The work of the Go master

It's difficult to determine what her symbolic spirit is at this moment.

The match took place against this backdrop of a distorted time and space, with both players being women dressed in ancient-style clothing, their charm palpable even through the screen.

The current score is 1-1. This is the third and deciding game.

Once the match began, the camera started jumping around, showing only edited footage of turning points in the game, changes in the expressions of the two players, and some unconscious little movements after they were focused on thinking.

Harujima Kaoru's demeanor has completely changed. She is completely different from the girl who was throwing a tantrum on Ke Zhiguang's sofa yesterday. On the screen, she is like a warrior.

This is probably what makes the King of Quilts.

Suddenly, the camera shifts to the more complex part of the game, where it's Harushima Kaori's turn to make her move. As she ponders for a long time, she unconsciously leans closer to the board, getting even closer to the game.

His expression was one of intense focus.

Then she got a nosebleed, and the blood dripped onto the chessboard, causing the commentator to exclaim in surprise.

Ke Zhiguang was also taken aback.

This scene is quite frightening.

Although only Akahoshi Intetsu has ever died from spitting blood on the chessboard, there are indeed many people who have experienced nosebleeds.

For example, in my previous life, during the first China-Japan Go Tournament, the first Chinese player to play suffered a nosebleed during the game. This was due to the combined effects of tension and pressure. At that time, his situation was indeed not good, so he could only lose that game.

Undoubtedly, Shiro is also under tremendous tension and pressure at this moment.

Of course, it's more likely that the blanket was too hot and caused this.

Staff members stepped forward to help Harushima Shika down, and Kiko Seinoka also tried to persuade Harushima Shika to make an exception and close the betting for this match, and to place bets again tomorrow, but Harushima Shika shook his head and refused.

"Don't get in my way! I'm in top form right now, and I need to use this momentum to win this game! Tomorrow... I won't be able to win tomorrow!" Harushima Kashima angrily shook off the staff member's hand, and her words were quite incoherent.

He shouted it in a sobbing voice, perfectly illustrating what a "tearful and bloody situation" truly means.

The staff were at a loss for what to do, and finally Kiko Seinoka reluctantly told her to finish the meal.

As Harushima Kaoru continued to ponder, stuffing tissues into her mouth, she managed to loosen the blankets around her, allowing some air to circulate and slightly lowering the temperature.

After the reserve time expired, she had only one countdown left, and just as time was about to run out, she made her move.

A dragon-shaped beam of light rose from the chess piece, accompanied by purple lightning.

It sounded the clarion call for a full-scale counterattack.

This seemed to be the move that would turn the tide of the game. After a long period of thought, she found the correct solution to the game.

In the next shot, she was standing on the podium, holding the Golden Vermilion Bird trophy.

The videotape ends here.

Ke Zhiguang sat on the sofa, deep in thought.

It was indeed a very exciting match, and even for those who don't understand Go, it was extremely impressive.

In fact, it's only the mid-80s now. Most women still have to be full-time housewives, or enter the entertainment industry to earn a fortune before becoming full-time housewives. Very few women can rely on their own abilities to make it all the way to the end.

Moreover, she is a 15-year-old girl.

Countless viewers in front of their televisions must have been captivated by her bloodshed on the spot.

We applauded her for winning the championship and lifting the trophy.

"I see, I understand now." Ke Zhiguang stood up from the sofa as if he had figured something out and walked to the landline.

This video came at just the right time, helping him to strengthen his resolve.

"Hello, is this Bai Meng? This is Ke Zhiguang. Can we pause today's activities? I suddenly remembered I have something else to do," Ke Zhiguang said on the phone.

Chapter Seven: Eternity (8 sections)

During the Golden Week holiday, the number of customers at the Go room was as high as usual.

Store manager Lin Ying lay on the bench behind the counter, leisurely flipping through a magazine.

He suddenly frowned, sensing a murderous aura wafting in.

The entire Go room felt the murderous aura, and everyone tensed up.

Ke Zhiguang was already standing at the door.

"Ke-kun, Qingdao went back last night and finished working here." Manager Lin Ying said kindly, as if she had expected him to come.

“I know that. I’m here to see you, store manager,” Ke Zhiguang said.

On his assassination list... oops, I mean his battle list, only Manager Lin Ying remained.

The original plan was to challenge him after the Golden Week holiday, but after watching Harushima Kashima's championship journey, he couldn't sit still any longer.

He was somewhat encouraged and decided to start his plan soon.

The store manager shrugged and put the magazine down: "I knew you would do this. When Harushima left yesterday, he specifically told me that you might not be able to resist the loneliness of Golden Week and come here to play chess, and I will be the only opponent qualified to be challenged by you."

The store manager stepped out from behind the counter, came to the front, shook his clothes, and showed no less imposing presence than his opponent.

Just as to avoid mortals getting hurt in a battle between gods, a group of seasoned chess players leaned against the wall and tiptoed out of the main entrance, brushing past Ke Zhiguang.

Before long, everyone in the Go room had left, leaving only the shop manager and Ke Zhiguang in a standoff.

"Huh? What's going on? Why did they all run away?" Ke Zhiguang looked around, slightly surprised.

Everyone else can leave, but you, White-tailed Fox, stop right there! You still owe me two bags of Shizuoka Gyokuro!

"You're the one who shone brightly in the team competition and defeated the Black Monk, don't you have any sense of being famous throughout the world?"

"I thought I was only slightly famous, after all, so many days have passed and no one has asked me for an autograph or anything like that." Ke Zhiguang sat opposite Lin Ying. Neither of them was in a hurry to make a move, so they decided to have some pre-match conversation to calm their emotions first.

"Well, actually you're not that famous. You're just well-known in our Go room. Your vice-captain's and captain's matches combined don't even compare to the popularity of the game between Bai Mengyin and Inoue Xingcai. That game of theirs was actually on TV." The shop manager leaned back on the sofa and lit a thin cigarette.

Having a cigarette before the match can give you a buff.

"What about defeating Zeko-san... defeating the leader of the Black Shop? I think my heroic act deserves a medal as an outstanding citizen of Tokyo, right?"

"Kiyonuma Yosawa is backed by Oshiro Ki. With him keeping things under control, this news naturally can't spread too widely. Besides, nobody knows what the Black Market is or what kind of shady things it holds," the shopkeeper said. "The news of your defeat of Kiyonuma Yosawa only appeared on the front page of a third-rate newspaper, and the headline could only be something like 'Young Man Defeats Heartless Boss.'"

The store manager gave this secondhand newspaper to Ke Zhiguang.

It's definitely a low-class newspaper, full of stories about extramarital affairs and forbidden relationships. The sudden appearance of a Go game on this page gives the impression of an idol group being interviewed by an agricultural channel.

So... what level is Kiyotaki Ayumi at in their industry?

"Don't blame Mr. Kiyotaki. He used to be a good journalist who was determined to expose the truth and darkness, but his problem was that he exposed the darkness he shouldn't have exposed, which led to him being demoted to a small newspaper as a reporter and living a decadent life for a long time. So... I'm still very grateful to you."

"Thank me for what?"

Koji Mitsuko was surprised; why was the store manager able to get involved with Kiyotaki Ayumi?

"Thank you for your heroic act, which has given him renewed hope to continue fighting." The shop manager grinned meaningfully.

Ke Zhiguang was momentarily stunned.

He then smiled knowingly.

I'm quite happy. Although I don't know what happened, his actions have rekindled a journalist's professional passion, so I'm adding 1 point to my merit.

The shopkeeper's cigarette was more than half burned out; the moment it burned completely would be the start of the battle. Right now, it's still time for idle chatter.

What are your plans next?

"Let's not worry about that for now, let's move out first, and set off immediately after the Golden Week holiday," Ke Zhiguang said.

"And what about the school?"

"Write a leave of absence application."

"Is it really not a withdrawal application?" The store manager seemed to have seen through something.

After a moment of surprise, Ke Zhiguang smiled knowingly: "Yes, it's a withdrawal application, but if my classmates have cultural festival activities, I will definitely participate. If there is a school trip, I will definitely buy a ticket and sneak over."

"What an enviable plan," the shop manager exhaled a puff of white smoke.

When it comes to chess and academic studies, one can only choose one. Once one side is chosen, the other side naturally no longer carries any obligations, nor can one enjoy any rights.

Learning is an obligation, while cultural festivals and school trips are naturally rights.

For most professional chess players, this is not an option.

They learn chess from elementary school, spending ten years studying chess records in seclusion. For ordinary students, their memories are often limited to elementary school, and they have to enter chess academies to learn chess before they are even ten years old. They have no access to either academic obligations or enjoyment.

They might occasionally pass by a school festival and even hop in on a whim, but they can only participate as outsiders, unable to perform on stage or pursue any female classmates they have a crush on. They might even feel a pang of sadness, lamenting that something is missing from their lives.

Those who have never been to school will always envy those who have, no matter how well the uneducated ones are doing.

But Ke Zhiguang would never do that. He has a complete primary and secondary school experience. If he successfully completes his studies in a few months, he will go back to school for a stroll. At that time, his classmates who are close to him will still be at school, preparing for the activities that need to be prepared. Ke Zhiguang can also join in.

It is indeed an enviable life.

However, it has a drawback.

That is, it has too demanding requirements for talent.

There are absolutely no people like Ke Zhiguang, who started playing Go at the age of 17 and is very likely to achieve amazing success.

As the cigarette burned out, the shop manager also entered a game mode, his eyes instantly regaining their youthful sparkle.

After the coin toss, the first piece was placed, and the shopkeeper's symbolic spirit appeared.

Saber-toothed tiger

[A fierce and ancient feline, who respects antiquity in chess.]

Suddenly, the surrounding scenery transformed into a dark forest. An old saber-toothed tiger emerged from the darkness and approached Ke Zhiguang, its body wreathed in ink-like ghostly flames.

Speaking of felines... does the art of petting cats really work on them?

Ke Zhiguang reached out and touched it.

Surprisingly, it actually... showed a satisfied expression?

But as soon as you stop stroking it, it immediately becomes fierce again.

Well, it seems to be just an Easter egg effect that won't affect the balance of the game.

As for the description of respecting the ancients in chess moves, Ke Zhiguang doesn't quite understand it; he'll just have to play a few games to find out.

However, there is one thing about this saber-toothed tiger that is quite out of place.