IHSAGW Chapter 23

The old man carried an imposing presence. His expression was stern and dignified.

The young players exchanged bewildered looks, clearly unsure who he was.

Lu An, however, froze.

As he looked more closely, his legs actually began to weaken.

“Grandpa!”

The little girl happily ran over and threw herself into the old man’s arms. She was just about to excitedly say something when another middle-aged man shot her a look.

She immediately became much more obedient.

“Dad, you’re here too.”

The younger players didn’t recognize the elderly man, but the moment they saw the middle-aged man, their eyes widened in shock.

“I’ve seen him before during the China–Korea Team Championship!”

“Are you blind? That’s Xue Liancheng, Professional Seventh Dan!”

“The Xue Liancheng who won four straight games in the World Team Championship and was promoted directly to Seventh Dan?!”

“Th-Then… that old gentleman is…”

One student stammered.

Before anyone else could answer, Lu An, his face turning pale, respectfully addressed the old man.

“Old Go King…”

The moment those words were spoken…

Silence fell over the entire scene.

To be called a Go King meant someone had won at least one World Championship.

Add the word “Old” before the title…

And the elderly man’s identity immediately became unmistakable.

Xue Zhenren, Professional Ninth Dan.

A legendary player from the 1950s generation.

During the 1970s and 1980s, he had been one of the most influential figures in Chinese Go, known by virtually everyone in the professional world.

At a time when domestic individual tournaments were still rare, he had united people from all sides to establish new Go competitions.

Later, he helped organize international team tournaments, playing a crucial role in expanding the popularity of Go throughout China.

Around the turn of the millennium, Xue Zhenren gradually shifted his focus toward nurturing younger generations.

He rarely attended public events anymore and appeared even less frequently, which was why many younger players no longer recognized him.

But Lu An knew exactly who he was.

Even the director of Mianhai Go Academy had once received guidance from the legendary old master.

And now…

He had chosen to stir up trouble right in front of him.

“Senior Xue…”

Lu An’s voice trembled uncontrollably.

“There… there seems to have been a misunderstanding.”

“We’ll know whether it’s a misunderstanding after an investigation.”

Xue Zhenren turned calmly toward his son.

The meaning couldn’t have been clearer.

Lu An’s legs nearly gave out beneath him.

The Yixin Cup was jointly organized by the Chinese Weiqi Association and the Si Jun Group.

Xue Zhenren was a former Secretary-General of the Association.

His son, Xue Liancheng, was a current committee member.

With just that single sentence…

There was no longer any way to cover the matter up.

Xue Zhenren merely glanced at Lu An before turning his attention to the young man standing nearby.

He studied Nian Le carefully.

For some reason…

The young man looked strangely familiar.

A gentle smile rested on Nian Le’s lips as he politely greeted the elder.

“Senior Xue, if there’s nothing else—”

“There is.”

The old man interrupted immediately, cutting off Nian Le’s attempt to leave.

Tapping his cane once against the ground, he signaled for his son to open the car door before making an inviting gesture.

When a respected elder extended an invitation, a junior could hardly refuse.

After a brief pause, Nian Le bowed politely and accepted.

He climbed into the Xue family’s car.

The Xue family had been a Go family for generations.

Both the son and daughter were professional players.

Perhaps because they valued peace and quiet, their home was located on the outskirts of the city.

The drive lasted well over an hour before they finally arrived.

Nian Le knew he would definitely be returning late.

He wanted to let Huo Weiran know.

Unfortunately…

He didn’t have any way to contact him.

All he could do was silently hope Huo Weiran would find something to eat in the refrigerator…

And not accidentally burn down the kitchen.

“Your name is Nian Le, correct?”

The old man led him into the reception room and motioned for him to sit.

Xue Liancheng followed behind them and poured tea for both guests.

A cup of tea personally prepared by a Professional Seventh Dan…

Nian Le accepted it respectfully with both hands.

For a fleeting moment, he even wondered whether he ought to kneel and kowtow in thanks.

“Thank you for exposing the problems at Mianhai Go Academy.”

Taking a sip of tea, Xue Zhenren lowered his eyes.

“The teaching game you played with Xueqi was also exceptionally well played.”

“You flatter me, Senior Xue.”

Setting down his teacup, Nian Le sat upright with his usual calm elegance.

“But…”

Xue Zhenren slowly raised his eyes.

“I’ve always hated people who scheme against me.”

His gaze fixed directly on the young man across from him.

“Someone as observant as you surely knew Xueqi is my granddaughter.”

“And yet you deliberately staged all of that in front of me.”

“Your intentions were rather obvious.”

Truthfully…

Xue Zhenren had finally begun entertaining the thought of taking on another disciple.

But this incident had nearly extinguished that impulse altogether.

“I was indeed aware that Xueqi is your granddaughter.”

Nian Le’s expression remained composed.

“Among the 289 participants in this tournament—including myself—I know every one of their backgrounds.”

“Your granddaughter…”

“…is merely one of them.”

His smile remained warm and unhurried.

“Before today, I had already submitted a report concerning Mianhai Go Academy to the tournament organizers.”

“Xueqi stopping me…”

“Lu An confronting me…”

“And you wishing to meet me…”

“None of those events were part of my expectations.”

The old man fell silent.

He had investigated…

All 289 participants?

Were young people nowadays really this relentless?

“Of course…”

Nian Le continued after taking another sip of tea.

“I intentionally provoked Lu An into saying those things in front of your car.”

“I know your reputation, Senior Xue.”

“You are upright, impartial, and deeply devoted to Chinese Go.”

“I knew you wouldn’t ignore something like this.”

Clear amusement flickered in his amber eyes.

Xue Zhenren’s gaze shifted slightly.

The young man had just praised him again…

Yet somehow it didn’t feel like empty flattery.

Instead…

The old master found the young man growing more and more interesting.

“What if I hadn’t gotten out of the car to help you?”

There was a trace of amusement on Xue Zhenren’s face as he looked at the young man before him.

“You would have.”

Nian Le smiled gently.

“You wouldn’t stand by and watch these younger players sink deeper into the mire.”

“You care about the future of the Go world.”

“And the thing you’ve always hated most isn’t being manipulated…”

“…it’s people throwing games.”

The room fell briefly silent.

Even Xue Liancheng, who had remained quiet the entire time, couldn’t help but take another look at Nian Le.

“You seem to know me quite well.”

The old man narrowed his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them.

Nian Le simply smiled in return.

How could I not?

“How old are you?”

The old man set down his teacup, giving the question his full attention.

“Twenty-three.”

Nian Le answered honestly.

“Twenty-three…”

Xue Zhenren pondered for a moment.

“If you’d met me earlier, things would’ve turned out much better.”

He knew that anyone over twenty-five could no longer take the professional qualification exam.

Even so…

The urge to take this young man as a disciple was becoming harder and harder to suppress.

“You’ve already exhausted yourself playing today.”

“Come back tomorrow.”

“I’d like to see your true playing strength.”

“There won’t be any need to wait until tomorrow.”

A faint light shimmered in Nian Le’s amber eyes.

“If Senior Xue wishes to judge my strength, we can play today.”

“But if you’re thinking of taking me as your disciple…”

“I already have a master.”

“Who said I wanted to take you as a disciple?”

Having had his thoughts exposed, Xue Zhenren stubbornly denied it.

“You say you already have a master.”

“Then why haven’t you become a professional at your age?”

“Your master clearly wasn’t very responsible!”

Nian Le’s expression softened.

“I vaguely remember having a master.”

“It’s just…”

“We’ve been separated for more than ten years.”

“I don’t blame him.”

“Fine, fine.”

The old man waved dismissively.

“I don’t care.”

“Go play a teaching game with Liancheng.”

“Let him give you a few pointers.”

“I’m over seventy already.”

“Why would I want another disciple?”

Nian Le smiled but said nothing.

He rose and followed Xue Liancheng toward the game room.

Standing at the reception room doorway, he looked back once at the familiar old man.

A memory surfaced.

More than ten years ago…

The old man’s hair had contained far less white.

His eyes were full of laughter as he waved several candied hawthorn skewers in one hand and a photograph in the other.

“Little treasure, stop following your master.”

“Come be my disciple instead.”

“I’m Xue Zhenren!”

“Look!”

“This is my daughter.”

“Isn’t she beautiful?”

“If you become my disciple…”

“I’ll buy you candied hawthorns every single day.”

“You can even play with my daughter.”

“Xue Zhenren!”

Another furious voice exploded nearby.

“Have you no shame?!”

“Stop tempting a child with candied hawthorns!”

“He’s only five years old!”

“He’s my personal disciple!”

“Get lost!”

“Hah! I’m not leaving!”

…

“Mr. Nian.”

Xue Liancheng’s voice interrupted the memory.

Nian Le returned to himself, quietly closed the reception room door behind him, and smiled politely at the man over a decade older than himself.

“Let’s play a handicap game.”

Xue Liancheng’s expression was solemn.

“I’ll give you three stones.”

“Will that be enough?”

“Two stones are enough.”

Nian Le sat opposite him and placed Black’s opening stone on a star point.

“I know you’re quite skilled.”

Xue Liancheng gazed calmly at the board.

“But you should also understand…”

“You’re already past the ideal age for becoming a professional.”

“At twenty-three…”

“It’s too late to take the professional path.”

Nian Le held a stone quietly for a moment before smiling faintly.

“I understand.”

After resting for a while, Xue Zhenren carried his granddaughter and gazed out the window.

The more he thought about it…

The angrier he became.

That young man had never even said who his master was.

He’d only claimed he vaguely remembered one and hadn’t seen him in over ten years.

Could he have been lying to fool me?

“Come on.”

Unable to contain himself any longer, Xue Zhenren brought his granddaughter to the game room.

But by the time they arrived…

The young man had already left.

Only Xue Liancheng remained, seated before the Go board with a stone still pinched between his fingers, deep in thought.

“He’s gone?”

Xue Zhenren frowned.

“He left.”

Xue Liancheng kept staring at the board.

“You were resting when he departed.”

“He asked me to pass along his farewell.”

“At least the boy has manners.”

Xue Zhenren stepped closer to the board.

As he examined the position…

Something about it looked strangely familiar.

“You two actually produced…”

“…an eternal life ko?”

His eyes lit up.

A lone Black stone fearlessly sacrificed itself.

White captured.

Black recaptured.

The position repeated perfectly.

An endless cycle.

Under the old rules…

An eternal life ko resulted in a draw.

Just then, Xue Liancheng suddenly seemed to remember something.

Before his father could study the position any further…

He swept the stones into disorder with one motion.

Xue Zhenren blinked in confusion.

Before he could protest, his son had already hurried out of the game room.

After playing two games in a single day, Nian Le was thoroughly exhausted.

He fell asleep in the Xue family’s car.

When he awoke…

The car had already reached the entrance to the villa district.

It was another hour later than yesterday.

Nian Le hurried toward the villa.

Before he even entered…

He looked up and saw Huo Weiran standing by the second-floor window, staring outside.

The younger man’s height was especially striking from below.

His broad shoulders and well-proportioned muscles stood out.

His sharply defined features carried a hint of mixed-race elegance.

One arm remained immobilized in a cast across his chest.

His expression was cold.

His naturally curly black hair hung loose.

His gray eyes looked lonely and gloomy.

Most likely because he’s hungry, Nian Le thought.

He waved toward Huo Weiran and quickened his pace into the house.

After washing his hands, he walked into the kitchen—

Only to discover that all the ingredients had already been washed, cut, and neatly arranged on the cutting board.

They were simply waiting to be cooked.

With only one usable hand, preparing all of this must have taken Huo Weiran a very long time.

Nian Le had no idea when he’d started.

Perhaps…

The moment Nian Le left that morning.

As Nian Le turned on the stove and began stir-frying, Huo Weiran came downstairs and quietly stood beside him.

Watching his fiancé’s expression, he slowly asked,

“How did today’s match go?”

“It went fairly well.”

Nian Le smiled while cooking.

“Sorry.”

“I made you wait again.”

So he knows it was a long wait.

Huo Weiran had needed every ounce of self-control not to lose his composure and rush downstairs the moment he’d seen Nian Le return.

“There are things to eat in the refrigerator.”

Nian Le spoke earnestly.

“If I’m late getting back, you can eat something first to fill your stomach.”

Huo Weiran looked at his fiancé for a long moment.

Of course he knew there was food in the refrigerator.

But somehow…

Whenever Nian Le wasn’t by his side…

He simply had no appetite.

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