boyutpedia Chapter 44: A Nighttime Chess Game
Chapter 44: A Nighttime Chess Game
The embassy that had been stationed there looked helplessly at Fan Xian.
"Your trick is too obvious. If I were the Second Prince, I wouldn't fall for it."
Fan Xian had already told Yan Bingyun his plan, and Yan Bingyun could naturally guess Fan Xian's purpose at this moment.
"Yes, we've already waited here for three days. It's unreasonable to wait any longer. Let's set off tomorrow!"
Fan Xian felt somewhat helpless; he wasn't just waiting for Li Chengze to ambush him.
They were also waiting for Chen Pingping's Black Knights and for Chen Pingping's explanation.
When he went to Northern Qi, just before entering Northern Qi territory, and when he encountered danger, Fan Xian did not see Chen Pingping's Black Riders.
Fan Xian could understand that Chen Pingping had his reasons, but Chen Pingping also owed him a reasonable explanation.
Fan Xian had basically guessed it.
It was probably his biological father's scheme from the very beginning.
"It's true what they say, there's no kinship in the royal family. And I actually got to experience something like this!"
Fan Xian snorted inwardly, his impression of Emperor Qing dropping even further.
"Alright, you two go back and tell Ye Chengfeng that I've remembered this favor, and that he should catch up with us as soon as possible."
Fan Xian suddenly stood up and shouted towards the woods not far away.
Previously, Fan Xian would never have noticed that Qiu Xiang and Dong Xiang were secretly following him.
But now that he has reached the ninth rank, his five senses have greatly improved, and Qiu Xiang and Dong Xiang are only at the eighth rank in the end, so they cannot hide it from Fan Xian.
"Yes, Lord Fan, we will go back and report to the young master immediately."
Two hours later, Ye Chengfeng met up with Fan Xian.
Upon meeting, Ye Chengfeng immediately complained, "You're really patient; you actually waited at the border for three days!"
When Fan Xian waited all day and Li Chengze's men didn't arrive, Ye Chengfeng knew that Li Chengze had backed down.
"Hehe, whatever makes you happy."
Fan Xian completely ignored Ye Chengfeng's teasing and instead said something meaningful to Ye Chengfeng.
"Tch, they just want to test Chen Pingping, why all the mystery?"
Ye Chengfeng's words were nothing in themselves, but Yan Bingyun, who was standing next to him, couldn't pretend she hadn't heard them.
His greatest idol was Chen Pingping.
As for his identity, these were all Sean's side of the story, and Yan Bingyun never believed them from beginning to end.
In fact, whether it's Ye Chengfeng, Xiao En, or Fan Xian, they are all just speculating; there is no substantial evidence whatsoever.
The truth of this matter may not even be known to Emperor Qing, because it is of no use to him.
Perhaps only Chen Pingping knows the truth.
In the world of Joy of Life, the most cunning strategist has always been Chen Pingping.
Emperor Qing was able to seize the initiative simply because he had enough power and strength.
Besides, if Chen Pingping were strong enough, how could he possibly hold back? He would have killed him long ago.
Ye Chengfeng's situation is the same. If he were a Grandmaster, why would he have to struggle so hard to fight for the survival space of Dongyi City?
Isn't it better to live a carefree and happy life in Dongyi City?
However, Yan Bingyun did not speak, but kept the matter in mind. In his opinion, Ye Chengfeng was from Dongyi City, so it was normal for him to slander Chen Pingping.
"I knew I couldn't hide it from you. Do you think I should suspect him?"
"You're asking me? Would you believe me if I told you?"
"Of course I believe you. You're my brother-in-law, we're family."
Fan Xian's eyes were very sincere, but unfortunately Ye Chengfeng was not fooled.
"Come on, you're a seasoned fox, you can't fool me."
"Am I really that bad at acting?"
Fan Xian awkwardly touched his cheek and then said, "Was I not sincere enough just now?"
"His acting skills are fine. He probably learned them from Chen Pingping. I think with his personality, he must have talked to you this sincerely before."
"Forehead!"
Fan Xian was speechless.
"This guy, even at a time like this, is still trying to sow discord, but what he said isn't entirely unreasonable."
Fan Xian recalled his time with Chen Pingping, and it seemed that every word he said was full of profound meaning and had a very strong purpose.
It wasn't that Chen Pingping's acting was too bad, allowing Fan Xian to see through his act; rather, it was that Chen Pingping's performance was too perfect.
This is the biggest flaw.
Fan Xian knew that Ye Chengfeng was using a tactic to sow discord, but he still fell for it.
"Can't we just have an open and honest talk? By the way, what was that word you said before I passed out? 'Holy shit,' right? What did that mean?"
Fan Xian looked completely clueless about what "Holy crap" meant.
He had been observing Ye Chengfeng's reaction to hearing that word.
When Ye Chengfeng heard "Holy crap," his expression subtly changed for a split second.
However, Ye Chengfeng reacted quickly.
"Holy crap? What does that mean? It doesn't sound like a compliment. Are you insulting me?"
"You've never played chess? Holy crap, you don't even know what a knight is?"
"Holy crap!"
Chess exists in the world of Joy of Life, Fan Xian explained, and Ye Chengfeng really couldn't refute it.
However, on the chessboard of Joy of Life World Chess, the middle is not the Chu River and Han Border, but the Border Buffer Zone.
"I don't know how to play chess. What, you're interested in chess? Although I don't know how to play chess, I do know a little about Go. How about a game?"
Fan Xian is indeed good at Go. When Lin Ruofu played against his retainer Yuan Hongdao, Fan Xian could tell at a glance that Lin Ruofu was at a disadvantage.
"Well, the night is long, and with nothing to do, this is a good way to pass the time."
As soon as he finished speaking, Fan Xian gave Wang Qinian a look.
Wang Qinian immediately understood.
The process of playing chess can provide a good understanding of a person's character, which is Fan Xian's purpose.
Unfortunately, Fan Xian miscalculated. Playing chess with Ye Chengfeng was different from playing chess with anyone else.
Playing against someone who has grasped the essence of swordsmanship is incredibly taxing on your opponent's mental strength.
The two had barely sat down, and the chessboard hadn't even been set up, when Fan Xian was enveloped by the sharp sword intent released by Ye Chengfeng.
Fan Xian had only just grasped the essence of martial arts, so you can imagine the immense pressure he felt facing Ye Chengfeng's surging sword intent!
"You might be good at chess, but chess isn't just about skill."
Ye Chengfeng looked at Fan Xian with amusement.
Faced with such pressure, Fan Xian's arrogance was aroused instead.
The two players moved their pieces very quickly, and in just half a quarter of an hour, the chessboard was filled with black and white pieces.
"I've won! I'm about to win! As long as I bet here, I'll win!"
Fan Xian painstakingly took out a black piece, intending to place it in a position that could decide the outcome of the game.
But with his hand hovering over the chessboard, the chess piece between his fingers just wouldn't fall!
"Hmm! The chess piece is crumbling?"
Fan Xian stared incredulously at the chess piece in his hand that was gradually crumbling.
While Fan Xian was still in a daze, the chess piece in his hand turned into dust.
"You're cheating! You're being dishonest!"
"How is that cheating? That's how I played chess with the old man back in the Sword Pavilion!"
Fan Xian was furious. Good heavens, playing chess with a Grandmaster like this, there's no way things will get out of hand.
"Okay, I give up, alright?"
Fan Xian felt frustrated playing this game of chess. It wasn't a contest of chess skills at all; it was clearly a battle of martial arts essence.
Ye Chengfeng smiled and withdrew his sword intent, and Fan Xian immediately felt incredibly relaxed.
Immediately afterwards, Fan Xian's expression turned to one of immense joy.
"Could you play chess with me more often in the future?"
Why would Fan Xian act this way?
The reason is simple: under the pressure of Ye Chengfeng's sword intent, Fan Xian found that his true energy had actually become more peaceful!
He wondered if he could play chess with Ye Chengfeng more often, would he no longer have to worry about his true energy going berserk in the future?
What if I played a few rounds against a Grandmaster?