The work of the Go master

"Hey, those people look like they're from Yunjing, right? Weren't they at the bottom? Why are they acting like they're ranked high now? Do they want to win the championship?"

"I don't know, maybe they lost their minds from losing so much that they started a collective frenzy."

"Tomorrow is the vice-captain's match. One point equals four points. Maybe they can really turn the tide and win back a lot of points?"

"How is that possible? They are all players of the same level. Even if they manage to win back a lot of points, it will only make their ranking look better. They definitely don't have the strength to challenge for first place."

"Yeah, haha."

At the school gate not far away, Akio Masakazu, who had come to pick up Kaoru from school, also saw this scene. He couldn't help but lean to the side and light a cigarette as if reminiscing about something, which was quite fitting for the mood.

"Excuse me, sir, smoking is prohibited at the school gate," the security guard reminded him.

"Uh...sorry." Qiu Sheng, looking ashen-faced, stubbed out his cigarette.

Xun chimed in from the side, "Dad, are they performing some kind of evil religious ritual?"

Akio Masakazu said, "Pretty much, but not evil at all. On the contrary, they are full of justice. Maybe you will be like them in the future, shouting with your comrades under the setting sun and elevating your soul."

"Oh dear, so I'll end up like this someday..." he said, his face darkening with worry about his future.

"It's time to play a game with him and show him what I'm capable of," Akio Masakazu muttered to himself, his knuckles cracking as he moved.

Chapter 53 The Last Treasure Map

"I'm back again." It was 10 p.m. when Ke Zhiguang returned.

"Good to be back. How did the competition go today?" Akio Masakazu said, sitting on the coffee table and looking at the newspaper, wearing a casual yukata.

"Four wins and two losses, it's my turn to play tomorrow," Ke Zhiguang said. Since he had already finished his 7UP, he could only have some plain water.

Are you still playing chess tonight?

"According to Teacher Cangyu, it is best not to touch the chessboard on the eve of a major battle unless there are special circumstances, as it is said to affect one's mentality."

"So, are you planning to follow this advice?" Akio asked.

"Actually, I don't plan to."

"Then why not play a game with me?" Qiu Shengzheng said, putting down the newspaper in his hand and revealing the chessboard on the coffee table.

And behind the chessboard, a premeditated look in his eyes.

Hmm... There is ample evidence that his action of picking up the newspaper was carefully planned, precisely for the unexpected reveal of the chessboard when the newspaper was lifted.

This is an old chessboard covered in scratches and dust, brownish-gray in color. Who knows where he dug it out of? The chess pieces also have a vintage feel to them.

"Uncle Qiu, how many years has it been since you last played chess?" Ke Zhiguang chuckled and sat down opposite him, a slight fighting spirit rising within him.

“I told you, I almost became a professional Go player back then. Although I haven’t touched Go for almost seven years, I’m still in my prime and at least have the strength of an amateur 5-dan.” Akio Masaichi returned the favor with the same spirited smile.

"Then, let's go."

......

......

The warm moonlight rose high, and the night was peaceful and serene.

It's eleven o'clock now. The good children are already in bed and asleep. The moon is watching over them outside the window.

Inside the living room, Qiu Sheng stared at the chessboard in front of him, his face twitching, sensing that something was amiss.

In more fashionable terms, even if Ke Zhiguang were to play a word game while simultaneously playing chess with him, he could still easily win this game.

"Zhiguang, what rank are you now?" he asked, scratching his cheek, feeling a sharp pain in his face.

"I think there must be a 6th dan teacher who can beat us 5th dan in a matter of time?" Ke Zhiguang answered truthfully.

"Six dan?" Qiu Sheng slammed his hand on the table, his chin resting on the surface.

Are teenagers these days all this amazing?

I thought you were only a 2nd dan!

In the era when Akio Shoichi was still a child, it was already quite remarkable for a 17-year-old boy to reach the amateur 6-dan level.

But he quickly calmed down and accepted the fact: "6th dan, not bad. It's reasonable that I was defeated by you."

In any case, at least Qiu Shengzheng has maintained his self-proclaimed 5th Dan level status and leisurely lit a cigarette.

"To be honest, Uncle Qiu, your skill level in this game only seems to be 2nd dan."

Qiu Shengzheng was choked hard, and the cigarette almost flew out.

So that's how much they've regressed...

Suddenly, I went from being in my prime to being vulnerable!

After a sigh, Akio left the chessboard, as if to concede defeat, and went to the balcony to enjoy the night breeze. Koji also leaned on the balcony railing, looking at the city's night view.

I don't know if it's just my imagination, but I always feel like there's someone hiding behind that utility pole downstairs.

Never mind, let's just consider it an illusion.

"Zhiguang, do you plan to pursue a professional career in the future?"

"Yes, is becoming a graduate student an unavoidable step?"

"Of course, otherwise do you want to just beat a professional Go player and wait for the Go academy to issue you a certificate?" Akio Masakazu joked.

"That's exactly what I'm planning to do."

After hearing this, Qiu Sheng laughed heartily twice, his cheerful voice echoing in the night sky.

"Do you see that photo?" Qiu Shengzheng pointed to the gray portrait hanging on the living room wall.

"I can always see it."

"She is my wife, her name is Katsuyama Miyuki. She is a very outstanding, gentle and beautiful woman. I was with her when I was twenty and we got married."

She got married at the same age as Kogoro Mouri.

"That was the most glorious moment of my life. Although my family wasn't well-off, I found some chess books that were being thrown away as trash, and then I started to learn chess on my own thanks to my talent. Later, I met her, who was also learning chess. I was self-taught, while she was a professionally trained player. How about that? Doesn't it sound like a story?"

"If we add the status of a young lady from a wealthy family to create some class disparity, it will have an even more interesting story." Ke Zhiguang listened attentively; this was the first time Qiu Shengzhengyi had mentioned this matter.

"That's true, but unfortunately reality isn't so wonderful. We got together without much resistance. We were both passionate about Go and hoped to leave a good legacy on this path. But the reality was that the training fees for the academy students were too expensive, and our savings were only enough for one of us to continue. In the end, we chose to follow the ancient method and resolve the issue with a best-of-three match. In the end, I won 2 to 1."

Following the ancient method, a very familiar line, he still has the last bit of chess left unfinished with Harushima Kashima.

"But she died in a car accident at a crossroads on a rainy day. It's a very cliché plot. The moment she left, my chess game lost its meaning. It was as if I didn't know who to protect."

"But later, when Xun was 3 years old, the moment I saw him at his grandfather's house, my life was illuminated again. He looked a lot like his mother."

Akio Masakazu remained silent for a while, perhaps recalling that scene, his mind filled with a grayish-white hue.

His symbolic spirit is very special, called "Broken Sword Ronin". He is a ronin wearing a straw hat and a linen robe, with a broken samurai sword at his waist. He is always facing away from his back, so you can't see his face. This is the first time that Ke Zhiguang has seen a symbolic spirit in human form.

Whether it's the broken sword or the back turned, these are obvious symbolic metaphors, suggesting that he is no longer on the path of chess.

But at the waist of the Broken Swordsman, besides the sword, there are two dolls made of colorful bamboo, one large and one small. The larger one is naturally his wife, and the smaller one is naturally Kaoru. The colors are quite bright, which is completely different from the murderous Ronin.

The broken sword was always held in the ronin's hand.

"Zhiguang, my sword is broken, but no one says a broken sword cannot be wielded. I can still use it to protect what I want to protect. But for you, your sword is intact and in full force. You can even use it to cut down the enemy you want to cut down... So, fight with all your might!"

On the balcony under the moonlight, the middle-aged man's generosity and encouragement to the boy, the man wearing a bathrobe, suddenly evoked a scene reminiscent of a righteous hero.

I feel like I've been through a lot today.

The high spirits in the morning, the slight disappointment at noon, the passionate charge in the afternoon, and now the righteous partners, as well as fragments of memories.

A torrent of power was quietly brewing in Ke Zhiguang's hands.

I closed my eyes, fell asleep, and slept quite soundly that night.

......

......

When my biological clock strikes, I synchronize with the birdsong outside the window, get up, lift the blanket, inspect the goods, and do it all in one go.

There is only one prop on the chessboard...

[Special Item: Treasure Map]

[Hidden Quest: Collect Treasure Maps (4/4) Completed]

The last treasure map has arrived in your account. Please sign for it promptly. Now it's your turn to shine!

I inexplicably completed a hidden quest, and the treasure map has been collected.

[Dropped by: Broken Sword Ronin]

Ke Zhiguang was stunned.

Unexpectedly, this treasure map was actually dropped by Akio Masakazu, who had been trying to find it on Inoue Hoshino, Shiro Mengyin, and Aoba Hashi.

It turns out it was right next door.

Chapter 54 Entering the arena with flames

The location indicated by the treasure map happens to be in Black Village.

Oh, it's there...

That makes sense. Treasure chests are meant to be placed in underground labyrinths, guarded by evil dragons.

[Lottery area, lottery number 4036.]

This place even has a lottery.

According to the information card for the area that was leaked yesterday, the Li District will only be open at midnight.

Looking at the location, Ke Zhiguang clenched his fists. The moment of truth had finally arrived.

I took a deep breath and glanced out the window; the sky was clear and blue.

It was like the calm before a storm.

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