Chapter 428: Invincible Master Huye Ming

Great Zhou can't afford to lose!

Inside the Imperial Palace, atop the vast, intricate, mysterious Hall of Mandate, the Emperor of Great Zhou sat on the Dragon Throne, gazing toward the West Palace Gate Plaza.

Seated behind him were Consort De, the calm and composed Chancellor Cao Zihuan, the graceful and beautiful Chang Gongzhu, and the laid-back Prince Qin and his consort.

Such individuals rarely gather in ordinary times, but now they have assembled because of the State Chess tournament.

Of course we can't afford to lose! It's not just Great Zhou's face; the Empress Dowager's seventy-third birthday banquet—how could such a thing be allowed to happen?

The Prince Qin yawned.

Chang Gongzhu glanced at him: 'Could you possibly have a good idea?'

Prince Qin pointed at himself: 'Me? I'm decent at martial arts and leading troops in battle, but this kind of brain‑taxing chess match—better not ask me; one mistake leads to another, I don't know how to play!'

Chang Gongzhu rolled her eyes.

The Emperor asked: 'Has the Empress Dowager retired to rest?'

Prince Qin fingered his prayer beads: 'Tomorrow is her birthday; today all nations come to court, the whole realm gathers in the capital, and now this matter blocks the way—how can she possibly rest?'

The Emperor looked toward the door and asked in a low voice: 'How is the chess match going?'

To report the latest developments promptly, the Tàijiān trailed from the stairway, winding and coiling, until they reached the West Palace Gate, with Eunuch Jia at the forefront, and immediately replied: 'Your Majesty, the Chess King has just lost, and the Chess Sage Senior Officer, escorted by his disciples, has stepped onto the board!'

Prince Qin became interested: 'Which state did the Senior Official choose as the opening piece?'

Eunuch Jia said: 'Black Yuan State!'

'Good!' Not only Prince Qin, but even the Chancellor, who had been squinting, exclaimed 'Good!'

In State Chess, there are thirty‑six states, each represented by a piece, and the player may choose only one!

The Chess Sage Senior Official's chosen Black Yuan State is a nomadic people, skilled at war‑supporting war; its internal affairs, logistics, and offensive power pose no problem!

It seems the Chess Sage Senior Official is preparing a full‑scale attack to crush the prestige of the Qin state's players!' Chang Gongzhu laughed.

The Emperor waved his hand: 'Report at any time!'

Yes!

Eunuch Jia bowed and withdrew.

……

With the main cavalry sweeping thirty cities, luring the enemy deep in to seek a decisive battle with their main force!

Reorganized defeated cavalry create a panic, launching thunder‑like night raids to harass the enemy's major strongholds!

Beacon fires stretch to the heavens, dark clouds press upon the city, threatening to topple it……

At that moment, beneath the chessboard, the retired Senior Officer of the Tàijiān who is the Chess Sage, his murky old eyes flashing with sharp light, making one dare not meet his gaze!

Word by word, step by step, piece by piece!

On the board, the realm shifts, winds and clouds surge, lightning roars—Huye Ming's side hangs in peril!

Good!

Thunderous applause rose from below, the spectators' confidence soared!

The Chess Sage Senior Official, old yet unyielding, gives himself no retreat, gives the opponent none, and constantly forces a decisive battle!

All of Huye Ming's favored schemes and tricks came to naught!

Hold fast! Do not sally forth! Hold fast!

Huye Ming's forehead beaded with sweat, he remained purely on the defensive.

Attack! Attack!

Hold fast! Hold fast!

……

The situation on the board shifted incessantly; though it was a game, it was indistinguishable from the real world, gripping the hearts of the hundred‑thousand‑strong crowd!

Yet what puzzled all the people of Great Zhou was that Huye Ming, though constantly in danger, kept dodging and evading, never showing a sign of defeat!

Yet the Chess Sage Senior Official, fully focused, his spirit and energy united, felt his strength gradually waning!

This can't go on!

In the crowd, Jiang Xiaoyu clenched his fists and shouted angrily!

The dense throng around glanced at her, their faces full of 'Nonsense, do we need you to say that?'

Jiang Xiaoyu shrank his neck.

This can't go on!

Crown Prince Ji Qian said the same thing.

Gazing at Ying Zihou opposite, seeing him still relaxed and carefree, he felt utterly unsure!

After thinking, he gave a glance to a nearby official.

That official stepped forward: 'Character in chess reflects character in person; Master Huye Ming, the old Chess Sage is aged and frail—please settle this quickly!'

Please settle this quickly!

Countless people below shouted.

Good! Haha……

Huye Ming burst into his signature laugh, sweeping his gaze over everyone present, exuding the loneliness of an invincible master of vertical and horizontal strategies, then raised his chess rod and placed eight pieces in succession: 'To blunt the enemy's sharpness, to dodge their blade—once, again, again and again, until exhausted!'

Senior Official, you not only launched a full‑scale assault, but also calculated eighteen moves ahead, worthy of being the top among today's chess masters—yet you never imagined you could not breach my defense, and I have held firm!

So then, please face my thunderous wrath!

As his words fell, our side's 'great army' poured forth!

The Chess Sage Senior Official's once invincible cavalry, now utterly exhausted, could not withstand a single blow!

In an instant the troops collapsed like a mountain falling, a total rout!

The 'state' representing the Chess Sage's side turned directly to ash!

Crushing defeat!

Pfft—

The old Go Sage's face turned ashen; lying face up, he spat a mouthful of old blood and retreated seven or eight steps.

"Master!" Several disciples hurried forward.

"Elder Sir!"

The tightly packed crowd of spectators involuntarily stepped forward a few paces.

Crown Prince Ji Gan also said in a deep voice: "Elder Sir lacks the strength; quickly help him down to rest!"

Soon, the defeated Go Sage was helped down by others.

Below the chessboard, Hu Yeming stood with his hands behind his back, scanning everyone again, barely concealing the contempt in his eyes: "Even the Go Sage of Great Zhou has fallen; the Go circles of Great Zhou truly have no successors!"

"Ha ha..."

Ying Zihou laughed loudly to the heavens, his face full of amusement.

These words caused great harm and were extremely insulting!

The spectators were nearly bursting with rage!

The Crown Prince's breathing grew ragged, and he secretly clenched his fists.

Hu Yeming added: "Anyone else? If no one steps up, I'm going back to get a good sleep!"

Crown Prince Ji Gan took a deep breath: "Great Zhou is brimming with heavenly talent and earthly spirits; countless capable people exist—why must Master Hu be in such a hurry?"

Hu Yeming chuckled: "Oh? Then please come up!"

Ji Gan glanced around in all directions.

Yet wherever his gaze fell, no one dared to respond.

This is no ordinary sparring match but a representation of national war; the Go Sage has been defeated—who would go up just to seek a laughingstock???

……

Inside the Fengtian Pavilion of the imperial palace.

"The Go Sage has been defeated, and Hu Yeming is... issuing a challenge!"

Jia Gonggong's words struck like a muffled thunderbolt hitting the hearts of the few most powerful figures of Great Zhou present!

The entire hall was deathly silent.

After a while, the Emperor's hoarse voice broke into a bitter laugh: "The entire capital of Great Zhou, a land of propriety and the six arts, actually has not a single person who can match a Great Qin chess player—how laughable! Hahaha..."

The Qin King and Chang Gongzhu exchanged a glance, their expressions tense and helpless: "Playing chess has nothing to do with cultivation; one cannot ascend just because one's cultivation is high!"

The Emperor looked toward the Chancellor: "Chancellor?"

Chancellor Cao Zhenhuan, his old composure gone, wore a bitter face: "Your servant... really... has nothing to say; although I come from a civil official background and know a bit of the gentleman's six arts, but..."

"I didn't mean for you to go yourself!" the Emperor said, holding his forehead.

The Chancellor pondered again and again: "I originally had many candidates in mind, yet not a single one is a match for the Go King or Go Sage, not even the Go Sage's disciples— they too have been defeated—"

The Emperor fell silent.

At this moment, the Qin King's Consort and the Virtuous Consort exchanged a glance and said: "Perhaps there is someone who can give it a try!"

"Who?" the Emperor, the Qin King, and Chang Gongzhu asked in unison.

"Heng Xian!"

The Virtuous Consort said solemnly.

(End of chapter)