The work of the Go master

What exactly was the mission he completed before?

The moment I stepped inside, I forgot everything.

I only remember that I seemed to be playing a game of chess with something.

Although I won the game, the process was extremely difficult.

Moreover, he seemed to have used some very special chess-playing techniques, for which he had received guidance from Yagami Kunikyo for more than two weeks, but he couldn't remember exactly what kind of guidance he had received.

Nishi Chiaki did not think about this matter in detail.

In the world of chess, it's quite normal for someone who has reached a high position to occasionally lose some memory. If you haven't experienced amnesia, it means you're not skilled enough.

As for why he's now hanging out with Yagami Kyo, that's a long story.

After the Dragon Throne Battle, Nishi Chiaki hesitated about whether to return to Japan, as he was a member of Koshikawa Tatsumi's team and would inevitably face retribution.

Fortunately, Yagami Kunikyo didn't hold it against him, but he needed to ask him for a favor—to learn a strange way of playing chess in order to defeat a strange opponent.

Once it's done, he'll get what he wants.

Yagami Kunikyo unveiled the white curtain on the chessboard, revealing dozens of bottles of red wine.

【Imperial Blood Red】 signifies 【eternal youth like a vampire】.

“This is what you wanted,” said Yagami Kunikyo.

"Is this it? The secret to staying young?" Nishi Chiaki leaned closer curiously.

As a 36-year-old playboy with the aura of an actor, his biggest worries are actually quite ordinary: time and youth.

Although the boost in luck could give him a healthier physique and better kidneys, the effect was limited and could not satisfy his excessively inflated desires.

He needs even more outrageous effects to preserve his youth and time.

The reason he agreed to board Koshikawa Tatsumi's ship was because he was promised these things, but he never expected that he would end up getting them in Yagami Kunikyo.

“When you’re out of them, come find my secretary, and he’ll give you new ones,” Yagami Kunikyo said.

Nishi Chiaki nodded slightly in gratitude, then stepped forward and calmly carried away the dozen bottles of red wine.

He knew that the other person's personality was completely opposite to that of Tatsumi Koshikawa, so he tried to keep things as simple as possible.

"Then my mission ends here." Nishi Chiaki asked cautiously, afraid that just as he was about to leave, the other party would suddenly say, "Wait a minute."

“Yes, we probably won’t have any further contact,” Yagami Kunikyo said.

Nishi Chiaki breathed a sigh of relief, then confidently carried the wine into the elevator and went down to the first floor.

After loading the red wine into the trunk, he drove away.

Yagami Kunikyo watched him leave from a high place.

The butler emerged from the shadows: "Sir, may I ask what exactly you assigned Nishi Chiaki to do?"

“I’ve assigned him to challenge Dosaku’s soul,” Yagami Kunikyo said.

The butler nodded knowingly: "I see. I suppose only Mr. Nishi Chiaki can complete this task?"

Nishi Chiaki's title is Dosaku, named after this ancient Japanese Go master.

"Yes, this is a task that only the holder of this title can complete. I sent him to Dao Ce's former residence, where he can confront Dao Ce's spirit."

After Yagami Kunikyo finished speaking, he exhaled a breath of deep autumn air from his chest: "As for you, you shouldn't go out to play anymore. Playing chess is very dangerous these days."

"Understood." The butler nodded.

Meanwhile, in the opposite world, in the metaphysical world, Nidhogg's roar shook the towering trees, and rain-like fruits fell into the rotting earth.

A new round of gnawing began, Nidhogg's sharp teeth tearing open the roots of the Chesswood, and black rot spread upwards from the bottom of the trunk.

At the very bottom of the root system, a gap was opened, and the sharp claws of other dragons tore through this space and invaded this world.

From the perspective of Norse mythology, this place where the roots connect is called the land of the dead.

Hanno Ken rocked back and forth in his chair on the top floor, muttering leisurely, "This is truly something extraordinary... they've released something incredible..."

Chapter Eight: A Demonic Aura

Meanwhile, the chess academy was still brightly lit.

Although it was already past working hours, the sudden downpour interrupted the chess players' journey home.

However, this did not deter them. They simply retreated to the second floor and gathered in the izakaya inside the chess academy, enjoying skewers while admiring the open-air view of the second floor in the rainy night and the hazy lights in the distance.

In the training hall on the first floor, the challenge match against Ke Zhiguang was still in progress.

"This round... is still your victory, senior, by half a point," Xingcai said calmly as the temporary referee.

"Thank you for your guidance." Ke Zhiguang skillfully unfolded his fan, and as he sheathed his sword, another member of the second-stage group fell to the ground.

"So, is anyone else interested in taking on the challenge? I'll start with a 3-3 opening again this round." Ke Zhiguang looked around, scanning the room.

With just a glance, the second-stage group retreated in unison, their faces showing embarrassment.

A routine glance is like a barrage of bullets.

Since noon, a total of three brave individuals have volunteered to take on the challenge, only to perish instantly upon trying.

This result was within the expectations of the second-tier players, but they didn't expect Ke Zhiguang to start each game with a 3-3 move, claiming it was a new tactic.

Upon hearing that it was a new tactic, the members of the second-stage group outwardly showed an expression of understanding, but inwardly they were filled with rage.

—Starting the game with a three-of-a-kind here, who do you think you are? Try drawing a three-of-a-kind again and see what happens? Believe it or not...believe it or not...believe it...

Then the ellipses increased, and the sound became softer and softer.

Almost... almost the difference between the two.

Yamaoka walked up with great poise: "Alright, now you realize the gap between yourselves and the number one player in the world of Go. Study hard, and in the future you can be like him, using the opening move of '3-3' to provoke newcomers."

Narita quipped from the side, "Just a year ago, Yamaoka, you were a staunch anti-science member. In just over a year, you've already had your edges smoothed out."

Soma Masae called out from the nearby Go board, "I asked before, and Yamaoka is already in the shape of Hikaru Shiki."

"I...I never said that!" he retorted angrily, filling the chess academy with a cheerful atmosphere.

Listening to their conversation, Ke Zhiguang also caught the key phrase: the number one player in the chess world.

No one even questioned the title; it seemed everyone believed he could defeat Yagami Kunikyo in the Imperial Castle Chess Tournament.

Ugh... I'm so afraid of being cursed to death by these people.

"Congratulations, senior, you're one step closer to the title of Tsar. But... are you serious about that 3-3 opening strategy?" Xingcai asked.

"We're serious, but we're still figuring out the specific tactics," Ke Zhiguang said, resting his head on his arm.

Although today's three games were as easy as mowing down enemies, it was clear to the naked eye that the three-three strategy at the start was not effective. If there hadn't been a significant difference in strength between the two sides, they might have been wiped out on the spot.

The opening move of the 3-3 point has been a forbidden move since ancient times, also known as a forbidden move. This is true not only in medieval Go, ancient Japanese Go, but also in modern Go. It is an experience summarized by countless predecessors in the development of Go as a skill and art.

If this tactic works, it would be equivalent to overturning thousands of years of experience single-handedly. Such a feat would probably warrant adding the prefix "eternal" to the Tsar's title.

This task sounds no less daunting than defeating Yagami Kunikyo and bringing the chess fortune back to the country.

There are two standard opening moves for the 3-3 point. Opening move A is the standard opening move for gaining external influence, while opening move B is the Zheng Shuang opening move for gaining territory... ugh, the sacrifice opening move.

If we compare the changes at a fixed point to a maze, then the maze at point 33 has already been fully explored by our ancestors. The branches and hidden doors are all clearly marked, leaving no room for later generations to explore.

To paraphrase William Thomson, "The edifice of science has been built; all that remains for future generations is to repair and mend it."

Although he was proven wrong a few years later, in the world of Go, it's hard to say.

"Alright, let's call it a day. We'll discuss the specific tactics tomorrow." Ke Zhiguang got up from the chessboard with a thud and looked out the window. The torrential rain gave him the feeling of being back in the Dragon Throne Battle all night.

You're overthinking it. It's normal for Tokyo to have some heavy rain at this time of year; it's not like it's snowing in August.

But suddenly, an autumn wind seeped in through the rain outside the window, and the chilling cold made my pores shrink, as if a pair of icy hands had brushed across the back of my neck.

Xingjia, who was busy playing chess with the middle-aged health-conscious group, seemed to sense something, and a chess piece that was about to fall was suspended in the air.

She stared wide-eyed at the distant view outside the window, but no one knew what she was looking at.

"What's wrong, Lady Shrine Maiden?" the middle-aged chess player asked.

"No, it's nothing. I was thinking, how about we call it a day?" Xingjia gave an apologetic smile.

Ke Zhiguang immediately understood something from her reaction.

Perhaps in the distance, some special fortune has taken effect, and those who are more perceptive have already felt the chill.

Ke Zhiguang also took a look at Qingdaolu and found that she seemed to sense something and was looking at the outside world.

"Is there something over there...?" she murmured.

A silent unease spread like a plague among the people, and everyone felt an indescribable sense of palpitation and panic.

Xingjia stood up and said to everyone still present, "Everyone should rest early today, and it's best not to play chess anymore... Even when you get home, it's best not to touch Go again."

"Is this...is this some kind of mystical explanation?" asked a member of the second-stage group who was confused.

"This is the result of today's free divination on the shrine maiden program." Hoshino made a cute face with a crooked tongue, similar to Fujiya's.

"This is so unconvincing!"

Ke Zhiguang understood the saying that one should not touch the pieces.

That was a principle he had realized a long time ago. For a period of time, he would encounter all sorts of strange and monstrous things every time he played chess after dark. Therefore, it was best to play chess less often after dark. It seems that he had not misunderstood this principle.

"Since the priestess has said so, let's take it as a little advice on health." The middle-aged chess players quickly accepted this statement.

Narita echoed, "We're the same. It's so late, nobody wants to play chess. After get off work, we should do what we're supposed to do after get off work."

"Yamaoka, would you like to come with me to the bookstore?" Soma asked.

"No problem..." Yamaoka agreed somewhat reluctantly, blushing with embarrassment.

I feel like ever since he started having an affair with Soma, he's awakened some really tiring traits...

Ke Zhiguang leaned closer and asked, "What exactly happened?"

Xingjia shook her head: "I don't know, but it won't be anything good... or even worse than ever before..."

"Is it related to the capital of the Night God Kingdom?"

“Even if it’s a bad thing, it’s a really bad thing. An ordinary character couldn’t do something this bad,” Xingjia said, shrugging her shoulders.