100: The Piece that Conquers the World

Chapter 100: The Piece that Conquers the World

Li Hao carried his food and drinks as he returned along the road.

Passing through the bustling streets, the lanterns were already lit along the way.

The streets were lively with pedestrians, and there were servants leading tall horses, followed by carriages whose wheels rolled steadily, appearing quite ordinary.

The horse handlers were all at the Soul Continuation Realm, truly a bustling scene...

Li Hao smiled faintly.

As the decisive period of the Li family's True Dragon approaches, Qingzhou City has become fraught with hidden currents.

In recent days, he had seen many figures dressed in the attire of other provinces flowing into this city.

While eating in the restaurant, he overheard conversations about this, including discussions that some high-ranking officials, even those with third-rank positions, had come to Qingzhou City to support their nephews...

To Li Hao's knowledge, his mother seemed to have no clan relatives.

His aunt had said that his mother was born into a small family, which was later destroyed by monsters, and she met his father, Li Tiangang, who helped her, leading to their acquaintance and subsequent marriage.

The figures flocking to Qingzhou were evidently those who were not resigned, led by his second aunt...

So be it.

Li Hao smiled lightly, not minding it, but silently counting the days in his heart, eagerly anticipating the arrival of that day.

Passing by a bustling bridge, Li Hao saw some people playing chess and stopped to watch for a moment.

Since it was already late to return, he wasn't in a hurry.

"Don't squeeze in!"

"Why is a kid like you squeezing in?"

Most of the people watching and playing chess were middle-aged or older, with only two young men in their thirties besides Li Hao.

When he squeezed to the front of the chessboard, he saw that the game was only at the mid-stage, but the outcome was already decided.

Li Hao quickly glanced at it and knew that the white pieces were going to lose.

Although the white pieces formed a dragon, its head and tail were trapped with no way out.

Unless the white player had the courage to make a twisting and strangling move, biting off a piece of the black, there was little chance of winning.

But being forced into such a predicament step by step showed a lack of courage, so it was unlikely they would have such audacity.

Li Hao shook his head slightly and glanced at the player holding the black pieces.

The opponent was an old man with a ruddy face and white hair, smiling with a gentle shake of his folding fan, enjoying the evening breeze.

Leisurely waiting for his opponent to concede.

"I lost."

The white pieces were put back into the chess box, and the old man playing white in front of Li Hao admitted defeat dejectedly.

"Ah, what a pity."

"Tsk tsk, there was a chance here earlier."

"Nonsense, it was clearly here..."

"I feel like they could have kept playing, why concede?"

The onlookers around started discussing, some feeling regretful, some criticizing the previous moves, and some not understanding why the game was conceded so early.

Different levels of chess skills see things differently.

But the board was set, and the game was over.

In the midst of their discussion, a carriage approached the bridge.

Seeing the crowd gathered at the bridge, the leading driver shouted angrily, "Get out of the way, all of you, get out of the way, blocking the road!"

His arrogant attitude angered many, but seeing the dragon-blooded warhorse pulling the carriage, their faces changed, and they hurriedly stepped aside, not daring to block the way.

Soon, the crowd parted, and the carriage came through.

Seeing the chess stall by the roadside, the driver shouted, "Get lost, get lost!"

The people who had stepped aside whispered that the driver, having been servile in his master's house for so long, was now showing off his power.

Though indignant, they couldn't match the driver's background, so the onlookers moved away from the chessboard, not daring to stay.

Even if,

They were in the right.

In no time, only Li Hao, the old man playing black, and the two young men behind him remained.

The old man continued to gently shake his fan, his eyes looking towards the willow trees by the river, seemingly ignoring the noisy commotion.

The two young men behind the old man showed a flash of murderous intent in their eyes, with one of them turning to coldly stare at the driver.

"What are you looking at?" the driver shouted angrily. He noticed these remaining people seemed unusual, but even so, he didn't back down.

In terms of background, who in Dayu could match his master?

"If you don't want your family to be in trouble, get out of here. Do you know who is sitting in the carriage?"

One of the young men suddenly stepped forward, appearing in front of the driver in an instant, slapping him.

The driver's head tilted to the side, his neck breaking, and he died on the spot.

The people who had been driven away earlier were shocked, letting out exclamations.

Some felt satisfied, thinking the villain got what he deserved.

Others felt that while the driver was bad, he didn't deserve death.

But the young man didn't look at the driver again, lifting the carriage curtain and stepping inside.

Inside the carriage came a startled cry, with a plump, richly dressed old man sitting inside, not expecting someone to suddenly enter.

There were also women in the carriage who tried to shout angrily, but were silenced by the young man's cold, stern gaze, turning pale with fear, feeling they would be killed if they made a sound!

"Slap yourself, kneel down, and get lost."

The young man spoke eight words in total.

The plump old man trembled with rage and fear, "Do you know who I am? I know Prince Yan, I..."

"Maybe you have someone above you."

The young man interrupted coldly, "But above our master, there is no one!"

"Say one more word, and none of you will leave here!"

The chilling killing intent filled the carriage, scaring the women into shivering, unable to cry.

The old man's face turned liver-colored, realizing that in this moment, against a furious warrior, even kings and nobles were no different.

He could only grit his teeth, slap himself, then kneel down, enduring the humiliation.

Seeing this, the young man stepped out of the carriage, slapping the dragon-blooded warhorse on the rear.

The horse, usually fierce and hard to tame, bolted under the young man's slap, startling the pedestrians along the way.

But without a driver, it didn't run far before heading towards the river, crashing into it with the carriage.

With a splash, it drew the attention of many onlookers.

The young man, as if nothing had happened, quietly returned to the old man playing black, his expression calm as if he had never moved.

The old man, looking at the river, sighed, "What a pity for this autumn river."

He then intended to leave.

But his eyes caught a young man standing there, playing with the pieces in the chess box.

From beginning to end, Li Hao hadn't glanced at the arrogant driver or the carriage.

In Qingzhou City, he didn't need to bow to anyone.

Unless, it was in that mansion.

Now, he picked up the white pieces, placing them one by one in positions, connecting them into a line and forming a shape.

A dragon claw emerged, tearing a bloody gap in the black pieces.

He wasn't continuing the game, as the outcome was decided, and it wasn't his game.

Today, he simply didn't want to see such stifling and frustrating situations.

So he made a mark.

The old man playing black raised an eyebrow slightly, glancing at the placement, and suddenly paused.

The two young men behind the old man, wearing ordinary plain clothes, had a change of expression. The one who had acted seemed ready to move, wanting to teach Li Hao a lesson, but was stopped by the old man's fan.

"Do you also understand chess?" the old man smiled.

"Just a little."

Li Hao felt a bit better after placing the pieces.

"Your placement is exquisite, showing youthful spirit, not bad!" the old man praised.

"Young men are naturally proud."

Li Hao said calmly, "Don't mind, old sir."

The old man repeated Li Hao's words quietly, then smiled, "Since you understand chess, why not sit and play a game?"

Li Hao looked at the board and thought for a moment, "Alright."

By now, the onlookers had dispersed, leaving only the four of them under the willow trees.

Li Hao placed his snacks and toys on the grass, then took a seat.

The old man noticed and smiled inwardly, still a youthful heart.

But as Li Hao removed his things, revealing his fine clothing, the old man's eyes caught sight of the beautiful jade hanging from Li Hao's waist.

His eyes narrowed.

The two young men behind him also noticed the young man seemed to have some background. His earlier actions didn't seem like those of an ordinary person, and they too noticed the dragon blood jade at his waist, their pupils shrinking.

"Please, old sir."

Li Hao said.

The old man smiled, his mind returning, and began the game.

Soon, the pieces fell in sequence, with Li Hao taking white, playing second.

The distant onlookers didn't dare come closer, afraid of causing trouble.

Moreover, the young man behind the old man had shown his unusual skills, suggesting they were not ordinary people, making the onlookers unwilling to approach, avoiding accidental provocation.

More passersby were drawn to the distant scene of the carriage in the river, many throwing ropes to rescue it.

Meanwhile, on Li Hao's side, the black and white pieces had already clashed.

With the initial setup over, it was time for intense combat.

Li Hao's moves were unrelenting, all were killing blows, more ruthless and fierce than usual.

The old man's moves became slower, the previously gently swaying fan was now folded.

Each move was made after careful consideration.

But the young man was fast, accurate, and fierce, his offensive overwhelming.

The old man's expression grew solemn, fully focused.

The two young men behind the old man had a change of expression, glancing at the young man.

Moments later, the outcome on the board was clear.

The old man's face was somewhat dark, clearly not expecting to lose, and so badly at that.

It had been...many years since he had lost.

The two young men behind him showed anger, coldly staring at the young man.

As if at the old man's command, they would instantly strike the young man down.

Li Hao sensed it, glanced up but didn't mind.

If it came to a fight, he had no fear.

The old man stared at the board for a while, then said slowly, "Another game."

Li Hao had already withdrawn, saying calmly, "You'll lose again."

The old man was momentarily speechless, never having been spoken to so dismissively.

But seeing the young man's sincere look, he took a deep breath, calming his anger, and said:

"Another game, if you win again, I'll give you a small gift."

"I lack nothing," Li Hao said.

But then smiled a little.

The old man smiled, "You'll like what I give."

"Maybe not," Li Hao said calmly, "Besides, if I win again, I'm worried your men might protect their master."

The two young men had a change of expression, their eyes cold as they stared at Li Hao.

The old man waved his fan, smiling at Li Hao, "They are ignorant, don't mind them. If they upset you, I apologize."

Hearing this, the two young men's faces changed, showing shock.

The old master actually...apologized? Though they only saw his back, under that gentle voice, they seemed to feel an aura of authority emanating from him, making them straighten up, not daring to show any more killing intent.

Li Hao was surprised, looking at the old man, seeing his sincere and gentle eyes, it was genuine.

"Alright."

Li Hao agreed.

Thinking the previous game was too fierce, there was no need to vent on the opponent.

Soon, the second game began.

This time, Li Hao's moves were gentler, the game more balanced.

The old man's thoughts were not as tense, having the leisure to chat while playing: "You're so young, why are you immersed in chess instead of joining the army or training in martial arts for fame?"

"Fame and fortune are dust, wealth and honor are fleeting clouds."

Li Hao placed a piece, "The ultimate goal of life is to eat and dress well. I seem to be lucky, born without worries about food and clothing, so why bother?"

"Hmph, no ambition!"

The young man behind the old man couldn't help but snort.

Li Hao glanced up, thinking, you're a bodyguard, and you have ambition?

The old man was surprised, this didn't sound like something a young man would say, more like the mindset of someone who had seen it all.

But earlier, the young man had also spoken proudly about youthful arrogance.

"A young man should have lofty ambitions, conquering nineteen states in a day."

The old man said with interest, "Don't you want to see the view from the top of the mountain?"

"What's there to see, it's just the human world."

Li Hao said casually, "Some people's journey is to the stars and the sea, but I only want poetry and fields, everyone has their own aspirations."

The old man was stunned, his hand stopping.

He stared at the young man, feeling a shift in his sealed heart.

The young man behind the old man scoffed: "You haven't even been to the top, how do you know what it's like, daring to speak such big words!"

Li Hao frowned, glancing but ignoring him.

The old man's face turned serious, "Hua'er, apologize to the young master!"

What? The young man seemed not to hear, incredulously looking at the old man.

Father actually told him...to apologize? Who was he?

His apology, how many could bear, and how many would dare to accept?!

"Fath...Master, I..."

"Hmm?"

The old man turned slightly, looking at him.

His eyes were as calm as frost after a snowfall, but it made the young man break out in cold sweat.

His face changed, sweating, he bowed quickly to Li Hao: "Young master, I misspoke, please forgive me."

"Forget it."

Li Hao waved his hand.

The old man smiled, then continued placing pieces, chatting casually.

From fame to the people stirring up the world, the old man asked the young man if he admired them.

The young man asked if they were still alive.

The old man thought for a moment, then laughed.

The second game ended.

Li Hao won again.

But this time he played gently, with more give and take.

Li Hao thought the old man's chess skills were slightly better than his fifth uncle's, but still inferior to his own.

"It's getting late, old man, until we meet again."

Li Hao stood, picking up his snacks and toys worth only a few taels of silver, smiling and waving to the old man, then turned to leave.

"I haven't given you a gift yet."

The old man said quickly.

"No need."

The young man didn't look back, waving his hand, "I said, I lack nothing."

The old man was stunned, then smiled, murmuring:

"In this world, who truly lacks nothing..."

"Hmph, is this the renowned third generation of the Li family in Qingzhou? His cultivation is impressive, I can't see through him, but he's a bit foolish."

Looking at the young man's departing figure, the young man who had apologized said with a dark, mocking expression.

That young man probably didn't realize what great opportunity he had just given up, did he?

Ridiculous!

The old man glanced at him, saying nothing, but looked at the street where the young man disappeared, sighing: "If this child were my son, how good would that be?" But it was just a passing thought.

He shook his head with a smile, "This child's talent is beyond your imagination. At fourteen, his chess skills are at a master level. Even with natural talent, it requires some study..."

Fourteen years, to study chess to this level, while cultivating to the Fifteen Mile Realm, that's terrifying.

The two young men were silent.

They couldn't refute, it was true.

A fourteen-year-old at the Fifteen Mile Realm, this talent was beyond their reach.

"You are modest, his chess skills are only shown on this small board, while your pieces are placed across the world..."

The more scholarly young man smiled.

The old man, knowing it was flattery, couldn't help but laugh.

The frustration of losing two games seemed much less.

"Haha, indeed!"

"But next time we meet, I'll win on the chessboard too!"

He wouldn't accept defeat.

Saying so, he laughed, shaking his sleeves, and walked towards the city gate.

"Master, we just arrived, the show hasn't even started, aren't you going to stay?"

"I've seen enough, it's good, very good!"