialize, transforming into black and white chess pieces suspended on the simple chessboard.

Around Gu Shaoan, a dozen or so fallen leaves swayed in the wind.

Just as a leaf drifted to one side on the wind about three zhang to his right rear, Gu Shaoan's fingertip touched the chessboard, condensing into a black chess piece.

The next instant, the leaf that was about to drift away seemed to be moved by an invisible hand, and returned to Gu Shaoan's right rear.

If Sun Baifa were standing here at this moment, he might be able to tell from the fallen leaves around Gu Shaoan that Gu Shaoan was clearly using himself as the Heavenly Origin, and then spreading out the energy condensed from the Gang Yuan and Yin Yang energies to turn the area within a five-zhang radius around him into a chessboard.

Just as a leaf begins to fall, a new gust of wind appears out of nowhere and blows it back to its previous position.

A dozen or so fallen leaves were being casually tossed about by Gu Shaoan, like caged birds being controlled.

Just then, an autumn wind suddenly rose, bringing dozens of fallen leaves from the surrounding old trees.

Just as these fallen leaves were about to appear, Gu Shaoan's finger touched the chessboard again, forming a white chess piece.

"Om~"

An invisible trembling sound came from the air.

The next instant, the fallen leaves that had been carried by the wind and scattered around Gu Shaoan froze in mid-air, as if they had been fixed in place by an invisible hand.

However, while most leaves were suspended in mid-air, one fallen leaf was quietly split in two.

At this point, Gu Shaoan paused, his hand, which was about to tap the chessboard again, on the board.

"A small mistake can lead to a huge difference; it's definitely not that easy."

As soon as he uttered those words, Gu Shaoan swept his long sleeves, and the surrounding Qi and Yin-Yang energies instantly subsided.

Without Gu Shaoan's control, the previously stagnant fallen leaves in the air were once again drawn by the autumn wind, either drifting away or landing.

Fu Cailin of Goryeo incorporated the principles of Go (chess) into his martial arts, thus creating the title of "Master of Go Sword".

Within the Great Wei Kingdom, Sun Baifa's "Heavenly Secret Staff Technique" also contains elements of chess, with each step carefully planned.

However, in terms of chess skills, Gu Shaoan himself has reached the level of a master, and his chess skills are unparalleled in the world.

Naturally, after acquiring master-level chess skills, Gu Shaoan's first thought was to combine chess skills with his own martial arts to enhance his strength.

The result was one that Gu Shaoan was particularly satisfied with.

Although it has only been a few months, Gu Shaoan has already figured out the principles of chess and swordsmanship on his own.

Based on this principle of "playing chess and swordsmanship", Gu Shaoan was confident that even if he only used the "Willow Catkin Sword Technique" or the "Sunset Sword Technique", he would be able to exchange blows with Sun Baifa.

However, the current situation clearly does not yet meet Gu Shaoan's requirements.

At least in Gu Shaoan's view, the improvement from combining master-level chess skills with his martial arts should not be limited to this.

How exactly he can integrate chess skills with his own martial arts to forge his own path of chess and swordsmanship is still lacking that final spark of inspiration.

After sensing the recovery of his internal energy during his martial arts research, Gu Shaoan did not linger. He guided the internal energy to circulate according to the "Wind God's Wrath" technique of the "Four Symbols of Heavenly Will" while diverting some of it into his legs to continue traveling using his lightness skill.

Before long, two rivers appeared on either side of the road ahead in Gu Shaoan's sight.

One river flows from the west and has a relatively rapid current; this is called "Zhanchuan". The other river flows from the northwest and has a wider and calmer surface; this is called "Qingjiang".

The two rivers form a vast expanse of water outside the city, and the water color varies depending on the amount of silt, creating a unique spectacle where blue and yellow hues blend together.

On the river, boats of all sizes shuttle back and forth.

Cargo ships with tall masts and large sails, with deep drafts, slowly made their way to the dock; light and agile passenger boats and fishing boats nimbly weaved through the gaps between the ships. There were also ornately decorated pleasure boats, from which the sounds of music and laughter could be faintly heard.

After moving quickly forward for another ten miles or so, and passing through a forest, a city came into Gu Shaoan's view on the flat land in the distance.

As he approached the city gate, Gu Shaoan slowed down and walked slowly with the flow of people entering the city.

Inside the city gate, there was a busy main dock.

The land and water routes connect seamlessly here, forming an extremely convenient transportation hub.

Goods from all over the country gathered here: silk and medicinal herbs from Sichuan, porcelain and tea from Jiangnan, spices and jewelry from Lingnan, and even exotic items from overseas countries could all be found here.

The docks were lined with warehouses, flags fluttering in the breeze, and the signs of various gangs and factions, as well as the shops, were dazzling to the eye.

This made Gu Shaoan marvel at the prosperity of Zhanjiang Prefecture, which was no less than that of the Jiangnan region.

Upon arriving in Zhanjiang Prefecture, Gu Shaoan still did not disguise himself or conceal his identity.

Still dressed in a long gold and white robe, Gu Shaoan's handsome face was accentuated with a touch of nobility, attracting frequent glances from passersby in the city.

After walking for a short while, Gu Shaoan stopped in front of a three-story building facing the street.

The building was quite grand, with the three large characters "Jiangyue Tower" written in gold on a black background. The calligraphy was vigorous and powerful. Inside, there were faint sounds of people talking and the aroma of wine and food wafting out. The waiters at the door were quick and sharp-eyed, indicating that it was a top-notch place in the city.

Gu Shaoan stepped inside. The spacious lobby on the first floor was almost full of guests, a mix of merchants, scholars, and wandering swordsmen, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

He didn't linger on the first floor. Guided by the waiter, he went straight to the second floor and found a private seat by the window. The view from there was excellent, overlooking the street scene and part of the dock below, and it was relatively quiet.

After they entered the private booth and sat down, the waiter deftly wiped the already clean table with a white towel draped over his shoulder. His eyes quickly glanced at the Yitian Sword in Gu Shaoan's left hand, then carefully observed Gu Shaoan's attire and demeanor. While secretly speculating, he put on a professional and enthusiastic smile: "Young master, you look unfamiliar. Is this your first time at Jiangyue Tower? What would you like to eat or drink?"

Gu Shaoan kept the Heaven-Slaying Sword in his left hand and said calmly, "A pot of tea and a few signature dishes will suffice."

"Alright! Please wait a moment, sir!" the waiter replied and quickly left.

Gu Shaoan glanced down at the warehouses and ships on the distant dock below, where various gang flags were hanging.

A moment later, after the waiter brought the food, before he left, Gu Shaoan casually asked, "Waiter, are you familiar with Zhanjiang Prefecture?"

The waiter perked up, knowing that the customer wanted to ask something, and immediately smiled and said, "Young master, you've come to the right person. I was born and raised in Zhanjiang Prefecture and have worked at Jiangyue Tower for seven or eight years. I dare not say anything else, but I know a little about the streets and alleys, docks, shops, and people coming and going in and out of the city."

Gu Shaoan nodded, his tone still calm: "I've heard that the famous White Sand Gang is based in Zhanjiang Prefecture. May I ask where it is located in the city?" As soon as the words "White Sand Gang" were uttered, the waiter's smile visibly froze, and a hint of tension and apprehension flashed in his eyes.

He glanced around instinctively and lowered his voice: "Young master, is there something you need from the White Sand Gang?"

Gu Shaoan took in his reaction without answering. Instead, he took out a small ingot of silver, about two taels, from his sleeve, placed it gently on the table, and pushed it toward the waiter. The silver gleamed and it was quite heavy.

The waiter's throat bobbed, a struggle flashing in his eyes, but the allure of the silver and Gu Shaoan's unfathomable aura ultimately made him make up his mind. He quickly gathered the silver into his sleeve, lowering his voice to almost a whisper:

“Young master, the Baisha Gang is one of the top gangs in Zhanjiang Prefecture. They control several large wharves along the Qingjiang River and have a lot of power. However, their headquarters is not in the busiest wharf area, but in Baishawu on the Qingjiang River in the west of the city.”

He paused for a moment before continuing cautiously, "That place was originally the villa of an official in the previous dynasty, covering a vast area. Later, it was bought and expanded by Chief Hao. It has high walls and a large courtyard, heavily guarded. Ordinary people cannot get close at all. Even the river nearby is patrolled by fast boats of the White Sand Gang at night. If you are going to visit, it would be best to present your visiting card first."

His last sentence carried a clear sense of reminder.

After being given specific directions and the way to the Baisha Gang, Gu Shaoan nodded slightly: "I've noted it all down, thank you for telling me, Brother Xiao."

Seeing Gu Shaoan's calm expression, the waiter couldn't figure out what Gu Shaoan was thinking.

Once the transaction was complete, he dared not say another word. He quickly bowed and said, "You're too kind, young master. Please enjoy your meal." Then he hurriedly withdrew, as if staying even a moment longer would cause trouble.

Gu Shaoan didn't pay any attention to the waiter's situation.

He picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and then looked out the window, gazing towards the west of the city. His fingertips gently caressed the rim of the teacup.

A moment later, a slight smile appeared on Gu Shaoan's lips.

"Indeed, how can one visit someone's home without a visiting card?"

Shen Shi.

Following the path indicated by the waiter, Gu Shaoan exited the west gate of Zhanjiang Prefecture and headed northwest along a wide road paved with bluestone slabs that could accommodate two carriages side by side on the banks of the Qingjiang River.

At first, there were scattered houses and fields on both sides of the road, but as you go further, the population gradually thins out, and in their place are increasingly dense forests and bamboo groves.

The Qingjiang River makes a gentle bend here, its surface wide and its current calm, the water shimmering with golden light under the setting sun.

A river breeze carrying moist air swept over us, dispelling the last vestiges of the day's heat.

After traveling about four or five miles, the road suddenly turned, and a magnificent group of buildings nestled against the mountain and beside the water came into view.

It was Baishawu, where the Baisha Gang was located.

The first thing that catches the eye is a fortified wall over two zhang high, built of huge bluestones. The wall is thick and solid, covered with dark green vines, indicating its age. The top of the wall is fortified with crenellations, and although it is not a military fortress, it still exudes a sense of formidable defense. The fortified wall extends along the undulating terrain, seemingly without end, encircling a large area of ​​gentle slopes and flat land along the river.

Facing the road was an imposing gatehouse.

The gate tower stood tall, and the heavy, black lacquered gate gleamed in the setting sun, its large copper nails gleaming faintly. Above the gate hung a huge plaque with three bold, powerful characters: "Baisha Gang".

The brushstrokes are powerful and vigorous, with a hint of domineering, unruly spirit. On either side of the gate tower, there is a ferocious stone beast, baring its fangs and claws, guarding the entrance.

In front of the gate is a small square paved with bluestone slabs, which is kept very clean.

Eight men dressed in matching black and white outfits stood on either side of the gate, swords at their waists, their sharp eyes scanning the road leading to the dock and the river.

They stood tall and straight, their breathing steady. On the gate tower, figures could be vaguely seen moving about, clearly indicating that there were also lookouts on guard.

"You're being careful."

Baishawu was not a particularly prosperous area to begin with, and since it was also the base of the Baisha Gang, there were even fewer people coming and going.

Naturally, Gu Shaoan, who was walking slowly towards them, stood out at this moment.

When they were still about thirty feet away from the gate of the White Sand Gang's headquarters, they were noticed by the eight White Sand Gang disciples guarding the gate.

Seeing that Gu Shaoan was less than five zhang away from the gate, one of the eight Baisha Gang disciples at the gate, who looked to be in his early forties and seemed to be the leader, said in a deep voice: "This is the Baisha Gang. May I ask what business you have with us, young master?"

Perhaps because of Gu Shaoan's extraordinary appearance and demeanor, the disciple of the White Sand Gang did not speak with the same arrogance he usually showed when facing others.

Upon hearing this, Gu Shaoan first glanced at the Baisha Gang's signboard, then raised his right hand and flicked his right sleeve.

"call out!"

"Tuk!"

The next instant, a short, sharp, yet lingering whistling sound suddenly rang out.

Immediately afterwards, before the White Sand Gang disciples could see anything clearly, they heard a strange noise coming from above.

The group stepped forward and looked up, only to see a red invitation card positioned precisely in the center of the plaque, like the sharpest dart, piercing deep into the wood.

The end of the visiting card was still trembling slightly, emitting a low hum.

"Bold."

Upon seeing the invitation on the plaque, the White Sand Gang disciple who had spoken earlier immediately let out a low growl, drew his sword from his waist, and used his lightness skill to quickly rush towards Gu Shaoan, almost touching the ground.

The other seven White Sand Gang disciples followed closely behind.

Gu Shaoan ignored their actions.

But when the group was less than two zhang away from Gu Shaoan, Gu Shaoan lightly touched the ground with the toe of his right foot.

In an instant, the vital energy, carrying an invisible force, spread out.

Just as these invisible energies filled Gu Shaoan's body, the eight disciples of the White Sand Gang, who were stationed there, suddenly arrived with immense pressure, like waves of mountains and seas, and then pressed heavily on their bodies.

Under this terrifying pressure, the eight people couldn't even resist; their legs buckled and they knelt on the ground, unable to move.

After glancing over the group, Gu Shaoan looked up at the entrance of the White Sand Gang and parted his lips slightly.

"Gu Shaoan, the young master of the Emei Sect, has come to the Baisha Gang today to pay his respects to your esteemed gang."

"Accountability".

(End of this chapter)