With half a game of chess, I vanquish all demons!

The night was deep, and the bright moon shone high in the sky.

Inside the small brick house, a man over two meters tall lay on the ground and suddenly opened his eyes.

"Pfft~"

He suddenly sat up from the ground and vomited a large mouthful of poisonous blood.

Black blood splattered on the threshold, emitting wisps of ominous heat.

The man's eyes were glazed over, and he instinctively raised his hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth.

The apocalyptic scene of the earth cracking and the sky bleeding still lingers in my mind.

But now he found himself in a new world, his soul possessing the body of a young man with the same name, "Zhao Yao".

He was both surprised and relieved.

He had just relaxed a little when he immediately felt the tearing sensation in his lungs caused by the poison.

The wound inside his chest rose and fell with each breath, causing his temples to throb with pain, his teeth clenched, and his mouth and nose to reek of blood.

"Phew~"

Zhao Yao let out a short breath. After quickly adjusting to his injuries, he closed his eyes and entered a state of introspection while processing the memories of his predecessor.

In his inner vision, he saw his own soul body sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, and a chessboard and chess pieces within his soul body that emitted a faint glow and were covered with cracks.

On one half of the chessboard, there are sixteen human-shaped chess pieces, each with a unique posture and as white as jade, with pawns, cannons, chariots, horses, elephants, advisors, and generals, each occupying its own position.

Only on the edge of the chessboard, at the front corner, a jade figure with the character "卒" (pawn) engraved on its body was emitting a faint white light, presenting a semi-transparent appearance with distinct "flame layers," making it stand out so uniquely.

Great! The Broken Jade Chess Set is still there!

Seeing the situation she had been waiting for, Zhao Yao finally felt relieved and turned her attention to digesting the memories of her predecessor.

Unlike the post-apocalyptic world before my transmigration, this is a vast world with martial arts, called the Demon-Slaying Realm, one of the higher realms.

It's both the Demon-Slaying Realm and the Upper Realm of the Heavens; it's quite extraordinary.

However, in reality, the predecessor lived in a feudal dynasty called Yin, leading an ordinary life like that of an ancient person.

The gods and demon-slaying beings seem very close to people; they are everywhere in storytellers' tales and books. However, since there is no way to actually come into contact with them, most people still live their lives as usual.

Like his predecessor, he had heard many stories of martial artists descending to the mortal world to vanquish demons when he was young, and developed a longing for martial arts. People with a "martial arts dream" would at most put more effort into the "Warrior Breathing Technique" that everyone knows, and make themselves taller and stronger.

Then they will be quickly beaten down by reality and forced to give up this unrealistic fantasy due to the need to make a living.

It wasn't until his predecessor accepted reality, studied diligently, and was admitted to the county school that everything changed again, rekindling his desire for martial arts.

It turns out that the predecessor learned a lot about martial arts and martial artists from the books in the county school.

It turns out that in the Yin Kingdom, the path to advancement in martial arts was completely monopolized by powerful forces.

A martial artist is also a celestial being.

Ordinary people may have the chance to catch a glimpse of martial arts practitioners in their daily lives, but they rarely have the slightest possibility of becoming one themselves.

The martial arts world is all around us, and we all know it's there, but we don't have the key to enter it, because that key is firmly held by the imperial court, sects, and powerful families.

Unless one comes from the martial arts world on their own, or relies on great perseverance and some vague rumors to seek martial arts and immortality in various places.

Alternatively, one could only overcome the information barrier by taking a roundabout approach and entering these powerful forces before having the opportunity to learn martial arts.

The predecessor, on the day he became a student of the county school in Wangzhou County of Yin State, had already crossed this "information threshold" and become a reserve member of the great power of the imperial court, which is why he came into contact with information related to martial arts.

"Then the question arises: the original owner had finally reached this point, rekindling his desire for martial arts, so how could he suddenly die like this?"

Zhao Yao carefully recalled what had just happened that day.

Today marks the completion of three years of official schooling in the former ancestral home, and the classmates have gathered at a restaurant to celebrate.

The students clinked glasses, drank and made merry, and laughed off their past grievances. The former had also drunk a few more cups.

Afterwards, the original body was unconscious and was helped by his close friend Huang Lian to Huang Lian's house to stay.

Is this the home of my friend Huang Liancheng?

"Did I die in Huanglian's house?"

"...Huffing and puffing~"

Snapping out of my reverie, I heard heavy breathing coming from outside.

Zhao Yao carefully got up from the ground, followed the sound and slowly walked to the threshold, looking up at the courtyard.

"...Huff~~"

Under the big locust tree, Huanglian, who was about 1.9 meters tall, was covered in mud and was using an iron spatula to shovel soil into a pit, sweating profusely.

"The person who poisoned me was probably Su Shangtao, the young master who served me the wine."

But now it's you, my friend, digging a pit for me, acting like you're trying to bury me in your own house, like a murderer trying to cover up a crime.

Zhao Yao found the culprit in his past life's memories and also learned about Huang Lian's weak and easily bullied nature, and immediately had a guess in his heart.

Was Huanglian (Coptis chinensis) threatened?

Seeing Huang Lian still engrossed in digging the pit with a sorrowful expression, completely unaware of his gaze, he couldn't help but speak up:

"Brother Huang..."

"ah--"

"What the hell!" Huang Lian was so frightened by the shout that he trembled all over, threw the iron shovel in his hand, and his body went limp.

He turned around and saw Zhao Yao standing pale-faced and covered in sweat in front of the threshold. He asked, his eyes filled with terror and his body drenched in sweat:

"You, you, are you a human or a ghost now?"

Zhao Yao, though pale, replied with a smile:

"Maybe it's a person."

"Maybe? Maybe it is! That's great, you're still alive!"

Looking at Zhao Yao in the room, Huang Lian felt a surge of joy.

"Brother Huang, are you trying to bury me alive?"

Zhao Yao raised his sleeve and pointed to the pit under the tree, a half-smile on his face.

Upon hearing this, Huang Lian felt ashamed, hesitated to speak, and became at a loss for what to do.

Zhao Yao looked at him quietly, waited a few seconds, and seeing that he hadn't uttered a single word of explanation, she sighed:

"That's enough."

He said no more, stepped into the courtyard, walked towards the gate, and prepared to leave.

He had just reached the courtyard gate when Huang Lian, looking hesitant, quickly called out from behind him:

"Brother Zhao, please wait..."

Zhao Yao turned around upon hearing the sound and immediately saw the sharp dagger that Huang Lian had just pulled out.

He raised an eyebrow and said:

"What, Brother Huang, you don't want to let me go?"

"No, no, no..."

Huang Lian denied it repeatedly, her face contorted with struggle. She waved her hand, holding the dagger, unsure how to explain herself.

Seeing this, Zhao Yao carefully examined his former friend.

So they were really being threatened?

He narrowed his eyes and decided to help Huanglian.

He strode towards Huang Lian, stood before him, reached out and grasped the wrist holding the dagger, looked into his eyes, and said gently:

"Brother Huang, is there some inside story?"

Seeing Huang Lian remain silent but look pained, Zhao Yao understood what was going on and said something shocking:

"Brother Huang, the dagger is in your hand... Why don't you stab it into me and kill me with one blow?"

Either let go, and the dagger will fall to the ground;

With such a simple choice, what is there to hesitate about?

Zhao Yao held the wrist that held the dagger, and Zhao Yao stared at Huang Lian's timid and fearful eyes. Looking at Zhao Yao's gentle face, two lines of hot tears streamed down Huang Lian's face as she sobbed.

"No, no..."

Seeing this, Zhao Yao's gentle gaze remained unchanged. He held Huang Lian's hand, which was holding the dagger, and made it point at his chest, uttering even more insane words:

"Hmm~ I see. You're struggling too, right? It's okay, I'll make the choice for you."

Come on, aim at my heart, I'll count to three, and then you stab me, 3, 2...

When Zhao Yao counted to 2, he pulled Huang Lian's wrist. Just before the sharp dagger in his hand was about to pierce his heart, Huang Lian's fear intensified, his hand loosened, and the dagger fell to the ground.

slap~

Before the dagger could hit the ground, Zhao Yao swiftly reached out a hand and precisely grabbed the dagger's hilt.

Sheathed the dagger, released his grip on Huang Lian's wrist, and Zhao Yao's expression remained unchanged, as if nothing had just happened.

He turned his head away, ignoring Huang Lian's tear-streaked face after her emotional breakdown, and asked directly:

"Brother Huang, I don't remember having any deep-seated hatred with Su Shangtao that would cause him to not only harm me at the banquet but also threaten you, making you like this."

Tell me what he said to you.

"No, he didn't tell me directly. It was his servant who relayed his message to me when I was almost bringing you home. He said that if you were poisoned to death, he would collect your body, bury it, and not let anyone find out anything unusual."

If you haven't been poisoned to death, let me use this dagger to send you on your way... Brother Zhao, when I heard this, I immediately wanted to take you to the clinic.

But who knew that you would collapse from the poison right in front of that servant surnamed Su?

The servant also threatened me on the spot, saying that if I didn't do as Su Shangtao instructed, my wife and children would be the next to die.

You had already passed away at that time, and I was extremely terrified. I dared not be negligent, so I dug this big pit in the yard.

Brother Zhao, we have been friends for a long time. If I die, I will die, but my wife and children are innocent!

Just now, when I saw you wake up, and remembering the threat from that man surnamed Su, I was completely flustered and didn't know what to do, so I pulled out the dagger...

Brother Zhao, things have come to this point. I have wronged you by colluding with that Su fellow. You may kill me or punish me as you see fit, Brother Zhao. I only ask that you help my wife and children escape from this place afterward, so that they will no longer be threatened by that Su fellow…”

After listening to Huang Lian's unvarnished account and seeing his uncontrollable sobbing, Zhao Yao was speechless.

How could you be so timid?

A servant, with just a few words of intimidation, has made you lose your composure and obey orders to this extent?

But when Zhao Yao thought about how his friend was just like that, he felt relieved.

He looked at his friend and said helplessly:

"Brother Huang, you've been tricked."

This is clearly a two-birds-with-one-stone strategy.

If I were to die today and be buried by you under the big locust tree in this courtyard, guess who would be the one to open the gate tomorrow?

"At that time, it will be Su Shangtao who kills me, but you will be the one who commits murder!"

"what?"

Huang Lian was taken aback. He hadn't thought of that; at the time, he was only thinking about protecting his wife and children.