Chapter 425 The Uncrowned King
Three days later.
Inside the Shanhai Chess Hall.
"I lost."
Zheng Qin looked at the chessboard in front of him with an ugly expression, but in the end he lowered his head towards Xu Zijin opposite him and chose to surrender.
Hearing this, Xu Zijin couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. A smile appeared on his face and he said, "Thank you for your guidance."
"I was too careless here. I thought this side was impenetrable. I didn't expect that after you made this sharp move, your chess piece suddenly became lighter. Otherwise, I would definitely win."
Zheng Qin looked annoyed, clearly unhappy about losing to Xu Zijin. He turned to Yu Shao and asked, "Right? If I break here, then White will be powerless."
"If it's disconnected, then it's really hard for White to win."
Yu Shao took a sip of milk tea as usual, looked at the chessboard, nodded, and confirmed Zheng Qin's words.
As far as this game is concerned, Zheng Qin has always had the advantage, but in the middle game, Zheng Qin failed to make a breaking move, and after being taken advantage of by the white pieces, the whole game collapsed. If Zheng Qin had really made that breaking move, the outcome would have been completely different.
“Right!”
After receiving Yu Shao's affirmation, Zheng Qin became even more annoyed. He slapped his head fiercely and said, "My broken head."
Seeing this scene, Yu Shao couldn't help but be speechless.
Zheng Qin and Xu Zijin have played more than one game of chess in the chess hall during this period. Today was the first time that Xu Zijin defeated Zheng Qin, finally achieving a breakthrough from zero. No wonder Zheng Qin couldn't accept it.
Yu Shao couldn't help but glance at Xu Zijin, only to see Xu Zijin sitting opposite Zheng Qin, still looking at the chessboard quietly.
Since the game ended, she hasn't said a word, and seems to be still recalling every move in the game, with a focused expression.
"This game...it seems like Zheng Qin made a mistake, which allowed Xu Zijin to win by chance."
Yu Shao silently shifted his gaze back to the chessboard and looked at the game.
"But if Xu Zijin hadn't made that move, would Zheng Qin have really realized his mistake?"
Yu She actually doesn’t think so.
"Xu Zijin was able to win this game not only because of Zheng Qin's mistakes, but also because of her keen observation and her superb chess sense."
"Zheng Qin failed to realize this and simply thought that his loss was entirely due to his carelessness..."
"All Xu Zijin lacks is time."
In fact, even he was surprised by Xu Zijin's talent. You know, when he was in the high school Go league, Xu Zijin could only barely reach the level of a professional beginner.
And now, Xu Zijin has grown to the point where even the chess players who have reached the title match have to take it seriously. This speed of improvement can be said to be unrivaled even among male chess players.
Of course, if that were all, he wouldn't think it was a big deal.
He had seen so many geniuses, both in his past and present lives, that all those who were qualified to be his rivals were geniuses among geniuses. Compared with these people, Xu Zijin would appear very mediocre.
However, Xu Zijin has an extraordinary competitive spirit and self-esteem, as well as a stubbornness and persistence that will never give up until the goal is achieved. This is what makes him unable to help but face it.
“Knock knock.”
Just then, there was a sudden knock on the door.
"Come in."
Zheng Qin spoke immediately.
Soon, with a creak, the door of the chess hall's private room was pushed open, and then a receptionist walked in with a tray containing three cups of prepared milk tea.
"Sister Su, I didn't order milk tea?"
Zheng Qin was puzzled when he saw the receptionist put the milk tea on the chess table.
"Please give a drink to Mr. Yu Shao and Mr. Xu Zijin, and please also give a drink to someone else." The receptionist glanced at Zheng Qin and spoke.
"ha?"
Zheng Qin's eyes suddenly widened, and he feigned anger, "Sister Su, what do you mean by treating someone to a drink? I don't deserve a name? I don't deserve to be treated?"
"ah?"
The receptionist joked, "One is not only a national player, but is also about to compete in the World Championship for her country. Another is currently the most anticipated rising female chess player. Who is the last one? It's so hard to think."
"It's really a new guy replacing the old one!"
Zheng Qin angrily picked up the milk tea on the table, inserted a straw, and then took a big sip, as if to express his inner dissatisfaction.
The receptionist laughed and quickly handed Xu Zijin another cup of milk tea.
"Thanks."
Xu Zijin did not refuse. He took the milk tea from the receptionist and said thank you in a clear and pleasant voice.
"fine."
The receptionist smiled and said, "Ever since you all started coming here to play chess regularly, our business has increased countless times."
"Even if you're playing chess in a private room, where you probably won't see anyone, everyone is still very enthusiastic."
The receptionist glanced at Yu Shao, then covered her mouth with a smile and said, "I originally thought that most people came here for Teacher Yu Shao, but later I found out that they actually came for you, Xu Zijin, the third dan."
Hearing this, Yu Shao was stunned.
It would have been fine if the receptionist hadn't mentioned it, but as soon as she did, Yu Shao remembered that every time he left the chess hall these days, he found that there were more and more young people in the Shanhai Chess Hall, especially those around 20 years old.
He was originally sighing that the popularity of Go in the world was beyond his imagination, and Go could actually attract so many young college students.
It seems I was being too sentimental. These people didn't come here for Go, they came for Xu Zijin, right?
"Actually, I hope they are here for Yu Shao." Xu Zijin smiled and said.
The receptionist smiled upon hearing this, and suddenly, as if she had thought of something, she turned to look at Yu Shao and Zheng Qin and said, "By the way, Xiao Zheng, Teacher Yu Shao, have you seen the news? Teacher An Hongshi has confirmed that he will participate in this Phoenix Cup!"
Zheng Qin was just about to ask why Yu Shao was called "teacher" and why he, who was older than Yu Shao, was called "Xiao Zheng", but after hearing what the receptionist said, he swallowed the words back.
"Teacher An Hongshi, are you sure you want to participate in this Phoenix Cup?"
Zheng Qin asked in shock.
"right."
The receptionist's expression grew more serious, and she said with some concern, "Although there's no news domestically yet, the North Korean and South Korean media have already reported it."
"What's wrong?"
Yu Shao was a little puzzled and asked, "As a top chess player, isn't it normal for Mr. An Hongshi to participate in the world competition?"
"No, Mr. An Hongshi, it's actually been two years since I last participated in the World Championship."
Xu Zijin shook his head and said to Yu Shao, "In fact, four years ago, Teacher An Hongshi had health problems."
"But that year, Mr. An Hongshi still persevered and competed in the World Championship. Even so, Mr. An Hongshi still won two World Championships that year, shocking the world."
Zheng Qin also nodded, took over the conversation, and continued, "Yes, the doctor said that after playing the final game, Mr. An Hongshi lost ten pounds. After the World Championship, Mr. An Hongshi became seriously ill."
"Lose ten pounds playing chess?"
Hearing this, even Yu Shao was a little surprised.
He knew that playing Go was not easy, and could even be considered physically demanding. If it was an intense match, the calories consumed in playing a game of Go might even be greater than the energy consumed in two football games.
But even so, losing ten pounds after playing a game of chess is really too amazing.
"Therefore, in the past two years, Mr. An Hongshi has not participated in any competitions. He has only been recuperating in a sanatorium. Naturally, the world championships in the past two years have been won by other players."
Zheng Qin said solemnly, "If the news is true, then this will be Mr. An Hongshi's first time participating in the World Championship in two years, and this year, Mr. An Hongshi will be in top form!"
Upon hearing this, Yu Shao nodded thoughtfully.
“That’s not all.”
The receptionist frowned and said, "I also saw news online that Araki No. 9 will also participate in this Phoenix Cup World Championship. I don't know if it's true or not, but it's reported by the official media, so it's likely to be true, right?"
"who?!"
Upon hearing this news, Zheng Qin was completely shocked, and even Xu Zijin's face showed an expression of disbelief.
It seems that the news that Araki Noboru had signed up for the World Championship shocked them even more than the news that Yasu Hiroishi had signed up for the World Championship.
Only Yu Shao was puzzled. He thought about the name "Arakino" but still had no impression of it. He could only say, "What's wrong? What's the fuss? Who is Arakino? Is he very strong? Even stronger than Mr. An Hongshi?"
"That's not as strong as Mr. Yasuhiro Seki... but it's still very strong."
Zheng Qin looked puzzled and said, "But, Mr. Arakino, shouldn't you be participating in the World Championship?"
"Who is Arakino?"
Yu Shao was even more puzzled and couldn't help asking again.
"He's a Japanese Go player, the former king."
Xu Zijin explained.
"Former throne?"
Yu Shao was puzzled and asked, "Why haven't I heard of this before? Has he retired?"
"No, Mr. Arakino hasn't retired, but he hasn't participated in a competition for ten years. It is said that he stayed at the Japan Go Institute and became a Go teacher, responsible for teaching the students."
Xu Zijin shook her head, frowning slightly, and said, "Mr. Araki, why did you suddenly come back?"
After hearing what Xu Zijin said, Yu Shao was still a little puzzled and asked, "If he's back, then he's back. Is there any need to be so surprised?"
"Mr. Arakino is not just any ordinary former title holder, although the word former title holder doesn't really have anything to do with ordinary either."
At this moment, Zheng Qin seemed to be lost in memory and began to speak, "Teacher Arakino was Mr. An Hongshi's greatest rival back then. He and Mr. An Hongshi fought for more than a hundred games, vying for the title of the world's number one chess player."
"Someone once said that they were lifelong rivals."
Hearing this, Yu Shao was stunned.
Zheng Qin's expression was heavy as he continued, "Teacher Arakino's style of play is somewhat similar to yours."
"But compared to you, Mr. Arakino's chess moves are more resolute and less cunning. He was once hailed as a master of the violent aesthetics on the chessboard."
"He advocated that 'without the awareness of risking one's life, one is unworthy of holding a chess piece.' His style of play pushed the aesthetic of unwavering strength to the extreme, and his exploration of attacking strategies still resonates in the chess world today."
Zheng Qin's expression grew more serious as he spoke, and he continued, "Speaking of Arakino-sensei, one cannot help but mention 'Four Corners and Eight Blades', 'Hundred-Eyed Dragon Slayer', and 'Death Line Ghost Hand'."
Hearing Zheng Qin mention the three words "Four Corners and Eight Knives", "Hundred-Eyed Dragon Slayer", and "Dead Line Ghost Hand", Yu Shao was stunned. He seemed to have seen these three words on the Internet before.
"The so-called 'Four Corners and Eight Swords' refers to the fact that Arakino-sensei used the Erlianxing layout, launching eight attacks from the four corners to slaughter Yasuhiro Seki's dragon!"
Zheng Qin took a deep breath and continued, "The Hundred Eyes Dragon Slayer was a move that happened when Mr. Araki, playing black, slew Mr. Jiang Changdong's over 100-eyes dragon at the World Championship. This set the record for the largest dragon slayer in the World Championship, and it remains unbroken to this day!"
"And the dead-line ghost hand refers to the time when Arakino-sensei faced the then-prominent Japanese Go master Iida-sensei. In the last second of the countdown, he made a decisive move, overcoming the opponent's opponent's opponent by half a point."
After hearing what Zheng Qin said, even though Yu Shao had not watched those three games, he seemed to be able to feel the thrilling fights in those three games, as if he could see Zi crying blood.
"Then what?"
Yu Shao asked, "Then why didn't he participate in competitions, but instead became a Go teacher? Was it also due to health reasons?"
"No."
Zheng Qin shook his head: "Not really."
"Mr. Arakino has finished second in the World Championship twelve times and has yet to win a single World Championship. And, as luck would have it, he either doesn't make it to the finals, or if he does, his opponent is always Mr. Yasuhiroishi."
"And every time, Arakino lost to Mr. Yasuhiroishi by one game."
Zheng Qin sighed and said, "In the finals of the 12th World Championship, Mr. Araki and Mr. Yasuhiro Ishikari had a stunning match. That match is still hailed as the pinnacle of attack and kill in Go history."
"Unfortunately, in the end, Arakino-sensei lost to Yasuhiro-sensei again by half a point."
Zheng Qin sighed deeply and said, "During that game, Mr. Arakino, a chess player known for his violent attacks, shed tears on the court."
"After that world championship, Mr. Arakino sadly retired from the Go world and no longer participated in any competitions. He stayed behind the scenes, training the next generation of Japanese Go players."
"Although he hasn't won any world championships to date, everyone still calls him...the Uncrowned King."
"Five years ago, someone asked Mr. An Hongshi what his biggest regret was."
"Teacher Yasuhiro said that his biggest regret was that he would never have the chance to play against Mr. Arakino again. Without Mr. Arakino, he would definitely not be as skilled as he is today."
"The person he feels most sorry for is Arakino-sensei, but even if it happens again, he will still give it his all."
Zheng Qin glanced at Yu Shao and said, "People on the internet say, 'Since Su Yiming is born, why Yu Shao is born?' But in fact, ten years ago, the internet was saying..."
"If there is a wilderness in the wilderness, why should Anhong Stone be born?"
Zheng Qin smiled and continued, "It might be hard for you to imagine, but at that time, everyone just wanted to see Araki defeat Mr. Hiroishi, even Mr. Hiroishi's fans."
"Mr. Arakino has earned the respect of people all over the world for his superb skills and his dedication to the game of Go."
"What a shame, how could Heaven be so unkind to Mr. Arakino?"
…
…
ps: The name in the last chapter was written wrong, it’s my problem… I was really sick and dizzy, my brain was burned out, I kowtow, it’s my problem, I will check it again and again before posting next time, sorry sorry!
(End of this chapter)
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