Unsheathed

Inside Pei Qian's room, Cui Dongshan was squatting on the floor and snacking on roasted seeds. Meanwhile, Pei Qian was puckering her face and on the verge of tears.

She was about to lose six copper coins.

Cui Dongshan consoled Pei Qian and said, "We still have enough charcoal, and victory is far from determined. How about we draw another Go board? You can gamble big and win big."

Pei Qian raised an arm and wiped the tears from her eyes. She then retrieved the scented pouch which Aunt Gui had given her from her sleeve. She was using this scented pouch as a money pouch now, and she reached inside and grabbed seven copper coins from it. These were copper coins that she had earned through blood, sweat, and tears.

Pei Qian gripped the copper coins tightly and appeared extremely hesitant as she stood up and lightly placed them on the table. She looked at Cui Dongshan with a pitiful expression, hoping that he could display his generosity as an immortal and leave without taking her money. Unexpectedly, however, Cui Dongshan chuckled and walked over to the table, grabbing all of the copper coins before turning around to leave.

Before walking out of Pei Qian's room, Cui Dongshan didn't forget to look back and say with a smile, "Remember to return the Go set to Lu Baixiang. Also, don't forget to wipe the Go boards from the floor. Otherwise, Chen Ping'an will definitely scold me severely if he learns that we gambled with each other. He'll also make you copy texts until your arm falls off. As for these copper coins... You should be gracious in defeat and accept this loss. Chen Ping'an certainly won't help you get them back."

Cui Dongshan wrapped his hands behind his head and swaggered out of Pei Qian's room, continuing, "Today is such a nice day. After making some money, it's time to head out to buy a stick of tanghulu!"

Pei Qian stood beside the table and cried pitifully.

Cui Dongshan suddenly walked in reverse and leaned backward, sticking his head inside Pei Qian's room and saying with a smile, "Pei Qian, I'm going to learn how to play Go from Lu Baixiang, aren't I? I want to give myself some good fortune, so why don't you call me Go Immortal? I'll give you a copper coin every time you call me Go Immortal."

Pei Qian's eyes lit up, and she immediately ran outside in a flash, giddily following behind Cui Dongshan. She started to sincerely call him Go Immortal over and over again.

After two hours, Pei Qian had not only returned the Go set to Lu Baixiang, but she had also called Cui Dongshan Go Immortal so many times that she had already lost her voice. The two of them returned to Pei Qian's room, and the little girl squeaked and groaned but was unable to say another word. Thus, she smiled widely and extended her hand to Cui Dongshan, asking for her payment. Seeing no response from him, she hurriedly ran over to the table to write down a number.