Chapter Fifty-Three: The Formless Game of Chess, Part Three

Thus, Qiu Hailin guided Jian Liang to practice flying chess with his mind daily in the forest. After more than ten days, Jian Liang had reached a realm where he could strike both near and far, attack externally and infiltrate internally, completely at will. Qiu Hailin, amazed in secret, said with delight, “Brother Jian Liang, aside from your chess skills, you have cultivated this extraordinary technique. When you roam the world of chess in the future, it will be more than enough for self-defense and protection.”

Jian Liang was equally pleased and replied, “I will only use my chess manual to strike down those scoundrels I look down upon.” Qiu Hailin smiled and said, “Chess is one’s own game, and the intention is one’s own intention. If someone receives a move from your chess manual and yet it is not your will that guides it, then that would be the greatest punishment.”

Jian Liang said, “Chess is divided into black and white, and there must be the distinction between life and death. When encountering white, it signifies life, to be punished externally; when facing black, it means death, to harm internally, meant for those who have committed the gravest evils.”

Qiu Hailin said, “Your method of using the chess manual and intention to influence the human body can cause a person’s vital energy and blood to gather with the chess move. It is somewhat domineering. You must be cautious not to apply it lightly to others—only use one move for self-defense when absolutely necessary, and never abuse or flaunt it.”

Jian Liang said respectfully, “I will remember your words and dare not harm others lightly.” Qiu Hailin nodded and said, “Your ability to play chess with your mind like this surpasses ordinary imagination. It is best if you can self-discipline. Our acquaintance is fate. I will further enhance this peerless art for you by teaching you to recognize the meridians and acupoints on the human body. This way, when you use this technique for self-defense, you can better gauge the severity.”

Jian Liang was overjoyed upon hearing this and hurriedly expressed his gratitude. He thought to himself, “If I ever find that national champion eunuch Li Ruchuan, I can subdue him on the chessboard. If not, I will apply the chess technique to his own body and take his life. This man is too evil in chess; using the chess manual to harm him would not be a violation of the chess way.”

At the foot of an unnamed mountain stood a peach orchard, with its fruit still unripe. A thatched hut for the forest guardian stood empty, and Qiu Hailin and Jian Liang temporarily took residence there.

One day, Jian Liang stood before the hut, holding a perfectly round chess manual in his right hand. He stared intently at a green peach hanging from a distant branch, deeply focused on his thoughts. Suddenly, he raised his hand, and the chess manual flew straight into the peach, disappearing without causing the branch to move. The chess manual had miraculously penetrated the peach invisibly, leaving no trace.

“Excellent!” Qiu Hailin praised as he approached and plucked the peach. With a strong pull, he split it open and found the chess manual embedded inside the unripe peach pit. Qiu Hailin nodded approvingly and said joyfully, “It is an ethereal, intention-driven insertion, not a forceful one. The ‘Formless Chess’ is perfected!”

“Formless Chess?” Jian Liang exclaimed with delight. “Is this the name you have given my flying chess technique, Master Qiu?”

“Indeed,” Qiu Hailin replied, “formless and intangible, only the true intention on the chessboard remains.”

Qiu Hailin and Jian Liang had stayed in this peach orchard for over ten days. Qiu Hailin had thoroughly pointed out all the meridians and acupoints on the human body to Jian Liang, so that the “Formless Chess” could be applied to these points, greatly enhancing its effect.

One day, Qiu Hailin asked, “Brother Jian Liang, have you memorized all twelve main meridians of the human body?”

Jian Liang respectfully replied, “Thanks to your teaching, Master, I have committed them to memory. The twelve meridians are: the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian, Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian, Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, Hand Shaoyang Triple Burner Meridian, Hand Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian, Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian, Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian, Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian, Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian, Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian, and Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. These make the twelve meridians, with a total of 311 main acupoints, corresponding to the 311 squares on a chessboard. In the future, one only needs to move the chess pieces along these acupoints on the human body.”

Hearing this, Qiu Hailin smiled and asked further, “What about the eight extraordinary meridians?”

Jian Liang replied, “The eight extraordinary meridians differ from the twelve main meridians and are called the ‘separate and extraordinary channels.’ They include the Governing Vessel, Conception Vessel, Penetrating Vessel, Girdling Vessel, Yin Linking Vessel, Yang Heel Vessel, and Yin Heel Vessel.”

Qiu Hailin nodded satisfactorily. “Excellent! You are truly gifted and learn extremely quickly. Remember, meridians are the pathways of vital energy, and acupoints are where the energy converges. Martial arts’ acupoint striking techniques cause the energy to be severed, stopping the blood flow and rendering a person temporarily immobile. Your ‘Formless Chess’ aims to gather a person’s vital energy and blood at the acupoints under the chess pieces, causing immobility and effectively sealing those points. Life and death are determined by the chess moves, which are arbitrary. You must exercise utmost caution when applying this to others.”

Jian Liang respectfully responded, “I will forever remember your teachings, Master.”

At this moment, Jian Liang also expressed his gratitude, “Last night, your harmonizing acupuncture caused the vital energy to flow smoothly through my twelve meridians, starting from the Lung Meridian to the Large Intestine Meridian, then the Stomach and Spleen Meridians, followed by the Heart, Small Intestine, Bladder, Kidney, Pericardium, Triple Burner, Gallbladder, and Liver Meridians, eventually returning to the Lung Meridian. Throughout the night, I felt clear and refreshed, an extraordinary comfort. Even now, my entire body’s meridians still feel tingling with surplus energy.”

Qiu Hailin nodded upon hearing this. “You have completed a great circulation of the microcosmic orbit. Excellent! When your own chess reaches ultimate mastery, it means your mind and intention have also reached their highest realms, which is creation itself. My harmonizing acupuncture has now made your entire meridian system smooth and unblocked. This will protect you from all diseases, a blessing earned through your chess cultivation. Others must work hard to achieve this. You now possess unmatched mastery in both chess and martial arts, unique in all history. In the future, you can roam the world without worry, using chess to help the world.”

Jian Liang, grateful and delighted, said, “Now I truly feel the heavens are vast, the earth is vast, chess is vast, and I too am vast!”

Qiu Hailin laughed, “Chess transforms within the heart, and the heart embraces the heavens and accommodates the earth. This is no exaggeration. Humans are the spirit of all things and can transcend the ordinary to become sage-like. A true man should harbor such lofty spirit.”

Qiu Hailin then patted Jian Liang’s shoulder and smiled, “Your ‘Formless Chess’ technique is complete. Even immortals would find it hard to withstand a single move from your chess manual. It has not been in vain that I met you and guided you. I had previously promised a friend that I would go to the capital to treat his mother’s illness and have delayed too long already. Let us part ways here today.”

Jian Liang, anxious, said, “I have received great kindness from you, Master, and have not yet repaid it. Why rush off now? How about staying a while longer?”

Qiu Hailin smiled, “Our meeting is fate, no need for formalities. There is no feast that never ends; we shall meet again when fate allows.”

Though reluctant, Jian Liang said, “I dare not forget the debt of your teaching and the gift of ‘Formless Chess.’ I hope we can meet again. I will not delay you any longer and must now seek that national champion eunuch for a chess duel. Let me at least escort you a short distance.” His words carried a hint of sorrow.

Having spent over a month together, Qiu Hailin and Jian Liang had developed a deep bond, making this sudden parting all the more difficult. Qiu Hailin sighed and said, “Meeting you, Brother Jian Liang, has been the greatest joy of my life. Though we part for now, let us not be too saddened and remember these days fondly. Also, although you have ‘Formless Chess’ for protection, the martial world is treacherous, and human hearts deceitful. You must always remain cautious.”

Jian Liang gratefully nodded, feeling an unspoken warmth in his heart.

The two then left the peach orchard, walking together and exchanging heartfelt farewells. Ahead, at the village entrance, a crowd of villagers had gathered, their weeping filling the air. It was a funeral.

As Qiu Hailin and Jian Liang passed by, Qiu Hailin glanced at a coffin placed by the roadside and suddenly stopped, astonished. “This coffin still emanates the aura of life. The person inside must be alive, not a corpse. The family is about to commit a mistaken burial.”

Jian Liang was shocked. “Master Qiu, do you mean the person inside the coffin isn’t dead?”

Qiu Hailin nodded, “Exactly. The coffin is enveloped in yang energy. The person inside cannot be truly dead.”

Jian Liang said in disbelief, “Impossible! How could they be sending off a living person?”

Qiu Hailin said, “There must be a reason. As a healer, I cannot witness death without trying to save the person.” With that, Qiu Hailin stepped forward. Jian Liang shook his head in confusion but followed.

Before the coffin knelt a family of more than ten, all dressed in mourning clothes and crying loudly. A woman, though in mourning attire, knelt separately by the roadside, crying bitterly. Some villagers held funeral banners and paper offerings, preparing to escort the deceased.

Qiu Hailin approached and asked, “May I ask, is it customary here to bury living people?”

His words caused a stir. The mourners stopped crying and stared in shock at this uninvited guest.

A burly man stood up, face full of anger. “Who are you? How dare you speak such nonsense and bring disaster upon us?”

Qiu Hailin bowed slightly. “Please do not misunderstand. I have some skill in physiognomy and energy observation. Just now, I noticed the coffin still holds life energy, indicating the occupant is not yet dead. I came to inform you with no ill intent, hoping you will open the coffin for inspection to avoid future regret.”

The man was stunned, and the villagers exchanged confused looks. The woman kneeling by the roadside was dumbstruck, mouth agape.

The man’s expression turned suspicious. “Is this true? Can you really tell at a glance if someone in a coffin is dead or alive? You’re not here to cause trouble?”

Qiu Hailin said, “If I am mistaken, I am willing to accept punishment.”

The man saw the sincerity and kindness in Qiu Hailin’s face, unlike a troublemaker, and pondered for a moment. He muttered, “Though my mother is old, she has always been strong in body and spirit.” Then he glared at the woman kneeling by the road. “A few days ago, my mother quarreled with my wife and collapsed in anger. After two days, she had not woken. We thought she had passed away. Now, if this gentleman’s words are true, there is hope she can survive. But…” He hesitated.

At that moment, a young man dressed in mourning clothes stood and said, “My mother fainted after arguing with my sister-in-law. My brother plans to divorce her. If this gentleman can bring my mother back to life and reunite us as a family, we will erect a longevity tablet in his honor. But if you speak falsely and mock us, you will not escape punishment and will be handed over to the authorities.”

Qiu Hailin said, “Regardless, I hope the coffin can be opened for inspection.”

Jian Liang, standing silently beside him, was anxious, fearing that if anything went wrong, Qiu Hailin might not be able to extricate himself. He tugged at Qiu Hailin’s sleeve, signaling caution.

Qiu Hailin gave Jian Liang a faint smile, full of confidence.

This is where the story begins.

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