The Martial World is Like a Chessboard! [Please Read On!]

Startled by Wang Tiezhu's questioning, the child trembled, his small body shrinking behind the woodpile, and pointed with all his might to the edge of the clearing: "Li... my grandfather... is... there..."

Su Yang looked in the direction he was pointing.

Beside the fence.

A corpse dressed in a coarse cloth steward's short shirt lay face down, with a shocking indentation on the back of its head.

On the muddy ground in front of where the corpse's right hand had fallen, several dark red streaks of blood dragged crookedly across the dust—it was clearly an unfinished character, the first two strokes resembling the beginning of the character "tooth," but the latter half was blurred by the bloodstains and traces of struggle.

The handwriting was hasty and short, as if it had used up the last bit of strength.

Su Yang's gaze did not linger on the corpse for long; his sharp eyes swept across the surroundings.

A few steps away, a broken blade lay half-buried in the soil, reflecting a cold light.

He strode forward, flicked and kicked with his toes, and the broken blade rolled into his hand. It was heavy in his hand, a standard military-grade steel short blade, but now the blade was broken in the middle. The break was not a sharp cut, but a strange, irregular twisted and shattered shape—it was clearly broken by an extremely fierce and domineering palm or claw force!

Such skill... is something no ordinary master could achieve.

He then looked at the wooden house where Steward Li lived. Through the broken window, he could vaguely see that the tables and chairs were overturned, the chests and cabinets were wide open, and the clutter was messy.

The murderer not only killed people, but was also searching for something, and the search was extremely brutal and thorough.

He strode over to the body of Manager Li, squatted down to examine it, and his gaze suddenly sharpened.

Manager Li's hands had unusually large knuckles, dark blue fingertips, and calluses on his palms as thick and hard as iron... These were clearly the marks of years of hard training in some kind of external claw technique!

At this moment, his right hand was clenched tightly, with black cloth threads embedded in his fingernails, while his left arm was broken at an odd angle, with the muscles at the break point twisted and showing signs of being torn apart by tremendous force—this further confirmed Su Yang's guess that the one who killed Steward Li was a master of the same type with even greater skill and ruthless attacks!

"This is no ordinary vendetta or robbery!"

"The killer is clearly looking for something, but... what are they searching for? And who does this unfinished character for 'tooth' point to?"

Su Yang's gaze darted quickly between the bloody "tooth" mark, the broken blade in his hand, and Manager Li's hideous wound, a chill running through him.

"Brother Wang, this place is a death trap. The murderers may not be far away!"

"We must return to the city immediately to report this!"

Su Yang reached out and closed the unclosed eyes of the deceased, then stood up and casually tucked the broken blade behind his waist, saying to Wang Tiezhu.

Wang Tiezhu's eyes were bloodshot. Hearing this, he suddenly realized: "Go! Everyone mount up! Protect this child and get back to the city!"

The crowd hurriedly gathered together.

Su Yang lifted the boy onto his horse.

"Faster! Faster!"

He gave a low shout, spurred his horse, and followed closely behind Wang Tiezhu. The group of men, carrying dust and secrets, galloped desperately toward Jingling City.

........

Jingling City, Huang Mansion, Inner Courtyard Study.

Dusk had fallen outside the window, but the study was brightly lit, the atmosphere so heavy it seemed you could wring water out of it.

Seated at the head of the table was an elderly man with a prosperous face and white hair and beard, dressed in brocade casual clothes. His eyes were cloudy but contained a hidden glint of intelligence. He was Huang Shiyun, the master of the Huang family.

Standing below were Yang Yunxing, his face solemn, and Wang Tiezhu and Su Yang, who had just washed and changed clothes but still reeked of dust and blood. The severed blade lay quietly on the rosewood desk in front of Huang Shiyun.

The child was placed in the outer room, accompanied by an experienced nanny.

Wang Tiezhu first reported the tragic situation. When he mentioned that none of the eight people in the herb garden survived, his voice became hoarse and his eyes turned red.

"you say."

Huang Shiyun's face was ashen, his fingers tapping the table unconsciously as he turned his gaze to Su Yang.

Su Yang took a deep breath and stepped forward. He didn't repeat Wang Tiezhu's emotional description, but instead, in a clear and calm tone, meticulously explained everything he had observed:

"Reporting back to you, sir, there were eight bodies at the scene. All of them had fatal wounds in the head and neck, indicating that the murderer's methods were ruthless and direct. There are four suspicious points."

"Firstly, Steward Li's residence was thoroughly searched, and all the chests and cabinets were destroyed, but the gold and silver were not missing. It is clear that the murderer intended to search for specific items rather than for money."

"Secondly, my subordinates found this broken blade at the scene."

He pointed to the broken sword on the desk: "This is a standard military-grade steel short blade, extremely tough, but the break is twisted and shattered, definitely not caused by a sword or blade cutting. In my humble opinion, it was broken by an extremely powerful and domineering palm or claw force!"

Su Yang continued, "Thirdly, upon examining Steward Li's hands, I found his knuckles unusually large, his fingertips dark blue, and his palms calloused and hard as iron... This is clear evidence of years of rigorous training in external claw techniques! At the site of his broken left arm, the muscles are twisted, as if torn apart by an even more ferocious claw force. I deduce that Steward Li himself is a reclusive master of claw techniques, and the assailant is someone with even greater skill and a similar style!"

"Fourthly," Su Yang paused, emphasizing his words, "where Steward Li fell, there were unfinished words written in his blood. The first two strokes resembled the beginning of the character 'tooth.' The handwriting was hasty and short, with finger marks deeply embedded in the earth, clearly indicating it was written with all his might in his final moments. I believe this is Steward Li's last attempt to leave behind a mark!"

Upon hearing this, the study seemed to fall silent for a moment. Even Wang Tiezhu forgot to sob and looked up in astonishment.

Huang Shiyun gave Su Yang a deep look, his gaze scrutinizing and considering, and said, "Observant, reasonable inference, and calm under pressure. Yunxing, I remember, Su Yang is currently the deputy team leader, right?"

Yang Yunxing chimed in at the opportune moment: "Reporting to your master, Su Yang is currently the deputy captain and a second-class guard."

Huang Shiyun nodded slightly, tapping the broken blade again with his fingers: "This item, and those blood-written words, are key. This matter is no longer a simple vendetta; it may involve much more. The manor is in need of capable people right now, and we especially need those who are clear-headed, bold, and meticulous."

After a moment's thought, he decisively said, "Su Yang, you have rendered meritorious service in this investigation, and the clues you reported are of great value. Effective immediately, you are promoted to squad leader, first-class guard, and will enjoy the corresponding salary. You will be able to independently lead a small team. I hope you will remain humble and diligent, and perform your duties effectively."

"Wang Tiezhu, who led the team back and forth, has also worked hard. He is rewarded with five taels of silver. The other team members are each rewarded with one tael. The compensation for those who died in battle will be doubled."

"Thank you for your promotion, sir!"

"Thank you, sir!"

Su Yang and Wang Tiezhu bowed at the same time.

Huang Shiyun then looked at Su Yang, his tone turning grave: "Li Jingshan has worked diligently and conscientiously in my Huang family's medicinal herb garden for over a decade, and now he has suffered this misfortune, leaving behind only a surviving descendant..."

His voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable weight: "Both morally and logically, the Huang family cannot ignore this."

He turned to Su Yang, his tone becoming serious: "Su Yang, this child is someone you brought back from the scene; he's destined to be with you. He's also the only survivor and the victim in this case. I'm entrusting him to you now; you must ensure his safety. All expenses will be drawn from the household funds."

He paused briefly, lowering his voice so that only Su Yang and Yang Yunxing nearby could hear him: "Take good care of him and put his mind at ease. Once he calms down, he might remember some useful details."

He gave Su Yang a deep look: "What you should know, you will know. What you shouldn't know, don't ask. His safety is your top priority right now."

"Yes! I will do everything in my power to protect their safety and investigate any clues!"

Su Yang solemnly turned and left with Wang Tiezhu.

Huang Shiyun slowly stood up, put his hands behind his back, and looked out the window towards Jingling City. His voice was slightly deep, as if he were talking to himself, or as if he were talking to Yang Yunxing behind him: "Li Jingshan has been hiding for more than ten years, but in the end, people still caught on to him."

The candlelight flickered softly in the study.

Yang Yunxing stood with his hands at his sides, not saying a word, but straightening his back even more.

He understood that the old man wasn't saying this to him, but rather to organize his own thoughts.

As expected, Huang Shiyun remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger: "Yunxing, what do you think of this Su Yang...?"

Yang Yunxing hesitated for a moment before cautiously replying, "My lord, Su Yang has a clean background. In the six months since he joined the household, he has been diligent and reliable, with no bad habits or complicated connections. His performance this time was bold yet meticulous, and his observations are keen; he is a promising talent. However…"

"Just what?"

"But promoting him too quickly might arouse jealousy, and I'm also afraid that... his temperament is not yet settled, and he might not be able to shoulder this heavy responsibility," Yang Yunxing expressed his concerns. He admired Su Yang, but he understood even more the complexities of the Huang family's situation.

Huang Shiyun turned around, a faint, almost chilling smile on his face: "Jealousy? In this Huang family, those who can get things done, and do things right, should rise in the ranks. As for character..."

He walked to the desk, his fingers once again brushing against the cold, broken blade.

"Whether a piece of good iron is forged into farm tools or honed into swords depends not on the iron itself, but on the person wielding the hammer and... the 'opponent' it will face."

He looked up at Yang Yunxing, his gaze deep: "Putting Li Jingshan's grandson by his side is the first tempering. Let's see if this piece of iron will be softened by maternal instincts, or sharpened even more by 'their' claws and teeth."

"Does the master mean... to use him as bait?"

Yang Yunxing felt a slight chill.

"bait?"

Huang Shiyun shook his head, then looked out the window at the deep night with his hands behind his back: "No!"

"To protect the child, he has to keep a close eye on any approaching threats. And if 'they' truly want to eliminate the threat completely, or find what Li Jingshan has hidden, they will reappear sooner or later!"

His voice was exceptionally clear in the quiet study: "With Su Yang in front, we can see clearly which old dog from the Evil Extreme Sect is extending its claws this time, and what exactly they want."

His gaze shifted to the deep night outside the window, and his voice turned cold: "Do you want to collect old debts, or... test the waters of the Huang family?"

Yang Yunxing took a deep breath and finally understood.

This is no longer merely the investigation of a bloody case; rather, the master is using the Huang family mansion as a chessboard, with Su Yang and Li Jingshan's grandson as key pieces, to play a much larger game. The goal is not only to uncover the truth, but also to see through the adversaries lurking in the shadows.

"Then... what if Su Yang really found something he shouldn't have found?" Yang Yunxing asked the most crucial question.

Huang Shiyun remained silent for a long time.

"At that time."

He finally spoke, his voice calm and even, yet carrying a cold indifference that suggested he controlled everything: "What he should know, he will know. What he shouldn't know... well, it depends on whether he's smart enough to know when to close his eyes and when... to forget what he's seen."

The candlelight crackled and burst into a flame, casting Huang Shiyun's long shadow on the wall.

Yang Yunxing asked no more questions, bowed deeply, and left the study.

The night wind was biting under the eaves, blowing away the thin layer of sweat seeping from his vest, but it couldn't dispel the heavy chill in his heart.

"From tonight onwards, Su Yang will no longer be an ordinary guard in the Huang family..."

He glanced back at the door, which emitted a dim candlelight. Behind it stood the old man's figure, as imposing as a mountain and as deep as an abyss.

Once upon a time, he too was a pawn, picked up from the brink of despair by the master and placed in this seemingly ordinary mansion. But this "old pawn" of his is now halfway into the game, while Su Yang's "new pawn" has only just been picked up and is about to be placed on the most dangerous conflict on the chessboard between the "Heavenly Lotus Sect" and the "Evil Extreme Sect".

Ahead lies a ladder to heaven, but also a meat grinder.

Whether he can rise to prominence or be utterly destroyed depends entirely on whether he can make a viable move in this extremely perilous sect game.

"Li Jingshan..."

Yang Yunxing murmured the name, tightened his robes, and turned to disappear into the dark corridor.

Will Li Jingshan pave the way for Su Yang, this "new chess piece," with his blood? Will he one day pave a blood-stained step for another "new chess piece" in the same way?

............

It was just past noon, and the sun was blazing.

The archery practice on the field was temporarily suspended, and the guards dispersed in twos and threes to have their meals.

Su Yang had just stepped out of the archery range and hadn't yet decided where to go when he saw Yang Yunxing walking quickly from the other end of the corridor, his face calm and his gaze fixed directly on him.

"Su Yang." Yang Yunxing approached, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable weight: "Come with me, the master wants to see you."

Su Yang's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Yes."

Yang Yunxing didn't say anything more and turned to leave.

Su Yang followed closely behind.

As the two walked through the inner courtyard corridor, the servants and guards they encountered along the way all bowed and made way for them, their gazes towards Su Yang filled with surprise and scrutiny. For the instructor to personally escort someone to see the master was no ordinary honor.

Before long, they arrived outside Huang Shiyun's study.

The master's personal attendant stood outside the door. Upon seeing Yang Yunxing, he nodded slightly and gently pushed open the door.

Inside the study, Huang Shiyun stood by the window, his hands behind his back, gazing at an old plum tree in the courtyard. Hearing footsteps, he turned around, his gaze first falling on Yang Yunxing, then shifting to Su Yang.

"Master, Su Yang has arrived." Yang Yunxing stepped aside to let Su Yang step forward.

Su Yang bowed and said, "Your subordinate Su Yang awaits your orders, sir."

Huang Shiyun sized him up for a moment. Although he had just come down from the training ground and his clothes were slightly sweaty, his breathing was steady, his eyes were clear, and he showed no signs of panic. Only then did he slowly speak, his voice calm yet authoritative: "Su Yang, you handled the matter of the herb garden well. Bold and meticulous, you are a promising talent."

"Thank you for your praise, sir. It is my duty," Su Yang replied, bowing his head.

"Doing one's duty well is a skill in itself." Huang Shiyun walked behind his desk and sat down, lightly tapping his finger on the surface. "Now there's a difficult task 'extra' that requires someone bold and meticulous. Are you willing to take it on?"

Su Yang raised his head, his gaze resolute: "Please enlighten me, sir, I am willing to go!"

"it is good."

The look of approval in Huang Shiyun's eyes hadn't faded, but his tone had turned serious: "The Ruifeng Cloth Shop in the south of the city has been repeatedly targeted recently, and a batch of goods has been lost, but they were just ordinary silk fabrics. The real problem is still in the warehouse."

He leaned forward, his voice extremely low:

"On the surface, it's a piece of soft silk from Jiangnan worth two thousand taels, but hidden in the shadows are two deadly things."

"Three bolts of 'Heavenly Silkworm Ice Silk,' tribute grade, are priceless and unavailable."

"A box of 'Golden Cicada Jade Molt Silk' is impervious to swords and blades, making it a treasure for crafting top-grade soft armor, enough to make even the most skilled martial arts master fight to the death."

His gaze was like iron, fixed on Su Yang's face:

"Zhao Qian can't handle this situation. The manor needs a strong and swift sword to take charge. Your task is to eliminate the traitors, protect the cloth shop like an ironclad fortress, and chop off every claw that tries to intrude. We can't afford to lose either the overt or covert goods."

"You've just been promoted to squad leader; now's the time to establish your authority."

Huang Shiyun made the final decision: "Take people over there and make a decision on the spot. Is it possible to handle it well?"

Su Yang clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice deep and resolute: "Your subordinate obeys! I will certainly quell the internal and external disturbances, protect the cloth shop, and live up to the trust placed in me!"