School Beauty's Invincible Martial Expert

When Xiao Han walked in from outside, Auntie Zhang suddenly shouted, "Xiao Han, you're back?"

"Hello, Auntie Zhang." Xiao Han was very polite.

"It's always Xiao Han who is polite." Auntie Zhang immediately surrounded herself with a bunch of smiles and said, "Come, sit next to Auntie."

Xiao Han scurried over and then sat down next to Auntie Zhang. The corners of his mouth lifted into a smile as he asked, "Auntie Zhang, did you come to see me for anything today?"

"Of course, there's something." Auntie Zhang nodded immediately and then said, "The Chinese chess competition has already started. Our community's preliminary competition took place today and it's your turn tomorrow. You must do your best for Fuxing Community."

"Yes!" Xiao Han nodded.

"Your recent illness really worried your mom and me." Auntie Zhang sighed and said, "You're the only son your mother has, so don't blame her for being strict with you. It's a form of love, you understand?"

"Yes!" Xiao Han nodded earnestly and said, "I've never resented my mom."

Off to the side, Mother Xiao looked down at the hearth, her eyes moistening.

Auntie Zhang sat at Xiao Han's house for a long time and also talked about the community's donations to Xiao Han. Just because of this, Xiao Han felt deeply moved. After all, every household in Fuxing Community had it tough, and those who could had moved away early, leaving behind mostly the elderly and the infirm.

They relied on some retirement pensions or some guardians of left-behind children and elderly. Everyone's life was more or less challenging.

Yet in such circumstances, the community still managed to donate to him, scraping together money for his medical expenses. It was a spirit of selflessness. After hearing this, Xiao Han felt very moved. He took a deep breath.

"Auntie Zhang, please thank the neighbors of Fuxing Community for me," Xiao Han earnestly said. "I will surely repay them in the future."

"Silly kid," Auntie Zhang laughed, "Everyone donated to help with your medical expenses without expecting anything in return. You study hard and get into a good university. That would be the greatest repayment to us. You understand?"

"Yes!" Xiao Han nodded earnestly.

Auntie Zhang sat for a while and then walked off with a flashlight.

The next day's Chinese chess community preliminaries were held at the community activity center. Chess enthusiasts from the community all registered because it was free. If they accidentally won, they would even get a prize. Why not participate? Only a fool wouldn't join.

Xiao Han arrived at the community activity center with his backpack on. Right after school, he asked Li Dapang to rush him over on his bike.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Upon arrival at the community, a group of smiling faces looked at Xiao Han.

"Xiao Han, weren't you sick? Why are you here participating in the chess competition?" Old Liu asked curiously.

Old Liu was a true fan of Chinese chess, playing under the old scholar tree with a bunch of old men every day. Although his skills weren't great, he had no problem handling average players. When he learned that registration was free, he immediately brought a group of old friends to sign up.

"Hehe, chess doesn't differentiate between the young and the old," Xiao Han laughed.

"Today your opponent is Old Li," Old Liu laughed mischievously. "You better be careful."

"It's Elder Li?" When Xiao Han heard this, he felt more confident. Elder Li was not as skilled in Chinese chess as Old Liu. He was not afraid of Old Liu, so he was even less worried about Elder Li. Elder Li used to be an inspector in the Fuxing Factory. After being laid off, he still kept to his responsibilities and would patrol the community.

If someone's front door wasn't clean, they couldn't escape a scolding from Elder Li. Not only did he scold, but he would also end up cleaning it himself.

Of course, when it came to some physically disabled elders, Elder Li often visited to help clean. Elder Li's role as an inspector was indeed not in vain.

Upon entering the activity center, several tables had already started their matches, and quite a few people gathered around. Everyone watched with interest, yet the room was very quiet. Everyone maintained high standards, as the saying goes, a true nobleman watching chess does not speak. Everyone understood this principle.

As soon as Xiao Han entered, the community staff quickly shouted, "Old Li, your opponent has arrived."

Elder Li slowly made his way out of the crowd, a smoking pipe in his mouth, glanced at Xiao Han, and said, "Xiao Han, you better go home."

"Why?" Xiao Han was startled.

"You're not my match," Elder Li said with a chuckle. "If you lose later, you'll definitely cry. Then I'll have to console you. How troublesome."

"Uh..." Xiao Han was clearly stunned.

"It's still not too late to leave now, otherwise, once the game starts, there'll be no chance," Elder Li chuckled.

"Don't worry, Elder Li, although my chess skills aren't great, I'd still like to exchange a few moves with you," Xiao Han laughed.

Your journey continues on empire

Elder Li's face darkened, "Why can't this kid read the room? I told him to leave, yet he still wants to challenge me; is it really necessary?" Although he was reluctant, Elder Li quickly added, "You said it yourself, no crying later. You used to cry when I beat you in elementary school."

Back in elementary school, Xiao Han's skills in Chinese chess weren't great, so he often ended up crying after being defeated by several elders continuously.

However, by junior high his skills in Chinese chess had significantly improved, making him unbeatable in the Fuxing Community. But after high school, he had stopped playing Chinese chess entirely, especially after the car accident that involved his father, which had changed the trajectory of Xiao Han's life. He had become distant and more reserved, timid even.

If it weren't for Auntie Zhang who still remembered that Xiao Han was once a Chinese chess master in Fuxing Community, Xiao Han might have forgotten that he could play the game at all.

The chessboard was already set on the table.

A community worker spoke up, "The rules of the game: once a move is made, it can't be taken back. Each move must be completed within three minutes, or it counts as a violation. Three violations result in a loss. Understood?"

All procedures followed those of a formal competition.

"Understood, let's get started," Elder Li said impatiently.

Actually, Elder Li was still a bit worried. Xiao Han's skill in chess was formidable. He used to be unmatched in the community. Elder Li had been defeated by Xiao Han before, so he was somewhat fearful. His attempts to dissuade Xiao Han hadn't worked, and now, he had no choice but to face the challenge head on.

Xiao Han took a seat and looked at Elder Li with a smile, "Elder Li, since you're my senior, you go first."

"Alright," Elder Li agreed and moved his pawn forward.

Xiao Han's movements were calm and composed.

The match began tensely. Elder Li's chariot crossed the Chu River and Han Border impatiently, charging straight ahead, breaking through two of Xiao Han's pawns. Xiao Han wasn't perturbed and calmly began to strategize.

Elder Li still had the other half of the board untouched; he looked at Xiao Han and cheerfully said, "Xiao Han, you're not my match anymore, my skills have improved a lot, you'd better keep up."

"Yes, yes!" Xiao Han nodded and said, "Your skills have indeed improved, but your move might be a bit reckless."

With that, a hidden cannon immediately captured Elder Li's chariot.

"No, no!" Elder Li panicked: "Don't take my chariot, I was just careless."

The community worker interjected urgently, "Old Master Li, a move cannot be taken back; those are the rules."

"Er…" Elder Li was flustered and exclaimed, "Alright, it has to be this way then."

Old Man Li had no choice; this wasn't just a casual game, but a real competition. Even if Xiao Han allowed him to take the move back, the community worker certainly wouldn't, since the matter affected the fairness of the entire Fuxing Community.

Reluctantly continuing the game, losing a chariot was like landing himself with a handicap. While Xiao Han's loss of a few pawns wasn't significant, his setup of two chariots, two cannons, and two horses was virtually unharmed. He was fairly sure of his victory against Elder Li.

Having lost a chariot, Elder Li had to think of other defensive strategies. Given his strength, he was no match for Xiao Han, and now with a chariot down, his chances were even slimmer.

Xiao Han smirked mysteriously, "Old Master Li, you'd better be careful!"

"Kid, do you really think you can pull a fast one?" Old Master Li retorted as he smoked, scrutinizing the board.

While lacking in offense, his defense was set up strong. He had prepared a defensive position well in advance to repel any attack involving Xiao Han's chariots, cannons, or horses at any moment. Old Master Li had meticulously arranged his defense, but Xiao Han's advance wasn't weak either.

"Move knight!" Xiao Han was the first to advance his knight across the Chu River and Han Border.

"Capture!" Old Master Li was prepared; he moved a hidden chariot forward from the sideline. Just as he was about to make his move, Xiao Han said with a smile, "Old Master, you should look carefully, what is this?"

Old Master Li paused; on Xiao Han's baseline, a chariot was ready to strike.

Pssh…

Old Master Li took a deep breath and cursed, "You devious little scoundrel, setting up a trap for me to fall into."

"It's like the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind," Xiao Han chuckled and said, "If you capture my horse, I'll immediately take your chariot!"

Trading a chariot for a horse was clearly unwise, especially since Old Master Li had already lost one chariot, making his position even more difficult. So, he felt extremely conflicted. After debating for a while, he decided against capturing the horse.

If he had taken the horse, he would have lost his only chariot, leaving him defenseless with just two cannons and two horses, no match for Xiao Han at all.