Chen Yunfan.
Was it him?
Without a doubt.
On the chessboard in Chen Yi's mind, the white stone representing Chen Yunfan sat squarely in the lower-left courtyard.
—In that corner of the board representing Shuzhou, Chen Yunfan was the undisputed protagonist.
If Chen Yi had not been there, if Liu Hong's scheme had succeeded, just look at what state Shuzhou would have fallen into.
Because of Xiao Jinghong, White Immortal, and Li Wudang, the Xiao Family would not have been destroyed, but their loss of power in Shuzhou would have been virtually set in stone at the Imperial Court.
And if Liu Hong's plan had succeeded, Shuzhou would have descended into chaos.
The Imperial Court would have dispatched troops to suppress it, and Chen Yunfan would have risen in a single leap to quell the rebellion.
At the same time, the Imperial Court would have had cause to punish the Xiao Family and use that opportunity to carve up the Dingyuan Army.
The Xiao Family might still have remained the Dingyuan Army's commander in name, but their military strength would certainly not have remained as it was today.
It would have been split in two, perhaps even three.
Chen Yunfan would get one portion, the Imperial Court would reclaim one, and the Xiao Family would retain one.
And that was not all.
This "Chen Yi" fledgling would have acted in secret.
Using the White Tiger Guard's strength, he would have gradually gnawed away at and seized control of the Xiao Family's remaining forces, then drawn close to Chen Yunfan as the greater tide demanded.
There was also the Xiao Family's Second Branch, Xiao Wang, Xiao Dongchen, and Xiao Qiuyun...
Thus, Chen Yunfan would have seized the Dingyuan Army without lifting a finger.
Countless thoughts raced through Chen Yi's mind as