Chapter Nineteen: The Deadly Game of Chess

The next morning, Fang Guohuan prepared incense and candles to pay respects at the tomb of his late master, Fang Lan. When he arrived at the gravesite behind the mountain, he saw the tomb overgrown with weeds, desolate and forlorn. His heart filled with sorrow, he first cleared the grounds, added fresh soil, then arranged the incense and candles and knelt down to weep. Memories flooded him—how, as a child, he had become lost and was rescued by his master by the roadside; from that day, they depended on each other as they wandered the land. It was his master who taught him the art of chess and introduced him to the path of the game. He had never imagined his master would die of cold and old age in the snow. The more Fang Guohuan reminisced, the deeper his grief became, until he wept so bitterly that he nearly fainted. Afterwards, he found a local shepherd boy who grazed his flock nearby, gave him fifty taels of silver, and asked him to tend the master’s grave, clearing weeds and renewing the earth during festivals. The shepherd, overjoyed at this unexpected windfall, agreed eagerly, and Fang Guohuan, feeling somewhat lost, returned to the village.

That afternoon, he prepared incense and candles once more, and, accompanied by the Liu brothers, went to the Liu family’s burial grounds to pay respects to Liu Yishan, where he again wept bitterly. Liu Cai and Liu Lu, standing by, shed a few silent tears.

By the time they returned to the Liu residence, dusk was approaching. Some former Liu family servants, hearing of the brothers’ restored fortunes and reclaimed ancestral property, had come back to seek employment, and the Liu brothers, delighted, took them in. The servants soon learned that it was the young Fang Guohuan, whom the late master Liu Yishan had once rescued in the snow, who was responsible for these good deeds, and they praised him endlessly. Villagers came to offer congratulations, and the Liu brothers, overwhelmed with joy, could barely attend to all the guests, as the household bustled like New Year’s.

The old steward, Liu Fu, also hurried over. Upon seeing him, the Liu brothers were moved to tears once again and reinstated Liu Fu as steward. When Liu Fu learned that all this was due to the noble actions of the young Fang Guohuan, he was filled with astonishment and gratitude. In private, Liu Fu told Fang Guohuan that after Liu Yishan’s death, the two brothers had lost all discipline, indulging in every vice—drinking, gambling, womanizing—until within a year, they squandered the family fortune and accumulated heavy debts. When creditors came to collect, the brothers were forced to sell the estate and fields to repay them. Ashamed and homeless, they left the village and wandered elsewhere. Upon hearing Liu Fu’s account, Fang Guohuan realized the brothers had lied to him, but chose not to expose them, though he suspected they might not be reliable in the future. He privately gave Liu Fu five hundred taels of silver for his retirement, moving Liu Fu to tears and profound gratitude.

The Liu brothers, seeing that Fang Guohuan’s carriage was filled with large boxes of silver, were greatly astonished, unable to fathom where he had acquired such wealth. Grateful for having their ancestral property restored, they swore to rebuild the family’s fortunes, which brought Fang Guohuan some comfort. In the following days, accompanied by Liu Fu, Fang Guohuan visited several local landowners and purchased dozens of acres of farmland at high prices, then handed the deeds to the Liu brothers, so they could collect rents and stabilize their household. He also gave them several thousand taels of silver for daily expenses, making the brothers even more grateful, and in front of Fang Guohuan and several village elders, they solemnly vowed to become responsible men, devoted to their family and legacy. Fang Guohuan’s noble actions became the talk of the village, and the Liu brothers lived out their days in prosperity.

Having settled things for the Liu brothers in the village, Fang Guohuan felt at ease, took his remaining gold and jewels, and bade farewell to seek Bu Yuan. The Liu brothers pleaded with him to stay, but Fang Guohuan gave a few final instructions, smiled, and departed.

Following the faint traces of old paths, Fang Guohuan found the hunting lodge of Zhu Qi in the mountains. Zhu Qi was not home, and the lodge looked much as it had three years before. Fang Guohuan waited for a while, but when Zhu Qi did not return, he left half his jewels and valuables on the table, found a piece of charcoal by the hearth, and wrote on the table: "Brother Zhu Qi, Fang Guohuan visited but missed you. Upon reading this, please notify Brother Bu Yuan to find me at Maple Forest Cottage. These jewels are for Brother Zhu Qi and the old hunters, in gratitude for your help years ago. With respect, your younger brother, Fang Guohuan." After he finished, Fang Guohuan looked over his note and murmured, "I wonder if Brother Zhu Qi can read? Well, the meaning is clear enough."

Leaving the hunting lodge, Fang Guohuan shook his head and laughed, thinking, "Master Hong Jinshan of Six Harmony Hall was right—one need not fear having money, but rather having none. No matter how much silver one has, it always finds its use; even my sister gave me a fortune, and it came in handy. Perhaps it was destiny." He had nearly exhausted all the silver and jewels given by Six Harmony Hall, and felt content.

Continuing his journey, Fang Guohuan arrived at the small town where Lian Qiying had once distributed cakes. Seeing the familiar sights, he touched the Six Harmony gold token in his breast and sighed, "How unpredictable life is! Years ago, I met Sister Lian here by chance, and now we are acquainted—never would I have guessed she’s the Grand Master of Six Harmony Hall. Incredible." He entered the fur shop where Bu Yuan had once come to settle accounts and asked about Bu Yuan's whereabouts. The shopkeeper told him Bu Yuan had been there a few days earlier and still had a debt of several dozen taels, but his movements were unpredictable, and no one knew where he had gone. Fang Guohuan thanked the shopkeeper, ate a meal in town, and then, with a sigh, headed toward Maple Forest Cottage to seek the monk Zhishan.

He recalled how, years ago, Monk Zhishan had guided him to seek a master at Tianyuan Temple on Lianyun Mountain to learn chess, which led to his current achievements. Grateful, he quickened his pace. As he neared Maple Forest Cottage, his excitement was tinged with a sudden unease—a sense of foreboding grew stronger the closer he came. Startled, he stopped and steadied himself, wondering, "What is this? Why am I so anxious?" After several deep breaths, his nerves eased somewhat, and he shook his head in confusion and continued on.

Upon passing through a grove of maples, he saw several quaint thatched cottages in a clearing—the Maple Forest Cottage of old. His heart lightened, and he forgot the earlier anxiety, hurrying to the cottage door, which was ajar. He pushed it open and called, "Master Zhishan, are you here? Fang Guohuan has come to visit..." Suddenly, he froze. Monk Zhishan sat at the table, gazing intently at a chessboard, seemingly lost in thought, oblivious to all around him. Fang Guohuan softly called, "Master Zhishan, Master Zhishan." But the monk, as if entranced, did not respond or move. Fang Guohuan, alarmed, rushed forward and found the monk’s face fixed with a strange expression, his eyes staring blankly at the chessboard; he was stiff and lifeless, long dead at the table. Fang Guohuan was struck with terror and stood stunned.

Examining Zhishan’s body, Fang Guohuan found nothing unusual, yet it seemed the monk had been trapped by the chessboard. Though dead, his eyes retained a peculiar bewilderment, as if he had died suddenly during a game. The floor bore many chaotic footprints, indicating that many people had visited the cottage. Fang Guohuan, shocked by the monk's manner of death, observed that it seemed closely related to the chessboard before him. On the board remained only about a hundred white pieces, arranged in a bizarre pattern; the black pieces had been taken away. Fang Guohuan was unsettled. "Could the cause lie within the chessboard?" But with the black pieces missing, he could not discern the strange positions that had been played. He studied the board for a long time, unable to make sense of it. "Though some say chess can harm those who overthink it, it shouldn’t kill—could there be another cause? Yet Master Zhishan’s posture suggests it relates to the board." Fang Guohuan puzzled in vain.

Just then, he heard a shout from behind: "You villain! The monk has been murdered by your lot—why have you come back?" Startled, Fang Guohuan turned to see a man burst in wielding a steel pitchfork, thrusting it at his back. Fang Guohuan dodged in alarm. The pitchfork halted suddenly, just half a foot from his chest, and the man cried out in delight, "Brother Fang! When did you arrive?" Fang Guohuan, still shaken, looked up and was pleased to recognize the hunter Iron Wu from years past. Iron Wu quickly put away his pitchfork and helped Fang Guohuan up, apologizing, "Forgive me, Brother Fang—I thought you were one of the villains who killed the monk, returning to hide the evidence." Hearing this, Fang Guohuan realized there was cause behind Iron Wu’s actions and asked, "Brother Iron Wu, what happened? How did Master Zhishan die so strangely?" Iron Wu sighed. "This noon, I came at Brother Bu Yuan’s request to deliver firewood and rice to the monk. At the door, I saw two horses tied up. Inside, the monk was playing chess with a peculiar-looking man, behind whom stood a blue-robed swordsman." "Peculiar-looking?" Fang Guohuan asked, startled. "Brother Iron Wu, do you know who he was?" Iron Wu shook his head. "Who can say? They called him Li—a eunuch. He was odd and unsettling." Fang Guohuan frowned and asked, "What happened next?" Iron Wu replied, "I stayed at the door, but saw the monk acting strangely—shaking his head and muttering, staring wide-eyed at the board, as if something on it frightened him. Sensing something was wrong, I left the firewood and hurried back to find Bu Yuan and the others." He regretted, "If only I had stayed, this tragedy might not have happened."

Fang Guohuan was astonished. "Could Master Zhishan’s death truly be related to the chessboard? What happened afterwards?" Iron Wu replied, "By the time Bu Yuan, Zhu Qi, and several others arrived, quite some time had passed. Entering the cottage, we found only the monk sitting alone; the two visitors were gone. Bu Yuan noticed the monk’s odd demeanor, just as you see now. When he tried to call him, the monk did not respond; approaching, he found the monk lifeless, and we realized he’d been killed by those two. The strange thing was, there was not a mark on him—who knows what sorcery they used. Bu Yuan, who was friendly with the monk, became furious and led the group in pursuit. Midway, fearing for the monk's body, he asked me to stay and guard it. I hadn’t expected to encounter you, nearly injuring you by mistake."

After hearing this, Fang Guohuan urgently asked, "Brother Bu, which direction did they pursue?" Iron Wu replied, "Bu Yuan saw hoofprints leading southwest—he said they couldn’t ride far in these mountain roads, so he and Zhu Qi chased after them." Fang Guohuan said, "Brother Iron Wu, please guard Master Zhishan’s body and don’t touch the chessboard. I’m going to find them and see who those two are." With that, he ran out, Iron Wu calling after him, "Be careful, Brother Fang!"

Fang Guohuan chased on, running for a long time without seeing Bu Yuan or the others, panting with exhaustion. The sudden, bizarre events compelled him to press on, determined to uncover the truth. Just then, he heard angry shouts ahead, followed by cries of pain and then silence. Alarmed, Fang Guohuan hurried forward, and rounding a grove, saw Bu Yuan standing with his powerful bow, confronting a blue-robed swordsman wielding a sword in his left hand. Zhu Qi and several hunters lay injured nearby, clutching their wounds and glaring fearfully and angrily at the swordsman; weapons lay scattered on the ground.

The blue-robed swordsman shook his sword and said, "Brave men, I meant no harm—you forced me to act. I’ve told you, neither I nor Master Li harmed the monk; his chess skill was lacking, or perhaps he was troubled, and died of his own accord, nothing to do with my master. Why pursue us?" Bu Yuan retorted, "Master Zhishan’s chess skills were rarely surpassed. You must have failed to beat him, and used sorcery to kill him." The swordsman shook his head. "You are mistaken. My master’s chess skills are unrivaled today; his methods are indeed unusual, even I sometimes don’t fully understand them, but he never uses trickery in play. The chessboard is the fairest ground."

Hearing this, Fang Guohuan was deeply intrigued, thinking, "This swordsman’s ‘Master Li’ must be the palace eunuch described by Iron Wu. Odd—why isn’t he here? Even this swordsman admits Master Li’s chess methods are strange; the issue must lie in the chessboard." Bu Yuan said, "Why did you prevent me from questioning the eunuch and let him escape?" The swordsman replied, "Master Li is frail and has shown me great kindness; I would not let anything happen to him. Besides, the monk’s death truly has nothing to do with my master." Bu Yuan, enraged, said, "You still claim the eunuch is innocent. If Master Zhishan hadn’t played with him, he wouldn’t have died so mysteriously. You injured my brothers, and you’ll taste the wrath of my bow before I hunt down that eunuch." With that, he nocked a pellet, drew the bow, and shouted, sending a heavy iron pellet hurtling toward the swordsman.

The swordsman had already noticed the unusual bow and was alert. As the pellet whistled toward him, he called out, "Well done!" Instead of dodging, he caught the pellet with his chest. Yet the force shocked him, lifting him off his feet and slamming him into a nearby tree. He deftly redirected the impact, tossing the pellet aside, which smashed a small tree ten meters away. His right palm was stripped of skin and flesh. Landing unsteadily, blood streaming from his fingers, he was astonished by the power of the weapon. Brandishing his sword, he leapt onto a horse and galloped away. Bu Yuan, Fang Guohuan, and the others were amazed that the swordsman could catch the iron pellet and redirect it.

Fang Guohuan, seeing Bu Yuan had driven off the swordsman, hurried forward and said, "Brother Bu, his martial skills are extraordinary—let him go." Bu Yuan and Zhu Qi were surprised to see Fang Guohuan, Bu Yuan then greeted him joyfully, "Brother Guohuan! When did you arrive?" Fang Guohuan replied, "Iron Wu guided me here." Bu Yuan asked, "You’ve been to Maple Forest Cottage?" Fang Guohuan sighed, "Yes, I know about Master Zhishan." Bu Yuan shook his head, "Such a loss."

They helped Zhu Qi and the others, who had each been wounded in the shoulder or leg. Zhu Qi exclaimed, "His swordsmanship was so fast! Before we could approach, he cut us all down with a single sweep." Bu Yuan sighed, "He showed mercy—otherwise, you’d all be dead." Hearing this, the hunters felt a chill, but their wounds were not serious and they managed to return to Maple Forest Cottage.

Iron Wu greeted them, surprised at their injuries, and quickly helped them inside and bandaged their wounds. The group sat silently, gazing at the monk’s body in sorrow.

After a long time, Bu Yuan sighed, "I am ashamed—I failed to avenge the monk and repay his gift of the bow." Iron Wu remarked, "It’s strange—the monk had no wounds, yet died suddenly. How did they kill him?" Fang Guohuan said, "It seems Master Zhishan died because of the chessboard—it was the chess that killed him." Bu Yuan, Zhu Qi, Iron Wu, and the others were astonished. Bu Yuan asked, "Killed by chess? Does the eunuch have such a deadly skill? How could that be?" Fang Guohuan replied, "I don’t understand how Master Zhishan died by chess, but it must be related." Bu Yuan shook his head, "Does that eunuch use some kind of evil magic in chess? Even you can't fathom it—how strange!" Fang Guohuan asked, "Brother Bu, what did the eunuch look like?" Bu Yuan replied, "Neither man nor woman, ghostly—spoke with a hoarse voice, like a sixty-year-old crone. If not for the swordsman, I’d have killed the monster." Fang Guohuan suddenly remembered that the monk at Tianyuan Temple had once mentioned a palace eunuch called Master Li, known as the Imperial Chess Eunuch, a peerless rival to the national champion Qu Liangyi. "Could it have been him?"

Bu Yuan then said, "It is good to meet again, but such misfortune! Did you ever find Tianyuan Temple at Lianyun Mountain as the monk directed?" Fang Guohuan replied, "Thanks to Master Zhishan’s guidance, I endured many hardships and finally found Tianyuan Temple, learned from a master, and cultivated chess for three years. I returned to visit benefactors, only to find Mr. Liu Yishan gone, and now Master Zhishan has died mysteriously. Such calamity upon returning." He sighed deeply.

Bu Yuan said, "Liu Yishan left behind two wastrels, who squandered everything and disappeared—most likely dead." Fang Guohuan replied, "By chance, I met the two brothers, now beggars, and repaid Liu Yishan’s kindness by restoring their family fortunes." Bu Yuan was astonished and asked for details. Fang Guohuan briefly recounted his meeting with the heroes of Six Harmony Hall, receiving a carriage of silver, and helping the Liu brothers. Bu Yuan was amazed, "You truly are favored by fortune—befriending the famous heroes of Six Harmony Hall!" Zhu Qi, Iron Wu, and others were equally impressed.

They then carried Monk Zhishan’s body outside, built a pyre, and cremated him. Fang Guohuan knelt and prayed, "Master Zhishan, thank you for guiding me to the true path of chess. Though fate has taken you, I will uncover the cause and seek justice to honor your spirit." Bu Yuan, Zhu Qi, and the others mourned in silence. Back in the cottage, Fang Guohuan divided his remaining jewels among Bu Yuan, Iron Wu, and the hunters, but Bu Yuan refused, so the others shared them. Fang Guohuan also told Zhu Qi he had left more jewels at his hunting lodge for the hunters. Zhu Qi, Iron Wu, and the others were deeply grateful and bade farewell, supporting each other as they left. Fang Guohuan stayed with Bu Yuan at Maple Forest Cottage to study the incomplete chessboard to determine the cause of Monk Zhishan’s death.

After the others departed, Fang Guohuan and Bu Yuan sat in the cottage, reminiscing about their past chess matches with Monk Zhishan, feeling as though years had passed in a day. Fang Guohuan recounted his experiences of the past years, which Bu Yuan found astonishing. Bu Yuan told Fang Guohuan that after he left, Bu Yuan’s mother passed away within a year, and he had intended to seek Fang Guohuan, but the hunters persuaded him to stay, so he continued hunting for several years, living freely.

Recalling Monk Zhishan, Bu Yuan sighed, "After you left, I often visited the monk, and our friendship deepened. He was a true recluse, but often traveled for months at a time. Half a year ago, he returned from a journey and summoned me to talk. He was very happy—he had gone to the capital for the great chess tournament, where the emperor gathered all the chess masters for the national championship, and named a champion called Qu Liangyi. The monk regretted you weren’t there, saying that with your talent and instruction, you might have won the title." Fang Guohuan sighed, "Master Zhishan had such high hopes for me. I have not let him down."

Bu Yuan continued, "He said he met many chess masters in the capital, and something strange happened. He noticed several masters, after playing matches, returned in a daze, as if shocked or disturbed. Asked about it, they were vague or unable to explain. Some thought that, in the emperor’s presence, encountering far superior players, they grew discouraged and lost heart. Others ignored it, but the monk thought it odd, and investigated quietly." Fang Guohuan was stirred, "Did he find anything?" Bu Yuan shook his head, "He only said, ‘That person is strange,’ as if referring to someone." Fang Guohuan speculated, "This may be closely related to Master Zhishan’s death." Bu Yuan said, "What could it be? Chess has never killed anyone—except those who can't accept defeat and take their own lives. The monk was not so narrow-minded." Fang Guohuan replied, "This is mysterious and not so simple. Since it concerns Master Zhishan’s death, I must investigate." Bu Yuan said, "If only we had caught the eunuch, we could have questioned him."

Bu Yuan noticed the chessboard and said, "The monk’s game with the eunuch is still here—why not examine it?" Fang Guohuan replied, "Unfortunately, the black pieces were taken away, leaving only the white pieces. It’s hard to deduce anything." Bu Yuan was surprised, "How odd! I hadn’t noticed. Why would the eunuch take the black pieces? To keep others from seeing something?" Fang Guohuan said, "Perhaps. Judging from the position of the white pieces, the moves are highly abnormal. Every master has their own style, but here, the white side seems to have been led by the black, forced into strange moves." Bu Yuan said, "Chess always sounds mysterious when discussed by masters. I don’t understand, but how could it relate to the monk’s death?" Fang Guohuan pondered, "I don’t know."

The two studied the board for a long time without understanding the cause of death. As night fell, Bu Yuan lit candles and fetched food. They discussed the matter further without result; Bu Yuan sighed, lay down, and rested. Fang Guohuan sat alone under the lamp, studying the chessboard, trying various black piece arrangements, but none matched the true game. He found that the black side, no matter how arranged, did not aim for victory, but led the white side into convoluted battles, preventing them from seeing the overall situation, resulting in strange moves. Fang Guohuan felt he was on the verge of understanding, only to be confused again.

Bu Yuan awoke and saw Fang Guohuan still staring at the board. Alarmed, he tugged at Fang Guohuan’s sleeve, "Brother, don’t exhaust yourself on this deadly game—you might lose yourself as the monk did." "Lose oneself?" Fang Guohuan wondered, "Can chess really cause someone to lose themselves?" Bu Yuan saw Fang Guohuan was still normal and relaxed, "Things can go to extremes. Rest for now and study the board tomorrow, lest you harm yourself." Fang Guohuan replied, "I know my limits," then said thoughtfully, "Alchemy and martial arts require great care at certain stages, with right intent and caution to succeed. A lapse can lead to disaster. But chess, though refined, is only a matter of skill—how can it distinguish good from evil? Even those of poor character cannot attain great skill, let alone kill by chess."

Bu Yuan said, "Don’t get lost in the chessboard. That eunuch is sinister—perhaps he used poison or magic, or applied poison to the pieces, taking the antidote himself, so the monk died without a mark. Otherwise, why was there no wound?" Suddenly alarmed, he cried, "Brother, you’ve handled the pieces—be careful!" Fang Guohuan shook his head, "That theory has merit, but if he wanted to kill Master Zhishan, why such elaborate means? The swordsman’s martial skills were enough to kill the monk easily. Besides, even he admitted the chess was strange, perhaps he didn’t understand. I think the issue lies in the chess itself." He added, "If I am correct, the eunuch who played against Master Zhishan must be the legendary Imperial Chess Eunuch." At Bu Yuan's urging, Fang Guohuan reluctantly lay down to rest, and Bu Yuan extinguished the candle.

Fang Guohuan could not sleep, thinking, "If only I had arrived sooner and confronted the eunuch, everything would be clear. Even if he had some mysterious killing chess, I could counter it with the Tianyuan realm. Chess may change endlessly, but its essence remains; the Tianyuan realm is the highest state, allowing one to harmonize moves as desired. As my master said, it is a realm of boundless possibility—a chess state, a Buddhist state, a celestial state, and a supreme mental state. Such a realm would not fear any so-called killing chess. Chess is an elegant art; can it harbor evil sorcery? Impossible. Even if two players are mismatched, and the master sets traps, it is only a matter of skill. A complex game may puzzle and exhaust weaker players, but it is merely an aspect of chess. Even two top players may devise indecipherable games, wearing themselves out, but not to the point of killing with chess. If such deadly chess exists, it would be terrifying!" At this thought, Fang Guohuan shuddered.

At dawn, unable to sleep, Fang Guohuan sat again at the chess table, trying to reconstruct the game, hoping to find its deadly secret. Bu Yuan, waking, saw him at the board, and said, "Brother, don’t dwell on this dangerous thing—I fear it may harm you." Saying this, he swept the pieces off the board. Fang Guohuan sighed, "Very well, nothing can be found from this game; we must seek another way to investigate Master Zhishan’s death." Bu Yuan, hearing this, finally smiled in relief.