Peerless Divine Doctor in the City of Flowers

"Audacious!"

Lin Fan's words were like a stone thrown into a pond.

Instantly, several elders watching the chess game changed their expressions.

In contrast, the two players seemed as if they hadn't heard a thing.

They remained intently focused on the life-and-death struggle on the chessboard.

"Zhen Yue, how can you bring just anyone here!"

"A brat who's still wet behind the ears, daring to speak nonsense in this place."

"Get out immediately!"

The onlookers all turned to look at Lin Fan, standing behind Ning Zhenyue.

That anger had an almost murderous intent, as if they were ready to pounce and bite him to death.

"Gentlemen, I'm sorry, he is my son-in-law, quite young, spouting nonsense without thinking, please don't take offense."

Ning Zhenyue broke into a cold sweat, quickly turned back to look at Lin Fan.

"Do you realize what kind of occasion this is? How can you speak out of turn like this? You'd better wait for me outside."

"What's so great about chess players, aren't they just that, chess players? Is there anything worth seeing in this level of a chess game, nothing but a stinking chess basket," Lin Fan said scornfully and turned to leave.

While others merely watched the game, he saw what lay beyond it.

The face of that man in black was enveloped in a deathly aura.

If he pondered any longer, rage might take him, and he would indeed die here.

To save someone, he had to interrupt the game.

Yet these words left everyone present pale-faced.

Not to mention that the two playing chess were both ninth-dan masters.

None within Jiangning were their match.

And the terrifying power of their families alone, they could shake Jiangning with a mere stomp.

"Stop right there, how dare you insult my father!"

The few who had been standing at a distance immediately surrounded Lin Fan.

Blocking his path.

The leader, a forty-something-year-old burly man dressed in black, glared at Lin Fan with chilling eyes.

"Your dad should thank me for reminding him that he's playing with a stinking chess basket," retorted Lin Fan, with a dismissive smirk, entirely unfazed by these murderous men before him.

That single sentence turned the middle-aged man's face ashen.

How many in Jiangning would dare not take him seriously?

"Audacious, take him down!"

With a wave of his hand, the bodyguards wearing earphones immediately lunged forward.

Just as the situation was about to escalate, Ning Zhenyue hurriedly rushed over.

He stood in front of Lin Fan.

With his hands clasped together, he nearly begged.

"Mr. Luo, calm your anger. This is my son-in-law, he just returned from out of town and is unaware of your status. I apologize on his behalf and ask for your forgiveness. Please, for my sake, spare him this once. I will take him away right now; we won't cause any more disturbance."

"Ning Zhenyue, who do you think you are, to have such face?"

But unexpectedly, Luo Shaoyong simply sneered, unswayed: "Letting you come to watch the game was already giving you face. Now that you've offended my father, will just an apology suffice?"

"Then what do you want?"

Ning Zhenyue was about to speak, but Lin Fan pulled him back.

He could not stand those who willfully ignore kindness.

"For insulting my father, I'll break both your dog legs to teach you a lesson. If there's a next time, I'll take your life!"

Luo Shaoyong's gaze was icy.

As the head of a martial arts school, he was a central figure.

In Jiangning, he was also a heavy hitter who made the city shake.

"If calling a chess game 'stinking' is an insult, how precious you must be, afraid of being spoken about so you should perhaps hide away and play chess in secret at home. Instead, you run out here, inviting people to watch. Laozi saying he's a stinking chess basket is already being courteous. If not for showing face, they'd be insulting the chessboard!"

Lin Fan folded his arms and deliberately raised his volume.

True gentlemen do not comment while watching a game of chess.

But this game involved a matter of life and death, and he had to find a way to break it up.

"Audacious, you're seeking death! Someone get him and take him back to the Martial Alliance. I'll make him realize the price of not knowing how to speak!"

Luo Shaoyong's eyes filled with hatred.

But just as he was about to make his move, the commotion indeed caught the attention of the black-clad elder playing chess.

"Shao Yong, step back. I want to have a chat with him."

The voice, full of vigor, showed no trace of aging.

Despite the distance of over a dozen meters, it was still thunderously clear.

"Yes!"

Although Luo Shaoyong was reluctant, he still took a few steps back with his men.

He glared angrily at Lin Fan.

"Young man, you keep calling it 'a lousy game of chess'. Do you look down on my chess skills, or perhaps you also understand this path of black and white?"

"Of course, otherwise why would I say you, unable to solve even such a simple Nine Dragons Lock, dare to play chess?"

Lin Fan turned around and walked back to the pavilion.

His gaze met the elder's, unwavering and resolute.

The deadlock on the chessboard was resolved; what remained was to see how he would break the game.

"How audacious! Do you know who you are speaking to, daring to show such disrespect for your elders!"

"This is Luo Jiuying, the Alliance Hierarch of the Martial Alliance. You must not be rude."

"Where did the Ning Family find such an arrogant and conceited bumpkin?"

The Martial Alliance, that's the biggest power straddling both the underworld and the ordinary world.

Founded upon martial arts schools, it spans the entire country.

And the black-clad elder seated there was none other than Luo Jiuying, Alliance Hierarch of the Jiangning Martial Alliance.

As a figure of predatory fierceness, he was known to all in Jiangning, without exception.

"Lin Fan, get on your knees and apologize immediately; stop talking nonsense."

Ning Zhenyue felt as though the world was spinning, his forehead covered in cold sweat.

If he had known it would come to this, he would have killed him rather than bring such a Demon Lord of Mayhem to observe the chess game.

This time, it wasn't just about making connections with important figures.

Whether he could even leave alive was now in question.

"He is indeed not talking nonsense; recognizing my Nine Dragons Lock means he must be an expert. Since you can see it, can you solve it?"

The white-clad elder, his beard streaked with white, looked kindly at Lin Fan as he approached.

With just a glance at the chessboard, he knew it was a Nine Dragons Lock.

Clearly, he possessed a certain level of mastery in Go.

"Of course, such a simple lock—if I couldn't solve it, would I even dare to show my face in public?"

Lin Fan folded his arms as he looked at the densely arrayed chessboard.

That confident smile caused Luo Jiuying's expression to shift involuntarily.

"Young man, don't be too arrogant. If you talk too big, you'll have to face the consequences."

Being indirectly insulted about his chess play was an affront.

Luo Jiuying also lifted his head, his face darkening as he waited for Lin Fan.

"Stop talking about it; you want me to help you out of this tough spot, right? Now that you've said as much, I'll lend you a hand."

Without shying away, Lin Fan picked up a black piece and pressed it firmly onto the board.

This move changed the expressions of everyone watching.

"What are you doing? That's just making it easy for him to capture."

"If you don't understand chess and still want to show off, do you really think the Ning Family can protect you?"

The black chess pieces had already been at a disadvantage.

With Lin Fan's move, the entire line was left breathless.

One more move by the white pieces, and the victory wouldn't be just a single stone that simple.

"If you've got the guts, then eat it!"

But Lin Fan looked towards the white-clad elder.

That challenging gaze caused a flicker of displeasure to cross the elder's face.

"Luo, he made that move for you, and a piece laid is a piece played; if you lose, it's a loss!"

Just as he was about to make his move, his right hand suddenly stopped in mid-air.

The tightly clutched chess piece did not fall.

At the same time, he looked down at the chessboard, his face a picture of shock.

"Damn it, the lock has been broken!"