The work of the Go master

The only downside is that I don't have any challenge tickets in my pocket right now, so I have to use the normal channels to take on the challenge.

Ke Zhiguang went to the counter first and asked the clerk, "Who is that person who is dealing with more than a dozen people?"

"It seems to be a student at the institute, but she doesn't want to reveal her real name, so we can't ask her too many questions."

"Understood."

Although this person is dressed like he's there to fish for fish, once he reveals his identity and gets enough men, or like him now, he can take on multiple opponents, he won't be considered a fisherman and can be let in.

Ke Zhiguang returned to the table and continued studying the game.

The symbolic spirits of each player manifested, proving that they had all entered the game, except for the one being besieged.

Perhaps it's because one-to-many doesn't count, or maybe... he just hasn't taken it seriously yet.

"I lost."

"monster."

"I accept losing this ten thousand yuan wholeheartedly."

Players gradually left the game.

In the end, all seven of them were defeated.

The surrounding area fell silent, and no one dared to challenge him, instinctively forming a circle around him.

"Would you like to play a game with me?" the young man asked, pointing at Ke Zhiguang.

Sure enough, those marked with exclamation marks are the ones that will take the initiative to attack.

As for why he took the initiative to attack Ke Zhiguang, Ke Zhiguang didn't care. He figured it was probably because his aura intimidated and attracted the other party.

“No problem, that’s what I think too.” Ke Zhiguang walked out calmly and stood very close to the other person.

A tense atmosphere of confrontation emanated from the two of them, while the chandelier overhead swayed uneasily.

"Hey! Isn't that Ke Zhiguang? The one who dominated the high school team competition!"

"Great! If it's him, he can definitely beat that kid!"

"Keep it up, Ke Zhiguang! We're all your fans!"

Suddenly, cheers from seasoned chess players came from the sidelines, giving Ke Zhiguang goosebumps.

Honestly, I really don't want to be cheered on by these seasoned veterans; I always feel like they're going to give me a few jinxes...

The young man silently picked up a piece, while Ke Zhiguang guessed the pieces.

wrong!

Every day, I write in white.

The game proceeded silently, and the first piece was placed, symbolizing the manifestation of a spirit.

My consciousness seemed to enter a deeper place, and everything around me darkened, turning into a lighting effect like a boxing ring.

But the next moment, Ke Zhiguang was stunned.

The other party...does not have a symbolic spirit?

A careful scan of the surroundings revealed no trace of any symbolic spirit; nothing was apparent.

this.....

Abnormal, unusual, and discordant, the empty scene is filled with unsettling music, like the background music of "Aster Town".

The opponent has undoubtedly entered a serious state of play now; otherwise, Ke Zhiguang would not have descended into this realm of consciousness.

But the other party truly did not have a symbolic spirit.

what does this mean?

Is this some kind of urban legend in the chess world?

“The symbol of the spirit… death…” Ke Zhiguang suddenly thought of this idea.

He had already suspected this while he was in the black market.

Those who were defeated by the Qingzhao Xiongze, their symbolic spirits, or their fortunes, were all captured by the demonic dragon.

So, what about those who have lost their symbolic spirit but continue to play chess?

The color red, the exclamation mark, the absence of a symbolic spirit—all these factors combined amplify the eeriness of this person.

"Please make your move quickly," the young man said, his voice hoarse and indifferent.

Judging from the voice, it is most likely male, but it is not impossible for it to be female.

In chess clubs, it's an unspoken rule to place your pieces as quickly as possible.

Minor eye, star position, minor eye, star position.

Black's small eye is a mistake against White's two-star formation.

Black's fifth move was a direct placement of a piece in the center of White's group.

Ke Zhiguang almost never uses split shots; he looks weak and lacks power.

In essence, split betting means giving the opponent the choice.

White 6, low-hanging small eye.

Black 7, guarding the corner with a small point.

"Here we go again, this young man really likes this little 'sharp' song."

"Yes, it's an ancient, fixed opening move."

"Someone needs to come and punish this outdated method of governance."

Ke Zhiguang hesitated for a moment as he looked at the small tip of his hand.

The small eye is lowered and the small point guards the corner. This is the move most favored by the ancient Japanese Go master Shusaku. It emphasizes the balance of the terrain and highlights a sense of equilibrium.

With this skillful technique, Shusaku created a legendary record of never losing when playing black.

However, this invincibility was based on the rules at the time, which stipulated that Black did not receive komi.

After the komi era, Black can no longer adopt this moderate and stable approach.

That's right, Sai in "Hikaru no Go" also uses this pattern every day.

Ke Zhiguang then hung it on another corner, and sure enough, it was another small point.

It's ancient chess again...

I just experienced the ancient Go game played by store manager Lin Ying at noon today, and then someone else started playing Japanese Go tonight. I feel like I'll be inseparable from the word "ancient" in my life for a while now.

The game was played in complete silence. Although the chess club was about to close, the owner extended its hours for this intense match.

On the chessboard, it is a fierce confrontation between the spear of offense and the shield of defense.

"What's the situation now?"

"It's hard to say. The two sides are maintaining a delicate balance, and both sides are very strong."

"Ke Zhiguang's playing style is aggressive, while the opponent's style is conservative. Ke Zhiguang's attack is not so ideal."

Even in the empty space of consciousness, Ke Zhiguang could still feel the pressure crashing down like waves in a ukiyo-e painting.

But while he felt the pressure, he was also certain that the other person was under the same pressure.

Both were gripping a rope tightly around each other's necks, exerting force step by step.

On move 78, White cut off the lone dragon escaping from the upper right of the center, and the game began to develop towards a central offensive.

On move 101, White successfully secured one of its groups, and Black also secured another group.

On move 149, White successfully made two eyes and lived, while Black successfully escaped back home.

The situation had become a tightly intertwined thread, shifting back and forth 150 times within a half-eye range—

"Excuse me, I have to go." The young man was about to pick up a chess piece, but then suddenly put it down on a line of the chessboard.

It's somewhat like admitting defeat.

"You're leaving?" Ke Zhiguang was taken aback.

"Sorry, let's fight again next time."

He suddenly ran away and rushed out of the store in full view of everyone.

Ke Zhiguang symbolically chased after him outside the store, but upon looking around, he realized that he had already run far away.

Could he be being chased by something again?

Ke Zhiguang thought to himself.

It's almost midnight now.

The street was pitch black, and the long-neglected streetlights in the distance flickered before finally ceasing to function completely.

So, who was he playing chess with just now?

"Will that person come here tomorrow?" Ke Zhiguang asked the shop assistant.

"I don't know. This is his first time here tonight. If you want to play against him again, you'll have to go to the chess academy. The name he registered with was... wait, why didn't I let him in without him registering?"

Ke Zhiguang has a general understanding.

Regardless of who he is, his symbolic spirit has indeed disappeared, and we can assume that he has already died in battle.

Good grief, he's been talking about playing chess with the Grim Reaper for almost half a season, and now he's actually facing off against a ghost-like entity!

Sure enough, going out to play chess at night is never a good thing.

"I have a feeling that a new questline is about to begin," Ke Zhiguang muttered to the darkness in the distance, then yawned and went home to lie down and sleep.

Chapter Eleven Peach Blossom Studio

I woke up around noon on the second day of my usual routine.

I spent half the night reviewing my notes and didn't go to sleep until very late. My biological clock is moving further back towards the lifestyle I had during my university years.

Using the momentum of his muscles, Ke Zhiguang arrived in front of the chessboard, ready to unveil the box.