Chapter 1007: Want to Play, Play Big

Chapter 997: Playing for High Stakes

Since the conversation had reached this point, Lu Qiuwei stated seriously, "Lord Yu, you are a guest from afar. Please don't make things difficult for us subordinates."

"Subordinates? Whose subordinate are you now?" Yu Zecheng's gaze swept across the Warm Scent Pavilion, noting there were over twenty Yangshan guards.

Eliminating them shouldn't be difficult.

He glanced at the two guards behind him. They understood, secretly channeling their true power, ready to draw their swords in one swift motion.

Lu Qiuwei, startled, stepped back two paces. "What are you gentlemen doing? Warm Scent Pavilion is not a place for violence!"

With one hand behind his back, he quickly made several gestures.

This was a signal to the others: Form a formation!

Not a combat formation, but a labyrinthine one.

His master's task was to detain Yu Zecheng without genuinely engaging him in battle, which presented a significant challenge.

Therefore, deploying a few illusions to confuse the opponent and gain time seemed to be the optimal solution.

On the Yangshan Archipelago, Yu Zecheng could not pierce illusions with his spiritual power; he would have to dismantle them manually.

Lu Qiuwei's formation had been prepared before the dock explosion, only awaiting activation.

However, just then, a commotion erupted outside, and several people leisurely entered the Warm Scent Pavilion.

While other guests rushed out, they moved against the current, making them quite conspicuous.

Strangely, many travelers who saw the person leading the group immediately halted, their eyes wide, no longer pushing towards the exit.

The person stepped over the threshold and asked calmly and serenely:

"What's going on?"

This person's face was all too familiar to Yu Zecheng. Yet, encountering him unexpectedly at this moment sent a sudden chill down his spine.

He had twice brushed with death on the battlefield, and each time he'd experienced this same sudden coldness in his back and shortness of breath.

This individual before him was the secondary target of his operation tonight—

He Lingchuan stood before him with his hands clasped behind his back, his robes gently rustling in the breeze, accompanied by Lu Qiuwei and others.

"A hurricane is approaching, and there are new developments outside. It would be best for Mr. Yu to remain here," He Lingchuan said with a very cordial smile, as if earnestly advising a guest. "It's windy and rainy outside; you'll likely get soaked."

Yu Zecheng stared at him intently.

His subordinate, Wang Xiang, had clearly reported He Lingchuan's death, yet here he was, suddenly appearing before him?

An illusion!

The moment he saw He Lingchuan, he understood everything.

He Xiao must have used some form of illusionary power to deceive Wanqie Song and Wang Xiang, all to provoke him into making a move.

Those two good-for-nothings!

One inside the door, the other outside, their gazes met, seemingly sparking fire.

After a moment, Mr. Yu's Adam's apple finally bobbed. "Island Master He, you've been busy, rushing about even on a hurricane day."

At this point, he showed no panic about his scheme being uncovered.

Ye Qing and his group had already begun their battle with the spider demon. Even if it was a trap, the reinforcements Yu Zecheng had summoned from Lingxu City were not to be underestimated, and the outcome remained uncertain. Furthermore, even if their efforts ultimately failed, they were from Beijia—what could He Lingchuan possibly dare to do to them?

"Not at all, not at all; it's simply my duty," He Lingchuan said with a smiling face. "The last time we drank, Mr. Yu mentioned he enjoyed playing backgammon. Tonight, with the fierce wind and rain, and since you have nowhere else to go, perhaps you'd like to play a few rounds with me, your humble host?"

He emphasized the phrase "nowhere else to go."

Yu Zecheng offered a faint smile, then gestured towards his guest room. "Alright, please come in."

When had he ever expressed a fondness for backgammon? He had merely mentioned playing a few casual games occasionally. However, given the current circumstances, he was curious to see what this He fellow was truly plotting.

If this He fellow dared to follow him through the door, he wouldn't mind—

He Lingchuan, however, shook his head and took a step back, pointing to the very center of the Warm Scent Pavilion. "If we're going to play, let's play big."

He was pointing directly at the enormous backgammon board on the first floor of the Warm Scent Pavilion!

Yu Zecheng's gaze narrowed slightly. What sort of trick was this He fellow up to?

He Lingchuan, however, gave him no chance to refuse. He quickly reached the side of the board and gestured with his hand:

"Please, sir, join the game."

Observing his usual sincere smile, Yu Zecheng sneered and leisurely walked over.

He had never seen a backgammon board this large.

This Island Master He certainly knows how to make things interesting.

The giant chessboard was designed to be one of the landmarks of the Hot Spring Retreat, meant to leave a lasting impression on visitors arriving at Suoding Island. However, He Lingchuan bringing it out now clearly had a specific purpose.

He gestured for Yu Zecheng to proceed.

Concurrently, several people entered and took seats at nearby tables. All possessed sharp gazes and visible cultivation.

Yu Zecheng knew these were He Lingchuan's elite subordinates.

He glanced out the window, where indistinct shadows flickered. He couldn't tell if they were swaying tree branches or moving figures.

They were vastly outnumbered.

Yu Zecheng slowly approached, stopping less than three feet from He Lingchuan. "Who takes black?"

At this range, could a sudden, decisive strike incapacitate He Lingchuan?

Capture the king to capture the bandits. If He Lingchuan were subdued, all current troubles would swiftly dissolve.

The idea was tempting, but Yu Zecheng's thoughts quickly turned to an old piece of information:

Fan Sheng, the deputy commander of the Lingxu City Concentric Guards, had once been defeated by He Xiao, and it had been a particularly humiliating defeat.

In other words, the young man's personal combat prowess was far from weak.

Would he dare approach Yu Zecheng without some form of assurance?

And on that note, since He Xiao had returned to the Warm Scent Pavilion, where were the Bailong people who initiated the riot?

"'Mr. Yu is a guest from afar, and a distinguished guest from Beijia. This board was only completed a few days ago, so it's only proper for you to make the opening move,' He Lingchuan said with a smile. 'I'll let you go first.'"

A double entendre, subtly reflecting the current situation.

Lu Qiuwei, standing nearby, curled his lips. Was it 'taking the first step' or 'luring a tiger into a trap'? His master even used chess to needle people.

Yu Zecheng, with a rigid expression, walked past He Lingchuan.

As they brushed past each other, he barely managed to resist the impulse to strike.

He had no certainty of a successful single strike.

Both men took their positions on the massive chessboard.

The Hot Spring Retreat was full of guests that day. Those entering and exiting, upon seeing that the oversized chessboard was not merely decorative but actually in use, immediately gathered around.

Guests on the second and third floors crowded against the railings, peering down.

Backgammon had a broad appeal, and roughly seven out of ten guests present knew how to play. With the hurricane outside, there was nowhere else to go, so everyone was content to watch the spectacle.

Yu Zecheng picked up the two dice and rolled them.

The game pieces were large, and the dice were equally substantial, comparable in size to watermelons. Yet, they were surprisingly light, easily lifted by a five-year-old child.

Of the two dice, one showed three pips and the other two, totaling only five.

The game pieces were waist-high, so Yu Zecheng had to personally move the black checker to its new spot.

Why had He Lingchuan come straight for him? He had remained quietly in the inn, not moving a single step.

From He Lingchuan faking his death to his reappearance, barely half an incense stick had passed. Yu Zecheng found it hard to believe that He could have dealt with Wanqie Song and over a hundred Bailong people in such a short span of time and then arrived here.

Just the travel time would have been tight enough, unless this fellow possessed some form of earth-burrowing divine ability.

Furthermore, the riot at the dock was still ongoing, and the Beijia squad would continue their assault on the spider demon. Both situations represented an unbearable burden for Island Master He.

What did it mean for He Lingchuan to neglect those two critical situations and instead rush back here to play chess with him?

"'Oh, Mr. Yu's luck isn't the best,' He Lingchuan remarked, tossing his dice to get a five and a six. 'I suppose I've given you a head start for nothing.'"

He moved his white checker, seemingly taking a significant lead.

"'Hard to say, the future is unpredictable,' Yu Zecheng replied, glancing up to see his two subordinates being closely watched. The Yangshan people were guarding them like thieves, preventing them from going upstairs to their rooms or moving freely."

He pointed a finger. "What is the meaning of this?"

"'Focus!' He Lingchuan said without lifting his head, tapping the chessboard twice with his foot, producing two dull thuds. 'A poor start. If Mr. Yu doesn't concentrate, he'll easily lose.'"

Yu Zecheng shot him a look, then suddenly understood:

This young man had come personally to monitor him, preventing any contact with his subordinates.

Playing on this gigantic chessboard required them to move about, offering no place to conceal their hands or feet, or to cast any divine abilities.

It was a truly ingenious ploy on the young man's part!

But this also meant that He Lingchuan was indeed fully aware of what the Beijia people were doing!

Cold sweat beaded on Yu Zecheng's back.

Unable to make outside contact, he couldn't provide real-time guidance to his fighting subordinates. What, then, would become of Ye Qing and his group in the eastern part of Suoding Island?

He decided to stop playing games. "He Xiao, what exactly are you doing?"

"'On a hurricane night, I guarantee Mr. Yu will be quite comfortable here,' He Lingchuan said, rolling the dice again. Instead of moving an existing checker, he advanced two new ones. 'This tranquility is worth cherishing; many people brave the wind and rain and gain nothing good.'"

At that moment, water stains on the wine goblet tray in Yu Zecheng's guest room once again formed characters.

However, the guest room was empty, and the message went unanswered.

Consequently, Ye Qing and his group, battling in the storm, would receive no instructions from Yu Zecheng.

On the first floor of the Warm Scent Pavilion, He Lingchuan's two checkers both landed on Yu Zecheng's point, allowing him to gleefully capture one of his black pieces:

"'Lady Zhu Er is unwilling to leave, and Yangshan does not wish to offend Beijia; it's a difficult situation! Ah, I truly have brought both your parties together. Mr. Yu, if you can compete fairly—and I mean *if*—this presents an excellent opportunity. Lady Zhu Er has left her lair, and her offspring are few. If your people can defeat Lady Zhu Er, I will immediately dispatch a large ship to escort you back, without another word!'"

No matter how eloquently he spoke, Yu Zecheng remained impassive:

"'Is that so? Besides Lady Zhu Er, what else is on this island?'"

Otherwise, this young man wouldn't be so brazen.

Had his pre-battle intelligence overlooked something crucial?

He Lingchuan considered for a moment, then shrugged. "Mainly the spider demon."

Beyond the low hill ahead lay the Suoding Island pier.

The closer he got to his destination, the more cautious Wanqie Feng became. He lay prone on the hilltop, peering down, and saw that the fire at the pier had already been extinguished, though the wind still carried the acrid scent of smoke and char.

His confidant leaned closer. "Young Master, something isn't right!"

Wanqie Feng's face was grim. He instantly recognized the problem:

The pier was brightly lit. From their vantage point on the hilltop, they could clearly discern the explosion site—

It was certainly not the originally designated cargo station or warehouse!

The barrels of explosives that the Bailong people had planted there earlier had not been detonated.

(End of Chapter)