Chapter 509: 509, The Splendor of Rivers and Mountains (second update)

"Um," Chu Jin slightly curled his lips, lifted his eyes to gaze at Mu Xianxian, and said in a clear voice, "I’m truly sorry to disappoint you. You might not believe it, but this game of chess, I really didn’t take it seriously. I just feel that playing against you is far less challenging than this single-player game."

Having said that, she even picked up her phone and waved it in front of Mu Xianxian.

Her demeanor was arrogant.

For someone as proud and conceited as Mu Xianxian, you have to be ten times prouder than her and crush her until she questions her life; otherwise, she will never understand why the flowers are so red.

Mu Xianxian gave a slight smile, and after careful consideration, she moved a black stone to a new position on the board and then said, "When the moon is full, it wanes; when a cup is full, it overflows; when words are too full, they wound. Do you understand this principle, Sister Chu?"

After the black stone moved to this new position, it instantly brought the entire game into a new realm. The situation for the white stones became even more perilous, while for the black stones, if the game continued in this direction, it would only take five moves to turn the tide.

Just this one stone had such an effect, it seemed that Mu Xianxian was not as she appeared. When people looked at her again, they all showed a look of respect in their eyes.

Such a person would surely achieve greatness in the future!

Truly talented individuals are deserving of respect.

With one hand holding her phone, Chu Jin casually picked up a white stone and moved it.

However, when everyone saw where her stone landed, they all showed disappointed expressions.

Not only did her move fail to extricate her from danger, but it actually led her into an even more perilous situation.

It seemed that Chu Jin really didn’t understand chess! This was complete nonsense!

A young man on the side couldn’t stand it anymore and blurted out, "Sister-in-law, do you even know how to play Go? Why would you move there? With that move, Mu Xianxian is about to win!"

Mu Xianxian smiled softly and said kindly, "Sister Chu, how about this? We won’t count the move you just made. I’ll give you another chance to make a move."

Upon hearing this, the crowd looked at Mu Xianxian with admiration, and even Songlingsu nodded satisfactorily. Such generosity; Chu Jin had provoked her with words earlier, but not only did she not get angry, she even offered Chu Jin a chance to move again. Such magnanimity was rare!

This was exactly the effect Mu Xianxian wanted, and at that moment, she felt even more smug.

Chu Jin, unhurriedly flipped her phone face down on the table and said indifferently, "No regrets in chess."

"Sister Chu is truly a noble person," Mu Xianxian picked up a black stone and continued, "Since that’s the case, I won’t hold back." With these words, she placed her black stone on the High Eye point.

In an instant, she brought the white stones on the board to a catch-22 situation- a step back meant death, and so did a step forward.

It was clear that Mu Xianxian had some skill, but it was a pity that she was too eager for quick success. She only saw the victory in front of her and failed to perceive the hidden crisis in the dark.

Watching her step by step fall into the trap she had laid, Chu Jin slightly curled her lips and reached out to push a white stone to another position.

The situation for the white stones became even more dangerous!

The onlookers shook their heads, this game, Chu Jin was bound to lose! She was clearly a complete novice, and yet she managed to act so nonchalantly. The question was how she was going to explain away the grandiose claims she had made earlier.

The onlookers’ view of Chu Jin also began to change; not understanding was one thing, but pretending to know was entirely another. Was there something wrong with this sister-in-law’s character?

A hint of scorn flashed in Mu Xianxian’s eyes as she looked at Chu Jin and spoke softly, "Sister Chu, there’s something I’m not sure if I should say."

Chu Jin spoke with a detached tone, "Go ahead."

Mu Xianxian stretched out her hand and moved a black piece again, without lifting her head, she spoke, "I feel that playing chess with someone like you is an insult to my intelligence." Her tone was unabashedly mocking.

Chu Jin’s eyebrows lifted slightly as she looked up at Mu Xianxian, her red lips parting slightly, "Oh? Could it be that Miss Mu has forgotten the principle that full moons wane, overflowing water floods, and excessive words wound? However, I indeed quite like your current statement because I also feel that playing against you is an insult to my intelligence."

Her voice was very faint, yet it carried, word for word, into everyone’s ears. The crowd all slightly furrowed their brows—what was the occasion? Chu Jin was still boasting impossibilities. Was she beyond help? Would it kill her to admit defeat for once? To be honest for once?

Yong Lingzi also felt that this girl was beyond hope. At such a critical juncture, she still had the leisure to spar verbally with Mu Xianxian. Didn’t she know she was about to lose? That she was on the verge of completely tarnishing the Mo family’s reputation?

The Mo family’s old madam and Tong Zhi were both anxiously sweating palms, yet upon looking at Mo Zhixuan, he remained as calm and composed as ever.

Mu Xianxian’s smugness grew. Initially, she took a long time to consider each of her first three moves, but now that she realized Chu Jin truly did not understand the way of chess, she stopped looking at the chessboard altogether, liberating herself. After all, no matter what, she would win.

"Sister Chu’s verbal skill is impressive, but as for chess skill, mere words are useless, the most important thing is, having a brain!"

Chu Jin slowly curled her lips into a smile, casually moving a white piece to a new position, "Hmm, Miss Mu is right, a brain is indeed a fine thing, and I hope you could also have one."

Looking at the chessboard again, the situation seemed unchanged, but in reality, it had already been turned on its head!

Mu Xianxian snorted coldly, moving the last piece, "Actions speak louder than words, Miss Chu, you’ve lost!"

On the chessboard, the white pieces had reached desperate straits, now nothing but a defeated force.

A gasp of astonishment went through the crowd, as Mu Xianxian was too remarkable, having solved one difficult position after another!

Yong Lingzi looked jubilant and began to speak, "Not bad, not bad, the young lady has won, so this Jade Pendant..."

He hadn’t finished his sentence when a cold voice interrupted, "Hold on, in life-and-death chess game, victory is determined within five moves, and there is still one white piece left. Elder, isn’t it a bit premature to announce the result now?"

Mu Xianxian’s black pieces were indeed finished, but there was still one white piece left in her own hand.

To everyone else and Mu Xianxian, it seemed that Chu Jin was merely struggling in vain. She had lost already but still dared not face reality. Could such a person really be worthy of Ninth Brother?

Mu Xianxian, very understandingly said, "Since that is the case, elder, then let’s wait for sister Chu."

Yong Lingzi, looking at Chu Jin with contempt, nodded his head nevertheless, "Very well."

Chu Jin looked up slightly, "Let me correct you, you are not waiting for me, but rather complying with the rules of the competition." How Mu Xianxian spoke, it was as if it was her granting an additional opportunity to Chu Jin, this kind of person truly never forgets to assert their presence no matter the situation.

As she spoke, Chu Jin reached out and placed the white piece at the ’Central point’ on the board, instantly turning the situation around, topsy-turvy!

The once overbearing black pieces had become a defeated force, whereas the white pieces sentenced to death were now crowned as king!

Upon seeing this, everyone’s eyes widened in disbelief. No one had expected the situation to reverse like this with Chu Jin! No wonder she had been so confident all along, she wasn’t just boasting after all!

"Miss Mu, thanks for letting me win." Chu Jin then stood up leisurely from her chair, nodding slightly toward Mu Xianxian.

Mu Xianxian, however, was frozen on the spot, staring at the chessboard, her face incredulous! How could this be? The person who had clearly won was her! How could it turn out like this?

This vulgar person, she wasn’t supposed to know how to play chess, right? How could she have won against her?

Yong Lingzi was also somewhat shocked as he looked at the chessboard on the table. Only then did he realize that this person had not recklessly put himself in danger earlier because he did not understand chess. Instead, he was laying out a strategy, creating an illusion to blind his opponent! His moves on the chessboard appeared to have no particular pattern, yet in reality, they were pressing closer with each step!

Moreover, not only had he deceived Mu Xianxian, but he had also fooled all of them, the spectators. One can discern one’s heart through observing their play.

The young lady before him truly should not be underestimated! She had the air of a great general!

Indeed, as the saying goes, in the fight for supremacy under the heavens, it’s all about the strategy!

This was true strategy!

All of Yong Lingzi’s unfavorable opinions of Chu Jin vanished in an instant, replaced by deep admiration.

It seemed that Chu Jin was the person he had been looking for.

"This young lady is both brave and strategic; you truly impress this old man," Yong Lingzi said, stroking his beard. He turned to Chu Jin and continued, "If this old man has done anything improper before, I hope the young lady will not take offense."

Chu Jin smiled warmly, "Elder, you take it too seriously." With those words, she walked over to Mo Zhixuan and stood beside him, gently pinching the center of his palm and whispered, "How about it, ’Father Mo’, am I not a disappointment?"

The corners of Mo Zhixuan’s lips lifted in an almost imperceptible curve. He lowered his head to whisper in Chu Jin’s ear, his breath carrying a faint scent of alcohol, somewhat intoxicating, "My person, of course, would not disappoint me."

Tsk tsk tsk! Talk about self-love!

Chu Jin looked at him and shook her head slightly, but as she turned back, her nose accidentally brushed against his thin lips.

Mr. Mo’s gaze deepened in an instant.

If it weren’t for the wrong time and place, he would certainly... At the thought, he swallowed involuntarily, with a ferocious beast awakening within him.

"Brother Jin, congratulations, you’re really amazing!" Mo Qingyi walked over to Chu Jin excitedly. She was genuinely happy, originally thinking that Chu Jin was bound to lose, yet she managed to turn the tide!

"Call her sister-in-law," Mo Zhixuan corrected with a stern face.

Mo Qingyi was still somewhat afraid of her older brother. She immediately corrected herself obediently, "Sister-in-law." In her heart, she silently wondered, with her brother’s imposing presence, how was Brother Jin able to hold her ground?

With someone like her brother, who could hardly utter a word after three attempts, didn’t Brother Jin find it boring to be with him?

He was old and cold. Other than being a bit handsome, there were hardly any other merits. She really didn’t understand what Brother Jin saw in him.

Madame Mo and Tong Zhi were also very delighted. For the Mo family to have such a capable daughter-in-law was truly the result of accumulated virtue from their ancestors.

An outstanding son and an outstanding daughter-in-law, their future children were bound to be even more excellent!

Madame Mo became happier the more she thought about it.

Others came to congratulate Chu Jin too, not only Mo Qingyi. Finally, they had witnessed that this Ninth Sister was not only a fighter but also full of wisdom and strategy, a truly exceptional being!

Compliments followed one after another, falling harshly on Mu Xianxian’s ears!

All this glory should have belonged to him. But now, it had been snatched away by someone of common birth—no one would feel good about this!

This person was simply his nemesis, making him lose all face in front of everyone!

No, she must reclaim the glory that belonged to her! She must! How could she easily lose to a commoner when she was the daughter of Zhang Yunzhen!

"Young lady, since you have solved this strategic game, this jade pendant is now yours," intoned Yong Lingsi, passing the jade pendant to Chu Jin with serious demeanor. The emerald-green pendant shimmered with a translucent glow under the light.

Chu Jin noticed that the front of the pendant bore the character ’Phoenix’. Instinctively, she felt sure that the word ’Order’ must be inscribed on the back. She couldn’t explain why, but the pendant seemed oddly familiar the moment she saw it.

Chu Jin didn’t accept the jade pendant but instead declined gracefully, "I apologize, elder, but I can’t accept such a precious gift without good reason. Please take it back; I would feel ashamed to accept it!"

This pendant wasn’t just a simple ornament. It was vested with a certain responsibility—an object of such importance, of course, she couldn’t accept it.

For now, all she wanted was to avenge her past life, to go to university, and to live out her life well with Mo Zhixuan, leading a simpler, happier life to make up for the regrets of her previous lifetime.

Yong Lingsi seemed taken aback by Chu Jin’s refusal, squinting his eyes, "Once a word is said, it shouldn’t be taken back. Young lady, your ability to solve this strategic game means that you are fated with this pendant, keep it. Otherwise, I won’t leave today!"

These words, like needles, pierced deeply into Mu Xianxian’s heart. The favor Yong Lingsi had shown her suddenly shifted to another, a feeling that was utterly terrible!

Besides, Chu Jin was truly ruthless, clearly wanting the pendant and yet pretending she didn’t! Who knew who she was performing for! Was she intentionally trying to embarrass her?

Chu Jin still refused, "Elder, solving this life-and-death game was nothing but a fluke. I truly can’t take the pendant. If you genuinely wish to give it to someone, perhaps give it to someone in need."

"I am quite determined, young lady, if you don’t accept it, I really will not leave today!" Saying so, Yong Lingsi sat down on a stool like a child and began to sulk.

"Since the senior has given it to you, you should keep it," Mo Zhixuan took the jade pendant from Yong Lingsi’s hand nonchalantly and forced it into Chu Jin’s hand, imperiously leaving her no chance to refuse.

"That’s more like it, young man, not bad, very promising," exclaimed Yong Lingsi, standing up happily. He raised his hand, intending to pat Mo Zhixuan’s shoulder but realizing his height didn’t allow it. Going on tiptoes would be too embarrassing, so, with no better option, he sheepishly withdrew his hand.

Mo Zhixuan, always reserved, didn’t respond verbally, but gave Yong Lingsi a slight nod of acknowledgment.

Having no choice, Chu Jin accepted the jade pendant and thanked Yong Lingsi, "In that case, thank you very much, senior."

Yong Lingsi waved his hand indifferently, "We’re all family, why stand on ceremony? By the way, young lady, what is your name?"

Family?

Chu Jin was taken aback—since when had she become family with Yong Lingsi? The old man played too many tricks, like an old impish child.

Seeing her astonishment, Yong Lingsi continued, "I mean, the fifty-six ethnic groups are all one family, aren’t we?" He thought to himself, heh heh, once you become my disciple, won’t we be family? Isn’t there a saying? A teacher for a day is a father for a lifetime.

The fifty-six ethnic groups are all one family? This explanation was unobjectionable!

Chu Jin reluctantly nodded.

"Right, you haven’t told me, what is your name? I can’t keep calling you ’young lady’," pursued Yong Lingsi.

Chu Jin smiled lightly, "Senior, my name is Chu Jin, ’Chu’ as in Chu River and Han Border, ’Jin’ as in splendid rivers and mountains."

Yong Lingsi stroked his beard and laughed, "Chu Jin, haha, what a fine name, what a fine name." The simple two characters concealed an air of elegance.

The more Mu Xianxian listened, the angrier she grew; her face twisted into a snarl. However, she had to suppress the towering rage in her heart and approached Chu Jin with a gentle face, softly saying, "Sister Chu, congratulations, it’s my good fortune to be defeated by you."

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read