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Chapter 462: 215 Chess Encounter (First Update)_2

“You must not waste your chess skills. When the time comes for international competitions, defeat them completely and enhance our country’s prestige. Especially since you’re so beautiful, let those foreign devils see that Hua Country is full of talented and exceptional people. Blind their dog eyes, so they don’t brag about how great their little piece of land is. I’m fed up with it.”

“Remember: there is always someone better out there, and the way of chess is to be humble and calm. If you are aggressive and competitive, you’ve already lost the advantage.”

The young girl’s voice was as gentle as a spring breeze, her movements elegant and composed. The slanting sunlight fell on her body, accompanied by the light clouds and gentle wind, making her look like an otherworldly beauty.

Zhao Heng touched his head and muttered, “Compared to you, I’m just too dumb…”

Elder Theodore Shelby snorted, “At least you know your own limits.”

Ming Jing stayed at the Shen household until five in the afternoon. Before she left, Elder Theodore Shelby pulled her aside and chatted with her for a while before letting her go.

“This time, the CMO competition is the real battlefield, with all the top players from the country gathering together. It’s going to be one big challenge. I don’t expect anything special in terms of ranking; I just want to survive until the end.” Zhao Heng touched his hair, wondering if it would stay on his head due to overworking his brain recently.

Zhao Heng glanced at the young girl walking beside him, “But as for you, I have great trust in you, haha. You will definitely make it to the national team.”

Ming Jing asked, “Who is on the list for this Jiang Province CMO competition?”

Zhao Heng counted on his fingers: “You, me, Song Yinzhang, Xie Zhen, and that girl surnamed Liu.”

Everyone had a lasting impression of Liu Muxue from the training camp. She was the epitome of arrogance and domineering.

When he saw Liu Muxue’s name on the CMO list, he knew their trip to Jingzhou wouldn’t be smooth sailing.

“She doesn’t get along with you, but if she bullies you, Xiao Song and I will have your back. However, about this Liu surname, I asked my uncle, and he often runs around outside and is quite knowledgeable. The entire Liuxian Town belongs to the Liu family. This conservative family still maintains all kinds of feudal dregs and is quite stubborn. They’re quite a headache for the government since they ignore the law and only follow their family rules. Since their clan members hold significant positions in society, they’ve managed to survive unscathed until now. Liu Muxue must be from this Liu family, which explains her arrogant behavior. Tsk tsk, the Lius…”

Ming Jing raised an eyebrow, “Are you talking about the Yuehui Paper-making Liu family?”

“You know them too? Yes, that’s the one – the Liu family that makes Yuehui Paper. Yuehui Paper is as thin as cicada’s wings and glows under the moon. In ancient times, it was a rare, sought-after treasure that only royalty and aristocrats could afford to use. The Liu family made their fortune by monopolizing the production technique of Yuehui Paper. It’s said that their family members are incredibly wealthy, but they prefer to keep to themselves, and no one knows the extent of their fortune. Anyway, the Lius tightly hold onto their paper-making technique, passing it down from generation to generation. When Mr. Shen visited them to propose a collaboration for the Intangible Cultural Heritage project, do you know what happened? The Lius drove him out with a broom! Those foolish barbarians had no idea what they were rejecting. Just let them rot along with their useless paper in their coffins.”

Zhao Heng became angrier as he spoke. Mr. Shen had approached them with a friendly attitude, only to be insulted in such a way. For Mr. Shen, it was a great humiliation.

“Staying true to one’s craft with a pure heart, not being swayed by fame or fortune, is both noble and great.”

“You’re actually praising them? In my opinion, they’re a group of stubborn and foolish people.”

Ming Jing gave a faint smile, “The Buddhist saying goes that with hands clasped together, one can concentrate a hundred thousand strengths. In today’s restless and utilitarian world, what’s lacking is a craftsman’s heart. Society is like a big family; individuals are like small families. Those who sacrifice their small family for the greater good are great, and those who sacrifice the greater good for their small family are pure. Different perspectives lead to different choices and outcomes. If you were the son of the Liu family head, raised in their environment, you wouldn’t think the way you do now.”

Zhao Heng thought for a moment, “You have a point as well…”

“Have you ever heard of the Liu clan members committing murder, arson, or other crimes?”

Zhao Heng shook his head.

“That’s the point. The world won’t allow you to stand out; mediocrity is the best way to protect oneself. A centuries-old family like theirs knows this societal rule well. Their family rules are likely far stricter than any law.”

Zhao Heng wasn’t dumb and understood Ming Jing’s point. “But if they continue like this, they will eventually become incompatible with society. What will they do then?”

As they walked along, Ming Jing said, “They’re like a tightly twisted rope whose thoughts have become deeply ingrained. They need a clear-headed person to revamp and reestablish everything. But for this person to appear, the right conditions of time, place, and people need to be met, which is difficult. I think Liu Muxue would be a good candidate.”

Ming Jing gave a slight smile.

“What? Liu Muxue? She’s so domineering. It would be good enough if she didn’t bully others, but you want her to reform? Are you joking?” Zhao Heng said incredulously.

“Judging from appearances, you cannot see their true nature. People often only wish to believe what their eyes can see.” Ming Jing smiled and shook her head.

Zhao Heng wanted to ask her more, but seeing that Ming Jing didn’t want to elaborate, he didn’t dare to ask further.

Every conversation with Ming Jing was enlightening, offering a different perspective for reflection. It was very intriguing and broadened his horizons. At least after hearing Ming Jing’s words, when he thought about Liu Muxue and the Liu family, he didn’t feel as much resentment as he did initially.

Both his mindset and his field of vision had expanded considerably, and he felt like he understood a little better.

“Seeing through appearances to their essence – is this what Buddhism refers to when they say all is illusory like dreams and water bubbles, like dewdrops and lightning?” Zhao Heng asked, puzzled.

Ming Jing smiled and shook her head: “The Diamond Sutra says, ‘Subhūti, those who vow to seek and achieve supreme perfect enlightenment should maintain this understanding, perception, deep trust, and non-doubt, without being bound by outward appearances or confused by them, for the truth we cling to is but our own stubborn perception of it.’ Only a world without any discrimination or preconceptions is the world of recognizing reality.”

Zhao Heng seemed to understand but still felt confused.

Ming Jing glanced at him, “You do have quite a good disposition for wisdom…”

Zhao Heng quickly covered his hair, “I…I won’t become a monk!”

Ming Jing laughed, looked at the distant clouds, and spoke in a melodious and graceful voice that gently floated in the air, “With thousands of mountains sharing one moon, a myriad of households all bathed in spring; thousands of mountains with rivers and moons, endless skies with no clouds in sight.”

Laughing and talking as they walked away, Zhao Heng stood there, watching the graceful figure disappear into the distance. Unconsciously, his lips curved into a smile.

He stealthily took out his phone and turned off the recording; he had recorded the entire conversation. He planned to study it carefully when he returned home, as not everyone could receive the true wisdom and insight of Master Ming Jing.

Now, even when he looked at the sky, the clouds, or even the trees along the roadside, everything seemed different.

Ming Jing received a call from the police station. The injured person she had saved the day before was out of danger and had been transferred from the ICU. The family insisted on thanking Ming Jing and said they would kneel outside the police station until they could meet her. Out of helplessness, the police contacted Ming Jing.