Gu Chen was indeed right. As a Divine Emperor in his previous life, he had attained extraordinary mastery in fields such as formations, talismans, medicine, and alchemy. Even Xiang Linde, an outstanding figure in Huaxia's medical community, paled in comparison.
"Young man, do you know what you're saying?"
A woman glared at Gu Chen and said sternly, "Do you know who Elder Xiang is? A towering master of Zhou City's medical community! His medical skills rank among the top three in all of Huaxia! And you dare say he isn't good enough! Elder Xiang has given lectures for years, but he has never taken a final disciple, not even from among his own children and grandchildren. Do you understand what that means?"
"Hmph, whether you can solve this chess problem remains to be seen, but trying to grab attention like this is enough to make a person laugh their teeth out!"
"Exactly! No wonder the Gu Family swept someone so arrogant out the door. Get your father out here to settle this!"
"You've been so rude to Elder Xiang. You've got some nerve!"
Faced with the accusations around him, Gu Chen remained unfazed, as though he were an outsider to it all. He said to Xiang Linde, "Agree to my condition, and I can help you solve this chess problem."
Challenging a chess problem and helping someone solve one sounded similar, but their meanings were worlds apart. The former conveyed respect and humility, while the latter was full of the implication of giving instruction and guidance. Gu Chen meant the latter.
Xiang Linde narrowed his aged eyes slightly. Although he was advanced in years and well-disciplined, even he was angered by Gu Chen's arrogance. He sneered. "Everyone, stand aside. I want to see how this young friend solves the problem!"
Gu Chen nodded and walked over to the board. "Elder Xiang, you take white. I'll play black."
"Come on, then," Xiang Linde replied coolly.
Without hesitation, Gu Chen picked up a black stone and placed it on the board.
"Haha, I thought of that move too. It lets you struggle a little, but it's still a dead end in the end!"
"I thought this kid must have some real skill, talking so big. Turns out he's just a fool whose eyes are higher than his hands!"
Gu Chen had no idea that his earlier words had offended many of the cultivators present, so jeers rose one after another. Xiang Linde felt the same way. After Gu Chen made his first move, he had already worked out a response and casually placed a white stone on the board.
Immediately afterward, Gu Chen picked up another black stone and made his next move without pausing. Xiang Linde answered with a move of his own.
Gradually, after three moves, the voices around them suddenly grew quieter.
To their astonishment, they found that the black stones, which had originally been in a position where white could finish them off, had escaped danger and gained a chance to breathe in those three moves! It was as though the board had suddenly come alive!
A contest between masters of the chess dao often came down to their powers of observation and mental fortitude. Like a clash between martial arts masters, the victor could often be decided in two or three exchanges. Chess was no different. After three moves, the smile gradually froze on Xiang Linde's face. He looked up at the calm and composed Gu Chen and suddenly realized that this kid was unfathomable!
"Your turn, Elder Xiang," Gu Chen said.
Xiang Linde nodded and continued playing. But as time went on, he found it increasingly difficult. He had to think for several minutes, sometimes more than ten, before each move. By the seventh move, cold sweat had already beaded on his forehead, and he could not bring himself to place a stone for a long time!
And he spent more than twenty minutes thinking!
"That's enough!" Gu Chen stood up, clapped his hands, and said calmly, "Elder Xiang, this problem has been solved."
With that, he walked away at ease.
After Gu Chen left, everyone present gathered around the board. Xiang Linde stared fixedly at the position, beads of sweat as large as beans dripping steadily from his face!
Zhenlong Go Puzzle!
Another Zhenlong Go Puzzle!
Those present who knew what they were looking at stared in horror, their breathing quickening!
They understood why Xiang Linde had been unable to make a move for so long! After seven moves, the black stones had not only broken free but also formed a killing chain, surrounding the white stones instead! No matter how white played, there was only a dead end!
In other words, Gu Chen had not only solved Xiang Linde's Zhenlong Go Puzzle, but had also created a new endgame in the process!
A poem in seven steps, a chess problem in seven moves!
What level was this? It was already a peak of the chess dao beyond their reach! Everyone present knew a little about the chess dao, and as they looked at one another, they all found it unbelievable!
Even Xiang Zexi came down from the pavilion, staring at the board with a grave expression.
The people around them looked at Xiang Linde, whose brows were tightly furrowed, and recalled how they had mocked Gu Chen. Not one of them spoke. In the space where not even a bird made a sound, shame seemed to hang in the air...
While Gu Chen and Xiang Linde were playing chess outside, Gu Beichi was still sitting in the corner of the hall.
Knowing this was a Hongmen Banquet, Gu Beichi had not wanted to attract attention. But though he did not want to invite trouble, trouble came knocking on its own.
A few minutes later, two men came over to them.
The man in the lead wore a brown suit with a bow tie at the collar. He was tall and straight-backed, in his forties, and looked every bit a successful man. The man beside him had a gloomy expression and said nothing; he was probably a bodyguard.
"Jiang Kun!"
Gu Beichi recognized him at a glance.
The president of Jiang Group and head of the Jiang Family of Zhou City-Jiang Kun!
"Boss Gu." Jiang Kun's eyes were so small that they nearly disappeared when he narrowed them, but he smiled broadly as he spoke to Gu Beichi. "What are you doing here? You should be at the guests of honor's table up front!"
"That's none of your concern." Gu Beichi caught the hidden meaning in Jiang Kun's words and glanced at him. "You don't need to trouble yourself over where I sit, President Jiang."
"How can I not?" Jiang Kun laughed. "Boss Gu, this is where the owners of small enterprises and small-time bosses sit. Being here is really beneath you! Don't tell me the Zhou Family didn't invite you over? That's not right!"
Gu Beichi said coldly, "Jiang Kun, say what you have to say."
"Boss Gu, there's no need to be so distant. Our Jiang Family and the Zhou Family have been friends for generations. Seeing the Zhou Family neglect their in-laws, I naturally couldn't stand by, so here I am to speak up for you!" At that point, Jiang Kun changed tack and chuckled. "But I have another reason for coming here. I wanted to meet your precious son, Boss Gu. I hear Young Master Gu has been making quite a name for himself lately. He came first in his grade with a perfect score, and word has spread all over Zhou City. They say children of wealthy families are ignorant and unskilled, but Young Master Gu has brought us honor."
Though Jiang Kun was all smiles, murderous intent lay hidden in that smile, and his gaze was filled with gloom.
"So what?" Gu Beichi said in a low voice. "What exactly are you trying to say?"
"Boss Gu, it looks like you still don't know that Young Master Gu injured my son, do you?" Jiang Kun stepped forward and said grimly, "Shouldn't you give me an explanation, Boss Gu? What crime against heaven and earth did my son Jiang Yu commit for your son to beat him into the hospital and cripple one of his legs?"
Boom!
Suddenly, a bloodthirsty aura poured from Jiang Kun and swept toward Gu Beichi!
That intense aura was incomparably powerful, making hearts tremble!