Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation-Chapter 299 - 243 The Artistic Showdown in the
Chapter 299: Chapter 243: The Artistic Showdown in the Examination Hall_2
Chapter 299 -243: The Artistic Showdown in the Examination Hall_2
“Heh, so what if you’re top three in our age group?”
Dan Kaiquan was utterly self-satisfied—previously, when he thought about Du Chuan’s terrifying academic achievements, he assumed he must be very strong; turns out, he’s even worse than Wei Xiu Yuan.
Only then did Dan Kaiquan realize, the college entrance exam doesn’t test Chess; it’s perfectly normal for the other guy to be weak.
Or rather, it wasn’t that his opponent was weak—it was that he himself had become incredibly strong.
Dan Kaiquan tapped on the Chess board and let out a long sigh:
“Being unbeatable is such a lonely feeling.”
He looked around and somehow felt that sensation of ‘drawing the sword and finding no one to challenge.’
Even the good-tempered Du Chuan had to restrain himself after hearing this.
He turned his head to look at Ding Shuyan, hoping to coax him into the fray since Ding had never lost a game in class.
However, as he turned to Ding, Lin Zida patted his shoulder.
“Du Chuan, let me have a go with him.” This was the first time Lin Zida had seen one of his classmates showing off.
He couldn’t help but take action.
Lin Zida took his seat opposite Dan Kaiquan, who was reminded of the day on the playground when Cui Yu had his big clash with Pang Jiao. Hoping for an easy gain, he had bet Xiao Pang four bottles of Coke—and ended up losing them all.
“You’re here,” Dan Kaiquan said, suppressing the joy in his heart. He had long remembered that day’s bet, and today, he saw the chance to turn the tables!
“Yeah, I’m here. What are we betting this time?” Lin Zida initiated the conversation with ease.
“Eh?” Dan Kaiquan was lost for words; he was still thinking about how to convince Lin Zida to play another round with him, not expecting the other to be so willing.
So, Dan Kaiquan raised three fingers, suggesting a wager of three bottles of Coke.
Then, he immediately reconsidered; even if he won three bottles, it would still mean a loss compared to the four he owed.
“I’m betting three cans of Red Bull!”
Because Red Bull was more expensive, this way, if he won, he could make up for the last loss.
They officially began their Chess game.
In the meantime, Jiang Ning and Xue Yuantong entered the examination hall. They’d arrived earlier than usual and there was still some time before their test.
Once Xue Yuantong entered the examination room, she glanced around the middle of the classroom but then quickly lost interest.
Her Chess skills were extremely formidable, slightly better than Jiang Ning—she only enjoyed making Jiang Ning beg for mercy in Chess.
Everyone else was of no interest to her.
“Checkmate,” Lin Zida declared with authority. This kid did have some genuine skill; Lin was forced to exchange pieces but fortunately, he was about to win.
“Just give up,” Lin Zida tapped the desk.
However, Dan Kaiquan made a countercheck:
“It’s you who should be giving up.”
“Huh?” Lin Zida realized it was checkmate.
Dan Kaiquan’s demeanor remained calm: “See it now? If you do, go buy me that Red Bull.”
Lin Zida couldn’t believe it; although his Chess skills couldn’t compare to Ding Shuyan’s, generally speaking, no one in Fourth Middle School could beat him.
Lin Zida, a good sport about losing, didn’t feel like buying it right away, deciding instead to stick around for a bit longer:
“I’ll get it for you after the math exam.”
Dan Kaiquan’s mouth curved again into a smile, displaying a CEO-like confidence.
“In this class, no one is my match.” His claim was audacious.
Then, a sweet and husky voice chimed in:
“How ignorant. Not to mention Ding Shuyan, in the entire exam venue, you couldn’t even win against me.”
This statement carried with it a touch of arrogance, nonchalance, and disdain.
Dan Kaiquan quickly looked towards the source of the voice, only to see a slender girl at the end of the third row of desks, gazing in their direction.
The girl wore a pink hairband, revealing a smooth, acne-free forehead, and her cheeks were pretty.
Dan Kaiquan asked: “Who are you?”
Before the girl could answer, Wei Xiu Yuan stood tall and proud: “She’s Dong Jiayi.”
“You’re quite arrogant, huh? Letting a girl fight your battles?”
Dan Kaiquan sneered, then hesitated before intently addressing Dong Jiayi:
“I know you; the impression you left on me is deep. From January to April, you’ve been in my thoughts constantly, day and night, unforgettable.”
Hearing this, Wei Xiu Yuan suddenly felt a sense of crisis. Could it be that he was going after Dong Jiayi?
While speaking, Dan Kaiquan clutched his chest as though in deep anguish.
After the New Year’s party last semester, when he confessed his feelings to Bai Yuxia, he had accidentally typed the wrong name—Dong Jiayi’s—and caused quite the commotion.
Looking back, if it hadn’t been for Dong Jiayi, maybe he and Bai Yuxia would have become a couple by now.
Dong Jiayi’s voice was especially distinctive; the sweet raspy tone remained the same, but the words she uttered were surprising:
“So, what exactly were you thinking about me all day and night?”
Dan Kaiquan responded instantly: “Your name.”
Before a crowd, Wei Xiu Yuan clenched his fist and then relaxed it.
It didn’t matter; he had seen such scenes many times before and was used to it.
Dan Kaiquan, after a brief moment of surprise, said in a flat tone,
“You are not my match, because you lack the aura of a true winner.”
“How would you know the outcome without playing a game?” Dong Jiayi said with a smirk.
Dan Kaiquan chuckled, “Your turn.”
Dong Jiayi stepped up, and though Wei Xiu Yuan hoped she would win the game, he also hoped she would lose; otherwise, he’d lose face.
The chess match began. At first, Dan Kaiquan wasn’t concerned, having encountered all kinds of opponents before.
Moreover, Dong Jiayi was just a little girl. Yet, as the game went on, he started to notice something was off. Her playstyle was tricky and unorthodox, hard to guard against.
Eventually, Dan Kaiquan lost control of the game and, astonishingly, he lost.
Dan Kaiquan was dumbstruck, struggling to cope with the blow.
Dong Jiayi said, “I told you, you’re no match for me.”
Class 1’s crowd erupted in joy, with Du Chuan, Wei Xiu Yuan, and other onlookers nearly bursting into applause. They had disliked Dan Kaiquan for a long time and had finally beaten him.
Hit by such a blow, Dan Kaiquan felt extremely fragile, and his chess dreams shattered.
Instinctively, he looked at Ma Shicheng. Brother Ma was the rock for those at the back of the room, always there when needed and always useful.
He had already taken down three of Class 1’s players, and as long as Brother Ma could defeat Dong Jiayi, they’d still be the victors.
Ma Shicheng, holding his phone, faced Dan Kaiquan’s pleading eyes. There wasn’t much he could do about chess; though he could play, he doubted he was any better than Dan Kaiquan and feared he’d also lose.
So, he looked towards Jiang Ning.
Everything was sorted whenever they turned to Jiang Ning.
Suddenly, Dan Kaiquan, Ma Shicheng, and Wang Longlong all collectively turned to Jiang Ning.
Dong Jiayi also shifted her gaze to him.
“You’re counting on him?”
“Yes, it’s Jiang Ning.” This time, Dan Kaiquan wasn’t embarrassed. Class 1 wasn’t playing fair, battling him in rotation. Now that he needed a savior, it couldn’t be too much, could it?
Despite not knowing what Jiang Ning could do, they had no choice but to hope for the best.
“Brother Ning, it’s your turn to move!” Wang Longlong shouted like a true believer.
Dan Kaiquan joined in, “Brother Ning, make your move!”
He hoped Jiang Ning could pull off a miracle, as minute as that chance might be.
The good guys of Class 8 couldn’t let themselves be defeated by a girl from Class 1, right?
Jiang Ning, upon hearing them, glanced at the chessboard and Dong Jiayi.
Jiang Ning, ranked second in the grade and stationed in Class 8, had naturally piqued Dong Jiayi’s curiosity. It was incredible that he managed to rank so high.
In the whole first year of high school, quite a few girls were interested in him. After all, at this stage in high school, top students naturally had a dazzling aura.
Besides, Jiang Ning was quite handsome.
“Jiang Ning, care for a game? Let’s test your skills,” Dong Jiayi invited him.
Jiang Ning glanced at Xue Yuantong.
Their eyes met, and the longstanding tacit understanding between them allowed Xue Yuantong to instantly grasp Jiang Ning’s intent.
‘Hmph, if I don’t move, he always asks me to.’
If it weren’t for the trip during Qingming Festival, she wouldn’t be bossed around.
But Jiang Ning had promised her a favor she couldn’t refuse at noon.
Gatekeeper Xue Yuantong stepped forward and said, “If you want to play against Jiang Ning, you need to get past me first.”
“Just you?” Dong Jiayi didn’t believe it.
Not just Dong Jiayi, even Dan Kaiquan doubted it. He murmured,
“Xue Yuantong is good at something other than studying?”
It didn’t seem likely.
Ma Shicheng didn’t deny it. He remarked. “Don’t forget her skills at table tennis.”
They had been thrashed by Yang Sheng previously, only to find that Yang Sheng and Xue Yuantong were evenly matched when playing table tennis.
Dong Jiayi didn’t refuse Xue Yuantong’s initiative; she was eager to see for herself the skills of the first in the grade, first in the city.
Xue Yuantong stood up languidly from her seat and moved to sit across.
“Let’s begin.” Dong Jiayi said.
Xue Yuantong gestured for her to wait. She glanced at Jiang Ning, feeling a surge of courage.
She straightened up her posture and declared,
“The Chess Sage, Xue Yuantong, is here.”
“State your name, challenger. No nameless individuals can remain undefeated here.”
