School Beauty's Invincible Martial Expert

These past few days, Xiao Han had been attending classes quietly and going to school dutifully.

In Class Three of Senior Year 3, the classroom was packed with students clustering together in small groups, chatting away.

"What's the deal with the Hanmen Training Class anyway?"

"Didn't you hear they were planning to take the money and run?"

"Impossible. I heard they're cutting back on admissions. Right now, it's very sought after. Many people rushed to sign up but were turned away."

A group was also discussing the hottest news in LJ City. They seemed exceptionally excited and agitated. Some students who had quit were looking distressed, while those who hadn't quit appeared very excited and proud.

When Chen Zihan saw Xiao Han arrive, she smiled and greeted him, "Morning, Xiao Han."

"Morning!" Xiao Han nodded.

"I saw your name on the list for this LJ City Elite Cup Chinese Chess competition!" Chen Zihan said with a smile, looking at Xiao Han, "Are you representing your community in the competition?"

"Yes!" Xiao Han nodded and asked, "How did you know?"

"Because I'll be going too," Chen Zihan chuckled.

"Really?" Xiao Han exclaimed, "Why have I never heard you mention it before?"

"I could say the same about you," Chen Zihan looked at Xiao Han.

"Haha…" Xiao Han laughed awkwardly and then said, "It seems we might have a chance to meet on the 'battlefield'."

Upon hearing this, Chen Zihan laughed and asked, "So… if we really do meet, what do you think will happen?"

"What can happen!" Xiao Han immediately laughed, "Since we're meeting, we definitely have to give it our all."

"But I'm a girl, won't you let me win?" Chen Zihan pursed her lips.

"Uh…" Xiao Han hesitated and said, "If I let you win, wouldn't that spoil the fairness and the fun of the competition?"

"Hehe…" Chen Zihan giggled and then said, "I was just joking. Don't take it seriously!"

Xiao Han was indeed surprised. What he hadn't expected was that Chen Zihan knew how to play Chinese chess and had even made it to the city stage, which he found strange. Since she had made it to the city stage, it meant her skill levels in Chinese chess were quite proficient. Yet, he had never heard Chen Zihan talk about playing Chinese chess before.

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

On Saturday morning, both Xiao Han and Chen Zihan took leave from school because they were participating in the city's Elite Cup Chinese Chess competition, and both had received leave approval from the school.

Xiao Han, representing Fuxing Community, headed for the city's Mass Art Gallery.

The Mass Art Gallery was a leisure and entertainment venue in LJ City. Many locals used to come here for leisure and entertainment—playing Chinese chess, Go, or even just reading. It was very popular in LJ City once upon a time. In the nineties, this place was swarming with people.

However, now, the citizens of LJ City have moved on to other forms of entertainment, obviously abandoning this leisure venue.

Entertainment clubs, bars, cafés, internet cafes... almost all have lured the residents away, and the Mass Art Gallery has gradually declined.

However, the city generally organizes any cultural competitions at the Mass Art Gallery since it is an institution of the municipal government.

By the time they reached the Mass Art Gallery, it was packed. Dozens of communities and residents' committees from LJ City had sent representatives to compete. Xiao Han represented Fuxing Community. Chen Zihan was representing her local office. Not only competitors were present, but many also brought cheer squads and spectators.

"Xiao Han!" Chen Zihan, wearing a long dress with a purple woolen sweater, her neck adorned with a string of crystal necklace, her long hair flowing, the oval face and crescent-shaped eyes making her look very beautiful. Her feet were clad in small leather shoes as she ran swiftly towards Xiao Han.

"Zi Han..." Xiao Han grinned at Chen Zihan.

"I finally see you," Chen Zihan laughed, "I thought you weren't going to come!"

"How could I not!" Xiao Han laughed, "I'm the representative for our Fuxing Community after all."

"If you hadn't come, I would have had one less competitor!" Chen Zihan giggled.

Just then, the District Party Secretary of Wangjiang District arrived at the scene with his delegation, and everyone entered the hall. Sitting up straight and proper, the district leadership warmly stood on the stage as he smiled at everyone present and then said, "Colleagues, friends, welcome all. Today marks the first LJ City Elite Cup Chinese Chess Competition.

This reminds me of many things from the past..."

The District Party Secretary had a special fondness for Chinese Chess. It was said that this year's Elite Cup was made possible through his effort, and moreover, the city had allocated some funds for it, and with some sponsorships pulled by the organizing committee, substantial prize money had been raised.

With the announcement by the District Party Secretary, the competition quickly began.

The rules of the game were simple, it was a knockout tournament. One person would be eliminated by two, and so on, with each match lasting half an hour. By this morning, the winners would be decided. It wouldn't be long before we knew who would take home the substantial prize money of one hundred thousand yuan.

The prize money this time was indeed generous; the first-place winner would receive one hundred thousand yuan, the second place fifty thousand yuan, and the third place twenty thousand yuan. It was quite substantial. A crowd appeared very excited.

As the competition began, Xiao Han faced a rather strong opponent, an older man with a beard, whose skills in Chinese chess were not to be underestimated. The two of them attacked and defended, almost indistinguishable from each other, playing fervently.

After two rounds, Xiao Han successfully advanced, having carved his way out from among dozens of competitors.

After a few rounds, only four people remained. Two tables became the focal point at the venue. The two tables, two chessboards, everything was ready. The tables were pushed together; Xiao Han was facing a middle-aged man, while Chen Zihan was playing against an elderly man with white hair.

"It's amazing how skilled these two young people are."

"Indeed, it's truly a case of the new waves pushing the old waves of the Yangtze River."

"Yes, truly impressive!"

Many people gathered to watch. The District Party Secretary was still at the scene, one of the participants who, despite his love for Chinese chess, had been eliminated in the second round, which also triggered a round of applause. His defeat showed that today's competition was indeed fair and just.

Chen Zihan glanced at Xiao Han and playfully winked her left eye, as if to say, it would soon be our turn to compete against each other.

Xiao Han smiled but said nothing.

At this moment, any word could potentially change a person's state of mind. At this time, the mood was the most important thing. After the game started, Xiao Han began to play seriously. His opponent's tactics were very clever, nearly costing him a rook several times, but fortunately, Xiao Han's skills were also very smart. In his serene demeanor, he immediately spotted his opponent's tactics.

Xiao Han's expression grew very serious as he carefully observed the battlefield on the chessboard, making the match incredibly exciting.

Xiao Han's lips curled into a smile, having grasped his opponent's tactics immediately.

However, Xiao Han decided not to alert his opponent prematurely but instead enticed him deeper into a trap. Once the opponent entered his encirclement, he could begin his massacre. Without revealing his emotions, Xiao Han sacrificed a knight and two pawns to successfully lure his opponent into the trap.

"Check!" Xiao Han decisively captured his opponent's piece with his cannon.

At this, the opponent was taken aback. His forces had almost entirely crossed the river, and now he was in check. If he wanted to safeguard his base, he would have to sacrifice a rook. What had been a bold and aggressive approach had suddenly plummeted from the peak to the depths, instantly turning into a disadvantage.

The middle-aged man could do nothing but sacrifice the piece to protect the king.

"Check again!" Xiao Han drove his rook deep into the enemy's camp.

The middle-aged man was instantly frustrated, "It's over, it's all over..."

The onlookers exclaimed in amazement.

"What a brilliant move."

"Lure the enemy deep and defeat them one by one. Impressive, so impressive..."

The crowd applauded. Xiao Han, so young, yet with such a high level of intelligence, was indeed impressive.

Xiao Han's lips curled into a mischievous smile, saying, "Uncle, I'm afraid you're going to lose!"

"That's not certain yet!" The middle-aged man clenched his teeth and boldly moved his 'king' up one step. Xiao Han grinned and said, "It's still check!"

"King..." The middle-aged man was overjoyed severally resuming the manipulation of the pieces, instantly snatching Xiao Han's rook.

"Hehe..." Xiao Han grinned and said, "Knight jump!"
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The slight advantage he had just gained instantly vanished. The middle-aged man was stunned. Two 'kings', a cannon, and a knight had already been captured by the opponent. He only had a cannon and a knight left capable of attacking across the river, while Xiao Han's advantage was very clear. Aside from losing a rook and a knight, he had everything else in play.

Additionally, his opponent's base was heavily surrounded, risking being depleted at any moment.

The middle-aged man appeared very weak. He took a deep breath, readjusted his breathing and emotions, and seriously studied the chessboard.

Unfortunately, the outcome was already determined, as long as Xiao Han did not intend to surrender, the middle-aged man was essentially destined to lose. No matter how hard he tried, he could at best hope for a draw. Unfortunately, Xiao Han would not offer any opportunity for a draw.

Ultimately, after struggling for a while, the middle-aged man chose to raise the white flag and surrender.

"Ah, a hero emerges from youth!" the middle-aged man sighed, saying, "I didn't expect to lose to someone so young."

"Uncle, your strength isn't bad either!" Xiao Han chuckled.

"But I still lost to you, didn't I?" the middle-aged man smiled faintly.