Cao Shi returned to Wende Xiaozhu with the child. Wang Ren rushed over, holding a letter and questioning Cao Shi, "Did Senior Brother write this letter?"
Hearing his senior sister ask this, Cao Shi squatted on the ground and started crying again. Wang Ren was completely flustered, "What's wrong?"
"Xiao Juan is dead."
"Dead? Who did it? Senior Brother? How could he, why?"
Wang Ren still couldn't believe that their senior brother would kill someone for money, and it was Gao Xiaojuan.
"Xiao Shi, come into the study to talk."
Teacher Wende called from the study. Cao Shi stood up and said to Gao Ziming, "Go play with that brother for a while. Uncle will take you home when he's done."
"When is Mom coming? Isn't she awake yet?"
"Yes, she's tired and needs to sleep a little longer."
After speaking, Cao Shi turned his head, wiped away his tears, and walked into the room with heavy steps.
In the study, Teacher Wende sat solemnly in his chair and asked, "Tell me, what's going on with this game?"
Cao Shi spoke earnestly, word for word. He wanted to tell his master that they had all been used by a man named Gao Ji. After he finished, Wang Ren's brow furrowed deeply. Cao Shi knew that his senior sister's heart must be broken. He understood that in this family, Wang Ren had been tirelessly maintaining the harmonious relationship among the senior and junior siblings. But that relationship had been torn apart like paper.
Senior Brother had dragged Cao Shi and Li Jiu into danger, and then was forced to flee by Senior Brother Zhang Si.
Teacher Wende sighed, "Wang Ren, promise me one thing. After I'm gone, you are not allowed to get too close to Zhang Si."
"Why are you getting involved? Gone? Where to?"
Cao Shi saw this and understood that his guess was correct. Senior Brother Zhang Si was by no means a good person, and Zhu Guang must have known this too, otherwise he wouldn't have chosen to flee. He just didn't know if Zhu Guang could escape Senior Brother.
"Girl, be good."
"Yes, Master."
Wende smiled, "Xiao Shi, in this game, you have outsmarted all your senior brothers. Therefore, I will pass on the title of Schemer to you. From today onwards, you are the fifty-fifth generation successor of the Schemer."
Wang Ren was stunned, looking at Cao Shi. Cao Shi smiled wryly, understanding his master's intentions for the first time. His master had seen through this game long ago, probably from the time the old man set the game, he had foreseen this future.
Gao Xiaojuan did not come for training her temperament. Her master had never taught her anything after she arrived. From the very beginning, his master had known Gao Ji's character. A person like Gao Ji would dedicate his entire life to his family's business, and no emotion would ever sway him.
And his master, Wende, was also a person detached from emotions. For the sake of the Schemer, he did not hesitate to let his disciples kill each other.
Thinking of this, a disdainful smile curved Cao Shi's lips, "I refuse."
"What did you say? Xiao Shi, think carefully. Master is passing on the Schemer to you, and you refuse?"
"I don't care. What nonsense is the Schemer? It's just a name you thought up when you were bored. From today onwards, I will leave Beijing and live the life I want."
Wang Ren was shocked by Cao Shi's demeanor. He looked at Teacher Wende, who smiled and said, "So be it. Whether you accept it or not, what is yours is yours. As for where you want to go and what you want to do in the future, it has nothing to do with this old man. I..."
Teacher Wende did not finish his sentence and smiled.
...
Not long after Cao Shi returned, Zhang Si also returned. He entered the room and knelt before Teacher Wende, kowtowing, "Seeing what the second brother did, I felt indignant and chased after him. Because of the urgency of the situation, I did not inform Master of my intentions. I beg Master for forgiveness."
Teacher Wende nodded, "It's alright. You may go rest."
"I'm not tired, I'll prepare lunch for Master."
"Good!"
As Senior Brother Zhang Si was about to leave, Wang Ren quickly stopped him, "Where is Senior Brother? Why didn't you catch him?"
"Didn't catch him. Zhu Guang is too cunning," Senior Brother said with embarrassment.
Wang Ren was about to ask for details when Teacher Wende interrupted, "Zhu Guang will not return here again. Don't mention it again."
"Master..."
Teacher Wende waved his hand, "I'm tired and want to sleep. When the ninth returns, tell him to come to the study."
...
By evening, Li Jiu returned in a daze. Wang Ren met him, "Ninth, are you alright?"
Li Jiu didn't speak. He silently walked into the south room and poured himself a cup of water. Wang Ren followed him in and said heavily, "Ninth, I know what happened. My condolences. By the way, Master wants you to go to his study."
Hearing Wang Ren say this, Li Jiu suddenly clutched the cup with one hand, his eyes filled with killing intent. He threw the cup onto the table and turned to leave.
...
After Li Jiu entered the room, Cao Shi tiptoed to the study window.
"Xiao Shi, what are you doing?" Wang Ren whispered, afraid of being heard by their master inside.
"Senior Sister, come listen too."
Li Jiu had been severely provoked today. After entering the room, he started shouting at Teacher Wende. Li Jiu believed that if Teacher Wende hadn't used the excuse of "closing the game," Gao Xiaojuan wouldn't have died, and none of this would have happened.
Teacher Wende showed no anger, listened quietly to Li Jiu's outburst, and asked weakly, "Ninth, what do you want to do?"
"I want to leave the sect. I don't want to stay in this house for another day."
"Then you are no longer my disciple, Wende's disciple."
"I don't care."
Teacher Wende chuckled, exhaled, and said to Li Jiu, "Ninth, come to my side."
Li Jiu walked closer. Wende smiled and said, "Extend your hand."
This made Li Jiu a little puzzled, but he still extended his hand. He resented Teacher Wende for not helping, but after all, Teacher Wende had supported his and Cao Shi's living expenses for years, and had taught him well this past year. Li Jiu's mind was made up, but he did not intend to antagonize Teacher Wende.
Teacher Wende weakly wrote the character "封" (feng, seal) on Li Jiu's hand.
Li Jiu smiled wryly, "Don't worry, after I leave, I won't claim to be a Schemer."
"There's no need for that. This is not closing the game. It's a path left for you. If one day you change your mind and truly want to pass on what I've taught you to someone else, you will write the word 'feng' in that child's hand, and I will allow you to teach in my stead."
Li Jiu didn't understand and looked at Teacher Wende in confusion. Teacher Wende waved his hand, "Go, hurry. Go, go, go!"
...
Li Jiu returned to the east wing room and looked at the child sleeping in bed and Cao Shi, who had already returned to the room. Li Jiu suddenly said, "Cao Shi, I lost."
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm not ruthless enough. Not vicious enough. After everything happened, I was still thinking about a heroic rescue. I know you'll tell me that this game itself is unfair, but I didn't lose because of the game's fairness, but because of this child. I said I'd figured it out, but it was all a lie. In the end, I still couldn't accept this child. When I had a valid reason not to save this child, I was smug. If I had truly accepted this child, I would have considered more, just like you, instead of accepting the enemy's arrangements. I lost because of my humanity. I've never been married, I can accept living with a woman who has a child, but I can't accept a woman with a child. I've always been arrogant, thinking I was superior. In the end, I'm just an ordinary person, unable to escape the shackles of the mundane world. I told Master that I will leave. I have no face to stay in this house anymore."
Cao Shi opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word. He understood that leaving this house was Li Jiu's last shred of pride. Even Cao Shi somewhat understood the meaning of Teacher Wende writing that character "feng." It was not to seal Li Jiu's abilities, but to seal Li Jiu's last shred of affection for the sect in Li Jiu's palm. Cao Shi believed that one day, Li Jiu would break this seal, bring his disciples, and return to Teacher Wende's tutelage to carry on the legacy of the Schemer.
...
Thus, Cao Shi remained silent and went to the bedside, watching Li Jiu pack his belongings. He did not utter a word of dissuasion. Just then, Senior Sister Wang Ren burst through the door, her eyes filled with tears, "Master... he's gone."
Cao Shi and Li Jiu quickly followed Wang Ren into the study. Wende sat in his grand tutor's chair, his eyes closed, his posture still, as if he were asleep.
Senior Brother Zhang Si knelt respectfully on the ground. Seeing the three of them enter, he said softly, "Master has been unable to eat for several days and has been sustained by medication."
"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Li Jiu shouted angrily.
"Master didn't want me to say. He said he was spent and it was time for him to leave."
Li Jiu wanted to say more, but Wang Ren stopped him. Wang Ren said to Cao Shi, "Xiao Shi, you are the successor of the Schemer. Take Master back to his bed to rest. We will immediately arrange for his funeral."
Cao Shi wiped away his tears with his sleeve, kowtowed three times to Teacher Wende, then picked up Teacher Wende and entered the bedroom.
Zhang Si followed and said, "Master asked me to make a long-distance call a week ago. Gao Ji was invited by him."
Hearing Zhang Si say this, Cao Shi suddenly stopped, his eyes filled with an unprecedented killing intent. He looked at Zhang Si, "Zhang Si, don't think I don't know what kind of person you are. From now on, if you live a peaceful life in seclusion, I will allow you to live out your days in peace, out of respect for your many years of service to Master. If I find out you have any other intentions, I swear as the fifty-fifth generation successor of the Schemer that I will ensure you die without a burial place."
Zhang Si shivered at Cao Shi's gaze and silently retreated. Wang Ren had wanted to reprimand Cao Shi, but seeing Cao Shi's demeanor and remembering his master's instructions, he took a deep breath and chose to remain silent.
Li Jiu looked at Cao Shi's expression and curled his lips. This day had been a huge blow to him. He didn't shed a single tear, but instead, a sinister smile appeared on his face, "All things in the world belong to no one, and all things in the world are for my use. Cao Shi, I admit your strength. One day I will surpass you and become the most formidable Schemer."