Chapter 207 - 206: A Game of Celestial Jade? (Part 2)

Words : 1078 Updated : Oct 15th, 2025

Before March 7th could finish, Tingyun appeared, her expression playfully exasperated. "Ah, so this humble fox-lady has been forgotten by her noble benefactors. Clearly, you don't need me anymore." Pei Guang patted her on the shoulder. "Don't worry about it. As long as you're there to sing and dance during battles, we'll always need you. But since you're here, the gang's all together. Let's meet our contact!" Stelle: "Let's move out!" Following the directions in the photo, the group quickly arrived at the gaming parlor. Outside, several players were engrossed in a game of mahjong. No—Pei Guang reminded himself. In Xianzhou, this game is called Celestial Jade. As they approached, they overheard a heated discussion at the mahjong table. A young woman's companions teased her relentlessly. "Hurry it up, Qingque! At this rate, we'll reach enlightenment before you make your move." Another player chimed in. "Didn't the Divination Commission just suffer some disaster? How do you have time to play tiles?" The young woman, Qingque, nonchalantly waved them off as she examined her tiles. "Even if the sky falls, Master Diviner has it handled. Sure, she's short in stature, but her capabilities are sky-high. And I'm not just slacking—I'm here on her orders, waiting for some esteemed guests. Time is precious, after all. Why not multitask with a little work and leisure?" Pei Guang, intrigued by the casual atmosphere, leaned over to watch Qingque play. He quipped, "You're right—work is never as fun as a game of tiles." Surprised but pleased by his agreement, Qingque nodded. "Exactly! What's a bit of work compared to the joy of playing Celestial Jade?" Pei Guang examined her tiles and mused, "Not bad. Mind if I give you a tip?" Qingque raised an eyebrow. "Normally, I'd say no, but I like the way you think. Go ahead." Used to receiving judgment from her peers, Qingque found Pei Guang's easygoing nature refreshing. He was a rare kindred spirit among the typically stern Divination Commission crowd. Meanwhile, March 7th and Stelle stood off to the side, arms crossed. They exchanged knowing glances, curious about what chaos Pei Guang would stir up this time. Pei Guang studied Qingque's hand and smirked. "Nice tiles! You've got 88 points and a Nine Gates hand." Qingque paused, puzzled. "Nine Gates? What's that?" Pei Guang explained, "It's a rare and challenging winning hand. The odds of getting this are sky-high. Your luck is impressive." Qingque beamed. "Well, I wouldn't say I'm lucky, but I'll take it. You seem to know your stuff." Pei Guang chuckled. "A little. I've played my share of tile games—online and offline. The rules vary, but the strategies are universal." March 7th, now thoroughly intrigued, asked incredulously, "You know how to play this too?" Pei Guang shrugged. "A bit. Want me to teach you? It's simple—and dangerously addictive." Qingque added enthusiastically, "Exactly! Whether you're working, resting, or bored, a few rounds of Celestial Jade make life complete. Oh, look—I won!" Her tiles displayed a perfectly crafted combination, earning her a victory. "Ah, life is truly complete." Pei Guang observed her win and remarked, "Your rules here seem pretty loose." Qingque shrugged again. "Yeah, we threw together some basic rules, but who'd have thought it'd get this popular? The more players, the merrier. Speaking of which, one look at you, and I can tell you're important guests of the Divination Commission." Stelle: "What about us?" Qingque nodded sagely. "Of course. You're all esteemed guests. If you're interested, I could give you a tour and show you the essence of Xianzhou culture—starting with Celestial Jade." March 7th crossed her arms skeptically. "What about your duties at the Divination Commission? Aren't you shirking them?" Pei Guang raised a hand to stop her. "No! Let's play a round first!" March 7th sighed in defeat. "Fine. Teach me, Ah Guang." Welt, who had been quietly observing, raised an eyebrow. "?" Stelle: "If everyone's playing, count me in too." Welt: "?" At this moment, Welt fell into deep thought. Just three sentences ago, they were discussing heading to the Divination Commission. Now, with one suggestion from Pei Guang to play a round of Celestial Jade, the entire group's focus had shifted completely? Hearing everyone's enthusiasm, Qingque's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Great! Let's have a game of Empyrean Jade Tiles!" "Since we've got some newcomers, I'll keep the rules simple!" While Qingque set the tiles in place using an automatic shuffling machine, she began explaining the rules. They were nearly identical to the mahjong rules Pei Guang was familiar with, though some win conditions were described without proper names. It was like a patchwork of rules that hadn't fully come together yet. Pei Guang was delighted. He hadn't expected such an intricate yet comprehensive fusion. It reminded him of Gwent from The Witcher 3. But, as the saying goes, in the middle of a crisis, skipping a good card game—no, a good round of Celestial Jade—just didn't feel right. Listening to Qingque's explanation, March 7th hesitated. "Are we really okay doing this?" Stelle shrugged. "No problem, trust Ah Guang." Pei Guang turned to Stelle. "Stop depending on me all the time; use your brain for once." Stelle dramatically shook her head. "Look, I'm using my brain!" Pei Guang sighed. "I meant thinking, not shaking your head." Stelle grinned. "Just admit it—I'm moving it!" Watching their antics and listening to their banter, Qingque chuckled. "You're quite the entertaining bunch, aren't you?" March 7th laughed, "Oh, we've got plenty more where that came from. But seriously, if we're late, will the Diviner Lady be mad?" Stelle frowned. "Wait, what if she finds out we're here playing Celestial Jade? She'll be furious, right?" Pei Guang added with a smirk, "Or worse, what if she knows we're playing tiles together and comes here to scold us?" Qingque reassured them, "No worries! The Master Diviner won't find out. Besides, I've got great luck—this game will wrap up in just a few minutes." Looking at her tiles and recalling the rules Qingque had explained earlier, Stelle suddenly smiled. "Hey, actually... I think the game's already over. Look! Did I win?"

Chapter 207 - 206: A Game of Celestial Jade? (Part 2)

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