The entire venue remained deathly silent!
This kind of confrontation would normally never have involved someone as disabled as Luo Zhiheng. The judges were highly knowledgeable and influential figures, while Luo Zhiheng was nothing more than a nobody at the very bottom. But at this moment, the nobody shone with extraordinary brilliance. Although people disliked Luo Zhiheng and even loathed her words and actions, they couldn't help but admire her courage—she was so arrogant that she didn't care about anyone.
"Narrow-minded? Short-sighted? You're quite something, you even know how to use words. Tell me, how am I narrow-minded and short-sighted?" The judge was so angry that she was almost twisted in anger. After this competition, she would let Luo Zhiheng know how ridiculous she was.
Luo Zhiheng held up a finger and said sarcastically, "Narrow-minded. Everyone in the room who isn't blind or deaf can see that my chess piece fell by accident, but you deliberately made things difficult for me. You didn't do anything reasonable, but instead made things difficult for me. What is this if not narrow-mindedness? Maybe you think you're being fair, but your fairness is entirely based on Li Xian'er's side. From this, it can be seen that you are not qualified to be a judge of the competition, because you are not fair!"
"Shut up and let me finish!" Seeing that the judge was about to argue, Luo Zhiheng said domineeringly and without any politeness. The whole audience gasped, and the judge's mouth twitched.
"Shortsighted! The competition isn't over yet, how can you be so sure I lack real talent and will amount to nothing? You're jumping to conclusions too early. Let me tell you, there's a type of person in this world you can never truly understand—the kind who doesn't want you to see through them. Don't use your supposed intelligence to judge the people and things in this world, because your intelligence will always falter, be incomplete, and lead to failure. You can't read minds; you can't read my true thoughts. Your foolish words will only earn me my contempt and ridicule."
"There's a saying in this world: 'Look down on others, don't underestimate a young person'! When you look down on someone, that person might suddenly become great. The person you're looking at might be squatting down. When they stand up, they might just stomp you to death! I'm a young man, while you're already halfway to the grave. I admit I still have many shortcomings in my life, and I admit I still need to humbly learn. I'm only eighteen this year, and I have at least five or six more eighteen years to equip myself and to learn. And what about you?"
"You probably don't even have eighteen years left, do you? You've forgotten what it means to humbly learn. You've become so arrogant that you think you're invincible! Look at what you said before, 'lacking talent and virtue'? Did you mean I was destined to lose? Well, if I win this match today, if I win this tournament, won't you be just talking big and contradicting yourself? Can your old face withstand you contradicting yourself in front of tens of thousands of people?"
Luo Zhiheng was eloquent and quick-witted, and her endless remarks were increasingly damaging. She did not elevate herself, but rather used sharp and domineering words to belittle the judges based on the facts.
At this moment, she couldn't recklessly rush forward to kill, but she could use the weapon of words to extinguish the flames of arrogance from all enemies! In front of her, Luo Zhiheng, there was only her arrogance and domineering nature, and no one else could act recklessly! That's how domineering and arrogant she was. If anyone dared to disagree, they could come and get it. If Luo Zhiheng were to show any fear, she would immediately go and smash her head against the city wall and hang herself!
The senior judge, who had lived a long and fulfilling life, was speechless for the first time because of a young girl's argument. Completely enraged, the judge pointed at Luo Zhiheng and shouted, "Stop spouting your big boasts! If you're truly capable, show me how to win a match fairly and squarely. Then I, this old woman, will acknowledge your abilities. If you're not, get out of here! Stop embarrassing yourself."
It was absolutely inappropriate for the senior judge to say such a thing. Even if Luo Zhiheng deserved to die, the senior judge's statement was already quite low and only proved that Luo Zhiheng was narrow-minded.
Luo Zhiheng sneered, then her expression suddenly changed, becoming solemn and serious as she said, "Alright, how about we have tens of thousands of people here as witnesses? If I, Luo Zhiheng, win this round today—no, as a junior, I should respect the elderly and care for the young, you old fool, you don't know any better, so I'll give you chance after chance. Including this round, plus tomorrow's championship final, I'm telling you, I, Luo Zhiheng, will definitely win big!"
She spoke with great confidence, but she didn't gain a single bit of trust from the entire audience.
But Luo Zhiheng didn't care. Pointing at the chief judge, she shouted domineeringly, "I'm putting this out there today: if I, Luo Zhiheng, lose any round, I'll personally deliver my head to you, and you can chop it up as you please. But if I win all of them, you'll immediately resign, pack your bags, and get out of here, never to be a chief judge for the First Talent Competition again!"
All eyes turned to the head judge. This competition was far more exciting than the previous ones, and the stakes were high. However, in their eyes, Luo Zhiheng was simply courting death and overestimating herself. The head judge was a sure winner this round.
The senior judge hesitated for a moment; after all, she was an older judge, and she had more to consider. Luo Zhiheng seemed poised to lose every time, but each time she miraculously won. Luo Zhiheng sensed this and concluded it couldn't be unprepared. But so many competitions had passed, and Luo Zhiheng hadn't displayed a single decent talent. Did she really need to fear Luo Zhiheng? However, the senior judge was unwilling to gamble with her reputation and position as the top judge of the Mu Dynasty. Yet, she also didn't want to be at a disadvantage.
In her dilemma, Luo Zhiheng suddenly sneered and said, "What's there to hesitate about? In your eyes, am I not a good-for-nothing with no talent or virtue? Are you afraid of a good-for-nothing like me? Shouldn't you bet with me because of your accurate judgment?"
"Luo Zhiheng, don't be so smug! I don't believe you can win. What right do you, a notorious person, have to shout like that? If I don't teach you today what it means to be outmatched and what it means to overestimate yourself, you're destined for failure! Fine, I'll take your bet. If you lose today, I won't take your head. You'll just have to kowtow and admit your mistake." The judge, driven to rage, agreed without a second thought.
Luo Zhiheng snorted coldly and said arrogantly, "My knees kneel to the heavens above, to my parents below, and to the Emperor in between. What are you? You dare to ask me to kneel? But you won't have that chance anymore. I will make you so utterly defeated that you won't even be able to cry."
The chief judge's chest heaved with anger. Seeing Luo Zhiheng preparing to play, she immediately turned her furious gaze to Li Xian'er. If Li Xian'er won against Luo Zhiheng, it would be Luo Zhiheng contradicting herself; she could just watch the show. Looking at the overall situation once more, although Li Xian'er's game was strange and dangerous, there was no denying that Li Xian'er would win this game.
She was glad she had let Luo Zhiheng move one less step, so Li Xian'er could move one more step, and Luo Zhiheng's pieces could no longer relentlessly pursue and close in on Li Xian'er. With such a game, what did she have to worry about?
Luo Zhiheng said ominously, "Aren't you going to leave already? The chief judge has really given you a huge opportunity. But taking a few more steps won't change the fact that you've already lost everything!"
Li Xian'er froze, her hand still extended. She dared not look at Luo Zhiheng, but inwardly she gritted her teeth, knowing she would win this game, albeit risky. She would make Luo Zhiheng pay later. Li Xian'er placed her white piece where Luo Zhiheng should have cut off her move, making her position appear more coherent. It must be said, Luo Zhiheng had missed a crucial step; her chances of winning were indeed much better.
Li Xian'er smiled with satisfaction. Compared to Luo Zhiheng's disorganized chess game, hers, though much more fragmented, had at least made progress.
The people in the audience cheered at this moment, because in their eyes, Li Xian'er had already won. In this situation, there were not many places left for Luo Zhiheng to place her piece. No matter where Luo Zhiheng placed her piece, she would lose, and she would be the one who lost the most thoroughly!
People made no attempt to hide their excitement, cheering happily and praising Li Xian'er's intelligence and quick wit, while also mocking Luo Zhiheng's incompetence and ridiculousness.
The judges beamed as they accepted congratulations and praise from their peers for recognizing talent.
Luo Ningshuang was laughing, mocking Luo Zhiheng's overestimation of his abilities and arrogance.
Consort Li was also laughing, laughing at Luo Zhiheng's humiliation and defeat. But soon Hua Kai returned and whispered a few words in her ear, and Consort Li's expression changed.
Murong Qianxue didn't laugh, but shook her head regretfully. However, seeing Luo Zhiheng still standing tall on the stage like a pine tree, a sense of respect rose in her heart. Even if this guy was a bit arrogant and conceited, his courage and boldness were commendable.
Amidst the overwhelming tide of praise and sarcasm, only Luo Zhiheng remained silent. She glanced mockingly at the beaming Li Xian'er, then composed herself. Holding the black piece, and with an invincible aura, she placed it with a snap, amidst the unwavering gazes of the four recorders, in the very center of the seemingly obvious yet easily overlooked empty space!
In an instant, the entire game was in disarray, like a giant dragon that had been sleeping in the deep sea for thousands of years, waiting for Luo Zhiheng's decisive move to fall. Like a dragon with its tendons and bones connected by a needle and thread, it would proudly emerge from the Dead Sea!
This unfinished game, personally set up by Luo Zhiheng, instantly awakened in her hands, rising with an overwhelming vitality and domineering aura, proudly appearing in the world!
The chess recorders, who had initially paid no attention, were completely astonished when they saw the dramatic change in the seemingly chaotic game after that one move. Their eyes were fixed on the board, staring intently at Luo Zhiheng's slowly raised hand and the piece that landed in the center. Disbelief and shock gradually appeared on the faces of the four recorders. Ironically, their faces still bore the disdain and mockery they had shown towards Luo Zhiheng just moments before, but at this moment, all they could feel was shock!
Immediately afterwards, the four of them stared at the chess game with fervent eyes, excitedly placing their pieces on the same spot as Luo Zhiheng's on the paper. Then they frantically ran to the chessboard displayed for all to see, handed the paper to the person who set up the game, and rushed back to Luo Zhiheng's side, gazing at the exquisite chess game.
"That's amazing! They actually brought this game back to life with just one move?!" one of them murmured in disbelief.
The game was truly too mysterious and precise. Originally, it was a scene of ruins, but just because of this one piece, all the black pieces on all sides were instantly connected! At this point in the game, there was no need to worry about the number of pieces anymore. Luo Zhiheng won without any suspense, a clean and decisive victory! Her victory was so brilliant that no one could question or doubt her!
She actually turned the tide with a single move!
Chapter 1 is here! There will be more updates today, plus a bonus chapter for monthly votes! Hua Sha will keep working hard. Love you all, muah! Please vote, leave comments, and give monthly votes!
Chapter 138: Shock and uproar! Her attitude! (Bonus chapter for 525 monthly votes)
Updated: 2013-07-02 13:31:25 Word Count: 5720
When Luo Zhiheng's last piece landed on the four large chessboards, the first to be shocked were the four people who had set up the game. The previously bustling crowd had forgotten about Luo Zhiheng's desperate struggle. However, some people were still watching, and when this decisive move was revealed, clearly reversing the situation and turning the game upside down, those knowledgeable in chess were initially stunned, then erupted in uncontrollable gasps of astonishment.
Then, gasps of astonishment from the tens of thousands of spectators gradually spread throughout the arena. Those who didn't understand would look up at the game as the stunned onlookers stared at it, while those who did understand would gaze at it with a look of shock and wonder. Chess enthusiasts, in particular, would scrutinize this magnificent game with a fervent intensity.
So the people who were just cheering and applauding Li Xian'er's victory turned against her in no time. At this moment, they were not turning against Luo Zhiheng, but against this ingenious and mysterious game of chess!
"What? How could this be!" The chief judge also saw the chess game. Although she was proficient in the zither, how could this old talent not understand chess? It was precisely because she understood that she was so shocked that she stood up abruptly when Luo Zhiheng made her final move!
The chief judge turned deathly pale!
"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!" An elderly man with gray hair in the judging panel finally saw the chess game clearly. He stood up shakily, unable to contain his excitement. With the help of his young apprentice, he quickly left the judging panel and rushed towards the arena.
If the judges on the panel reacted this way, how excited must the spectators have been? Among the crowd were undoubtedly many high-ranking officials and dignitaries, and countless masters of chess. The predictable result was that people were utterly captivated by the increasingly exquisite equipment! They were astonished! They were in a frenzy!
Among the four arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, music and chess are truly unforgivable. One either knows them or doesn't; you can't create scores for them! Such intellectually demanding and highly skilled games require profound mastery to solve such intricate chess puzzles. Even if Luo Zhiheng memorized some lost chess manuals, it wouldn't be possible. Because Luo Zhiheng has an opponent; her opponent doesn't know the chess manual in her mind, nor will they cooperate, making it absolutely impossible for them to solve the puzzle she envisions.
No two chess games are ever the same; everyone's moves are different. Moreover, every move Luo Zhiheng made was under everyone's watchful eye. There wasn't a single cheating or strange move. This kind of game is completely controlled by the strategist. Without a well-thought-out plan, without a clear strategy, and without unwavering confidence and superior skill, one would never make such a move! Let alone winning by sheer luck with a single piece.
Therefore, this time, no one doubted that Luo Zhiheng was incapable of playing chess. No one denied that this unique and unparalleled chess game was created by Luo Zhiheng.
People looked at Luo Zhiheng differently now. Perhaps it wasn't with awe and praise, but it was definitely with recognition! Although it was unbelievable, it had to be admitted that Luo Zhiheng was indeed very talented in chess!
It turns out, she really wasn't a useless person. It turns out, she was the kind of person she described as someone who could never be easily understood! It turns out, she wasn't exaggerating!
This was the first time Luo Zhiheng had used all her skills, except for martial arts, and she won a resounding victory, truly living up to the saying, "A winning start!" This time, Luo Zhiheng also went all out to fight, to suppress, and to let her strength speak for itself, without relying on any sophistry or scheming, no longer concealing her strength and mentality, but simply using her abilities to confront the world head-on!
She was using her attitude to tell the judges, and even the tens of thousands of people in the arena, that she, Luo Zhiheng, was not the good-for-nothing, incompetent, and useless person they thought she was! She was using her methods to tell the judges that they were blind and short-sighted! She was using reason to show the world a mocking victory, proving that blind obedience and spreading rumors are not to be trusted!