Chapter Fifty-Five: Resolving the Chess Game at Mount Baizhao (1)

Jian Liang had been walking for a while. By noon, feeling weary, he found a willow tree by the roadside and sat down to rest. He recalled the events of the previous night at the Suizhou inn and felt a lingering shiver of fear. "If Master Qiu Hailin had not taught me the 'Formless Chess' for self-defense, I surely would have been harmed by those two ruffians from Baizhao Mountain. That was close! Truly close!" He then mused, "That old man sealed my acupoints, yet I managed to dissolve them with ease. It seems the 'True Intent' I have cultivated through this chess not only allows me to perform the 'Formless Chess' but also to unlock acupoints. Perhaps this is what they mean by 'understanding one thing leads to understanding everything.'" With a satisfied smile, he shook his head.

Just then, voices drifted from the nearby bushes. One person said, "Zhu Weiyuan, wielder of the Joined Double Sabers, is truly formidable! The four of us combined were no match for him." Startled, Jian Liang rose and stepped forward to investigate. He saw four men lying in the grass, bearing wounds and bloodstains. Their weapons—a saber, a spear, an axe, and a staff—were scattered haphazardly on the ground, clearly the result of a skirmish from which they had fled.

One of them sighed, "It is my fault that our four brothers lack the skill and ability to seize that item." Another lamented, "We, the 'Four Heroes of Dahong Mountain,' were too late. If only we had acted before the people from Heba arrived; the Min brothers would have been no match for us."

Another continued, "News of that item’s excavation at Snake Mountain spread quickly. Min Fengpao was the first to get his hands on it, but knowing he lacked the strength to protect it, he urgently invited the people from Heba. Once Heba is involved, I fear no one dares to lay a hand on it. Alas! It is our misfortune, but at least we have saved our lives."

A burly man in black added, "Since we are not as skilled as them, we do not have the fortune to possess that item. If not for Zhu Weiyuan showing mercy, the four of us would have perished long ago." The other three looked ashamed and lowered their heads in silence.

Jian Liang now realized they had fought the Heba faction and lost. He wondered, "What kind of treasure was unearthed at Snake Mountain to incite such a scramble? It must be something of great value. People die for wealth just as birds die for food; such is the way of the world." Suddenly, he realized, "If I hadn't used the 'Formless Chess' to drive away the Baizhao Mountain men last night, there would have been a bloodbath. It seems my chess can also quell chaos and prevent disaster." With that, Jian Liang shook his head and quietly departed.

As he continued his journey, Jian Liang suddenly saw a dozen men blocking his path. Alarmed, he sensed trouble and secretly gripped a chess piece in each hand, facing them without fear. The group was led by a young man and a young woman. One of the men whispered something to the woman, who nodded, and then they walked directly toward Jian Liang.

Stopping before him, the two exchanged a glance, then unexpectedly knelt before him. Jian Liang, who had braced for a confrontation, stepped back in astonishment, unsure of their intentions.

The young woman cupped her hands in a respectful salute and said anxiously, "I beg the great hero to save my father and second uncle’s lives."

"Oh?" Jian Liang was stunned, completely bewildered.

The young man also saluted and said, "We hoped you would stay at the Suizhou inn for a few more days so my sister and I could invite you personally. We did not expect to meet you here. Please, great hero, be merciful and overlook our past offenses to save my father and uncle." As he spoke, he and the young woman bowed their heads to the ground. Flustered, Jian Liang quickly said, "Please, both of you, rise. We can talk; I cannot accept such a grand gesture."

The woman said firmly, "If the great hero does not grant our request, we will remain kneeling." Jian Liang sighed helplessly. "What is this about? I truly do not understand. Who am I to save?"

The woman quickly replied, "Does the great hero remember what happened at the Suizhou inn last night?"

"The Suizhou inn!" Jian Liang was startled. "Are you..."

The young man replied, "I am Huang Chengyi of Baizhao Mountain, and this is my sister, Huang Lan. The ones injured by your unique hidden weapon at the inn last night were my father, Huang Yan, and my second uncle, Huang Lun."

Jian Liang finally understood. "So you are from Baizhao Mountain... but how..." He asked in surprise, "Have the chess pieces on them not fallen off yet?"

Huang Lan said guiltily, "Last night, my father and uncle did not realize you were such a renowned master and offended you. Now, my second uncle has fallen into a coma and is on the verge of death due to your weapon, and my father’s right arm is severely swollen and nearing necrosis. No one on Baizhao Mountain can cure them. They brought this upon themselves, but as their children, we cannot bear to see them suffer. We have come to apologize and beg for your mercy and medical aid." The siblings bowed again.

After a moment of thought, Jian Liang helped them up. "Since that is the case, there is no need for such formality. I will accompany you to Baizhao Mountain." Huang Chengyi and Huang Lan were overjoyed and thanked him profusely. Jian Liang was still puzzled as to why the "Formless Chess" force was so potent that it hadn't dissipated after a day and a night, whereas usually, it would fall off within a couple of hours. Curious to understand, he agreed to their request.

Huang Lan said gratefully, "The great hero is truly a man of honor. May I ask your name?" Jian Liang, feeling uncomfortable with the constant title of "great hero," smiled and said, "Just call me Jian Liang. 'Great hero' is too grand; I cannot accept it." The siblings smiled in relief.

Jian Liang asked, "By the way, how did you recognize me and know to wait here?"

Huang Chengyi explained, "Baizhao Mountain is not far. After my father retreated with my uncle last night, their condition worsened. Even our third uncle, who is skilled in medicine, could do nothing. The one who tied the bell must untie it, so we came to seek you out. One of our men, who paid your bill at the inn this morning, has been following you. We intended to go to Suizhou, but we were fortunate enough to intercept you on this road."

Jian Liang realized, "So the bill at the inn was paid by your people." Huang Lan added, "It was a small token of our apology for my father’s offense." Jian Liang smiled magnanimously, "Let us consider it a misunderstanding. Let us put it behind us." The siblings exchanged a relieved look.

Escorted by the Huang siblings and their men, Jian Liang headed toward Baizhao Mountain. The mountain was high, dense with forests, and rugged. As they approached the summit, a stronghold appeared, inscribed with the words "Huang Family Stronghold."

The gates swung open, and thirty or forty people emerged. A man in the lead hurried forward and bowed. "It is an honor that we could bring the great hero here." Huang Chengyi introduced him as his third uncle, Huang Yin. Jian Liang saluted, "Jian Liang greets Master Huang." Huang Yin, looking anxious, ushered him inside. "Please, great hero, save my two brothers quickly."

In the main hall, the old man who had ambushed Jian Liang at the inn was reclining in a chair, his right arm bared, being tended to by a servant with a cold compress. This was Huang Yan, the leader of the stronghold. On a nearby bed lay Huang Lun, his forehead marked by a white chess piece, his face flushed and swollen, unconscious.

Seeing Jian Liang, Huang Yan attempted to stand, but wincing in pain, he sat back down. "I never imagined my children could actually invite you here. I am truly..."

Jian Liang stepped forward. "Old man, do not speak. Let me examine your injuries." Seeing the hand swollen like a bun and the chess piece still firmly embedded in the Laogong acupoint, Jian Liang was shocked. He realized that during the fight last night, his own desperate intent had amplified the power of the "Formless Chess" far beyond its usual strength, leading to their current predicament.