Song of Adolescence

Chapter 211 Immortal Six Gambles

There were a total of 12 pieces, six white pieces and six black pieces, the first move was determined by a toss named the “jade”. Each player had six pieces, and the game was divided into twelve rounds. There was an empty row in the middle called the water, in which were placed two pieces called the fish. During the game, the player tossed the dice and moved his piece. If the piece landed in the water, it could eat the fish. If you ate a fish, you got two tokens. This gameplay was known as Liubo (Six Gambles).

Liubo prospered among the nobles of the previous dynasty. After years of war, the gameplay had been lost for years, and the original rules were varied and complicated, so its popularity declined. It was said that a Prince of the previous dynasty lived incognito among the common folk. This Prince went from fine brocade robes and luxurious food to rough tea and plain rice. Yet, he was content and happy. However, the one thing he couldn’t give up was his addiction to Liubo. But, because he had nobody to play against, he improvised the gameplay and taught his neighbours how to play the game. The neighbours found it interesting and two people could play against each other for a whole day and night. Later, they attracted the attention of other people around, and their audience would stand around for two hours watching with interest. Later, this matter spread far and wide, and many people began to learn how to play, spreading it even further. Slowly, this game of Liubo chess became more and more popular until now, even a seven-year-old child knew how to play it.

Under Heaven Den, nine tables of life-staking gamble. The last table was this -- Liubo!

The burly man who started off preparing the nine gambling tables was now sweating profusely. He already knew that the visitor was Luoxia Fairy, so he’d sent the nine most skillful dealers in Under Heaven Den, but now, Luoxia Fairy didn’t even play a single round. She sent her disciple who had already won eight consecutive games, and now sat before the Liubo table.

An old man with white hair was sitting beside the Liubo table. He was dressed in coarse linen and at first glance, he looked no different from an ordinary old man. He squinted his eyes and looked at Luo Mingxuan, "This kid has passed through eight games?"

Luo Mingxuan thought to himself that after winning eight games in a row, the entire Under Heaven Den must be boiling over. This old man had been sitting there for a long time, and he wondered if he was deaf or blind. While he was thinking this in his head, his expression became filled with impatience. "This old uncle is really funny. I’ve gambled eight games right in front of you. Didn’t you see?"

Yin Luoxia, who had been sitting silently beside him, suddenly scolded softly, "Don\'t be rude."

The old man raised his head when he heard her and squinted his eyes to look at Yin Luoxia. After looking for a long time, the corner of his mouth curved in a vulgar smile. "Fairy, you’re still so beautiful."

"Head Dealer, you must be at least eighty this year. Not dead yet?" Yin Luoxia had a gentle smile on her face, but her words were most alarming.

The old man called the Head Dealer coughed a few times. "Every day, I play Liubo with the King of the Underworld. If I win a game, I live another year. This old man has counted, I can live another 20 years."

"Head Dealer." The one-eyed burly man walked up to the old man, lowered his head and whispered something in his ear.

The Head Dealer nodded, cleared his throat, and gestured at the table in front of him. "Then, please sit."

"Shifu, what’s with this man?" Luo Mingxuan asked hurriedly when he realised that the attitude of this person was completely different from the eight tables prior.

Yin Luoxia smiled and said, "Didn’t he just say that he played chess with the King of the Underworld every day? He’s the Head Dealer of Under Heaven Den who everyone calls the Yama Gambler, Ye San. The number of days he’s played Liubo is longer than yours and my combined age. The people who played the eight tables before this can come together and still can’t gamble against one of him."

Luo Mingxuan was stunned. "Then how can you win against him?"

Yin Luoxia smacked Luo Mingxuan\'s head with her hand. "Before you said anything, you still had a chance. Don’t you remember what I taught you about the true meaning of gambling?"

"When you believe you can win, you will definitely win," Luo Mingxuan murmured.

"Then go." Yin Luoxia gave a light push, and Luo Mingxuan sat down in front of the Liubo chess game.

"I have played Liubo for sixty-six years, and I have never lost. Kid, how many years have you played?" Ye San said quietly.

Luo Mingxuan scratched his head. "About six years."

"Good. It’s all six, so we have some fate. If you lose, you’ll become my lackey. Sounds about right." Ye San smirked.

This smirk, however, angered Luo Mingxuan. "You’ve just lived a few more years. Old uncle, you’re quite arrogant."

"Lived a few more years?" Ye San was still smiling. "Since this kid insists on being pigheaded, then let me tell you. Your answer earlier was wrong."

"My answer was wrong?" Luo Mingxuan was taken aback. "How was it wrong?"

"You have never played Liubo before." Ye San suddenly reached out and turned one of the chess pieces upright. "Xiao!"

During the conversation, the two of them had already played several rounds. In the Liubo chess game, a chess piece could be turned upright if it landed on a designated position and it would become a Xiao. The Xiao could eat a fish, and a fish was worth two tokens. The first person to get six tokens was the winner! But, having played Liubo for so many years, Luo Mingxuan had never seen anyone who could turn a Xiao so quickly. He finally settled down to play the game seriously.

After ten rounds, Luo Mingxuan\'s back was soaked with sweat. He had never seen a person play Liubo this way. Every move was very weird, as if he was playing on the edge of the Liubo chess rules, yet he forced himself to take a step backwards again and again, facing the possibility of losing the entire game at any time.

Why was it like this? Why was it like this? Luo Mingxuan forced himself to calm down, and his mind continued to replay all the Liubo games he’d played before.

There must be a way, there must be a way. Luo Mingxuan finally closed his eyes, and the images in his mind rotated rapidly until the image he had watched thousands and ten thousands of times appeared - two lifelike carved clay figurines were playing Liubo chess. Yes! The Immortals seized six sticks to gamble against Taishan, enticing him to enter that game of immortals. In the end, if Ye San could break this game, then he might be able to solve that Immortal Six Gambles technique. If Ye San couldn’t break it, then this round would be an endgame. Although he couldn’t win, he wouldn’t lose either!

Luo Mingxuan opened his eyes, and hope was rekindled in his heart.

Three incense sticks of time passed.

The one-eyed man whispered to Peng Qinhai, "The Head Dealer has never played a game of Liubo for so long. Could it be that he’s going to lose this time?"

Peng Qinhai shook his head. "This game was fixed not long after it started such that Head Dealer could not lose. But, just then, the kid’s approach suddenly changed. Now in this situation, it seems like Head Dealer won’t lose, but he may not win either."

"Endgame?" The one-eyed man frowned.

"Kid, who taught you this?" Ye San stopped and sat up as he said solemnly.

Luo Mingxuan wiped the sweat from his head. "Of course it was my shifu who taught me."

"Bah, your shifu is crafty and eccentric with a thousand and one tricks. Her ability to cheat is a lot stronger than her gambling skills. You kid, you played this Liubo steadily, step by step. How could she have taught you this?" Ye San said angrily.

Luo Mingxuan waved his hand and said, "Are you still playing or not!"

Ye San smashed the entire chessboard with his hand. "No more! I have played Liubo for sixty-six years, but I can\'t win against a person playing this pseudo Liubo. It\'s ridiculous!"

"Pseudo Liubo?" Luo Mingxuan snapped around to look at Yin Luoxia. "What does that mean?"

Yin Luoxia smiled and said, "It means exactly what you heard."