The work of the Go master

The rules are that both sides have 15 minutes of reserve time and three 15-second countdowns. The game is played very quickly; it's the kind of game where you can play several games in one night.

The second challenger also walked out with a blank expression.

"Brother, take it easy. It's just a loss of 20 yuan in registration fees. Don't listen to his talk about luck and stuff, it's all psychological warfare!" someone advised the second challenger.

“It’s all gone. I have nothing. I’ve lost everything,” he said, shaking his head, his whole being filled with negativity.

Although everyone was told they would be gambling with their luck, no one took it seriously. But when they saw the two brothers walk out with such serious expressions, everyone felt a chill run down their spines.

"President, let's really go back. This place looks really eerie," Ping Shisheng muttered under his breath. His initial enthusiasm had worn off, and he was beginning to face reality.

Ping Shisheng glanced at Ke Zhiguang as if seeking help.

Ke Zhiguang scratched his head in a bit of a predicament, thinking to himself, "If you had backed down a few hours earlier, we could have teamed up to take down the vice president and then dragged Bai Meng back. But now that you've backed down, it's hard for us to back down."

Ke Zhiguang glanced at Bai Meng, who was sitting quietly in front of the chessboard, continuing to practice the game. The sound of her placing a piece was like a tranquil bamboo forest.

Take another look at the Corpse Falcon behind her; it has been perched on the second-floor railing, gazing at this side with a ghostly expression.

So this thing can keep such a great distance from its owner...

Even now, Ke Zhiguang is still completely baffled by this phenomenon of corruption. Bai Meng's current state has nothing to do with corruption. She is quite clear-headed and even somewhat noble. Her eyes are full of light, which has nothing to do with corruption.

"Ke, do you still want to persuade me to leave?" Bai Meng asked.

“I do want to, but I won’t force myself to. After all, I’ve inexplicably become a bit interested in this place. You go first, then I’ll go,” Ke Zhiguang said.

“My thoughts haven’t changed. I still want to challenge myself here. This is my opportunity and my decision,” Bai Mengyinyu said. “Actually, part of the reason I chose to come here might be related to you.”

"With me?"

"During the training camp, I was constantly suppressed by Inoue Hoshino, which made me doubt my own skills and lack confidence. But later, I played a two-player game with you. Although it was just a game for fun, it helped me regain something. Your unconventional playing style and confident approach gave me confidence, and it was that confidence that gave me the courage to challenge this place."

"Hmm?" Ke Zhiguang felt a pang in his heart.

"Actually, after that game, I knew that the game you played with Teacher Cangyu that day was evenly matched. You... are better than me. Actually, I am very competitive in Go, but when I found out that you were better than me, I didn't feel uncomfortable. You are one of the rare people I admire but am not jealous of. I don't know why."

After a long silence, Ke Zhiguang couldn't help but say, "So, are you interested in getting involved in the chess world in the future? Just be an amateur player, maybe even grace a magazine cover. The salary is actually quite high."

Bai Meng paused for a moment, then nodded and said, "Indeed, if I win this game, I'll be free. I can do whatever I want... Okay, I promise you, I'll be an amateur, pretty-boy chess player in the future."

And so the flag was raised.

Although setting goals is a bad habit, sometimes setting goals can indeed improve a person's abilities.

Ke Zhiguang looked up at the Corpse Falcon perched on the second-floor railing and suddenly met its gaze.

Only then did Ke Zhiguang realize with surprise that he had been overlooking something all along.

Its eyes were still clear.

Although it does look ferocious and ugly, its eyes are always clear.

Looking around, the symbolic spirits of the current challengers, although decaying and diseased, are the only ones with clear eyes, indicating that they still have consciousness.

It was like a fierce will to survive before death, full of violent aggression, supporting the last shred of clear consciousness.

In short, this thing wasn't corrupted at all.

A strange sense of awe rose in Ke Zhiguang's heart.

Time passed, and the crescent moon hung high in the sky.

The third player lost in the middle game.

Number 4 lost by a margin of 4.5.

Number 5 abstained.

Number 6 lost by 17.5 points.

It was 5:50, and the night was about to end and dawn was approaching.

"Please welcome contestant number seven, Bai Mengyinyu, to enter the arena."

"It's finally my turn," Bai Meng exclaimed softly, brushing her hair behind her shoulder.

"Wait a minute, take this with you." Ke Zhiguang handed her the [amulet].

It's unclear whether it will actually have any effect on friendly forces.

This match room is only more dangerous, so you have to bring some equipment with you, even if all you can bring is a 50-gold tree branch with +1 to all attributes.

"Okay, thank you." Bai Meng gladly accepted it.

"Also, tie your hair up."

Is there any particular reason for this?

"In sports clubs, women who want to perform at their best must tie their hair in a single ponytail; this is basic common sense."

"Then I'll have to do as you say." Bai Meng smiled and nodded, borrowing a hair tie from the vice president.

A beautiful single ponytail was completed.

Bai Meng walked into the game room under the watchful eyes of her teammates, and the door closed behind her.

In the dimly lit game room, she sat down at the chessboard, nodded slightly, and performed the proper etiquette.

"Hello, Manager Kiyonuma."

"Hello, Miss Bai Meng. This is... something Ke-kun gave you?" Kiyonuma Yuzawa asked in surprise, seemingly noticing something from the talisman that was so readily available.

"This is a talisman my companion gave me. Can't I wear it?" Bai Meng gripped the talisman tightly.

"Of course you can bring it." He smiled again.

"The light from a mere shutter click can't kill a vampire," he said softly, his smile turning sinister.

Chapter Sixty-Six: The Fragrance of a Single Eye

At 6 a.m., the sky was already bright, but for this chess hall, it was still night.

The vice president and Heishi looked at the time on the clock and suddenly felt a pang of guilt. As good students, they had actually stayed outside all night, in such a gloomy place.

Moreover, I felt very tired.

Ke Zhiguang remained focused, gazing intently at the large chessboard.

He would also glance at the tightly closed door of the game room from time to time, feeling as if tons of dangerous energy were emanating from the cracks.

-

Chess pieces, tick-tock.

Bai Meng felt suffocated by the pressure in the game room.

The room was very strangely designed; the small space was filled with models of monsters, all of which were pointing at her, as if it were specially designed to create psychological pressure on the challenger.

Behind Kiyonuma Yuzawa was a large hanging painting depicting man-eating demons in the jungle mountains, which was quite terrifying.

It was a demonic dragon, its body corroded by mud, utterly devoid of any dragon's nobility.

The most ridiculous thing is that the room is lit by candles, red candles.

Stress, anxiety, distraction, and even sudden bursts of anger—the moment you sit across the chessboard, countless negative emotions surge up.

It's so frustrating. I just want to finish this game quickly and casually... but I absolutely can't do that.

She gripped the amulet tightly, not knowing what it was made of, but each time she squeezed it, she became a little more lucid. It felt exceptionally comfortable and warm to the touch.

He inhaled the stale air, then extended his slender fingers and placed the chess piece on the board.

Press the timer, and everything proceeds smoothly and without disorder.

Kiyonuma Ryouzawa frowned and held his chin.

—What a difficult little girl.

Although he anticipated that the girl in front of him might be the strongest among the challengers, he was also certain that she would be the weakest mentally and could be easily defeated.

But to my surprise, she has maintained a clear and calm mind to this day, and her time is used very efficiently. She is thinking and calculating every minute and every second without losing focus.

—Is it the effect of this amulet, or... the impenetrable wall of friendship?

Kiyonuma Yuzawa looked troubled, making some jarring noises with his hands inside the Go box—a very impolite gesture that would get him flamed in a professional match.

Actually, it's not that you can't lose this game. Sometimes losing a few more games can actually help attract more customers.

But he didn't really want to lose this game.

Because he realized that this girl might be very important to Ke Zhiguang.

His hostility towards Ke Zhiguang came out of nowhere, or rather, seeing such a promising young man, he naturally wanted to stab him in the back as a way of commemorating what he had lost.

—And, such a young and beautiful girl, her fortune must be top-notch, right?

"Oh dear, there are mosquitoes here. I'll light some mosquito repellent. That should be fine, right?" Kiyonuma asked with a smile.

"Light mosquito repellent?" Bai Meng was stunned; she hadn't sensed any mosquitoes.

To be honest, mosquitoes are unlikely to fly to this eerie and gloomy place.

"It's a normal mosquito repellent incense, definitely not some kind of drug. Our store is a legitimate business, with a license personally issued by Lord Yu Chengqi."

“This…” Bai Meng hesitated, but fortunately it was now his opponent’s turn to make a move, and it was his time that was being wasted.

"I already let you bring the amulet in, so can't you at least let me light some mosquito coils? Or you can take the amulet out, and I won't light any mosquito coils?"

Bai Meng shook her head: "You should still order."

"Thank you."

Kiyonuma Yuzawa picked up an ashtray that looked like it was used for sacrificial purposes and lit a stick of incense on it with a candle.

The game continued.

......

......

"Hey, the president's situation seems pretty good, huh?" Ping Shisheng said excitedly, looking at the large chessboard, his drowsiness completely gone.

Ke Zhiguang nodded in agreement.

The game has now progressed to over 120 moves. In terms of both territory and depth, Bai Meng is in a leading position. To put it bluntly, I not only have a lead of several thousand gold, but my lineup is also stronger than my opponent's in the late game. What can you use to fight me?