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Chapter 101: The Move That Decides the World
Chapter 101: The Move That Decides the World
Li Hao, carrying his snacks and drinks, made his way back along the street.
As he passed through the bustling district, the street lamps were already lit.
The streets were crowded with people, and Servants could be seen leading tall horses, the wheels of their carriages rolling along, looking rather ordinary.
The Servants leading the horses were all at the Soul Succession Realm, making the scene quite lively...
Li Hao smiled slightly.
With the Li Family's decision on the True Dragon approaching, Qingzhou City was already teeming with hidden currents.
In recent days, he had seen many figures dressed in clothing from other regions streaming into the city.
While dining at a tavern, he had overheard numerous discussions about the matter, and there were even rumors that a high-ranking official had come to Qingzhou City to support his nephew...
According to Li Hao, his mother seemed to have no clan relations.
His mother had said that she was born into a minor family, which was later destroyed by Monsters. She met his father, Li Tiangang, who helped her, and they eventually fell in love and married.
These figures flocking to Qingzhou clearly indicated that the Second Lady was not giving up...
All the better.
Li Hao smiled lightly, not particularly concerned, and silently counted the days, eagerly anticipating the day's arrival.
Passing by a bustling bridge, Li Hao saw a group of people playing chess and went over to take a look.
Since it was already late, there was no rush to return.
"Move along, don't crowd!"
"What are you pushing for, kid?"
Most of those who had the leisure to watch and play chess were middle-aged or elderly, and apart from Li Hao, there were only two men in their early thirties.
When he finally squeezed to the front of the Chess Board, he saw that the game was only halfway through, but the outcome was already clear.
Li Hao quickly glanced at the board and knew that the white pieces were going to lose.
Although the white pieces had formed a powerful Jiaolong, they were trapped at both ends, with no way out.
Unless the white pieces had the courage to twist and cut off a limb of the black pieces, there was little chance of winning.
However, the way they had been forced into this position clearly showed their lack of confidence, and they certainly did not have the courage to do so.
Li Hao shook his head slightly and looked at the player with the black pieces.
The opponent was a rosy-faced, white-bearded old man who was smiling and gently fanning himself, stirring up a cool evening breeze.
He was calmly waiting for his opponent to concede.
"I lose."
The white player placed his piece back into the chess box and surrendered dejectedly in front of Li Hao.
"Oh, what a pity."
"Tsk, there was a chance if the move was made here earlier."
"Nonsense, it should have been here instead..."
"Why did you give up? I feel like it could still go on."
The onlookers, who had been watching intently, now began to comment, some expressing regret, others lamenting the earlier mistakes, and still others thinking it was too hasty to concede.
The level of Go players varies, and so does their perspective.
But the game was over, and the Chess Board had been decided.
As they were discussing, a carriage suddenly approached the bridge.
Seeing the crowd gathered at the bridge, the lead coachman shouted angrily, "Get out of the way! Move, move, what are you blocking the road for!"
His attitude was arrogant, angering many, but when they saw the Blood-Dragon Horse pulling the carriage, their faces changed, and they hurriedly moved aside, not daring to obstruct it.
Soon, the crowd cleared, and the carriage drove over.
Seeing the chess stall by the roadside, the coachman shouted, "Get lost, get lost!"
The others who had moved aside were muttering among themselves, thinking the coachman, who was usually subservient to his master, was now being unreasonable.
Anger was one thing, but they were no match for the other side, so the people by the Chess Board quickly moved away, not daring to stay.
Even if they were in the right.
In a moment, only Li Hao and the old man with the black pieces remained, along with two young men in their thirties behind the old man.
The old man continued to gently fan himself, his gaze fixed on the willows by the river, seemingly oblivious to the commotion.
The two young men behind him, however, flashed a cold, murderous look, and one of them turned to glare at the approaching coachman.
"What are you looking at?" the coachman shouted, noticing the remaining few seemed to have some background, but he was still unapologetic.
In terms of background, how many in Dayu could match his master?
"Unless you want your family to suffer, get lost. Do you know who is sitting in my carriage?"
One of the young men suddenly stepped forward, appearing almost to have teleported in front of the coachman, and slapped him.
The coachman's head snapped to the side, his neck breaking, and he died on the spot.
The crowd who had been driven away were shocked, letting out exclamations of surprise.
Some felt a sense of catharsis, thinking the evil got what they deserved, while others felt that the coachman, though despicable, did not deserve to die.
They felt sympathy for him.
But the young man did not spare the coachman another glance, instead lifting the carriage curtain and stepping inside.
A cry of alarm came from inside the carriage, where a well-dressed, obese old man sat, seemingly surprised by the sudden intrusion.
There were also female relatives inside, who let out cries of alarm, wanting to shout in anger but were silenced by the young man's cold, stern gaze, feeling as if they would be strangled to death the moment they opened their mouths.
"Slap him, kneel down, and then get lost."
The young man said eight words in total.
The obese old man trembled in shock and anger. "Do you know who I am? I know the Prince of Yan, I..."
"There may be someone above your head."
The young man coldly interrupted him. "But there is no one above our master's head!"
"Say another word, and none of you will leave here alive!"
A chilling aura filled the carriage, and the women were so scared they could not cry, huddling and trembling.
The old man's face turned a sickly liver color. No matter how great his power, he was now facing an enemy, and a commoner's anger could lead to bloodshed, making no distinction between princes and generals.
He could only grit his teeth, slap himself, and then kneel down, enduring the humiliation.
Seeing this, the young man stepped back and left the carriage, giving the Blood-Dragon Horse a pat on the rump as he went.
This horse was usually vicious and hard to tame, but under the young man's pat, it was startled and galloped off, causing passersby on the roadside to scream in alarm.
However, without a rider, it didn't go far before it panicked and bolted toward the river, plunging into the water, dragging the carriage with it.
With a splash, the carriage and horse fell into the river, drawing the attention of many onlookers from a distance.
The young man, however, seemed as if he had done nothing, quietly returning to stand before the old man in black, his face calm, as if he had never moved.
The old man in black seemed somewhat disappointed, his gaze returning from the river. He sighed, "What a pity for this river of autumn water."
With that, he was about to get up and leave.
But his gaze swept over and saw a young man standing still, picking up a chess piece from the chess box.
Throughout, Li Hao's gaze never once fell on the arrogant coachman or the carriage.
In Qingzhou City, he didn't need to bow to anyone.
Unless, it was in that Mansion.
At that moment, he picked up the white pieces from the chess box, one by one, two by two, three by three...
He played with them as if entertaining himself, placing the white pieces in a certain position, forming a line and a pattern.
The pattern resembled a dragon's claw, tearing a bloody gap in the original black pieces.
His move wasn't to continue the game, as the match was already decided, and this wasn't his game.
He simply didn't want to see such a stifling and oppressive scene anymore.
So he added a stroke.
The old man in black raised an eyebrow, glanced at the pieces on the Chess Board, and suddenly paused.
The two young men in ordinary clothes standing behind the old man, their faces changed slightly. The young man who had acted earlier seemed about to move to teach Li Hao a lesson, but was stopped by the old man's raised fan.
"Do you understand chess, young friend?"
The old man in black smiled.
"Somewhat."
Li Hao finished placing the pieces, feeling a bit more at ease.
"Your move is quite ingenious, and you have the spirit of a young man. Well done!" the old man praised.
"Young men have their own kind of audacity."
Li Hao said calmly, "Old sir, please don't be offended."
The old man in black silently repeated Li Hao's words, then couldn't help but smile. "Since you understand chess, why don't you sit down and play a game?"
Li Hao glanced at the Chess Board, then thought for a moment:
"Sure."
By now, the onlookers had already dispersed, leaving only the four of them under the willow tree.
Li Hao put down the snacks and toys he was carrying on the grass and sat down.
The old man in black smiled inwardly, thinking, after all, he is still a young man.
But as Li Hao put away the items, revealing his fine clothing, the old man's gaze fell on the beautiful jade hanging from Li Hao's waist.
His eyes couldn't help but narrow.
The two young men behind him also noticed that this young man seemed to have some background, and his earlier performance was not that of an ordinary person. They, too, noticed the Dragon Blood Jade at his waist and their eyes widened.
"Old sir, please."
Li Hao said.
The old man in black came back to his senses, a smile on his lips, surprised to encounter the boy from years ago.
He began the game with a smile.
Soon, the pieces were placed in turn, with Li Hao holding the white pieces and moving second.
The onlookers who had retreated didn't dare come closer, fearing trouble.
Besides, the young man behind the old man had already shown his extraordinary skills, and they didn't want to risk offending someone from a powerful family.
More passersby were drawn to the scene of the carriage and horse falling into the river, many of them throwing ropes to help.
At Li Hao's side, the black and white pieces on the Chess Board were already in fierce battle.
After the initial layout, the attacks and defenses began in layers.
Li Hao's moves were merciless, all kill shots, and even more ruthless and fierce than usual.
The old man in black's moves became slower and slower, and the fan he had been gently waving was now put away.
Each move required deep concentration and careful thought before placing a piece.
The young man, however, moved swiftly, accurately, and viciously, his attacks overwhelming and overwhelming.
The old man in black's expression became increasingly serious, fully focused.
The two young men behind him also changed their expressions, looking at the young man with a mix of shock and concern.
After a while, the game was over, and the winner was clear.
The old man in black's face darkened, clearly not expecting to lose, and to lose so terribly.
He hadn't lost in many, many years.
The two young men behind him, their eyes filled with anger, were looking at the young man coldly.
It seemed that if the old man in black gave the signal, they would strike and deal with the young man immediately.
Li Hao sensed this and glanced up, but paid no attention.
If they really did attack, he wouldn't be afraid.
The old man in black stared at the Chess Board for a while, then said slowly, "Let's play another game."
Li Hao, having already stopped, said calmly, "You'll lose again."
The old man in black was taken aback, no one had ever dared to speak to him with such disdain.
But seeing that the young man wasn't being malicious, he took a deep breath to calm his anger and said:
"Let's play another game. If you win again, I'll give you a small gift."
"I lack nothing", Li Hao said.
But then he smiled.
The old man in black smiled and said, "I'm sure you'll like what I give you."
"Maybe not", Li Hao said calmly. "Besides, if I win again, I'm worried your people might try to protect you."
The two young men's faces changed, their eyes cold and fixed on Li Hao.
The old man in black waved his fan, smiling at Li Hao, "They don't understand. Don't take it personally. If I've caused you any displeasure, I apologize."
Hearing this, the two young men's faces changed, their eyes wide with shock.
The Master actually... apologized?
Though they could only see the Master's back, in his gentle voice, they sensed a kind of authority emanating from that back. Both of them looked stern and dared not show any more hostility.
Li Hao was taken aback and glanced at Master Zi, noticing the genuine warmth in his eyes. He truly meant it.
"Alright, then."
Li Hao agreed.
Reflecting on the ferocity of the previous match, he realized it wasn't necessary to vent his frustration on the opponent.
Soon, the second game began.
This time, Li Hao played much more gently, and the game proceeded with a give-and-take dynamic.
The old man with the black stones seemed less tense, and he began to chat while playing:
"Tell me, why are you so young and yet immersed in the Dao of Chess, instead of joining the Frontier armies or diligently practicing martial arts to achieve fame and glory?"
"Glory and wealth are but dust, and honor and luxury are like passing clouds."
Li Hao casually placed a stone and said, "The ultimate purpose of life is merely to have enough to eat and wear. I seem to channel qi quite well, and I was born into a life of comfort. Why should I bother with all that effort?"
"Hmph, what a waste of talent!"
A young man standing behind the old man with the black stones couldn't help but sneer.
Li Hao glanced up, thinking, _So being a bodyguard makes you accomplished?_
The old man with the black stones looked at Li Hao in surprise. These weren't words a young man should speak. They sounded more like the musings of an old sage who had seen through the world's illusions.
But earlier, the young man had shown the pride and arrogance typical of a youth.
"Young men should have lofty ambitions, aspiring to conquer the Nineteen Provinces one day."
The old man with the black stones said with interest, "Don't you want to see the view from the mountaintop?"
"What's there to see? It's just another part of the world."
Li Hao replied casually, "Some people's journeys are to the stars and the sea, but I only want a life of poetry, wine, and fields. Everyone has their own path."
The old man with the black stones was taken aback, his hand pausing mid-air.
He gazed at the young man before him, feeling a stirring in his long-sealed heart.
The young man behind him, however, sneered:
"You've never been to the mountaintop, so how can you know what the view is like? And yet you dare to speak such big words!"
Li Hao frowned slightly, glanced at him, and ignored him.
The old man with the black stones snapped back to his senses, his face turning stern. "Hua'er, apologize to the young sir!"
What?
The young man seemed to have misunderstood, looking at the old man with disbelief and shock.
His father was actually asking him to apologize?
What kind of status did he have?
How many people could bear the weight of his apology, and how many would dare to accept it?
"Father... Master, I..."
"Hmm?"
The old man with the black stones turned his head slightly, looking at him.
His eyes were as calm as the frost after a heavy snowfall, but they made the young man break out in cold sweat instantly.
His face changed, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, and he hurriedly bowed to Li Hao.
"Sir, I spoke out of turn. Please forgive me."
"Never mind."
Li Hao waved his hand.
The old man with the black stones smiled and continued playing, engaging in light conversation.
They talked about fame and the great figures who had stirred the world, with the old man asking the young man if he aspired to be like them.
The young man, in turn, asked if any of those figures were still alive.
The old man with the black stones thought for a moment and couldn't help but laugh.
The second game concluded.
Li Hao won again.
But this time, he played more gently, with more back-and-forth, making it a more even match.
Li Hao felt that the old man's Go was a bit better than Fifth Master's, but still fell short compared to his own.
"It's getting late, Master Zi. We'll meet again if fate allows."
Li Hao stood up, gathered the meager three taels of silver worth of snacks and food, and waved to Master Zi with a smile before turning to leave.
"I haven't given you a gift yet."
The old man with the black stones said immediately.
"No need."
The young man didn't turn back, only waving his hand. "I said I don't lack anything."
The old man with the black stones was taken aback and couldn't help but laugh, muttering to himself:
"Who in this world truly lacks nothing...?"
"Hmph, this is the famed third generation of the Li Family from Qingzhou. Their cultivation is indeed formidable, beyond my comprehension, but they're a bit foolish."
The young man who had apologized earlier watched the young man's retreating back, his eyes dark and filled with derision.
That young man probably didn't realize what a great opportunity he had just let slip.
How laughable!
The old man with the black stones heard his words and glanced at him with a faint smile, saying nothing. Instead, he watched the young man walk down the street, sighing inwardly:
_If only he were my son..._
But it was just a fleeting thought.
He shook his head and smiled, saying, "This young man's talent far exceeds your imagination. At just fourteen, his Go is already at a master level. Even with a natural talent for the Dao of Chess, it still requires dedication..."
To achieve such a level in the Dao of Chess in fourteen years, while also cultivating to the Fifteen Li Realm, was truly terrifying.
The two young men were silent, unable to argue with his words.
Indeed, a Fifteen Li Realm cultivator at fourteen was a level of talent they could only dream of.
"You are being modest. His Go is displayed on this small board, but Master, your moves are played on the entire world..."
The other young man, who seemed more scholarly, smiled and said.
The old man with the black stones heard this and, though he knew it was flattery, couldn't help but laugh heartily.
The frustration of losing two consecutive games seemed to ease.
"Ha, well said!"
"But if I ever meet this young man again, I will win on the Go board!"
He was not one to accept defeat easily.
With that, he swung his sleeves and laughed as he walked toward the city gate.
"Master, we just arrived, and the real show hasn't started yet. Aren't you going to stay and watch?"
"I've seen enough, and it was excellent, excellent!"
(End of Chapter)
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