Chapter 50 Wine and Chess Manor (2 more updates)

The snowstorm was frosty, covering the snowy peaks.Above the snowy peaks, there stood a manor.

Wine and Chess Manor.

The wine was Fiery Fire Wine.

The chess was murderous chess.

Drinking wine, spewing fire, tempering chess pieces, forging weapons.

The people in the manor diligently practiced martial arts, all for one purpose.

The annual Wine and Chess Tournament.

Local heroes eagerly flocked, also to take part in the excitement.

One carriage after another glided across the snowy path, leaving behind chaotic and colorful marks.

"Heng Dao Sect’s disciples have arrived!"

"Green Bird Sect’s disciples have arrived!"

"Jiao Hua Sect’s disciples have arrived!"

Ye Hunhong, the Young Manor Master of Wine and Chess Manor, not skilled in martial arts, enjoyed the bustling scene.

Sitting at the entrance, he would shout in encouragement whenever someone entered the manor to participate in the Wine and Chess Tournament.

"This year has more people than last year."

"It makes sense, with the unlocking of the Wine and Chess Ancient Tomb approaching. Whoever wins the tournament will have the chance to enter the Wine and Chess Ancient Tomb."

Even as the Young Manor Master of Wine and Chess Manor, Ye Hunhong never had the qualifications to step into the Wine and Chess Ancient Tomb.

An ancestral rule that cannot be overstepped.

Suddenly, a speeding carriage approached from afar, heading in this direction.

However, there were no flags indicating identity on the carriage.

"An independent martial artist?"

Ye Hunhong curiously stretched his neck, and just at that moment, the carriage came to a sudden halt, kicking up a large cloud of snow dust that splashed onto him.

"Cough, cough, cough! What kind of skills does this coachman have... Hiss—"

Ye Hunhong suddenly gasped in cold air.

Such a beautiful and glamorous woman!

From the carriage, a stunning woman alighted, handing the coachman ten silver taels stained with blood.

The coachman nodded and bowed as he took the silver, then turned the carriage around and drove down the mountain.

Normally, people from sects would leave their coachmen to wait.

After all, it’s inconvenient to move up and down the snow peaks without a carriage.

On any other day, Ye Hunhong would have noticed this subtle incongruity.

But at this moment, he was dazzled by the woman.

"Miss, are you also here to participate in the Wine and Chess Tournament?"

Ye Hunhong greeted her enthusiastically.

Qi Xiaojin just gave him a cold glance and walked towards the manor.

Snubbed, Ye Hunhong gave an awkward laugh and stopped at the entrance.

It wasn’t until Qi Xiaojin entered the manor and was out of sight that Ye Hunhong turned away.

He sat down on the small rocking chair at the entrance, distracted.

"Graceful and virtuous ladies are the ones that gentlemen pursue."

"That lady seems to have a cool disposition, perhaps she would like ornaments made from ice flowers?"

"Our Wine and Chess Manor has a hot spring near the Great Snow Peak, maybe if I tell her about that place, she might think more highly of me?"

"The tournament lasts three days, there’s no need to rush. What does the book say, ’progress slowly and steadily’."

It seemed like the shouting from inside the manor became much more intense.

The Wine and Chess Manor is large; sounds from the martial arts arena could reach the entrance.

It seems like today someone impressive has shown up?

Ye Hunhong, having little interest in martial arts, naturally wasn’t interested in the competition, but he enjoyed the lively atmosphere.

At the end of the sparring phase of previous tournaments, that was when he was most active.

"There’s still some time before sunset, when the first day’s competition ends, I’ll go look for that lady..."

Ye Hunhong stood up, starting to think about what to say when he meets the lady later.

"Miss, I’m captivated by your beauty... tch, tch, tch!"

"Miss, your fingers have calluses, are you skilled in swordsmanship?"

"That’s not bad! Could work..."

Just as Ye Hunhong thought of this, another loud shout came from inside.

"Kill!!!"

Ye Hunhong was accustomed to this.

Every year at the tournament, there were always a few sects that liked to challenge each other, each shouting louder than the last.

Ye Hunhong didn’t worry; someone inside would handle it.

Sure enough, the shouting stopped after a while.

Ye Hunhong dangled his legs at the entrance, continuing to ponder how to win the girl’s favor.

Then he noticed another carriage approaching the manor.

He recognized the flag.

"Nine Fire Gang’s disciples have arrived!"

Ye Hunhong gave a symbolic shout.

Five or six members of the Nine Fire Gang alighted from the carriage.

Among those leading the team was Ye Hunhong, whom Xiao Jin recognized.

"Zhuo Qi, you’ve come again this year."

"Hey! Last year, you defeated us at the Wine and Chess Manor by half a move; this year, I must take back our honor."

After the pleasantries, Zhuo Qi led the team into the manor.

Ye Hunhong initially didn’t mind.

But...

After a while, suddenly, a heart-wrenching scream came from inside.

Ye Hunhong was stunned, and quickly got up.

Looking inside the manor, he saw only three members of the Nine Fire Gang left, covered in wounds, frantically running towards him, their faces filled with fright and horror.

"Run... Run!! There’s a demonic woman! Brother Zhuo... he’s already..."

Buzz!!

Three streaks of blue light flashed by in an instant.

The three people running this way suddenly exploded in bloody blossoms from their backs and fell to the ground upon the noise.

Blood slowly oozed out, staining the ground red.

Clang.

Ye Hunhong fell to the ground, looking forward.

He saw the woman he had just met, coldly withdrawing her right hand and turning back towards the manor.

Though walking, she moved faster than running, visibly skilled in Qinggong.

"Wait, wait!"

From somewhere, Ye Hunhong found the courage to follow her.

Entering the manor, Ye Hunhong was immediately terrified with wide eyes.

The manor was filled with dead bodies!

The bodies spread all the way to the martial arts tournament venue, where the count reached its peak.

Dozens of sects, countless skilled individuals, all dead by the edge of the platform.

The disciples of the Wine and Chess Manor were also dead, not a single survivor.

The ground was filled with scorch marks, telling of the fierce battle that had occurred.

But, there was only one victor—the mysterious woman unblemished by blood!

"Hong Er..."

Suddenly, a weak voice, from right in front of him, called out.

Ye Hunhong fixed his eyes and saw his father, the master of the Wine and Chess Manor, grievously injured, kneeling and embracing a corpse.

His mother’s corpse.

Boom!

Ye Hunhong’s mind went blank, as if falling into a nightmare.

Then, the demon spoke.

"Ye Hunhong?"

Ye Hunhong stared dumbly at the woman.

He saw the woman standing behind his father, grasping his father’s head with her hand.

Without saying anything, she made a move.

Bang!!

In the next instant, his father’s head exploded from her grasp.

Red blood and white brain matter splattered high, yet not a drop touched the woman’s clothes.

"Ah..."

"Ah ah ah ah..."

"Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah!"

His head splitting with pain, he knelt and hugged his head, sobbing.

He felt the world spinning.

He felt a force about to burst from his body.

He recalled a childhood memory.

"Hong Er, this is the Red Candle Heart, a key preserved by our Wine and Chess Manor for generations, it can unlock the true ."

"The Red Candle Heart, nurtured by a human soul, can be preserved."

"This is our honor, and a reward from Lord Ling."

The Red Candle Heart, yes, it was the power of the Red Candle Heart!

As if hearing Ye Hunhong’s call, that power began to surge wildly, filling his entire body.

"Power, the power is surging..."

Bang!

Ye Hunhong’s head suddenly exploded by itself.

What was revealed thereafter was a bright red key. Poised on the headless corpse like a head, it emitted a mechanical voice.

"Charge at 100%, Spirit Slave number: 7531, at your service. Please enter the access password."

Qi Xiaojin, as if anticipating this, calmly said.

"Spirit Master rise and return."

What belonged to others could be taken.

"Password correct, the true Wine and Chess Ancient Tomb will now be opened."

Amidst thunderous rumbling, the entire manor shook, and after a while, it returned to calm.