Chapter 1 The Old Chess Immortal

  Just thinking that Xiao Luqi might be saved, I, a thorough atheist, actually believed in these superstitions. However, being completely ignorant of such things, where can I go to ask about them?

  Shanghai has many temples, among which Jing'an Temple, Longhua Temple, and Jade Buddha Temple are quite famous. I heard that some large temples recruit monks with a master's degree, offering a monthly salary of 15,000 yuan, excluding the benefits from doing Buddhist rituals. Moreover, after work hours, the temple does not interfere with one's private life (meaning they can get married and have children). What's even more enviable is that the abbot of a large temple enjoys treatment at the deputy ministerial level. However, it's really hard to say how much substance there is in the belly of monks who collect money and have children.

  Of course, a truly enlightened monk is very powerful. Let me tell you a story here. (Maybe many people know it, but there are always some who don't, so let's briefly talk about it.) In the mid-1990s, Shanghai began to build elevated roads and bridges. At that time, there were two main elevated roads, one horizontal and one vertical. The horizontal one was Yan'an Road Elevated Road, and the vertical one was North-South Elevated Road. Many people know that at the intersection of these two elevated roads, there is a very eye-catching silver dragon pillar with golden patterns.

  Why build this dragon pillar? It turned out that when building the elevated road, piling was necessary, but when they tried to pile drive at the location of this dragon pillar, something strange happened: Shanghai is a alluvial plain, and there are basically no hard rocks underground. However, at this location, despite using diamond drill bits and various methods, they were unable to penetrate the ground. Helpless, they invited a high-ranking monk from Longhua Temple to come out of the mountain. At first, the monk did not want to say much, but after the leaders repeatedly explained the convenience that the elevated road would bring to people, he said that there was a dragon vein underneath, and only by performing a ritual at an auspicious time could they drive the pile in. Moreover, afterwards, they had to use a golden dragon pillar to suppress it, otherwise the dragon's body would move and the elevated road would collapse immediately. He also told the person in charge of construction that because he had revealed heavenly secrets, his lifespan would not be long. He said these words for the happiness of all living beings. Later, as he had said, they chose an auspicious time, performed the ritual, and when they went to drive the pile again, they found that the ground, which was originally impenetrable even with diamond drill bits, was now as soft as tofu. However, this monk, because he had revealed heavenly secrets, passed away soon after. Everyone trusted him very much, and according to his words, built such a dragon pillar, which still stands tall today.

  This thing, the vast majority of people who have lived in Shanghai for more than 5 years may all know. Of course, the official has also refuted this rumor. However, those with discerning eyes are clear: why does Shanghai have so many overpasses and supporting pillars that intersect and crisscross everywhere, which are all made of concrete, except for this one place that uses dragon pillars?

  However, the high monk has passed away. Now even roadside monks can't explain or recite the "Heart Sutra", a basic Buddhist scripture. How could I possibly believe?

  Suddenly, I remembered something.

  A few days ago, a classmate told me that recently, many people online have been talking about how in the evening at 8 o'clock, an elderly couple often appears under the elevated ring road near Wujiaochang in Yangpu District, Shanghai. Regardless of wind or rain, thunder and lightning, they will appear there on time. Even when it's raining, they wear raincoats to play chess. Many drivers passing by have a strange illusion: these two old people seem to have magical powers, like teleportation or duplication. When you're at the head of the bridge, they're right in front of you; after driving over 1 kilometer and crossing the bridge, they're still right in front of you. Some people even saw them once, then drove N kilometers forward, only to see them again in another place. How can these two old men move so fast? Not to mention carrying a table with them?

  My intuition tells me that these two old men are extraordinary people and it's likely not difficult to find them.

  Tonight, I will go and find out.

  As I watch the little black cat devouring the canned tuna with gusto, I couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort and satisfaction. Although I'm indeed a poor loser, it's even more pitiful than me. If I hadn't rescued it, it would probably have died soon in that dark morgue. I like this feeling - having a living being dependent on you makes me feel my existence is valuable.

  Xiao Luqi is the same. I not only want to protect her, but also revive her. Just like with Xiao Hei - since I brought them back, I must take responsibility for them until the end.

  This afternoon, something else happened that made me want to smash my head - the neighbor said that there was a quarrel in my room this morning, and the floor was creaking loudly. The aunt from the residential committee came to visit, and as soon as she entered the door, she said in Shanghainese: "I heard someone say that your house was very loud this morning, what are you doing?"

  After staying in Shanghai for 10 years, I can understand some Shanghainese. Hearing her say that, I could only blame those strange noises on the little black cat and tell Auntie that this little cat had just arrived at my home, hiding here and there, making me move tables and beds, and of course, when it got angry, it would naturally not be spared from being scolded. Of course, I also wasted a lot of words explaining about the refrigerator, saying that a friend's small business was in trouble, so they temporarily put this fridge at my place.

  Auntie took a look at the fridge, didn't open it or ask more questions. She just reminded me to be careful, as many people have been expressing opinions about me lately, and some even asked about my situation specifically.

  My heart tightened and I hastily asked who it was.

  Auntie said she didn't know him, he was a man in his 30s.

  Wang Yongshun?

  The phone rang at this time. I took a look and it was Li Haibo.

  Aunt saw me having a phone call, said in Shanghainese: "Nothing's up, I'm leaving." I hastily nodded and sent Aunt off, then picked up the phone.

  "How's it going? Not dead yet?" This was always how I started conversations with Li Haibo over the phone.

  "Life is tough, can't die that easily. Hehe, what are you doing tonight? How about I treat you to dinner?"

  "Never mind, I'm too lazy to go." I had to find those two mysterious old men tonight, so I excused myself immediately.

  "Give me a chance to thank you, and I have something good to show you!"

  "Don't thank me, it's just a signature. From your tone, I can tell you're recovering well. Yeah, I have something on tonight, some other time then."

  I chattered a few more sentences before hanging up the phone. I packed up and prepared to go find those two mysterious old men.

  Sitting on the subway, I suddenly feel a bit ridiculous. Such things have only been seen in novels, an old couple playing Go? Could it be Nan Dou and Bei Dou? Am I going to reenact a story of Zhao Yan's South Mountain Deer Seeking Longevity?

  Everyone should know this story. When Zhao Yan was 19 years old, he met with Gan Bao and was told that he would die within three days. After begging, according to Gan Bao's instructions, he went to the Zhongnan Mountain to find an elderly couple playing Go, and took advantage of their fascination with the game to offer them deer jerky and fine wine. The two old men were so absorbed in the game that they mechanically accepted the food and drink, and after finishing, they heard Zhao Yan's plea for a longer life. They then added a stroke to the character "19" in the Book of Life and Death, changing it to "99". As a result, Zhao Yan indeed lived to be 99 years old.

  I've always thought that even if this story is true, it's just Guan Yu trying to increase his reputation, deliberately scaring Zhao Yun and then arranging for the two old men to pretend to be mysterious. As for how many years the 19-year-old young man lived, it doesn't matter much anyway. In any case, Guan Yu's reputation has already been established.

  I didn't expect that I would end up doing the same thing today, and it's not even certain if I'll run into those two people. It's a completely unpredictable situation, and I'm really at my wit's end.

  I got off at Wujiaochang Subway Station, first found a place to eat a bowl of rice covered with dishes, then walked under the overpass and paced back and forth.

  As I walked, I found a small stone table with two stone chairs. It looked like it was used for playing chess. As I approached, what shocked me was that on the edge of the stone table's chairs, there were actually a pair of footprints!

  This footprint is printed on the cement ground.

  Is this what they call wearing out iron shoes? How deep must one's inner strength be, and how long must one persist tirelessly, to slowly grind out two footprints in this place?

  I know there must be a hidden mechanism here, I don't dare sit down, afraid of occupying the position of the gods. Can only stand aside and wait quietly.

  In my heart, I have already stereotyped these two old men as godly figures like the Southern Dipper and the Northern Dipper.

  The clock pointed to 7:45 and my heart hung in my throat. Would they come or not?

  I'm a thorough atheist, and in the past, I've hardly ever paid attention to these strange supernatural events except when reading some classic ancient texts. The high-ranking monks or Taoist priests in temples are busy telling fortunes, opening lights, and looking at feng shui for high-level officials, which is not something that someone like me can afford. Even if I could meet them, the prices they charge would be astronomical, and I couldn't possibly pay it.

  These two old men may be the only passage for me to walk into a magical new world.

  You said that if you put yourself in my shoes, as someone who is basically alone and without any connections or relatives in Shanghai, where would I go to find a truly understanding and extraordinary person?

  Some people say that everything in life is about fate, so let's just see if my fate has reached that point.

  7:55. A slender and upright figure appeared in the distance.

  Here it comes! But... why is there only one?

  The person who came was not two old men, but a young man.

  As he approached, I realized that this was actually a Taoist priest. He wore an old dark green robe with wide lapels and sleeves, walking with the wind. Below were white cloth wrapped around his legs. His hair should be very long, tied up in a bun on his head, with a hairpin inserted. Seeing me waiting here, seeing me, he bowed his hands and asked: "Sir is here, isn't it waiting for the two old men?"

  When I heard this, my jaw almost dropped to the ground. What the...? Has a god appeared or something?