"B-but... I don't know how to play Chinese chess."
Faced with the Saint of Formations' aggressive attitude, Ethan said something that would leave men silent and women in tears.
"..."
The Saint of Formations fell silent for a long time.
Then he frowned at Ethan and said, "Then why did you enter the game?"
"Because I wanted this chessboard!"
Ethan answered honestly.
There was no point lying anyway.
He still had no idea how to get out, and judging from the Saint of Formations' expression, if he didn't play a game, the man looked ready to tear him apart.
"...", The Saint of Formations fell into another long silence.
Right now, he was wondering if he should just kill this kid and turn him into one of the pawns on the board.
He happened to be short on pieces anyway.
But, after all these years, being trapped inside the chessboard, it was impossible not to feel lonely.
The Saint of Formations also wanted someone to talk to. Maybe he could teach this kid how to play chess.
He refused to believe that after teaching him for ten or twenty years, the kid still wouldn't learn.
Sure, it'd still be boring then, but at least it wouldn't be quite as boring.
Bzz!
The Charlie Brand radio suddenly flickered a few times, then a voice sounded beside Ethan's ear.
"I can!"
"You can what?", Ethan asked.
"I know how to play chess," Charlie said, "I used to play with the old men in the park all the time. Later, they stopped letting me join them."
"Why wouldn't they let you play?", Ethan was puzzled.
'Could it be that Charlie is so bad at chess that the old men didn't want to play with him anymore?'
Charlie said, "Because I won all their money."
"Fair enough. You win."
Ethan couldn't help laughing.
Just then, the Saint of Formations across from him pointed his sword at Ethan and said, "Kid, I've decided! I'm going to teach you how to play chess. You won't be allowed to leave this place until the day you can beat me."
"Uh... can I not play?"
"No."
The Saint of Formations rejected the idea without hesitation.
"Then what do I get if I beat you?"
"Whatever reward you want," the Saint of Formations said coldly, "I am the great Saint of Formations, an Immortal King. There are very few things in this world that I can't do."
Ethan raised another question, "Then how did you end up trapped here?"
"..."
At that moment, the Saint of Formations started having second thoughts about keeping this kid around and teaching him chess.
By then, he wasn't sure who would end up driving whom crazy.
'The way this kid talks...'
'Is really infuriating!'
"Forget it. If you don't want to talk about it, I won't ask. Everyone has some embarrassing history, right?", Ethan waved his hand with an understanding look, "How about this? If I beat you, you help me a hundred times. Deal?"
The Saint of Formations said, "One win counts as one favor. Why should I help you a hundred times?"
"You don't have confidence in yourself?"
"You're changing the subject!"
"Fine, one favor it is."
Ethan had to admit the Saint of Formations was pretty sharp.
Still, one favor was one favor.
At worst, he'd just beat him a few more times. After all, there had to be a first time before there could be more.
"Hmph!"
The Saint of Formations sneered.
"What's with that casual expression? Do you really think you're guaranteed to beat me?"
"Not exactly," Ethan said, "I just want to ask something. Since I really don't know how to play chess, can I get outside help? If I can, then I'm pretty confident I can beat you."
"What do you mean by outside help?", A trace of confusion appeared on the Saint of Formations' imposing face, "Forget it! Whatever you mean, as long as you can beat me."
"Great!"
He had two helpers on his side, plus that Scam-God Statue.
Before every move, he could have Charlie and the Scam-God Statue simulate it ten or eight times. If skill wasn't enough, he'd just win by cheating.
"Hmph! Quite the big talk."
The Saint of Formations waved his hand.
Instantly, every piece on the chessboard returned to its original position.
All the black pieces returned to Ethan's side, while the white pieces returned to the Saint of Formations' camp. The two sides faced each other across the Chu River and Han Border, ready for battle.
There was just one problem, Neither side had a complete set of pieces.
On the Saint of Formations' side, he was missing one cannon, one horse, and one chariot.
Ethan's side was a little better. He was only missing one horse and two elephants. The horse was in his hand, so that wasn't a problem, but being short a pair of elephants, that was a problem.
Even though he didn't know how to play Chinese chess, he'd at least seen other people play.
So he knew the elephants were importantm
"Senior Saint of Formations...", Ethan said, "I'm missing a pair of elephants."
"What's that got to do with me if you're missing a partner?", the Saint of Formations said helplessly, "I don't arrange marriages! Besides, I don't have a daughter to marry to you. Give it up!"
Ethan carefully repeated himself with pauses, "No! I mean, I'm missing... a pair of elephants."
"I'm just an Immortal Sovereign, not the Matchmaker God. Why are you telling me you don't have a partner?"
"I said...", Ethan replied helplessly, "I'm missing a pair of elephants!"
"I'll say it again. Don't tell me you're missing a partner!", the Saint of Formations roared, "I'm just someone who sets up formations and plays chess. What am I supposed to do if you don't have a partner? Even if you beat me, I can't arrange a marriage for you!"
"For crying out loud!"
Ethan was starting to wonder if the Saint of Formations had been single for so long that he could even mishear something this simple.
Taking a deep breath, Ethan quickly walked over to the empty elephant position on his side and pointed at it.
"See this? I'm missing a pair of elephants. How am I supposed to play like this?"
"Uh...", The Saint of Formations froze, "So that's the pair of elephants you meant. Hahahaha!"