Chapter 71

However, since they did not step forward, someone else naturally would.

South South Murong Fu leaped onto the large bluestone, grabbed a white piece from the big bamboo basket beside him, and accurately threw it onto the seventh-ninth line of the "Qu" position.

Suxinghe nodded inwardly; this move was precisely the key to breaking the "Zhenlong Chess Formation."

Clearly, South South Murong Fu's mastery of the game of Go was also extraordinary.

Just as he was about to place a black piece, a black piece from the large bamboo basket suddenly flew out and landed in Jiumozhi's hand.

It had been snatched by Jiumozhi using the "Crane-Controlling Skill."

Jiumozhi smiled and said, "Young Master South South Murong, although your martial arts are strong, your skill in Go is likely ordinary. This humble monk will take the liberty of playing a few moves against you on behalf of Master Su."

As he spoke, the black piece landed on the eighth-eighth line of the "Qu" position, exactly where Suxinghe had intended to play.

South South Murong Fu's gaze turned cold, and he said icily, "It is not certain that I will lose to you."

With a wave of his large hand, he placed a white piece on the fifth-sixth line of the "Qu" position.

Jiumozhi followed by placing the black piece on the fourth-fifth line of the "Qu" position.

The two exchanged moves back and forth for three turns before South South Murong Fu suddenly stopped.

Before taking the field, South South Murong Fu had carefully observed Suxinghe's playing style and pondered this game for a long time, confident that he had figured out the solution.

However, this move by Jiumozhi was completely beyond his expectations.

His carefully planned strategy for the entire board came to nothing; he had to start thinking from the beginning, and his heart became increasingly irritable, filling him with even greater disgust toward Jiumozhi.

Yet, under the gaze of so many eyes, he could not lose his temper, so he could only force himself to be patient and rethink the situation.

After a long while, he finally made another move.

In contrast, Jiumozhi thought extremely quickly and immediately responded with his next move.

With one playing fast and the other slow, after more than twenty moves had been exchanged, Jiumozhi suddenly burst into loud laughter: "Young Master South South Murong, let us part ways!"

South South Murong Fu flew into a rage: "You are just blindly disrupting things! In that case, try solving it yourself."

Jiumozhi did not mind, smiling as he said, "This chess formation was originally unsolvable by anyone in the world; it exists merely to mock people. This humble monk knows his own limits and does not wish to waste further effort on futile matters."

"But Young Master South South Murong, if you cannot even extricate yourself from my entanglements in the corners and edges, how can you possibly aspire to contend for the Central Plains?"

Jiumozhi wore a meaningful expression, speaking with a double entendre; to South South Murong Fu's ears, however, it sounded like a thunderclap on a clear day, leaving him standing there as if turned to stone.

His mind went blank, with only those two sentences echoing repeatedly: "You cannot even extricate yourself from my entanglements in the corners and edges; how can you possibly aspire to contend for the Central Plains?"

For a moment, he felt disheartened, overwhelmed by a mix of emotions.

Gradually, his vision blurred; the white and black pieces on the board seemed to transform into generals and soldiers, some groups in the east, some camps in the west, surrounding each other, trapped in mutual entanglement and fierce combat.

South South Murong Fu watched helplessly as his own troops, bearing white flags and wearing white armor, were surrounded by enemies with black flags and black armor; they charged left and right but could never break out of the encirclement.

South South Murong Fu's heart grew increasingly anxious: "The Mandate of Heaven for the South South Murong clan is exhausted; all our schemes have been in vain. I have devoted my entire life with utmost effort, only for it all to turn into a spring dream! Such is the time, such is fate; what more is there to say?"

Suddenly, he let out a loud cry, drew his sword, and slashed it across his own neck.

This scene greatly surprised everyone; witnessing the sudden crisis, they all gasped in shock.

The four major retainers rushed forward together to save him, but it was already too late.

Just at that moment, a voice urgently cried out, "Absolutely not!"

With a sharp "hiss," the long sword in South South Murong Fu's hand flickered, then clattered to the ground with a "clang."

Falling along with it was a small, fine pebble.

Everyone turned their gaze toward Xu Zhu.

The one who had just thrown the stone as a hidden weapon to save South South Murong Fu was none other than him.

Jiang Sishui was also watching this honest monk, feeling puzzled in his heart.

South South Murong Fu being provoked by the chess formation into summoning his inner demons and drawing his sword to commit suicide in despair was an event present in the original work as well, and similarly, Jiumozhi had meddled in it back then.

However, last time Duan Yu saved him with the "Six Meridian Divine Swords," whereas now Duan Yu had not even arrived.

Jiang Sishui had originally thought South South Murong Fu was surely dead, but unexpectedly, Xu Zhu jumped into the fray.

It seemed this fellow truly was not destined to die yet.

With the long sword slipping from his grasp, South South Murong Fu jolted in surprise and finally woke from the illusion, though his expression remained bewildered: "What happened to me?"

Sister Sister Azhu explained, "Young Master, you were just bewitched by this chess formation and actually attempted to kill yourself with your sword; fortunately, this young master monk threw a stone to knock the sword from your hand."

Gongye Gan, one of the four major retainers, also advised, "Young Master, this chess formation confuses the mind and soul; it seems to contain some form of illusionary art. You need not waste any more mental energy on it."

Upon learning the truth of the matter, South South Murong Fu felt both frightened and alarmed; turning to look at Xu Zhu, his feelings were somewhat complex, and he said loudly, "Many thanks to the young master monk for your righteous assistance; Gusu South South Murong will keep this gratitude in heart!"

Since two days prior, during the lightness skill contest with Xu Zhu, South South Murong Fu had won, and toward those inferior to himself, South South Murong Fu had always been quite magnanimous.

Therefore, this expression of thanks was indeed sincere.

Seeing this, Xu Zhu hastily joined his palms together to return the salute: "Amitabha; saving a life is a merit greater than building a seven-story pagoda; this is what this humble monk ought to do."

Witnessing this, the crowd of heroes could not help but smile.

This ugly monk was truly quaint in his simplicity, vastly different from those old bald villains they had seen before, who spoke endlessly of compassion while harboring malice in their hearts.

South South Murong Fu withdrew his gaze and instead cast a sideways glance at Jiumozhi, saying, "The 'instruction' the Great Master has bestowed today, I shall also keep firmly in mind."

Jiumozhi's eyes darkened, and with a smile that did not reach his skin, he said, "This humble monk has had a friendship with your honored father for several decades; Young Master South South Murong need not be so polite."

This was elevating his own seniority to place himself above South South Murong Fu, differing only slightly from pointing at his nose and saying: I am your uncle, you are my nephew, it is my duty to teach you, no thanks needed!

South South Murong Fu's face turned iron-green; he snorted coldly and leaped down from the large bluestone.

Jiumozhi also retreated with a smile on his lips.

Suxinghe then looked toward the others.

The crowd of heroes looked at one another, yet no one stepped forward.

First, Tang Tang Tang Bohu had acted madly and disgraced himself; then, South South Murong Fu had fallen under demonic influence and attempted suicide; the crowd of heroes now realized that the "Zhenlong Chess Formation" here seemed even more mysterious, and with apprehension in their hearts, they dared not approach.

"Obsession... inner demons..."

Huang Rong recalled the information about South South Murong Fu from the diary, connected it with his behavior just now and Tang Tang Tang Bohu's appearance, and vaguely began to understand.

Thus she feigned surprise and said to Huang Huang Yaoshi, "Father, won't you go up and give it a try?"

Huang Huang Yaoshi fell silent for a moment, then shook his head and said, "I cannot solve it; trying would be futile."

Huang Rong uttered an "Oh," cast another glance at Feng Heng, and then fell silent.

On the other side, Hu Hu Tiehua sighed repeatedly: "What a pity it isn't a game of Xiangqi; otherwise, with Old Stinkbug's brains, he would surely open the eyes of all the heroes present."

Chu Chu Liuxiang smiled faintly: "We came merely to watch the spectacle."

Hu Hu Tiehua said regretfully: "It seems the secret behind the 'Zhenlong Chess Array' cannot be unraveled after all. By the way, are none of you even curious?"

As he spoke, Hu Hu Tiehua looked at Gao Gao Gao Yanan with deep suspicion and said, "Gao Gao Yanan, why do I feel as though you already know?"

Gao Gao Gao Yanan shot him a glare and retorted, "What is my background?"

Hu Hu Tiehua was stunned, failing to grasp her meaning, yet still replied, "A disciple of the Huashan Sect, of course."

"Then what connection does the Huashan Sect have with the Xiaoyao Sect?"

"Connection? One is in Shanzhou, the other in Suzhou; separated by tens of thousands of li, what connection could there possibly be?"

Gao Gao Gao Yanan said irritably, "Since there is no connection, and I am no disciple of the Xiaoyao Sect, how could I possibly know the secret behind the chess array?"

Hu Hu Tiehua had no rebuttal, yet still muttered under his breath, "That may be so, but I just feel that you know."

Seeing Hu Hu Tiehua stubbornly insisting, Chu Chu Liuxiang could not help but chuckle.

Gao Gao Gao Yanan, however, felt a sudden chill in her heart.

This nemesis truly possesses keen intuition.

Unknown what crossed her mind, Gao Gao Gao Yanan secretly sighed.

Just as no one among those present stepped forward and Su Su Su Xinghe was about to rise, a voice drifted leisurely from afar: "As for this Zhenlong Chess Array, I shall give it a try myself."

Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying recognized that voice and turned to look at Jiang Sishui.

Jiang Sishui happened to be looking at her as well; he whispered, "Perfect timing; we can settle the grudge from that day all at once."

Zhao Zhao Zhao Qiying gave a slight nod of her head.

Suddenly, a sound of breaking air rang out, and three figures arrived side by side.

They were none other than Duan Duan Yanqing, Ye Ye Mengse, and the South Sea Crocodile God.

As soon as the Three Great Evils appeared, the South Sea Crocodile God's voice, sounding like metal grinding against metal, shrieked out—

"Our eldest brother was greatly pleased upon seeing the invitation; he set aside all other matters to rush here and play chess. His martial arts are invincible under heaven, even more formidable than I, Second Brother Yue."

"Whoever disagrees, come up now and play three moves of chess against him."

"Do you wish to fight one-on-one, or will you all attack together? Why have you not yet drawn your weapons?"