Chapter 2672 - 2734: Resolution
It was as if time and space were shifting. Every time Li Yifei placed a piece, a new white piece would appear on the board to counter his move, forcing Li Yifei, who originally only wanted to place one piece, to continue. However, his chess skills were not sharp, and he had not often immersed himself in study, so after a few moves, Li Yifei realized that the situation, which was once hugely advantageous, quickly shifted to a near-even balance.
This made him somewhat embarrassed because, despite initially having the upper hand, with no moves left for the white pieces, it looked like he was about to lose. And now, suddenly it turned into a standoff, leaving Li Yifei awkward, prompting him to concentrate and play seriously.
Nevertheless, as his skill was limited, Li Yifei could foresee five to ten moves ahead, but the white pieces seemed to see twenty to thirty moves ahead, as if an adult was playing against a child. Naturally, they could not be compared; thus, it wasn’t long before Li Yifei found that his originally thriving positions had all turned into dead ends; if the game continued like this, it wouldn’t be long before he lost completely.
"This is interesting; what if I switch sides?" With the white pieces’ turn, Li Yifei spoke as if to himself.
The white pieces indeed paused this time, seemingly waiting for Li Yifei to decide. Li Yifei was greatly astonished. This thing could not only play automatically but also think? Was it akin to that computer developed by Google, with such computational power...? Hence, holding curiosity, Li Yifei switched positions to the white side. Facing the advantageous white pieces, Li Yifei did not rush to make a move but pondered a bit as per the white board’s situation before placing a piece.
Then the black pieces made a move, placing a brilliant chess piece that seemed like discovering life at a dead end. Li Yifei noticed it at a glance, since allowing this situation was unacceptable; having already cheated once, being overturned by black pieces again would be too embarrassing, thus, for the next few moves, Li Yifei played very earnestly.
But after ten more moves, Li Yifei found the situation had reversed again, as the positions on the board swapped, with Li Yifei controlling the white pieces and reverting to a balanced position, overturned by the black pieces with a few moves.
This was an intellectual dominance. Li Yifei felt unwilling to continue playing, as even with unclear skills, there shouldn’t be such overpowering; having two consecutive certain victory positions overturned by the opponent, one must realize... this is merely a chessboard.
Li Yifei snorted with a heavy breath, clenching his teeth and shaking his head, beginning to contemplate.
Placement regrets aside, one must still place the piece down. But before doing so, however, thoughtful contemplation was necessary. Amid such contemplation, several minutes passed, and Li Yifei opened his eyes, chuckled, and said: "Little girl, aren’t you dead? Did we fail?"
Even the most skillful designers couldn’t create such intelligent chessboards, able to place pieces by themselves. At least within Li Yifei’s understanding, this was impossible. Immersed in the board earlier, Li Yifei didn’t have distractions to notice, but being silent for this moment made him realize something was off, hence the utterance.
His eyes glaring at the opposite chessboard, releasing a dominant aura, enveloping the entire space, found even the faintest movement; he could detect the tiniest Spirit Qi fluctuations, yet... nothing changed across the board. Li Yifei neither heard Qianqian’s voice nor felt Spirit Qi waves, sensing absolutely nothing.
Was Li Yifei too sensitive? Slightly disappointed, although just meeting Qianqian, he still didn’t wish for her to fade away like mist; however, upon this probing, realizing her absence, Li Yifei sighed, beginning to place pieces. Since already succumbing to defeat, he might as well persist in losing, without needing to switch sides; otherwise, this game might last long, as Li Yifei switches sides whenever losing.
After more than twenty moves, Li Yifei could no longer proceed since the board was fully dominated by black pieces. Li Yifei switched twice, ultimately losing while controlling the white pieces. His eyes blinked, clicked his tongue, laughed, and said: "You’re clever; I can’t win at chess, but is chess all there is? No other entertainment?"
"Remember the green dress, evoking fondness for tender grass everywhere." In the air, a seemingly sighing girl’s voice echoed, crisp yet uttering a verse Li Yifei had previously thought of. A poem from He Zhu of the Song Dynasty, indeed from the same era as Qianqian, or rather, the final era of the Fire Sect.
Upon hearing this voice, Li Yifei felt no inner waves. This voice, same as Qianqian’s previous one, was a child’s tone, yet not identical, thus Li Yifei’s response was calm.
He glanced at the chessboard, remarking: "Seems there’s more to this."
"Life is like chess, unpredictable and fleeting, to redeem life with death, exchanging life for death." The voice sighed, seemingly experienced countless times, a touch of weariness echoing within.
Li Yifei did not speak, savoring the words from the other party. A chessboard placed here for no reason, Li Yifei as the player switching twice, yet still losing—this seemed metaphorical. What might this suggest to Li Yifei, the involved party?
"So, did the Fire Sect succeed after all? Did they overcome life and death? Oh, impossible; if overcoming life and death were feasible, then everyone in the world could cultivate," Li Yifei spoke, as if pondering aloud, also posing a question to the enigmatic voice.
"Life and death cannot be guessed, yet can be sought; otherwise, they would’ve dispersed long ago over these centuries. Just, the price of immortality is hefty, requiring too much," the voice replied.
Li Yifei nodded, somewhat agreeing, then questioned: "So who exactly are you, and why play this game of chess with me?"
"I am Qianqian, yet also me!" the other responded.
"Which means, you didn’t die just now; seemingly, my blade failed. Of course, I wasn’t intending to kill you—it was your request; I merely wished to free you," Li Yifei replied, not shirking responsibility, fearing trouble from the other, but stating the truth.
The other said: "I understand, yet you didn’t fail. Hence, I am conversing with you now."
"Who then are you?" Li Yifei asked.
"I am Qianqian, haha, you must be confused, but you may also call me... the Fire Sect’s Sect Master! And merely its last-generation Sect Master," the other replied.
Li Yifei raised his eyebrows, a faint smile on his face, seemingly unsurprised, commenting: "No wonder, I always suspected you wouldn’t perish that easily; wasn’t that too... resolute? A sect’s members generously sacrificing themselves has never been heard of."
"Did you think so as well?" the other asked.
Li Yifei nodded, saying: "Just mentioned, yet if you are Qianqian, then it proves she lied just now!"
"Certainly not, for the Fire Sect always had dual masters; you could label them as the Yin Yang Sect Masters—Yang symbolizing the sect’s leader in plain view, while Yin being... the entity verifying life and death, also the subject under examination. This generation’s **** master is me!"
Another fresh explanation from the other, with Li Yifei promptly saying: "If so, then Qianqian’s earlier words were false?"
"True indeed; I am her, she is me; the Fire Sect finalized a special technique, merging the pure her and me as one, for achieving this current realm."
"Oh." Li Yifei nodded, commenting: "Two individuals merging into one seems so cruel."
"Currently perceived as such, but to the Fire Sect members, in pursuit of long life, unraveling death, doing anything to reach their goal is deemed worthwhile," the other said.
"So, isn’t it awkward? I just killed Qianqian?... unleashing you, was this your purpose?" Li Yifei’s expression turned slightly cool, exhibiting intense caution.
"No, she remains; I was initially in slumber after the Fire Sect made that unanimous decision, in sleep yet aware of occurrences. But just now, your blade released me; I can occupy this soul and converse with you."
"May I ask something!" Li Yifei continued, without waiting for a reply, proceeding: "Does such immortality hold meaning?"
"Indeed meaningless, proved by the failures throughout generations pursued by the Fire Sect," the other replied.
"So, should I continue killing you?"
After a brief silence, the other replied: "I don’t know, failing, uncertain about the future; perhaps you should strike me again to try and eliminate me, as I can no longer sense Qianqian’s presence; just now, I could still feel it."
Another strike? With Qianqian and this so-called Fire Sect **** Master’s souls merged, seemingly bearing more pain; making such a request, Li Yifei didn’t decline and said: "Alright, I’ll just assist once more, but if none works, I probably wouldn’t have any more means."
"Thank you," the other said.
"Stand there, don’t move; I’ll strike again." Once more, Li Yifei summoned the True Qi Blade, holding it firm, with blade qi displayed indignantly, Extreme Yang Qi emanating; Li Yifei’s gaze fixed opposite the stone platform, just as he prepared to strike, the other spoke: "Wait."
"Hm?"
"She is called Qianqian; I am named Beads, though it’s been hundreds of years, wishing still... someone could remember this name, as if to visit once."
Things are abundant then; Li Yifei nodded. Nonetheless, her tone was childish, seemingly a young girl, so he endured and remarked: "Will remember you both, granting liberation."
Li Yifei swung this blade, Extreme Yang Qi surging more than the previous strike, not out of animosity but striving to do his best. Despite the other’s soul existence, repeatedly cutting does seem disrespectful.
His intent was good, but unexpectedly, this strike produced a surprising outcome.