Chapter 94

In order to solve the intricate chess puzzle, Su Xinghe began inviting young talents ten years ago. Unfortunately, after a decade, despite countless people coming, no one could solve the puzzle.

This time, Su Xinghe seemed to have the courage of a man who had burned his boats, widely distributing invitations to all the young and renowned figures in the martial world.

Inside the Deaf-Mute Valley, a young disciple put down the chess piece in his hand with disappointment and said, "Senior Su, I really can't solve this intricate chess puzzle." He left, and another young man sat on the stone bench, playing chess with Su Xinghe in an attempt to solve the puzzle.

Although Su Xinghe said that this was a legacy from his master, and he invited young people from all over to solve the puzzle to fulfill his master's last wish, who among them was a fool? No one would believe that Su Xinghe's grand invitation had no ulterior motives. Although they didn't know what the key was, it didn't stop them from guessing that solving the puzzle would bring them benefits.

Su Xinghe was a well-known figure in the martial world, calling himself the Deaf-Mute Elder. He had eight disciples, known as the Eight Friends of Hangu, each skilled in their own way, renowned throughout the martial world.

Such an elder, giving even a little benefit would be enough to make martial artists flock to him!

Therefore, every time Su Xinghe invited these young talents, they would eagerly rush over.

Just as the Deaf-Mute Elder Su Xinghe was playing chess with a young talent, a group of people entered the valley. Leading them was Su Xinghe's disciple, Xue Muhua. Due to the influence of a穿越者 (穿越者: time traveler), many things in the world of Tianlong had changed, but many things remained the same, such as the story of Wuyazi and his companions.

Back then, the time traveler, impatient with the three people's incessant chatter, went down Tian Mountain alone and secluded himself in Huashan to practice martial arts, seeking a higher realm. Without his interference, the three people—Tianshan Tonglao, Wuyazi, and Li Qiushui—still had their emotional entanglements. Later, Wuyazi and Li Qiushui lived in seclusion at the bottom of Wuliang Mountain's Sword Lake Palace, while Tianshan Tonglao, who could never grow up, vowed never to leave Tian Mountain and never to see Wuyazi, the man who had betrayed her.

After that, things happened as they did in the story of Tianlong. Wuyazi's disciple, who was a wicked student, attacked Wuyazi and pushed him off a cliff. Wuyazi, who had a strong constitution, didn't die and was saved by Su Xinghe, becoming a living dead man. Duan Chunqiu was also deceived by Su Xinghe, but the Deaf-Mute Elder was thus born.

After that, the notorious Duan Chunqiu began to gain fame in the martial world. The time traveler, who had been immersed in martial arts and not involved in worldly affairs, also heard about it and suddenly remembered the story of Tianlong.

Although he didn't like his junior brothers and sisters, they were still from the same sect. Duan Chunqiu's betrayal of the Xianyao Sect naturally made him angry. However, the time traveler, who was very proud, wouldn't go after Duan Chunqiu, a junior. Instead, he had the idea of taking on disciples to eliminate Duan Chunqiu, just as Wuyazi did. This idea led him to think of Xiao Feng and Xu Zhu, changing their fates.

Later, after the two disciples completed their training, they followed their master's last wish: one roamed the martial world to investigate his blood feud, while the other went directly to Xingxiu Sea to kill Duan Chunqiu and destroy the Xingxiu Sect. At that time, Xu Zhu was only a teenager, younger than Bai Xiaosheng. Yet, this young Xu Zhu alone destroyed Duan Chunqiu's Xingxiu Sect and, following his master's last wish, re-established the Xingxiu Sea under the Xianyao Sect, making it a righteous sect that upheld justice.

When the news of Duan Chunqiu's death reached Su Xinghe, he was naturally overjoyed. He then told this news to his master, Wuyazi, but Wuyazi remained silent.

The time traveler didn't have a close relationship with his junior brother, and naturally, his junior brother didn't have a close relationship with him. Although they didn't fight, the time traveler becoming the sect leader made the junior brother, who was the sect leader, have many thoughts.

Wuyazi knew that he could become the sect leader because his senior brother only loved martial arts, seeking a higher realm. Otherwise, how could the master have passed the position to him, a young child?

Therefore, when he heard that Duan Chunqiu was killed, he not only didn't feel overly happy but also felt a competitive spirit. It was then that Su Xinghe recalled his eight disciples and invited young talents from all over to find a successor for his master, to revitalize the prestige of the Xianyao Sect. Unfortunately, after so long, no one could solve the intricate chess puzzle.

Inside the valley, Xue Muhua walked to Su Xinghe's side and said softly, "Master, the new leader of the Beggar Sect, Bai Xiaosheng, the Shaolin monk Xuan Nan, and the young master of Gusu Murong have arrived."

Su Xinghe nodded, turned his head to look at where they were, and the people carried their luggage. Su Xinghe nodded, waved his hand, and several large stones slowly moved to stop in front of them. Su Xinghe said, "Please sit!"

Everyone was surprised. The Deaf-Mute Elder Su Xinghe was not deaf or mute. What was going on?

"Amitabha!" Xuan Nan recited a Buddhist chant and said, "I never thought the Deaf-Mute Elder would speak. It's truly rare. Could it be that..."

"Master, you are too kind!" Su Xinghe nodded slightly, his gaze returning to the chessboard, and said, "Young Master Duan, how about it? Have you thought of a move to break the puzzle?" The young master sitting opposite him was Duan Yu, who had arrived a step ahead.

Duan Yu didn't speak, just quietly looked at the chessboard. Suddenly, he placed a chess piece on the board and said, "Alright, let's do it this way!"

Su Xinghe looked and smiled slightly, his face showing joy. Among so many young talents, only Duan Yu could play with him for so long and come up with such a brilliant move.

Could this young man solve the intricate puzzle?

At that moment, the more he looked at Duan Yu, the more satisfied he felt. Although Duan Yu wasn't a world-renowned handsome man, he was definitely not bad-looking. Coming from the Dali Duan family, he must have been skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and his chess skills were excellent. This completely met the criteria for the Xianyao Sect to take on disciples!

Thinking about this, his hands didn't stop, placing a black piece on the board. Duan Yu reacted quickly, immediately placing a white piece in the corresponding position. They took turns, and in a blink, they had played over ten moves. At this point, Duan Yu paused, looking at the board and shaking his head, saying, "The intricate puzzle set by the old master is extremely profound and ingenious. I cannot solve it."

Su Xinghe won, but his face didn't show any joy; instead, it showed a deep sorrow. He said, "Young Master, your chess thinking is meticulous, and these dozen moves have reached a very high level. However, you couldn't think deeper. What a pity, what a pity. Alas, what a pity, what a pity!" He said "pity" four times, his regret truly profound. Duan Yu picked up the dozen white pieces he had played and put them back in the wooden box. Su Xinghe also picked up the dozen black pieces. The chessboard still retained its original formation.

Seeing Duan Yu step aside, Su Xinghe's gaze turned to the newly arrived people. When he saw Murong Fu and Bai Xiaosheng, his eyes lit up, and he said, "Leader of the Beggar Sect, Young Master Murong, who will go first?"

The two looked at each other, and Bai Xiaosheng made a gesture of invitation, saying, "Young Master Murong, I am not skilled in chess, so please go ahead. I believe you can solve this intricate puzzle."

Murong Fu smiled slightly, said nothing, and slowly walked forward, sitting on the stone bench. It was Bao Bu Tong who spoke up again, "Your words are very wise, and I fully agree!"

"Brother Bao..." Murong Fu called out, stopping Bao Bu Tong's words. He already had a somewhat tarnished reputation in the martial world and had some conflicts with the Beggar Sect. If he offended the leader of the Beggar Sect, his life would be even harder. Bao Bu Tong, though not unreasonable, was just naturally like that. Hearing Murong Fu's call, he immediately stopped talking.

Bai Xiaosheng didn't pay attention to him, nor did he look at the chessboard. Instead, he stood next to Duan Yu, speaking softly to him, asking about his recent travels.

Duan Yu was truly infatuated with Wang Yuyan. After Bai Xiaosheng's wedding, he returned to Gusu, hoping to find Wang Yuyan. Unfortunately, his luck was bad, and he was captured by Li Qingluo, almost being killed. Fortunately, his smooth talk saved him, and he was confined to the Wang family, where he tended to the tea flowers for Li Qingluo.

Although he had no freedom there, Duan Yu was very happy because he could see Wang Yuyan every day. Unfortunately, Wang Yuyan's heart was only for Murong Fu. Although she sometimes spoke to Duan Yu in private, she mostly remained silent, only becoming animated when talking about Murong Fu. This made Duan Yu very jealous, and he wanted to leave but couldn't bear to part with Wang Yuyan, so he stayed at the Wang family.

Later, A Zhu and A Bi came to the Wang family, saying that the young master had received an invitation from the Deaf-Mute Elder Su Xinghe in the Deaf-Mute Valley of Leigushan. Duan Yu, upon hearing this, immediately encouraged Wang Yuyan to go to Leigushan with Murong Fu. A Zhu and A Bi, wanting to help Wang Yuyan and Murong Fu, also supported the idea.

Thus, the four of them secretly left the Wang family and went to Yanziwu. Duan Yu was already happy to be with Wang Yuyan, and the journey was like a trip, making him even happier. However, when they arrived at Yanziwu, he received no hospitality and was even driven away, which made Duan Yu very upset.

This dispirited Duan Yu left Yanziwu, not knowing where to go, his mind filled with thoughts of Wang Yuyan. A few days later, a thought struck him: Wang Yuyan might have followed Murong Fu to Leigushan. He decided to rush there first to see Wang Yuyan.

As Duan Yu listened to Bai Xiaosheng, his eyes were on the four major servants behind Murong Fu, and next to them, Wang Yuyan was looking at Murong Fu with affection.

What made Duan Yu happy was seeing Wang Yuyan, which satisfied him; what made him upset was still Wang Yuyan. She completely ignored him, her eyes only on Murong Fu!