Go club.
"Is Xiao Liang Teacher here today? I'd like to ask him for a game." A portly Middle-aged Man approached the front desk, a smile plastered on his face.
This Go club was opened by Toya Meijin, and as his son, Toya Akira often plays free guidance games here, which counts as helping with the family business.
The front desk lady glanced at the Go room, worried, "Xiao Liang probably isn't in the mood to play Go with you."
"After losing to the young man from China last time, he's been reviewing the game." "Sigh... China is indeed mysterious." The portly Middle-aged Man sighed, "Xiao Liang Teacher's talent is rarely seen in decades, yet a child completely defeated him."
At this moment, Toya Akira stared at the Go board, dissecting the variations move by move.
For seven whole days, he couldn't find any slow moves for white.
Even the 3-3 Point on the second move, a recognized slow move, became profound and unpredictable under Ao Ying's powerful Go ability.
"Ao Ying, who exactly are you?"
After that game, Toya Akira had checked the list of Chinese professional Go players.
What the hell does 'person not found' mean?
In his mind, such Go ability should have already shone brightly.
"Ao Ying's Go focuses on efficiency; every move connects perfectly, like a precision instrument."
"Perhaps if the opening develops into a fierce battle, there might be a chance to win in the chaos."
Toya Akira's eyes lit up. Without preparation, starting a battle would lead both sides into a complex situation.
At such times, one often relies on Go intuition to find a glimmer of opportunity; the sixth sense on the Go board is very mysterious.
For example, the widely circulated 'Ear-reddening Divine Move': under Shusaku's pressure, Gen'an's ears turned red in surprise, and a flash of inspiration, a move that turned the tide from a disadvantage.
The more he thought, the more Toya Akira regained some confidence. Ao Ying was not invincible.
"I will never give up!"
"It seems I should Go ask my father; he must know the flaws in such efficient moves."
His father, Toya Koyo, is a professional 9-Dan, holding the Meijin, Kisei, Judan, and Tengen titles, undoubtedly the number one player in Sakura Country.
Having such a father, Toya Akira was very proud.
Although he outwardly didn't admit it, he always looked up to his father as a role model.
He had always done so, diligently and assiduously, with his Go ability surpassing his peers.
It was also for this reason that his resolve nearly crumbled after being completely defeated by Ao Ying.
Having figured out the key, Toya Akira got up and went home.
"Xiao Liang, you can do it!"
The front desk lady waved her fist, cheering him on as he departed.
Upon returning home, Toya Akira saw Toya Koyo sitting upright in the Go room, quiet, with only the sound of Go stones being placed.
"Father, there's a game I can't understand."
"Show it to me."
His tone was calm.
Toya Akira bowed, then sat down in front of the Go board, his posture exactly like Toya Koyo's.
Clack, clack...
"The 3-3 Point on the second move?" Toya Koyo was slightly taken aback.
One Go stone after another fell.
"I chose to resign here."
Toya Akira placed the last stone.
"Father, where did I Go wrong in this game?"
Toya Koyo was silent.
"Father?"
After a long while, Toya Koyo said coldly, "Neither the invasion on the left side nor the final killing of black stone was the point."
"Didn't you understand?"
"The Go abilities of both sides are not on the same level; from beginning to end, you had no chance."
"The player of white was only half a step behind me, qualified to play an even game with me, yet you were given three stones by me."
"That strong?" Toya Akira leaned back slightly, like a deflated ball.
Only half a step behind, qualified to play an even game—he understood how exaggerated the evaluation given was.
This was the treatment only top-tier professional Go players received.
"The style of extreme pursuit of efficiency is very interesting."
"Among active Go players, it seems no one plays this kind of Go. Is it a Chinese Go player? Or a Kimchi Country Go player?"
"Who is he?" Toya Koyo frowned deeply.
"Ao Ying, a middle school second-year exchange student from China," Toya Akira murmured.
"Ao Ying?"
"What?!"
"You said this Go game was played by a middle school student?" Toya Koyo's pupils contracted, and he gasped.
His son was excellent; even if there were more excellent ones in the world, they would at most be one tier stronger. This was the confidence of the number one Go player in Sakura Country.
Now, a middle school student completely crushed Toya Akira. What was going on?
However, the facts were before his eyes. His son couldn't lie, so there was only one possibility left...
A peerless prodigy had arrived!
Toya Koyo could vouch that such a person was unheard of.
On the other side, Grandpa Ao hummed a tune as he walked into the Go classroom and casually found a seat at the back.
His movements were practiced, as if he were a regular here.
On the podium, a bespectacled teacher stood behind a boy with yellow bangs.
"This is Shindo Hikaru. He will also be my student from now on. Everyone, welcome him."
Clap, clap, clap-- A round of applause erupted.
Grumble, grumble...
The lesson came to the free play segment. Shindo Hikaru went to a nearby table to look through basic books.
The bespectacled teacher walked up to Grandpa Ao. "Ao-kun, your Go ability is the strongest among the students, so only I can personally play against you."
Grandpa Ao smiled, "Shirakawa Teacher, you are a professional 7-Dan. My amateur Rokudan is only equivalent to a professional 1-Dan or 2-Dan."
"Don't be modest. Many moves from China are worth me learning." Shirakawa Michio pushed up his glasses.
"Please teach me."
"Please teach me."
The game quickly began, with Grandpa Ao playing black stone.
Two-star vs. Two-star.
On the fifth move, black stone played a 3-3 Point.
"This?" Shirakawa narrowed his eyes.
Out of courtesy, as a professional 7-Dan giving guidance, was the player on the lower hand being mischievous in the opening?
This was not a learning attitude.
Just as Grandpa Ao had dealt with Ao Ying, white chose the standard 3-3 Point joseki.
Until the appearance of the second-line crawl.
Shirakawa paused to think. A professional 7-Dan's intuition far surpassed an amateur Rokudan's. black stone hadn't even played a side star point, yet he sensed something unusual.
"Is this a new move from a Chinese Go player?"
"No, it was thought up by my eldest grandson. It should have never appeared in professional matches."
Grandpa Ao chuckled, a proud look on his face.
An amateur Rokudan was not top-tier, but he still had good eyesight. Ao Ying's 3-3 Point combination was very groundbreaking.
Shirakawa responded with the conventional third-line extension.
black stone, at row 10, column 4, a side star point.
"Remarkable innovation!" Shirakawa praised, stopping his movements at the same time.
Beside him, Sai: "Xiao Guang, look quickly, there's a very strong Go player here."
Shindo Hikaru: "Shirakawa Teacher is a professional 7-Dan, of course he's strong."
Sai: "I'm not talking about Shirakawa."
Shindo Hikaru: "That old man?" In a hurry, one person and one ghost moved closer.
At this moment, white was pressing the side star point from above on the third line.
"Sai, did Shirakawa Teacher play correctly?"
"No, pressing from above is very stable, but too narrow. Facing a player of the same rank, he will suffer a disadvantage."
The game continued.
Ao Ying had also analyzed Shirakawa's move.
However, the difference in strength was too great, and in the end, Grandpa Ao lost by 6.5 points.
During the review, both sides discussed the new variations of the 3-3 Point, and Sai watched with great interest.
"Shirakawa Teacher, does my grandson have the potential to become a professional?"
"Even with potential, it's very difficult to pass the exam."