DEMI GODS AND SEMI DEVILS BOOK 4 OF 5 (SONG OF THE CAVE IMMORTAL) by Jin Yong

Victory Or Defeat, How Can It Be Predicted? - Part 2

Su XingHe look at him coldly and said: "This chess formation is extremely difficult, your talent is limited, although your chess skill is not bad but you will not be able to break the chess formation, moreover there is this evil traitor Ding ChunQiu using his sorcery nearby, his trying to enchant and tempt your soul, its simply too dangerous, you still want to carrying on thinking how to break the formation?" Fan BaiLing said: "Life and death is pre-determined, disci.....i.....i....am determined to make an all-out effort." Su XingHe nod his head and said: "Then you carry on and slowly think through." Fan BaiLing gaze at the chess formation again, his body swayed and he spurted another big mouthful of fresh blood.

Ding ChunQiu sneered: "Desperately seeking your own death, why bother? This mechanism is made by that old thief, its originally used for tormenting people, it killed and injured many people, Fan BaiLing you are walking into a trap."

Su XingHe look askance, he glance at Ding ChunQiu and said: "What you address your Master as?" Ding ChunQiu said: "His an old thief, i call him an old thief!" Su XingHe said: "Deaf Mute Old Man is no longer deaf and mute, you must have known the underlying reason." Ding ChunQiu said: "Excellent! You break our pledge, your courting death, don't you dare blame me."

Su XingHe lifted a big rock by his side and place it beside XuanNan, he said: "Great Master please sit."

XuanNan estimated this big rock weigh at least 200 catties, Su XingHe is a withered, short and thin old man, he might not even weigh 80 catties but he effortlessly lifted this giant stone, his internal energy must be remarkable, if he did not lose his internal energy naturally he would be able to achieve the same feat but he might not be able to lift it so effortlessly and leisurely as if nothing had happen, he press his hands together and said: "Many thanks!" he sat on top of the stone.

Su XingHe said: "This 'Zhen Long' chess formation is created by my deceased Master. Master spent 3 years of his life blood before completing this formation, he long for a capable person in the present age to break the formation. I myself studied this formation meticulously for 30 years, but i cannot solve the mystery behind it." As he finish speaking, his gaze swept across XuanNan, Duan Yu and Fan BaiLing, he continued: "Great Master XuanNan is proficient in Buddhism, the essence of Buddhism lies in enlightenment. Years of painstaking work and cultivation, you might not be equal to some fated intelligent person who has a flash of enlightenment. The art of chess is also the same, 8-9 year old kid with overflowing talent can often beat a top ranking expert in chess match. Although i cannot solve the mystery behind the chess formation, but there are so many talented individuals under the heaven, it cannot be that none is able to break it. My Master had a wish when his still alive, if someone can break this chess formation it would fulfil his wish, although Master is no longer in this world, his spirit would be gratified if he knows of it."

XuanNan pondered: "This Mr Intelligent and his disciples, their habits seem to pass down, zither, chess, calligraphy and painting, all of them became fanatic, they spent their lifetime of intelligence and wisdom on these irrelevant stuff, thus Ding ChunQiu ran amok without obstruction and no one can control him, this is regrettable."

Su XingHe continued speaking: "My younger martial brother," he pointed at Ding ChunQiu and continued; "he betrayed our sect, he cause our Master to drown in hate and regret and pass away, he injure me till i cannot retaliate. I should have killed myself to accompany Master, but i recall that Master had an unfulfilled wish, if i cannot find someone to break the chess formation i cannot account to Master when i die, thus i endured humiliation and survive until now. All these years, i abide by the pact made by my martial brother, i cannot speak a single word, not only did i become the Deaf Mute Old Man, i even force my newly recruited disciples and followers to become deaf and mute. Sigh, 30 years, i achieved nothing, this chess formation still remains unbroken. This gentleman Duan, admittedly his handsome, natural and unrestrained........"

Bao BuTong interrupted: "This gentleman Duan is not necessarily handsome, natural and unrestrained is even more unlikely, moreover, how is handsome, natural and unrestrained related to playing chess? His lacking, his lacking!" Su XingHe said: "Its related, very much related." Bao BuTong said: "Old Mister your appearance, hei hei, i don't think you are handsome." Su XingHe fix his gaze at him for a short period of time, he gave a faint smile. Bao BuTong said: "You must be thinking that Bao BuTong is even more ugly and queer compared to you...."

Su XingHe ignored him and continued speaking: "The 10 moves made by gentleman Duan, its already exquisite to the extreme, i had enormous expectations, but he still lack 1 move and eventually he lost."

Duan Yu expression was ashamed, he said: "My aptitude is low, i cannot repay the great kindness shown by senior sir, i am really ashamed....."

Suddenly Fan BaiLing cry out loudly, he spurted fresh blood violently and collapsed backward. Su XingHe raised his left hand, there was 3 'Chi' sound, 3 chess-piece flew out and hit the acupoints on Fan BaiLing's chest, this stopped him from spurting blood.

Just as everyone was being startled, suddenly there is a slapping sound, a white grain flew in mid-air and hit the chessboard. Su XingHe look at the chessboard, he saw a small pine nut, its a freshly shelled pine nut and it landed on the 7th row 9th column, this is the crucial point in breaking the 'Zhen Long' formation. Su XingHe raised his head, on the left hand side of a pine tree 5 zhang away, he saw the corner of a yellow robe, obviously someone is hiding there.

Su XingHe was startled yet happy, he said: "Another capable person has arrived, old man is extremely happy." As he was about to respond with his black chess-piece, suddenly he heard a gentle sound, a small black object flew from his rear and landed on the 8th row 8th column, it happen to be the position which Su XingHe was about to place his chess piece.

Everyone cry out in surprise, they turn around but did not spot the shadow of the person. The pine trees on the right hand side are not tall, if someone is hiding in the trees he would be spotted easily, no one knows where his hiding. Su XingHe saw the small black object was a small bark off the pine tree, its landing position extremely accurate, he was secretly astonished. After the black object landed, another white grain flew out from the pine tree on the left hand side, it landed on the 5th row 6th column.

Another 'Chi' sound and a black grain hover up in the sky, immediately afterwards it drop straight down and landed on the 4th row 5th column. The black grain flew up in a spiral, no one knew where it originated from, the black grain zigzag up to mid-air and yet it landed accurately, this skill in firing hidden projectile is truly astonishing. All the spectators cannot help but admire it deeply and they cheered.

The applauses had yet to end when a clear and bright voice resonated from between a branch and leaf of a pine tree: "Gentleman Murong, you came to break this 'Zhen Long', please forgive junior monk for being bold." The branch and leaf rustled and there is a cool breeze, a monk stood beside the chessboard. The monk is wearing a gray cassock, his face seems to be emanating light similar to that of gems, his wearing a faint smile.

Duan Yu was startled, he thought: "The great devil Jumozhi comes again!" he pondered again: "Don't tell me the white grains are fired by gentleman Murong? This gentleman Murong, i finally get to meet him today?"

He saw Jumozhi press his hands together, he bow towards Su XingHe, Ding ChunQiu and XuanNan, he said: "Junior monk received Mr Intelligent invitation card while travelling en route, i overestimated my capabilities and came here to meet experts from all over the world." He said again: "Gentleman Murong, please reveal yourself!"

There is a clear and bright laughter, two people emerge from behind a pine tree. Duan Yu immediately felt his vision turn dark, ears ringing, bitter taste in his mouth, his entire body like oven. The person's figure is graceful, steps unhurried, he yearn for this person day and night, its Wang YuYan.

Her face revealed admiration and love, she gaze longingly at the young gentleman beside her. Duan Yu followed her gaze and look at the man, the person is around 27-28 years of age, his wearing a light yellow robe, a long sword hanging by his waist, he floated over, his appearance handsome, natural, unrestrained and elegant.

When Duan Yu saw him he felt half his body go cold, his eyes turned red, his tears nearly flow down, he thought: "Everyone says gentleman Murong is a dragon among human, its really a well deserved reputation. No wonder Miss Wang adores him greatly. Sigh, i am destined to suffer hardship and calamity my entire life." He felt remorseful, he sigh in despair, his unwilling to raise his head to look at Wang YuYan's expression, but he cannot resist and secretly sneak a glance at her. Her face is radiant and glowing, it seems as if her entire body is smiling, he has never seen her so happy before. The two of them walk near him but Wang YuYan ignored Duan Yu, she did not turn to greet him. Duan Yu pondered: "She never had me in her heart, previously when we were together, she only thought about her cousin."

Deng BaiChuan, GongYe Gan, Bao BuTong, Feng BoE, all four of them rush forward to welcome him. GongYe Gan whispered and reported the origins of Su XingHe, Ding ChunQiu and XuanNan to Murong Fu. Bao BuTong said: "This bookworm is surnamed Duan, he doesn't know martial arts, he lost when playing chess just now."

Murong Fu mingled and paid his respects to everyone, his speech modest and amiable, he made friends easily. The name 'Gusu Murong' shook the entire world, everyone did not expect him to be such an elegant and noble young man, everyone admired him, even Ding ChunQiu was polite and courteous towards him.

Murong Fu met Duan Yu at the end, he said: "Brother Duan, how are you." Duan Yu expression was distressed, he shakes his head and said: "Your good, i.....i am not good at all." Wang YuYan cry out in surprise and said: "Gentleman Duan, your also here." Duan Yu said: "Yes, i....i....." Wang YuYan said: "Gentleman Duan, you trying to find Ah Bi? My cousin already sent someone to escort her back to Suzhou. There is no one at home to take care of things and we really worry about it." Duan Yu responded weakly.