"Seeing your clothes, you must be staying on Zhenwu Mountain." Fang Ying said with a smile, fanning herself with one hand and holding a Chinese chess piece in the other. She placed it on the board with a click, followed by a 'check' laced with hidden killing intent. Only then did she turn to Leo Young and smile. "Right, I haven't asked for your name yet, have I?"
"Leo Young." Having read a few books along the way, Leo Young had a rough idea of this era's poetry. He casually recited, "The `Líng` from 'the silk quilt of a weary, sorrow-drowned dream,' and the `Yào` from 'illuminating the entire hall with brilliance.'"
"Old man," Fang Ying said to the elder across from her, who was now deep in thought because of her 'check', a faint smile playing on her lips. "Why don't you tell me which `Líng` and which `Yào` he's talking about?"
Leo Young followed her gaze. The elder wore loose, bluish-gray Daoist robes, his gaunt figure like an ancient pine. A three-inch white beard brushed against his chest, and his face was kindly. He had the very air of an immortal. With a bit of knowledge of the Barnum effect and cold reading, if you put him on a street corner in the modern world with a sign that read 'Half an Immortal,' he could start redistributing social wealth among the intellectually gifted.
"How would I know about such things?" The elder stared at the board for a long time before finally, and helplessly, choosing to resign. He turned to glance at Leo Young and said slowly, "You're new here, little one?"
Leo Young smiled. "Yes."
The elder sighed. "Don't you go learning bad habits from this little girl. So young, yet all she knows is how to bully an old man like me for not having read enough books."
With that, he placed his hands on his knees and stood up.
Fang Ying smiled faintly. "Not playing anymore?"
"I'm no match for you." The old man waved his hand, his tone filled with the melancholy of a crushing defeat, and slowly walked away. "This little one looks tired, too. Let him sit and rest for a while."
"It would be rude to refuse. Thank you, Senior." Leo Young was indeed tired. An elder giving up his seat for him was a bit of a role reversal, but he paid it no mind, plopping down as if he didn't know the meaning of shame.
"Do you know how to play?" Fang Ying tapped the chessboard, smiling. "Care for a couple of games?"
"I can." Leo Young had little interest, but since Fang Ying had invited him, he wouldn't be a spoilsport.
"Want to add a little wager?" Fang Ying said with a faint smile as she reset the pieces. "It feels too boring without one."
Leo Young said casually, "Sure."
"Oh... you'll agree without even hearing the terms?" Fang Ying touched her cherry lips with a long, fair index finger, a sly smile on her face. "Then let me think... Right, a distinguished guest has recently arrived on Zhenwu Mountain, with attendants to look after him. Thinking about it, I'm also in need of someone to pour my tea, fetch my water, and rub my shoulders and legs. If you lose, you'll serve me for a few days. How about it?"
After a brief pause, Fang Ying added lightly, "Of course, it won't interfere with your daily cultivation. And if you please me, I might even teach you a few powerful moves."
This was no empty boast. Zhenwu Mountain had many disciples, and the masters didn't have the energy to teach each one individually. Only a select few received special attention and private lessons. Therefore, most of the time, it was senior disciples who taught on behalf of their masters, and among the disciples, almost no one could compare to Fang Ying.
Leo Young maintained his indifferent attitude. "Sure."
"Heh, so straightforward..." Fang Ying laced her fingers together under her chin, her tone playful. "Well then, Junior Brother Leo, what do you want if you win?"
Leo Young placed the last piece on the board and said nonchalantly, "I don't need anything."
This answer was somewhat surprising to Fang Ying. She raised an eyebrow slightly and chuckled. "Go on, say it. There's not much I can't get my hands on. As long as it's not too outrageous a request, I can grant it. I won't hold a grudge."
"As I said," Leo Young stated, "there's no need."
This immediately piqued Fang Ying's interest. She asked, intrigued:
"Why?"
"Why..." Leo Young thought for a moment. "Because... that would be too despicable, wouldn't it?"
"...Despicable?" Fang Ying was slightly taken aback. "Why do you say that?"
Leo Young explained, "Gambling involves winning and losing. If you know for certain that you're going to win and still demand a wager, that's not gambling, it's fraud. And isn't fraud a despicable act? Therefore, there's no need."
The implication was clear: This woman is doomed to lose!
Such a statement was nothing short of boasting to the high heavens, and it immediately drew the interest of the old Zhenwu Mountain seniors nearby...
As it happened, this Fang Ying was an excellent chess player with superb calculation abilities. She was a master of both Chinese chess and Go, and could be considered the unrivaled champion of the Zhenwu Mountain senior citizens' recreation area.
On the other hand, her sportsmanship was atrocious and her personality unpleasant. Her favorite pastime was to stand next to someone playing, sighing loudly from time to time while shaking her head. Her punchability rating was five stars. It could be said that this group of old seniors had long suffered under Fang Ying. Now, hearing such bold words, how could they not be interested?!
It would be entertaining no matter who won!
"Ha... ha." Fang Ying snapped open her folding fan with a sharp sound. Her long, narrow phoenix eyes fixed on Leo Young, her tone playful. "Such big words. It'll be very embarrassing if you lose, you know."
Leo Young maintained his indifferent attitude. "Please."
Fang Ying waved her fan, the smile on her face mysterious and aggressive.
...
Fang Ying's hand couldn't stop shaking. The smile on her face was stiff and strained.
With one hand propping up his chin, Leo Young's peripheral vision was on the Zhenwu Mountain disciples practicing their martial techniques in the plaza. He casually placed a piece on the board, his tone calm and utterly devoid of intimidation. "Check."
"Check... heh, check. You really like saying 'check,' don't you..." Fine beads of sweat appeared on the forehead of Fang Ying, who had already lost two games but was stubbornly insisting on a best-of-five. Her voice trembled slightly, and her eyes kept darting toward Leo Young before she pretended to mutter to herself, "There are many ways to get out of check. For instance, moving the chariot to pin the knight..."
"Do you want to do that?" Leo Young said. "I'll checkmate you in eleven consecutive moves. A smothered mate."
The old men on the side immediately began calculating the eleven-move sequence. The sound of their hushed discussions and their eager, watchful eyes placed immense pressure on Fang Ying.
"...Then, then I'll move the general!"
"Seven moves. Intersecting chariots."
"Move... move left?"
"...Heh." Leo Young turned his head slightly, revealing a gentle smile. The move to the left was so terrible it was astounding. Not being able to see an eleven- or seven-move sequence was normal, but this move? Never mind Fang Ying, even the onlookers could see it would lead to a loss within three moves. To say those words was to be utterly obstinate, refusing to admit defeat to the very end. "Senior Sister Fang, you're truly strong-willed. Still not admitting defeat?"
Fang Ying's breathing grew a little heavier. She gritted her teeth and said, "One... one more game! Best of seven!",
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