Ya She

Chapter 20 Six-Bo Chess

Hu Hai stood in a spacious hall, decorated in an antique style but sparsely furnished, giving it a somewhat empty feel. On one wall before him hung various unsheathed ancient swords, some rusty, others still sharp and menacing. Hu Hai gazed at these swords with satisfaction. As a child, he had disliked swords, finding the blood on their blades too ruthless and overly murderous. When had he developed a fondness for collecting ancient swords?
"Swords and blades may be sharp, but they are not necessarily weapons of death; it all depends on who wields them. You can use them to kill, or you can use them to protect your loved ones."

Yes, after his elder brother said those words to him, he fell deeply in love with collecting swords. But even with such a vast collection of ancient swords, he still couldn't protect the person he truly wanted to protect. Even... even his elder brother ultimately met a tragic end beneath the sharp blades.
A small red bird perched on Hu Hai's shoulder, preening its feathers with its sharp beak while looking disdainfully at its cold-blooded counterparts on the wall. It was its master's favorite knife; these others were far inferior!

Hu Hai, however, was reminded of the sharp blades scattered throughout the room by the one he had always wanted. He knew that the jade-carving knife should be in the Silent Shop, but he never expected that person would give away such a precious knife so casually.

Was the other side playing a trick all along? Otherwise, why did the Emperor's soul remain unawakened even after Kowloon's soul was absorbed by the doctor? Was the doctor not actually the Emperor's reincarnation? Was the other person the real one?
If you calculate the age, it really does fit.
"Young Master Hu, will the chess tournament proceed as usual this year?" An aged voice suddenly rang out from outside the hall, accompanied by several heart-wrenching coughs.

Hu Hai snapped out of his reverie, looked at the ancient swords covering the wall, narrowed his crimson eyes, and said calmly, "It will proceed as scheduled. I remember it's time for you to have your chess tournament as well."

"Thank you for your mercy, Young Master Hu." The old voice immediately became excited, and the coughing became more and more uncontrollable. He quickly apologized and left.

Hu Hai frowned and added, "By the way, remember to invite someone to this chess tournament." "Young Master Hu, please give your instructions." The aged voice carried a hint of surprise. In all these years, this was the first time he had seen this young master specifically request someone to attend.

“That person’s name is…” Hu Hai curled his thin, monochrome lips and smiled, “Lu Zigang.”
.
two.
Lu Zigang disembarked from the carriage. He was exhausted from his journey, having flown from Beijing to Xi'an, then traveled for several hours by car, until finally, when the road ended, he had to hire a horse-drawn carriage to continue his journey. After more than three hours of bumpy travel through the mountains, he finally arrived at his destination.

It all started when a distant cousin of his asked him to come over through his mother. This cousin was actually quite far away; his mother said she'd seen him when he was a child. But Lu Zigang searched his memory thoroughly and couldn't recall what this cousin looked like.

However, since they were relatives after all, he couldn't refuse since they had asked. The fact that they had sent him all this way meant they valued his status and wanted him to see some antiques. Although Lu Zigang was exhausted, he forced himself to stay awake. He reached into his robes and pulled out a small black knife. Strangely enough, despite his drowsiness, the moment he held the knife, he felt much more alert.

It was dusk, and the sun was behind the mountains. The light outside the forest slowly faded, and the forest after nightfall added to the desolate atmosphere. Lu Zigang felt that the carriage had stopped, so he put away his sword and looked up.

Hidden behind a forest, a rustic mansion suddenly appeared before him. Lanterns at the gate glowed a faint red light in the darkness, illuminating the two stone lions standing silently before the entrance. In that fleeting glimpse, Lu Zigang almost felt as if he had traveled through time. But upon closer inspection, he realized that the man standing at the gate was dressed in a suit and tie; this was simply a wealthy man's imitation antique villa. Lu Zigang alighted from the carriage, and the man helped him with his luggage and paid the fare. Lu Zigang took out his phone to call his uncle, only to discover that there was no signal at all.

Doesn't China Mobile claim to have global coverage?
Lu Zigang didn't pay much attention, simply put his phone in his pocket, and followed the man into the courtyard. As soon as he entered the courtyard, Lu Zigang was taken aback, because the pavilions and towers he saw were all wooden architectural structures modeled after those of the Qin and Han dynasties.

Generally, modern imitations of ancient architecture usually target the Ming and Qing dynasties, making these Qin and Han dynasty-style residences quite rare. However, these buildings utilize structural methods such as the raised-beam, mortise-and-tenon, and even log cabin styles, which are undoubtedly characteristic of the Qin and Han dynasties. Moreover, they feature even more obvious Qin and Han bricks and tiles; if it weren't so dark, one might even be able to see the patterns on the bricks and tiles.

This family's wealth was truly impressive, Lu Zigang sincerely admired. The ancient trees towering in the courtyard alone indicated the house's great age. However, Lu Zigang didn't believe the house was built during the Qin or Han dynasties. After all, in China, only the Great Wall had survived over two thousand years of wind, rain, and war. Moreover, even that wall had its own additions during a certain dynasty; otherwise, it would likely have turned to dust and gravel. Lu Zigang glanced around for a moment, vaguely sensing something unusual about the layout of the house, but before he could examine it closely, he was led into the main hall. It was brightly lit, and dozens of guests were already gathered around an octagonal table, drinking tea and chatting. As their conversation reached a lively point, they all looked up at Lu Zigang as he entered. Lu Zigang was momentarily stunned by the sight of so many unfamiliar faces. "Xiao Gang, you've finally arrived. Everyone's been waiting for you." A middle-aged man in his fifties stood up from the table, speaking with a thick Shaanxi accent.

Although Lu Zigang grew up in Beijing, his mother's hometown was in Shaanxi, so even if he didn't recognize the middle-aged man, he could guess that he was his cousin and quickly greeted him. His cousin didn't stand on ceremony and, as if they were old friends, pulled him to an empty seat next to him. Then, regardless of whether Lu Zigang could remember them, he began introducing everyone at the table clockwise, starting from the head of the table. Lu Zigang met everyone, but the two who impressed him most were an old man and a young boy. The old man was the owner of the house, and everyone called him Old Yu. He looked to be in his seventies or eighties and wasn't in good health, coughing frequently. The young boy sitting to his left had white hair and red eyes, and was exceptionally handsome, a rare sight indeed. Because of his unusual hair and eye color, although he knew it was due to albinism, it was still rare to see a man with such long hair, and Lu Zigang couldn't help but take a second look.

Presumably because he was late, these people already knew his identity. One of them, a young woman in her twenties, held up her teacup and asked with a smile, "Uncle Li, your nephew's name is quite strange! It's Lu Zigang, exactly the same as the name of that jade carving master in history. I wonder if he has a Kunwu knife by his side?"

Upon hearing the words "Kunwu Knife," Lu Zigang, though knowing the other person was joking, instinctively touched his waist pocket; he actually did carry a Wudao (a type of dagger). Having just been introduced, Lu Zigang remembered the woman's name was Xia Qian, a newspaper reporter, who had come with her husband, Wei Zhuoran. Ms. Xia Qian was very beautiful, with striking, short, curly, and dyed hair, exquisite makeup, and fashionable attire—a true urban professional. Her husband, Wei Zhuoran, sat beside her; he was also handsome and promising, reportedly a high-ranking manager at a foreign company. The two, sitting together, made a perfect couple. However, Wei Zhuoran had clearly been dragged along by his wife; although a smile graced his handsome face, his eyes revealed a distant and indifferent expression. Lu Zigang had been teased countless times since childhood because of his name, so he didn't care and casually offered an explanation. It was all thanks to his father, an archaeologist obsessed with the subject. It's said that when he was born, his father was engrossed in studying jade artifacts bearing the Zi Gang mark, and thus, with a stroke of his pen, named him Lu Zi Gang. This lighthearted banter dispelled the initial awkwardness among the group. Lu Zi Gang also realized that although the attendees were of various ages, they were all experts; otherwise, ordinary people wouldn't know who "Lu Zi Gang" was. "It's truly fate that we're gathered here today! Besides Brother Lu, we also have Brother Hu Hai! Haha!" A man about Lu Zi Gang's age said with a grin. His name was Lin Yan, a history major at a prestigious university. Sitting next to him was his twin brother, Lin Mo. The two were strikingly different; Lin Yan wore a Nike tracksuit, while Lin Mo wore a striped shirt and jeans. Both were handsome, clearly popular figures at school. At this moment, Lin Yan winked mischievously, glancing at the young man next to Elder Yu as he spoke. When his uncle introduced the handsome young man with white hair and red eyes, Lu Zigang had heard that he was named Hu Hai. He thought it was just a coincidence of pronunciation, but it turned out to be the exact name "Hu Hai." Seeing that the other party didn't respond and had a cold expression, Lu Zigang didn't know how to answer. He just said a few words, "What a coincidence," and changed the subject. There were twelve people at the table, and everyone was there when Lu Zigang arrived. The servants outside the hall cleared away the tea and served exquisite dishes and wine. Lu Zigang had been traveling all day and was already starving, so he didn't say anything and focused on filling his stomach. The mansion was magnificent, and the dishes and wine had a great history. Each dish was colorful, fragrant, and delicious, and contained auspicious meanings. Lu Zigang didn't know much about food, but he listened to Lin Yan tell the legend of the Osmanthus Lotus Root while eating, and his appetite was whetted. After a few rounds of Liubo (a board game) and wine, the atmosphere became lively. Lu Zigang ate until he was about 80% full, then put down his chopsticks and looked around boredly. The layout of the main house was peculiar. It was a raised-beam structure, where beams were supported on pillars, and then more beams were added on top of those beams—a style also known as stacked beams. This layout is typically used in large buildings like palaces or temples, so it's not unusual. However, this main house was a rare square structure, and frighteningly spacious, yet it was completely concealed by tall, double-sided Suzhou embroidered screens, so it didn't appear too out of place. By now, it was completely dark, and only the four palace lanterns between the screens flickered softly in the hall, adding a touch of antiquity. But Lu Zigang felt a strange unease as he watched the shadows of the screens cast on the ground by the lanterns sway and rise. During the meal, his uncle had also explained the purpose of his visit. The owner of this residence, Old Yu, was very well-known in the circle, having donated many antiques during the construction of the National Museum. Only then did Lu Zigang connect the Old Yu he remembered with the frail old man before him. Within this circle, Old Yu's gatherings were renowned. Old Yu liked to invite people together every so often, bringing out a few antiques from his collection for everyone to appraise. Lu Zigang only knew that his uncle had made a fortune a few years ago, and didn't know how he had met Old Yu, thus finally getting this opportunity. He guessed his uncle knew his own knowledge was insufficient, and since Old Yu's gatherings allowed family members, he thought of him, a distant cousin working at the National Museum. At least he could make a good impression, right? Hearing this, Lu Zigang felt calm, as it was similar to his previous guess. Actually, he quite liked this place. Aside from the inconvenient transportation, this residence was like a secluded paradise. From the moment he entered until now, he hadn't seen a single modern element; everything was so retro, as if it had escaped the concrete jungle of the city, leaving him, a lover of retro culture, in awe. The meal was quickly finished, and the servants quietly came to clear away the dishes and bring out freshly brewed Biluochun tea. Now that the group was quite tipsy and relaxed, the initial awkwardness had lessened. One of the men, a man in his forties, eagerly urged, "Mr. Yu, what treasures have you brought out to broaden our horizons today?" This man, Yan Ao, was thin, with dark skin, deep forehead wrinkles, and gold-rimmed glasses. He wore a loose-fitting suit and a beeswax bracelet the size of a pigeon's egg. He was said to be the head of an auction house and had a good relationship with Mr. Yu, hence his informal manner of speaking. Old Yu was still coughing softly from time to time, making one worry whether his body could still withstand it. At this moment, the woman sitting to his right spoke up with a smile, "Brother Yan, please be patient. There's only one antique to be shown today, but I'm sure everyone won't be disappointed." This woman looked to be only in her early twenties. Unlike the heavily made-up Xia Qian, another lady present, this woman named An Nuo was as beautiful as a lotus emerging from clear water, naturally beautiful without any artifice. Her long, straight black hair flowed smoothly over her shoulders, and her alabaster-like face wore a faint smile, making her instantly pleasing to the eye. Lu Zigang had already learned from his uncle that An Nuo was Old Yu's assistant. She served Old Yu meticulously at the dinner table, spoke wittily, and was very good at setting the mood and keeping the atmosphere in check. In addition, with her outstanding appearance and gentle temperament, almost half of the men present kept their eyes on her. Yan Ao became even more curious upon hearing this. Although he hadn't known Old Yu for long, he'd heard that Old Yu always had at least three antiques for everyone to appraise at his gatherings. Tonight, there was only one, meaning this one item was worth three antiques. Lu Zigang glanced around and noticed that Yan Ao wasn't the only one curious; everyone present showed some interest, except for the white-haired youth named Hu Hai and Wei Zhuoran, who had been dragged along to fill the seats. The former probably already knew what it was, while the latter was likely indifferent. Old Yu whispered a few instructions to An Nuo, who then stood up, turned around the screen, and walked to a side hall. He returned shortly after, carrying a flat, square wooden box, which he carefully placed in the center of the table and opened. A pungent smell of rotting wood wafted out. Lu Zigang frowned slightly; he didn't smell any preservatives. Had Old Yu failed to properly preserve the antique? He stared intently, his eyes widening in shock. "Liubo chess!" Even before Lu Zigang, Wu Yu, a scholar in his thirties, exclaimed in surprise. He was reportedly writing a collection of antiquities and was collecting materials everywhere. He stood up excitedly, his plump body trembling, and he showed an expression of wanting to touch it but not daring to make a move.

"Liubo chess?" Xia Qian had already taken out her digital camera and, with An Nuo's permission, kept taking pictures of the wooden box on the table. The flash was very bright, but no one was willing to close their eyes. Even Wei Zhuoran, who wasn't particularly interested, showed a curious expression.

The wooden box contained only three items: a square wooden chessboard, twelve rectangular jade chess pieces, and six bamboo chopsticks. The center of the chessboard was engraved with a square area, marked with four red dots, and three areas were drawn at each end, along with several curved paths. The chess pieces varied: five rectangular pieces were made of Hetian jade, five were made of black Hetian jade, and two jadeite pieces were larger than the other ten. The six chopsticks were made of small bamboo tubes split in half, forming an arc-shaped cross-section.

"These chess pieces look a lot like mahjong tiles..." Xia Qian muttered softly as she took pictures.

Looking at the seemingly authentic Liubo chess set in front of him, Lu Zigang couldn't help but get excited under the clicking flashes of the cameras. His uncle, who was standing next to him, didn't understand the game and nudged Lu Zigang's leg with his knee under the table, offering a few words of advice in disappointment.

Lu Zigang composed himself. What he wanted to do most at that moment was to take the Liubo chess set in front of him and examine it to see what era it was from. As for his uncle's question, just as he was about to organize his thoughts to answer, someone else spoke first.

Few of the young people present knew what Liubo was, so on the other side of my uncle, a middle-aged man in his fifties coughed a few times and explained: "Liubo is an ancient board game that was popular during the Spring and Autumn Period, the Warring States Period, and the Qin and Han Dynasties. It has a history of several thousand years. According to chess historians, this ancient Liubo is actually the ancestor of all board games with pieces in the world, such as Chinese chess, international chess, Japanese shogi, and other board games with pieces. They all gradually evolved and reformed from Liubo."

This middle-aged man, who has a very refined and scholarly air, is named Chen Miao. He is said to be the curator of a private library with a collection of countless rare and unique books. He is often invited by various universities to give lectures, and his speech is melodious and pleasant to listen to.

"Is Liubo really that powerful?" Lin Yan, one of the twins, was somewhat skeptical. He was a history student, and although his research focused on the humanities, he believed that his knowledge was dozens of times greater than that of others. He couldn't help but doubt Chen Miao's statement. "Professor Chen, if Liubo is as powerful as you say, how come I've never even heard of it?"

Wu Yu, who had been standing on the edge of the table, snorted coldly upon hearing this, and said arrogantly with a sneer, "Little brat, you're still too ignorant. You've never even heard of Liubo, but you've heard of the word 'Boyi,' right? The 'Yi' in 'Boyi' is the 'Yi' in Go..."

"Ah! That 'Bo' character, could it be the 'Bo' in Liubo chess?" Xia Qian stopped taking pictures, covered her mouth and exclaimed in surprise, interrupting Lian Wuyu's words.

Wu Yu frowned when he was interrupted. Although he disliked being interrupted while he was speaking, the other person was a young and beautiful woman, so he didn't say anything. He slowly sat down, placing his hand on the edge of the table.

The refined Professor Chen smiled slightly and took over the conversation, saying, "The Analects of Confucius, in the chapter 'Yang Huo,' says, 'It is difficult to find someone who, having eaten his fill all day long, does not use his mind for anything. Are there not those who play games? Even playing games is better than doing nothing.' This is probably the earliest source of the term 'game.' The Song Dynasty scholar Zhu Xi once annotated this passage, saying, 'Bo means board game; Yi means Go.' Miss Xia guessed correctly; the two characters 'game' originally referred to Liubo and Go."

"Moreover, just look at the word 'Boyi' (博弈), 'Bo' (博) comes before 'Yi' (弈). According to the customs of the ancients, this means that Liubo (六博) was initially more popular than Go (围棋)." Yan Ao, thin and frail, had a pair of small eyes that gleamed with a sharp light, as if he wanted to scan the Liubo board in front of him as carefully as possible with an X-ray.

"Wow, that's incredible!" Lin Yan was stunned. Although he still didn't understand Liubo, he knew the importance of Go in Chinese history. After learning that Liubo was even more powerful than Go in history, his gaze towards the wooden box went from indifference to growing increasingly fervent.

Unlike the others who acted impulsively, Xia Qian's husband, Wei Zhuoran, asked incisively, "But Liubo isn't as well-known as Go. Is there a reason for that?"

"Liubo was invented very early, at least as early as the Shang Dynasty, according to research. It flourished from the Spring and Autumn Period to the Qin and Han Dynasties, becoming an indispensable part of people's daily lives. Compared to the obscure and profound nature of Go, Liubo, which involved some gambling, spread widely among people of all social classes. During the Qin and Han Dynasties, even emperors and commoners were obsessed with it. Those who were proficient in Liubo could even hold official positions in the palace and be respected." Yan Ao took a sip of his now-cold Biluochun tea, sighed softly, and continued, "But after the Eastern Han Dynasty, Liubo began to decline, and the rules of the game were gradually lost. The existing historical records are scattered and vague, and it is impossible to know in detail how to throw the chopsticks or how to move the pieces. As for the reason why the rules of Liubo were lost, it may be related to people's modifications to it. Later, chess, which had a more refined division of labor, appeared, and Liubo was gradually eliminated by the times."

Yan Ao's voice was slightly hoarse, sounding somewhat desolate in the empty hall. Everyone seemed to be transported back to the era when Liubo, a board game, was popular thousands of years ago, and they were speechless with melancholy.

"So, what era is this Liubo game that Old Master Yu played from?" Uncle didn't really understand the emotions of the others; his only goal was to curry favor with Old Master Yu.

Lu Zigang snapped out of his reverie, understanding his uncle's meaning, and began to explain: "The form of Liubo remained largely unchanged from the Spring and Autumn Period to the Western Han Dynasty. However, it underwent a reform during the Eastern Han Dynasty. The reformed version of Liubo was called Xiaobo, while the version before the reform was renamed Dabo. The main difference between the two lies in the number of pieces. Dabo has six chopsticks, while Xiaobo has two 'qiong'. The 'qiong' serves the same purpose as the chopsticks, acting as a throwing tool. You see, the shape of the 'qiong' is roughly similar to a modern die, except that it is not a hexahedron but a polyhedral sphere."

"Oh! So that means this Liubo game board is very likely an antique from before the Western Han Dynasty?" My uncle seemed very excited, as if the Liubo game board in front of him was his own.

"Not very likely." Lu Zigang swallowed his words. The phrase "before the Western Han Dynasty" is easy to write, but how could something from thousands of years ago be preserved so easily? Especially since it's made of wood; it's most likely a later imitation of Liubo, but it still looks several hundred years old. Lu Zigang didn't dare say more at this point. Although most of those present were young, there were many experts, and he certainly wasn't the only one who recognized its value.

Xia Qian wasn't interested in the age of this Liubo game. She was looking through the pictures on her camera when she suddenly exclaimed, "Hey! The pattern on this game board looks so familiar!"

After she said that, everyone's eyes fell on the chessboard. Except for Lu Zigang, who was playing and didn't understand, everyone else showed a surprised expression.

Anno raised her hand and brushed her long hair that had fallen to her chest behind her shoulder, and smiled elegantly: "That's right, this chessboard looks a lot like the floor plan of this mansion. Or rather, the owner of this mansion was obsessed with Liubo, so he imitated the Liubo chessboard and built this mansion."

Everyone gasped in unison, understanding the implication in Anuo's words. Obsessed with Liubo (a board game)? That would mean it dates back to the Spring and Autumn Period or the Eastern Han Dynasty, implying this residence has existed for at least two thousand years?
Lu Zigang then understood why he felt the layout was strange as soon as he entered. The square hall they were in should be the rectangular area drawn in the center of the Liubo chessboard. And the winding paths around it, as well as the areas at both ends, probably had corresponding winding corridors and pavilions.

Anno's words made everyone restless. They had previously only suspected that the buildings here were modeled after the Qin and Han dynasties, but now, upon closer examination, they realized that the remote location might have truly spared them from the ravages of war, and the meticulous repairs and maintenance by successive owners... Even if the wooden buildings weren't original from over two thousand years ago, the items and furnishings inside the house might still have been preserved safely...

Lu Zigang immediately began scanning the table, chairs, screen, and even teacups in front of him, then withdrew his gaze in disappointment. At least in his view, only the Liubo chessboard in front of him resembled an antique.

Anno smiled slightly and said, "There are exactly twelve of us here tonight, and there are exactly twelve pieces in Liubo. The house we are in is also a Liubo board. Why don't we experience the fun of Liubo for ourselves?"

"How do we experience it?" Lin Yan was young and impetuous, eager for something fun. "Like in Harry Potter where people ride on chess pieces?"

“It’s not that exaggerated. I don’t know magic.” Anno chuckled, revealing two adorable dimples. “There were only two of us playing chess. The others just walked around the courtyard together, like taking an after-dinner stroll.”

When she said that, most of the people agreed. Some people were bored sitting there but didn't leave out of courtesy, while others wanted to take the opportunity to look around the courtyard and search for ancient evidence.

“Each side in Liubo has six pieces, one owl and five scattered pieces, hence the name Liubo. The owl piece is the king piece, played by Elder Yu and another person. The dice are thrown by tossing these six bamboo pieces; the number of curved pieces that land face up determines how many spaces you can move. The rules are simple. I wonder if anyone would be interested in playing a game with Elder Yu?” Anuo stood up and took out the Liubo set from the wooden box. Her movements were both careful and elegant, a truly pleasing sight.

No one responded immediately. The younger ones didn't want to play chess with an old man, while the older ones preferred to stroll around the courtyard. Seeing no one respond, Uncle immediately volunteered. He was eager for a chance to talk to Old Master Yu, and he certainly wouldn't miss such a good opportunity.

Anno clapped her hands, and someone brought over twelve walkie-talkies. She distributed them to everyone: "The cell phone signal is bad here, so we'll use walkie-talkies to communicate in a bit. There are various antique swords collected by Elder Yu on the wall here. You can take one and hold it in your hand. If someone takes the sword from your hand, it means you've been eaten. Of course, you'll need to cooperate with the instructions given to you on the walkie-talkies!"

There were no special instructions; everyone drew lots to form groups. Those on Old Master Yu's side included the white-haired boy named Hu Hai, An Nuo, Xia Qian, Lin Mo, and Wu Yu. The remaining six were Lu Zigang's uncle's group. A couple and a pair of twin brothers were conveniently separated, which was quite interesting. Each person was given a chess piece and a writing brush dipped in cinnabar.

Lu Zigang remembered the saying that writing one's name in red ink was unlucky, but seeing everyone doing it now, he suppressed his unease and neatly wrote his name on the white chess piece.

As Lu Zigang returned the chess pieces to choose a knife, he noticed that the walls of the hall were covered with ancient knives from various dynasties, all sharing one characteristic: they had no sheaths. The sharp or rusty blades gleamed with a chilling light in the dim candlelight. It seemed Old Master Yu had a particular fondness for collecting knives. Lu Zigang casually picked out a willow-leaf knife, a common type from the Ming and Qing dynasties, and then turned and left.
.
three.
Lu Zigang stepped out of the somber hall, the evening breeze sobering him up considerably. After getting his bearings, he followed his uncle's instructions on the walkie-talkie and headed towards the northeast corner of the house.

The weather was bad tonight; thick, dark clouds obscured the moon, and the sky was pitch black. The shadows cast by the lanterns hanging in the corridors of the courtyard were dappled, making the place appear somewhat eerie and terrifying. Lu Zigang didn't believe in ghosts or spirits; in his view, humans were far more terrifying than demons.

The mountains and fields here were quiet and secluded, devoid of the roar of cars and the dazzling neon lights, only exuding an atmosphere of returning to nature, which naturally calmed his mind. Lu Zigang walked through the corridor and settled down in a pavilion. This was the spot he had been assigned, supposedly an excellent location for viewing the back garden, but unfortunately, it was dark and windy now. Apart from a lantern inside the pavilion illuminating the stone table and chairs, nothing could be seen outside in the pitch black.

Lu Zigang sat on the stone chair, feeling quite agitated as he held the willow-leaf dagger in his hand. He simply placed it on the stone table. Perhaps it was because this dagger had killed many living beings in the past and was stained with blood, making it too gruesome, but Lu Zigang felt much more comfortable once he let go of it. Recalling the refreshing feeling of holding the Kunwu dagger, he unconsciously took the Kunwu dagger out of his pocket.

The cold blade in his hand sent a shiver down his spine. Perhaps it was the inherent difference between a jade-carving knife and a killing knife; the Wu knife itself possessed a refined and elegant aura. Lu Zigang recalled the story of how he obtained the Wu knife from the Silent Shop, and couldn't help but laugh and cry. Simply because his name was the same as that of the legendary jade-carving master, the shopkeeper had gifted him such a precious knife in exchange for half of the blank stele. In his eyes, this Wu knife was naturally far more valuable than that half of the blank stele.

Lu Zigang habitually held the sword in his hand, stroking it as his fingertips traced every inch of its texture, then discreetly slipped it into his pocket. He looked up at the pavilion and smiled, "Are you here to get the sword? It's on the table; feel free to take it." According to the rules of Liubo (a board game), a piece that doesn't move is captured by a moving piece, so Lu Zigang concluded he was already out of the game. What was his uncle doing? He was captured so quickly. Even if he was determined to lose to that Old Yu, he shouldn't have made it so obvious, right?

A tall, slender figure slowly emerged from the darkness. The person's long white hair cascaded down their back, reflecting a silvery light in the lamplight, as if they were surrounded by a silvery halo. The long, silvery hair rippled and shimmered with each step, like flowing water. Only then did Lu Zigang notice that the person was dressed in white, with a black hooded cloak trimmed with crimson gold cloud patterns. The fabric and pattern seemed familiar, but he couldn't quite place where he had seen it before.

Lu Zigang watched as the other person stepped into the pavilion empty-handed, without even a knife, and couldn't help but be stunned for a moment before asking, "Have you already been killed?"

This was a strange statement, but the rules of their Liubo game meant that whoever took it from them was immediately defeated, so Lu Zigang didn't find the statement offensive. However, he clearly saw Hu Hai's figure pause for a moment, standing stiffly in front of the stone table.

"Hehe, it's just a game, Young Master Hu, no need to take it to heart." Because Hu Hai stood before him, his face hidden in the shadows beyond the lantern's reach, Lu Zigang couldn't see his expression, so he tried to persuade him. He had heard An Nuo call him Young Master Hu at the dinner table, so he simply adopted that form of address. Lu Zigang finally realized the awkwardness of his friends' situation; interacting with someone who shared the same name as a famous figure was truly exasperating. He simply couldn't bring himself to call this white-haired, red-eyed youth Qin Er Shi by his name.

"A game?" Hu Hai chuckled softly, his emotions so complex that Lu Zigang couldn't understand them at all.

Hu Hai sat down on another stone chair. The lantern light illuminated his face, making his complexion appear even more deathly pale, giving him an eerie handsomeness. He curled his thin, almost bloodless lips into a slight smile and asked, "Do you know the origin of this mansion?"

"I don't know." Lu Zigang didn't know why this young master Hu was treating him differently. He had been so cold and distant at the dinner table, but he was really curious about the story of this mansion. Since this young master Hu was a relative of Old Master Yu, he must know something.

Hu Hai reached out and flicked the willow-leaf knife on the table, the blade producing a crisp, clear sound. He lowered his phoenix eyes, his long silver eyelashes concealing the emotions hidden deep within his crimson pupils, and said softly, "A long, long time ago, there were two brothers who loved playing Liubo. The younger brother often lost to his elder brother, but despite repeated defeats, he never gave up."

Lu Zigang stared blankly at Hu Hai's pale, almost transparent fingertips. He could imagine the scene of two boys playing chess, the one who always lost always being unconvinced and pestering the other to continue.

Hu Hai closed his eyes slightly. In the dim light, his pale face had a sickly beauty, and a bitter smile appeared on his lips. He said softly, "These two brothers were both too obsessed with Liubo. Therefore, when a friend of the elder brother suggested building a villa with Liubo as the chessboard, both brothers agreed. In the end, the villa was designed by the master of the elder brother's friend, but it went through many twists and turns. By the time the villa was completed, the elder brother had already passed away."

Lu Zigang remained silent, for he did not know what to say. He was not good with words, and now, seeing Hu Hai recounting other people's stories with such sincerity, it was as if he were speaking from his own experience.

"My younger brother has built this house, but there's no one left to play chess with him."

Seeing that Young Master Hu looked melancholy and hadn't spoken for a long time, Lu Zigang coughed lightly and said, "So this is how this mansion was built. It's truly lamentable." He said this somewhat insincerely, because every antique has a story, but compared to that, the history of this mansion was rather ordinary, without any dramatic ups and downs.

Hu Hai slowly opened his eyes, revealing bewitching crimson pupils. His entire demeanor instantly changed, and a sinister smile appeared on his thin lips: "My brother lingers in this mansion, and my men, catering to his tastes, suggested that we use this mansion to play a real-person Liubo game. The rules are the same as the one we're playing today, except that once, during a game with my uncle, my men got into a fight, and the one whose sword was taken was unwilling to accept it, and during that game, someone was accidentally killed."

As he spoke, a cold wind blew through the pavilion, and the bone-chilling cold seeped in, causing Lu Zigang to shiver uncontrollably.

"The game of Liubo got out of control because people died and it was stained with blood, and seven people died in one go. In the end, the younger brother lost the game to his uncle. After that, the younger brother suddenly found that his uncle, who was nearly fifty years old, had suddenly become almost ten years younger."

"What?!" Lu Zigang exclaimed in shock. How could this be?

"Perhaps the person who built this mansion designed it intentionally, and the feng shui arrangement of the mansion forms a unique formation. Perhaps the Liubo chessboard made with secret methods is strange. In any case, as long as you win a game of Liubo, and the opponent loses a few people, the winner will become a few years younger." Hu Hai's crimson eyes flashed with a chilling light as he slowly said, "In other words, this is Liubo, played with lives on the line."

Lu Zigang was speechless. He didn't believe a word of what this young master Hu said, but he couldn't figure out where this feeling of panic was coming from.

Just as they were feeling lost, a piercing scream ripped through the dark night, brutally tearing apart the feigned silence beneath the veil. Hu Hai met Lu Zigang's panicked eyes, his crimson pupils narrowing slightly: "The game has begun."

The piercing screams stopped abruptly, as if someone had suddenly pressed the pause button on an old media player.

A deathly silence returned to the darkness, but Lu Zigang could no longer sit still. He got up and rushed out of the pavilion, running towards the direction from which the scream had come. As he ran, he pulled out his phone. Although there was still no signal, the phone screen illuminated the path beneath his feet in the night.

Lu Zigang saw the arched bridge not far away, but he didn't see anyone.

Then, he suddenly stopped in his tracks. He saw a stream of deep red blood slowly flowing down the slope of the bridge, like a winding snake.

A chill crept up his spine from his ankles, and Lu Zigang felt as if all the blood in his body had been drained instantly. At his feet lay a broken pair of gold-rimmed glasses, the lenses crushed and the frame twisted on the ground, reflecting a blinding light from the phone screen.

"These are Yan Ao's glasses," Hu Hai's voice came from behind Lu Zigang.

Lu Zigang watched as this young master Hu grabbed his wrist and pointed the phone at the arched bridge.

Despite being mentally prepared, Lu Zigang's hand trembled when he saw the horrific scene, and his phone fell to the ground with a thud, plunging the surroundings back into darkness. Although it was only for a moment, Lu Zigang saw it clearly. He had never hated his 1.5 vision so much.

Yan Ao was dead. No one could survive after their head and body were separated. Therefore, Lu Zigang felt there was no need to even go forward to confirm. His excellent eyesight even allowed him to determine from the cut on Yan Ao's neck that he had died from being cut by a sharp weapon. And since there were no knife marks around, it meant that the murderer had also taken the knife from Yan Ao's hand.

Lu Zigang's head was buzzing. Could it be that what Hu Hai said at the beginning wasn't a lie? Was it all true?

"Don't believe me? Fine, let's keep watching." Hu Hai's cold voice came from Lu Zigang's ear. The latter felt as if he had been touched somewhere, and his whole body was as if he had been thrown into an ice cellar. He was frozen in place and could not move, letting the other party pull him into the woods next to him.

The wind howled past them as Lu Zigang was dragged by Hu Hai at an unbelievable speed across the entire courtyard, arriving at a pavilion in the southwest corner.

This pavilion was exactly the same as the one he had stayed in before, suggesting that the entire residence employed a symmetrical design. At this moment, a young man sat under the lantern inside the pavilion, head bowed, fiddling with a bull-tail knife in his hand. He couldn't tell if it was Lin Mo or Lin Yan; the Lin brothers looked very alike, and Lu Zigang couldn't distinguish them at all. However, judging from the man's interest in the patterns on the hilt of the bull-tail knife, it was probably Lin Yan, a history major. He had heard that his brother, Lin Mo, studied computer science; he probably wouldn't be so fascinated.

"Actually, Liubo isn't simply a game with one Owl piece and five scattered pieces. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the military system consisted of five men in a squad, plus a squad leader, making a total of six men in a team. Liubo actually includes two Sai pieces, and the others are Calf, Pheasant, Lu, and Owl. Just now, your side's Sai piece was captured, so the next one should be this Calf piece," Hu Hai explained calmly to Lu Zigang, as if he were simply commentating on an ordinary game.

Lu Zigang's back was soaked with cold sweat. Yan Ao and Lin Yan both belonged to his uncle's side. Yan Ao had already been killed, so judging from what this young master Hu said, was Lin Yan next to be killed? At this moment, he had no time to think about why this Liubo game was taking lives. One person had already died; he couldn't let things continue to worsen. Lu Zigang opened his mouth, wanting to warn the people in the pavilion, but he found that he couldn't make a sound.

"The game has already begun, and no one can stop it." Hu Hai, as if knowing what Lu Zigang wanted to say, said calmly, "Since we're already here, why not watch a good show?"

Lu Zigang followed his gaze and saw a figure walking into the pavilion step by step. In the person's hand, there was a ring-pommel sword. The slender and straight blade reflected the light of the lantern and exuded a chilling aura.

Lin Yan glanced up at it briefly before looking down again, his gaze lingering on the ox-tail knife in his hand. He chuckled happily, "Brother, this ox-tail knife is truly authentic! By the way, let me see the knife you're holding too. Didn't I ask you to pick out a Han Dynasty ring-pommel sword? I've always wanted to touch that legendary ring-pommel sword! The Yu family's collection is truly impressive!"

Lu Zigang had now clearly seen the person's face. The person had the same face as Lin Yan, but the expression on his face was extremely strange, as if he was enduring something, or as if he was resisting something.

Hu Hai's ghostly voice came at just the right moment: "Remember those two brothers? Later, the younger brother discovered that as long as you write people's names on the pieces of the Liubo game, those people will become pieces in the game, at the mercy of the Owl chess pieces. And the more resentment the knife in your hand has, the more it can control the mind of the wielder. In the past, the knife was a tool for killing, but now the knife attaches itself to people, controlling their minds to kill. Isn't that a very interesting thing?"

Lu Zigang listened with trepidation. He recalled the agitated feeling he had when he held that willow-leaf dagger, and was incredibly grateful that he had immediately let go of it. Now, looking at the Lin brothers' condition, it was clear that one was captivated by the ox-tail dagger, while the other was controlled by the ring-pommel dagger.

"These blades have been thirsty for hundreds and thousands of years, longing to drink human blood again." As Hu Hai's eerie voice rang out, Lu Zigang saw Lin Mo behind Lin Yan slowly raise the ring-pommel sword in his hand, while Lin Yan, oblivious, looked down at the ox-tail sword in his hand. The light reflecting off the blade stung Lu Zigang's eyes.

"Hehe, as long as two pieces meet, one of them will inevitably be captured. It's quite a rare sight to see brothers killing each other," Hu Hai murmured, as if something had touched a chord in his heart, and he became somewhat lost in thought.

Lu Zigang's slight goodwill towards this young master Hu had completely vanished. It was obvious that this gathering was a scheme set up by Old Master Yu, and as Old Master Yu's relative, how could Hu Hai not know what was going to happen? Since he knew that a tragedy would occur, it was really too much to stand idly by.

But Lu Zigang was anxious but unable to move or even make a sound. He could only helplessly watch as the rusty ring-pommel sword trembled in the air before being swung down.

The blade traced a brilliant arc in the air, followed by the heavy, muffled sound of the blade piercing into a human body.

"Brother!" Lin Yan dropped the ox-tail knife in his hand, and in a panic helped Lin Mo, who had fallen to the ground. Looking at the ring-pommel knife stuck in his abdomen, he couldn't understand why his brother would hurt himself.

"Tsk, boring." Hu Hai scoffed, then dragged Lu Zigang into the bushes and left from the other side of the courtyard.

In the distance, Lin Yan's heart-wrenching cries could still be faintly heard before fading into silence.

The entire mansion was like a giant tomb, deathly silent.

Lu Zigang witnessed a tragedy firsthand, yet he was powerless to stop it. He was furious, and his gaze toward Hu Hai was filled with burning rage.

Hu Hai remained calm, pulling Lu Zigang across the entire residence before stopping behind a rockery.

As soon as Lu Zigang stood still, he heard a man and a woman arguing. Still haunted by the tragedy he had just witnessed, he immediately looked towards the corridor. The two arguing were Wei Zhuoran and Xia Qian, a married couple. Although one of them was carrying a nine-ringed sword and the other was holding a short, thin dagger, they were only holding them half-heartedly. Moreover, judging from their argument, it was a quarrel between husband and wife.

Although Wei and Xia appeared to be a perfect couple to outsiders, every family has its own troubles. Both were exceptionally talented, falling in love at first sight in university and becoming the envy of everyone. However, married life was filled with琐碎事 (trivial matters), and work brought their own troubles, leading to increased friction. They often argued over trivial things, neither willing to back down. Even the strongest relationship can easily crack under such circumstances. Tonight, they had completely forgotten the initial reason for their argument, dredging up countless minor issues and resulting in a huge fight.

Wei Zhuoran was a man of few words, but he couldn't withstand Xia Qian's sharp tongue. Sometimes, when she spoke harshly to him, he would retaliate with a few words in anger. Xia Qian, on the other hand, was even more unforgiving. They both knew that this vicious cycle wouldn't end well, but being young and impetuous, neither of them was willing to back down.

Lu Zigang, who was listening to the couple's private conversation from the shadows, couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed. He wondered if Young Master Hu had dragged him here just to eavesdrop on the young couple. Moreover, the murderer who killed Yan Ao was still unknown. It was obvious that one of the couple hadn't been keeping to his post and had been getting together in private.

If he hadn't witnessed the two tragedies, Lu Zigang wouldn't have taken this Liubo game seriously. But the house had become a real Liubo board, and he naturally worried about the safety of the others. As for his cousin, he was now one of the pawns, so he shouldn't be in danger for the time being. But how could he break the deadlock?
Just as Lu Zigang was anxiously trying to figure out how to get out of this predicament where he couldn't move or make a sound to warn others, Xia Qian's walkie-talkie suddenly rang.

Old Yu's cough could be heard clearly: "They advance side by side, their paths are close. Lu Qi moves five pieces forward and captures his pheasant piece."

Lu Zigang didn't understand the technical terms Old Yu used, but he clearly saw Xia Qian's hand tighten around the dagger, and her expression turn strange. Lu Zigang immediately knew something was wrong; Xia Qian's expression was exactly the same as Lin Mo's just moments before!
"Those who write their names on the chess pieces cannot disobey the orders of the Owl Chess," Hu Hai explained kindly from the side.

Lu Zigang felt a chill run down his spine. He recalled the scene of Lin Mo choosing to stab himself rather than harm his younger brother, and he believed Hu Hai's words. In fact, since Hu Hai appeared before him, although every word he spoke was absurd, not a single one was a lie.

Is he just going to stand by helplessly as one tragedy after another unfolds, watching one vibrant life after another perish before his eyes?

Lu Zigang racked his brains, trying to recall every word Hu Hai had said. Did he write his name on the chess piece? It seemed this young master Hu hadn't written his real name. But it didn't matter; Old Yu was related to him! But if they were relatives, why was there no respect in his words, instead exuding a strange air?
Wait a minute, didn't he write his name on the chess piece himself? Why doesn't he feel like he's being controlled? Or is it that his uncle hasn't moved his piece yet?

While Lu Zigang was anxiously waiting, Xia Qian did not follow Old Master Yu's instructions to take action against her husband.

Xia Qian held a dagger-like blade called the "Wind-Breaking Blade" in her hand. She disliked the other heavy and bulky blades, so she chose this small and exquisite antique sword. Ever since hearing Old Yu's words on the walkie-talkie, she felt her killing intent towards Wei Zhuoran surge like a burst dam, overwhelming her heart. The cold treatment she received from her mother-in-law after marriage, the frustration of juggling work and housework, and her reluctance to give up her thriving career to have a child caused her wrist holding the blade to tremble incessantly.

But even so, how could she possibly bring herself to harm her husband? Xia Qian bit her lower lip, using the pain to keep herself awake. At this moment, she had already sensed that something was wrong.

With a flick of his wrist, Wei Zhuoran held the heavy nine-ringed sword horizontally in front of him. The iron rings on the back of the sword jingled, producing a chillingly clear sound in the quiet night.

"What are you doing?" Xia Qian looked at Wei Zhuoran, who seemed like a completely different person, still in shock.

“Only one of us can survive. Let’s settle this tonight.” Wei Zhuoran’s expression was also very strange, and his tone was stiff.

Lu Zigang was taken aback. Old Master Yu was the one playing chess. He only gave Xia Qian the order, so why was Wei Zhuoran on the other side also controlled? If one side doesn't make a move, will the other side be triggered to launch a preemptive attack?
Could it be that those knives are the medium, and these chess pieces are like puppets on strings, with the knives in their hands being the threads connecting the pawn and the scattered pieces? But the willow-leaf knife he took from the hall was already lost in the pavilion! If it weren't for the knife in his hand, he might not have been able to get rid of that willow-leaf knife! And weren't the Lin brothers both holding knives before?
Lu Zigang's back was drenched in sweat, a wave of fear washing over him. He wanted to tell the couple to throw away the knife, but just like before, he could only open his mouth, unable to utter a sound.

Wei Zhuoran had already raised his nine-ringed sword and, showing no mercy to his wife, swung it at Xia Qian.

Xia Qian's scream rang out, sounding particularly piercing in the empty courtyard. Because Xia Qian instinctively dodged, Wei Zhuoran's strike missed, but he didn't stop there; instead, he turned the hilt of his sword and slashed forward. Xia Qian awkwardly blocked with her Wind-Breaking Blade, the sound of metal clashing echoing through the empty courtyard, sending chills down everyone's spine.

"Husbands and wives are like birds in the same forest; when disaster strikes, they fly away separately." Hu Hai found it extremely interesting and chuckled, "This play is quite good. Watching them bicker and argue is exhausting; this is what makes it comfortable."

Lu Zigang hated Hu Hai to the extreme. How could this man treat human life so lightly? He had to think of a way to stop it, otherwise, everyone in this mansion would become nourishment for Old Man Yu to prolong his life.

Remembering the halberd that had saved him, Lu Zigang struggled to move his stiff fingers, finally managing to bend them towards his pocket with considerable effort. Although there was a layer of clothing between them, the moment his fingertips touched the halberd, the icy coldness that had been binding his meridians seemed to dissipate slightly. Lu Zigang knew he was right. Once his wrists were more flexible, he quickly gripped the halberd's hilt.

Fortunately, the young master Hu beside him was focused on the corridor not far away, and since it was late at night, he didn't notice Hu's little actions.

A warm current slowly flowed into his body from the blade. Lu Zigang wished he could move freely immediately, but reality never goes as planned. A minute later, he could barely move his forearm.

Fortunately, the couple over there hadn't fought to the death; the flashing of knives was just a bit frightening. Xia Qian's screams and cries for help were incessant, though somewhat shrill, they sounded strong and clear that she wasn't actually injured at all. Lu Zigang wished they could stall for time, but the terrified Xia Qian didn't think so.

She thought her screams were loud enough to carry for miles, but no one had come to her rescue yet, meaning she couldn't count on anyone. She stumbled and fell to the ground, watching Wei Zhuoran approach her step by step with a knife in hand. A lump formed in her throat, and her vision blurred. "Zhuoran, are you really so heartless as to kill me?"

Wei Zhuoran didn't waste any words; his answer to her was the knife he had already raised.

Xia Qian had completely given up hope, but it was her heart that had died for her husband; she didn't want to die so young. So, before Wei Zhuoran's knife fell, she nimbly leaped from the ground, dodging the sharp blade, and rushed into her husband's arms, along with the Wind-Breaking Blade in her hand.

Warm blood stained her hands, and Xia Qian's tears finally fell.

"Don't cry, your makeup's all ruined." Wei Zhuoran said with emotion, gently wiping away Xia Qian's glistening tears with his left hand. "On the day I married you, I promised you I wouldn't let you cry again."

"Then why did you!" Xia Qian raised her head angrily, wanting to question her husband about why he had tried to kill her. But when she met Wei Zhuoran's deep, affectionate eyes, she suddenly came to her senses.

If they really wanted to kill her, how could a weak woman like her, wielding only a short dagger, possibly survive their attack?

Looking back now, the blows her husband struck at her, though seemingly dangerous, all grazed her body without even touching a hair.

"That way... you won't forget me, right?" Wei Zhuoran's smile held a hint of smugness; he was indeed doing it on purpose. Although they loved each other, the feelings between husband and wife were completely different from those between blood relatives, filled with testing and interaction. Xia Qian's hesitation made him decide to abandon himself, but at the same time, he was determined to leave a deep scar in her heart.

Xia Qian, tears streaming down her face, said in a trembling voice, "You...you're so cruel. Don't...don't leave me."

"Clang!" The heavy nine-ringed sword finally hit the ground. Wei Zhuoran reluctantly took one last look at his wife before slowly closing his glasses.

"Ah—" Xia Qian hugged Wei Zhuoran, feeling unbearable pain.

"Are you satisfied now?" Lu Zigang forced out these words with difficulty. He had just been able to speak, and his voice was barely audible, almost a whisper. "What exactly do you want to confirm?"

Hu Hai stared blankly at the woman crying her heart out in the corridor, somewhat unable to come to his senses.

Seeing his absent-minded appearance, Lu Zigang stopped thinking about it. He held the dagger in his hand, genuinely wanting to stab this heartless boy. But the dagger couldn't draw blood; the owner of the Silent Shop had specifically instructed him on this when giving the knife as a gift. Besides, he wasn't a policeman or a judge; he had no right to judge another person's life.

So Lu Zigang gritted his teeth, turned around, and, supporting himself on the artificial hill, walked towards the main hall of the house. He didn't know why Hu Hai hadn't followed, but Lu Zigang had no time to think about it. He knew that since the game had already begun, the most crucial piece was the Owl. Controlling the Owl meant controlling the entire game.

The main hall of the house was deserted, without a single servant in sight. Lu Zigang immediately noticed that in the empty hall, a palace lantern surrounded by a screen was slowly burning with candlelight. Lu Zigang walked over breathlessly, only to be horrified to find that there was no one behind the screen, and on the large round table, there was only a game of Liubo.

The chess pieces moved on their own across the board, uncontrolled. Four pieces lay outside the board, their names completely erased, indicating they had been killed. The piece bearing Old Yu's name, however, was a chillingly red, almost dripping with blood.

Lu Zigang was at a loss. He had already planned that since Old Yu was an old man in his seventies or eighties, he could simply subdue him and make him stop playing. But he never expected that there was no one here at all, and the chess pieces were playing by themselves! Could it be that this Liubo chess game had become a spirit? Had it developed its own consciousness?
Although Lu Zigang was a staunch defender of materialism, after his bizarre experience of time travel through the wordless stele, he had come to believe, to some extent, that inexplicable things existed in this world. But what should he do now?
While Lu Zigang hesitated, he watched helplessly as the pieces on the chessboard were captured one by one, and the names on them disappeared one by one until only the names of Old Master Yu, his cousin, Hu Hai, An Nuo, and himself remained. An Nuo was Old Master Yu's capable assassin; most people had died at her hands, including those on his own side.

Lu Zigang had already figured out that this game of Liubo had no rules for playing chess, and was simply devouring people's lives. Seeing Anuo's piece approaching his uncle's position, he dared not hesitate any longer, and gripped the halberd to slash at the strangely red owl piece.

The Wu Dao was originally a jade-carving knife that could cut jade as easily as mud. This cut was like cutting tofu, slicing the owl chess piece in half.

Lu Zigang looked back at the other side of the chessboard and realized he was too late. His uncle's owl piece had been captured by Anuo, and the name written in cinnabar began to fade slowly.
Four.
"Xiao Gang? Xiao Gang? This brat, how did he get so drunk?"

Hearing his uncle's hoarse voice, Lu Zigang frowned and opened his eyes, finding himself asleep on the table. Around him were the people who had been drinking, now exchanging uncertain glances. Yan Ao, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, repeatedly touched his head, as if confirming something. The others reacted similarly, all touching their chests or necks. Lin Yan, however, suddenly jumped up and punched his brother, then rushed over and hugged him tightly. Xia Qian stared at Wei Zhuoran beside her, a faint smile on his face, her eyes instantly reddening.

Lu Zigang looked around and noticed that the white-haired youth Hu Hai and the beautiful An Nuo were nowhere to be seen. Old Yu was slumped over the table, not making a sound, so he got up to call him.

The others also realized something was wrong, and then discovered that Old Yu had passed away, apparently from a sudden illness like a myocardial infarction.

The composed Chen Miao stood up and went out of the hall to try and find a servant to contact the outside. Wu Yu, on the other hand, was clamoring to find that An Nuo. The uncle was at a loss, because he had no memory of what had just happened. It was probably a special privilege given to one of the chess pieces. For a moment, the hall was in chaos, while Lu Zigang stared silently at the Liubo chess set on the table.

They were all in their previous seats, so it's highly likely that everyone's souls were sucked into the board the moment their names were written on the Liubo pieces. Now, on the board, a owl piece is broken in two, and the remaining three pieces still bear the names of Hu Hai, An Nuo, and himself. Perhaps it was because he used external force to destroy the owl piece that the game of Liubo didn't truly take everyone's lives; otherwise, by the end of the game, perhaps only Old Yu would have woken up, and the rest would have died from their "sudden illness."

Since no one else was willing to touch the Liubo game, Lu Zigang had no choice but to collect the Liubo pieces from the table and put them back in the wooden box. Perhaps because he was the only one who hadn't been controlled by the Liubo game and hadn't experienced the feeling of being killed, he didn't feel much fear.

The empty hall felt dark and oppressive, and everyone else could no longer stay and left one by one. Uncle, who kept complaining about the bad luck, also left. After Old Master Yu's body was carried away and properly placed, Yan Ao, the last to leave, approached Lu Zigang and whispered, "Let's burn this thing." His voice trembled slightly, clearly indicating that he was quite frightened.

Lu Zigang shook his head. If the situation hadn't been so critical, he would never have severed the chess set. He was too busy protecting the antique to risk damaging it. Recalling the scenes he had witnessed in the game, Lu Zigang remarked, "Swords and blades, though incredibly sharp, are not weapons. You can use them to kill or to protect your loved ones. This Liubo chess set, though dangerous, is still an antique. If it's separated from this house, it shouldn't cause any trouble. I know an antique shop owner who specializes in collecting strange and unusual things; let's leave this set with him for now."

Yan Ao wanted to offer some advice, but fearing that getting involved would only bring more misfortune, he sighed and hurriedly left.

Lu Zigang sensed that Yan Ao wasn't the only one who had left, but after looking around, he didn't find anything. Shaking his head and laughing at himself for being too frightened, he continued to carefully place the Liubo chess pieces.

As Lu Zigang collected the chess pieces, he looked at the vermilion names on the last three pieces and found them extremely jarring. He picked one up with his sleeve and tried to wipe it off. Anuo's name was easily wiped off, but Hu Hai's and his own names could not be erased no matter what he did.

"It's alright if I can't wipe it off, right?" Lu Zigang frowned, then realized that standing in the hall full of ancient swords was a bit chilly. He hurriedly packed up the wooden box containing the Liubo chess pieces and left.

In the darkness of the courtyard, Hu Hai looked at the lifeless body of An Nuo on the ground, sheathed his Minghong Blade, and flicked the blood off it.
"You have the Wu Dao, and I have the Ming Hong Dao. Who says this game is over?" Hu Hai's silvery-white eyelashes trembled slightly, revealing his captivating crimson eyes, which indeed held undisguised cruelty.

The Minghong Blade swiftly transformed into a cute little red bird, hopping onto Hu Hai's left shoulder and preening its feathers as if to bend them. Hu Hai reached out and stroked the bird's neck and back, the sharpness in his eyes gradually softening. Recalling the words he had overheard in the hall earlier, his suspicions grew stronger.

"Royal brother, could it be you?"

(End of this chapter)