Chapter 968: Battle of Chess, Battle of Mind

Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

Qi Wan Jie spent a long time looking at it, but he still couldn’t figure it out. After all, the positions of these chess pieces were poles apart from whatever he knew. But he was still ultimately a chess champion of his generation, so naturally, he was well aware of the situation. Although he didn’t understand the opponent’s intentions, but he could sense that the other party’s two distant chess pieces at the top were showing faint signs of possible potential. In an exchange between experts, the smallest difference could make a huge difference. Qi Wan Jie didn’t dare to take any chances. He testingly placed a chess piece between the two chess pieces Jun Mo Xie had placed with the intention to impose a threat on both sides, or at the very least, sever the connection between them.

He waited for Jun Mo Xie’s next move.

But what he didn’t expect was for the other party to completely ignore it, landing another chess piece at the bottom right star point!

Qi Wan Jie was even more hesitant now. The opponent’s opening of the game was too peculiar, but it seemed to encompass logic. As expected of a chess expert who had played against Hua Wu Cuo. He was even more on alert now.

All the more he carefully played against his opponent. In a blink of an eye, after taking turns, over ten chess pieces had been placed already. The black and white on the chessboard were in a picturesque disorder, and both parties were more or less evenly matched. Jun Mo Xie’s mind moved quickly, and he was even faster in landing his pieces. With every piece placed, it was like the wind and rain crossing with lightning and thunder. It was too much for Qi Wan Jie’s eyes to take in, and he felt like the other party’s speed was becoming faster and faster, as if all his counter moves were expected by the opponent, for him to be able to put out his moves without any hesitation…

Young Master Jun’s powerful speed spurred Qi Wan Jie, who was unwilling to fall behind, to also increase his speed…

Jun Mo Xie sighed internally. Although the other party was not completely focused, his fundamental skills were not for show. Reaching with his instincts alone and under the condition of being completely unfamiliar with the modern way of playing I am using, he is actually able to keep the battle evenly matched, and even vaguely hint at a deep and tenacious strength at striking back…

But the real competition is not here yet…

The moves within the game, he had already brought out to their limit already. There was no more space for any progress! But right now, the one that had the decisive effect was the move outside of the game. And until this point in time, the effects of moves he had employed outside the game had been ideal!

Qi Wan Jie was good at chess, but his weakness was still within Jun Mo Xie’s hands!

With the constant sound of chess pieces landing, all the audience also began to get anxious. The match between these two people from the surface was vastly different from what everyone had imagined. Everyone had predicted that Mo Jun Ye would definitely lose this round. But right now, the situation was that…

This prodigy with the Free and Natural Physique had dominated the absolute initiative just like in the previous round. Every single move was as powerful as a thunderbolt, and his amazing moves were breeding like flies, beyond the common ways of chess, but extremely exquisite and boundlessly clever. In contrast, the Misty Illusory Manor’s young chess champion seemed to be trembling in fear, as if he were walking on thin ice, invariably coping with the situation. Although they seemed to be evenly matched as of now, no one was optimistic for Qi Wan Jie….

Towards this extremely unexpected situation, everyone was really surprised!

Was there really a prodigy in the world that was talented and well-versed in everything? Could the Free and Natural Physique really be so perverse to such a state?

In sight of the treacherous match before his eyes, Qi Wan Jie began to take it seriously. He had been responding with counters, but never initiated any attacks. This made him feel very aggravated! And it was this aggravation that caused him to suddenly snap back to his senses.. Looking at the opponent’s impending success, Qi Wan Jie muttered to himself for a while before decisively placing his piece in the empty space on the right side of the opponent, instead of the bottom left corner!

This move came out of nowhere, and it looked like an irrational move, but upon careful analysis, it was a move to attack the enemy and rescue himself! Although he had completely sacrificed his bottom left corner, but the other party still has three moves of cornering him which could put him in control of the entire match. But if he placed his chess piece in this territory, the originally great set up would be thoroughly ruined by himself! Whatever the choice, it was a difficult decision!

The moment this piece landed, the tables immediately turned. All those in the audience who understood the game let out a genuine exclaim of praise…

Jun Mo Xie laughed coldly internally. Finally snapped back to your senses? But it’s a little too late for you to wake up now… The black pieces continued to land mercilessly, completely ignoring that left bottom corner that allowed him to win the game in three moves. And it did not fall into the space to form a line as it should have. Instead, it cut right into the group of white pieces. It forcefully attacked with the intention of invading the entire group!

If Qi Wan Jie continued to attack the opponent’s space on the sight, his territory which he was relying on as his base was in danger of being completely wiped-out! But if he were to just give up like this and focus on protecting his territory from being invaded, then the opponent could harass his territory almost six times! And the moment he got careless, the consequences would be dire. After all, the opponent had the upper hand of making the first move.

Qi Wan Jie’s body jolted as he picked up another chess piece. But he did not put it down for a long, long time.

Right now, the match was halfway through. Every single piece had great importance. If there was a miscalculation in any single move, it would create a situation that was beyond redemption!

Right now, Qi Wan Jie felt miserable!

He had never imagined that he would meet such a relentless and pestering opponent in the match today! His intentions are obvious. This Little Master would rather sacrifice if it means I can bite a piece of flesh from you! You hit my eyes and I’ll strangle your throat! You attack my legs and I’ll stab you right through your heart!

He just did whatever he wanted to recklessly! Be it reasonable or unreasonable!

Fearless!

All of Qi Wan Jie’s moves were in vain due to the opponent having the absolute initiative right from the beginning. No matter how he tried to test the opponent out in his passive stage, the opponent had a measure for measure, paying no heed to him. If you play harsh, then I shall also play lethal!

It was a scholar meeting a solder; no reason could not be spoken clearly!

A look of resolution appeared in Qi Wan Jie’s eyes, turning red! The only thing he could do now was to throw his ultimate move and mess up the entire game, then with his meticulous calculation, slowly turn the tables around. If he didn’t take this risk, there was no chance of him obtaining victory…

When he had thought to this point, he no longer hesitated. Raising his chess piece. Pa! Everyone fell into a state of shock!

Qi Wan Jie’s piece also invaded into Jun Mo Xie’s territory!

Right now, both parties were like two gamblers who had lost until their eyes were red. Without a single cent to their name, they continue to slaughter away at each other with knife and sword! You cut me when I’m not guarding, then I’ll stab you back similarly!

We’ll see who can last till the end!

Jun Mo Xie frowned, lifting his face and letting out a long sigh. He had always been focused on the game, not paying attention to the surroundings. But now, he suddenly raised his head. Qi Wan Jie couldn’t help but also followed suit to look at him, only to see Jun Mo Xie with a face full of reminisce. He couldn’t help but feel a pang of shock. He is not focused on the game at a time like this? Then what is he thinking about right now? What can be even more important than the outcome of the match right now?

As he was speculating, he only heard Jun Mo Xie sigh. “Life is truly strange, to think that two games are so similar. Back then, I also played in this manner. Brother Wu Cuo is a master of chess—every single move was steady and strikes hard. There was not the slightest urgency, definitely not taking any risks for the chance at a fluke. But he still ultimately turned all of my attacks into nothing… Today, with a different opponent, it is full of killing intent, and this state of mind is completely different. At least it didn’t go to the situation which I didn’t hope to see. Fine, let’s see who is the victor…”

Qi Wan Jie heart trembled. Looks like I’m really not as good as Hua Wu Cuo. He can confront the match peacefully and calmly, but I’m playing in such a manner of life and death. Just this attitude alone I am already beneath him…

He was just about to ask, but he suddenly heard Mo Jun Ye letting another long sigh and muttering softly. “Heaven as the chessboard, stars as chess pieces. Who is able to play it? Using the heaven as the chessboard, and the stars as chess pieces, the scattered stars in the sky as chess pieces on a board, it is truly a good couplet… Whoever can match this first line, this achievement alone is not inferior to Chess Saint Hua Wu Cuo, but… who could be capable of matching an unmatchable line like this?”

Qi Wan Jie only felt a heavy blow in his heart, as if someone had knocked on his heart heavily with a hammer! His mental state that had regained a state of clarity returned back to a state of chaos!

I haven’t come up with a line that matches that first half of a couplet… And now, my chess skills are far from Hua Wu Cuo’s…

This Mo Jun Ye is clearly saying that I’m not as good as Hua Wu Cuo with his tone full of condescendence. It’s clear that he is saying that I’m not as good as him. But his chess skills are obviously not that good ah… Since his skills aren’t that good, then why is it that during the whole time I’ve been playing against him, I have always been in the disadvantageous position?…

Could it be that I had already fallen into his set-ups and calculations right from the beginning of the match? He actually just wants to see how I would play in this state, so he dragged it out till now?

Could it be that this person is truly so good?

Could it be that I’m really incomparable to him?

This sudden thought that had risen could no longer be suppressed!

Qi Wan Jie looked helplessly at the chessboard, only feeling that he had no chance of victory. All the arrogance and pride he had for such a long time had instantly been crushed.

Just at this moment, another sound of pa ! Jun Mo Xie landed another piece—it was another attack! And in Qi Wan Jie’s territory, preventing him from breaking through!

Qi Wan Jie heard this crisp sound. But his mental state was faltering. it sounded like it was far far away, thousands and hundreds of years ago… He felt like he was in a wrong time and place and felt like everything was not real…

“What are you thinking about? Can you hurry up? Are you going to win or lose? Hurry up and decide, ah! What meaning is there dragging it out like this? It’s just a game of chess, not a woman giving birth, seriously… this is intolerable! Wishywashy like a woman, how did you even get your reputation as the chess champion?” Jun Mo Xie ruthlessly berated…

Qi Wan Jie’s heart skipped again, as if he were suddenly rudely awaken from a dream by someone. When he raised his head again, looking at Jun Mo Xie, the look in his eyes was already full of loss and… fear…

Looking at the current situation on the chessboard, he only felt like he was in a treacherous state. As long as the opponent randomly decided to take in breath, he had completely no way out…

Upon thinking until he, he suddenly felt that the opponent was extremely magnanimous, not mercilessly killing him off, giving him the chance of retaining his image… Everything was because he was untactful and stalling for time only…

His state of mind had been completely wrecked!

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