Chapter Forty-Four: The Chess Rite, Part Three

On New Year’s Day, this book will erupt with a flood of updates! Twenty thousand? Thirty thousand? Fifty thousand?

At the banquet, Zhang Tongyi spoke with animated delight of the bloody struggle at the Celestial Origin Board, praising Fang Guohuan highly for laying out the Celestial Origin formation on the board. Calm in the face of danger and unruffled in crisis, he directed the whole battle according to the changing lines of play, driving off more than a hundred thousand mounted Jurchen warriors who had poured into the formation, stripping them of armor and weapons, and finally forcing an army of two hundred thousand Jurchens into a crushing retreat, thus rescuing the association from disaster. It was truly a case of finding life in the midst of utter peril. Everyone at the table listened in amazement, and their admiration for Fang Guohuan rose still higher; they praised him endlessly and revered him almost as a deity, while Fang Guohuan only smiled and let it pass.

After several rounds of wine, Fang Guohuan asked, “How are the chief association leader Sister Lian and Mr. Sun Qi?”

Zhang Tongyi said, “Ever since that day at Crane Song Villa, when you left without a word, everyone has felt greatly disappointed. The chief leader even wanted to send men after you, but Mr. Sun Qi persuaded him otherwise. Still, Deputy Leader Luo Kun and the two leaders, Bu Yuan and Lü Zhufeng, searched everywhere for you that whole day, only to return empty-handed. Later, the chief leader Lian took everyone back to the main headquarters at Poyang Lake. While handling the affairs of the association each day, he often instructed the brothers to keep an eye out for your whereabouts, so that there might be someone to lend a hand if anything came up.”

Hearing this, Fang Guohuan felt deeply apologetic for having departed so abruptly in those days.

Zhang Tongyi then said, “Mr. Sun Qi once took your request and ordered every branch association under heaven to search for a eunuch who played a wicked, harmful kind of chess. Do you remember that, sir?”

Fang Guohuan said, “Indeed. I had not expected Mr. Sun Qi to take it so seriously. I came here this time for that very matter. Has there been any news?”

Zhang Tongyi replied, “Since it was an order from Mr. Sun Qi, and especially since it came at your request, how could the brothers fail to do their utmost? But the two people you seek are elusive and leave no trace, making them extremely hard to find. Still, a piece of news did arrive a month ago.”

Fang Guohuan’s spirits stirred. “What sort of news?”

“A month ago,” Zhang Tongyi said, “there was a scholar named Sun Linqing who played a remarkable game. In the past half year he had become a newly famous master in the art of chess, said to be the equal of our association’s renowned expert, the chief leader Liu He of Sichuan.”

Fang Guohuan was surprised. “I never imagined such a master would emerge again in the world of chess!”

Zhang Tongyi continued, “With Sun Linqing’s rising fame, no one knows how he ended up drawing in that eunuch who played wicked chess.”

Fang Guohuan’s expression changed. “Did something happen?”

Zhang Tongyi said, “Yes. After Sun Linqing played a game with that eunuch, he suddenly and inexplicably lost his breath while still seated beside the board. Once the news spread, our brothers learned of it. By chance, the invincible spear master Han Mengchao had arrived there as chief leader, and the local brothers guided him to intercept the two men before they could flee. Who would have guessed that the one protecting the eunuch was Yu Ruxu, the famed foremost swordsman under heaven? Chief Leader Han and Yu Ruxu fought more than a hundred rounds without a winner, each coming to admire the other’s skill. Chief Leader Han simply could not believe that one could be killed by chess, and had no reason to make things difficult for them, so he let Yu Ruxu and the eunuch go. It was only later, when he met Mr. Sun Qi, that he learned the eunuch had mastered a ghostly and evil chess sorcery that truly could kill. Since you were searching for him all over the world, Chief Leader Han was left deeply regretting his decision.”

Fang Guohuan could not help but sigh. “The will of heaven! Could this truly be the will of heaven? It seems Li Ruchuan’s fate in chess is not yet exhausted. Who knows how many more masters will be ruined by this man’s board?”

Zhang Tongyi said, “We rough men do not understand chess matters. That eunuch’s art is uncanny indeed; he is truly a demon of the board. But your own chess path has reached the realm of the divine and wondrous, able to respond to all things. If the chance ever arises, you will surely be able to subdue that eunuch over the board.”

Fang Guohuan sighed. “Let us hope so. Please tell Hall Master Zhang to inform Mr. Sun Qi that he should find that national champion eunuch as soon as possible. The disasters he has caused at the chessboard are growing more and more severe. If there is any news, then find a way to keep him there and wait for me to come and settle the match with him on the board.”

Zhang Tongyi agreed readily.

After staying two days, Fang Guohuan still worried over Li Ruchuan’s chess affairs and took his leave of Zhang Tongyi, continuing his search. Zhang Tongyi and the others tried hard to detain him, even offering silver, but Fang Guohuan firmly declined, clasped his hands in farewell, and departed.

For another two months Fang Guohuan wandered and searched alone throughout the martial world, but regretfully found nothing. During this time, not only had there been no trace of Li Ruchuan, but chess-related killings had multiplied. Many famous masters had died obscurely upon the board. From the national champion and top scholar Qu Liangyi onward, more than thirty renowned chess experts had already been destroyed by invisible means in the course of play. The world was shocked. People in common life turned pale at the mere mention of chess, and some chess players no longer dared even to exchange written games with strangers. By then, some had learned that the one wielding this murderous chess art was none other than the mysteriously vanished imperial eunuch, Li Wusan, which only deepened the bewilderment of the chess fraternity.

The national-champion eunuch traveled everywhere seeking masters, killing through chess without leaving a trace. Though there were complaints to the authorities, there was no proof, and since Li Ruchuan had once been the chief eunuch in charge of the court’s famed chess circles, no official dared pursue the matter deeply, so it all came to nothing.

Yet this only enraged the black and white factions connected to these cases. Though no one knew how chess could kill, the fact remained that more than thirty famous masters had been ruined at the board. Many parties hunted Li Ruchuan to avenge the dead, but all were struck down beneath Yu Ruxu’s long sword. Rumors spread wildly. No one believed chess could kill; most suspected that the national-champion eunuch merely used chess as bait while secretly practicing sorcery or evil arts to seize people’s souls and spirits and thus take the lives of those who opposed him at the board. Others guessed he secretly administered some colorless, odorless poison that could kill within ten paces. All such possibilities only made Li Ruchuan’s whereabouts more mysterious and even harder to uncover. On several occasions, Fang Guohuan arrived only to find the game already ended and the player dead, and through some unlucky twist of fate he missed his chance to contend with him over the board.

Powerless, Fang Guohuan continued to run hither and thither for another month or more, yet still failed to meet Li Ruchuan. He knew that Li Ruchuan had made murder by chess into a habit; not only was he himself difficult to find and restrain through the board, but now even masters were hard for him to find and kill, since the chess world had become alert. Fang Guohuan had once encountered a chess player with some hollow reputation, men such as Niu Fa, and Li Ruchuan had indeed managed to find him for a match. Though he had survived the game by virtue of his crude skill, his art was still somewhat superior to Niu Fa’s, and Li Ruchuan drove him to the brink of madness over the board. Later, though he returned to normal, he vowed to abandon chess forever and no longer dared so much as touch a chess book.

The matter of the national-champion eunuch Li Ruchuan killing by chess caused a tempest of talk throughout the world and was called monstrous and strange. Fang Guohuan often sighed to himself, “The Way of Chess can save the world; it can also plunge the world into chaos.”

He searched long for Li Ruchuan without success. Though anxious and restless, he did not lose heart. One day, passing through Huaiyin in Jiangsu, he thought of the national champion and top scholar Qu Liangyi and wondered how his illness was progressing, so he detoured to Qu Family Market.

When Fang Guohuan arrived at Qu Family Market and found the gate of the Qu residence, he was about to call out. Just then, a child suddenly ran up from the side and cried, “Uncle Fang!” before throwing himself at him. Fang Guohuan held him close and saw that it was Qu Cao, Qu Liangyi’s son. At that moment Qu Ning’er came running up behind, delighted and surprised.

Holding Qu Cao, Fang Guohuan smiled. “I never thought the little fellow would still remember me.”

Qu Cao clung tightly to Fang Guohuan’s neck, very affectionate. Fang Guohuan turned to Qu Ning’er and asked, “How is Mr. Qu?”

Qu Ning’er said happily, “Master is much better than before. Please come in quickly, Uncle Fang.” Having said that, she ran inside ahead of them to announce his arrival.

Fang Guohuan entered the main gate with Qu Cao in his arms and immediately saw brothers Qu Liangchen and Qu Liangcai greeting him joyfully. He set Qu Cao down and exchanged courtesies with the Qu brothers.

Qu Liangchen said with delight, “I never dreamed that today we would be fortunate enough to see you, sir.”

Fang Guohuan smiled. “I was only passing by and came to pay a visit to Mr. Qu Liangyi.”

The Qu brothers were deeply moved and quickly invited him to sit in the hall. When Madam Qu heard that Fang Guohuan had arrived, she came at once to pay her respects. Little Qu Cao would not leave Fang Guohuan’s side, calling “Uncle Fang” again and again, to Fang Guohuan’s great fondness.

He said to Madam Qu, “The young master truly has something of Mr. Qu’s bearing and spirit. In time he is sure to accomplish great things.”

Madam Qu sighed. “This child even follows his father in chess, setting up boards and books all day long, often forgetting to eat or sleep. Thinking of his father’s present state, I truly fear for what will become of him in the future...” She shook her head and sighed, unable to continue.

Fang Guohuan said, “Mr. Qu Liangyi was the top scholar and national champion of this dynasty, once a model for all chess players under heaven. His present misfortune is not the fault of chess. Young Master Qu is naturally intelligent and unusually perceptive; his attainment in chess in later years should not be lower than Mr. Qu’s.”

Madam Qu gave a bitter smile. “For an ordinary family, all we ask is a peaceful life. We do not wish for Cao’er to bring disaster upon himself through fame, as his father did.” Her words carried a deep sorrow. Fang Guohuan listened and sighed inwardly.

He then asked, “It has been more than half a year since our last meeting. How is Mr. Qu doing?”

Qu Liangchen answered from the side, “Thanks to you, sir, my brother has improved much compared with before. Each day he sits in silence, saying nothing, almost like a healthy man.”

Qu Liangcai added, “My elder brother was also fortunate enough to receive treatment from the famed physician, Master Valley of Medicine, who enjoys great renown under heaven.”

Fang Guohuan was pleased to hear this. “Master Valley of Medicine has been here?”

Qu Liangchen said gratefully, “According to Master Valley of Medicine, he came at your request to treat my brother, sir. We should be the ones thanking you. Such thoughtfulness leaves us with no way to repay you.”

Fang Guohuan smiled. “No need for courtesy. Master Valley of Medicine is indeed a man of his word. My earlier request must have put me to shame before him. By the way, what did he say?”

Qu Liangchen said, “After examining my brother, Master Valley of Medicine was quite astonished. He said my brother’s heart pulses were faint and near exhaustion, that the vigor of his heart was nearly spent, and that his having lived until now was a miracle. He then prescribed several tonics to strengthen the heart. After taking them, my brother improved noticeably from before, and Master Valley of Medicine instructed us to have the formula made into pills and take them long term, to observe the later effects.”

Fang Guohuan said, “Mr. Qu’s illness is unusual. To achieve such an effect is already no easy matter.” With that, he rose to go and see Qu Liangyi. The Qu brothers led him into Qu Liangyi’s room.

At that moment Qu Liangyi sat on a bamboo chair, his condition indeed much improved from before, though he remained silent and slow of speech. Yet the instant he saw Fang Guohuan enter, his eyes suddenly took on a strange brightness, as if he wished to speak but could not. Qu Liangchen, seeing this, said in wonder, “My brother has always worn a blank expression, unable to distinguish closeness from distance, yet he seems to respond to you, sir. What an extraordinary thing!”

He then sighed, “To have a chess confidant like you, sir, must surely be a comfort to my brother.”

Looking at the former top scholar who had once stood at the height of fame, Fang Guohuan felt his heart ache with bitter sorrow. Unable to bear it, he could not help but shed tears. He secretly blamed Li Ruchuan’s ghostly chess for all this suffering. Qu Liangchen comforted him for a while, then invited him back to the hall to sit.

At that moment, when Qu Cao saw Fang Guohuan return, he happily ran up and said, “Uncle Fang, you are good friends with Father, and you must have great skill at chess. Please take me as your disciple, will you?”

Seeing how innocent and lovely the child was, Fang Guohuan answered casually, “Very well, then you shall be my disciple.”

Who would have thought Qu Cao would take it as true? He cried, “Master!” and knelt to bow, startling Fang Guohuan, who hurried forward to help him up.

Seeing this, Qu Liangchen said, “Since Cao’er likes having you as his master, sir, why not accept him? We rough men know nothing of chess, but we only hope you will teach Cao’er how to conduct himself as a person, and that will be enough.”

Seeing that Qu Cao was clever and perceptive, a rare talent in chess, Fang Guohuan was moved himself and said happily, “The young master inherits Mr. Qu’s natural gifts and has the promise of becoming a child prodigy in chess. Very well. To be able to guide the young master on the board is also a pleasure.”

The Qu brothers were overjoyed to hear it.

When Madam Qu heard the news, she too came to express her thanks. Qu Cao performed the bows of apprenticeship once more, and Fang Guohuan accepted him gladly. The Qu brothers then set a banquet in gratitude.

That night, Fang Guohuan tested Qu Cao’s chess strength in his room. He would have been astonished anyway, but after the test he was truly startled: though the child was still so young, his style was already mature and practiced, free of crude or childish habits, with not a trace of juvenile awkwardness. Fang Guohuan was delighted and instructed him carefully over the board. Qu Cao understood everything at once, requiring no needless explanation. Fang Guohuan was secretly overjoyed, knowing that Qu Cao’s future attainments in chess would not be beneath Qu Liangyi’s; indeed, a tiger fathers no hound. Thus more than ten days passed, and master and disciple grew very close.

Fang Guohuan still worried over Li Ruchuan’s chess affairs, and on this day he prepared to take his leave. Qu Cao cried and would not let him go. Fang Guohuan was reluctant as well, and comforted him, saying, “Master is going to search for the bad man who harmed your father, so he can stop him from doing more evil. You stay home and practice chess diligently. In the future, Master will certainly come to see you and test whether you have made progress.”

The Qu brothers and Madam Qu also coaxed and persuaded him from the side, and only then did Qu Cao agree through tears. Fang Guohuan clasped his hands in farewell and departed, unable to bear leaving. Qu Cao cried all the way after him, accompanying him far along the road. Fang Guohuan himself felt desolate.

This book first released.

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