Signature Photo

After explaining the history of Go and its development in modern times, and successfully rousing the students' enthusiasm, Wu Shuheng struck while the iron was hot. He began placing stones on the large board and explaining some basic Go knowledge.

This basic knowledge included liberties, life and death, tesuji, shicho, and some Go terminology, such as Small Knight, Jump, and Nobi.

Yu Shao was now listening somewhat absentmindedly. The other students, however, were all listening intently, as if they were already rubbing their fists and waiting to save the modern Go world.

"Old Yu, let me tell you."

Zhou De whispered smugly to Yu Shao, "I know everything he's talking about!"

"If you still didn't, then those few days of studying would have been for nothing," Yu Shao retorted.

"I could give this lecture myself," Zhou De said proudly.

"Then why aren't you joining the simultaneous game later?" Yu Shao asked, shooting Zhou De a sidelong glance.

"Heh. Experts never make a move lightly."

Zhou De folded his arms across his chest, putting on an invincible pose that suggested he stood alone at the summit.

"True enough. As long as you don't play, you can't lose. If you haven't lost, then you've won."

Yu Shao nodded. "I acknowledge your strength, Shen Yi of Jiangling."

"Speaking of which, I suddenly thought of a question."

Zhou De seemed to have remembered something. He asked, puzzled, "Go has a title called Go Saint, right?"

In professional Go, there were titles in addition to ranks. These were honorary titles that could only be obtained by winning a designated tournament and defeating the previous title holder.

If the challenger lost, the previous title holder successfully defended the title and continued to hold it. Otherwise, they lost the title. Because of this, every title match attracted enormous attention.

Yu Shao nodded and asked in confusion, "Yes. What about it?"

"Go Saint really does sound impressive."

Zhou De asked, "But why is there a Go Saint, yet no Go Emperor, Go King, or Go Sovereign? Why use titles like Tenth Dan, Tengen, and Meijin instead? They make the prestige drop instantly!"

"Read fewer novels," Yu Shao said helplessly.

"No, brother, seriously. Think about it."

Zhou De continued, "Two people play Go. One has the title Go Saint, while the other is a Tenth Dan. Doesn't it feel like Tenth Dan falls short by more than a little?"

Now that he thought about it, Yu Shao had never felt that way before. But after considering it carefully, he really did feel that Tenth Dan lacked some of the prestige of Go Saint.

Damn, I must have caught this from Zhou De!

After a long while, Wu Shuheng onstage had finally finished explaining most of the basics of Go. He smiled and said, "All right, we'll stop here. If you're interested in Go, you can buy a few Go books later or sign up for a Go class."

Wu Shuheng smiled. "Next, I'll play a one-versus-ten simultaneous game against our junior schoolmates."

"You've all heard me explain some Go knowledge just now, so you should be able to understand Go to some extent. You can experience the charm of Go through these actual games."

"Now, let's welcome my ten junior schoolmates onto the stage!"

As soon as he finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted below the stage. The students clapped while craning their necks around, all curious about which ten classmates would be coming up to play.

At that moment, Li Kang, seated in the front row, turned around and looked at Yu Shao.

Yu Shao immediately understood and stood up from his seat.

"Old Yu, hang in there a little longer. Don't lose too badly!" Zhou De shouted.

"Shut up."

Yu Shao glared at Zhou De, then walked toward the stage.

Just as Yu Shao was about to step onto the stage, Class Six below suddenly grew noisy. Yu Shao turned to look and saw Xu Ziqin rise from her seat and walk toward the stage as well.

"She signed up too?"

Yu Shao was slightly surprised.

He wasn't surprised that Xu Ziqin knew how to play Go. After all, he had seen her twice at Shanhai Chess Hall, and both times she had watched the entire game from beginning to end while standing to the side.

Someone who didn't understand Go couldn't watch a game all the way through.

He was merely surprised that someone with Xu Ziqin's aloof personality had actually signed up for this Go simultaneous game.

He was doing it for the Conduct Points. What about Xu Ziqin? Surely she couldn't be doing it for the Conduct Points too?

"Classmate, do your best!"

Just then, a pleasant female voice rang out.

Yu Shao paused slightly and turned around. He saw Wu Zhixuan clench her small, rosy fist and cheer him on with great energy.

When she saw Yu Shao look over, she even smiled, revealing two dimples, and reminded him softly, "My brother is really good! Do your best!"

She was indeed rather cute.

Even Yu Shao had to admit it. She was the kind of girl whose very appearance could lift people's moods.

"I'll do my best."

Yu Shao smiled. "But I'm lacking a little motivation. How about giving me an Autographed Photo after the game? Then I'll be highly motivated."

"Huh?"

Wu Zhixuan froze for a moment, then asked in confusion, "But I'm only an Amateur First Dan?"

In her mind, being asked for an Autographed Photo was treatment reserved for especially famous and powerful Go players.

"But you might become the strongest female Go player in the future. By then, your Autographed Photo won't be so easy to get," Yu Shao said with a smile.

"You have good taste!"

Wu Zhixuan's beautiful eyes lit up. She nodded readily, patted her full chest, and said, "All right, then. Play well. After the game, I, the future strongest female Go player, will give you an Autographed Photo."

"It's a deal."

Yu Shao smiled, then walked onto the stage. He pulled out the chair beside the nearest Go table and sat down.

But as soon as he had taken his seat, Yu Shao couldn't help staring blankly when he saw the Go Board on the table.

"This is..."

At that moment, two black stones had already been placed on the upper-left and lower-left Star Points of the Go Board.

A Handicap Go Game?

Soon, the other ten students also made their way onto the stage. Wu Zhixuan enthusiastically cheered on each student who was about to go up.

However, unlike Yu Shao, a worldly man nearing thirty, these pure young men merely nodded stiffly with flushed faces under Wu Zhixuan's encouragement.

Before long, all the students participating in the simultaneous game had gone onto the stage, found their places, and taken their seats one after another.

The cameraman carrying the camera also aimed the lens at the Go Board. Once the games began, he would follow Wu Shuheng and broadcast every game live on the large screen.

"This is a Handicap Go Game."

Wu Shuheng held the microphone and explained with a smile to the students below, "After all, as a Professional Third Dan, if I didn't give you a handicap, I'd be worried you would say I was bullying you."

The students below immediately burst into laughter.

"However, giving two stones while playing against ten people at once is still somewhat stressful for me. I might even lose."

Although he said that, the confident smile on Wu Shuheng's face revealed what he truly thought.

Clearly, he didn't actually believe there was any chance he would lose.

The gap between amateur and professional players was no exaggeration to describe as a natural chasm. An Amateur Fifth Dan might already be capable of winning prizes or even championships in major amateur competitions.

However, as a Professional Go Player, he could give an Amateur Fifth Dan three stones and still have no problem.

Although he was facing a one-versus-ten simultaneous game, he was only giving up two stones, which was completely acceptable.

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