Chapter 45: Turning the Tables
The two men exchanged glances, their expressions becoming slightly serious.
As instructors of the academy, how could they set an example by helping a student cheat?
No, absolutely not. Even if you're the young master of the Divine General Mansion, it's still not allowed... and there's no bribe either—wait, what bribe? Bribes aren't allowed either! You're not a prince...
While the two men were racking their brains trying to think of a tactful way to reject the boy, Li Hao had already responded to Shen Yunqing's question:
"That technique? I've already mastered it."
"Honestly, it's normal for you to find it difficult. Just take your time and..."
Before Shen Yunqing could finish, he suddenly froze, staring at Li Hao in disbelief. "What did you just say?"
"I said, the technique on the stone tablet—I’ve already mastered it," Li Hao repeated, wondering if the old man was hard of hearing.
"Mastered it?"
Across from him, the gray-robed elder Zhao Zongyuan looked at Li Hao in shock. Did "mastered" mean he had reached the beginner stage?
"Which one did you choose? The Wind-Slashing Fist or the Ninefold Starlight Step?"
Shen Yunqing also snapped out of his daze and sized up Li Hao, thinking this kid must be bluffing.
"The Wind-Slashing Fist."
Li Hao thought for a moment. It seemed that this was indeed something worth a bit of surprise. Without further ado, he immediately threw a punch. The punch caused a faint tremor in the air, accompanied by a low hum of force. It even seemed as though sharp wind blades were slicing through the air along the punch's trajectory.
The two men focused their gaze intently, recognizing this as one of the offensive moves of the Wind-Slashing Fist. Producing the Wind-Slicing Force with such precision wasn’t merely an entry-level achievement—it was approaching mastery, perhaps even perfection.
Could it be...
The two exchanged a wary look, both with dark expressions. They had long heard of the Li Family's Tingyu Pavilion, renowned for its vast collection of martial techniques. Could the Wind-Slashing Fist have been among them?
But the three techniques on the stone tablet were all from Tangong Academy, rotated every six years. They had never been seen publicly before!
The relationships between major powers were complex and entangled. A myriad of thoughts arose in their minds, but they soon suppressed them without questioning Li Hao further.
It never crossed their minds that Li Hao had comprehended the technique in such a short time.
In this brief period, one would be lucky to merely study it carefully, let alone master the fundamentals, not to mention achieving such fluidity and perfection.
"Well, it seems you’ve passed this round, but we’re not in charge of the testing. Go find that gentleman over there."
Shen Yunqing gestured to the center of the square, where a middle-aged man stood with his hands behind his back, exuding a steady presence. In front of him, four individuals were practicing techniques, their movements clearly unpolished.
"I'll go in a bit."
Li Hao wasn’t in a hurry. Instead, his gaze fell on the chessboard between the two elders. After glancing back and forth a couple of times, he remarked, "This game is about to be lost."
"Hm?"
Both elders were taken aback. Shen Yunqing raised an eyebrow. "You’re so young, and yet you know chess?"
"I know a little," Li Hao said modestly.
"Oh?"
Zhao Zongyuan chuckled and glanced teasingly at Shen Yunqing. "Well then, tell us—who’s winning and who’s losing?"
Shen Yunqing shot a playful glare at him, laughing and cursing.
Li Hao pointed at the board and stated honestly, "If you continue following the current strategy, he will lose."
He pointed at Shen Yunqing.
Shen Yunqing's face turned slightly red, and he felt a little embarrassed. He coughed twice and said, "I was just here to greet you all and wasn’t focused on the game."
"Get lost."
If it weren’t for the junior’s presence, Zhao Zongyuan might have kicked him. He rolled his eyes in exasperation.
Turning to Li Hao, Zhao Zongyuan asked, "According to you, does this mean there’s still a chance for him to win?"
"There is."
Li Hao nodded, his tone suddenly becoming firm.
"If he changes his strategy, he can win."
"Oh?"
Zhao Zongyuan, who had asked the question in jest, was momentarily stunned. His smile faded, and he asked calmly, "Then tell me, how can he win this game?"
Shen Yunqing was also surprised and looked at Li Hao with curiosity. Recognizing victory or defeat suggested at least some understanding of chess, but spotting a winning move? Surely he was joking—he himself couldn’t see any chance of victory.
"Place the piece here."
Li Hao pointed to a spot on the board.
Zhao Zongyuan glanced at the spot and sneered faintly. "What if I place mine here instead?" He pointed to an adjacent spot.
"Then here," Li Hao countered without hesitation.
"And if I go here?"
"Then here."
Zhao Zongyuan was about to point to another block, but his face froze suddenly. He stared at the board, his gaze flickering.
Although no pieces had been placed yet, in his mind’s eye, he saw them clearly.
The moves were nothing remarkable, certainly not game-changing. But... there was something subtle.
The severed formation seemed capable of being reconnected!
Zhao Zongyuan’s expression grew serious. He withdrew his hand from the board, lost in thought.
Beside him, Shen Yunqing had initially seen nothing special. But noticing his old friend’s sudden change in demeanor, he was startled. He leaned in to examine the board more carefully. After a while, his eyes gleamed with understanding, and he couldn’t help but look at Li Hao.
Those moves indeed had the feeling of a serpent biting its tail, subtly linking the broken paths together!
They had brought a lifeless board back to life!
After a moment of deep thought, Zhao Zongyuan pointed to another spot on the board, intending to sever the reconnected lines decisively.
Li Hao, as if anticipating this move, raised his hand and pointed. "A small diagonal jump here would break the formation entirely."
The placement he indicated would form a blade-like configuration, cutting through the opponent’s setup with precision!
Smack!
Shen Yunqing slapped his thigh in excitement. "Brilliant! This move is absolutely ingenious!"
How had he not seen it before? How had he missed it?!
Zhao Zongyuan’s pupils shrank slightly. He raised his head to look at Li Hao's youthful face and, for a moment, felt an almost surreal sense of disbelief.
How could such a young man possess such mature and ruthless skill in chess?
"Come, come, sit here and take my place."
Shen Yunqing quickly shifted aside, practically scooting off the grass to make room for Li Hao. "Let’s see how far you can take this. Don’t worry if you lose. But if you win, I’ll reward you with a jar of Drunken Wind Brew."
"Alright."
Li Hao nodded and sat down without hesitation. After all, he had come here with an interest in this chess game.
The crushed grass beneath him still carried a faint warmth.
Zhao Zongyuan furrowed his brows, his expression growing even more solemn. He gave Li Hao a deep, penetrating look. For now, he didn’t concern himself with the boy’s uncanny chess skill, but instead composed himself and said gravely, "Then let us play."
Li Hao reached into the chess container with his fingers, plucking out a black piece with a deft motion, and placed it firmly on the board at the previously indicated position.
Zhao Zongyuan, now entirely focused, followed with a move of his own, placing his piece without a word.
The real battle had begun.
...
On the square, many descendants of noble families and young martial artists were practicing their techniques, dripping with sweat as they competed fiercely for a spot in the prestigious Jia Courtyard.
In a secluded corner, however, a different kind of battle unfolded on the small chessboard. It was a cutthroat exchange of wits and strategies, with each move like a sharp blade, every step a calculated strike!
Time passed.
Zhao Zongyuan’s aged hand trembled as he picked up a piece from the container. But just as he was about to place it, his hand faltered. The piece slipped from his fingers and fell back into the container with a clink.
His face, now glistening with sweat, resembled that of the young martial artists giving their all on the square.
The game was decided.
"I... lost."
Zhao Zongyuan’s throat was dry, and his voice cracked as he admitted defeat.
Beside him, Shen Yunqing stared at the board, dumbfounded. He couldn’t believe his eyes. The game that he had been losing badly was turned entirely on its head by Li Hao. Through relentless offensive maneuvers, Li Hao had not only reclaimed all the lost territory but had also gained a narrow advantage, winning by one and a half points!
Don’t underestimate a victory by just one and a half points. To reverse a desperate situation so thoroughly was nothing short of miraculous!
"You’ve won, senior."
Li Hao withdrew his hand and gave a slight bow, his expression serious. But once his courtesy was observed, his demeanor relaxed again, becoming lighthearted.
In truth, Li Hao was a fifth-dan chess player and often sparred with his Fifth Uncle. This was his first time playing against someone outside the family, and based on the match, he estimated that the two elders’ skill levels were barely at the fourth-dan level.
Still, this was already quite impressive.
For martial artists like these two elders to cultivate such chess skills as a side hobby, they must have dedicated significant time and effort, demonstrating their genuine passion for the game.
Zhao Zongyuan let out a bitter laugh, raising his eyes to glance at Li Hao. He looked at the boy as if he were a monster.
How could this young man, whose age didn’t even match Zhao’s years spent playing chess, defeat him so thoroughly?
Could chess mastery also depend on innate talent?
"Impressive, truly impressive!" Shen Yunqing exclaimed with admiration, clicking his tongue.
Li Hao chuckled lightly. "It was just luck. Shall we play another round?"
Zhao Zongyuan, now feeling thoroughly defeated, muttered, "Don’t you still need to complete your technique assessment? The spots in the Jia Courtyard are limited. Secure your place first."
"Oh, right."
Li Hao snapped back to reality. Although he wasn’t particularly interested in the Jia Courtyard, it was better to secure a spot now to avoid future trouble.
"In that case, wait for me, seniors. I’ll be back shortly."
Zhao Zongyuan and Shen Yunqing exchanged amused glances, their expressions growing more peculiar. Why did it feel like this boy cared more about playing chess than advancing his martial arts training?
"You must wait for me!"
Li Hao turned back, making sure to emphasize his words before running off to the middle of the square where the middle-aged examiner stood.