His Fate Chessboard never lied.
Within the deepest sanctuary of the Holy Flood Imperial Palace, the topographical map of the Verdant Archive dissolved. In its place, an ethereal Xiangqi chessboard manifested in the air, radiating an ancient light.
This was not a simple projection. It was the physical manifestation of Lin Fan's second but more powerful Ink Imprint: the Fate Chessboard.
Lin Fan stood before the board, his eyes reflecting the grid dividing the Chu River and the Han Border. His fingertips grazed a red piece carved with the character for Cannon (炮).
"Crown Prince Zhu Lin," Lin Fan whispered, sliding the Cannon across the board. "You believe you are orchestrating the board. You think you are luring the forces of my empire and the Jade Savannah into the Weeping Gorge to butcher each other, leaving your soldiers to slaughter the survivors."
He moved a cluster of black pieces—the Jade Savannah—directly into the path of the Cannon.
