The Envoy of Abundance from Onphalus

Russell, however, remained oblivious, preferring to miss local opportunities rather than easily sacrifice any piece. This unwavering commitment to zero casualties rendered Jingyuan's tactics futile.

"General..." Yanqing, who was watching the game from the side, couldn't help but exclaim softly. He hadn't seen the general with such a solemn expression in a long time.

Jing Yuan slightly raised his hand to signal Yan Qing to be quiet. His brows furrowed, and his gaze swept back and forth across the chessboard like a hawk's. His fingers tapped the table unconsciously, a habit he had when he was deep in thought.

He tried changing tactics, instigating fierce battles in the corners and edges, attempting to disrupt the situation and profit from it.

However, Russell's response remained as steady as a mountain, always able to defuse the attacks in the simplest and most effective way, while subtly strengthening his own position.

The situation on the chessboard became increasingly delicate. Jingyuan discovered that the several ambushes he had carefully laid out were unknowingly restrained by Russell's seemingly insignificant pieces, rendering them unable to move.

Russell's white pieces, through seemingly gentle advances, have firmly grasped the key points of the entire board, forming an impenetrable encirclement.

Sweat silently seeped from Jingyuan's forehead. He tried to force his way out in the heart of the territory, the black pieces charging left and right like a trapped beast, searching for a glimmer of hope.

Russell remained calm and composed, placing his pieces swiftly and precisely blocking Jingyuan's escape route with each move, while simultaneously reinforcing the white stones' encirclement.

His skill was so refined, and his calculations so profound, that it was far more than just a few moves he claimed to have learned. Jing Yuan felt that Russell's chess skills were even better than those old guys'.

Yanqing's palms were sweating as he watched. He had never seen anyone put so much pressure on the general on the chessboard.

Russell's chess moves, though lacking earth-shattering killing moves, are like mercury seeping into the ground, penetrating everywhere, and like deep-sea undercurrents, silent yet deadly.

Each seemingly sharp counterattack by the general ultimately seemed to crash into an invisible, ever-tightening wall.

Finally, when Russell gently placed a white piece in a seemingly inconspicuous spot in the center of the board, Jingyuan's hand, which was holding the piece, hovered in mid-air.

He stared at the chessboard, a bitter smile, tinged with helplessness and a hint of relief, on his face. Black had lost the entire game.

Looking at the whole game, White had no obvious weaknesses and no pieces were captured—Russell really did manage to complete a near-perfect strangulation while preserving all his pieces!

"I lost." Jing Yuan put down the black piece he had been holding for so long and readily admitted defeat. He let out a long sigh, picked up the teacup beside him to moisten his dry throat, and looked at Russell with a complicated expression, filled with sincere admiration, "Mr. Russell's chess skills are truly... unfathomable. I admire you, I admire you."

He pointed to several key points on the chessboard: "However, I have a question. Sir, you clearly had several opportunities to end this game earlier and more directly, so why..." He paused, "...why did you choose such a...merciful way?"

Russell's gaze swept across the densely packed black and white pieces on the chessboard, his eyes softening: "Because in my eyes, they are not cold pieces. With each move, I am thinking about how to achieve my goal while preserving them."

He looked up at Jing Yuan, his tone calm yet powerful, "Defeating you is certainly the goal, but if it comes at the cost of many lives, then the victory itself is stained with too much blood. This is not the victory I want."

“This…” Jing Yuan paused slightly, then let out a meaningful sigh, “It really is… a very rich saying.”

Yanqing listened from the side, deeply shaken. "Preserve all the pieces," "Victory stained with blood"... This Envoy of Abundance's thinking was completely different from any of the Immortal Ship's enemies he knew.

His gaze toward Russell held a greater degree of admiration. It was a good thing that such a benevolent person could maintain such close ties with Luo Fu.

Jing Yuan leaned back in his chair, the sharpness that had been stirred up by the game slowly settling down, and a lazy demeanor reappeared, but a thoughtful glint appeared deep in his eyes.

He picked up the freshly poured hot tea, his tone returning to its previous calmness, but with a more sincere inquiry than before, "Although Luofu is a celestial vessel, it also welcomes friends from the starry sea. So Mr. Russell, you don't need to worry about the subsequent sightseeing. I will have Yanqing accompany you as your guide. If there is anything you can do to help, please feel free to point it out."

Russell looked at Jing Yuan, then glanced at Yan Qing beside him, who was standing ramrod straight but clearly had his ears perked up, and a gentle smile curved his lips: "I wouldn't presume to offer guidance. As for the deeper purpose..."

He picked up his teacup, the rising steam blurring his expression. "Perhaps, I just want to see if there are other... possibilities beyond the eternal conflict between abundance and hunting? Just like this game of chess, there isn't only one way to play it, a life-or-death struggle."

"And isn't this the very reason General Jingyuan sent me the invitation to come here?"

"So we've had our tea and snacks, and played our game of chess. Shouldn't we get down to business now, Mr. Jingyuan?"

In the courtyard, the ancient trees swayed in the breeze, casting dappled shadows. The smoke from the chessboard had dissipated, but the probing and exchange between the two players seemed to have only just begun.

Yanqing stood aside, silently sensing the subtle change in atmosphere, and her understanding of this mysterious and bountiful envoy was quietly changing.

4K today, that's all for today, one chapter owed.

Golden Branches Through the Ages: Chapter 126 Discussing Illusion

Jing Yuan's hearty laughter rang out beside the chessboard: "Of course, Mr. Russell. After this game, we'll save a lot of time."

Russell's gaze fell on Jing Yuan's face, with a hint of inquiry: "Oh? Playing chess with me is also part of your plan, General Jing Yuan?" He deliberately emphasized the word "General".

“Of course.” Jing Yuan nodded frankly. “Words always leave things unsaid and can easily create misunderstandings. A well-executed game of chess can save a lot of unnecessary time for probing.”

He raised his eyes, a knowing smile in them. "Besides, I've already put my mind at ease based on your playing style. What is there to doubt about an opponent who treats every piece on the board as a living, breathing entity?"

Russell sighed, “General Jingyuan has a keen eye for people’s hearts. So, shall we get straight to the point? Neither of us can afford to waste any more time.”

Jing Yuan reached into his wide sleeve and took out an object. It was neither gold nor iron, but warm and smooth like jade, with an ancient and simple shape like a military tally, and its surface flowed with a faint golden energy glow that could be seen with the naked eye. He gently placed the object in the center of the chessboard.

Yan Qing, who was standing to the side, suddenly narrowed his eyes and almost lost his voice: The general actually took out the alliance jade tablet directly!

These two had only known each other for a few hours! This is astonishing. How highly must the general be optimistic about the future of his alliance with Russell?

Russell's gaze swept over the jade tablet, and he instantly sensed the surging, almost tangible, hunting power emanating from it. "Such a dense concentration of the mighty power of the storm..."

His fingertips hovered above the jade tablet, feeling the pulse of power within them, and he understood perfectly: "If I am not mistaken, this is the token of the Immortal Ship Alliance, the Jade Tablet of Alliance."

“The holder has forged the strongest alliance with the corresponding immortal vessel.” He raised his eyes and looked directly at Jing Yuan. “General, what a grand gesture. To decisively form an alliance with me, the Envoy of Abundance, is truly impressive.”

“Just as Mr. Russell said, this is indeed a sign of the alliance of Luofu.” Jing Yuan picked up his teacup, blew away the floating leaves, and remained calm.

"It may take some time to convince those old folks to accept you. But from this moment on, Luo Fu will be your friend forever."

"Whether now or in the future," he gently pushed the jade tablet towards Russell, "a storm is coming, and I hope to weather it together with you. So please do not refuse."

Russell picked up the jade tablet; its warm, smooth texture contained immense power. "General Jingyuan possesses extraordinary courage and is worthy of the name of the Divine Strategy Army."

He stroked the jade tablet with sharp eyes, "However, aren't you afraid of the criticism from the other immortal ships if you give this to me? The weight of this jade tablet is much greater than a piece of paper."

"Jing Yuan's actions are solely based on being worthy of Luofu and the Immortal Boat Alliance." Jing Yuan put down his teacup, a hint of unruliness in his smile. "A few rumors are nothing to worry about. They can't hurt me in the slightest."

“What a fine ‘not worth mentioning’.” Russell’s eyes revealed genuine appreciation as he carefully put away the jade tablet. “If Luofu is ever in danger, I will not stand idly by. On the contrary, if I ask for help, General, please do not refuse.”

"Allies should naturally help each other." Jing Yuan's smile faded slightly, and he said seriously, "Right now, I do have a request."

"please say."

"The activities of the Medicine King's Secret Sect in Luofu are becoming increasingly rampant, and the Pill Cauldron Division has been infiltrated. They must be eradicated." Jing Yuan's tone turned cold.

“Once we eliminate them, the medical resources on the Luofu Immortal Ship will inevitably be insufficient. I request that you allow the compassionate physicians to help us through this difficult time. It should take about three months.”

Russell nodded: "This request is not difficult for them. General Jingyuan only needs to inform me if he needs it."

He then added, "However, I don't usually manage them as a manager, so I can't guarantee how many people will come. I hope the general will be prepared."

“I have a question,” Russell leaned forward slightly, his tone inquisitive, “Since General Jingyuan has already discerned the threat posed by the Medicine King’s secret teachings, why hasn’t he eliminated them immediately?”

"Leaving them in Luofu would only add to the instability," he thought. Based on his understanding of the general's playing style, the other party was clearly planning something bigger.

“Under normal circumstances, I would have already mobilized troops to wipe them out.” Jing Yuan’s fingers unconsciously traced the edge of the chessboard. “But now, there is an invisible hand controlling the whole situation from the shadows. I have to act cautiously so as not to alert them.”

"The person behind it all?" Russell's eyes narrowed.

“Judging from his methods, he is cunning and ruthless, manipulating people’s hearts and minds, and is used to hiding behind the scenes…” Jing Yuan’s voice lowered, “He is very likely the Extinction Lord who serves the Destruction Star God Nanuk – Huanlong.”

“Huanlong…” Russell pondered for a moment, the image of the fox-girl from before flashing through his mind. “She may have already personally entered the game. Previously, I sensed an extremely subtle yet exceptionally pure aura of destruction on a fox-girl named Tingyun on your esteemed immortal ship. General, you might want to pay more attention to this person.”

Jing Yuan's expression remained unchanged, only his hand holding the teacup paused slightly before he resumed his composure: "Thank you for the reminder. Jing Yuan has already made arrangements and is just waiting for her to lose her temper and personally intervene." His tone was calm, yet it exuded a strong confidence: "As long as she dares to show herself, she will have fallen into my trap."

Russell nodded: "It's good that the general understands. However, for a Great Lord of Annihilation to not be keen on direct destruction, but instead choose to dismantle the Celestial Ship from within, while this aligns with her own interpretation of the aesthetics of destruction..."

He leaned forward, his gaze sharp as lightning. "The efficiency is far too low. The Medicine King's Secret Teachings are Luofu's open enemies; it would be foolish to join forces with them to launch an attack."

"Such roundabout actions must have a purpose. What exactly does the Luofu Immortal Ship hold that is worth such elaborate schemes? I believe General Jingyuan knows better than I do."

The two tacitly ignored the secret teachings of the Medicine King; in their eyes, these pawns, being used, were ultimately destined to be discarded. Aside from outliers like Russell, who would truly care about the life or death of a few pawns?

Not to mention the utterly wicked Lord Jue Mie, Huan Long. In Russell's eyes, these members of the Medicine King's secret lineage in Luo Fu were nothing more than a cult masquerading as pharmacists.

Their accomplices outside the Immortal Ship had long been wiped out by Russell, leaving only the Immortal Ship, a place Russell could not set foot in, as their lair.

It's quite ironic, really. The place that was least tolerant of these prosperous people became their last paradise.

And these guys actually believe Huanlong's promise? Looking back, when has Huanlong ever kept a promise?

These guys are hopelessly stupid.

“Of course there is.” A cold glint flashed in Jing Yuan’s eyes. “Although Huanlong is the Great Lord of Annihilation, her true nature is that she fears destruction itself. In order to fight against this fateful fear, the abundant power that is continuous and contains endless vitality has become the antidote she has been dreaming of.”

He pointed into the distance, as if piercing through the pavilions and towers, pointing directly to the core of Luofu, "And our Luofu Immortal Ship, that Jianmu remnant sealed by the Emperor's Bow and the Divine Arrow, is the most perfect prey in her eyes."

Chapter 1 of Today

Golden Branches Through the Ages: Chapter 127 The Power of the Emperor's Bow and Arrow

"Hmph, yet another petty scoundrel coveting the power of abundance. What a disgusting fellow." Russell's tone was filled with undisguised disgust.

"Speak, what do you need me to do? If it's about fighting Huanlong, I'd be happy to lend a hand. And I'll also protect everything on your immortal ship during the battle."

Russell had zero tolerance for any behavior that tarnished the name of the pharmacist, and his ruthless methods were widely known throughout the universe.

The Medicine King is compassionate, but his compassion is not sustenance, and he is also ruthless.

“You are the most important trump card in my chessboard.” Jing Yuan looked directly at Russell, his gaze intense. “I will not use this trump card lightly until the decisive moment. Besides, the clowns in the audience have not yet jumped out. Closing the net too early will only leave trouble for the future.”

"Why not let them all come out, wipe them all out in one fell swoop, and completely eliminate them? Luofu needs to shed all its burdens and step into a new era."

“Understood.” Russell leaned back in his chair. “Then, in the calm before the storm, let me first shut up those old fogies from the Immortal Ship.”

"This is not the duty of allies, but rather the mutual care among chess players." He changed the subject, a hint of amusement in his voice, "I've heard that the Immortal Ship Alliance possesses a token bestowed by the Star God Lan of the Hunting Stars—the Hunting Light Arrow?"

Jing Yuan's eyes flickered: "Indeed. This is a token recognized by the Emperor's Bow and Fate, and it is also the ultimate strategic deterrent of our Immortal Ship. Why did you mention this item?"

“Because,” Russell’s lips curled into an enigmatic smile, he slowly raised his right hand, and lightly tapped the air with his index finger, “what you have been wondering about will now be answered for you.”

Om-!

A beam of light, radiating a deep blue glow, suddenly appeared at Russell's fingertip! The beam was three feet long, its light profound and violent, as if billions of stars were constantly being born and dying within it, with the light at the arrowhead concentrated to its extreme.

Its pure hunting power makes the entire courtyard space freeze!

The chess pieces on the board trembled slightly, and a thin crack silently appeared in the teacup in front of Jingyuan, with tea slowly seeping out.

Yan Qing's breath hitched, and his right hand instinctively pressed on the hilt of the sword at his waist. His body tensed up instantly, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead. He had never felt such a pure and terrifying hunting power before.

The lazy smile on Jing Yuan's face vanished completely. His pupils contracted sharply as he stared intently at the object materializing at Russell's fingertips.

The essence of this aura is clearly of the same origin as the hunting light arrow preserved in Luofu! There is no falsehood! But the owner of this light arrow is actually a bountiful envoy! This completely overturns common sense!

“This is…” Jing Yuan’s voice was dry, almost hoarse. He was more familiar with the aura of the Hunting Light Arrow than anyone else.

The air in the courtyard froze completely. The wind stopped, and all sound ceased. Only the phantom of the arrow hovering at Russell's fingertips silently emanated a terrifying pressure that would make even the Star God's Envoy take notice.

Russell waved his hand lightly, and the light arrow vanished without a trace, along with the suffocating pressure.

"A little bit of supporting evidence. I suppose General Jingyuan is now more confident in persuading those old guys on the immortal ships not to deliberately make things difficult for you, right?"

Jing Yuan took a deep breath and slowly nodded, his eyes still filled with shock: "Your Excellency... is truly astonishing. The Emperor of Bows and Fate actually bestowed a luminous arrow upon the Envoy of Abundance... This is simply..." He couldn't find the right words for a moment.

“It seems you have many questions,” Russell smiled. “Then let’s start from the beginning. This story won’t be very long.”

Russell succinctly recounted his experiences, including the scene of being given arrows during the hunt, to Jingyuan and Yanqing. The sheer volume of information left the two of them speechless for a moment.

After a long silence, Jing Yuan sighed, "Your experience... is truly remarkable. You played chess thirty million times against a mastermind who manipulated everything from the shadows? My defeat... is truly not unjust."

Just then, Russell's phone rang. He looked down and saw a message from Xing: [Mr. Russell, Miss Tingyun treated us to Fairy Happy Tea, it was so delicious! When are you coming? I specially saved a cup for you on March 7th! (Location shared)]

Russell looked at the message and replied: [It'll be over soon, in a bit.]

"Is Mr. Russell's companion urging him?" Jing Yuan asked in a friendly manner, reverting to his usual lazy and easygoing demeanor.

“I think we’ve had a thorough discussion.” Russell put away his phone. “Please feel free to contact me if needed.”

“That’s right.” Jing Yuan also stood up. “I’ve been here for quite some time. I should go and deal with the affairs of Luofu.”

The two added each other as friends on their phones. Then, as if by magic, Russell produced a book from his sleeve that exuded a sacred aura, an aura as ancient and vibrant as the Jianmu tree.

“Since we’re friends now, I should help my friend solve some problems.” He handed the book to Jing Yuan. “This is my research on the Demonic Yin Body of the Immortal Ship over the past hundred years. It records a variety of effective methods to suppress it. If it can be applied to the entire Immortal Ship, it should be able to delay the onset of the Demonic Yin Body by one to two hundred years.”

Jing Yuan solemnly accepted it: "This item is precious. On behalf of the entire Luofu people, I thank you for your kindness."

"As for..." Russell paused slightly, a hint of coldness in his voice, "If those old fellows on the immortal ships ask about a way to completely eradicate the problem, General Jingyuan can directly give them my answer."

"Oh? Please speak."

"There is no such thing as a perfect world, nor is there an absolutely perfect blessing." Russell's voice was clear and firm. "If you have received abundant gifts, you should bear the consequences that come with them."

“I despise those greedy people who only want to receive blessings and escape the consequences.” He glanced at Jing Yuan with an unquestionable air. “If they insist on doing so, I don’t mind letting them experience firsthand what the fairness of abundance truly is.”

Russell bid farewell to Jing Yuan and prepared to leave the General's Mansion. At this moment, Yan Qing, who was originally supposed to accompany Russell, suddenly received an urgent communication.

His expression changed, and he quickly walked to Jing Yuan's side, whispering a few words. Jing Yuan frowned slightly and then said to Russell, "I'm sorry, Mr. Russell, the remnants of the Medicine King's secret lineage are causing trouble at Liuyun Ferry. Yanqing must immediately lead troops to suppress them. As for the guide..."

“It’s alright.” Russell waved his hand. “I have their location. I’ll go find Mr. Walter and the others myself. Dealing with the chaos is the priority.”

Jingyuan nodded: "Alright. Yanqing, go quickly!"