Over the years, he rarely dared to show off his chess skills in public. When friends asked about it, he would always say he didn't know how to play—until he met Qu Muzhi.
He was a rare opponent who could match him evenly and even exert pressure on him. The two would often engage in fierce battles, ending in draws. According to Nalan Shuo, their chess skills were so bad that even a dog would shake its head.
This match lasted nearly an hour and ended with Yang Xiao's victory. Moments later, Yang Xiao slowly stood up and cupped his hands with a smile at Qu Muzhi, who was still frowning at the chessboard. "Brother Qu, thank you for letting me win."
"Next time, I'll win it back. Our skills are separated by just a thin margin. I made a wrong move—if only you'd have let me undo one piece, I would have defeated you." Qu Muzhi picked up the chess piece in his hand and pushed it towards Yang Xiao, signifying his surrender.
