Ling Feng did not waste any more words with the other party and walked towards the stone table.
At a glance, he saw a middle-aged man playing chess with an elder opposite him. After only a few moves, beads of sweat had already formed on his forehead.
"Apologies, you do not possess the qualification to enter the mansion!"
With a wave of his hand, the elder declared the other party unqualified.
The middle-aged man seemed as if he had been soaked in water. He was helped up by the people beside him, shaking his head repeatedly, "Why must it be so difficult? If you don't want to treat, then don't, but why must we play chess? I'm not convinced..."
"Hmph, many are not convinced. This is the Hua family, do you dare to trespass?"
With a menacing shout, the middle-aged man was pushed aside by a few people. Despite his luxurious attire and a car worth millions, no one here gave him a second glance!
As the middle-aged man was dispersed.
The white-haired elder also scanned the crowd with a detached expression, "If there are no more players, disperse!"
Stomp, stomp, several burly men began to drive away the crowd. Everyone shook their heads and sighed, "Why has such a rule suddenly appeared? It's truly too difficult!"
"Alas, one cannot say that. If one enters and breaks the chess game inside, they can receive a personal consultation from Elder Duan. I heard that Elder Duan can also grant one condition to whoever breaks the chess game!"
"That condition is quite tempting, but how many people still understand chess these days!"
"Exactly. And this old man's chess skills are so superb. Without any chess attainments, one simply cannot get in!"
The atmosphere around was one of dejection. It was clear that these people had been lingering around for a long time but had not seen anyone qualify to enter.
Just then, Ling Feng walked directly to the opposite side of the stone table.
"Young man, you wish to try?" The white-haired elder glanced at Ling Feng slightly, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
For those who truly understood chess, one could discern if they were skilled by their subtle movements, changes in demeanor, and overall aura.
Ling Feng's appearance gave the elder a subtle feeling that this young man was extraordinary!
"Please!" Ling Feng calmly placed a stone.
The white-haired elder looked down and his eyes immediately brightened. Stroking his beard, he easily placed a black stone!
Seeing Ling Feng, so young yet daring to play chess, a wave of unfavorable comments emerged from the crowd.
"Heh heh, this kid is so young, how could he possibly understand chess?"
"Tsk, I think he's just seeking humiliation, wanting to show off in a place like this. Truly clueless!"
"Hey, come down! You need to make twelve moves to enter the Duan mansion. I reckon you'll only make three moves at most! Don't embarrass yourself!"
...
Crack! Ling Feng blocked out all the surrounding noise and placed his stones with extreme speed.
The white stones in his hand were playfully spun between his fingers. This single display was enough to make many people in the crowd feel as if their necks were being choked.
"Hey, does this kid really understand chess?"
"He's placing stones without even looking? Is he just messing around?"
Yang Fei sneered at the people around him. How could these snobbish individuals know Ling Feng's prowess?
To this day, Yang Fei had never seen Ling Feng lose a match!
Crack! Crack! Crack!
After seven consecutive moves, the surrounding chatter had completely ceased, and the atmosphere had become solemn and tense.
More than half the moves had been made. Half an hour ago, someone had managed this, but that person was an old chess player in his fifties, and he had only managed nine moves before leaving with a sigh.
Ling Feng's performance was already enough to shock everyone.
"Haha! Good move!" Abruptly, the white-haired elder, who had been maintaining a detached expression, burst into laughter and praised Ling Feng profusely.
This further astonished the onlookers, as they had never seen the elder praise anyone before.
"Kill!" The white-haired elder made a series of moves, and a killing intent emanated from him.
Ling Feng, however, remained calm and composed, placing his stones with a light and breezy demeanor. The sound of the stones landing on the stone board was crisp and pleasant.
The surrounding people were all stunned.
"It's already the thirteenth move. He... he actually did it!"
"How is this possible? Isn't this old man going easy on him?"
Crack!
The white-haired elder's expression turned solemn, his brows furrowed. He could no longer smile.
The speed of his moves slowed down, as if he was completely immersed in the game.
Ling Feng, however, continued to place his stones calmly. It was only on the sixteenth move that Ling Feng slowly spoke, "The rule here seems to be that one must make twelve moves to enter the courtyard!"
"Ah? Rules are rules, let's continue..."
The white-haired elder snapped back to reality, saying anxiously, and placed another stone.
The surrounding people seemed to have held their breath for a long time and finally had a chance to exhale, their faces flushing red as they shouted.
"Hey, hey, don't cheat! Old man, this is the seventeenth move!"
"Yeah, old man, you're not trying to cheat because you can't win, are you?"
"I remember there was a national master before, who made twelve moves, and you let him in. Why are you not following the rules now?"
These voices made the white-haired elder's face flush red again.
Ling Feng gently placed a stone and spoke calmly.
"Kill!"
"Ah?"
The white-haired elder fixed his gaze on the chessboard and was instantly struck with a horrified, pale expression.
The fourteen white stones he had strategically placed were instantly killed, swallowed by the black stones!
"You lost, haha, old man, you lost!"
"Haha, you insisted on continuing, not following the rules, and now look! You lost badly!"
"Shameful, so shameful!"
...
The surrounding people gloated. They had all been thoroughly outplayed by this old man's chess skills before.
Seeing the old man in trouble, they naturally felt immense satisfaction.
The white-haired elder took a deep breath. Seeing Ling Feng stand up, he also rose and cupped his fists towards Ling Feng, "Sir, your chess skills are superb. This old man concedes defeat."
Ling Feng nodded, neither arrogant nor complacent, nor did he look down on the white-haired elder.
Then, under the astonished gazes of the crowd, he entered the Hua family's old mansion with Yang Fei and the proud Tang Ru.
"Haha, Ling Feng, did you notice that old man's expression just now? It was really funny. I bet he feels like his entire life has been a waste, losing to a young fellow like you!"
Tang Ru chattered beside Ling Feng, as happy as if she had won herself.
Ling Feng, however, turned his gaze to the reception hall of the old mansion. Inside, no less than thirty people were gathered, staring at a wall and discussing heatedly!