The work of the Go master

Border Collies have a very strong learning ability; they can learn something in just one time that other dogs need to learn four times.

At this moment, Ke Zhiguang's hand touched the Border Collie's neck and actually felt something like a collar.

The collar has only one Greek letter written on it: α.

This is the first letter of the Greek alphabet, equivalent to A. This letter is commonly used in various science and engineering fields. It is pronounced alpha and means the beginning or start. It is a very stylish symbol.

Clearly, this is just a small emblem used for decoration, much like how many people like to wear clothes with English words printed on them.

“It’s decided, you’ll be called Alpha! Come on, give us a little show.” Ke Zhiguang continued to tease the dog.

"You're so casual about naming things! At least put some real feeling into it!"

"So where did you get your Kata?"

"Ah... okay, it's nothing..."

She was too embarrassed to admit that she was just looking around the street for inspiration when she was naming her pet, and she found a cake shop called Kata, so she used it to name her pet.

After Ke Zhiguang's persistent teasing, this time it obediently barked twice.

There's still no mystery to it.

Maybe it really is just a pet voucher.

"Are you really going to take good care of it? If you just bought it on a whim, I advise you to give it to Xingcai and the others as soon as possible."

"Don't worry, I have already fulfilled my duties as the master."

Ke Zhiguang has also investigated this. After the Cozy House effect was moved here, it gained an additional [Pet Care] effect, which clearly indicates that it has evolved after moving to the new home.

In conclusion... there's really no mystery to this pet scroll.

So the two of them took the dog and went straight home, arriving at their doorstep a dozen minutes later.

Suddenly, I noticed two familiar figures squatting in front of the Shireshima Kano family's house.

"Hey, Lulu, you're finally back! I've been waiting for you for so long!" Two tall figures stood up.

"Kumaki Sakura! Takami! Why are you two at my doorstep?!"

"Of course I heard you moved, so I came to visit you and pass on a message..." Xiong Ying was about to continue when her attention suddenly fell on the puppy that Qingdao Lu was holding.

"You're already planning to start having children?"

"It's just a pet! It's just a pet!" Shireshima Deer loudly protested.

“No, the child is mine, and I am the only owner,” Ke Zhiguang also offered a token rebuttal.

Although it sounds more like announcing that he is the child's biological father...

Seeing that the conversation was about to take a strange turn, Takami said indifferently, "Master asked us to pass on a message and ask Koji Mitsuaki to visit Professor Hanno's house at some time soon."

"Hanno-sensei?" Harujima Shika and Keiko Hikaru asked in unison.

"Yes, this is quite an honor. The address is a very old-looking building in Harumi 5-chome, which you can recognize at a glance."

Ke Zhiguang suddenly realized something, and his nostalgic feelings kicked in. He remembered the boy who had helped his team during the Dragon Throne War.

Only at the last moment before boarding the ship did he realize Shi Quan's true identity.

After the Dragon Throne Battle, Koji Mitsu really wanted to visit Hanno-sensei to verify whether his guess was accurate. However, after asking around, no one knew where Hanno-sensei lived, and the 9-dan players did not reveal this information, on the grounds that they did not want to disturb his old age.

That reason is rather far-fetched. Someone who has the time to spend two months fighting alongside a group of young men, what kind of retirement is that!

"Then why is it the two of you who have to deliver this message?" Harushima Shika asked.

“Have you forgotten? Our teacher is Empress Mugu, and Empress Mugu is also Teacher Banye’s disciple. With the information passed down through the ranks, wouldn’t it be us two, the low-level informants, who would have to tip us off?” Xiong Ying said.

"Why don't you make a phone call? Do you think we're in ancient times?"

"It's so important, it's so boring to call. Of course, we have to come in person to tell you to show our sincerity... Besides, we're just here to see your new house, Lulu, and maybe play some games with you!" Xiong Ying hugged Qingdao Lulu tightly.

"Since there are four of us, why don't we play mahjong?" Yingmei said.

"Agreed! Lose a game, take off a piece of clothing!"

"Get out, get out!"

Ke Zhiguang stood to the side, deep in thought, not hearing any good news about the strip mahjong game.

Yes, Ishishin's pure approach to Go is admirable, but compared to that, Hanno-sensei's purity is even more enviable.

Having spent more than two months with him, Ke Zhiguang could feel a natural purity in him.

She is as innocent and curious as a child, and full of longing and awe for chess, which is fundamentally different from Shi Xin's pure dedication to the way of chess, who sacrificed himself as a sacrifice.

Shi Xin's purity belongs to himself, while Hanno-sensei's purity will benefit everyone.

—But wait, is Empress Mokuko a disciple of Master Hanno?

Oh...so this is the adorable disciple who's only half my age!

Goodness, there's really no way to refute that for the time being.

Chapter Four: Virtuous and Talented × Highly Respected

Another night fell, and the sea breeze from Tokyo Bay swept away the high temperature, while people came and went on the streets.

Ke Zhiguang, dressed in formal attire, arrived at the designated location and looked up at the building that stood out from its surroundings.

In the residential area of ​​Harumi 5-chome in Chuo Ward, where land is incredibly valuable, a four-story old-style building stands out from the surroundings, resembling a historical relic.

Judging from its appearance alone, well... it's a bit like a holdout, single-handedly blocking the development of the entire area.

This is it, the residence of Master Hanno, the most respected person in the entire Go world.

The legend of Hanno-sensei needs no further elaboration. The semi-fictional documentaries, the sensationalism of unofficial media, and the stories passed down by word of mouth have added an unapproachable mystique to this once-powerful man.

Many people say that after Hanno faded out of the Go world, he lived a secluded life on a southern island or in the mountains, but only a few people know that he lived in seclusion in the city, occupying an expensive piece of land and idly watching the bustling city.

The reason he can live in such a conspicuous place yet remain unnoticed is probably because he uses some kind of skill to prevent ordinary people from noticing this place, just like Orochi's video store.

After mentally preparing himself, Ke Zhiguang rang the doorbell: "Excuse me, is Professor Hanno there? This is Ke Zhiguang."

Before long, the wooden door was pulled open, and the lovely disciple... oops, Kiko Seinoka appeared on the other side of the door.

"Teacher has been waiting for you for a long time, Ke Zhiguang, 9th Dan." Mu Gu nodded and said.

"Aren't there any other servants here?" Ke Zhiguang instinctively returned the greeting.

“No, it’s just me, my husband, and Teacher Mugu here. I handle a small number of miscellaneous tasks, but the mansion itself takes care of most of them,” Mugu said.

I understand now.

This mansion also comes with a maid system.

As for Empress Muko's husband, Ke Zhiguang had also heard of him; in terms of what would be called a "regular male employee" more than thirty years later.

Although in Japan, being a regular employee means having a lifelong job like a civil servant, considering Kiko's status as an empress, her marriage to a regular employee seemed somewhat like a step down.

It must be true love.

The couple also have children, but they have been studying abroad and have no involvement in Go.

When asked about this, Mugu said that his children did not have the talent for it, so he did not choose to let them learn chess.

But if Ke Zhiguang thinks about it, the real reason should be that the path of Go is too arduous. Even with extremely high talent, it is still very difficult and requires a lot of time to hone one's skills and defeat other geniuses.

In Ke Zhiguang's past life, many excellent chess players would not let their children strive for a professional career. As someone who has been through it, I know that it is too hard. At most, they would let their young children take some level exams, but forget about getting a professional rank.

Ke Zhiguang entered the ancient-style mansion, and a fairy-like coolness surged up from him.

【Wind Spirit Guardian】

[Summer Special]

An invisible wind moves through the mansion's corridors, and if you close your eyes, you can hear its whispering sound, like the chimes of a wind chime.

Judging from the description of this summer-only item, there's a high probability that winter-only styles are also stored here.

Considering Mr. Hanno's extensive experience in exorcising demons and monsters in his youth, it wouldn't be unreasonable for him to pull out as many strange things as possible.

"Isn't it amazing? In your experience, this kind of power shouldn't be the first time you've seen it."

“Yes, I have a similar one in Hokkaido,” Ke Zhiguang said.

This power is not the same type as the god of quantum mechanics; rather, it is more like the Yuki-onna villa in Hokkaido.

"What brings you to me tonight, Mr. Hanno?"

"Nothing special, I just wanted to see you. You are, after all, a holder of the Dragon Throne title and a hero who defeated Koshikawa Tatsumi. And don't forget, Mr. Hanno was also a member of your team."

This... I didn't expect her to even know about this. I thought Mr. Hanno had sneaked out.

Mugu sighed: "In short, your teacher has a lot to say to you, about you, about myself, about the future of the chess world, and... about my senior brother."

At this point, she stopped in front of a sliding door on the bottom floor and reached out to pull it open.

"Good evening, teacher." She nodded toward the door.

"You've worked hard, Ah Xiang." A kind and friendly voice came from inside.

At the far end of the green tatami room, in front of the balcony, Hanno Ken sat back in his wheelchair, looking over here with a lazy and relaxed air, as if he were meeting a long-lost friend.

The chessboard and pieces were already prepared and were right in front of him.

The unexpected warmth made people feel naturally at ease.

"Hello, Mr. Hanno. I thought you would still appear as Ishizumi." Koji Hikaru walked over naturally and sat in the empty seat opposite Hanno-ken. Muko silently stepped back and closed the door behind him.

"Oh? So you've already been found out. I was planning to suddenly reveal the truth to give you a surprise," Hanno Ken said with a smile.

"I don't know how I figured it out, maybe it's related to this?" Ke Zhiguang unfolded the fan, revealing the words "Chess Saint" in a grand manner.

"Hehe, so this was in your hands. If I remember correctly, this is the fan that I went to great lengths to sign for Harushima Deer after she won the title of princess... By the way, where is she? Didn't she come with you?"

How should I answer this?

Although she wasn't on the invitation list, she could still force her way in if she was shameless enough, and Harushima Kaoru was indeed planning to be shameless.

But unfortunately, Xiong Ying and Ying Mei were also there last night. When the four of them met, they reminisced about the pleasant time they spent playing mahjong in Hokkaido.

So I played mahjong all night last night.

Playing mahjong alone wouldn't have been so bad, but the problem was that while they were playing, Xiong Ying pulled out a bottle of vodka from somewhere, got high, and gave everyone a swig.