Time Travel: I'm a Flower Thief

Xie Xiaoyi was spouting nonsense. In fact, he only learned from other people's accounts that the beautiful woman next to Fu Yaoqin was the owner of Yusheng Workshop.

However, he was a womanizer by nature, and when faced with the advances of beautiful women, he felt that if he didn't flirt back, he would suffer a loss.

As Fu Yaoqin listened to their interaction, the fingers holding the jade-ribbed fan tightened slightly.

The fan was marked by her fingernails, and the smile that had been on her lips vanished without a trace.

When she looked up, she met Xie Xiaoyi's gaze, and hurriedly lowered her eyes, a fleeting look of disappointment flashing across them.

Xie Xiaoyi's heart skipped a beat.

Is she jealous?

Otherwise, why would Mu Pingting be unhappy when she interacts with her?

Now Xie Xiaoyi is showered with affection, while Su Mubai has never been so neglected.

He was born into the prestigious Su family in Jiangnan. He was born a prodigy and was always the center of attention wherever he went, but now he has been suffering setbacks one after another.

Especially yesterday, when I personally went to "Yayinfang" to deliver the visiting card, Fu Yaoqin was nowhere to be found.

Later, I heard from her maid that she was meeting a man named "Xie Mo," and I never expected him to be such a scoundrel.

Suddenly, I saw the way Fu Yaoqin looked at Xie Xiaoyi again, and there was clearly an inexplicable affection hidden in her eyes—

The more I think about it, the angrier I get.

Su Mubai, his anger barely contained, immediately cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Bai Letian and said:

"Lord, Young Master Xie's first line is superb. I am ashamed to admit that I am inferior to him. However, a scholar is also good at chess."

"How about we play a game of chess and see who's better? That way I can learn something new."

He was known as the "White-Robed Scholar Swordsman" because he learned chess from a famous teacher from a young age and rarely met his match in the Jiangnan region.

Xie Xiaoyi's carefree and irresponsible personality doesn't seem like that of a chess master at all.

So today we have to humiliate him no matter what.

Xie Xiaoyi's heart skipped a beat, and he secretly thought, "This is bad!"

Although he excelled in both arts and sciences before his transmigration, he was a complete novice when it came to Go.

Not wanting to embarrass himself, he immediately clasped his hands in a respectful greeting:

"Young Master Su is joking. My knowledge of chess is so-so, just something I dabble in when I have nothing better to do."

"I'm hardly even a novice, how dare I seek instruction from a renowned master like you? I'd better not embarrass myself."

Seeing this, Su Mubai's contempt deepened. He was certain Su Mubai was feigning weakness and immediately stepped forward, his tone filled with absolute certainty and disdain:

"Young Master Xie, why be so modest?"

It's just a game of chess. If you have any concerns, I'll let you go first.

Even if we lose, it should be seen as part of the elegant gathering and celebration; what is there to fear?

These words blatantly displayed an attitude of conceding, seemingly magnanimous, but in reality, they revealed his certainty of defeat.

Seeing his composure, Xie Xiaoyi felt reassured.

Should we let them go first?

In China, the method of counting pieces is used to determine the winner, and there was no rule of marking points in ancient times.

Although Lao Tzu didn't know how to play chess, he had seen something in the movie "The Great Chess Master" before he time-traveled—

Zhu Yuanzhang placed his first move in chess on the center position (Tianyuan), and afterwards used the 19-line chessboard as a mirror.

He imitates the moves of others, placing his piece in the same position in the opposite direction.

With his way, he also gave his body.

In this way, no matter how strong the opponent is, he can imitate their moves and eventually win by one more stone at the center of the board.

Thinking of this, Xie Xiaoyi chuckled.

"Since Young Master Su has put it that way, then I will gladly accompany you."

But let me be clear from the start, my chess skills are really mediocre, so don't laugh at me if I lose.

Everyone chuckled upon hearing this, taking it as mere modesty. Only Xie Xiaoyi himself knew that these words were absolutely true.

Upon hearing this, Bai Letian was overjoyed, his eyes filled with eagerness for refined pursuits.

He was already obsessed with music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and he especially enjoyed the elegant and romantic games played at the banquet. Seeing that the two wanted to use chess to determine who was better, it suited his taste perfectly.

"Wonderful, wonderful!

My greatest passions in life are playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and I especially love watching people play chess.

The black and white pieces fall on the board, their movements revealing the elegance and grace of the universe. It is truly a pleasure to witness the two young heroes playing together today!

Having said that, he hurriedly ordered his servants to bring him a fine ebony chessboard and jade chess pieces.

The scholars and guests present echoed this sentiment, all eagerly anticipating the start of this exciting chess match.

Soon, the servants set out an ebony chessboard, with white and black chess pieces arranged on either side.

Su Mubai arrogantly gestured for him to proceed, his demeanor both haughty and somewhat disdainful:

"Young Master Xie, please make your move first. According to the rules of chess, white moves first, but today I will follow the rules and let you play white. Just go ahead and make your move."

All eyes in the room were fixed on the chessboard, and Fu Yaoqin and Mu Pingting also came over to watch.

She was a well-known talented woman in Qingjiang City and had a deep understanding of chess, so she certainly wouldn't miss this rare opportunity to play.

Xie Xiaoyi readily agreed upon hearing this, and immediately picked up a white piece, pretending to ponder it.

After a while.

Ignoring the star points at the four corners of the chessboard, which everyone considered the orthodox opening positions, he raised his hand and placed it in the very center of the board—

That spot was an empty space in this parallel ancient chess world, a place that no one had ever paid attention to; it was the center point.

The moment the move was made, the room erupted in uproar, and everyone was astonished.

"He actually placed a piece at the center? That position is completely unsupported; it's a cardinal sin in the art of Go!"

"Young Master Xie, do you not even understand the basics of chess? This opening is utterly absurd!"

Mu Pingting smiled slightly, her demeanor graceful and charming.

"Golden corners, silver edges, and a grassy belly; Young Master Xie descends to the Heavenly Origin Palace—truly unheard of."

Fu Yaoqin shook her head secretly.

In the first move, Su Mubai lost his advantage of going first. What was he thinking?

Su Mubai was taken aback for a moment, then a look of disdain welled up in his eyes:

"Young Master Xie's move is truly unheard of. It seems you haven't even scratched the surface of the art of chess."

Bai Letian smiled.

In the world of Go, the opening moves are traditionally made at the four corner star positions, emphasizing establishing a firm foothold and proceeding cautiously step by step. The center position is generally considered a foolish move.

Xie Xiaoyi raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance, his tone casual and innocent:

"oh?

What's wrong with that?

I think the center position is the most eye-catching and pleasing to the eye, so it's fine to place it here.

"Young Master Su, don't worry about me, just focus on placing your pieces."

Su Mubai sneered, too lazy to waste any more words with him, and picked up a black piece, placing it steadily in the lower right star position.

The next second, Xie Xiaoyi raised his hand and placed the white piece on the corresponding star position in the upper left corner.

Su Mubai glanced at it indifferently, then immediately turned his wrist, and the black piece landed on the small eye next to the star position in the lower right corner.

As soon as he placed his piece, Xie Xiaoyi, without a second thought, placed his white piece precisely at the small eye corresponding to the upper left star position.

Su Mubai then composed three or four more poems, which Xie Xiaoyi then copied.

The mirror image is now clear; the black and white pieces on the chessboard are distinctly separated, like two mirrors reflecting each other.

At this moment, Su Mubai's expression changed slightly, a hint of impatience rising in his heart, and his tone turned colder:

"This kind of slavish imitation, without even a shred of your own thought, is far too perfunctory!"

He still didn't believe Xie Xiaoyi was deliberately imitating him, and assumed that the other party had no other options.

He then changed tactics, placing a high piece in the upper right corner, intending to use his superior position to disrupt the well-organized layout.

But as soon as the black piece was placed, Xie Xiaoyi's white piece followed closely behind, firmly landing in the lower left corner, corresponding to the high position.

The mirror image remained perfectly aligned, and Su Mubai's superior position instantly created a stalemate between the two sides, with neither side gaining the slightest advantage.

The scholar in the blue robe, who was knowledgeable in chess, stroked his beard and nodded, his eyes full of surprise.