Lu Zigang could now clearly see the approaching person’s face. That person had the same features as Lin Yan, but his facial expression was extremely strange, as if he was enduring something, or resisting something.

Hu Hai’s ghostly voice came at just the right moment: “Remember those two brothers? Later, the younger brother discovered that as long as he wrote people’s names on the Six Principles Chess pieces, those people would become chess pieces in the game, subject to the manipulation of the xiao pieces. The more resentful qi a blade carried, the better it could control the mind of its wielder. In the past, blades were tools for killing people, but now blades attach themselves to people, controlling their consciousness to kill. Isn’t this quite an interesting thing?”

Lu Zigang listened with terror. He remembered the irritated feeling he had when holding that willow-leaf saber earlier, and felt immensely grateful that he had immediately released it afterward. Looking at the Lin brothers’ current situation, clearly one was bewitched by the ox-tail saber while the other was controlled by the ring-pommel sword.

“These blades have thirsted for hundreds and thousands of years, longing to drink human blood again…” Accompanied by Hu Hai’s sinister words, Lu Zigang saw Lin Mo behind Lin Yan slowly raise the ring-pommel sword in his hand, while Lin Yan remained completely unaware, his head lowered as he examined the ox-tail saber in his hands. The light reflected from the blade edge made Lu Zigang’s eyes sting.

“Heh, whenever two chess pieces meet, one piece will inevitably be captured. Brothers turning against each other—truly a rare spectacle to behold…” Hu Hai murmured, as if something in his heart had been touched, becoming somewhat entranced.

Lu Zigang’s slight favorable impression of this Young Master Hu had completely vanished. It was obvious that this gathering was a chess game set up by Elder Yu, and as Elder Yu’s relative, how could Hu Hai not know what would happen? Since he knew a tragedy would occur yet stood by watching, this was truly too excessive.

But Lu Zigang was burning with anxiety, unable to move or make a sound, only able to helplessly watch that rust-stained ring-pommel sword tremble in the air before striking downward.

The blade drew a brilliant arc through the air, followed by the heavy, muffled sound of a sharp weapon piercing human flesh.

“Brother!” Lin Yan dropped the ox-tail saber in his hands, terrified as he supported Lin Mo who had fallen to the ground, looking at the ring-pommel sword embedded in his abdomen, unable to understand why his brother would injure himself.

“Tsk, boring.” Hu Hai pursed his lips and made this comment, dragging Lu Zigang into the bushes and leaving from the other side of the courtyard.

Lin Yan’s heart-wrenching cries could still be faintly heard in the distance, finally fading to silence.

The entire residence was like a massive tomb, silent as death.

Lu Zigang had witnessed a tragedy with his own eyes but couldn’t prevent it at all. Furious to the point of bristling with anger, his gaze toward Hu Hai burned with searing rage.

Hu Hai remained very calm, dragging Lu Zigang across the entire residence and stopping behind an artificial mountain.

As soon as Lu Zigang stood still, he heard the sound of a man and woman arguing. With the shadow of that recent tragedy, he immediately looked toward the corridor. The arguing pair was none other than the married couple Wei Zhuoran and Xia Qian. Though one held a nine-ring saber and the other gripped a small, light dagger, they were only holding them casually, and from their dispute, it was clearly a marital quarrel.

Though Wei and Xia appeared harmonious in front of others, every family had its difficulties. Both were exceptionally talented individuals who had fallen in love at first sight in university, admiring each other and becoming an enviable divine couple. But married life brought trivial matters, work frustrations for both, and friction began increasing. They often started arguing over small matters, with neither willing to yield to the other. Continuing this way, even the most solid feelings could develop cracks. Tonight, these two had completely forgotten the original cause of their argument, bringing up all sorts of trivial matters and arguing furiously.

Wei Zhuoran was naturally taciturn, but couldn’t withstand Xia Qian’s sharp tongue. Sometimes when provoked severely, he would angrily retort once or twice. Xia Qian was even less forgiving, and in this vicious cycle, both knew no good would come of it, but both were young and proud, neither willing to back down.

Lu Zigang felt somewhat embarrassed listening to their private matters from the shadows, thinking this Young Master Hu had dragged him here not just to eavesdrop on the young couple’s quarrel, right? Moreover, the killer who murdered Yan Ao remained unknown, and this couple had clearly left their assigned positions to meet privately.

If Lu Zigang hadn’t witnessed those two tragedies, he wouldn’t have taken this Six Principles Chess game seriously, but this residence had truly become a real Six Principles Chess board, so naturally he worried about others’ safety. As for his uncle, being one of the xiao pieces, he should temporarily be safe. But how could he break this situation?

Just as Lu Zigang was anxiously wondering how to escape this predicament of being unable to move or cry out in warning, the walkie-talkie at Xia Qian’s waist suddenly crackled.

Elder Yu’s coughing voice came clearly: “Divide and advance together, paths pressing close. Lu piece advances five, capturing the zhi piece.”

Lu Zigang couldn’t understand the terminology Elder Yu used, but clearly saw Xia Qian’s hand gripping the dagger tighten, her facial expression becoming strange. Upon seeing this, Lu Zigang immediately knew something was wrong—Xia Qian’s current expression was identical to Lin Mo’s earlier!

“Those who write their names on chess pieces cannot disobey the xiao piece’s commands,” Hu Hai beside him explained quite kindly.

Lu Zigang’s heart turned cold. Remembering how Lin Mo had preferred to stab himself rather than harm his younger brother, he believed Hu Hai’s words. In fact, since Hu Hai had appeared before him, though every sentence he spoke was absurd and incredible, not one had been false.

Could he only watch helplessly as tragedy after tragedy unfolded, witnessing fresh lives perish before his eyes?

Lu Zigang racked his brains, beginning to recall every word Hu Hai had said. Just writing names on chess pieces? It seemed this Young Master Hu hadn’t written his real name. Though even if he had, it wouldn’t matter—Elder Yu was his relative after all! But since they were relatives, why was there no respect in their conversation, instead carrying a strange eeriness?

Wait, hadn’t he also written his name on a chess piece? Why didn’t he feel controlled? Or was it that his uncle hadn’t moved his piece yet?

While Lu Zigang was anxious on this side, Xia Qian didn’t follow Elder Yu’s instructions to attack her husband.

Xia Qian held a blade resembling a dagger called a “wind-breaking knife.” She had looked down on the other blades for being too heavy and large, so she picked this delicate and exquisite ancient blade. Ever since hearing Elder Yu’s words through the walkie-talkie, she felt murderous intent toward Wei Zhuoran surge through her heart like a bursting dam, overwhelming her emotions. The cold treatment from her mother-in-law after marriage, the grievances of managing both work and housework, not wanting to abandon her flourishing career to have children—all made her hand holding the blade tremble continuously.

But even so, how could she possibly bring herself to harm her husband? Xia Qian bit her lower lip, using pain to keep herself alert. At this moment, she had already sensed something was wrong.

Wei Zhuoran’s wrist moved, raising the heavy nine-ring saber horizontally before him. The iron rings on the blade’s back clinked, creating a frightening crisp sound in the silent night.

“You… what are you doing?” Xia Qian looked at Wei Zhuoran, who seemed like a completely different person, her soul still unsettled.

“Only one of us can survive. Let’s settle this tonight.” Wei Zhuoran’s complexion was also extremely strange, his tone rigid.

Lu Zigang was astonished. Elder Yu was the one playing chess—he had only given commands to Xia Qian. Why was Wei Zhuoran from the other side also being controlled? If one side didn’t act, would the other side be triggered to attack first?

Could it be that those blades were the medium? These chess pieces were like marionettes controlled by the xiao pieces, with the blades in their hands serving as the strings connecting the xiao pieces to the scattered pieces. But the willow-leaf saber he had taken from the hall was already discarded in the previous pavilion… Blade… the Mo blade! If not for the Mo blade in his hand, he might not have been able to break free from that willow-leaf saber’s influence! And earlier, both Lin brothers had been holding blades!

Lu Zigang’s back couldn’t help but break out in cold sweat, feeling retroactive fear. At this moment, he wanted to cry out to tell that couple to throw away the blades in their hands, but just like before, he could only open his mouth without making any sound.

Wei Zhuoran had already raised the nine-ring saber, showing no marital consideration as he swung it toward Xia Qian.

Xia Qian’s scream followed, sounding particularly piercing in the empty residence. Due to Xia Qian’s instinctive dodging, Wei Zhuoran’s strike missed, but he didn’t stop there. Instead, he turned the handle forward to slash. Xia Qian awkwardly blocked with the wind-breaking knife, the sound of metal striking metal echoing through the empty residence, making listeners’ hearts race with fear.

“Husband and wife are like birds in the same forest—when disaster strikes, each flies away,” Hu Hai watched with great interest, chuckling softly. “This performance is quite excellent. Watching them bicker and quarrel is so tiring—this is much more comfortable.”

Lu Zigang had reached the extreme of hatred for Hu Hai. How could this person treat human lives so carelessly? He had to find a way, otherwise continuing like this, everyone in this residence would become nourishment for Elder Yu to extend his life.

Lu Zigang remembered the Mo blade that had saved him and exerted great effort to move his stiff fingers, struggling greatly before he could bend them toward his pants pocket. Though separated by a layer of clothing, the moment his fingertips touched the Mo blade, the icy cold that had frozen his meridians seemed to dissipate somewhat. Lu Zigang knew his speculation was correct. Once his wrist became flexible, he quickly grasped the Mo blade’s handle.

Fortunately, the Young Master Hu beside him was focused entirely on the distant corridor, and with the deep night, he didn’t notice Lu Zigang’s small movements.

A warm current from the Mo blade slowly flowed into his body. Lu Zigang wished he could move freely immediately, but reality never matched his wishes. After a minute, only his forearm could move.

Fortunately, that couple hadn’t determined life and death yet—only the flashing blade light was somewhat frightening. Xia Qian’s screams and cries for help were constant. Though shrill, they sounded full of vigor, and without looking, one could tell she hadn’t been injured at all. Lu Zigang hoped they could drag it out longer, but Xia Qian, thoroughly frightened, didn’t share this wish.

She believed her screaming was loud enough to be heard three li away, yet no one had come to rescue her, meaning she couldn’t rely on others. She stumbled and fell to the ground, looking at Wei Zhuoran approaching step by step with his blade, feeling her nose bridge ache and her vision blur. “Zhuoran, are you really so heartless as to kill me?”

Wei Zhuoran didn’t waste words—his answer was the blade he had already raised.

Xia Qian had completely given up hope, but she had given up on her husband, not on her own life. She didn’t want to die so young. So before Wei Zhuoran’s blade fell, she had already nimbly jumped up from the ground, avoiding the fierce blade and throwing herself into her husband’s embrace. Along with the wind-breaking knife in her hand.

Warm blood stained her hands, and Xia Qian’s tears finally fell.

“Don’t cry, your makeup is smeared.” Wei Zhuoran sighed, his left hand touching Xia Qian’s cheek, tenderly wiping away her crystalline tears. “The day I married you… I promised you… I wouldn’t let you cry again…”

“Then why did you!” Xia Qian raised her head angrily, wanting to question why her husband had tried to kill her. But after meeting Wei Zhuoran’s affectionate eyes, she suddenly awakened.

If he had truly tried to kill her, how could she, a weak woman holding only a short dagger, have survived under his blade?

Thinking back now, though each strike her husband aimed at her looked dangerous, they all barely grazed past her body without harming even a strand of her hair.

“This way… you won’t… forget me…” Wei Zhuoran’s smile carried a hint of satisfaction—he had indeed done it intentionally. Though they loved each other, the feelings between husband and wife were completely different from blood relations, full of testing and interaction. Xia Qian’s hesitation made him determined to sacrifice himself, but he also had to carve a deep wound in her heart.

Xia Qian wept torrentially, saying with a trembling voice: “You… you really have such a cruel heart… Don’t… don’t leave me alone…”

“Clang!” The heavy nine-ring saber finally fell to the ground. Wei Zhuoran reluctantly looked at his wife one last time and slowly closed his eyes.

“Ah—” Xia Qian held Wei Zhuoran, grief-stricken beyond consolation.

“Are you… satisfied… now?” Lu Zigang forced these words from his throat with difficulty. He had just regained the ability to speak, and his voice couldn’t be very loud, almost like a whisper. “What… exactly are you trying to confirm?”

Hu Hai stared blankly at the woman in the corridor crying her heart out, somewhat unable to process what he was seeing.