The work of the Go master

"This...this is...Shi Xin destroyed the eye in the simplest and most brutal way. He's determined to kill. Does he think he can't win this game unless he swallows the entire group of stones?"

"I'm not sure. The current number of targets is difficult to determine. Both sides have many dark and illusory targets that are hard to see. Maybe he's right!"

The chessboard seemed to shake violently, the rift split open from the center, and hundreds of tons of lava gushed out from the crack, pushing the game towards this battle!

In the final moments of the game, Ke Zhiguang and Shi Xin simultaneously unleashed their decisive blows!

The scene at this moment is like a still ink painting; all the lines and brushstrokes are like a wild dance unleashed by a wolf, both dynamic and static.

After the cherry blossoms and rain subsided, Shi Xin slowly sheathed his blade.

"You won this round."

"Thank you for your guidance."

Both of them were bathed in light, and applause could be heard from all around.

Time flew by, like a spinning coin.

In 1989, in early April in Japan, rain and cherry blossoms met, and the flames in the hearts of young people intersected with the torrent of fate, making it an extraordinary season and year.

While this unprecedented ten-game match was taking place, the outside world's attention remained focused on the economic collapse, and the country was shrouded in clamor. Amidst this noise and commotion, the voice of the Go world flowed through the chaos like a clear stream.

Although few people can hear it, it is indeed playing in its own unique way, encouraging everyone who hears it and letting them move forward with confidence.

"The second game begins." Saito was the referee today, and he looked around at both players.

“No problem.” The two gave the same answer, and the chess pieces began to fall—and the sun set with them.

"The score is now 1 to 1! Shi Xin's strength is indeed not to be underestimated!"

"A hidden master! So there really are such reclusive masters!"

"Quickly, give this high monk the wedding shop owner's number. This is the only way to defeat Ke Zhiguang—" Before he could finish speaking, the man was attacked with fists and kicks.

After the game ends, he goes home to review it, and then continues the game on the third day. This cycle repeats itself. This is Ke Zhiguang's recent daily routine. All external information and noise are filtered out, leaving only the purest fighting spirit burning.

“I’ve discussed this with my teammates, and there’s something wrong with the way you’re doing it today,” said Harushima Deer, representing the entire support team, to Ke Zhiguang.

Ke Zhiguang's attention was not on the chessboard at all, but on Qingdaolu.

Why are you looking at me?

"No, I was thinking...aren't you hot wearing this?" Ke Zhiguang scratched his head in confusion.

At this moment, Harushima Kashima was dressed unexpectedly warmly, as if she were preparing for winter, but not a Tokyo winter, but a Moscow winter. No one knew what she was trying to do to look cute.

"Nonsense! What if I dress a little revealing and you can't help but get carried away, causing your performance to decline!" Harushima Shika threw a little pink punch.

Hmm...that actually makes a surprising sense.

"Does that mean you can wear revealing clothes after this ten-game match is over?"

"Seriously! Look at the chessboard! Look at the chessboard!"

Meanwhile, Ishiko was also reviewing the game, with his companions being Hikazeya and Saito.

"Thank you both for your kindness and willingness to help me," Shi Xin said, expressing his gratitude.

"Let's skip the formalities. With Hanno-sensei gone, there aren't many people left to keep you company. We'd feel bad if you had to walk this path all alone," Saito said, his tone carrying a hint of an elder's.

"Although we may not have the same star-studded team as Ke Zhiguang's team, let's do our part to make this ten-game match even more exciting," said Nikkazeya.

"Thank you both." Shi Xin bowed his head again.

On the new day, Ke Zhiguang arrived at the foot of Youxuan Temple by special car, just like always. Today, the car was full of people, all of high spirits.

There are more people here today, mostly media personnel, who are setting up equipment and supplies.

Perhaps as time goes by, more and more people will pay attention to this epic ten-game match.

With confidence and hope, Ke Zhiguang stepped onto the stairs and pushed open the last door.

"Third round, begin!"

Chapter Twelve: Before Spring Ends

The door to the third game was opened, and the ceremony continued.

Yugenji Temple seemed to have become a huge library. Although it was full of people, it was quiet and peaceful, seemingly far away from the hustle and bustle. The only sounds were the sound of stones being placed and the subtle arguments of the chess players.

"Shi Xin has made his move! He's placed his second move here!" Xuan Yu hurriedly set up the chess pieces, and after he finished, a circle of heads crowded around the edge of the chessboard.

"Hmm... This is different from what we set up before. Did any of you think of this move?" Xingjia rested her hands on her cheeks, adopting a thoughtful, furrowed-brow posture.

"Ke Zhiguang places it upwards, then extends it here, and finally Shi Xin... Damn it! That way, a move is made here!" Qingdao Lu also clutched her head, her expression one of utter horror, like something out of "The Scream."

"Is this the power of Shi Xin...? I...I remember! The fear I felt when he dominated me!" Zhu Dao Tuan knelt on the tatami, panting heavily.

On the chessboard, cold sweat was streaming down Ke Zhiguang's forehead, while his opponent's sweat was dripping from... a shiny brow, as glistening as a bottle of chilled soda taken out of the refrigerator.

The game had reached the final stage of the battle, and for a moment, Ke Zhiguang felt that the advantage was on his side. However, this advantage did not last long and he was back in a precarious state in an instant.

Shi Xin took a chess piece out of the chess box in advance and put it in his palms. When he made this gesture, it meant that he had entered a state of deep thinking.

The depth of thought deepens... the amount of computation surges like a raging ocean, the entire surface of which seems poised to be split apart by immense force, raising a stone-cast holy Buddha.

Having finished his thought, he opened his eyes wide, flipped the chess piece that had been held in his hand for so long, took it out, and slammed it onto the chessboard, unleashing an aura of immense weight!

To be honest, the process of placing the chess piece between the palms is like using a special ability to shuffle cards in a gambling movie. The chess piece is infused with the owner's will, letting gravity place it in the position where it is most needed.

On the 231st move, Ke Zhiguang withdrew his fingertips, which were about to make a move.

“You win.” He looked the other man straight in the eye.

"You flatter me." Shi Xin clasped his hands together again and bowed slightly, seemingly his signature line after a victory.

The ten-game match continued to progress, while the Tokyo sky slowly rotated, from day to night, and then to dawn, like the alternation of black and white.

"The third game of the Shike Ten-Game Match! Shixin has actually made another move! The current score is 2-1!"

"Hey! This guy named Stone Heart is amazing! How did he even win?!"

"Forget about the stock market and housing prices, I'm focusing on this now!"

A new battle day has arrived. It is now April 22nd. The cherry blossoms are past their prime, replaced by lush green buds, with yesterday's raindrops hanging on the leaves.

The sky was clear, and spring was even more vibrant.

Ke Zhiguang arrived at the foot of Youxuan Temple again. He originally thought that as the battle progressed, everyone would become more and more lazy and fewer and fewer people would come. But to his surprise, the number of people was actually increasing, and they were all media personnel.

"Lighting technicians have arrived! Lighting team, prepare!"

"Excuse me, Ke Zhiguang, 9th Dan! You are currently behind. Do you have anything to say about that?"

"Shi Xin! Who exactly is Shi Xin?!"

Faced with the increasingly lively atmosphere, Ke Zhiguang and most of the chess players just smiled and said that the atmosphere was back.

After answering a few questions briefly, Ke Zhiguang continued climbing the ladder leading to the summit, with everyone following behind him.

His roster has expanded again.

"Fourth round, begin!"

The standoff between frost and flames once again solidified in the air above the room, and every spectator clenched their fists.

On the chessboard of the fourth game, the gleaming pieces formed a tense and menacing array, reflecting the furrowed brows of both players.

The clock hands jerked, transitioning from standby time to countdown time. In that instant, Ke Zhiguang's pupils trembled, his computing power piercing through the deep sea!

Without hesitation, a piece fell from the sky—move number 106! The ghostly shadow of the piece stretched to the right side of the board, tightly gripping the three key black pieces.

The incredulous astonishment in Shi Xin's eyes vanished in an instant. The moment the move appeared, he immediately recognized the impending changes.

In his field of vision, a thousand-meter-long tsunami front was cutting vertically towards him; that was the raging tide stirred up by Ke Zhiguang's attack!

"What...what is that? Is it the Demon Hand?" The ninth-dan players on the judges' stand exclaimed in surprise.

"Calm down, this kind of operation is not too difficult for the two of them."

"Yes, we've been making a big fuss about it for days."

After the 9-dan players settled down, the various commotions from the go-setting group took over, which was enough to illustrate the brilliance of the move. The reporters immediately gathered around the go-setting group to inquire about the meaning behind the move.

It was as if a force had pulled the entire scene back to the era of ten-game matches decades ago, with the players sitting opposite each other in the Japanese-style room, surrounded by players watching the game intently, and reporters quietly taking notes nearby.

Although this game of chess demonstrated a skill that was hundreds of years ahead of its time, people were surprised to detect a hint of ancient solemnity in it.

"Is this the ten-game match? Is this... the ceremony?" a reporter asked in surprise.

As the 200th move ended, both sides sheathed their swords in the rain. The murderous aura that had filled the entire arena just moments before was instantly contained within the scabbards, and a chilling wind swept across the battlefield.

"You've won." Shi Xin clasped his hands together and closed his eyes, as if in meditation.

Thank you for your guidance.

The wheel of time keeps turning.

The score is now tied at 2-2!

"The battle for the title of the pinnacle of the chess world has reached a point of near-chalk!"

"A hundred-strong contingent followed Ke Zhiguang up the mountain to attack the only throne!"

The city under the setting sun is a time of intense news bombardment. Recently, all of Japan has been covered by a series of unfortunate news stories. But amidst the layers of bad news, one eye-catching piece of news has finally emerged, taking over the newspaper pages and entering everyone's field of vision.

The front page of the newspaper showed the backs of hundreds of people climbing the mountain, the summit shrouded in rain and mist... it looked like a grand pilgrimage.

This is the greatest celebration in the modern history of Go. Entrusted by the Go master Hannoken on his deathbed, Koji Mitsuaki will challenge the ultimate behind-the-scenes powerhouse, Ishishi, in a ten-game match, following the ancient method.

This match had no sponsors, so there were no prizes or awards ceremony, not even a broadcasting channel. All it offered was an explanation to the past and the future.

Although the venue was simple, every player with a certain status or strength arrived on time, following closely behind Ke Zhiguang to knock on the door.

The spirit and soul of Go seem to be eternally passed down through each ascent of the steps.

The day of the fifth game arrived, and this time the crowd waiting for Ke Zhiguang was much larger than before, with many older amateur players and ordinary Go learners joining the ranks.

Shi Xin looked down from the mountaintop and saw that the place had never been so lively.

Even though the effects of fortune have crumbled on this land, some people still raise the banner of confidence and hope, moving forward toward tomorrow.

Then, as usual, a dark line of people climbed the steps leading up the mountain, stretching all the way here.

"Fifth game! Ke Zhiguang successfully slays the dragon! Another level down!"