Chapter 73

At these words, the gathered heroes shot him death glares one after another.

Ye Mengse gave a start.

This place was a gathering of top experts, each radiating a powerful aura; there were surely no fewer than ten who could match Duan Yanqing in a contest — if they all focused their fire on him, how could he possibly survive?

He immediately stepped forward and grabbed the South Sea Crocodile God: "Third Brother, stop talking nonsense! Playing chess isn't a fight with weapons — why draw a blade?"

The South Sea Crocodile God shook her off and stubbornly argued: "You're the one talking nonsense. If it's not a fight, what did the Boss come all this way for?"

Ye Mengse was about to speak when Duan Yanqing's voice rang out: "Shut up!"

The South Sea Crocodile God, the moment he met Duan Yanqing's cold, fierce gaze, immediately wilted, lowered his head, and sheepishly dared not speak.

Duan Yanqing paid him no heed and went on studying the board by himself.

The gathered heroes also noticed that the South Sea Crocodile God seemed a bit slow in the head, so his words were jumbled and he failed to distinguish between what was important and what was trivial, and they didn't bother to argue with him.

Duan Yanqing concentrated in thought. After a very long while, his left-hand iron staff reached into the chess box and tapped; the tip of the staff, as if by suction, drew out a white piece 263 and placed it on the board.

Suxinghe followed with his move.

Unlike in the original, the real Xu Zhu, though still simple and dull, was not to the degree described in the book, so he did not rashly speak up and disturb Duan Yanqing.

Likewise, Ding Chunqiu, with Jiang Sishui and Suxinghe as two great enemies, did not wish to invite more trouble, so when Duan Yanqing was trapped by the board, he did not add insult to injury and scheme against him in secret.

Thus, although the board had stirred up Duan Yanqing's inner demons, he forcibly suppressed them with his profound internal energy and resolute will.

Move one hair and the whole body stirs — naturally, the incident where Xu Zhu, trying to save someone, blundered into the key move that broke the deadlock would not occur.

"It seems no one today can break it," Jiang Sishui thought.

In the original, Xu Zhu's random move caused every expert present — including Duan Yu, Murong Fu, and Duan Yu — to burst out laughing.

From this one can see that, in the eyes of those who understood chess, that move was utterly laughable; no one would ever think to play there.

That is precisely the difficulty of the "Zhenlong Chess Game."

Now that the element of coincidence is gone, the board simply cannot be broken.

"Good — this saves a lot of trouble."

As expected, after Duan Yanqing hesitated for a while, caught between advance and retreat, he was ultimately helpless.

He let out a long sigh and conceded outright.

Suxinghe stood up and said: "Is there any other hero who would care to give instruction?"

The gathered heroes looked at each other.

But seeing so many big shots return defeated, no one stepped forward to try.

So then next...

Suxinghe turned his head toward Ding Chunqiu and was about to speak when Murong Fu stepped forward first and politely said to Jiang Sishui: "May I ask how I should address you?"

Jiang Sishui's "Cicada Sense" detected Murong Fu's hostility, and he said coolly: "Jiang Sishui."

Murong Fu wore a smile, modest and courteous: "I am Murong Fu; I pay my respects to Brother Jiang."

Jiang Sishui, however, did not mince words and got straight to the point: "If you have something to say, say it directly."

Murong Fu gave a faint smile: "I have been obsessed with martial arts since childhood, and I especially love the way of the sword. Just now I saw Brother Jiang's Sword Technique was divine, easily neutralizing Master Jiumozhi's 'Formless Siphoning Finger,' and I am quite impressed."

Jiang Sishui caught the implied meaning and could not help but give a dry laugh: "So you want to have a match with me?"

"I humbly ask Brother Jiang not to stint in teaching me." Murong Fu's expression was slightly solemn.

In fact, after seeing Jiang Sishui casually neutralize Jiumozhi's sneak attack finger, Murong Fu knew he was no match for Jiang Sishui.

After all, both were of the Weida Sect, but he was only at the early stage, while the other was already at the late stage.

But he had reasons he could not avoid acting.

First, out of jealousy.

Murong Fu was hailed as "Southern Murong," paired with "Northern Qiao Feng," and regarded as the top talent of the younger generation in Suzhou.

Yet at some point he could not pinpoint, he found that more and more outstanding peers were appearing.

The pressure grew greater, the sense of crisis heavier; combined with his naturally narrow-minded nature, whenever he saw such people, he wanted to measure himself against them.

He wanted to prove that the name "Southern Murong" held no water.

Therefore, when he met Xu Zhu, he took the initiative to propose a Compare Lightness Skills with him.

When he met Tang Bohu, Murong Fu, though displeased inside, still believed he could surpass the other.

As for Shen Lang, he simply felt a sense of defeat and did not wish to compare with him for the time being.

Now that an even stronger Jiang Sishui had appeared, he naturally hoped to see Jiang Sishui come to grief — preferably die quickly.

Second, out of anger.

A Bi was a maid of the Murong household, raised from childhood, yet after he showed hostility toward Jiang Sishui, she actually stepped forward to bow.

After it was done, she even stood on the Xiaoyao Sect's side!

A Bi's act, born of filial piety, instantly struck Murong Fu's sensitive nerve.

He would not allow someone he regarded as his private property to lean toward the opposing side.

Third, it was out of helplessness.

Earlier he had spoken up for Jiumozhi, trying to make Jiang Sishui the target of all arrows; he did not believe Jiang Sishui could fail to see through it.

Thus, a grudge had already been formed between the two sides.

At this point he had two options.

One was to steel himself and oppose Jiang Sishui to the end; the other was to take the initiative to show goodwill, then through A Bi's connection, turn hostility into friendship.

Ultimately, driven by jealousy and anger, he chose the former.

Of course, Murong Fu, knowing full well he was no match, still leapt out — not to invite humiliation upon himself.

He had his own calculations.

Especially since he was the first to issue the challenge, there was much to consider in that.

He had decided that if he waited until Jiang Sishui was engaged in a fight with someone else before joining forces against that opponent, he would be accused of "taking advantage of a vulnerable moment."

This would damage his reputation.

So he decided to strike first!

Murong Fu was certain that once he made his move, Ding Chunqiu and Kumo Zhi would inevitably get involved.

One of these two was a member of the Xie Sect, and the other had extremely thick skin; neither cared about their reputation nor feared others' criticism.

And Jiang Sishui's cultivation at the Late Grandmaster Stage was enough to make them wary, so as long as they wanted to win, they would not miss such a golden opportunity to attack together.

Even those who witnessed Jiang Sishui entering the formation last night might, seeing a chance to profit, come forward to kick the fallen man.

After all, "when a wall falls, everyone pushes it" is human nature.

In this way, Murong Fu could both join forces with others and avoid criticism; was this not a perfect solution?

Murong Fu's calculations were extremely precise, but the Four Great Retainers and the three women including Wang Yuyan knew none of this.

Seeing Murong Fu "without cause" make an enemy, the seven of them were not only confused but also grew increasingly anxious.

"Young Master, you..." Deng Baichuan stepped forward to offer advice.

Murong Fu, however, waved his sleeve to cut him off, drew his sword from its sheath, and held it in a salute: "Please!"

Now that matters had reached this point, how could Jiang Sishui possibly retreat?

With his sword in hand, the atmosphere on the spot instantly grew tense.

080 One Move to Rule Them All: The Battle of Seven Grandmasters

Murong Fu leaped into the air, his body swift as a flying swallow; the cold, sharp long sword reflected a grim sword light under the sunlight, sweeping over Jiang Sishui like a violent storm.

Just as in the original story, to maintain his reputation of "using their own methods against them," Murong Fu had studied hundreds of martial arts since childhood.

And when fighting others, his usual tactic was to employ techniques from multiple Men Sects within a single move, making him a master of "showing off skills."

At this moment, Jiang Sishui's internal energy was profound, far surpassing Murong Fu's; with a single glance at the opponent's sword strike, he saw dozens of variations and knew this young man was showing off again.

He did not recognize what Sword Technique the opponent was using or which Men Sect it came from, but none of that mattered.

As long as it was not a Sword Technique above the level of divine arts, it would be constrained by the "Sword-Breaking Style"!

He thrust his sword diagonally; it appeared slow but was actually fast, not only interrupting the subsequent variations of Murong Fu's Sword Technique but also exploiting the flaws within the opponent's sword moves.

Murong Fu frowned; if he insisted on cutting down this sword strike, he himself would be pierced first.

He immediately dared not advance recklessly, instead swinging his sword back horizontally to block Jiang Sishui's strike.

Jiang Sishui's long sword did not collide with it; he withdrew to dodge, then thrust another strike. Because his hand speed was too fast, to ordinary observers it seemed as though he had never dodged at all.

Yet the two swords truly crossed each other.

Murong Fu's blocking strike missed; facing Jiang Sishui's second sword, it was as if he had voluntarily pressed his chest against the opponent's sword tip.

Murong Fu was suddenly startled!