Chapter 1326: Chapter 498: Divine Monarch’s Gameboard (Part 2)
Won the chess game.
Lao Yun’s gloom was swept away, and he was so excited he could hardly speak, clasping fists with those around him: "Ah, I, Lao Yun, won this small game purely by chance, purely by chance."
"Congratulations Mr. Yun for winning the first game."
"Mr. Yun, while you’re hot, take him down a few more games."
"What do you mean ’while you’re hot’? Mr. Yun’s chess skills, I’m afraid there isn’t anyone in the whole Mingjiang Prefecture who can compare."
Yun Ziliang’s confidence swelled as he won this round.
Zhou Xuan used his intuition and knew the Chess Boss had let him win – he could have won but didn’t, just stringing Yun Ziliang along.
"Brother Xuan, could it be that the vendor made a wrong move?" Zhao Wuya asked softly.
Zhou Xuan laughed and said, "If he could make a wrong move in such a famous game, why would he set up a stand? He’d just lose constantly. Letting him win is just letting him win, no explanation needed."
The game continued for three more rounds, and Yun Ziliang won all of the remaining rounds, making high stakes that not only recovered the money he’d lost but earned an extra two hundred bucks.
"The elder’s chess skills are extraordinary, I, the small Chess Boss, can’t keep up. Today, no more games."
"No more games so soon? If you continue, I, Lao Yun, will win till you’re cleaned out."
"No more, no more." The Chess Stand Boss took out the chess box and started packing up the pieces.
Yun Ziliang counted out two hundred and eighty bucks, slapped it on the chessboard, and said, "I, Lao Yun, have this rule: I never take away the money I’ve won. Your small business isn’t easy; take it back."
"I didn’t lose that much, at most lost two hundred and thirty or forty." The vendor didn’t hastily collect the money.
"The rest is for you."
Yun Ziliang stood up again, gracefully dusted his robe, and said, "Mr. Yun wins the game because my skills are at their peak; but Mr. Yun leaves without taking a penny because Mr. Yun is kind-hearted. Chang Xun, let’s go, buy some roast duck and chicken, go back to the shop and have a couple of drinks."
Li Changxun, being a sycophant, replied repeatedly, "Master, you win with humility; a true gentleman, I am convinced."
Watching the master and disciple’s demeanor, Zhou Xuan almost laughed out loud. He cheerfully said to Zhao Wuya, "Ya Zi, the case is solved."
"What case is solved?" asked Zhao Wuya.
Zhou Xuan smiled and said, "In the past, Lao Yun played cards and never won once. He said he was amassing luck, intentionally losing. Now it seems, it wasn’t intentional; he’s just purely bad at it."
"..." Zhao Wuya.
"Look at Lao Yun; if he could win, he would’ve long ago. Just not taking money is his way of amassing luck."
Zhao Wuya then realized, saying, "Then, to put it that way—our Grand Master is also an unsolved mystery of East Market Street. Been here so long, plays cards daily, never wins once. Regardless of his card skills, this luck is pretty bad."
"Whether it’s bad, we’ll talk about later."
Zhou Xuan handed his finished bowl to Zhao Wuya, saying, "Hold the bowl for me, I’ve got some business with the chess stand’s vendor."
"What are you looking for him for? Grandpa Yun went to buy chicken and duck, we’ll sip a few drinks later."
"Wait for a moment." Zhou Xuan didn’t explain clearly.
At this time, Zhao Erqi, the Chess Boss, had already started packing chess pieces. The onlookers naturally dispersed, leaving Zhou Xuan, the Chess Boss, and Zhao Wuya.
Zhou Xuan grabbed a small stool, sat by the chess stand, and extended his hand, pressing it on the chessboard: "Boss, don’t rush off, come on, another round, let’s play one game."
"Young Master, I’m not playing chess today."
"No chess, huh? Fine."
Then Zhou Xuan suddenly grabbed the Chess Stand Boss’s collar and lifted him fiercely, saying, "Then let’s exchange a few moves, sign a life-and-death agreement, and no one will be accountable."
"Young Master, what are you doing? I’m just a chess player, don’t know martial arts." The Chess Boss suddenly panicked.
Zhao Wuya hurriedly advised, "Brother Xuan, what are you doing? If you want to beat him, let’s do it discreetly; everyone on the street is watching now."
"Maintain appearances, maintain appearances."
Zhao Wuya advised earnestly, but Zhou Xuan had no intention of stopping. His gaze became more fierce, and his voice cold and piercing: "Forget the life-and-death agreement, no one will be accountable. If you don’t move, I will."
Having said that, Zhou Xuan’s right hand sharply thrust into the vendor’s body.
The vendor thought of resisting earlier, but once Zhou Xuan’s Sukuna Hand penetrated him, his actions froze.
"You have a master behind you, don’t you? Using a chess puzzle to lay traps for Zhou Xuan?"
Zhou Xuan said coldly again.
Zhao Wuya was equally perplexed, asking, "Brother Xuan, what are you talking about? I don’t understand."
"Ya Zi, the Chess Boss played with Lao Yun with a hidden intention; winning those rounds was just waiting for me to show up."
Zhou Xuan said to the Chess Boss, "Endgame with Black always winning means your master behind wants to show me—I, Zhou Xuan, can’t win. As Red, no matter what, I always lose; is that what you mean?"
"You..."
"You let Lao Yun win those rounds simply for your master behind to warn me that my previous successes were merely given by them, right?"
"..." The Chess Boss froze again.
Zhou Xuan continued, "These endgames stacked together represent that your master behind wants me to know—they can turn the tides, control the situation, so I should act carefully and be obedient."
The Chess Boss didn’t know what to say, only feeling Zhou Xuan’s insight into the "chess game" came too quickly, too sharply.
"Who your master is behind, I suppose... there’s no point in asking you, you are merely a puppet."
