"For example, if you place a piece at the center, you've already lost the initiative, so you must stand firm and advance slowly. Only when entering an offensive position can you attack carefreely."

Zhu Pingniang placed a piece and continued, "Young Master Xu lacks flexibility in chess, but his strength lies in his steady and solid playing style. However, you also have an advantage, which is that you already have the advantage of the first move... No, it should be said, the advantage of winning."

Life is like a game of chess.

Xu Chang'an and Yun Qian play against each other, does he hold the first move advantage?

He clearly has already won.

As long as he wishes, even if he were to take all of Miss Yun's pieces, Yun Qian would follow suit.

Therefore, the game between Xu Chang'an and Yun Qian cannot be replicated.

"Compared to you, I've suffered much more." Zhu Pingniang pitifully rubbed her fingers, "In chess, one seeks to gain the initiative, sometimes even giving up some temporary advantages to see the bigger picture... Yet, despite having had the first move, I placed my piece at the center, losing the best opportunity to enter..."

"Chang'an is foolish and cannot understand." Xu Chang'an coughed lightly.

"..." Zhu Pingniang paused, helpless, "After all, you are a man, not a woman."

She stopped pretending to be demure, realizing that if she didn't speak plainly, he would remain clueless.

Zhu Pingniang shook her head and said, "In fact, that Miss Yun is very much like me... No, as a loser, I should say I am like Miss Yun."

"?"

Xu Chang'an was stunned, then suddenly realized she was speaking the truth.

According to Li Zhibai's painting, the past Zhu Tongjun was cold and indifferent, like a fairy above a frosty heaven—a true high mountain flower...

And yet, this high mountain flower's eyes have always and only held Li Zhibai alone.

Isn't this very similar to Yun Qian?

Almost exactly the same.

"But I am not like Miss Yun; she seized the opportunity. It seems she lost the game to you... But in reality, she won." Zhu Pingniang looked at Xu Chang'an enviously.

The same temperament, yet Yun Qian seized the opportunity and married the one she loved.

Zhu Tongjun perfectly missed the best opportunity to confess her feelings, realizing only now what she had missed.

Zhu Pingniang was saying that in her youth, she clearly had the best first move, and had she been more serious and diligent earlier, she might really have turned Li Zhibai's heart.

Xu Chang'an somewhat understood but said nothing.

So Zhu Pingniang asked Xu Chang'an, "Young Master, if I gained the first move but lost it, and still wanted to win the game, what should I do?"

Xu Chang'an frowned, "In chess, if you lose the first move... you must play solidly and steadily."

"That's right, thoroughly doing your own things is the best way to defeat your opponent; excessively focusing on your opponent's weaknesses can overlook your own flaws, becoming seeds of failure."

Zhu Pingniang curved her lips, suddenly scattering the chess pieces on the table, earnestly saying, "But this isn't chess; what I want is Ah Bai."

Xu Chang'an: "..."

His fingers stilled beneath the table.

Zhu Pingniang had laid her cards on the table.

"So, I not only have to do my own things well but also... excessively focus on her matters; otherwise, how can I win the game?" Zhu Pingniang squinted slightly, "As I am already a winner in life, don't you agree, Young Master Xu?"

"Ms. Zhu speaks the truth." Xu Chang'an nodded with difficulty.

"Therefore, I need a spy." Zhu Pingniang repeated what she had said before, openly stating, "In the past, there was no one around Ah Bai; now, she has acknowledged you. Be my spy and tell me about the women, men, and recent events she encounters."

"..."

"Not asking you to do it for nothing." Zhu Pingniang thought for a moment, "If you don't drink the wine, you won't get this sword... But, if you become my spy, I'll comply with anything... anything at all."

"..."

Xu Chang'an listened to Zhu Pingniang's words, completely at a loss for what to say.

She actually wants him to be her eyes on Muyu Peak, reporting all of Li Zhibai's actions?

Indeed.

She is capable of such things.

In fact, she has already done it.

Xu Chang'an remembered Zhu Pingniang speaking to herself before, having a woman named "Ah Fu" keep an eye on Li Zhibai. However, as she began to suspect "Ah Fu" of having ulterior motives, she no longer trusted her.

If she doesn't trust a spy, naturally, she must find a better one.

He, who can approach Li Zhibai and fully gain her trust, is obviously the best candidate.

"I am not joking." Zhu Pingniang seriously said, taking a golden waist token from her waist along with a black longsword and placed them in front of Xu Chang'an, "As long as you nod, these are yours."

The token of the upper management of Muyu Peak, its authority... Xu Chang'an wasn't very aware, only knowing it far exceeded any he had seen in the Steward Hall.

Tempting as it was, Xu Chang'an smiled bitterly, helpless.

"Ms. Zhu, don't make things difficult for me."

"Hmph." Zhu Pingniang spat, reverting to her usual tone, playfully scolding, "What do you mean, 'difficult'? And to think, you're a student of Ah Bai, have you forgotten 'Knowing White and Guarding Black'?"

Xu Chang'an thought to himself that it was four characters.

Yet heard Zhu Pingniang say, "But I only see Zhibai, just two characters."

Xu Chang'an: "..."

Tsk.

So Senior Zhu is also adept at speaking sweet words, but the problem is... what use is it to tell me, not her?

Zhu Pingniang ignored Xu Chang'an's strange expression, speaking calmly, "The so-called 'Knowing White,' means that although one resides in darkness, one's heart holds light, knowing that light will certainly come, teaching one not to despair in hopelessness, waiting for the clouds to part and see the moon. In the Daoist temple where Ah Bai resided, I've seen her meditating, eyes initially a dark void, but gradually able to unleash a bright light."

Zhu Pingniang pointed at Xu Chang'an's eyes, saying, "Your teacher can do it; what harm is there in going in secret and helping me as a spy? If I can get a little closer to her, she will thank you in the future."

Zhu Pingniang never wanted to become intimate with Li Zhibai, for that would downgrade their relationship.

So she only wanted to take the relationship further emotionally... like getting close and personal.

"Ms. Zhu, there is no one who understands like you..." Xu Chang'an felt frustrated by Zhu Pingniang's methods of persuasion.

"Why not?" Zhu Pingniang pouted, "The so-called 'Knowing White and Guarding Black,' a brothel is also one way, chess's Knowing White is another. I've practiced for Ah Bai, what do you know."

Xu Chang'an firmly shook his head.

Joking aside.

No matter how he thought about it, he couldn't possibly spy on Li Zhibai and become Zhu Pingniang's spy.

Even though it was excessive, truth be told, the position Li Zhibai held in his heart was more important.

Let alone a sword and a waist token, even if Zhu Pingniang threatened him with cultivation techniques, he would never comply.

"Hmm, not bad."

Seeing Xu Chang'an, who used to be cautious around her, refuse without hesitation, Zhu Pingniang smiled even brighter, "Chang'an, the more you listen to Ah Bai and consider her, the more I like you."

He valued Li Zhibai more than directly valuing her, making her happier.

"Xiaochang'an, do you know... what Flower Moon Building means?" Zhu Pingniang changed the topic slightly.

Xu Chang'an was watched by Zhu Pingniang, finally closing his eyes after a while, "Listen to the music and revel at night, if not beneath the moon then in front of flowers."

"That's right." Zhu Pingniang nodded, pleased.

In front of flowers, under the moon, in the brothel.

"Correct, yet also incorrect." Zhu Pingniang spoke seriously, resetting the chessboard, creating an opening by herself.

Xu Chang'an glanced over, his eyes flickering.

On Muyu Peak, there is a simpler version of black and white chess, a simplified version for the women who don't wish to play for too long.

Like connecting five pieces in a line.

In such a game, there is an opening that guarantees a win, yet it is forbidden.

At this moment, Zhu Pingniang was setting up the "Flower Moon Formation."

First move guarantees victory.

Zhu Pingniang's tone was calm: "Since I descended the mountain to refine the heart, I renamed this place Flower Moon, that's how I thought."

"The so-called flower moon, is the flower-viewing and moon-gazing moments I've missed, the chess term Flower Moon Formation... This time, I must win."

"I must win." She said firmly.

"Chang'an, I need you."

A spy is essential.

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