Chess Breakthrough

On the other side, after hanging up, Su Yulin turned around and saw Shen Jianbin wearing a sly smile.

"Yu Lin, who were you calling?"

Su Yulin quickly locked her phone. "Nobody."

"Da Fei, right? You were telling him the Northern Band is breaking up?"

Su Yulin fell silent.

She really felt like her heart was with one side while she was stuck serving another. But she was under contract, and this was for the sake of her future. She couldn't afford to fall out with Shen Jianbin.

"Heh, it's fine. You're friends, so of course you help each other! We're friends too. Even if you hadn't told him, I was going to."

"Besides, telling him would be pointless. Old Master Chen isn't someone he can persuade."

Su Yulin frowned. "Why not?"

"Do you know why Li Beifang, the Northern Band's lead singer, was able to persuade him?"

Su Yulin shook her head. "I don't."

"Old Master Chen loves chess. Apart from music, chess is the only thing he does to pass the time."

"Back then, Li Beifang managing to persuade him was already a great miracle in the Music Scene. Later, I asked around and found out that Li Beifang's father was Li Shiren, a national-level chess player!"

"I don't know about the others, but Lin Chudong definitely doesn't stand a chance."

Su Yulin furrowed her brow and unconsciously clenched her fists, worry written all over her face.

Northern Band studio.

Inside the room, several musicians were dividing up the instruments. This one was worth thirty thousand, that one fifty thousand. You take one, I'll take two.

Only one old man sat in the corner, smoking.

A crowd stood before him, each person carrying gifts. Some even held folders, which most likely contained contracts they'd prepared.

A keyboardist curled his lip. "Old Master Chen sure is popular. The band hasn't even broken up yet, and so many people are already trying to recruit him."

"Can't be helped. Our band's been held together by Old Chen. If the band's worth a million, then Old Chen's worth nine hundred thousand. The remaining hundred thousand belongs to the lead singer. Nothing for us. I'd better take my guitar and apply somewhere else!"

When Lin Chudong walked in, the scene before him stunned him too.

So many people!

He'd gotten the news quickly, and his taxi had made good time, but he was still too late.

As soon as Lin Chudong entered, he spotted two familiar faces.

Shen Lang, the owner of the Prodigal Son Band, and Hua Tianxiong, the owner of the Hua Wuguo Band.

"Well, Da Fei, you came too? Yu Lin said you were coming to join me. I've been waiting ages, but you never showed!"

Shen Lang was very enthusiastic toward Da Fei. His band had never really taken off, and if Da Fei joined, they could definitely reach a new level.

Hua Tianxiong snorted. "Bullshit. If he's joining anyone, it'll be me. Your band doesn't even have a girl. It's like a monastery. Is he supposed to come over and play the wooden fish for you?"

"Watch your mouth. You looking for a fight?"

Seeing the two of them about to come to blows, Lin Chudong hurriedly spoke up.

"Bosses, don't get worked up. Sorry for the trouble, but I've already put a band together. I'm only here to see Old Chen today."

At that, both men immediately lost interest.

Shen Lang said, "All right. Since you're here, you might as well watch the chess game."

Chen Jianguo put out one cigarette, lit another, and said,

"I'm grateful for everyone's kindness. I'm almost sixty, and so many people are still inviting me to join them. I'm truly thankful."

"But I'm set on retiring and going to a retirement home to play chess with the old fellows. If any of you can solve my chess puzzle, then we can talk."

Everyone looked troubled. Several people secretly took photos with their phones and searched online, asking chess experts for advice, but nobody came up with an answer.

Chen Jianguo had devised the puzzle himself, so naturally there was no solution to be found online.

Shen Lang said, "Da Fei, you'd better step back. This isn't a place for young people like you."

Hua Tianxiong rubbed his hands together. "Let me try!"

Several people had already lost, but Hua Tianxiong was eager to give it a shot. He'd looked up a few guides and was ready to make his move.

Chen Jianguo said, "Same rules as for the others. You get one try. If you lose, you leave. This place is too small to fit so many people."

"All right!"

Hua Tianxiong squatted down and looked at the endgame before him.

Lin Chudong's gaze also fell on it. The Chess Mastery (Master Level) he'd drawn from the Treasure Chest had come in handy sooner than he'd expected!

He'd take back what he'd said about the Treasure Chest being full of useless junk. This was a real treasure!

There were quite a few pieces on the board, but after setting aside the useless pieces that couldn't move, the core of the puzzle was a classic endgame setup.

A chariot against two elephants and a cannon.

Red had only one chariot, while Black had two elephants and a cannon.

Black's main goal was to draw. If the game ended in a draw or a win, the puzzle would be solved.

Before yesterday, Lin Chudong hadn't known the first thing about this. But now, he was already at Master Level.

Hua Tianxiong picked up the cannon and made a move.

A faint smile appeared on Chen Jianguo's face. The two of them traded moves, and in fewer than ten turns, Chen Jianguo captured one of Hua Tianxiong's elephants.

There was no need to continue after that. The result would be the same no matter how long they played: Hua Tianxiong would lose.

Hua Tianxiong was full of regret, but there was nothing he could do when his skill fell short.

"Old Chen, I'll head back first. If nobody else can beat you, consider me. At least I'm better than them."

Lin Chudong smiled. "Your skill's too poor. Old Chen won't want to play with you."

Hua Tianxiong froze. "What did you say? If you're so good, come on, then. I'd like to see how you solve it!"

Shen Lang snorted. "Da Fei, you might as well join my band. Why embarrass yourself here? Do you even know how to play chess? Do you know the horse moves in an L and the elephant moves diagonally?"

Lin Chudong smiled faintly and squatted down. "Old Chen, shall we begin?"

Chen Jianguo nodded and quickly set up the board. "Go ahead."

Lin Chudong moved his cannon two spaces over to the fifth file, playing a Cannon in front and directly blocking the opposing chariot.

Chen Jianguo frowned slightly. There was actually a solution to this puzzle. If you followed the standard sequence of moves, you could draw, with neither side winning or losing.

But he'd never seen Lin Chudong make a move like that.

Interesting.

Chen Jianguo confidently made a move, putting the opposing general under pressure.

Lin Chudong calmly withdrew his cannon, as if he'd expected Chen Jianguo to make that move.

Chen Jianguo advanced one step at a time, playing steadily, but Lin Chudong was just as composed, countering every move.

It was as if he could predict every move Chen Jianguo made, responding without the slightest hurry.

Chen Jianguo frowned slightly. He hadn't expected this kid to have some skill.

Looks like he'd have to try an unconventional approach.

Chen Jianguo made a risky move. A faint curve appeared at the corner of Lin Chudong's mouth. He'd finally found his chance.

"Check!"

That one move made Chen Jianguo's expression shift. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

He loved getting completely immersed in the game. Playing chess felt like commanding troops and fighting on a battlefield; the sense of involvement was intense.

A moment later, Chen Jianguo said,

"I lose."

In an instant, Shen Lang and the others behind him looked stunned.

"How is that possible?!"

Lin Chudong had actually solved Chen Jianguo's chess puzzle?

Chen Jianguo was at the same level as a national chess player, and Lin Chudong was still so young!

Chen Jianguo grew interested. "Want to play a full game?"

"Sure!"

The two of them began setting up the board. The last game had been an endgame; this time, they'd play a full match.