The work of the Go master

The extreme cold began to take effect, continuously dissolving the heat that was spreading from the outside in.

The countdown has begun and will last for one hour.

A group of girls huddled in the still-operating pool next door, eavesdropping while leaning against the wooden railing, their bodies rubbing against each other in a slippery motion.

"Can anyone explain his series of actions? From suddenly playing a game with us, then claiming he was going out, to why he came to take a bath again? And in that Emperor's Pool no less?"

"Is the Emperor's Pool famous?"

"Master said it's a hot spring with a spirit, ranking first among hot springs for miles around. If you can soak in it for an hour, you'll be in excellent condition for the next six months. But unfortunately, not many people pass its test; instead, they all get dizzy from soaking... But what's even more regrettable is why this pool isn't on the women's side! Why don't you build us a Queen's Spring or something!"

Yingmei said, "It's very difficult to soak there for an hour. Even if you succeed, you'll probably be in a daze for a while. Does he really have something else to do tonight?"

“It will definitely happen, it’s very important,” Harushima Kashima said.

"Let's cheer him on! Come on, Shinseiki-kun, you have to pull through!"

"Idiot, don't speak so loudly, it's so embarrassing!"

These everyday, playful sounds came from next door to the fence, and the faint clatter of warships colliding could also be heard.

Although Ke Zhiguang really wanted to complain, he didn't have the time. In the process of fighting against the high temperature, he had to concentrate and focus, and a calm mind would naturally cool him down.

During his previous conversation with Xingjia, when he learned that he might have to play a game of chess against something strange in the sub-zero temperatures of a blizzard, he thought that he might need to make use of the Emperor's Pool.

The fact that Brother Duan was able to pass the test of this hot spring with his own perseverance is enough to prove that he is a tough character, but he undoubtedly also spent a lot of time challenging this place and failed repeatedly before finally succeeding.

However, Ke Zhiguang did not have that much time to hone his skills, but he did have his own unique set of problem-solving strategies.

First, apply a cold debuff to yourself, and then use this debuff to clash with the current, more negative debuff, namely the high temperature of the hot spring, thus achieving a surprisingly harmonious effect.

Finally, you will receive an imperial blessing!

Although its specific effects are unknown, considering its high-temperature characteristics, it might have a magical effect of +99 cold resistance, ensuring that one can travel alone in the snow with a dagger.

He closed his eyes, just as he had done with a bamboo sword, and a chessboard materialized in his mind.

The move is made, the thought process begins.

My mind began to enter another world, where a tranquility extending outward from within my spiritual world was resisting the invasion of the external high temperature.

As we all know, in this world, Go is linked to idealism. Playing Go can solve all problems. So even if there is no ready-made Go board, playing against oneself in one's mind, as long as the emotions are properly expressed, can create a low temperature that cancels out the external environment.

probably.

The wind and snow were raging, but tranquility was spreading in my heart. The girls on the other side of the fence also calmed down, not because they had quieted down, but because... they had both gotten drunk and were dragged away by Yingmei.

Ke Zhiguang's challenge to the Emperor's Pool has also reached its final moment.

10, 9, 8... A countdown timer jumped before Ke Zhiguang's eyes.

0.

Congratulations! You have passed the test of the Spring God and received an imperial blessing.

Ke Zhiguang suddenly opened his eyes, and like a monster landing, he jumped up from the hot spring and stepped onto the bluestone ground.

A hissing sound of hot air splashed onto his body, and from within the spring mist, a monstrous figure stepped out, its eyes gleaming with red flames.

Maximum cold resistance!

Chapter Seventeen: Kamen Rider!

【The Blessing of the Sacred Spring: The Baptism of the Imperial Pool】

Such a dialog box appeared next to Ke Zhiguang himself, and visible steam was emanating from his skin. If his skin were painted a little more purple, he would look exactly like Luffy in Gear Second form.

[Cold resistance MAX, lasts for one week, after which it becomes a permanent +20]

[The perfect state lasts for one night; after one night, it transforms into a sub-perfect state that lasts for half a year.]

[The fierce competitive spirit at its peak lasted for half a year.]

[P.S.: You can only soak in this spring once.]

A dazzling halo appeared above their heads, and the words transformed into a burning form, each stroke like lava being cast.

It's still unclear what exactly a strong competitive spirit is, but it must be incredibly powerful!

Let's take advantage of this momentum and go for it!

Ke Zhiguang stepped out of the hot spring area, still steaming hot, and went to the changing room. The intimidating aura emanating from his entire body stunned every tourist who passed by, and they all involuntarily stood against the wall.

Why does this guy look so fierce?

Could it be that he really did soak in that supposedly emperor-level hot spring for an hour, just as rumored?

Ke Zhiguang went to the wardrobe and dried himself off with a large bath towel.

In fact, from the time he came out of the Emperor's Pool until he walked here, he had already dried out quite a bit. The steam coming out of his body was actually the result of the evaporation of moisture.

Just as he opened the wardrobe door, ready to get dressed, Ke Zhiguang froze.

What was placed in the closet was not the down jacket he had worn before, but... his own business uniform, the suit embroidered with peach blossom patterns, folded as neatly as tofu.

The Go Saint's fan lay horizontally on the clothes, the pendant at the end of the fan curving gracefully, as if it had been carefully adjusted.

There was also an unfamiliar red scarf and goggles.

Although Ke Zhiguang prides himself on being diligent at work, with an eight-hour workday efficiency higher than most people's twelve-hour workday, he is not so workaholic as to bring his uniform on vacation, let alone bring it into the changing room in the bathroom.

It seems the god of quantum mechanics is quite knowledgeable; he knows that such an important place must be equipped with appropriate gear and... handy weapons.

The goggles are obviously protective gear for driving against the wind and snow, and as for that overly long scarf... it's probably for carrying... well, you know.

That's so thoughtful!

Ke Zhiguang suddenly reached into the wardrobe and pulled!

As if pressing a key, a sharp suit instantly appeared on his body, and under the light, the peach blossom pattern could be vaguely seen shimmering, like a tattoo of the underworld.

As the saying goes, whether it's the way of chess or the underworld, it all boils down to "being in the game."

The people around were stunned once again, and everyone seemed to have dislocated their jaws.

Ke Zhiguang walked gracefully out of the dressing room under everyone's watchful eyes. As he left, he waved his folding fan, and the words "Chess Saint" flashed by like a glint of cold light when a samurai tests his sword. As the fan closed, the samurai's sword returned to its sheath.

Upon arriving outside the hotel, the temperature plummeted just a door away. The snow fog made it difficult to open one's eyes, and every breath felt like embracing the icy Grim Reaper.

This temperature is fine.

Ke Zhiguang moved his five fingers in the snow fog and suddenly did not feel cold. Instead, he felt a refreshing coolness, like drinking Sprite on a summer day.

When in a state of maximum cold resistance, a continuous stream of heat is generated from the body, forming a Saiyan-like power field.

This lousy anime, eating dates requires high-level martial arts to break down.

Fortunately, this state only lasted one night. However, the subsequent +20 cold resistance value is not low. So far, Ke Zhiguang's cold resistance value has not increased by more than 10 points. With these 20 more points of cold resistance, he might be able to defeat the top four in the Antarctic Cup.

As for the Antarctic Cup... perhaps we should invite penguins to participate.

Arriving at the garage amidst the storm, the motorcycle that Bamboo Sword Forger left behind before leaving was waiting, the key inserted in the ignition, just waiting for a turn to wake it up.

This is practically... a must-have for Kamen Riders!

"Then, let's go!"

With the [Snowmobile Driving] skill activated, Ke Zhiguang exerted force on the handlebars, and the tracks immediately began to spin wildly on the snow. With a whoosh, Ke Zhiguang was taken off!

The hotel is located in the suburbs of Otaru, which is the perfect terrain for snowmobiles. Instead of two wheels, it has tracks and sleds on its base, making it run on the snow like Santa Claus driving a reindeer, very fast.

Okay, let's not talk about riding a deer anymore, just to avoid the topic. I still vividly remember the feeling of holding the dragon horns during the Nova Battle...

To be honest, it feels pretty good.

In the hot spring inn, Mizuki carried a tray of cakes and milk to the second floor, where Shōmiya and Hakumo were in seclusion for their studies.

"This is a reward for the two of you studying for a day."

"Thanks, Shuicheng. By the way, what have Ke Zhiguang and the others been up to lately?" Shaogong asked.

"Today we played chess together, but yesterday we played mahjong together... Indeed, it's more fun when everyone gathers in a small room and plays some games that are suitable for all ages." Shuicheng smiled with satisfaction.

"Is mahjong... really something for young people to play together...?"

"What?! They're playing mahjong?! Is it one of those games where you have to take off a piece of clothing if you lose a round—?"

"Stop! Stop being so obsessed. Drink this glass of milk properly; it'll help with sleep and memory."

After a karate chop calmed Bai Meng down, Shao Gong sipped his milk and sighed at the heavy snow outside the window: "We really have encountered an event that only happens in detective novels. This is a typical locked-room mystery scene. Maybe the power will suddenly go out like yesterday, accompanied by screams. By the time we get there, the body will already be lying on the scene."

"That's a really scary thing to say..." Shuicheng let out a wry smile.

"It's alright. If that really happens, Guang-kun will definitely take on the role of the protagonist as a detective. We just need to follow him closely and collect clues," Bai Meng said earnestly.

"That makes sense. At least his name has the word 'light' in it. I suppose at crucial moments, he'll lead everyone through the darkness, just like Kamen Rider on a motorcycle... Pfft!" As he finished speaking, Shao Gong, as if seeing something incomprehensible, spat a mouthful of milk onto the window.

"What's wrong? What's wrong? Has a body appeared? Or is it the murderer?" Bai Meng immediately panicked.

"Fake, fake, fake... Kamen Rider has really appeared!" Shao Gong pointed out the window.

Looking in the direction she pointed, all I could see was a red snowmobile charging against the storm, its bright red scarf billowing in the wind, leaving patterns like the blazing sun in the night sky.

This is really Kamen Rider! They even have a motorcycle ready!

"Why is Guangjun there?!" Bai Meng stammered, almost as if she was padding her word count.

Even though they were so far apart and hadn't seen each other's faces, the three of them had a feeling that this person must be Ke Zhiguang.

Moreover, he was carrying a chessboard on his back, like a young swordsman carrying a heavy sword, which looked like a scene of riding a horse to the battlefield.

"What weird thing is he going to play chess with this time?!" The three girls were terrified.

Chapter Eighteen: The Instructor's Snowstorm at the Mountain Temple

Ke Zhiguang sped along on his fiery snowmobile, drifting against the storm across the breathtaking snowfield, countless snowflakes being shredded by the tracks, making a melodious sound.

I really want to laugh out loud a few times to express the boldness and freedom in my heart.

Night, Hokkaido, deserted, blizzard, outskirts—countless elements of Japanese fantasy overlapped in the scene before him. Ke Zhiguang had a feeling that if he sped up a little more, he would pass through a mysterious tunnel and arrive in another world.

This is a scene that ordinary people rarely witness; they can only see the gentle side of snowflakes, not their fierce and cruel side.

Only those who have truly been in such an environment can understand that the breathtaking scenery before them is not a gift from nature, but a divine punishment. Before the age of civilization, this place was a gathering place for exiled criminals and barbarians. After civilization, it was just a cheap and inexpensive rural area.