The work of the Go master

"Hmm?" Ichishin remained confused.

In his memory, Shireshima Kashima did seem to have raised dogs when he was a child... As for whether he had accumulated a lot of experience in raising dogs, that is highly questionable.

“You said it would be best to raise a puppy for your child, so that when the child grows up, they will learn to say goodbye.” Harushima Shika suddenly adopted a literary tone.

It took Yixin a while to understand.

Dogs have short lifespans, at most a little over ten years. By the time the child grows up, the dog will have almost died of old age. The child will naturally grow up when they lose an important childhood playmate.

The implication behind Harushima Kashiwa's words is, of course, that... I have learned to say goodbye.

After a moment of silence, Isshin sat down on the chessboard. He closed one eye and then opened the other, and the War personality had already switched. The dragon shadow began to extend across the floor.

Let's start guessing.

......

.......

In Setagaya Ward, the snowfall was much milder.

A black car was driving through the area, carrying two chess players.

This competition was the most mysterious of the series, so mysterious that the driver wondered if it was some kind of religious or metaphysical ritual.

All the other private cars only transported one player, but this car transported two players, and these two players were not the two finalists, but rather a common player.

What kind of game are they going to play? 2v2? Four-player chess?

Soon, the car arrived at its destination—the foot of Yugenji Temple.

Sure enough, it really is a place of religious metaphysics.

The two chess players got out of the car and stood at the foot of the mountain where the temple was located. Instead of rushing up the steps, they stood still.

"Did you feel it?" one of them asked.

"It's terrifying. That thing that's perched on the mountaintop... there really is such a powerful expert in this world."

“What’s even more frightening is that he’s going to become our opponent.”

Can we win?

"I don't know, but we're two against one, so maybe a miracle will happen."

"Let's go then."

As they spoke, the two stepped up the stairs and soon reached the top of the stairs... The gate of Youxuan Temple was wide open, and a tall, broad figure stood at the entrance, blocking their way like a mountain.

"Fan Xiping, Shi Xiangxia, I have been waiting for you two chess masters for quite some time," Shi Xin said.

Chapter Forty-Five: Silver Dragon

The battle in the chess world has begun in earnest. Five ancient chess masters have mobilized all their forces, along with Nidhogg, the Lord of the Black Serpent, whose shadow looms over the city like a demon.

It's already 6 PM. School's letting out, companies' closing time, and traffic's reached its peak, flowing like a sea of ​​stars. Many drivers are taking advantage of the traffic jam to recline in their seats, watching the snowflakes gently caress their car windows, while also gazing at the distant night sky...

A fierce lightning bolt streaked across the night sky, illuminating the chaotic dance of demons in the shadows of the world!

【Swift Black Dragon】 Charges forward with high-spirited steps to the beat of drums, moving like a ghost through this world where dense forests and cities overlap, waiting for an opportunity to kill its opponent in one blow.

In a high-end teahouse in Meguro Ward, Dosaku was rapidly working his mind, his eyes darting across the Go board, searching for any opportunity to make a move.

His strength lies in his ability to take a holistic view and launch a full-scale attack.

He produced many masterpieces throughout his life, but they were mainly handicap games. The most exaggerated of them was a four-stone handicap game against the top player from Ryukyu.

This is also a very interesting anecdote. Usually, when Ryukyu Go players visit Japan and play against each other, the top Japanese Go player will give them a three-stone handicap. The reason why they were given a four-stone handicap in this game is because... the minister who was hosting the Ryukyu Go players got drunk and, in a moment of madness, placed four black stones in the four corners of the Go board.

After setting up the pieces, the guy regretted it, feeling he had set up too many. However, he was too embarrassed to ask for one less piece. Although it was just a game of chess, it was an important diplomatic occasion, and he had to keep up the good work, even if he had to hold his nose.

So Dao Ce had no choice but to calmly and reluctantly take the plunge, and under immense pressure, he won the game.

In the world of chess, there are always some games that you have no choice but to grit your teeth and fight your way through!

"10, 9, 8..." The countdown has begun! The pressure of the rapid chess match is instantly mounting!

A spark of chess sense flashed through his mind, and coupled with his unconventional calculation ability, he made his move in an instant!

The [Swift Black Dragon] descended from the sky, its tail spikes like venomous scorpions piercing the Black Warrior below!

In the midst of the fierce battle between the large groups of stones in the center of the board, a sharp jab strike was precisely aimed at the White stones' weak point, and a series of exquisite tesuji cut the entire group in half!

Success!

“What?” Xuan Yu said coldly, as if he were reading out the remaining words for the other party.

Xuan Yu reversed his hand and placed his piece, the blade slashing upwards, the evil cherry blossom-like blade light engulfing the shoulder blade of [Gale Black Dragon].

That is also a technique of separation. By using a single piece to dig into the air, the opponent is forcibly dragged into a difficult ko fight. In order to avoid this ko fight, it seems that Dosaku has no choice but to actively disconnect himself, forming two isolated groups of stones, and launch a counterattack with the opponent in the same situation.

"What?!" Doze was taken aback.

In his plan, he was supposed to elegantly split the opponent's dragon and launch a counterattack from both sides. However, he did not expect that the opponent's computing power and reaction speed seemed to be no weaker than his own. He flipped the plan over and revealed a clean page to continue drawing.

This game can be played like this?

Just as he was preparing to study the tactics further, the ground suddenly shook.

This is a shockwave that has spread to other battlefields...

A crack spread across the ground, and then the entire ground collapsed with a roar. Two agile figures leaped upwards from the depths of the ground, and the mournful sound of metal pierced through the barrier!

Shura, [Black Dragon Xuanwu]! These two have moved their fight to other chess tables!

The struggle between the two forces in mid-air abruptly ended. Using the momentum of each other, they were pushed backward and landed safely on the ground, waiting for the next opportunity to engage in close combat.

"Shusaku, are you alright?" Dosaku asked.

"I'm fine... I was going to say that, but after thinking about it, I decided against it," Xiu Ce said with a wry smile.

Countless knife marks were etched on its scales, each emitting mist, like a chemical reaction after sulfuric acid corrosion. One could imagine the formidable killing power of the person it was facing, and what a thrilling and exciting battle it must have been.

"Although I've suffered heavy losses, the other side isn't faring much better." [Black Tortoise] raised its shield again, a cross-shaped blade mark deeply etched on it, as if it had been bitten by a wild beast.

Dao Ce looked across at the demon-like Asura, who was covered in wounds and appeared to be on the verge of death, yet he was unusually excited and bloodthirsty.

"These people are really interesting. This might be the most enjoyable game we've played since we came to this era," Dosaku chuckled.

Xiu Ce also gave a cold snort.

Immediately afterwards, the two sides formed a 2V2 formation, standing shoulder to shoulder with their teammates and assuming a charging stance.

The snowy night in Tokyo continued to burn.

On the other side of the city, Harujima Kashiwa and Isshin sat holding their breath, the deep night snow stretching out outside the window, as if all the flames of war could not reach this place.

Although neither player has made a move, the star points on the board have already been occupied by staggered black and white pieces. This is a unique feature of medieval Go, a rule of placement.

"This game is the final of the second Women's Cup, a best-of-three match. The rules are those of medieval Go. The first player will receive a komi of 6.5 points, and the player will have one hour of reserve time. The byo-yomi period is 3 x 30 seconds." Ichishin spoke seriously, looking directly at his opponent.

“No objection, but you’ve missed one step.” Harujima Kashiya returned the same look. From this moment on, the two were face-to-face opponents, and the parent-child project had to be put aside for the time being.

"What step?" Yixin was taken aback.

"You haven't introduced the names of the two contestants yet."

"Ugh... I feel so embarrassed saying my own character's name..."

"Then I will read it. The two players in the match are... Harushima Shika 9-dan and... Harushima Isshin 9-dan." Harushima Shika's eyes remained expressionless.

The moment her name was mentioned, Yixin's pupils widened slightly, and then a smile appeared on her lips: "You little rascal... you're getting more and more playful!"

After a few brief breaths of resting with their eyes closed, the two opened their eyes simultaneously, and the oppressive aura of their fighting spirit instantly filled the classroom.

The white piece was taken out like a dragon drawing water, and then struck onto the board with a force... According to the rules of medieval Go, it was indeed white who moved first.

Actually, when Go was first invented, Black went first. However, during the Ming Dynasty, for some reason, White went first. The Qing Dynasty also retained this rule.

In this game, the white pieces are focused on winning.

As soon as the first piece was placed, a storm swept in, carrying the might of a dragon!

Under the cover of night, the magnificent Longba stretched out its agile body and rose from the ground!

A chaotic dizziness suddenly entered Harushima Kashima's brain, as if she were falling... but she quickly regained her footing and looked up at the scene before her.

It was a giant, silver-white dragon!

[Silver Dragon!]

[Thirteen stages in the middle game!]

The deer stared blankly at the enormous creature before it, its entire body enveloped in its holiness and nobility.

It's not a Western-style "dragon," but rather a Chinese-style long dragon...

A real... dragon!

"What exactly is this...?"

An incredulous expression filled the face of Harujima Deer.

He had heard Ke Zhiguang and Xingjia describe these ancient chess players together, referring to them as black snakes, drawing allusions from Norse mythology, and so on... To be honest, this made her a little unhappy, since only these two people in her team could see those strange things, while she couldn't, and she felt that her position was being challenged.

As for why she can suddenly see now... it might be related to the fact that the other party is her father, and some kind of power derived from blood is assisting her... that's probably the idea.

And the fan in her hand that reads "The First Woman in the Flow," a fan she obtained from Ke Zhiguang, is still playing a charlatan role to this day.

Thinking this, Harushima Shika unconsciously tightened her grip on the fan.

"Do you remember what I once told you? When you become a dragon, you will be able to see the universe." Yixin spoke slowly, as if she were standing on a high place, her eyes filled with arrogant condescension.

"Of course I remember. Back then, I just thought you were talking nonsense again. Now... I'm starting to get curious about the universe you've been talking about." Harushima Shika looked up at the other person and spoke, her two ponytails flapping behind her head like wings.

"That's good."

As she spoke, she turned her gaze to the back of the deer on the island of Qingdao... the towering and majestic Dragon-Locking Pillar, which was now bound by only one last chain.

The dragon on the dragon-locking pillar seemed to smell blood in its sleep. Its dragon eyes suddenly opened, and the first thing it saw was the silver dragon coiled above the dense forest... It was one of its rare kind.

On top of Tokyo Tower, Koji Hikaru subconsciously turned his head and looked towards Shinjuku. The bright silver dragon and the gray dragon on the Dragon Locking Pillar, whose colors had not yet been revealed, seemed to be about to witness an epic confrontation between the two dragons.

"Huang Longshi, whose real name is Huang Qiu, is said to be a white snake that can only be transformed into a dragon, a white holy dragon, through countless trials and tribulations." Ye Shen Guojing's gaze also fell in that direction.

Ke Zhiguang originally wanted to complain about why all the others were black dragons while only Yixin was white, but after thinking about it, he decided to refrain from such a mood-ruining little complaint.