Published at 10th of January 2026 10:17 am

Chapter 2000: Liu Yisheng’s Ending (Jingkong Extra)

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Gu Jiao held up the teacup: "During the Hei Fengqi selection, he helped me, saying it was to repay a favor."

Liu Yisheng withdrew his hand, paused, and said, "I wasn’t aware of that."

Gu Jiao looked at him: "How have you been these years?"

Liu Yisheng smiled faintly: "As you can see, not good nor bad. And you? Are you doing well?"

Gu Jiao honestly said: "Very well, I like it a lot."

Enjoying the current life, cherishing everything experienced.

Liu Yisheng smiled with both relief and bitterness: "Is he good to you?"

Gu Jiao was slightly surprised: "My husband? He is very good to me."

Liu Yisheng lowered his eyes and took a sip of tea: "That’s good."

"Do you bear a grudge?" Gu Jiao asked directly.

Liu Yisheng tightened his grip on the teacup, staring at the tea leaves floating in the cup, and after a long silence, he spoke in a low voice: "Yes, the royal family of Zhan Country slaughtered my entire Liu family, how could I not hate?"

"I live like a dog, subject to humiliation, anyone can step on me twice."

"Whenever someone is displeased, they can vent their anger on me and those around me."

"No, I don’t really have any companions, just a wet nurse and a mute slave bought halfway."

The scene of him being framed, Gu Jiao had heard and seen it before, yet hearing him mention it again made the past seem shockingly vivid.

The world’s perception of Liu Yisheng’s misery might just be the tip of the iceberg; he grew up amidst endless bullying, with seeds of hatred long planted in his heart.

He gave a self-mocking smile: "You shouldn’t have helped me back then, I should have died miserably on the Avenue, and perhaps it wouldn’t have almost ruined the nation."

"Zhan Country will not fall," Gu Jiao said.

Liu Yisheng raised his eyes into Gu Jiao’s: "You want to fight me?"

Gu Jiao unabashedly admitted his aim: "Yes."

Liu Yisheng sneered: "If we are to kill each other, why bother knowing each other?"

Gu Jiao stated: "Saving you is my duty, killing you is my mission."

"You are a good doctor, and also a good general." Liu Yisheng put down the now cold tea and stood up faintly, "How about we make a bet. If you win, I’ll withdraw my troops right away and never invade Zhan Country again. If you lose... agree to one condition of mine."

Gu Jiao responded without hesitation: "Alright."

Liu Yisheng frowned: "Aren’t you going to ask what the condition is?"

"No need to ask." Gu Jiao said.

Liu Yisheng clenched his fingers: "Gu girl, do you know that people can be wicked? Your attitude makes me want to win by any means necessary. You should bargain with me, make me understand that even if I win, I won’t get what I want, perhaps I wouldn’t have such a strong desire to win!"

"What are we betting on?"

Gu Jiao replied to him with this calm phrase.

"You..." Liu Yisheng choked, turned his face to calm his emotions, and when he looked back, his face was composed, "I heard you are the disciple of Meng Lao, play a game of chess with me, one round to determine the outcome, if it’s a draw, it counts as your win."

"Fine." Gu Jiao agreed swiftly.

Liu Yisheng looked at Xuanyuan Xi browsing books at the bookshelf, kindly said: "Jingkong, on the second shelf there is a box of Go pieces, could you hand it to me?"

"Oh, okay." Xuanyuan Xi found the Go pieces and handed them to him.

He set up the Go board, grabbed a handful of white pieces from the box, clenched his fist and said to Gu Jiao: "Guess first."

Gu Jiao picked up a black piece: "Odd."

Liu Yisheng opened his palm, three pieces, indeed odd, the guesser plays black.

And black makes the first move.

Gu Jiao placed the first piece in the top right corner star point.

This position lacks control over the corner but extends outward, suiting Gu Jiao’s swift and decisive nature.

Xiaoshi was curled up on Gu Jiao’s lap, comfortably squinting.

Gu Jiao played chess while petting the cat, it felt quite leisurely despite being a life-and-death game.

Liu Yisheng raised his hand and placed his piece, his gaze sweeping over Xiaoshi.

Xiaoshi felt a chill on his back and snuggled closer into Gu Jiao’s arms.

...

"Sir!"

Outside the barracks, General Mo hurriedly approached, glanced at the tightly closed barracks behind Jun Xiuhuan, and whispered, "What’s going on?"

"You ask me, who should I ask?" Jun Xiuhuan retorted.

General Mo dared not provoke Liu Yisheng’s confidant, he scratched his head helplessly: "I’m worried about the master’s safety, that’s all! By the way, who are those two people? I think they’re wearing Yan Country’s armor? Are they reinforcements sent from Yan Country?"

"You need not concern yourself with those two, nor can you even if you try." With that, Jun Xiuhuan added blandly, "Even I can’t control it."

Are you jealous, sir?

"Ahem!" General Mo cleared his throat, "We are so close to capturing Zhan Country, we cannot afford mistakes! Zhan Country has been strong with troops over the years, it’s only this time we’ve caught a good opportunity, missing it would make attacking Zhan Country difficult again!"

With the right timing, place, and people, Xuanping Marquis is not in court, Tang Yueshan stayed in Capital City, and the Crown Prince has put the Gu Family army in a difficult position, such a rare chance won’t come again.

Jun Xiuhuan said coldly: "Do you think the master couldn’t think of that?"

General Mo’s eyes lit up: "So we will continue to fight?"

Inside the barracks, Gu Jiao laid down the last piece: "I lost."

Liu Yisheng said: "Lost by only half a point."

Gu Jiao replied: "A loss is a loss."

Liu Yisheng stated: "I told you, I would definitely defeat you."

Actually, the win was hard-earned, her chess skills were so exceptional that he almost exhausted himself just to gain half a point.

"A bet is a bet, make your request."

Xuanyuan Xi perked up his ears.

What condition will Liu Yisheng propose to Jiaojiao?

His gaze towards Jiaojiao is different, would he ask Jiaojiao to leave the bad brother-in-law and be with him? Or perhaps, ask Jiaojiao to stand by idly, not participate in the conflict with Zhan Country?

Or even ask Jiaojiao to deploy troops and help him conquer the world?

To everyone’s surprise, Liu Yisheng merely rose, went to the chest, and silently took out an ancient zither to place it on the table: "Could you play a song for me?"

Gu Jiao looked at him oddly: "Is this your request?"

Liu Yisheng smiled slightly: "If possible, also accompany me for a meal, and watch an opera performance."

Gu Jiao accepted the zither.

Liu Yisheng tidied up the table.

Gu Jiao’s fingers moved, and heavenly music flowed from her fingertips, like sounds from the nine heavens, akin to the murmuring of mountain streams.

She played the "Jinghong" she had played for his farewell that day, with the latter half of "Zhao Ying" added this time.

Liu Yisheng gently blew on the flute, much like that night many years ago when she bid him farewell.

Xuanyuan Xi was engrossed in listening, until he realized he was holding an arithmetic book with familiar handwriting, with Jiaojiao’s notes on it.

Did Jiaojiao give Liu Yisheng books before?

In the evening, the three had dinner together and went to the city theater to watch an opera.

Their friendship was like gentle water; there were no warm words or intimate gestures, yet it gave one a sense of unspoken harmony quietly nurturing everything.

"I should go now." Gu Jiao said.

Liu Yisheng deeply gazed at her: "Take care on the road."

This farewell, uncertain if they’d meet again in this life.

Gu Jiao nodded, reluctantly returned Xiaoshi, whom she had held all the way, to Liu Yisheng, and then mounted her horse alongside Xuanyuan Xi.

Liu Yisheng suddenly called out to her; under the night sky, his eyes were like stars: "Gu girl, thank you for the books you gave me back then."

...

Three days later, Wei Country’s army retreated.

Troop forces of eleven cities were completely withdrawn.

Liu Yisheng took nothing away from Zhan Country, his luggage was simple, aside from an outfit, there was just the cat he was cuddling and the eleven books she had gifted him.

To meet you at the most destitute time.

And you did not coldly pass by my filthy, decaying form.

You bent your beautiful form, extending a clean hand towards me.

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