Go: The live broadcast queen launched a gorgeous rebellion against the dog

Time moves forward quietly and swiftly, like black and white pieces on a chessboard.

The supercomputing array on the shore of Zhenze Lake works day and night, with massive layouts being repeatedly deduced and analyzed. The tiny gaps hidden in the AI ​​weight network are constantly explored and located in billions of calculations.

And in the long wait, the calendar quietly turned to a brand new page...

March 10, 3:30 PM, Dongjiang Hotel, Dongjiang City, Huaxia Province, chess room.

"...I give up."

The afternoon sun slanted through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, casting its rays onto the polished floor.

After two and a half hours of fierce battle, seeing that his situation had collapsed, Ichijo Takuya 9-dan gently placed two black stones on the board and resigned.

—A month later, the "Eternal Glory" special challenge match finally welcomed its sixth challenger: Ichijo Takuya 9-dan, who just defeated Ueno Toraiichiro with a total score of 4-2 and successfully defended his title of Japanese Kisei!
However, this challenge was still without any suspense. Faced with Yong Shi Zhaojun's flawless performance, the old rabbit's win rate was pushed down to 50% at an astonishing speed, and then he crushed the opponent all the way, so it can be said that he had no chance at all in the whole game.

However, after conceding defeat, his face did not show much frustration, but rather the relief of a chess player after challenging the peak.

Across from him, the sharpness in Rui Zhao's focused eyes was gradually fading, returning to a gentle and clear state.

Although he knew before the match that his chances of winning were slim, being able to stand here and challenge this universally recognized goddess of Go would be a great honor for any professional Go player.

Seeing Rui Zhao's gaze refocus, Ichijo Takuya immediately gestured for the translator beside him to step forward, and then, with sincere respect, spoke to her through the translator:
"To be honest, it is an honor to come and challenge you, 9th Dan Rui Zhao."

"Lijiang's growth to where she is today is inseparable from your guidance and help."

"Including the fact that I was able to win a world championship and a world runner-up in 2024, besides the element of luck, it was also thanks to what I learned from Rui Zhao 9-dan."

"I extend my heartfelt respect to you!"

"……Um?"

Seeing the Japanese Go master suddenly bow to him again, the world's number one player was clearly puzzled:
"I don't remember... ever helping a ninth-dan player like you in any way."

"I just haven't directly asked you for advice or learned from you!"

Takuya Ichijo immediately responded humbly through a translator:
"At that time... Rui Zhao, your focused attitude of concentrating on your own improvement and not caring about temporary gains or losses gave me a lot of inspiration."

"It was precisely with this mindset that I was able to ultimately win one championship and one runner-up finish! So I should express my sincere gratitude to you!"

"Ah... well, actually I didn't do anything!"

"The main reason is that you, a ninth-dan, are exceptionally strong!"

After listening to the translation, Rui Zhao smiled modestly and gently shook her head, saying:

"...But this time, our team was able to defend our title in the Chinese Weiqi League, and you, Ichiya 9-dan, deserve the most credit! Thank you very much!"
"It seems... my absence won't have any impact..."

"I feel relieved now!"

Rui Zhao's words seemed to carry a hint of emotion, but Ichijo Takuya took them as a compliment from the eternal Zhaojun and quickly waved his hand in response:
"Ah! You flatter me, 9th Dan Rui Zhao!"
"Without you, the team is still missing a very important leader!"

"Like in the semifinals, Yang Manjing 9-dan lost to Sun Yi 9-dan in the main match while playing white, and I also lost a game to Nie Yunyi 8-dan..."

"Thanks to the team's strong overall strength, with four 9-dan main players, they were able to narrowly win 5-3!"

"……Eh?"

Hearing this, Rui Zhao frowned slightly:
"According to the rankings...aren't we, the first place team in the regular season, the Xiatian Port team in the semifinals?"

Takuya Ichijo was visibly taken aback upon hearing this, but after a moment's thought, he added through a translator:
"Oh, no!"

"In the second round of the playoffs in the championship zone, Lin Ruixin 9-dan ultimately lost to Sun Yi by half a point in the main match while playing white."

"In the end, Tianjing team lost to Suhu team with a score of 4-4 and failed to enter the semi-finals."

"Is that so?"

Rui Zhao paused slightly, a barely perceptible tremor flashing in her eyes, as if something had touched her:
"Is Lin Jiudan... extremely frustrated?"

Takuya Ichijo noticed Rui Zhao's slightly unusual attention and was a little surprised.

He thought for a moment and continued in his reply:
"Ah... I don't think so, right?"

"I've noticed he's maintained his form very well lately; he even made it to the semifinals of your Tianyuan Tournament yesterday..."

Then, he changed the subject, his tone carrying the objective assessment of a chess player's skill level:

"However, his opponent in the semifinals today is Lei Qi 9-dan, so it will probably be very difficult for him to go any further."

"Is that so...?" Rui Zhao responded softly, her voice lower. Her gaze seemed somewhat vacant, as if she were lost in thought for a moment.

Takuya Ichijo noticed Rui Zhao's subtle change in emotion. After hesitating for a moment, he finally voiced his question through the translator:

"Rui Zhao, you seem to be paying special attention to Lin, the 9th Dan! But he..."

"Don't we have some grudges against each other?"

Upon hearing this, a complex and indescribable emotion flashed in Rui Zhao's clear eyes, like a recollection, yet also like a sense of relief:

"It's not that there are any grudges between us..."

Rui Zhao's voice was calm and deep. He paused slightly, then looked out the window, his gaze seemingly piercing through time and space, looking towards a more distant place.

"But... this is the last thing I haven't finished. But if I really can't wait any longer..."

"...Well, there's nothing we can do about it."

...

...

...Tsk!

Is there really no other way...?

An hour and a half later, at the Cultural and Sports Center of Tongli Town, Suhu Province.

The semifinals of this year's Tianyuan Tournament are being held here.

Looking at the board before him, which was nearing its end, Lin Ruixin bit the inside of his mouth in extreme resentment. The thoughts that surged in his mind were like a cold tide, instantly drowning out all his calculations and struggles!
Because Rui Zhao relinquished the title of "Tianyuan," the position of Tianyuan is now vacant. Therefore, the format of this year's Tianyuan tournament is different from the past – the challenger final has been changed to a best-of-three series, with the winner becoming the new Tianyuan.

If Lin Ruixin can defeat Lei Qi, he will be able to enter the best-of-three final and challenge for the "Tianyuan" title, which he has not held for eleven years.

However, he never thought about "reclaiming the title of Tianyuan"... He didn't even pay much attention to the fact that the tournament he was participating in was the Tianyuan Tournament!

He had only one thing on his mind: to win another championship and then take revenge on Rui Zhao, who had ruined his reputation!

This unwavering determination, like a blazing flame, sustained him through countless days and nights of arduous practice, enabling him to rise from each failure... allowing him to persevere to this day!

But... this time, his journey of revenge has come to an end.

Although Lin Ruixin felt he had played well enough in this game, and even seemed to have gained a slight advantage in the middle game!
However, as the match progressed, under Lei Qi's tireless and precise pursuit, which was like a perpetual motion machine, that slight advantage was gradually and forcefully reversed, and eventually vanished completely!
At this moment... the outcome is no longer in doubt.

The game has now progressed to the final endgame stage, and it is almost certain that he, playing white, will lose by one and a half points.

Some time ago, facing Sun Yi, who was clearly prepared and had studied his playing style, even with his preferred white pieces, he still fell short and lost by half a point...

Today, facing Lei Qi, who is at his peak and full of energy, the opportunity slipped away again, and he was defeated once more! It seems that fate is always playing a cruel joke on him!

Just as the reporters at the media conference that day mocked, Lin Ruixin truly felt how difficult it was for him to win an unlimited championship!

Energy... stamina... calculation speed... are all far less than they used to be...

They also have to face the ever-present challenge from the top young chess players!

All of these things bound him like heavy shackles, making his path to the championship extremely difficult.

Thinking of this, Lin Ruixin subconsciously clicked his tongue and shook his head blankly, as if trying to shake off all the chaotic thoughts in his mind!
However, his thinking was already starting to go haywire – he had completely forgotten that his previous match with Sun Yi was in the league, and even if he eventually led the Tianjin team to victory, he would not get a chance to challenge Yong Shi Zhaojun.

But none of that matters now...

He stopped looking at the chessboard and instead, with an almost numb motion, directly stopped the timer.

The crisp "tick-tock" sound was particularly jarring in the quiet chess room, but it didn't stop in the middle.

After conceding defeat, Lin Ruixin immediately began tidying up the chess pieces on the board without saying a word.

It's like what just ended wasn't a match, but rather someone's post-game analysis...

"...Lin Jiuduan, stop wasting your time on yourself."

Just then, a young yet composed voice came directly from across the chessboard. Lin Ruixin instinctively looked up.

Lei Qi's voice was calm and even, but his gaze was sharp as a knife, staring directly into his somewhat empty eyes.

"I won't let you bother her anymore." (End of Chapter)