The gambling games of the State Duke Cheng Manor had all kinds of rules.
Only those who were good at gambling would bet on the final winner of the chess tournament at the very beginning, and they usually bet on the order of the chess games.
Jing Shang was a prudent person, so he did the same thing. He bet a large sum of money on the first game. He thought that Jing Jiu had won first place in the chess tournament at the Four-Seas Banquet last year, and he dared to say such a thing, so he must have a good chess skill. Even if he couldn't win the final game, it should be easy for him to win several games in a row.
Unexpectedly, he encountered Tong Yan, who was unbeatable in the first game.
The caretaker knew what had happened on the Chess Board Mountain, and said sympathetically, "The result is not out yet. Don't worry, Master."
Jing Shang knew it was impossible to save the situation, so he calmed down a bit, cupped his hands, and walked into the State Duke Manor.
The back garden of the State Duke Manor was full of people. Half of the prestigious princes and nobles in Zhaoge City were there.
But they didn't stand in the front today.
The ones standing in the front were the national chess players, pointing at the wall in front of them.
The owner of the Chunxi Chess House didn't even have the right to speak, so he could only smile on the side.
A large chess board was hung on the wall, next to which were the names of the two players and the odds. Judging from the handwriting, it should have been written not long ago.
Jing Shang wasn't in the mood to read it. He stood at the back of the crowd, silently calculating how to sell off his family property.
Since he was bound to lose, it was meaningless even if the odds for Jing Jiu were high.
At this moment, the sounds of discussion in front of the garden attracted his attention.
…
…
"Why did this step end up here? Has anyone figured it out yet?"
"Put it again. I think there is something wrong with that small star."
"Take two more steps back."
"Not enough. Take ten steps back first. Let me think about it."
…
…
Grand Scholar Guo got up and walked to the front of the large chess board. He took down a dozen chess pieces and put them in a few different positions. He turned around and said to the crowd, "Do you understand now?"
Though the participating princes and nobles knew how to play chess, their chess skills were ordinary, so they didn't understand what he meant.
The dozen national chess players of Zhaoge City seemed to be thinking about something.
A moment later, an old man said with a trembling voice, "So that's how it is!"
More and more national chess players understood Grand Scholar Guo's intention, and that was to say, they understood the ingenuity of that move. The exclamations of surprise rose one after another, incessantly praising the move.
State Duke Cheng said, "The Grand Scholar is still the best. He has even understood this move."
Grand Scholar Guo said with a bitter smile, "I merely understood the intention of the two of them a few steps ahead of you; it's nothing impressive. I told you a long time ago that Tong Yan's Go skills and realm are unprecedented, and Jing Jiu's level is also far beyond yours and mine, but you didn't believe me. What about now? "
By this time, he was convinced that his guess was correct. Tong Yan had not used her full strength in the chess game outside the old plum garden that day.
Under such circumstances, he could only admit defeat in the middle round. The gap between them was just too great.
…
…
Jing Shang, who was standing at the back of the crowd, was stunned.
Judging from what Grand Scholar Guo said, it meant that Jing Jiu and Tong Yan were acquainted with each other. How could it be possible?
He picked up the hot towel from the tray held by the servant girl and wiped his face forcefully, and then looked at the large Go board on the wall.
Yet, he felt dizzy after a few glances at it, and couldn't understand what was going on. In desperation, he reached out his hand and grabbed someone randomly, asking, "What's the situation now?"
That person replied, "Who should I ask if you ask me?"
Jing Shang asked, "Don't the previous national chess players have any opinions?"
That person said, "Like you and me, they can't even understand the game, let alone know the outcome."
Hearing this, someone said in a mocking tone, "Why do we need to know the outcome? The scholar said that the Immortal Master Tong Yan's attainment in chess is the best in history; how could he lose? "
Jing Shang was a bit annoyed, saying, "You speak so confidently. Do you think you can understand the game?"
…
…
On the Chess Board Mountain.
As time passed, the wild plums had been trampled into dust, but nobody could understand the game in the pavilion.
They had no choice but to look at those who could understand the game.
Que Niang bit her lip, thinking about a move she had made a while ago. It was unclear if she was too absorbed in thinking that she didn't even notice that she had bitten her lip.
Shang Jiulou mumbled something soundlessly with his eyes closed and his lips trembling slightly.
They had given up on the idea of winning or losing a long time ago. The reason they were still concentrating on the game and thinking hard was because they wanted to understand the game.
Yet, it was very difficult to keep up with the thoughts of Jing Jiu and Tong Yan.
By now, they could accurately judge the level of the chess skills of the two players.
Gu Yuanyuan was as famous as Que Niang and Shang Jiulou, but he was obviously a bit weaker. As a result, he was in the worst condition, his face pale and his whole body soaked in cold sweat.
He felt this game was dreadful.
The two players playing the game were so dreadful.
Looking at him, He Zhan shook his head sympathetically. He wanted to drink some wine, but found the flagon was empty. He couldn't help but feel depressed.
The game in the pavilion had entered the middle stage. He could still keep up with Jing Jiu and Tong Yan's rhythm and understand their thoughts.
It was also because of this that he knew clearly that if he were the one in the pavilion at this time, he would have already lost, no matter whether he played black or white.
Looking at the two players in the pavilion again, he felt a crushing defeat, but also a great deal of admiration.
…
…
Only one hour had passed since the game started.
Jing Jiu and Tong Yan didn't play their Go pieces very fast, but they didn't spend too much time on it, so the game went on smoothly.
A breeze rose, rolling up a green leaf into the pavilion and falling on the Go board.
Jing Jiu and Tong Yan looked at the green leaf, and then raised their heads.
They looked at each other to confirm the look in their eyes, and then put the Go pieces in their hands back into the small urns.
…
…
The game paused.
Tea was brought into the pavilion.
Jing Jiu and Tong Yan stood by the railing with their teacups in their hands, looking at the distance outside the mountain, saying nothing.
Seeing this scene, the people remained silent.
…
…
The game continued.
The wind rose again, stronger than before.
The clouds came to the sky above Zhaoge City, blocking the sun. The mountain air grew colder.
The atmosphere in the hall became even more tense.
It was quiet.
Nobody dared make a sound.
The game had reached the middle stage, and the Go pieces were getting closer and closer. Even those who didn't know how to play Go knew that the two sides would meet eventually.
Tong Yan began his first long examination.
He made a decision after one hundred seconds.
He grabbed the white Go piece with three fingers and reached toward the Go board clumsily.
It was unclear whether it was a coincidence, or heaven and earth had sensed the danger and lethal intent of this move …
The clouds on the Chess Board Mountain suddenly twisted, and a flash of lightning appeared in the deep end of the clouds.
The white Go piece landed on the Go board gently.
There was a loud bang.
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