Chapter 463: With Calm in the Heart, Three Games, Three Wins

【"In the Warring States era, over two thousand years, four states stood in balance, with warfires blazing endlessly—until Yan ultimately crushed its rivals and unified the vast Shenzhou."】

【Xie Yuan gently turned the page, his gaze falling on the annotation beside the line: "When Shenzhou sank, this ruler arose."】

【The handwriting was neat, yet the words captured the weight of that turbulent age.】

【He smiled with delight: "It seems Brother Guan also reveres this Yan King—heroes truly share the same vision."】

【Today's Qi Kingdom holds mixed opinions of this historical figure, nearly two millennia removed.】

【The Yan state endured over two hundred years, but the Yan King left no heir, bequeathing a fatal flaw; the Lu family army gradually withered, and the state followed into fragmentation.】

【Three powers divided Yan; seven states rose again, ushering in another four hundred years of war—until the phrase "Peach and Plum Sons shall gain the realm" foretold the rise of the Great Zhou, which unified river and mountain.】

【The Great Zhou overthrew Yan, burned its historical records, an act known as "Burning Books to Sever Yan," and claimed itself the sole orthodox of Shenzhou.】

【After the Great Zhou, the "Calamity of the Aristocratic Clans" brought another centuries-long chaos, with heroes emerging and champions countless.】

【Chen Qiao, with the aid of Confucius and his Confucian sages, founded the Great Qi, which endures to this day.】

【Xie Yuan sighed: "The Great Zhou destroyed most records of Yan; later generations know only the tyrannical and foolish end of the Yan King, and Lu Chen's obsession with Daoist mysteries."】

【"Yet over these millennia, the people have never forgotten him."】

【You were slightly surprised—you had not expected this noble Xie family's eldest son to hold such admiration for this man.】

【During the Great Zhou, the "Four States Zuo Zhuan" was banned; after the Zhou's fall, private collections were gradually unsealed, and ancient texts unearthed from tombs reemerged.】

【Throughout the Zhou's rule, popular uprisings erupted constantly, all under the banner of "Overthrow Zhou, Restore Yan"; long thought erased, the Shaobao shrines and Yan King temples quietly rebuilt across the land.】

【Today in the north, the sixth day of the first lunar month is celebrated as the Yan King's birthday; in Huainan and elsewhere, every household eats longevity noodles to honor his anniversary.】

【As more texts from the Yan era are unearthed, public opinion of the Yan King gradually reverses.】

【Even the author of the "Four States Zuo Zhuan," a late Yan historian, after completing the biography of Lu Chen, was moved to tears, writing: "When I finished the Yan King's chapter at midnight, though we had never met, I felt his grace—and wept uncontrollably, unable to sleep."】

【Yet no man is a sage; who can be without fault? How can one's entire life be utterly selfless and desire-free?】

【In the Great Qi, some still hold differing views, calling the Yan King "a great villain disguised as virtue," "hypocritical and false."】

【Yet many others revere the "villainous heroes" who emerged in the chaos after the Great Zhou—those who laughed, cursed, and raged were truly human.】

【Especially today, the Nine Great Clans stand side by side, all venerating Confucian doctrine: "Heaven, Earth, Ruler, Parent, Teacher—govern the realm with filial piety, fraternal duty, loyalty, trustworthiness, propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame." This principle runs deep.】

【As for Lu Chen and the bygone events of Yan, to modern people, they are but pavilions lost in millennia of mist and rain—truth and falsehood long indistinguishable.】

【Xie Yuan closed the book and placed it atop the "Sacred Words."】

【At this moment!】

【The servant arrived, panting, carrying the chessboard, placing it carefully on the small table.】

Xie Yuan was impatient; the servants dared not delay—they ran, their boots caked in snowmelt, unwilling to step into the room until another servant inside carried it in.

【The chess table was of huanghuali wood, the board of beechwood, the double-sided chess pieces carved from chicken-wing wood—all crafted by masters; Xie Yuan loved chess, and such equipment was common in his courtyard.】

【The chessboards were set!】

【Xie Yuan looked at you: "Brother Guan, how will you play?"】

【You wore a blindfold—you could not see the board, nor know where to move.】

【"Sixth Brother, you only need to call out the position of each move."】

【Xie Yuan froze, astonished: "Blind chess?"】

【Blind chess—also called blindfold chess—requires no board, only mental calculation and imagination; only those with extraordinary memory and skill can master it.】

【Blind chess—also called blindfold chess—requires no board, only mental calculation and visualization; it demands supreme memory.】

【Only chess masters of exceptional talent and strength dare play blind chess.】

【You nodded calmly.】

【Wutong stood aside, his thoughts drifting back to the past—when the Young Master played chess, it was the Mistress, while still alive, who taught him and the Young Master this idle pleasure.】

【She had played a few games with the Young Master before he lost his sight; she was merely a novice, barely understanding the strategies.】

【But when had the Young Master learned blind chess?】

【Hua An stood to one side, equally surprised by Xie Guan's choice to play blind chess, yet privately doubtful—he could play too, though his skill was low.】

He knew Xie Yuan, though he disliked reading, was gifted; whether in cuju, tanqi, drumming, singing, or gambling, every pastime of the idle aristocrat, he learned instantly and mastered quickly.

【Xie Yuan had devoted considerable effort to chess; several skilled players from his courtyard often played him, teaching and countering his moves—his skill was certainly not to be underestimated.】

【Chess, beyond talent, is a process of accumulated experience; one's level often correlates with the number of games played.】

【By contrast, Xie Guan—aside from himself and Wutong—who could he play with in this small courtyard?】

【The musicians and servants behind Xie Yuan felt mixed emotions; they knew their Young Master's chess skill was superb—even the best folk players brought in could not match him.】

【Now, the opponent was blindfolded—surely he would win easily.】

【If the Young Master won, they would be glad—but if he won, one of them would be chosen to give to Xie Guan, and that was unthinkable.】

【Thus, they felt both anxiety and hope, silently wishing Xie Guan would win this game.】

【Xie Yuan studied you again: "Brother Guan, do you mostly study chess manuals like 'Dream Entering the Divine Mechanism' or 'Hundred Variations of Chess,' or do you play against others more often?"】

【You smiled, tone tinged with self-mockery: "My home holds no more than five or six Confucian classics; laughably, I've never even heard of those chess manuals. As for playing chess, I only occasionally play with Wutong for amusement."】

【"Most often, I play against myself."】

【Behind you, the servants and musicians burst into mindless laughter.】

【Xie Yuan turned, glared at them—they shrank back, laughter instantly silenced.】

【Wutong, hearing this, felt his nose tighten with sorrow. Since childhood, Master Guan had been unusually sensible; during the Mistress's illness, it was he, only six or seven years old, who tended her bedside, washing clothes, cooking meals, attending to every need.】

【Xie Yuan frowned: "How can one play against oneself?"】

【How can a man play against himself? He knows his own moves, his own thoughts—how is that possible?】

【You smiled, saying nothing.】

【The onlookers held their own thoughts; the board was set.】

Outside, heavy snowflakes drifted down; inside, everyone sat gathered, enveloped in warm comfort.

【Hua An watched the game intently; Wutong silently prayed the Young Master would win.】

【"Brother Guan, you move first!"】

【You set down your teacup and spoke slowly: "Pawn seven forward one."】

【Xie Hou immediately moved the pawn forward on your board.】

【It was a cautious opening—defensible, yet offensive, creating opportunity for the horse's later deployment.】

【In chess manuals, this move is called "Immortal Points the Way."】

【In chess, the greatest danger is unpredictability; sometimes a novice can "knock out the master." Xie Yuan played safe, observing your skill first.】

【After Xie Yuan moved, he lifted the "soldier" and advanced one step; Xie Hou immediately announced it.】

【"Soldier three forward one."】

【Same pattern—just red moves first, black follows.】

【"Cannon two forward five."】

……

【After ten or so moves, the servants and musicians who had come to mock Xie Guan's blind chess, expecting him to confuse himself, were stunned to realize the boy truly remembered every move.】

【And he moved swiftly!】

【Each time Xie Hou announced Xie Yuan's next move, the blindfolded boy instantly replied with his own.】

【Only the sound of pieces moving, tapping the board.】

……

【Outside, the snow fell heavier, burying every shallow and deep footprint in the courtyard under pure white, flawless.】

【The occasional chirps of birds foraging had vanished; they had all retreated into warm nests, unseen.】

【A thick layer of ice formed on the courtyard's water vat; dripping water froze into glistening icicles.】

【Inside the small house, Xie Yuan, once indifferent, now focused entirely.】

【Now, each move required long thought; he hesitated, unable to decide.】

【You remained calm, posture upright, mind clear—since your mother's death and your blindness, months had passed.】

【In utter darkness, unable to see, having endured profound grief and pain—this was unbearable torment for any man.】

【Like an exquisitely sharp carving knife, it constantly scraped and pierced your heart.】

【The sorrow and anguish in your chest burned like oil poured over fire, scorching your spirit.】

【You had nearly broken down, nearly surrendered to despair; each time, a clear qi would rise in your chest, restoring your calm.】

【When the heart is still, thought arises; unconsciously, you had learned to "use one mind for two purposes."】

【When the heart is still, the body is at peace; all things reveal their nature in quiet observation.】

【In this state, a chessboard seemed to float in your mind; across from you sat an invisible opponent, moving slowly, each step anticipated.】

The tea on the heated bed had boiled for a long time; none of the servants dared approach—not even the favored Xie Hou, who stood trembling, unwilling to move.

【Because their Young Master was about to lose—and his face was dark as thunder.】

【"Checkmate!" you announced your final move.】

【Xie Hou, hearing this, dared not move the pieces.】

【On the board, the black side had been shattered, its only remaining pieces the two guards and the general, desperately holding on; the red side's chariot and cannon loomed, poised to strike the black king's vital point.】

【Hua An watched, heart pounding—he never imagined his Young Master would lose so utterly.】

【How could this be!】

【The servants exchanged glances, silent. The Lord of Wo Yun was quick-tempered and proud—how would he react to this defeat?】

【They all feared punishment.】

【Xie Yuan tore open his robe; the long-life locket at his chest clinked as it swung; the brazier burned fiercely, his heart as restless as its flames.】

"Another game!" he shouted loudly.

Upon hearing this, Xie Hou'er quickly reset the chessboard.

The game began again!

"I'll go first this time!" Xie Yuan said eagerly.

You nodded slightly.

"Cannon two to five," Xie Yuan launched an offensive, no longer bound by his opponent's rhythm from the last game.

"Horse eight to seven."

……

Hua'an grew anxious, seeing Xie Yuan once again losing on the board—and even faster than last time.

In contrast, Xie Guan still had most of his pieces intact, while Xie Yuan's black pieces were completely overwhelmed.

"Double Rook Check" pressed toward the General's palace; the Cannon also poised to strike, looming over the black side's Nine Palaces.

Xie Yuan struggled at every move, never even getting a chance to exchange pieces, constantly suppressed until the end.

Wu Tong was delighted that the young master had won two games in a row, but seeing Xie Yuan's face flushed to his neck, eyes red with rage, he couldn't help but worry the young master of the great courtyard might cause a scene.

The servants dared not even breathe, fearing they'd invite misfortune. They looked again at the boy in black cloth—calm, expressionless, neither sad nor happy—and for some reason, a sense of awe arose in them.

Hua'an too was deeply troubled, fearing another loss might enrage the volatile "Wo Yun Young Master."

Xie Yuan picked up his teacup, his throat dry, and drained it in one gulp: "Another game!"

Before Xie Hou'er could move, he had already set up the board himself.

You replied: "Alright."

"I'll go first."

"Right Cannon patrols the river," Xie Yuan's move was a desperate gamble—he bet you'd never seen such a formation, hoping to win by risk.

……

"Checkmate!"

Xie Hou'er's forehead was drenched in sweat; his young master had now lost three games in a row, each faster than the last.

In this game, Xie Yuan's black pieces had already lost their Rook mid-board; despite his desperate defense, he could not withstand the assault.

Xie Yuan shouted angrily: "Another game!"

You gently picked up one of the teacups from your small courtyard and spoke slowly:

"Three wins out of three—you've lost, Sixth Brother."

At these words, the room's atmosphere turned instantly tense!

Xie Yuan's hand froze mid-move, stunned.

Those behind him also looked anxious, unsure what to do.

"Crash—"

With a thunderous crash, Xie Yuan overturned the rosewood chess table; pieces scattered across the floor, teacups spilled—except the one in your hand, untouched.

Barefoot, Xie Yuan rushed out the door, stepping into the icy snow.

The servants behind him, clutching his boots, shouted anxiously as they chased after him.

(End of Chapter)