Chapter 435: Suppressing Wang Chongs Chess Style (I) (1/2)
Chapter 435: Suppressing Wang Chong's Chess Style (I)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
People packed the Chess Hall. Almost half of Deflecting Blade Manor had been attracted inside by the match.
Wang Chong sat in a chair of wisteria wood on the first floor.
This was not his first time playing chess with other people in the Chess Hall, nor was it his first time playing chess with Xu Qiqin, but the feeling now was completely different.
”Xu Chong, are you sure? It's not too late to pull back!”
Wang Chong smiled at Xu Qiqin.
”Hmph, if you have all this free time, you should worry about yourself. Don't forget, if you lose, you have to admit to everyone that you're inferior to me. And the master of the Chess Hall might also have to change!”
Xu Qiqin raised her head, a proud smirk on her lips, faintly tinged with cunning.
She did not care what sort of condition Wang Chong would propose. All she cared about was that once she won, Wang Chong would admit that he was inferior to her in chess.
At that time, she could radiantly return home and announce to everyone that she, the talented daughter of the Xu Clan, was the number one chess player in the capital.
Although Wang Chong could beat Su Zhengchen, the war god of the Great Tang, she could defeat Wang Chong!
She, Xu Qiqin, was the one that deserved the reputation of being the best chess player in the Great Tang.
”Hahaha, since that's the case, then there's no problem. Wei Anfang—”
”Yes, Young Master!”
The moment Wang Chong spoke, the bowed figure of Wei Anfang stepped forward to deliver the prepared chessboard and chess pieces. A purple chessboard made from Phoebe Zennan wood and inlaid with gold was placed between Wang Chong and Xu Qiqin. Wang Chong was playing white; Xu Qiqin, black.
Buzz!
Seeing that the match had formally begun, the crowd began to buzz with whispers. At times, jeering gazes would look toward Xu Qiqin.
Xu Qiqin coldly snorted. She knew what these people were thinking, but she didn't care. 'Only fierce dragons dared to cross the river.' She knew that these people believed her loss to be assured, but she would let these people know just how wrong they were.
”For this game, I'll go first!” Xu Qiqin said without invitation. She opened up her box of pieces, her jade-like right hand extending two fingers into the pieces to take up a smooth black piece.
”Okay!”
Wang Chong smiled, his right hand extending in the inviting posture of a gentleman.
Buzz!
The spectators immediately began to chatter, expressing disdain for Xu Qiqin's actions. The way of chess was the way of gentlemen, and all chess experts would invite their opponent to go first.
If Wang Chong let Xu Qiqin go first, that would be of his own desire, but for Xu Qiqin to demand it was going overboard.
”Shut your mouths!” Xu Qiqin harshly rebuked, her face a sheet of ice. This shout startled the crowd, yet Xu Qiqin seemed calm and unhurried. Clack. The first black stone was placed.
She had played a man for long enough, and she didn't want to keep wearing men's clothes. Once this match was over, she would return to being the dignified daughter of the Xu Clan.
When the time came, she would see if anyone dared to mouth off in front of her.
In Longwei Training Camp, there were few people who even dared to breathe too loudly in front of her. If she didn't want to defeat Wang Chong and prove herself, she would not have endured such humiliation.
”Wang Chong, it's your turn!” Xu Qiqin coldly said.
Wang Chong stared at his opponent, inwardly smiling. He knew what was on Xu Qiqin's mind. The way of chess was the way of gentlemen, but she was a woman, not a man, and certainly not a gentleman.
She was playing with the privilege and temper of a girl!
”Okay!”
Wang Chong gave a refreshing smile and simply placed the first white stone in the upper left corner. The moment this stone was placed, it was like two armies had entered the standoff, the entire chessboard seeming like a battlefield in which weapons had been drawn.
Clack!
Without a word, Xu Qiqin immediately put down her second stone.
The chessboard was still rather empty. Neither the white stones nor the black stones were fighting. It was like two armies were scouting before their battle.
The battle was still far off, and other spectators couldn't see anything special. But Wei Anfang couldn’t suppress a twitch in his eyes as he mentally gasped.
This Xu Chong… isn't the same!
Wei Anfang tilted his head and examined Xu Qiqin more closely.
He had been spectating on the side in Xu Qiqin's previous challenges to his young master, so he was very familiar with Xu Qiqin's chess style.
But the feeling Xu Qiqin gave him now was completely different.
Although Xu Qiqin had been formidable back then, it hadn't been to this level. If one had to make a comparison, she was like a young and inexperienced child who had suddenly matured, transforming into an experienced and sturdy adult.
Although Xu Qiqin had only made two moves, her chess style had been fleeting and unusual. Moreover, when playing, there had been almost no interval between her first stone and second stone.
This meant that she had already thought her moves through. This was completely different from how she was before.
…It's rather similar to Young Master!
This thought flashed through Wei Anfang's mind as he glanced at Wang Chong. He could finally see that Xu Qiqin's easygoing and confident appearance was extremely similar to Wang Chong's.
No wonder he dared to challenge Young Master. It seems that he really did make ample preparations this time.
Wei Anfang had been fully confident in his young master's victory, but now, this sudden realization was beginning to make him worry.
Although Xu Qiqin had still not shown anything that could topple Wang Chong, the strength she had shown already was very unexpected.