Zhuo Zifang was taken aback and quickly changed the subject, initiating small talk.
Meanwhile, three of the Northern King's guards had been observing the Purple Green Platform for over three days, waiting daily for the Chess Demon to appear.
"The Chess Demon is here!" "Compared to the aloof masters in the chess hall, the Chess Demon seems much more approachable!"
The surrounding chess players and onlookers rejoiced.
The Northern King's guards squinted and saw an old man in black with white eyebrows, thin in build but robust in spirit.
The chess players voluntarily made way.
"Senior Chess Demon, you truly seem to be getting younger with age!" a middle-aged chess player praised with a smile.
"Indeed! In all of Great Liang, there are only a handful who can truly surpass the Chess Demon in chess skill! Our elder Chess Demon hasn't lost in probably a year!" everyone chimed in.
"That's right!" The elderly Chess Demon couldn't help but stroke his beard and laugh heartily, then suddenly remembered something and quickly corrected himself, "Well, not entirely..."
The three Northern King's guards in the distance narrowed their eyes, keenly catching the Chess Demon's reaction.
What he blurted out was the truth!
"Did the Chess Demon lose?" the crowd exclaimed in surprise.
"Enough of that idle talk, let's play chess!" the Chess Demon impatiently waved his hand, urging everyone.
An hour later.
Inside the chess hall, Liang Xiao returned to the Chess Saint's residence. Seeing his wives, Zhuo Yun, Li Xin, Zhuo Zifang, and Yue Wenxin all present, his eyes glinted with a touch more amusement.
"Chess Saint, I've come here today because there are some important matters I wish to discuss with you and your disciples."
Zhuo Yun frowned, "What is there to discuss? Discuss your hidden prowess and how you subdued General Yue with a single move?"
Zhuo Zifang and the others were inwardly startled.
Zhuo Yun was clearly wary of Liang Xiao now.
Only Yue Wenxin's gaze was filled with a lingering sorrow as she stared at Liang Xiao, wanting to speak but hesitating.
Liang Xiao smiled, "That's not it. It's just that what I've seen and heard these past few days has given me a comprehensive understanding of the chess path you so ardently pursue..."
Before Liang Xiao could finish, Yue Hongxiu burst in from outside, shouting angrily, "Yunxiu Master of the Pavilion!!"
Everyone looked at Yue Hongxiu in confusion. She walked up to Zhuo Yun, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword.
"I sent people to inquire. The Chess Demon hasn't lost to anyone recently. How did you manage to defeat him five consecutive games?"
Yue Hongxiu's stern questioning made Li Xin's heart sink, "How is that possible?"
The Chess Demon would certainly not dare to betray her and Liang Xiao; this was after all the Emperor's decree!
Liang Xiao simply burst into laughter, "I indeed did not play against the Chess Demon."
Zhuo Yun looked at Li Xin in astonishment, "Sister! Was he sent by Liang Xiao!"
"Ah..." Li Xin's face flushed crimson.
"You don't need to make it difficult for her; I asked her for help," Liang Xiao said, peeling off his human skin mask, finally revealing his true face.
"Liang Xiao!!" Yue Hongxiu trembled.
As soon as the words left her lips, Zhuo Yun cried out and hid behind Yue Hongxiu.
Yue Wenxin, who had been staring intently at Liang Xiao with a sorrowful gaze, now gazed at him blankly, her mouth slightly agape. She glanced down at the Northern King's sword at her waist, utterly lost.
"The one who bullied me is the Marquis of Anguo?"
"Oh dear, did the Northern King know I was going to harm his son, so he stopped possessing me and instead protected his son, which is why I was subdued?"
Yue Wenxin's thoughts raced. Her resentment and anger vanished, replaced by excitement.
She had originally thought the Northern King no longer favored her, but now she seemed to understand the reason...
From behind the screen, the Chess Saint's sigh echoed, "Liang Xiao, if you wished to force your way in, this old woman could do nothing to stop you. Why then lower yourself to sneak in and act like a thief?"
Liang Xiao responded proudly, "Because I, Liang Xiao, have always kept my word."
"Nonsense! Sneaking in disguised, is that keeping your word?" Yue Hongxiu retorted angrily.
Liang Xiao pouted, "I already told her in my letter that I would absolutely not harm her, nor would I force her. If I had forced my way in, wouldn't that be harming her?"
Yue Wenxin was speechless, and the Chess Saint remained silent for a long time.
Only Zhuo Yun, her face filled with shame, lowered her head and said, "Why must the Marquis of Anguo go to such lengths for a lowly woman like me..."
"If you cannot give this old man an explanation, then even if His Majesty himself were to come, I will still teach you a lesson you will never forget!" Yue Hongxiu declared sternly, drawing her sword and thrusting it into the ground.
"Aunt, please calm down..." Yue Wenxin suddenly became unusually obedient, hugging Yue Hongxiu's arm.
Li Xin's brow twitched, and she looked at Yue Wenxin strangely.
Not long ago, she had almost stabbed Liang Xiao to death. How could she now have the nerve to advise calm?
"You don't need to speak up for the son of the Northern King!" Yue Hongxiu shook her head.
Liang Xiao merely sat down on his own, saying, "I came to the chess hall, indeed, to learn about the path of chess, and also to tell Miss Zhuo Er that she should return to Great Gan first."
Zhuo Yun trembled, "You, you said you wouldn't force me..."
Liang Xiao shook his head, "I won't force you. I just want you to understand that you truly should go back."
"As the revered Marquis of Anguo of Great Gan, how can you be so shameless!" Yue Hongxiu scoffed.
"No need to praise me so subtly. My shamelessness yesterday is already an open secret," Liang Xiao replied nonchalantly, ignoring Yue Hongxiu, whose eyes were practically spitting fire, and the stunned Zhuo Yun, Yue Wenxin, and Li Xin.
The people in the chess hall looked towards Liang Xiao's wives and Zhuo Zifang beside him, their hearts filled with confusion.
Why did they seem so accustomed to others scolding Liang Xiao for being shameless?
"Scoundrel..." Zhuo Yun gritted her teeth, her delicate body trembling violently.
She had finally met him in person...
"Miss Zhuo Er, you don't need to be nervous. Sit down. I just want to talk with you properly." Liang Xiao then shifted his tone, "I sent you letters, showing ample sincerity. Even if you didn't wish to return, you should at least not have ignored them. Even conveying a message through Zhuo Lingjun would have sufficed, wouldn't it?"
Zhuo Yun lowered her head and remained silent.
She had indeed not replied to Liang Xiao's letters, nor even to Zhuo Zifang's, only instructing Zhuo Mansion's people to relay a message back. She simply wanted to spend her remaining years pursuing the path of chess in Great Liang.
"You don't need to feel any pressure. I, Liang Xiao, will say the same thing: I will absolutely not force you. Even if you were to find happiness with someone else here, I, Liang Xiao, would have no complaints. After all, we are strangers and have no feelings for each other."
Upon hearing Liang Xiao's words, Zhuo Yun finally breathed a sigh of relief and knelt before him, "It is this humble woman who has failed the Marquis of Anguo. Please forgive me!"
Luo Qingxue quickly helped Zhuo Yun up and had her sit down.
Yue Hongxiu stood to the side, staring intently at Liang Xiao, also trembling.
She could see that Liang Xiao's attitude was sincere, and moreover, he was willing to let go of such a great beauty as Zhuo Yun.
Liang Xiao then turned his gaze back to Zhuo Yun.
This woman was flawless in appearance, deserving a perfect score. Unfortunately, for her temperament alone, deducting two hundred points wouldn't be excessive.
"I have been here for seven days, and I have studied your games and observed everyone in the chess hall. If I am to be honest, I am greatly disappointed with the 'path of chess' here," Liang Xiao sighed.
Zhuo Yun murmured, "The Marquis of Anguo is highly respected, but you don't need to look down on us chess players so much. This is the chess hall my master has managed for decades..."
Liang Xiao shook his head, "You tested me with 'fang yuan dong jing' (square, circle, movement, stillness). Do you know why I responded with those four sentences?"
"I wish to hear your explanation!" Zhuo Yun mustered her courage to reply.
"'Fang yuan dong jing'—you used Go as a metaphor. My response was to tell you the basic principles of conduct in life. Your pursuit of freedom is not wrong, and I, Liang Xiao, do not care about my reputation. But you only know how to constantly evade. Have you ever considered the feelings of your family, or the implications for our two nations?"
"Zhuo Lingjun admits he owes me and thus indulges your antics, but I, Liang Xiao, have never done anything to wrong you. The Zhuo family raised you, and you enjoyed privileges, yet you refuse to discuss your basic obligations. You are obsessed with researching the path of chess, but your words and actions have been contrary to the path of chess from the very beginning."
"The chess players in this hall, proud of their skills, look down upon others and dislike interacting with the outside world. They are merely closing themselves off. Otherwise, how could they disdain the Chess Demon outside? And the Chess Saint, out of resentment towards my grandfather, wrongly blames me, Liang Xiao, and forbids me entry. There has never been a proper path of chess here, nor proper chess players. How then can you hope to spend your life pursuing it?"
Liang Xiao's words left the people in the chess hall speechless.
Zhuo Yun was even more ashamed and mortified, but she still forced herself to say, "No matter how much the Marquis of Anguo talks, aren't you just trying to persuade me to go back? You talk grandly and disdain our chess path, yet your chess skills are hardly commendable. How about we play ten games, with you choosing black or white? If you can win even one game, I will go back with you, and you can do as you please, whether it's to kill me or make me your servant, I will have no complaints!"
Realizing her conditions were excessive, Zhuo Yun added, "Of course, you could also go back to Great Gan and find another chess player to play nine games against me. If they can win five games against me, I will also go back with you and do as you please!"
Everyone looked at Liang Xiao.
Liang Xiao replied without hesitation, "No need for anyone else to act on my behalf. There's no time like the present. You and I will play here."
As Liang Xiao spoke, he moved the chessboard on the table over, picked up the Go canister, and placed a black stone in the center of the board.
Everyone looked closely and was astonished, "Starting with the celestial point?!"