Era of Magic and Martial Arts-Chapter 242 - 226: Passed Pawn? He Won’t Hold a Grudge Against Me!

Chapter 242: Chapter 226: Passed Pawn? He Won’t Hold a Grudge Against Me!

The atmosphere in the office was somewhat oppressive.

Qin Liang pondered over it again and again, but ultimately decided not to reveal to Qian Huan that Feng Mu was investigating his home address.

On one hand, Qin Liang was wary of Feng Mu and planned to first see what Feng Mu was up to before taking any action;

On the other hand, Qin Liang also had to be cautious of Qian Huan, fearing that he might be used as a pawn by this scheming prison director at any moment.

Qin Liang only mentioned that Feng Mu had invited colleagues for a gathering and extended the invitation to him as well.

This news couldn’t be hidden, nor was there any need to hide it.

Qian Huan apparently already knew this news from elsewhere. There was no surprise in his expression, and he only said in a calm tone:

"Surviving a calamity and inviting everyone to a meal is only right. Since Feng Mu has invited you, Forensic Doctor Qin, you should go."

Qin Liang nodded and then appropriately expressed his loyalty: "I will watch Feng Mu’s every move at the dinner and be sure to report back to you in detail."

Qian Huan was very satisfied with Qin Liang’s attitude, as a hint of approval flashed in his eyes.

Noticing Qian Huan’s amicable demeanor, Qin Liang cautiously probed:

"Since Feng Mu is not dead, what does the director plan to do with Feng Mu next, and what about Li Bashan..."

Qian Huan originally planned to use a pawn to activate and recruit Li Bashan, turning him into a tool at his disposal.

But now that the pawn was not dead, the first step of the plan had failed. Qian Huan felt a bit troubled and had to reconsider a new strategy.

After pondering for a long time, he suddenly changed the topic and asked, "Forensic Doctor Qin, have you ever played chess?"

Qin Liang was momentarily speechless, somewhat surprised: "Chess?"

Qian Huan: "A game that was popular in the previous era, and it was once all the rage in Upper City. However, here in Lower City, not many people play it."

Qin Liang nodded: "I’ve heard of it, seems somewhat similar to martial art strategy games?"

Qian Huan smiled, not caring if Qin Liang understood and explained simply: "This chessboard is composed of nine vertical and ten horizontal lines, with a horizontal line in the middle representing the river dividing the two sides."

"There are seven types of pieces on the board: generals, advisors, elephants, horses, chariots, cannons, and soldiers, each with its characteristics and uses."

Qin Liang didn’t quite grasp it but just nodded in agreement.

Qian Huan continued: "Li Bashan is the chariot I chose, capable of facing a thousand foes, charging around with the most devastating power."

Qian Huan sighed: "And there is another piece on the board, called the soldier."

"Soldiers can’t move across the river at first, they’re stiff and puppet-like, often used as bait to move forward or to initiate a suicidal exchange." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

At this moment, Qin Liang understood. This was the value of a pawn, and he echoed: "So, Feng Mu is that soldier?!!"

Qian Huan first nodded, then shook his head, saying in a deep voice: "He was supposed to be, but since he’s carved a way out, he’s like a soldier crossing the river. In chess terms, this is called a ’cross-river soldier.’"

Although Qin Liang didn’t fully grasp the deeper meaning, he couldn’t help but repeat: "Cross-river soldier?"

Qian Huan explained: "Once a soldier crosses the river and survives the first exchange, its usage changes. Not only can it move forward boldly, but it can also move sideways."

Qian Huan paused and added: "Therefore, there’s a saying in chess—’a cross-river soldier can be used half as a chariot.’

Qin Liang looked at Qian Huan in surprise. He initially thought Qian Huan was still plotting to get rid of Feng Mu, but upon reflection, realized he might have misunderstood.

The prison director had no deep-seated hatred for Feng Mu; wanting to eliminate him was for another purpose. Since the plan failed, there was indeed no need to be overly persistent or distressed.

He asked: "So, Prison Director Qian, are you planning to recruit Feng Mu under your wing?"

Qian Huan smiled slightly, confirming Qin Liang’s guess: "Without a chariot, using half a chariot is not bad either."

Qin Liang: "Will Feng Mu be obedient?"

Qian Huan confidently replied: "Promise important positions, entice with great benefits. This strategy may not necessarily work on Li Bashan, but it will definitely work on Feng Mu."

Although Qian Huan couldn’t deduce how Feng Mu broke the situation, he analyzed from the outcome that Feng Mu must be sharp-minded and ambitious.

Qin Liang acknowledged Qian Huan’s judgment, but he still had doubts: "However, Prison Director, aren’t you worried that Feng Mu will hold a grudge over the hallucinogen incident?"

Qian Huan said nonchalantly: "Feng Mu isn’t dead, is he? Since he’s not dead, if he’s smart enough, he won’t hold a grudge against me, the prison director."

Qian Huan grinned: "And if he’s not smart enough, all the better. The one who poisoned him was Wang Cong; the one who bought the poison was Tian Tao; the instigators behind the scenes were Chang Wei and Zhou Hu. There’s no way it would come back to bite me."

Looking at the confident smile on Qian Huan’s face, Qin Liang couldn’t help but feel a chill in his heart: "In those words, is he prepared to throw Wang Cong under the bus as a pawn at any time?"

Recollecting how not long ago he praised Wang Cong for having a bright future, Qin Liang found it chilling:

"So, Prison Director, is your daily work in the office just to observe who in the Second Prison is more suitable to be used as a pawn? First, it was Feng Mu, then Wang Cong. Who will it be next?"

Perhaps the explosion-proof glass was too thick, making it hard for Qian Huan to notice the sweat on Qin Liang’s forehead, as he didn’t pay much attention to Qin Liang’s rising sense of insecurity.

He bent down to pull a crumpled resume from the bottom of a drawer, revealing Feng Mu’s calm and composed one-inch photo.

Qian Huan’s gaze lingered on the photo for a moment, then he muttered to himself:

"I just wonder if this knife in my hand is sharp enough to cut through a few heads?"

....

Meanwhile, Tian Tao grabbed Wang Cong by the collar, forcefully pressing his head against the wall, his eyes flashing with fierce light, gritting his teeth as he demanded:

"Speak! Was it you who betrayed us?"

Wang Cong’s forehead was scratched, bleeding skin sticking to the wall paint. He struggled painfully, eyes wide with bloodshot, his voice hoarse yet firm:

"I didn’t."

Tian Tao clearly didn’t believe his denial, raging with fury, he said:

"You didn’t? Then how do you explain Feng Mu not being dead? He doesn’t look like someone who took a hallucinogen at all. Did you not drug him, or did he not eat it at all?"

Tian Tao had taken hallucinogens himself and seen others take them; he knew what the state of awakening should be, and certainly, it shouldn’t be like Feng Mu’s earlier state.

Wang Cong felt both aggrieved and indignant inside, wanting to understand why. He shouted in a low voice: "He ate it. I saw his thermos was empty."

Tian Tao sneered: "Oh, he ate it, then you must have not drugged him."

Outside the corridor, two prison guards stood watch in front of the office, occasionally hearing the yelling and screams from inside.

Suddenly, a cry different from the previous painful wails pierced through the air. The sharp and distorted sound startled the two prison guards, prompting them to immediately push open the office door.

The scene behind the door left the two prison guards so shocked that they could hardly breathe—Tian Tao was sprawled on the ground, a hand tightly covering his cheek, blood seeping slowly through the gaps between his fingers, dotting the cold floor.

Wang Cong lay aside, his clothes covered in chaotic footprints, evidently having been kicked and stomped.

His mouth was twisted, swollen, and bruised, his smile neurotically stretched to his ears, emitting hysterical laughter, spewing out chunks of flesh and two bloody shattered teeth.

Tian Tao looked at the bloody flesh spat on the ground and shouted in shock and anger: "You dare fight back, you dare bite me?"

The pupils of the two prison guards contracted sharply as they watched Tian Tao reach for the scattered flesh, revealing his shocking left cheek.

That half of his face was covered in deep bite marks, bloody and mangled, almost down to the bone. They could even clearly see through the bite marks into his bloody tongue and teeth—an image unforgettable for a lifetime.

Wang Cong stood tremblingly, looking down at Tian Tao picking up the flesh from the ground, laughing maniacally: "If you bully me again, I’ll bite you to death!"