Unsheathed

Lu Baixiang stood up and smiled as he looked at the handsome young boy with a red birthmark on his glabella. He gestured for Cui Dongshan to sit, and he replied, “In reality, it’s not important who’s learning Go from whom.”

As one of the best Go grandmasters from the Lotus Flower Blessed Land, Lu Baixiang had a feeling that he might play his best ever Go game today.

Cui Dongshan sat down with one foot resting on the chair, and he even bent down to rest his chin on his knee. His posture was in stark contrast to Lu Baixiang, who was sitting in an upright manner.

Cui Dongshan extended an arm and gently ran his finger along the side of the Go box, asking in a lazy voice, “You haven’t determined your rank yet, have you?”

Lu Baixiang couldn’t help but chuckle. He hadn’t imagined that a day would come when someone belittled his skills as a Go player. However, his mental state wouldn’t be affected by something as trivial as this. He nodded and replied with a smile, “I’ve only just arrived here, so I indeed haven’t determined my rank yet.”

Cui Dongshan nodded and explained, “According to the rules of the mortal world, one can first play three games with a ninth-rank Go official. During these three games, the Go official will have a handicap of three moves, two moves, and one move, respectively. Of course, victory or defeat won’t affect the final appraisal. Rather, this is more an act of guidance and benevolence. Lu Baixiang, your fortune is far greater than your skill in Go.”

What truly determined a new player’s Go rank was naturally their games against fourth or fifth-rank players.

Cui Dongshan suddenly looked up and said, “You might feel like you can play your best ever Go game in a moment. However, let me tell you right now that this is a mistaken feeling. I know that you won’t accept this fact, so let me reverse the order and start with a handicap of one move first. I’ll then start with a handicap of two and three moves afterward. That way, you’ll gain a clear understanding of your own level. What do you say? As for whether we start with an empty board or pre-placed pieces, the choice is all yours.”

Lu Baixiang shook his head and said, “There’s no need for you to start with a handicap. Even if I lose, I’ll still be aware of the skill difference between us.”

Cui Dongshan pointed at Lu Baixiang and remarked, “I like your fearless and blind confidence. Alright then, I suppose you won’t agree to a match if I start with a handicap. That being the case, let’s start with an empty board. However, there’s no need to guess stones. I’ll let you play black and go first.”

Lu Baixiang smiled and asked, “How many compensation points should we give white?”[1]

Cui Dongshan retracted his smile and replied in impatience, “We’ll decide that later.”

Lu Baixiang went along with Cui Dongshan, and the Go box beside him coincidentally held the black pieces. Thus, he grabbed a piece and went first.

Cui Dongshan allowed Lu Baixiang to set up a renowned formation from the Iridescent Cloud Go Manual. Black one, three, and five took the corners, while black seven defended a corner and black nine formed a diagonal. This was an impenetrable formation that also carried a subtle killing intent. It was as if roaring wind and lashing rain were about to descend at any moment.

Cui Dongshan was unfazed, and played in a very normal manner. In fact, he didn’t use a single one of those techniques that future generations would regard as “never incorrect.”

Lu Baixiang was like a meditating old monk, completely forgetting his sense of self as he immersed himself in the Go board.

Sitting opposite him, Cui Dongshan was the complete opposite, a real chatterbox. Not only was he playing in a casual manner, but it genuinely looked like he was teaching Lu Baixiang how to play Go. “In reality, starting with pre-placed pieces is more fun. The current trend of starting with an empty board obviously has its benefits as well, in the sense that it can make the Go board feel larger.

“However, if a person isn’t skilled enough, they’ll use up all of the impressive set formations in the early game. They’ll appear to be in a strong position with much territory, yet the middle game will completely expose them and lead them to make incorrect move after incorrect move. It’s completely unwatchable, akin to watching an old farmer collect feces from the cesspit, wild dogs randomly biting people, and someone catching loaches from the foul-smelling gutters. That is utterly boring; it’s something that will put spectators to sleep.

“When commenting on the initial position system of ancient times, people like to downplay the importance of the early game. They state that things will only become interesting starting from the middle game when both sides begin to fight for territory. In reality, this is still incorrect to some degree.

“Lu Baixiang, your intuition is quite good when it comes to the shape of the Go board. But it’s only ‘quite good’ and nothing else. As for your understanding of Go principles… It’s like Sui Youbian’s undergarment. To say nothing of touching it, you’ve never even seen it before, no?”

They were just starting to enter the middle game, and the rambling Cui Dongshan had already used his hand to cover his Go box.

Lu Baixiang looked up and asked, “What are you doing, Mr. Cui?”

Cui Dongshan faltered and replied, “Can you not tell that you’ve already lost? It will only take another thirty moves at most.”

Then, he raised his hand and said, “Well, alright, then let’s continue.”

Lu Baixiang frowned and continued to play pieces.

One had to admit that Lu Baixiang appeared extremely elegant and outstanding while he was playing Go. Whether he was pinching pieces with his fingers, leaning over to play pieces, or sitting upright to observe the Go board, he appeared extremely impressive and refined the entire time.

However, it was a shame that Cui Dongshan didn’t care about this at all. In fact, Cui Dongshan barely seemed to care about the game that they were playing. He made his moves very quickly, and he would wait for Lu Baixiang in boredom after allowing his white pieces to take root on the Go board. In fact, this was probably the main reason behind his rambling. He was far too bored from waiting, so he needed to find something to occupy himself with.

“Truth be told, there’s not really a notion of advantage or disadvantage when it comes to starting with pre-placed pieces or an empty board. Many Go players are debating this point right now, and to be very blunt, this is due to their shallow and narrow understanding of Go. Moreover, there was actually meant to be an eleventh game in addition to the ten games in the iridescent clouds. As for the Go board, it wouldn’t have been an ordinary Go board of nineteen by nineteen. That would have been far too small.”

Lu Baixiang tensed up, and he paused for a long while before silently examining the state of the Go game, which wasn’t too complicated.

His opponent hadn’t used profoundly powerful offensive techniques, nor had he used smart exchanges or so-called demon saber techniques.

It was as if Cui Dongshan had calmly and casually played half a game of Go with Lu Baixiang, patiently waiting for him to concede the entire time.

Heavy emotions weighed on Lu Baixiang’s mind as he placed two pieces on the lower right corner of the board.

Cui Dongshan yawned and said, “Now that’s more like it. What did I tell you before? There’s no need to consider compensation points for white. Next up, should I start with a handicap of one move?”

“Mr. Cui, how about you start with a handicap of two points?” Lu Baixiang suggested in a solemn voice.

Cui Dongshan laughed and remarked, “He who understands the situation is a wise man. Not bad, not bad, this is worthy of me providing you with guidance for a game.”

Lu Baixiang smiled bitterly and remained silent. After calming down his mind, he started to clear the Go board. Upon completing this, he took a deep breath and started to play the second game.

Just like before, it was clear that Cui Dongshan wasn’t playing at his full strength. Very early on in the game, he said, “None of my moves are incorrect, so I’ll naturally achieve a flawless victory.”

After reaching the middle game, Lu Baixiang often needed to think for a long time before making a move.

Cui Dongshan didn’t urge him to hurry up, but he would frequently look around and appear completely distracted.

After playing another piece, Lu Baixiang surprisingly took the initiative and asked, “You’re simply playing without being incorrect and nothing more?”

“Mhm, that’s all,” Cui Dongshan replied. “However, my so-called act of not being incorrect isn’t a notion for ordinary ninth-rank Go masters. You won’t understand this. This is a profound concept that’s worlds beyond the mortal realm. That being the case, how can I possibly teach it to an elementary student?”

Lu Baixiang managed to drag this game out to the endgame stages. However, he was still forced to place two pieces in the lower right corner and admit defeat.

Cui Dongshan’s aura suddenly changed, and he appeared slightly excited as he suggested with a smile, “Why don’t we add a small bonus to the third round?”

“What small bonus?” Lu Baixiang asked.

“Master told me that the four of you were each told one sentence when you left your original world,” Cui Dongshan replied with a smile. “I’m roughly aware of what they are already, but I also know that some of you definitely lied about it. It wasn’t necessarily a complete lie, more like a half-truth. Logically speaking, you, Lu Baixiang, are the most suspicious of the four people, especially since your sentence was the most useless. But these things aren’t important. If I win the third round, you simply need to tell me who you suspect of lying the most. You can say anyone you want as long as you give me a name.”

Lu Baixiang didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry. “If that’s the case, then is there any point at all?”

“Of course,” Cui Dongshan replied with a serious expression.

Lu Baixiang pondered for a moment before shaking his head and saying, “Two games are enough.”

Cui Dongshan’s face was a picture of disappointment as he said, “Your Go skills are good enough for you to become a strong ninth-rank player in the Eastern Treasured Vial Continent. Even though this is only equivalent to ordinary ninth-rank players in the Middle Earth Divine Continent, it’s already quite a decent rank.

“If you learn a few more moves and study a few more Go manuals, you might even be able to make a name for yourself in the Go world of the Middle Earth Divine Continent, a place that’s filled with countless grandmasters. You’re not going to play even if I start with a handicap of three moves?”

Lu Baixiang hesitated for a moment before asking in curiosity, “Mr. Cui, can your Go skills rank among the top ten in the Majestic World?”

Cui Dongshan rolled his eyes and replied, “Go is only a minor Dao, so what does it matter even if I am one of the top ten? Some Upper Five Tier cultivators from the School of Naturalists and the School of Foretellers are incredibly skilled at Go. But so what? Aren’t they still beaten to a pulp by other cultivators at the same cultivation base?”

There was a fervent look in Lu Baixiang’s eyes as he asked, “Dare I ask, Mr. Cui, how great is the skill difference between you and the city lord of White Emperor City?”

Cui Dongshan pondered for a moment before replying, “There’s a Ma Lei playing black between us.”

Lu Baixiang gradually calmed down, and he smiled and asked, “If you lose to me while playing with a handicap of three moves, then what will the consequence be?”

Cui Dongshan pointed at the Iridescent Cloud Go Manual and replied, “Then I’ll eat this book.”

Lu Baixiang simply dismissed this as a joke. He couldn’t help but ask, “Then how great is the skill difference between you and Imperial Preceptor Cui Chan of the Great Li Empire?”

Cui Dongshan shot a glance at Lu Baixiang and didn’t say anything.

“Sorry for being disrespectful,” Lu Baixiang said in apology.

Cui Dongshan stood up and asked, “How do you feel after losing two games?”

Lu Baixiang also stood up, and he replied in sincerity, “I learned a lot, and I feel a sense of glory even though I lost.”

Cui Dongshan bobbed his head around and said with a dismissive expression, “Do you have the right to utter that final phrase?”

Looking at the departing Cui Dongshan…

…Lu Baixiang sat back down and started to review the games by himself.

As he walked through the corridor, Cui Dongshan murmured to himself, “Wei Xian… is quite a dangerous individual…”

However, he immediately chuckled in self-ridicule and added, “Even so, what does this matter?”

He suddenly broke into laughter and knocked on Sui Youbian’s door, asking, “Big Sister Sui, are you inside? I’ve already finished learning Go from Lu Baixiang, so why don’t I learn sword techniques from you as well?”

1. In the game of Go, points are added to the score of the player with the white stones as compensation for playing second. The value of Black’s first-move advantage is generally considered to be between 5 and 7 points by the end of the game. ☜