The work of the Go master

One of the chess players, fed up with the game, angrily shouted, "That damned Ke Zhiguang! He's lured away so many talented female chess players! I'm going to go and take him down!"

Then the person turned and left.

He returned a little while later, and someone next to him asked, "Is it done?"

He said, "What are you doing? The line over there is even longer than this one."

A level of everyday civilization of the highest caliber.

Although replacing Ke Zhiguang with Yagami Kunikyo would be much better in this joke, no editor dared to write it that way, and even if they did, they wouldn't dare to print it, and even if they did print it, they wouldn't dare to credit him. So, we'll just use Ke Zhiguang as a substitute.

Under this format, many strong players were forced to end their journey on the Dragon Throne before they even got to play a single game, due to the collapse of the players in front of them. They could only choose to stay put and travel.

Atsuki Oki assembled a group of middle-aged people this time, with each person bringing their family on board. They had planned to take a vacation on public funds well in advance, and many others did the same.

"Perhaps the rule in the Imperial Chess game was designed so that these two teams could compete for a ticket to the finals," Atsuki Oki said with a self-deprecating laugh, as if he had figured it out.

The camera lens hovered above the dome, like a vulture overlooking the battlefield.

The contents of each Go board were displayed in detail, and then transmitted to a Japanese television station, where close-ups of each Go player were also shown.

The first to show signs of trouble was Zhu Daoduan, who was biting his thumbnail and shaking his head again and again, rejecting the calculated changes.

His teacher was Kōemon Kōkai, who was opposite him. Kōkai taught him how to forge bamboo swords from beginner to advanced level.

Kuremon also witnessed his apprentice's troubled expression and sighed.

"How many times have I told you, Duan, you have to control your expression during the game, otherwise your opponent will easily see through your thoughts!" He shouted in his heart, and with the moment he placed his piece, the whip lashed into Duan's consciousness.

Bamboo sword forged's pupils fluctuated between dilation and contraction for a moment, and sweat poured from his forehead.

Compared to the previous rounds, the difficulty of this round increased dramatically.

"It looks like this seventh-dan bamboo sword user isn't in a good position. The space is so narrow, it's not easy for him to get ahead," Naosaka said.

"The teacher understands his apprentice well. He knows that his apprentice likes to disrupt the situation from the very beginning, so he simply starts with the most solid layout and uses a pattern-based strategy to deal with the chaotic battle."

"These old fogies can still maintain such a shrewd and experienced state. I wonder what kind of supplements they've been taking."

In the entire game room, the balance began to slowly collapse.

On the other chessboard, Xingjia remained seated, her hazy, spiritual eyes fixed on the chessboard.

But the gears have begun to loosen, and the odds of winning are shifting towards Xia Fuying's side like sand in an hourglass.

Hoshigami always had a smile on her lips, just like when she was playing chess at the shrine.

Xia Fuying stroked his beard with great admiration. He was also a 9-dan Go player who frequently visited Inoue Shrine and had played against Hoshigami many times. He knew that this was the other party's most ordinary appearance.

—In that case, I cannot let my guard down.

With that thought in mind, Xia Fuying slowed down his moves, lingering over each piece between his fingers for a long time before placing it.

In the room above, the Dragon Throne team was also watching the live broadcast of this game.

"It looks like Koji's team isn't doing too well. Bamboo Blade will probably surrender this game soon. Inoue-neechan's game looks like she can hold on, but it always feels like she'll lose by half a point in the end. How about Inoue-neechan's game?" Nishi Chiaki commented based on his experience.

Shizuru Fuchigami replied, "It's equally worrying. Her strength is the weakest link in this team. There have been five rounds in the competition so far, and she has only won two. Although this is a remarkable achievement for a female Go player, it is still too difficult to challenge a 9-dan player at his peak... But these are not major problems."

Nishi Chiaki chimed in, "The big question still depends on the princess and the empress, isn't that right?"

“That’s right. Even if we lose the other three rounds, as long as we can keep this one, it’s fine.” Shizuru Fuchigami shifted her gaze to the last round.

In the center of the game room, an iron-clad black curtain descended, and the aura of the two men shut out all other noises.

It's like the only bright spot on a stage, attracting countless gazes.

On one side is an ancestral dragon-patterned jacket, and on the other side is a solemn vermilion bird with fluttering sleeves.

The chaotic dance of dragons and vermilion birds is the theme of this game.

Breathing gradually became heavier, heart rate increased, and the weight of the chess pieces also increased.

Harushima Kashima leaned forward even further, her gaze narrowed into a thin line, and her fingers kept rubbing together under the chessboard. This small action was perfectly captured by the camera.

"Here it comes! Princess Harushima's hand-rubbing technique!"

"Actually, I've always wanted to say that this movement looks like a ninjutsu hand seal..."

In Shireshima Deer's perception, time seemed to have flowed back to the Princess title battle a year ago.

There is a type of opponent that you would never want to face a second time, even if you have defeated them, and the old woman in front of you is one of them.

Because once you fail, the blow can be devastating, and you can easily regress to the weak version of yourself you once were.

However, at the same time, this opponent must be faced again, because if one does not overcome her once more, one cannot prove that one is truly capable of getting past this hurdle.

She once briefly mentioned to Ke Zhiguang that her title of "Princess" had been questioned because her nosebleeds during a game were so alarming that they seemed to affect her opponent like an underhanded tactic.

Of course, this reason is easy to refute. As a legendary figure who experienced the fierce chess era of the Showa period, the Empress could not possibly be frightened by a mere little girl's nosebleed.

The second reason is that... Mugu did not take off his wedding ring during the match.

It's like someone who wants to retire and settle down as a housewife, looking for a way to save face after losing a game.

In other words, she had a weak desire to win at the time, and there was suspicion that she threw the game.

Although the criticism was small, like a trivial joke, Harushima Kashima still cared a little.

At this moment, the Empress's wedding ring was set aside, indicating that she had done her best.

—As long as I can beat her now, all doubts will disappear.

Harujima deer choked slightly, and beads of sweat rolled down his neck.

He then picked up a piece from the chess box with great force, causing the chessboard to shake. He then slapped the timer hard. Every excessively forceful action made the referee somewhat embarrassed.

"This... I have a feeling that if this script continues, Princess Qingdao might have to..."

"Quick, where's the electric fan? The electric fan is Princess Qingdao's true form!"

Mu Gu slightly raised his head, glanced at the other party, and remained unmoved in the slightest.

The moment the Empress placed her piece, a burning Vermilion Bird feather fell to the ground.

The balance that was supporting the equilibrium began to slide downwards as a whole, sliding into the whirlpool in the deep sea.

In another room outside the game room, Koji Mitsuaki and Saito Masato sat on a sofa, watching the game progress on the screen.

There was also a camera filming nearby, with the theme "The Daily Life of Master and Disciple".

It feels like a shady project orchestrated by some CP association.

"Hey kid, have you ever drunk alcohol?" Saito suddenly asked while he was looking at the game.

"I had a chance to secretly enjoy some vodka, but I gave it to a friend." Ke Zhiguang picked at the fruit platter on the table with a toothpick, as if chatting with an elder about a ball game.

“Tell me, which of these three girls is your friend?” Saito said bluntly.

"Ahem, well... Ah Duan is my friend."

"You would share good things with your male friends? Do you think I would believe that?" Saito said, his cheek twitching.

"Actually, vodka isn't anything special, so I left it to him."

"So you mean if there's good wine, you'll force these girls to drink it?" Saito also picked up a toothpick and pointed it at Koji Mitsuaki, as if to say, "This is absolutely outrageous."

The photographers standing nearby awkwardly chuckled and said, "Could you two talk about something related to the match? Also... Ke Zhiguang, an 8-dan professional, is only 18 years old, which seems to be too young for drinking alcohol..."

“This is international waters,” Saito said.

"The match is just around the corner," Ke Zhiguang said in the same matter-of-fact tone.

"Well... you two, please have a chat." The photography crew didn't want to say much more.

The wine was eventually served, but it was a low-alcohol fruit wine made with strawberry juice.

Saito didn't mind the overly wholesome fruit wine, poured himself and Koji Hikaru a glass, and the two of them drank happily in front of the camera.

It has a very addictive strawberry flavor and is best enjoyed with ice.

"Speaking of which, this is the first time we've drunk together," Saito suddenly said, swirling his wine glass as if savoring Japanese sake.

"After all, this is our first time on the high seas... Is there any problem?"

"It's nothing. I thought having a drink with you would give me some insights into life, but it turns out I didn't gain anything." Saito shook his head.

Neither of them touched on the game on the chessboard during their conversation, maintaining a strange tacit understanding.

The photography crew was also frustrated. Logically speaking, two people with such strong personalities should have easily started a conversation, but their conversation was just so bland and uninteresting.

However... they were both fully armed today. Although the weather was humid and hot, they still wore their professional suits. Previously, they had been wearing floral shirts and slippers.

Moreover, they all brought their folding fans.

"I have a question. You two are dressed so formally today, are you sure you'll have a chance to play today?" the employee asked.

Koji Mitsu and Saito were both stunned for a moment by the question, then glanced at it dismissively.

They exchanged provocative smiles.

“I don’t know either, but I felt I had to dress this formally today, otherwise it would be a real shame,” Saito said.

"That's about it." Ke Zhiguang could only nod.

Saito said, "If my teammates sweep their opponents and advance, that would be great. My ultimate goal is just to win the championship, not to play a game with this kid."

"Me too, but it would be even more perfect if I could meet Saito-sensei on the way to the summit."

"exactly."

Faced with such a tacit response, the staff could only offer a wry smile: "Well... the other three rounds are pretty much settled. So, what are your thoughts on the vice-general battle...?"

"Of course Saint Nais will win."

"In the match on Qingdao Island, we wake up to a victory."

Two intense off-field determinations collided!

On the battlefield, the pillars of balance began to crumble one by one!

After taking a deep breath, Bamboo Sword Forging pressed the timer and bowed deeply to his teacher: "As expected of you, teacher, even I can hardly reach your level now."

“Forging, you did a great job. Now leave the rest to me. We’ll stop Koshikawa Tatsumi’s plot.” Tsukiemon nodded.

"What conspiracy?"

"No... in short, just leave it to us." He immediately changed his tune.