Chapter Twenty-Three: The Chess Manual of the Earthly Fiends (Part One)

When everyone saw that Mu Yinquan had just arrived, they guessed he must have some news, so they all gathered around him. Mu Yinquan waved his hand and sat down, saying, “Don’t be hasty, let me have a sip of water first.” He drank a cup of tea and let out a long sigh before continuing, “I came late from the palace; I was almost locked inside.” Only then did the others realize Mu Yinquan had been in the palace all day.

He went on, “Early this morning, I brought two volumes of Song dynasty printed poetry and prose. Eunuch Lin had previously asked for them, but I was reluctant to give them up, knowing how precious Song prints are—each page worth its weight in gold, as they say. Outside the palace gates, I had someone deliver a message, and Eunuch Lin sent a young eunuch to usher me in. In a lounge just inside the Donghua Gate, I met Eunuch Lin. When he saw the two Song volumes I brought, his old face lit up with delight and he exclaimed that he had tried to buy them before, but never succeeded. He said that since I brought them personally, I must be seeking a favor. I replied, ‘Indeed, I am here to ask about someone: the former imperial chess master, Eunuch Li...’”

At this point, Mu Yinquan paused to sip his tea, then continued, “As soon as I mentioned Imperial Chess Master Eunuch Li, Eunuch Lin’s face changed abruptly. He quickly dismissed his attendants and asked me why I was inquiring about Li, since he had disappeared from the palace long ago. I said I already knew that, but today, at the request of some friends from the chess world, I came to ask whether Imperial Chess Master Li Wusan obtained a demonic chess manuscript—a forbidden book—from the palace library. At this, Eunuch Lin became visibly frightened and begged me to lower my voice. Sensing that there was something to uncover, I pressed him further. Eunuch Lin sighed repeatedly, clearly regretful, but refused to answer my questions directly. He only warned me to drop the matter, saying if the Emperor learned of it, my life would be in danger. I spent the whole day trying to get answers, but to no avail. As evening fell, I had no choice but to take my leave, saying I would return tomorrow. When Eunuch Lin heard I planned to come back, he panicked and insisted we speak outside the palace, as it would be inconvenient within. I agreed, proposing he come to my home tomorrow, and promised there would be no outsiders present. He reluctantly consented. That is why I returned late today.” The others, upon hearing this, were all perplexed.

Liu Baixi said, “Our suspicions were not unfounded. It seems Eunuch Lin does know something, but why is he so nervous and afraid?” After pondering for a while, Fang Guohuan said, “Perhaps Eunuch Lin knows the truth about Li Wusan practicing the demonic chess art. He may have been the one who gave Li Wusan access to the forbidden manuscript in the palace library. This man holds the key to the mystery of Li Wusan’s murderous ‘ghost chess.’ Tomorrow, I hope you will press him for the truth.” Mu Yinquan replied, “Rest assured, I understand and will do my utmost.” They chatted a while longer about chess, then Mu Yinquan took his leave.

The next day at noon, Mu Yinquan arrived at Baixi’s Chess House. As soon as he sat down in the lounge, he shook his head and sighed, “That old oddity is so stubborn! I questioned him all morning, but he still refused to reveal the truth. I grew impatient and said, ‘If you don’t explain yourself, I’ll have no way to answer to my friends. Tomorrow I’ll go shout outside the palace gates that Eunuch Lin let books from the palace library leak out into the world, and let the Emperor punish you for dereliction of duty.’ That finally frightened Eunuch Lin. He admitted he had made a grave mistake, violating the ancestral edict, and had no choice but to tell the truth. He insisted, however, that since the matter concerned a chess secret, he wished to speak directly to my friends who commissioned me—namely, Master Fang and Mr. Baixi—and would reveal everything to them. But on the condition that they never seek him out again, nor let the palace learn of these events, and that all future consequences would have nothing to do with him. He set a time and place for us to meet him tomorrow night, and asked for assurances of safety. I agreed to everything.” Upon hearing this, the group was somewhat reassured. Liu Baixi said, “So be it.” Fang Guohuan nodded in agreement.

After lunch, Fang Guohuan and Bu Yuan went to the inn to check on Qu Liangyi. Qu Ning’er was glad to see them, but told them that Qu Liangyi had suffered two or three episodes that morning and would have run off if not for the attendants restraining him; now he was exhausted and sleeping. Fang Guohuan comforted her, and seeing that Qu Liangyi was stable, felt somewhat at ease. He and Bu Yuan then found the attendant from before, gave him another five taels of silver, and instructed him to fetch some calming medicine for Qu Liangyi, knowing it would not help much, but it was all they could do for now.

The next evening, Mu Yinquan arrived early at Baixi’s Chess House, gathered Liu Baixi, Fang Guohuan, and Bu Yuan, and hired four sedan chairs heading east. They wound through several streets and alleys until they stopped before a courtyard gate. Mu Yinquan signaled for the sedans to stop, and the four of them alighted. Bu Yuan paid the chair bearers. Mu Yinquan stepped forward and knocked the door ring three times. A young boy appeared, recognized Mu Yinquan, opened the door wider to let them in, and closed it behind them. Mu Yinquan asked, “Xiao Yanzi, when did Eunuch Lin arrive?” The boy replied, “He has been waiting for half the day. You’d better hurry over.” Mu Yinquan then said to Bu Yuan, “Please, Hero Bu, keep watch in the courtyard in case anyone tries to intrude.” Bu Yuan replied, “With me here, you have nothing to worry about,” and unstrung his mighty bow, pacing the yard.

By then, dusk had fallen. Xiao Yanzi led Mu Yinquan, Liu Baixi, and Fang Guohuan through a long corridor to the deep rear courtyard. At a doorway, he stopped and said, “Eunuch Lin is inside—please enter.” With that, he left for another room. Mu Yinquan pushed the door open, and with Liu Baixi and Fang Guohuan entered to find, beneath the light of an oil lamp, an elderly eunuch nearly a hundred years old, with white hair and brows, sitting motionless in silence. Mu Yinquan stepped forward, bowed, and said, “Eunuch Lin, my friends Mr. Liu and Master Fang are here.” Eunuch Lin replied in a faint voice, “Please be seated, I have something to say.” He opened his clouded eyes, appearing older than ever.

Liu Baixi and Fang Guohuan each bowed to Eunuch Lin and sat down with Mu Yinquan. Eunuch Lin spoke slowly, “I have made a grave mistake, one that concerns Eunuch Li whom you seek. Should you encounter him in the future, I beg you to persuade him not to bring further disaster, so that I may lessen my guilt.” Fang Guohuan shook his head, saying, “Alas, it’s already too late. A friend of mine has already been killed in a chess match by Li Wusan.” “What?” Eunuch Lin was shocked, exclaiming, “That ghost chess can really kill? So Imperial Counselor Liu Bowen’s prophecy was true!” Fang Guohuan, Liu Baixi, and Mu Yinquan were all stunned, a sense of foreboding settling over them.

Eunuch Lin spoke in a sorrowful tone, “I have overseen the imperial library for over sixty years, serving under three emperors—Jiajing, Longqing, and Wanli—without a single mistake. I have lived to this age by the Emperor’s grace, but now… alas!” He sighed deeply before continuing, “When I first entered the palace, I was assigned to the library under the supervision of Eunuch De. After a year, I gained his trust. He warned me that the imperial library held the greatest collection of books in the world, and while I could consult any text, I must never let a single volume leave the palace or fall into private hands, under the strictest penalty. But there was one book I was strictly forbidden even to read, per the founding emperor’s edict—a forbidden text, never to be touched. I was curious and frequently inquired about it. At first, Eunuch De said nothing, but as time went on and he saw my diligence and love for books, he considered passing the stewardship of the library to me and told me a story—a story about that forbidden book.”

Fang Guohuan asked eagerly, “Please, what was the story?” Eunuch Lin replied, “Eunuch De told me that after the founding emperor defeated Chen Youliang, he discovered a book in Chen’s private palace chamber, entitled ‘The Earthfiend Chess Canon.’ Finding the book strange and knowing Chen had kept it secret, the emperor summoned his counselor Liu Bowen to examine it. Liu found its contents full of seductive and bizarre teachings, claiming its chess techniques could disturb the mind and seize the soul. Alarmed, Liu realized that even the way of chess could be corrupted, and advised the emperor, ‘This is a demonic book, capable of killing. Please burn it, to preserve the nobility of chess and prevent disaster.’ Yet the founding emperor, a lover of rare manuscripts, was fascinated by its uniqueness and, though he forbade others from reading it, could not bring himself to destroy it. He hid it in the palace library as a warning to future generations. Liu Bowen then prophesied that when chess became popular throughout the land, the book would inevitably fall into the hands of a eunuch like himself, who would master the ghostly techniques and bring calamity upon the chess world, making chess a danger. Now, seeing disaster unfold, is this not fate?” At this, Fang Guohuan, Liu Baixi, and Mu Yinquan were thunderstruck, filled with astonishment.