Row four, column four, Star Point.
"Why did he play away from the fight?"
"Why even ask? He defeated Xiao Liang Teacher. Dealing with a sixth-grader is a piece of cake for him."
Of the two Go games that started simultaneously, one had finished, and the onlookers shifted their attention to the other.
Although they didn't believe Shindo Hikaru was stronger than Toya Akira, Ao Ying was a genuine professional.
It was rare to see a professional play casual Go in real life, so the anticipation was high.
Perhaps they would also get a chance to play a game?
Playing away from the fight!
Ao Ying was the first to give Sai a response, a response regarding the invasion of a three-space extension.
At the same time, he was indicating that because of black stone's Shusaku's attachment, white could respond calmly later.
The three-space extension was the first layer of composure; playing away from the fight was the second layer of composure.
"Sai, he didn't play on row fifteen, column fifteen."
Shindo Hikaru remembered Sai's prediction.
"This move..."
Sai mused, "It's a move beyond imagination."
"I think... I should study modern Go concepts."
In the past, no one played on the Star Point, and no one played away from the fight after a three-space extension was invaded.
But the young man he was playing against showed him that both the Star Point and playing away from the fight were viable.
His folding fan pointed to a spot, "Try this move again. Let me see the difference between the ancient and modern eras."
Row fourteen, column seventeen, attachment.
white played away from the fight, and black stone took the opportunity to cut, capturing one of the stones from the three-space extension.
"Shindo Hikaru, most of your old joseki have been eliminated. Being five points behind at the start of the game makes it very difficult to catch up in a game against opponents of the same rank."
"When you Go back today, I suggest you buy a joseki book to read. But don't be too superstitious about new joseki; although they are stronger than in the past, they also have many errors."
After he finished speaking, white played a stone.
Row sixteen, column four, Star Point.
Playing away from the fight!
"Thank you for your advice." Shindo Hikaru was momentarily stunned; Sai had just mentioned studying new Go concepts.
"Sai, we're five points behind. Are we going to lose?"
"If it were an opponent of the same rank, it would indeed be difficult for me to catch up, but Ao Ying cannot be that strong."
"Why? Didn't he defeat Toya?"
Shindo Hikaru muttered to himself, his face full of curiosity.
"Xiao Guang, Go requires long-term refinement of skill."
"Ao Ying is at most fourteen or fifteen. Even if he started learning at five, ten years is far from enough."
"Moreover, his second move, playing away from the fight to seize the Star Point, was too focused on efficiency, and he returned the points black stone had lost."
Sai's folding fan moved again, pointing to a spot.
Row nine, column seventeen, pressing.
Forcing the other stone from the three-space extension to run, black stone took the opportunity to attack and gain profit.
If it didn't run, then it would be tacitly admitting that the large area on the right belonged to black stone, and the points would be quite substantial.
Ao Ying understood Sai's intentions perfectly.
white quickly placed a stone.
Row four, column fourteen, two-space high extension.
Directly invading black stone's territory from the upper right.
"Xiao Guang..."
Clack!
Clack...
The two sides took turns placing stones, engaging in a fierce battle in the upper right.
Watching Ao Ying constantly make moves, Shindo Hikaru's eyes lit up with little stars, and he once again felt his fingertips glowing.
"The universe..."
"It's as if a universe is being born."
"And the one holding the stones is the creator."
A murmur sounded.
It was black stone's turn.
Shindo Hikaru stopped, closed his eyes, and the posture of Toya Akira and Ao Ying holding the stones appeared in his mind.
"Xiao Guang?"
Suddenly, Sai's eyes widened, as if a flash of light had passed.
Clack!
Shindo Hikaru placed a stone, his arm hovering above the Go board, his middle finger pressing on the black stone stone, trembling uncontrollably.
Ao Ying smiled slightly, a very familiar scene.
Time to run, right?
The thought had just crossed his mind.
"You... are you controlling my body?!"
Shindo Hikaru stammered, his face full of terror.
"Ah!"
After a ghostly scream, he got up, bumped into the table, and ran away.
The stones on the Go board were scattered, and the original Go pattern could no longer be seen.
"What's wrong with that kid? Did he see a ghost?"
"This game... was of no low quality."
"Although the playing style is ancient, every move was meticulously refined, and his Go strength seems to be even above Xiao Liang Teacher's."
The onlookers whispered, speculating about the stories both on and off the Go board.
Ao Ying rubbed his chin, deep in thought.
In the anime, Shindo Hikaru only encountered this scene when he met Toya Koyo; this was the beginning of his self-study of Go. Before that, he was purely playing with Sai.
Toya Akira stood still, he had seen about half the game and knew that Shindo Hikaru was very strong.
Since he hadn't played against him personally, and he had been crying and hadn't seen the whole game, he wasn't sure exactly how strong he was.
Therefore, the first goal...
"I won't give up. I will challenge you again."
After a round of crying, Toya Akira recovered, his eyes wide, revealing his unyielding spirit.
"I'll be waiting for you on the throne."
Ao Ying said indifferently.
Then, without bothering with other people's reactions, he put the white stones back into the Go box, stood up, and bid farewell.
"Wait."
The onlookers spoke up to stop him.
"Ao Ying Teacher, do you have time to play a teaching game?"
"We can pay."
The bald Middle-aged Man was quick-witted. He had seen Ao Ying haggle over the five hundred yuan ticket at the front desk, so he smartly offered money.
Money?
Ao Ying stopped, "Teaching game? How much will you pay?"
He was just worrying about pocket money; with his competition spot canceled, the five thousand yuan monthly subsidy was gone.
"Ah? Right!"
The bald Middle-aged Man was stunned. He had asked on a whim, not expecting it to work.
"One thousand, oh no, two thousand per game."
"Alright."
Ao Ying readily agreed. The price was close to that of a professional, which was acceptable.
"Ao Ying Teacher, when would be convenient for you..."
"Weekends. From now on, we'll have a fixed game every weekend. I'll inform you in advance if anything comes up."
"Alright, alright, whatever Ao Ying Teacher says. Please guide us more in the future."
Several Middle-aged Men bowed respectfully.
Having secured a new way to earn money, Ao Ying left with a smile.
School recommendation spot?
I don't care for it!
...
At his doorstep.
Ao Ying reviewed his memories.
"Phew, Grandpa is accompanying me, and he's also an old Go enthusiast, an amateur Rokudan. On weekends, he likes to Go to the Go classroom."
"He doesn't really care about studying, but he's strict about life management. Good health is capital."
"Mom and Dad don't allow me to spend money freely, and snacks are categorized as junk food by the old man."
"Because of this, the original body participated in competitions to get subsidies and secretly eat."
"Uh..."
Ao Ying looked at the two bags of potato chips in his hand, which he had bought on impulse.
Beer, potato chips, fried chicken—his former favorites.
Today, a series of events had occurred, and he only remembered them when he reached his doorstep.
Throw them away?
Impossible, never in this life!
His brain whirred rapidly.
After a few breaths, Ao Ying slapped his head, "How could I forget the System."
He silently opened the panel.
Host: Ao Ying
Age: 14 years old
Go Strength: Beginner Training Template (loadable) Intermediate Training Template (0%)
Luck Value: 1
Looking at the information, Ao Ying rubbed his chin.
After two games, the progress bar hadn't moved. He didn't know how it was calculated.
The two opponents were defined as professional by the System. The luck value offset the 1 point of debt, leaving one point.
"System, consume 1 luck point."
"Ding, luck value has been consumed."
"What the heck, there's not even a glowing effect."
"Hope it's useful."
After checking again, Ao Ying took out his key and opened the door.