Gift of a Chess Manual

"Everyone, I'll say it once more: those who can break this position will be rewarded. The first to solve this endgame will receive a handsome reward."

The demon official swept a cold gaze over the crowd and issued an ultimatum. "When you arrived, you were each assigned a corresponding board position. Any who refuse to take the field within the time of an incense stick will be severely punished."

As soon as the words fell, names appeared before every empty chessboard, floating in midair. Ye Buhui's was among them, and her whole body trembled.

"Go sit down first. Play seriously. Let me think of something." Sweat beaded on Su Ziji's brow as he gave this instruction.

For a time, the hall fell silent. Everyone found their places and sat down, leaving only the smoke above the great cauldron curling upward, gathered yet unscattered.

Only Su Ziji had no seat. At once, every gaze turned toward him. Even the Dragon Lord glanced at him, surprise flashing briefly through her eyes. "Who are you, and where do you come from?"

Su Ziji answered without fluster, "I am Su Ziji, an Examination Student from Linhua County. I am not a chess player."

"You, come forward and speak." The Dragon Lord stared at Su Ziji.

This drew even more unwilling gazes toward Su Ziji. Ye Buhui immediately clutched him tightly, refusing to let go.

"It's all right." Su Ziji slowly pried Ye Buhui's hand away and soothed her. The Shell Maiden drew aside the pearl curtain to let him in, and the moment he entered, Su Ziji was startled.

The Dragon Lord before him looked only seven or eight years old. She stared at Su Ziji with wide eyes, two tiny dragon horns protruding from her forehead. Her bearing was hard to describe; in any case, she was nothing like a little girl.

Su Ziji could sense the look in her eyes—those were absolutely not the eyes of a child.

"Greetings, Dragon Lord." Fine sweat seeped from Su Ziji's forehead when he saw her.

"You... truly are not a chess player." The Dragon Lord seemed to possess her own means of discernment. She frowned as she looked at him, but her expression soon eased. "Strange. Then how did you get here?"

"I do not know either." Su Ziji shook his head, his heart sinking. He had already guessed half the reason—it had to be the Rosewood Pendant.

"Interesting!" The Dragon Lord seemed greatly intrigued. "Sit at the lowest seat and watch the chess with the ministers!"

This exceptional treatment immediately drew envy, jealousy, and hatred from the others who had come with him. Many of them burned with resentment. They were risking life and death playing chess below, so why could this man sit at the lowest seat and watch?

"Thank you, Dragon Lord!" Su Ziji walked to the humblest table and sat down. A maid immediately stepped forward and presented fine wine and jade nectar, immortal herbs and spiritual fruits.

Su Ziji did not stand on ceremony. He directly picked up the wine pot and poured himself a cup.

"Hey, you really are bold!" the maid whispered. "How did you get here?"

"And how did you get here? Are you a demon or a human?" Su Ziji asked quietly in return. This young lady of the Hu Family was, aside from himself, the only person he had seen who was not a chess player.

He had relied on the Rosewood Pendant. What about her?

Hu Xiyan did not take offense at his rudeness. She gave a generous salute, then turned and went back, already understanding in her heart.

Hmph, Linhua County—and so strange besides. Though my Rosewood Pendant had not reacted directly, this man was truly highly suspicious.

Now you've exposed yourself, haven't you?

Su Ziji did not look at her. As he watched below, he discovered something peculiar.

Strangely enough, the upper hall above the stairs was actually far from below, yet whenever one wished to watch any particular game, it seemed to enlarge before one's eyes.

At that moment, Ye Buhui and her game were right before him.

It had to be said that the chess positions in the Water Palace were exquisitely profound. Ye Buhui had once confidently believed herself to possess great talent in chess. Any chess manual she could obtain, she treasured as if she had found a priceless jewel, studying it with care. She had both talent and diligence.

Yet this endgame before her had drawn her heart and soul completely into it. It felt as if a door were slowly appearing before her, but she not only lacked the ability to push it open—even taking a few steps closer was immensely difficult.

Many other chess players who had studied the game felt the same.

"Please have another cup." Perhaps because he had been nervous, Su Ziji had unknowingly finished one cup. Or perhaps because of the Dragon Lord's special treatment of him, the maids of the Water Palace paid him particular attention.

As Su Ziji stared at the endgame, the Shell Maiden personally came over to pour him wine. Su Ziji hurriedly thanked her with a smile, and only then did she withdraw smiling.

This place was truly bizarre. He had been nervous earlier and drunk without realizing it. Now that Su Ziji had come to his senses, how could he dare drink carelessly? As his gaze swept across the opposite side, it suddenly halted.

"Eh? The Great Demons here all pour and drink wine, yet none make a sound. They are like puppet scenery."

"Leaving that aside, is that a chess manual?"

Su Ziji noticed a stack of chess manuals on the Dragon Lord's table. He thought, The Dragon Lord looks at the chess manuals from time to time, then looks at the endgame. Could these manuals be connected to the chess position?

Though he was not a chess player and was safe for now, Ye Buhui was among them. Sweat had appeared on her brow, and she was clearly exhausted. His heart gave a jolt.

The Ye Family had shown him kindness. How could he simply stand by?

Besides, even if he was safe now, he might not remain safe later.

Just as he thought this, a sudden scream rang out. A chess player who could not make a move and had tried to stall for time had been exposed. Two piranhas abruptly appeared, opening their mouths to bite as blood sprayed everywhere.

"Dragon Lord, could it be that you cannot fathom this chess manual?" Seeing someone dragged away and devoured by piranhas in an instant, Su Ziji's heart tightened. He could no longer hold back and spoke.

His only option now was to use the power of the Rosewood Pendant to seek life amid certain death. He hoped his guess was right.

The Dragon Lord looked at him with cold eyes. "You think I cannot fathom it?"

This question was truly deadly. If he answered wrong, he might be the next one dragged away. Su Ziji's thoughts spun, but there was no retreat once an arrow left the bow. He stood and bowed deeply. "Though I am not a chess player, I have studied chess manuals with my younger sister since childhood. If the Dragon Lord is not killing for amusement, but wishes to unravel this chess manual, then my sister and I may be able to study and explain it together."

As he spoke, he repeatedly signaled to Ye Buhui below with his eyes.

"Your younger sister?" The Dragon Lord gave a cold laugh and looked toward Ye Buhui's chessboard. After a glance, her expression softened slightly. At that moment, someone happened to toss down their chess pieces in despair and close their eyes to await death, yet no piranhas came.

"Though you have not won, there is still something commendable about you. Withdraw to one side," the demon official said after looking, then barked the order.

"So there is another path to survival." The chess players in the hall all breathed sighs of relief. Yet the dozen or so people whose faces had gone ashen merely watched the others celebrate in silence, sneering coldly.

"It seems this temporary path to survival may not save many after all. Everything now depends on whether we can succeed." Su Ziji's heart tightened. It was difficult for him to speak at this moment, so he could only signal with his eyes.

"Quick, come up! Trust me!"

"Dragon Lord, I am willing to study this chess position with my brother." Ye Buhui hesitated briefly, then rose and spoke in a clear, crisp voice. Hearing this, Su Ziji felt a weight lift from his heart. Only the final step remained. He immediately said, "But before we study it, I ask that the Dragon Lord bestow the chess manual upon us."

This was the crucial step. If it were not given to them, all their efforts would be wasted.

The Dragon Lord looked somewhat surprised. After considering it, she suddenly smiled. "Granted!"