My Sister Never Said She Was a Creepy Tale - Chapter 79

As the game progressed, Yue Yiyue’s red side shifted from an advantage to a disadvantage, and her expression grew increasingly hesitant.

The greatest difficulty in this chess match was finding a way to save more people.

The more Yue Yiyue thought, the more worried she became, and the more reluctant she was to move a piece.

With the computer’s countdown ticking away, Yue Yiyue’s time to move a piece grew slower and slower.

Greed… it was waiting for me here.

Fine beads of sweat broke out on Yue Yiyue’s forehead. Her mind was racing with calculations.

Zhou Qingyi on the opposite side was much more decisive in her attacks.

The entities backing her black pieces were merely monsters that had been mutated after triggering rules.

For these useless things, it was an honor for them to die for her in the chess game.

Greed looked at Yue Yiyue’s posture, which suggested she wanted to save everyone. In this moment, It felt that Yue Yiyue wasn’t as single-minded as It had imagined.

Hmm, if She underwent My modification, She should be able to end the game faster, move on to the next round, and harvest more lives.

In any case, there are plenty of consumables.

Only someone as soft-hearted as Yue Yiyue would think about how to save more people.

However, this version of Yue Yiyue was also quite good. One could slightly glimpse some ambition in her, although It didn’t need this kind of weak and incompetent ambition.

Greed’s gaze crossed with Gu Nanqiu’s behind Yue Yiyue. It subconsciously flinched, then remembered this was Its territory.

It puffed out Its chest and shouted at Zhou Qingyi: “If you win, I’ll give Gu Nanqiu to you.”

“She will bypass Mu Hongcai and belong directly to you, becoming your spoils of war.”

Hearing this, Zhou Qingyi was visibly more excited than before, and her playing style became even more sinister.

Yue Yiyue, who had been heavily suppressed and lost two pieces consecutively, already looked unwell.

Upon hearing Greed’s words, her face immediately darkened.

“Greed, you swore an oath earlier,” Yue Yiyue reprimanded sharply.

“Yes, I can guarantee she leaves here safe and sound,” Greed said nonchalantly: “But I didn’t say I wouldn’t touch her after she left.”

Gu Nanqiu was currently just an ordinary entity. It still had room for maneuvering before the other arrived.

As long as They were mutually destructive, the Main God wouldn’t interfere too much.

Moreover, if It didn’t create some trouble for Gu Nanqiu later, It would eventually be dragged back by her.

Recalling that cage-like lower realm, tsk, Greed decided to add some spice for Them.

Those crazy entities go there for love again and again.

I am just a little baby who recently got out. I don’t want to go back.

Thinking this, Greed twitched Its fingers. In a corner unnoticed by everyone, shimmering gold coins began to roll.

Soon, tentacles emerged from the corners of the room, silently following the coins, coiling around the items, and dragging them away.

After the opening phases were complete, Zhou Qingyi captured a Red Pawn with a Knight advancing to the center square. A few rounds later, her Black Knight captured Yue Yiyue’s Red Knight.

The rumbling collapse sounds in the room hammered at Yue Yiyue’s heartstrings with every strike.

She had initially intended to set up the board first, then gradually close the net, minimizing losses and saving as many people as possible.

But because of her hesitation, she was being suppressed by the black side.

More and more red pieces were being captured on the board, and the sound of collapsing behind her grew louder.

If this continues, I’m going to lose…

Yue Yiyue subconsciously raised her hand and bit her finger.

She now had one more layer of pressure on her shoulders.

What should I do…

What should I do?

She had agreed too rashly. Greed had hidden several tricks.

She had Gu Nanqiu and the trust of those strange sisters behind her, but she herself…

Standing there, Yue Yiyue could hear the suppressed wails beneath the violently collapsing pieces, muffled so as not to affect her performance.

The invisible pressure was like a tangible mountain, heavily pressing down on Yue Yiyue, making it impossible for her to breathe.

Zhou Qingyi noticed Yue Yiyue’s abnormality. She had anticipated that Yue Yiyue was completely out of her depth.

The more greedily she tries to grasp, the more insufficient her ability becomes, leaving her to lose everything.

She’s a perfect example of what not to be.

She wouldn’t be like this fool. Her goal was singular: to obtain Gu Nanqiu and become the ruler of A City.

Yue Yiyue handing over this stepping stone was the opportunity she needed.

“Yiyue, calm down. You can do this, can’t you?” Gu Nanqiu’s voice sounded like a tranquilizer in the quiet room.

There was no doubt in the gentle inquiry, only absolute trust in Yue Yiyue.

Yue Yiyue looked back at Gu Nanqiu, a little bewildered.

Her lips moved, but she ultimately swallowed her words.

“Yiyue, let go and do your best, alright?” Gu Nanqiu’s gentle voice continued: “No one needs you to bear this responsibility. You only need to finish this game.”

“I know the rules of this game, and I know the consequences I will face if you lose, but I still accepted your call.”

“Because I guessed you would place many extra burdens on yourself.”

“Don’t worry about any of that. You just need to play this game well.”

Gu Nanqiu’s words were like a clap of thunder, splitting through Yue Yiyue’s muddled thoughts. She was right. I just need to play this game well.

Just play this game well.

If she was restricted by the people behind her and lost, the consequence would be the death of over a hundred people outside the room.

The trolley problem never had a standard answer, and she had to make a choice.

Standing before the chessboard, Yue Yiyue forced herself to calm down, focusing intently on the game. Her opening setup was good, and she wasn’t too many steps behind now.

Just before the countdown ended, Yue Yiyue used her remaining Red Knight to capture the opponent’s Black Knight.

This brought the game back to a subtle balance.

The more you try to hold onto, the easier it is to make mistakes.

She stared at the board, breathing deeply, ignoring the sounds around her.

The old ladies had taught her in Chinese Chess: look ten steps ahead for every step you take.

She unconsciously bit her hand, analyzing the situation.

After a few more rounds, Zhou Qingyi’s Black Knight captured the key Central Cannon in Yue Yiyue’s formation.

Zhou Qingyi looked up at Yue Yiyue contemptuously, as if reminding her not to struggle needlessly.

These second-rate petty tricks are useless against me.

Yue Yiyue ignored her. Another essential element of chess was maintaining mental stability.

She tried to discard all unnecessary thoughts, focusing purely on the board. Her mind calculated rapidly, spotting a gap in Zhou Qingyi’s defenses.

A move that she had been tricked into learning by the old ladies when she was little flashed in Yue Yiyue’s mind.

She subtly began to re-position her pieces, preparing for an aggressive advance.

Zhou Qingyi noticed Yue Yiyue’s intent and immediately retreated to defend.

The tide instantly turned.

Due to her haste and a kind of misplaced confidence, Zhou Qingyi overlooked one critical move.

The Red Chariot on the left, which had been ignored, flew directly next to the Black General.

Zhou Qingyi stared at the board, stunned for a moment.

The Advisor returned to its original position to defend.

The Red Pawn, which had already crossed the river into an excellent position, immediately advanced and captured Zhou Qingyi’s Black Advisor.

This put Zhou Qingyi in a dilemma, shattering her earlier advantage.

Before the countdown fully ended, Zhou Qingyi tried to struggle in vain, but Yue Yiyue captured five of her pieces in succession, leading to a complete rout.

At this point, the game’s outcome was decided.

Yue Yiyue looked at the fifteen original red pieces on the board; only ten remained now.

She looked back at the souls with a touch of apology. The souls’ eyes glittered with tears, but they ultimately nodded to Yue Yiyue and flew into the distance, their destination unknown.

“That seven-step checkmate sequence at the end was well done. I didn’t even know you could play chess,” Gu Nanqiu walked over and patted Yue Yiyue’s shoulder, asking: “How do you feel now?”

“It’s alright?” Yue Yiyue hadn’t realized Gu Nanqiu knew about that. She scratched her head. Her own… erm… little selfishness had almost put Nanqiu in danger…

Yet, the other person had helped her during the game.

Yue Yiyue felt a pang of guilt, so much so that she didn’t dare look at Gu Nanqiu now.

Her gaze swept wildly across the room, finally landing on Zhou Qingyi, who was still staring at the board in disbelief.

How… how could that have happened at the end?

How did I overlook that Red Chariot?

Greed was also slow to react. How did this game suddenly end?

Just moments ago, Yue Yiyue was being heavily suppressed by Zhou Qingyi.

In just three minutes?

And She forced Zhou Qingyi into a corner?

Didn’t She just play chess with a few old ladies?

Zhou Qingyi thought the same thing. A hint of confusion appeared in her eyes: “Impossible. Did you tamper with something?”

“This? Actually, everyone studies it. You played very well, but you miscalculated one move, and I happened to calculate one step further than you,” Yue Yiyue glossed over the matter, her mind racing with how to apologize.

“If you had reacted earlier, I probably wouldn’t have been able to achieve the final board state.”

While Yue Yiyue was explaining, Gu Nanqiu thoughtfully took out a wet wipe.

The cool wet wipe dabbed at Yue Yiyue’s sweat-beaded forehead, helping to dissipate her tension.

Yue Yiyue’s guilt intensified. Her eyes darting everywhere, she managed to squeeze out awkwardly: “Nanqiu, thank you. If it weren’t for your words, I wouldn’t have been able to calm down.”

These were her honest feelings.

Once she shed those burdens and focused purely on the chess game, it was a good experience for Yue Yiyue.

Those old ladies had played chess for decades and had memorized countless strategies.

Yue Yiyue was often utterly defeated by them.

But if Yue Yiyue solved their endgame puzzles, they would give her a few dollars as a reward.

Over time, Yue Yiyue became quite familiar with the game.

However, as time went on, some of the old ladies went home, and some were covered by thin yellow soil, becoming cold headstones.

Chess had subsequently been forgotten by Yue Yiyue.

When Greed suddenly brought it up, Yue Yiyue was momentarily stunned.

Fortunately, with Gu Nanqiu’s help, she regained her composure and finished this game that she had once solved.

She would save the rest of her apology for later. Yue Yiyue raised her hand and checked her watch. She still had thirty-five minutes.

“A bet is a bet, Greed. You should tell me where the sculpture is,” Yue Yiyue did not immediately capture the Black General, thus harvesting Zhou Qingyi’s soul.

This was her bet with Greed, and Zhou Qingyi was merely a passerby helping to play the game. It wasn’t necessary.

“You haven’t captured her soul yet. This doesn’t count,” Greed smiled cunningly. It crushed the gold coin in Its hand, attempting to bury Yue Yiyue right there.

After waiting for ten seconds, It found that the surrounding gold coins showed no reaction.

Its eye twitched uncontrollably. A sense of unease rose in Its heart.

“Give it up, I didn’t bet on that with you,” Yue Yiyue refused Greed straightforwardly. Just as she was thinking she should fight Greed directly, a person with a bad expression rushed in from outside the door and whispered a few words to Greed.

“My treasure!” With a shriek, Greed glared at Yue Yiyue resentfully: “What you want is underneath the stage where Mu Hongcai is standing.”

“If you can distract the people, just go down from the red carpet on the side.”