Turning the Tables

Both men thought of this and exchanged a glance, their expressions growing slightly stern.

As instructors at the academy, how could they take the lead in helping a student cheat?

No, absolutely not. Even a young master of the Divine General Residence couldn't get away with that. He hadn't even brought a gift... pah, what gift? Even gifts wouldn't help. It wasn't as if he were a prince...

While the two men scrambled to think of a tactful way to refuse the boy, Li Hao had already answered Shen Yunqing:

"That technique? I've already learned it."

"Well, it's perfectly normal to find it difficult. Take your time studying it, and..."

Shen Yunqing stopped halfway through his sentence, staring at Li Hao in astonishment. "What did you say?"

"I said I've already learned the technique on the stone tablet," Li Hao had to repeat, wondering whether the old man was hard of hearing.

"Learned it?"

Opposite him, the gray-robed elder Zhao Zongyuan looked at Li Hao in surprise. Did "learned it" mean he had grasped the basics?

"Did you choose the Wind Severing Fist or the Nine Stars Triple Step?"

Shen Yunqing recovered as well and couldn't help sizing Li Hao up. Was this brat boasting?

"The Wind Severing Fist."

Li Hao thought for a moment, seeming to realize that this was indeed somewhat surprising. He promptly threw a punch. The wind stirred faintly around his fist, its force giving off a low hum, as though a keen wind blade had slashed out through the gust.

The two men's gazes sharpened. They recognized one of the Wind Severing Fist's offensive moves. He could already produce humming wind and slashing force! This was far beyond merely grasping the basics; it was deft enough to border on perfection.

Could it be...

They exchanged a glance, their eyes darkening with wariness. They had long heard that the Li Family's Listening Rain Pavilion housed countless martial techniques. Could the Wind Severing Fist be among them?

But all three techniques on the stone tablets belonged to Tan Palace Academy's collection. They were changed every six years, and neither man had ever heard of them appearing outside the academy.

Relationships between major powers were complicated. Many thoughts sprang into the elders' minds, but they soon suppressed them without questioning Li Hao.

It never occurred to them that Li Hao had comprehended this fist technique in those few short moments.

That little time was barely enough to read it carefully once. Grasping even the barest essentials would have been impressive, let alone reaching deftness or even perfection.

"In that case, you've already passed. But we aren't in charge of the assessment. Go find that man over there."

Shen Yunqing pointed toward the center of the square. A middle-aged man stood there with his hands behind his back and a composed expression. Four people were demonstrating techniques before him, though their movements were clearly somewhat clumsy.

"I'll go in a moment."

Li Hao was in no hurry. Instead, his gaze settled on the board between the two men. After looking it over twice, he immediately understood the situation. "This game is nearly lost."

"Hmm?"

Both elders were slightly surprised. Shen Yunqing raised an eyebrow. "You know how to play at your age?"

"Just a little," Li Hao said modestly.

"Oh?"

Across from him, Zhao Zongyuan smiled and cast Shen Yunqing a teasing glance. "Then tell us who's winning and who's losing."

Shen Yunqing laughed and cursed at him irritably.

Li Hao answered honestly. "If he keeps playing the way he has been, he'll lose."

As he spoke, he pointed at Shen Yunqing.

Shen Yunqing flushed, feeling a little embarrassed. He now believed that the boy did know something about the game. He cleared his throat twice. "I went to receive you all. My mind wasn't on this game, so I wasn't playing properly."

"Oh, give it a rest."

If there hadn't been a junior present, Zhao Zongyuan might well have kicked him a couple of times. He rolled his eyes.

Then Zhao Zongyuan asked Li Hao, "From the sound of it, he still has a chance to win?"

"Yes."

Li Hao nodded. His voice lost its casual tone and became utterly certain:

"If he changes his approach, he can win!"

"Oh?"

Zhao Zongyuan had only asked in jest, but the answer startled him. His smile faded, and he said evenly, "Then tell us how he can win this game."

Shen Yunqing was surprised and looked at Li Hao curiously as well. Being able to tell who was winning meant that Li Hao at least understood some basic rules. But seeing a path to victory? Surely he was joking. Even Shen Yunqing himself couldn't find one.

"Place a stone here."

Li Hao pointed at a spot on the board.

Zhao Zongyuan glanced at it and gave a faint sneer. "What if I play here?" He pointed to a nearby spot.

"Here," Li Hao said, pointing again.

"And if I play here?"

"Here."

"I..." Zhao Zongyuan was about to point at another blocking move when his expression suddenly froze. He stared at the board, his gaze flickering.

No stones had been placed where they pointed, but the board was already imprinted in his mind, with stones occupying each of those positions.

There was nothing remarkable about those moves, much less any winning advantage, but... something about them seemed subtle.

That severed vein seemed capable of reconnecting!

Zhao Zongyuan's gaze grew grave. He withdrew his pointing finger, his face thoughtful.

At first, Shen Yunqing hadn't seen anything either. But his old friend's sudden change of expression startled him. He took a closer look, examining and considering it carefully. Before long, his eyes gleamed, and he couldn't help looking at Li Hao.

Those moves really did feel like a snake joining its mouth to its tail!

They had actually breathed a sliver of life into a position that had been doomed!

"I'll play here..." After pondering for a long while, Zhao Zongyuan pointed elsewhere, intending to behead the board's dragon outright rather than get bogged down in a struggle.

Li Hao seemed to have anticipated it. He raised his hand and pointed again. "A small knight's move in the corner. Break the position with a pincer."

A stone placed there would form a flying dagger, cutting open a path through the killing net!

Smack!

Once Shen Yunqing saw it clearly, he couldn't resist slapping his thigh. What a brilliant move!

Why hadn't I thought of it? Why hadn't I seen it?!

Zhao Zongyuan's pupils contracted slightly. He couldn't help looking up at Li Hao's youthful face, feeling almost dazed for a moment.

How could such a young boy play with such seasoned ruthlessness?!

"Come, come. Sit here. You play."

Shen Yunqing braced both hands against the ground and shuffled aside. "Let me see just how well you can play. It doesn't matter if you lose. If you actually win, I'll give you a sip of Drunken Wind Brew."

"All right."

Li Hao nodded without standing on ceremony. He had come over for this game in the first place.

He settled into the spot, where the flattened grass still held a little warmth.

Zhao Zongyuan knitted his brows tightly, his expression growing solemn. He gave Li Hao a long, searching look. Rather than investigate why the boy was so skilled, he gathered his concentration and said in a low voice, "Let's give it a try, then."

Li Hao slipped his fingers into the stone bowl, picked up a black stone between his index and middle fingers, and placed it on the board.

He first filled the position he had pointed out earlier.

Opposite him, Zhao Zongyuan followed with a stone of his own, saying nothing.

The two began playing in earnest.

In the square, numerous scions of aristocratic clans and gifted youngsters from the martial world practiced their movement techniques, punches, and kicks, sweating buckets as they competed for places in the Class A and Class B Institutes.

Yet here in this corner, on the tiny board before them, a vicious battle of deception unfolded. Each stone fell like a blade, every move a killing strike!

After a long while, an aged hand trembled as it picked a stone from the bowl. But after shaking for a moment, the stone slipped from between the fingers and fell back.

Zhao Zongyuan's aged face was now drenched in sweat, just like those young students throwing punches and kicks in the square.

The game's outcome was sealed.

"I... lost."

Zhao Zongyuan's throat seemed parched and cracked, the words coming with difficulty.

Beside him, Shen Yunqing stared at the board, dumbfounded and incredulous. The game he had been about to lose had been dragged back from the raging tide by Li Hao. He had completely broken the previous pattern of play, reclaimed all the lost territory, and attacked relentlessly, finally forcing out a victory of one and a half points when they counted the score!

That slender margin of one and a half points was not to be underestimated. Reversing such a ruined position to this extent was simply unbelievable!

"Thank you for the game, Senior."

Li Hao withdrew his hand and bowed his head slightly, his expression somewhat solemn. Once he finished the bow, however, he relaxed again.

He was at the fifth rank of the Chess Dao and often played with the Fifth Master, but he had rarely tested himself against experts elsewhere. These two elders appeared a little weaker than the Fifth Master, probably barely around the fourth rank.

That was already quite remarkable.

After all, both elders were martial artists. Finding the leisure to study another pursuit and reach this level must have taken considerable effort, proof of their love for the game.

Zhao Zongyuan gave a bitter chuckle and looked up at Li Hao, feeling as though he were looking at a monster.

How did this Li Family boy's mind work? He hadn't even been alive as long as I'd been playing, yet he beat me just like that?

Could playing this game depend on talent too?

"Impressive, truly impressive!" Beside them, Shen Yunqing clicked his tongue in admiration.

Li Hao smiled. "That was just luck. How about another game?"

Zhao Zongyuan was somewhat speechless. "Haven't you still got your technique assessment to take?" he said glumly. "There aren't many places in the Class A Institute. Go secure one first."

"Uh, all right."

Li Hao came back to his senses. He didn't particularly care about a place in the Class A Institute, but he might as well make the trip now to save himself trouble later.

"Wait for me, then, Senior. I'll be right back," Li Hao said.

Zhao Zongyuan and Shen Yunqing looked at him strangely. Why did it feel as though this boy cared more about playing than entering the Class A Institute to train?

"Make sure you wait!"

Li Hao rose. Still worried, he called out once more before leaving, then hurried toward the middle-aged man in the center of the square.

(End of chapter)