The Essence of chess, the Opening of the horse

After Chen Xia finished alchemy, he developed another elegant interest.

Drinking tea.

Mainly when he was bored, the process of brewing and drinking tea could help pass the time.

Sometimes Chen Xia didn't even drink the tea he brewed, just gave it to the dog after steeping it.

In addition, he would also play chess with Big Yellow Dog and Chi Yu to pass time like a typical old man.

They could spend a long time on one game, and Chen Xia rarely talked about the rules, without messing around.

The three brothers took turns playing. Whoever lost would be replaced by one of the other two.

So there was always another one on the sidelines directing the game.

"Eat his horse, eat it!"

"Move here, then his horse will be gone!"

"Haha, your horse is gone!"

"..."

Chen Xia always felt these were not exactly kind words, but he didn't interfere too much, because he spoke like this too.

The three brothers played chess anxiously, unable to decide a clear winner or loser, each with wins and losses.

The reason was simple.

All three of them were top-notch terrible chess players.

If any one of them was slightly better, this three-legged stalemate would not happen.

Among them, Chen Xia's killer move was classic - attacking the horse right at the start, just trying to take out a horse.

So you couldn't blame Big Yellow Dog and Chi Yu for shouting "your horse is gone" all the time.

Because Chen Xia started it in the first place.

Apart from alchemy, tea tasting, and chess, Chen Xia picked up a new hobby.

Keeping a diary.

Mainly to record some trivial things in daily life, so the content was very simple.

...

Year 70, January 13, sunny.

Big Yellow Dog took out my two horses at the start of the game. Chi Yu on the sidelines shouted "your horses are gone". Remember to fight back next time.

...

Year 70, April 21, sunny.

Got lucky today, went out for a stroll and picked up two shiny stones that seemed to be spirit stones.

Who knows, but they were just the right size to prop up the corners of a table.

...

Year 72, May 2, slightly overcast.

Today is a memorable day. The medicinal pills I refined finally had a great effect, able to heal wounds and replenish vital essence.

Just don't know how effective they are. I'll let Big Yellow Dog try them first. If the effect is good I can make more.

...

May 3, overcast.

Big Yellow Dog lost too much blood. Sent him to the doctor's for care.

Looks like the pills aren't as good as I thought. But Chi Yu really went overboard, I told him to just make a small cut, yet he nearly chopped Big Yellow Dog's arm off. Luckily I reacted fast to stop him, otherwise we almost couldn't have saved him.

Now I seriously suspect there is some unknown grudge between them. I'll ask Chi Yu about it later.

...

May 5, overcast.

Big Yellow Dog came back. He looks at Chi Yu somewhat strangely, probably wants to chop him back.

I should go advise them, otherwise it will affect the relationship between the brothers.

But mediating must be fair to both sides.

...

May 7, slightly sunny.

Decided, I'll let them give each other a chop, that way it depends on their own skill.

But Big Yellow Dog doesn't seem willing, understandable, he can't beat Chi Yu.

Sigh, mediating is so hard. Forget it, I'm tired, let them fight it out themselves.

I'll just have the doctor stand by.

To be safe, I also called in the mortician.

...

Year 78.

The junior elder said he lost his Celestial Color Spirit Stone, asked us all to help look for it, big reward for who finds it.

Hilarious, if I could find it why would I need your reward.

I'd definitely take it for myself first.

Can't find it anyway, too lazy to look. Better practice alchemy first, got a new idea to make a pill that looks very bitter and tastes very bitter too.

The effect makes everything taste bitter for 3 days after eating it.

Once it's done let Yellow Dog try it first, it loves to eat pills most.

I'm just too good at catering to dogs I guess.

...

Year 79.

Pill refining failed, the furnace blew up. But can't be helped, this was a shoddy alchemy furnace borrowed from the canteen, couldn't withstand the high heat.

I'll borrow another one from the canteen next time.

Note: Big Yellow Dog looks very happy today, can't stop smiling. Maybe something good happened, didn't say when I asked, just kept laughing.

...

Year 89.

Haven't written in the diary for a long time, almost lost the book until I flipped through and found it today.

Something happened today that I feel is worth recording.

Big Yellow Dog turns out isn't just a dog. It said it has heavenly wolf bloodline, so when it sees the full moon or something happy it likes to howl.

Turns out it's a wolf-dog hybrid.

Didn't expect to see such a familiar crossbreed in the Blue Sky Sword Sea too.

Very touching.

Also Chi Yu said he's not an ordinary bird but a Three Thousand Blazing Crow.

Though everyone already knew that. I still hope he can reveal some more surprising facts, best with a touch of fantasy.

...

Year 96.

Big Yellow Dog almost got into a fight with Chi Yu over chess today. Kept eating each other's horses, if you're gonna eat just eat, why shout it out loud.

I need to correct this too, can't gloat at the sidelines anymore. Gotta stop this behavior and create a friendly communication environment.

Civil, polite, kind, helpful.

That's what new era cultivators should do.

Not eating others horses then shouting about it all the time.

Simply low class.

...

Year 98.

Ate Yellow Dog's horses 3 games in a row today and shouted it out loudly each time. Awesome!

This is chess!

...

Year 110.

This won't do. I feel we can't fight amongst ourselves like this, it seriously affects the relationship between brothers.

So after discussing we decided to promote chess to the other apprentices, let them play too.

Spread the new ideals and qualities of new era cultivators, and the competitive spirit of chess.

It is our duty!

...

Year 110, Dec 30.

Boring. Picked up the two horses again. More passionate to play this way.

Not only can play chess, but even fight after.

Truly awesome to vent emotions like this.

Seems more and more apprentices are taking horses at the start now.

Feels a bit dull.

...

Year 115.

The junior elder overseeing apprentices suddenly asked me today, saying cases of apprentices fighting and brawling increased extremely fast this year, even more than the last 100 years combined.

He asked if I had any clues.

What clues could I have, they want to fight then fight, none of my business, not like I made them fight.

But based on physiological possibilities, I still explained to the elder.

Maybe they're in heat, competing for mates. Very common in nature.

The junior elder didn't quite believe it. Said they're high level beings, how could they fight over mates when there's none to compete for.

Oh well, believe it or not. I can't think of other reasons.

Can't be because of taking horses at the start, right...

...

Year 121.

Played chess with Yellow Dog and Chi Yu all day today. Lost a lot, don't know why.

Looked over the chess records carefully, couldn't sleep anyway. Read till midnight before I saw the clue hidden in the words.

"Taking horses at the start."