The work of the Go master

"That stupid bear gave up so easily, I won't be defeated so easily," Yingmei said in a low voice, revealing that she also had a bit of a chuunibyou (delusional) spirit.

"Then prove it with your abilities," Ke Zhiguang replied in a somewhat childish tone.

Having witnessed Xiong Ying's crushing defeat in the previous game, Ying Mei became even more cautious in this game.

But she was also certain that the layout itself wasn't very powerful. Just like its imaginative visual effects, this style... let's call it a style for now, was mainly a style that pursued art, not one that aimed to win.

The main reason Xiong Ying lost the last game was the gap in skill between her and Ke Zhiguang, as well as Xiong Ying's momentary lapse in concentration.

— Calm down and don't be intimidated by his imposing manner.

Yingmei calmly placed the chess piece, which only shimmered faintly. All the special effects were suppressed to the deepest level, ready to be unleashed. The bald eagle spread its wings and circled in the highest sky, its eyes reflecting Ke Zhiguang's figure.

The tranquility on the chessboard contrasted sharply with the impending blizzard outside the window, and several times the noise of snow scraping against the window briefly caught the attention of the deer.

She always felt that something terrible was going to happen next, just like many people have had the experience of being frightened by thunder when they were young.

On the chessboard, Takami finally felt she had seized the opportunity, and suddenly leaned forward, her ponytail swaying beside her head.

At that moment, she put her fingers into the box, and the force with which she placed the piece instantly became uncontrolled!

That was a large knight's move flying from the third line towards the center of the chessboard, a strategic point that both sides needed to fight for, and it was also the point that Ke Zhiguang needed most.

The feathers scattered from this move and instantly transformed into sharp blades, piercing towards Ke Zhiguang!

Ke Zhiguang pursed his lips, his mind becoming completely focused. In his view, sharp feathers were falling from the sky along the bald eagle's circling trajectory; a careless movement would result in a cut.

As expected, after witnessing Xiong Ying's defeat, Ying Mei's performance became even more refined. The gap in her abdomen was cut open, and a continuous stream of power was flowing out from her own true essence.

Since the central government can't become a major power, it can only return to its old ways... and go into the gutter!

Like a coin being flipped over, Ke Zhiguang immediately cut off the piece in the lower right corner where he had already prepared a move. Now was the best time to make his move!

A troublesome look of disgust immediately appeared on Yingmei's face, like accidentally bumping her little finger while wearing slippers. Not only was the pain extremely intense, but more importantly, the bump would ruin her mood.

With the skill of "Sympathy Through Chess," Ke Zhiguang also felt his opponent's displeasure.

Hmm... Just thinking about how annoyed my opponent makes me feel really good, I don't know why.

The pieces continued to rub against each other intensely!

A sudden battle erupted in the lower right corner. Both sides were on edge, and any retreat would lead to a local avalanche.

Xiong Ying muttered under her breath, "I've looked through his game records before. How come he always manages to create ko fights in unexpected places, and he almost never suffers a loss..."

Propose robbery, seek out robbery!

Ke Zhiguang's every move was like hammering nails; pieces of the chessboard flew into the air, and behind them were his eyes filled with intense aggression.

We can't win!

A single, deadly move pierced through the opponent's bottom right corner, and dozens of pieces perished, like a dazzling firework display. If nothing unexpected happens, this group of Dota fans will be up to something again.

With his rage bar full and power surging in, Ke Zhiguang showed no mercy and directly activated the "discouragement" effect!

Jump from the spot!

One foot was hung upside down, welded to the bald eagle's forehead, turning its once majestic eagle eyes into tiny, rounded eyes.

The bald eagle crashed to the ground like a helicopter hit by an RPG.

"I concede." Yingmei sighed, carefully placing her pieces in the corner as a sign of surrender.

The Cold War group has successfully tamed... oops, won.

"Thank you for your guidance."

Two hours passed, and the two games of chess were quickly finished. Night had fallen completely outside the window, and the vanguard of the blizzard had reached Otaru. The distinctive punk clock in the city center sounded a warning.

The timing was perfect.

"Alright, it's my turn next. Your fancy moves won't work against us!" Harushima Shika, as if her fighting spirit had been ignited... well, her thoughts, she pretended to rub her fingers together and sat down in front of the chessboard.

Unfortunately, I didn't use the right posture or dare to use force, so I couldn't make any sound... Anyway, it's very cute.

To be fair, although this move looks cool and has the momentum of warming up before a fight, doing it too often is bad for your opponent and can make your joints bigger.

"Oh, you're coming too?" Ke Zhiguang asked in surprise.

"What? So I can't come?" Harujima Shika choked.

Hmm... This dialogue gives off the vibe of a simp buying two movie tickets for a woman, only to be questioned by her, "Are you coming too?"

"Uh, I mean, I have some things to take care of next, can I come back tomorrow?" Ke Zhiguang asked.

"Something wrong? It's snowing so heavily outside, are you still going out?" Harushima Kashi glanced at the pitch-black view outside the window, feeling a little worried.

—You rascal, are you going out to play chess with some weird stuff?

She probably guessed the answer.

Although she hadn't experienced these things herself, she learned about similar stories by chance while listening to some old geezers bragging.

Sometimes, when she recalls the past, she finds that her father seems to have had similar experiences, such as suddenly disappearing at night, claiming that he was going to play against some interesting opponents. He would also emphasize that he was playing for everyone, and that these games were more meaningful than any ordinary game.

When Dad said these words, he was full of confidence, his smile optimistic and domineering, like a knight of light charging for justice. But at the last moment before leaving, as he took his last look at the door about to close, he would become somewhat lonely, as if he was afraid that he might never return.

Looking back on these events, she guessed that her father might have gone out to play chess with some strange thing.

Fortunately, Dad always returned safely.

"Well, that's settled then. Let's come back tomorrow. Besides, the snow will stop by tomorrow, so even if we don't play chess, we can go outside and play again."

Xiong Ying said, "Didn't they say the weather would be like this for the next few days?"

"So-called weather forecasts are, to put it bluntly, prophecies, and aren't prophecies meant to be broken? Just like rules are often made not to be followed, but to be torn up," Ke Zhiguang said, pretending to make a lot of sense.

Xiong Ying seemed taken aback by the long speech, scratching the back of her head and nodding blankly: "Oh, that seems to be true... That makes sense! Tomorrow will definitely be sunny!"

"You actually believed that..." Yingmei covered her face and complained.

Harujima Shika was naturally annoyed at not being able to play a game with Koji Hikaru when he was in the middle of a heated battle, but considering that he was playing for "everyone", well... let's let him off the hook for now.

"Ahem, although I don't know what you're going out to do now, please make sure you win." Harushima Shika said, puffing out his chest and putting his hands on his hips, his chin held high.

Ke Zhiguang, who was about to take a step forward, paused in place for a moment.

He grasped the wonderful sense of understanding between them.

"Yes, I guarantee victory, but before I go out, let me soak in the hot spring for an hour first."

Chapter Sixteen: An Emperor-like Blessing!

Ke Zhiguang immediately set off for his room.

The chessboard, which had been used as a temporary worker, has now been officially covered with a curtain, essentially putting on a work uniform.

Although it didn't get any loot when it won the Snow Woman-like item before, it won a human this time, so it should get some loot now, right?

Ke Zhiguang yanked back the curtain—the goods were there.

[Super Event Trigger Scroll × Super Challenge Scroll]

Quickly, use it to enter dimension X!

A strange explanation appeared.

Although its name suggests a combination of two types of rolls, it actually consists of only one single roll, decorated with adorable bears and eagles, resembling an admission ticket to a zoo. Its allure to the deer of Harushima is absolutely off the charts.

This is an item that the two of them dropped together, so you could say they unintentionally completed a small hidden quest.

And this is exactly what Ke Zhiguang hoped for.

Meeting Xiong Ying and Ying Mei here is both a coincidence and an inevitability; everything is in the script of the god of quantum mechanics.

They are a hurdle they must overcome before facing the ultimate Blizzard.

Prop 2: [Cold War Diary]

[Essential items for shipping couples]

This……

Ahem, don't publicize this kind of thing. Keep it safe, keep it safe.

Item 3: [Heart-chilling Häagen-Dazs]

[Activating a one-hour period of extreme cold]

Item 4: [Fiery Vodka]

[Let the burning sensation begin, lasting up to an hour!]

These two props are sabotaging each other!

Next, I'll be facing a blizzard, and at a time like this, I should definitely have a bottle of vodka to calm my nerves—you think I'd say that?

The correct answer is... Häagen-Dazs!

Ke Zhiguang devoured the Häagen-Dazs in one gulp, the gentle, sweet sensation melting on his taste buds.

It's strawberry flavored, and very sweet and sour.

The moment the ice cream was licked clean, the chill officially began to take effect.

Let's soak in the Emperor's Pool in this cold state!

A blizzard is falling, the snow and ice pounding against the roof with a dense, piercing noise, and the whole world is being ravaged by a frost.

Ke Zhiguang stepped into the hot spring area, his feet creating a matrix-like pattern.

Snowflakes poured in through the cracks, covering the cobblestone and bluestone floor with a thin layer of snow. It is expected that a thick layer of snow will accumulate here by tomorrow.

The ordinary hot springs have all been sealed off in advance and entered a mild hibernation period. Under these harsh conditions, the only one that is still standing firm is the Emperor Pool at the very end of the hot spring area, which is also the highest point of this hill. It remains open, with scorching steam rising from its spring and rolling down in steps.

According to traditional savior stories, heroes always need to find a place to train and receive the gift of power before defeating the demon king, right?

In that case, this Imperial Pool is the best place for cultivation, and also a test.

True dragon slayers need to soak in lava to obtain the holy sword, so it's only reasonable for this chess-playing dragon slayer to soak in a slightly warmer hot spring, right?

Ke Zhiguang stood at the edge of the Emperor's Pool, as if standing at the crater of a volcano, feeling the rising heat.

Two days ago, the bamboo swordsmith completed his so-called trial here, and today it's his turn.

After testing the temperature, Ke Zhiguang exerted his strength and plunged his body into the constantly bubbling hot spring. The boiling sensation surged through the pores of his skin as his willpower battled against the flames.