The work of the Go master

As I continued to stare at Ke Zhiguang with a dark expression, I suddenly began to worry about Harushima Deer's life after following him.

She suddenly began to miss her father-in-law, Harushima Kaoru's deceased grandfather. If the old man were still alive, seeing this scene, he would probably be furious and curse, saying, "You bunch of transmigrators from next door, all you know how to do is take advantage of our Harushima family's girls all day long, right?"

He can be quite irritable; you can only truly understand that once you become a father-in-law yourself.

"That's all I wanted to say. Now it's your turn to ask me questions." After calming down, Yixin continued.

Such a heart-to-heart talk as today may never happen again. It's best to ask all your questions.

"But it's best if it's not about chess... At a time like this, we should talk about something meaningful." Isshin made an "X" gesture in front of his chest... This gesture is getting more and more familiar.

“For example, life, the future, and... this moment,” she added.

The sky had completely turned into a night sky, and the Ferris wheel in the distance became dazzling. The winter chill brought down frost and mist, as if a snowfall in October could happen at any moment.

Ke Zhiguang looked up at the sky and pondered for a long time before asking, "Then let me ask you, what is your view of this world?"

"This world?"

“You and I are both time travelers from China. Although we live in different eras, we still have a lot in common in terms of empathy,” Ke Zhiguang said, looking directly into the other person’s eyes.

Since we've already empathized, a single glance is enough to clarify all those issues that are difficult to explain in a short time.

But he added, "I've recently encountered many philosophical questions about life, and even had a window connecting me to the past world. Sometimes I can't tell which is the real world and which is my final destination. Perhaps one morning I'll wake up and find that it was all just a dream. So what do you think about this?"

"This...this is way too complicated! This isn't the kind of question you would ask!"

This seemed like a tricky problem for Yixin. She originally thought Ke Zhiguang would ask her some questions about relationship skills, married life, and how to raise children, but he immediately jumped to a philosophical level. How could she stand that?

She bit her lower lip for a long time before answering: "Let me state the conclusion first. For me, this is the world I live in, and I'm absolutely certain of that."

"Me too."

"The reason you and I came into this world is mainly related to our personal obsessions; mine is my longing for family..."

"A longing for family? Isn't it because he's too invincible and lacks an opponent that he feels regret?" Ke Zhiguang was surprised. Based on his previous conversation with Zero, he deduced Huang Longshi's personal life and came to this conclusion.

"Hmph, who would want an evenly matched opponent? The feeling of being invincible is so exhilarating. If I had to say, it's one of the most important factors that makes me feel no regrets even if I die." She proudly put her hands on her hips, her nose twitching like Pinocchio's, looking utterly shameless.

"My family is the main reason I was summoned to this world. In the last century, I focused too much on chess and neglected my family. Now I want to make up for it... and as you can see, I did it. I have left an important mark on this world, and I will carry out my obsession in this world."

After catching his breath, Yixin continued, "Anything that arises from obsession must also end with obsession. If you are confused about this world, think about your ties to this world, think about the obsession that brought you into this world, hold on to this obsession firmly, and it will lead you out of your predicament."

Ke Zhiguang listened attentively to what the other person had to say.

Although, to some extent, like Harujima Shika, his words often contained abstract and illogical elements, Koji Hikaru did indeed receive the deeper emotions.

"Understood, I know what to do." Ke Zhiguang nodded.

That crucial memory module, sealed within the final level of the game console, can only bring everything into focus by conquering it.

To put it bluntly, we still have to rely on chess to solve everything.

After going around in circles, it returns to the theme of the story: the beginning of the way of chess will eventually end with the way of chess.

At that moment, Harushima Deer returned after using the restroom.

"Hey, where's the ice cream you promised?" she asked, puffing out her cheeks.

"Okay, I'll go buy it now." Ke Zhiguang got up to leave.

As he passed by Harushima Deer, he patted him on the shoulder and said, "By the way, I'll be taking a while to buy this ice cream. If you have any important secrets to tell your dad, try to do so during this time."

So, Ke Zhiguang waved his arms and swaggered toward the ice cream shop in the distance.

His gesture of putting his arm around the other person's shoulder was like handing over a baton to the other person.

Harushima Deer's cheeks twitched, revealing a "this is so hard to play" expression.

She knew, of course, that during her absence, her father would talk to Ke Zhiguang about many things.

Actually, the reason she spent so long in the restroom was not only because the line for the women's restroom was quite long, but also because she deliberately gave these two people some time.

As for Ke Zhiguang immediately leaving as soon as she returned, that was something she really hadn't expected.

"Come on, Lu Zi, sit down here, let's chat for a bit." Yi Xin patted the person next to her.

Harushima Shika slowly stepped forward and sat down next to the other person.

As I said before... this moment has finally arrived again. Everyone knew in their hearts that this moment would come, but no one was mentally prepared.

It may be related to parting.

"Where should I begin...? Should I start with Huang Longshi, or with Qingdao Yixin...?" Yixin leaned back on the bench, her eyes reflecting the slowly turning Ferris wheel, as if watching a clock ticking, and many old photos were being unearthed.

“Let’s start with you,” Isshin said. “Harushima Kashima is the beginning of my story.”

Chapter Thirty-Five: You Are the Candy in the Angel's Hand

As night falls, the lights illuminate the city like a galaxy, and the distant city looks as beautiful as a treasure.

Koji leaned against a nearby telephone pole, munching on his ice cream while watching Harushima and Isshin chatting on a bench in the distance.

Before parting ways, every father gives his daughter some important advice about life.

Although the people in front of you look like sisters...

A beautiful, light voice came from Yixin's mouth: "Actually, after you were born, your mother and I were quite worried because your health has always been a concern."

"Was my health very poor when I was a child?" Harushima Shika asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Yes, the doctor said you have... well, he said a whole bunch of things about congenital defects or something. I've forgotten what his name is, but at the time, I was stunned. It felt like the world had only been colorful for a short while, and now it was about to turn gray," Yixin said.

“This is the first time I’ve heard of this…” Harushima Shika muttered.

"Such a horrifying thing is, of course, hard to talk about." Isshin shrugged.

"The reason I'm so lively and energetic right now is because..." Harushima Kashima's expression was somewhat complicated.

"That's right, of course, it's your great old man who's pulling the strings behind the scenes." Isshin gave himself a thumbs-up without any attempt to hide it.

"Use fortune?"

“That’s right, it’s all about luck. My luck in terms of health, life, and safety as the eternal Moon Goddess is all in you.” Yixin placed his hand on the other’s head, looking into the other’s youthful and innocent eyes, “You are my most precious treasure.”

But a hint of sadness appeared on Harushima Shika's face: "But in this way, you, Dad, eventually passed away because of your poor health..."

At this point, a hint of sadness crossed Isshin's face: "Well... there might be some connection, but it has nothing to do with you. When you have children someday, you'll know that I did nothing wrong... I shouldn't have told you these things, I was afraid you'd feel guilty, but... some things, some secrets, have to be said to have meaning, right? Just like saying 'I love you.'" Isshin ran her fingers through the fur on Harujima Deer's head, flicking away some strange, dust-like stuff.

Female cats have this habit of licking their offspring clean of dirt... but whether male cats have this habit is unknown.

"Actually, I mainly wanted to play the role of a hero in your heart, so I wanted to tell you this secret... even if it might make you a little unhappy." Yixin smiled happily, but the feeling quickly turned bitter.

Harujima Shika stared at the other person silently, feeling as if the other person was standing on a stage performing a one-man show.

"That's it. You are my most precious treasure. As long as you persevere on this path, I will not disappear. I will always live in your game."

"dad......"

"By the way, I just talked to Ke Zhiguang, and he has admitted that you are the person he likes."

"Wh-what? What is this?" This sudden turn of events hit Harushima Deer on the head like a basin falling from the sky.

"It means I have accepted that I will become his father-in-law and he will become my son-in-law."

"W-this turn of events is too fast! One minute it's about family, and the next it's about love. Who can handle this?!" Harujima Shika exclaimed incoherently, mushroom clouds of steam billowing from the roof of her head.

"Whether it's friendship or love, it will eventually transform into family affection, won't it?"

Harujima Deer's eyes flickered slightly.

"Not only Ke Zhiguang, but also your friends, they are all important treasures to you. You didn't have many friends when you were young, and I was always worried about you... But now it's all good. A little over a month ago, when you won the Rising Star Cup, many friends were with you, and I'm very happy."

Hearing Isshin's sincere voice, Harushima Shika suddenly blushed with embarrassment.

How should I put it... The lineup that day was actually quite complex, including those who were both friends and enemies, those who had just become friends, mahjong partners, and so on. Suddenly, they were all drawn into a large family of kinship... It's really nothing special.

At that moment, Shiro looked back cautiously and accurately caught the light of Keji under the telephone pole.

This person is looking at the scenery nearby, but they're probably faking it...

"So, why don't you two have a competition to see who is qualified to confess first?"

"Contest?"

"Forgot? In the world of chess, there is only one way to solve problems, and that is through a game... Whoever wins first has the right to convey their feelings to the other party first, and the loser cannot refuse."

"Then what's the point of this? I might as well just confess!" Harushima Shika complained weakly.

"A sense of ceremony is very important, and it has to be an important competition. Ordinary small competitions don't count... Do you understand?" Isshin's eyes reflected Harujima Kaguya's bright face.

If these words hadn't been spoken to by the person in front of him, Harushima Shika would have thought they were lines from Koji Mitsuaki.

For a time, a lot of criticisms were stuck in her mouth.

She wanted to whine and yell at him as usual, that he didn't like her, and she wanted to swing her pigtails like whips to lash her father... But at this moment, she couldn't do any of those things, and she didn't know why.

Did I ever have feelings for that guy?

If you really like it, when did it start?

What are the things I like about him?

The images of memory are like a music box spinning, accompanied by soft background music. Each scene is filtered beautifully, with layers of blurred borders... all of them are images of that guy.

"But judging from that guy's current skill level, I think it might be quite difficult for me..." Harushima Shika lowered her head and suddenly started to seriously think about these seemingly serious questions.

But then she cautiously raised her eyes: "Does that mean I can only accept confessions of love?"

"Of course not. We're chess players. In any situation, a chess player's goal is to win, even when confessing your feelings... Except when playing chess with your superiors. The key is to cleverly lose by a point or two, making them think you won with real skill. That's the way to go. It's a way to make a living, so it's not shameful." At this point, Yixin's lips suddenly curled into a sly smile. "To tell you the truth, I've done this to the Emperor before. I gave him a four-piece handicap, and he won by half a point. I gave him a three-piece handicap, and he still only won by half a point. Five pieces did the same. Later, he realized something was wrong, but he was too embarrassed to say it."

"Hey! This twist is even more ruthless than before!" Harushima Kashi continued to complain. Having spent so much time with Keiji Hikaru, her complaining skills had skyrocketed.

"Excuse me, excuse me, let's get back to the point..." After chuckling a few times, Yixin's expression returned to its dignified state:

"In short, Shika, you and Kojiro will inevitably have a match full of ritual, but before that, I am your greatest opponent." Isshin's words made Shika also become serious.

"The second Women's Cup begins on December 12th. This is the stage for you and me."

It's a bit strange to say that, as if it confirms her identity as a female Go player...

"The final will be on December 25th, which happens to be Christmas Day, a very romantic day. The final will be a single-elimination match, but it will be a medieval Go tournament," she continued.

"An ancient chess tournament format?" Shizuka Harushima was taken aback.

“I specifically asked for it to be added because medieval Go is my pride… but it’s also yours. When you were little, I often taught you the rules of medieval Go, and you loved it,” Yixin said.