Even as a "normie," I'm completely oblivious to it.

Xiang Hongan smiled, showing none of the contempt his junior brother had for young people.

Instead, he gracefully waved his long sleeves toward the chessboard in the eastern area and said, "Please."

"Please go first, senior."

Xiang Hong'an nodded in approval of Yu Zhe's manners and smiled as he stroked his long beard before walking towards the chessboard in the East District.

Yu Zhe followed closely behind and sat down on the small chair representing the red team.

The entire audience is buzzing with excitement, everyone seemingly speculating about who will make it to the finals.

"Both players, please get ready. After three minutes of preparation, the blue side will make the first move."

The referee, standing in the middle of the court, used a megaphone to give instructions to both sides of the west and east sections.

There are still three minutes to prepare! Yu Zhe is already itching to start playing chess.

During this waiting time, Xiang Hongan suddenly spoke.

"Hehe, just play normally, young friend, don't be nervous."

I wasn't nervous at all!

Oh, Yu Zhe understands now. This senior must have misinterpreted the faint anticipation for the game on his face as nervousness.

This was all out of good intentions, so Yu Zhe didn't refute it: "Yes, thank you for your concern, senior. If I may say something, once the competition starts, you don't need to worry about me or go easy on me just because I'm young. After all, this is a competition."

"Haha, young friend, you don't need to worry about that. I actually have a principle," Xiang Hong'an said with a few laughs. "I believe that age has nothing to do with playing chess. When you're going to play, you have to give it your all. That's the only way to show respect to your opponent. Don't you agree, young friend?"

"What you say is very true, senior."

At this point, Xiang Hong'an stroked his beard and said, "But speaking of which, young friend, you seem to have come directly to the competition as a guest, right?"

"Yes."

“You’ve had it tough too…” Xiang Hongan sighed. “It must have been really difficult for you to suddenly have to go through a competition of this level.”

In Xiang Hong'an's mind, this competition had a strong commercial nature. He felt that Su Yuzhe, as the leader of the Su family, was probably being pushed out as a "spokesperson," or a so-called "guest."

It's fine for showing off, but it's a far cry from being a real competition. There are so many spectators watching, and Xiang Hong'an won't hold back. It's really a bit unfair to this young friend.

As for what Xiang Hong'an had heard—that this young friend was a once-in-a-century genius—he was skeptical. Even if he were, so what? Many of the chess players who came to the mountains to challenge him were also exceptionally talented, but in the end, they all became his defeated opponents.

To everyone's surprise, Yu Zhe only responded with one sentence: "Senior, don't worry. I am quite confident in my chess skills, and as I just said, I enjoy playing chess."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the referee gave the order, before Xiang Hong'an could say anything.

"Game start!"

As soon as the instruction was given, the entire audience fell silent. Everyone in the audience knew that quiet was essential for high-level matches, and their silence was a prerequisite for witnessing such a high-level game.

Yu Zhe could see that Xiang Hong'an immediately changed his demeanor upon hearing those words.

His eyes, which were originally indifferent to worldly affairs, seemed to contain a world composed of a chessboard after he lowered his head.

Xiang Hong'an, making the first move, swept his sleeve and immediately moved the cannon from the second to the fifth rank.

There's a saying that goes, "The one who strikes first is either a novice or a master."

Clearly, Xiang Hong'an belongs to the category of experts.

Following Yu Zhe's move, when it was his turn, he also moved a central cannon, which didn't seem to make any sense.

In the next five minutes of the initial game, Yu Zhe was able to discern the playing style of this senior player.

Calm and collected, yet harboring hidden dangers; seemingly indifferent, yet as steady as Mount Tai.

As expected of someone with extensive chess experience, the thought process behind these moves reflects the wisdom honed over the years, subtly revealing a certain...

The spirit of a recluse who does not contend.

Yu Zhe completely abandoned his absent-minded attitude, concentrating intently and entering a state of chess playing at an almost terrifying speed.

In his mind, the world seemed to consist only of the chessboard, himself, and his opponent.

When it was Yu Zhe's turn, he asked a question before placing his piece out of sheer curiosity.

"Senior, if I may ask, what is your purpose in participating in the competition? I don't think it's for winning or losing."

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"Your playing style doesn't seem to have that strong obsession with winning or losing."

After nearly ten minutes of the game, Xiang Hong'an said with a wry smile, "Young friend... are you mocking me? If you could see through my playing style before the match started, I would definitely be surprised, but now I have to admit that I underestimated your strength."

Xiang Hong'an did not answer the question from earlier.

Because even now, he still hasn't figured out Yu Zhe's overall strategy for playing chess.

This is strange and very unusual.

It is important to know that chess masters can often adjust their own strategy based on their opponent's playing style in order to find the opponent's mistakes.

However, in the short span of ten minutes since the start of the match, in Xiang Hong'an's view, Su Yuzhe's playing style has been constantly changing from calm and steady to aggressive, conservative, reckless, and even adventurous.

Sometimes it was like a light drizzle, sometimes like a torrential downpour, accompanied by lightning and thunder.

This sudden change caught even the experienced old man off guard, causing him to break out in a cold sweat.

38. Enjoying it

He had seen many chess players who were good at changing their playing style, but Xiang Hong'an had never seen anyone who could make countless changes in a short period of time. It was as if every few moves he made, he had a different opponent, which was very confusing.

This unconventional and illogical approach to chess playing might even be achieved by a novice making random moves.

However, Xiang Hong'an absolutely did not believe that Su Yuzhe was a novice, because... at this moment, Xiang Hong'an's side of the game was actually at a disadvantage.

It's been decades since we've seen such a disadvantage in the world of chess.

Seeing that the senior did not give a direct answer, Yu Zhe once again used this unpredictable move.

He continued, "This is just my subjective speculation. Your playing style is very similar to Tai Chi, which emphasizes using softness to overcome hardness and makes it almost impossible to find a mistake. Since it is Tai Chi, it is about not competing. So I was a little curious about your purpose in participating in the competition. If you don't want to say, then just pretend I didn't ask."

Yu Zhe is a contestant, but also an organizer, so it's understandable that he's curious about this.

Xiang Hong'an, looking at the move Yu Zhe had just made, fell into deep thought.

This seemingly calm move is actually laying the groundwork for the next attack, proceeding steadily and cautiously.

Su Yuzhe is right. During his long years of seclusion, Xiang Hongan has accumulated composure, steadiness, and a lack of ambition, which can often be seen in his chess games.

And there's nothing to hide about it.

The old man, holding a chess piece, said, "Young friend, you are right. I did not come here to win or lose."

It seems they do intend to respond.

After politely waiting for him to finish jumping one of his horses, Yu Zhe asked, "Then I would like to ask, if it's not about winning or losing, then why the 'competition'?"

Yu Zhe was genuinely seeking advice; he simply didn't understand the significance of a recluse participating in a secular competition.

The conversation seemed to make the game easier, and the two players moved their pieces much faster than before.

Xiang Hong'an looked at the current game with appreciation, then chuckled as he responded to Yu Zhe's question.

The answer to this question is much simpler than Yu Zhe thought.

"Nothing more than the fact that the prize money for the competition is a considerable sum. I'm not afraid you'll laugh at me, young friend, but I'm here for the money."

You're definitely not here just for the money.

Yu Zhe smiled without saying a word, and Xiang Hong'an smiled back.

After moving another piece, he continued, "I'm getting old, and I don't know how many more years I have left. I've lived in seclusion for most of my life and haven't made any contributions to society. I was thinking that if I could get this money and donate it to children in impoverished areas, it would be a worthwhile life."

"You flatter me, senior."

Yu Zhe's current feeling can be described as one of profound respect.

It is unknown why this senior chose to live in seclusion in the mountains, but as time has passed, he still cares deeply about the world.

During their casual conversation, it seemed as if the two players had no audience left in the game.

Both of them had their eyes fixed on the chessboard in front of them, as if they were playing chess in the mountains and forests.

High mountains and flowing water, amidst bamboo forests.

On the stone table, amidst the clear spring.

Xiang Hong'an had a strange feeling that he wasn't playing chess with a young man, but with a wise being who transcended age.

So, while age may bring about the passage of time, there are always exceptions that leave you in awe.

Perhaps geniuses truly do exist in this world.

As the game entered its thirtieth minute.

With the endgame essentially settled, Yu Zhe sighed softly and, holding the "horse" that could decide the outcome with a single move, captured Xiang Hong'an's "general," which had already been moved back to the checkmate position several times.

"General."

"The match is over."

The machine beeped, signaling that this absolutely thrilling match had finally come to a conclusion.

The black and white world of chess has finally regained its color.

When I looked up again, the entire audience was in a frenzy.

The long-silent cheers from the crowd finally erupted. They had been holding back for so long, waiting for the outcome of the match, but they were afraid of interfering with the players' judgment, so they only dared to shout loudly now.

"Young Master Yu Zhe is forever a god!"

"I bet right! Ten to one! I've made a fortune this time!"

"Did you record this competition? It'll definitely go viral if you post it online!"

These cheers accompanied the referee raising his chess piece towards the East Division.

"East Division match ends! Red team wins! Su Yuzhe advances to the finals!"

Now, let's return to the game itself.

Despite being the loser, Xiang Hong'an couldn't stop laughing: "Hahaha, young friend, I was thinking of dragging it out a bit, maybe even to a draw, so we could play another game. But that last trick of yours, that 'chariot' move, was truly brilliant! I'm completely impressed today. You really are strategizing on the chessboard, using feints and diversions to dodge attacks. It's dazzling to watch, so enjoyable, so exhilarating!"

To be neither arrogant in victory nor discouraged in defeat—that is the true demeanor of a recluse.

Yu Zhe nodded humbly and said, "I'm glad you're satisfied, senior. I only won by luck. If you hadn't made some minor mistakes, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to break through. If I have the chance in the future, I will definitely visit you in the mountains where you cultivate and ask you for more advice on chess."