I really don’t want to play Go!

Chapter 441 Dragons and Snakes Rise from the Land
Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

Outside the hotel hosting the Phoenix Cup World Championship, the parking lot was already packed with cars, and even outside the hotel, there was a constant flow of pedestrians.

Several extended black sedans stopped in the open-air parking lot outside the hotel. Then the car doors opened, and a group of men in suits with blond hair and blue eyes got out of the cars and walked into the hotel.

"The French players have arrived!"

This scene immediately caught the attention of many people. Someone in the crowd shouted, and a group of media immediately carried cameras, pointed them at the group of people getting out of the car, and kept pressing the shutter.

Such scenes kept happening outside the parking lot.

United States, United Kingdom, Russia...

"Is this your first time reporting on the World Championship?"

A reporter, while taking photos with his DSLR camera, asked his cameraman partner with a smile.

"Correct."

The cameraman, a young man with a slightly flushed face, nodded excitedly and said, "It's truly unbelievable that names I'd only ever seen in books before are now all gathered together!"

"Haha, why don't you call it the World Championship?"

The reporter, a man in his forties, chuckled twice and, gazing at the backs of the Spanish competitors in the distance, remarked with some emotion, "Alvaro, the 10-dan player known as the 'Spanish Bull,' also made a name for himself in the world championships five years ago. I wonder how he'll fare this year."

Just then, several more cars drove into the parking lot, and then the car doors opened, and a group of professional chess players of different ages got out of the cars.

"Team Japan!"

Upon seeing the professional Go players get out of the car, the media waiting in the parking lot immediately lit up, and the group of Japanese Go players instantly became the focus of the entire event.

Although there are many strong competitors in each country, Japan and South Korea have always been the most watched in previous years.

In particular, the fact that An Hongshi returned to the World Championship after a two-year break, and Japan's Araki Nori made his comeback after a ten-year hiatus, has sparked heated discussions across the internet.

Although almost every Japanese player participating in the competition is a heavyweight player that everyone is familiar with, almost without exception, all the media personnel focused their cameras on a man in his forties in the crowd.

The man walked silently toward the competition venue. Although he was standing in the crowd, he seemed out of place and somewhat aloof.

He was thin, but his eyes were sharp and piercing, like those of an eagle, exuding a strong sense of aggression and intimidation that made people afraid to meet his gaze.

"Arakino-sensei!"

The young cameraman's face flushed red as he said to his partner, "Although I knew that Araki-sensei had made a comeback, seeing him in person is still a bit unbelievable!"

"Yes."

As the reporter watched Araki walk towards the competition venue, memories of his youth flooded back, and he exclaimed, "I can't believe I'm seeing Araki-sensei on the field again in my lifetime..."

He couldn't help but feel a little emotional: "The scene of Araki-sensei and Yasuhiro-sensei competing back then seems to be still vivid in my mind."

"So, Uncle Li, you're saying it's a nostalgic trip down memory lane, right?"

The young cameraman asked with a smile, somewhat curious, "But I was young at that time. Although I knew a little about the story of the rivalry between Araki-sensei and Yasuhiro-sensei, I didn't know much about it."

"For people our age, Araki-sensei and Yasuhiro-sensei back then were like Su Yiming and Yu Shao now."

The reporter smiled and said with a touch of nostalgia, "Araki-sensei was the player with the highest winning percentage against Yasuhiro-sensei."

"However, ironically, although Araki-sensei has the highest winning percentage against Yasuhiro-sensei, he has never won against Yasuhiro-sensei in a best-of-three match."

The reporter sighed and said, "This is also a source of regret for all chess fans of our generation."

The young man smiled upon hearing this and said, "Maybe my wish will come true this year?"

"How can it be that simple?"

The reporter rolled his eyes. Although he had experienced the period when Arakino and Yasuhiro were vying for supremacy, even he didn't think highly of Arakino.

"How long has it been since Araki-sensei last played a match? Although he hasn't retired from the Go world, he has transitioned to behind-the-scenes work, so his skill level is definitely not what it used to be. On the other hand, Yasuhiro-sensei has always been active in the Go arena."

"Furthermore, to reach a best-of-three series, you have to go to the finals, so do you really want no Chinese player to make it to the finals?"

Upon hearing this, the young man immediately shook his head vigorously, saying, "No, no, no, then forget it, don't let it go."

"You boy."

The reporter smiled, then said with some puzzlement, "I wonder why Araki-sensei wanted to make a comeback. It would have been better to retire gracefully after achieving his goals."

Just as the Japanese Go players were about to enter the hotel, several more cars drove into the parking lot and stopped. Then, Yu Shao and his entourage got out of the cars, immediately attracting the attention of all the media present.

"The Chinese contestants have arrived!"

Upon seeing this, the group of Japanese Go players stopped in their tracks and looked at Yu Shao and his companions. In particular, a young man with black hair and a beautiful girl stared intently at Yu Shao.

"It really is Arakino-sensei."

As soon as Yu Shao got out of the car, Zheng Qin, who was next to him, noticed Araki and whispered to Yu Shao.

"where?"

Yu Shao asked, somewhat curious.

"there."

Zheng Qin pointed his crossbow at Arakino.

Yu Shao looked in the direction Zheng Qin indicated and immediately saw Araki Nobuo in the crowd. Then he noticed that Araki Nobuo was also looking at him.

Yu Shao was somewhat taken aback. After hesitating for a moment, he nodded to Araki Nobuyo from afar. Just as he was about to look away, he spotted a familiar face in the crowd.

Higashiyama Kaoru glanced at Yu Shao, then at Su Yiming, her expression becoming extremely solemn.

"Honinbo Shingo-sensei, Kimura Go-sensei, Sato Kengosei, Ishiten Noriyuki, Fujiwara Motoi-sensei..."

Standing nearby, Zheng Qin spoke with great familiarity about the group of Japanese Go players not far away, finally letting out a somewhat dejected sigh: "The immortals are lined up like hemp!"

Yu Shao followed Zheng Qin's gaze and looked at the group of chess players.

The man on the far left is a middle-aged man with a sharp suit, a handsome face, and piercing eyes.

Honinbo Shingo is currently the player with the highest average winning percentage in the Japanese Go world!

Standing next to Honinbo Shingo was a slightly overweight man in his forties with thick black hair and narrow eyes.

Kimura Go, Higashiyama Kaoru's teacher, was also the one who pushed An Hiroshi to the brink of defeat countless times back then, and was known as the "uncrowned champion". He currently holds the 10th dan title!

Beside Kimura Go was a middle-aged man with a stern expression, tall stature, strong build, and an imposing presence.

Shi Tianji, who holds the title of "King of the Chess," boasts the highest win rate against Chinese players in world championships and is known as a "nemesis of China," having caused countless Chinese players to shed blood on the chessboard. ...

Each of these names represents a legend in Go, and each has more than five famous games to prove their skill!

"You're talking as if it concerns you."

Upon hearing this, Le Haoqiang couldn't help but retort, "Those whose names you don't know are the ones that are relevant to you."

"What do you mean? I know the name Higashiyama Kaoru too. Does Higashiyama Kaoru have nothing to do with me?" Zheng Qin suddenly became anxious.

"Do you think you're a match for Higashiyama Kaoru?"

Le Haoqiang said leisurely, "Are you sure?"

Zheng Qin stared wide-eyed, but couldn't utter a word.

Indeed, although Higashiyama Kaoru did not have a title, the games he played in the China-Japan-Korea team tournament were probably better than those played by any other title holder.

He asked himself honestly, if he were to face Higashiyama Kaoru, his chances of winning wouldn't be very high.

"Let's go."

Just then, Zhuang Weisheng looked at the Japanese team not far ahead and said, "Since we've run into them at the entrance, let's go up and say hello."

After saying that, Zhuang Weisheng walked towards the Japanese team, and the others immediately followed behind him.

Soon, the group followed Zhuang Weisheng and stopped in front of the Japanese team.

"It's been a long time, Arakino-sensei."

Zhuang Weisheng looked at Araki Nobuyo with a slightly complicated expression and said with a smile, "I didn't expect to run into him at the competition venue. I thought I would never have the chance again."

Upon hearing Zhuang Weisheng's words, Araki Nobuyo remained silent for a moment before slowly saying, "I never expected that I would meet you at the competition venue one day."

Yu Shao and Su Yiming were somewhat surprised to hear these words.

Zhuang Weisheng spoke in Chinese, and Araki also replied in Chinese, and his Chinese was so fluent that you couldn't even hear a hint of accent.

Zheng Qin, who was standing to the side, seemed to notice Yu Shao and Su Yiming's surprise and explained to them in a low voice: "Araki-sensei's Go teacher when he was a child was a Go player who lived in Japan, so Araki-sensei's Chinese is very good."

"So, why?"

Just then, Zhuang Weisheng looked at Araki and asked, "Why, after ten years, have you suddenly chosen to return to the competition, Mr. Araki?"

Regarding Araki's sudden return to participate in the World Championship, not only netizens, but even his old friend Araki was completely baffled.

Of course, he was happy about Araki's comeback.

Upon hearing this question, Araki was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled and said, "I've just seen you and An Hongshi active in the Go world, and suddenly I want to compete and play Go. What, you don't welcome me?"

"of course not."

Zhuang Weisheng didn't think too much about it, smiled faintly, and said, "To be honest, I have always been waiting for the opportunity to play against you again on the field. Your retirement from the Go world before, Araki-sensei, was a loss to the entire Go world."

"Let's stop standing here and chat, let's go into the hotel."

At that moment, Honinbo Shingo suddenly spoke up, interrupting their conversation, saying, "The opening ceremony is about to begin."

Zhuang Weisheng smiled, nodded, and strode off alongside Araki, chatting as they walked toward the hotel entrance. Seeing this, the others immediately followed, ready to enter the hotel together.

Just as Yu Shao was about to set off, he noticed two Japanese players staring intently at him, so he stopped and looked at them.

Everyone else was taken aback by what they saw, including Zhuang Weisheng and Araki, and they all stopped in their tracks.

"Was that you the person playing chess at the Phoenix Chess Club the day before yesterday?"

The young man looked at Yu Shao and asked in English.

Although the young man was asking a question, his tone was incredibly certain, as if he had already concluded that the person playing chess at the Phoenix Chess Hall the day before yesterday was indeed Yu Shao.

Upon hearing this, Yu Shao was slightly taken aback. Looking at the young man again, he suddenly felt that the young man looked somewhat familiar.

The others were completely baffled by this.

the day before yesterday?

Phoenix Chess Hall?

Yu Shao glanced at the girl beside the young man and hesitated before asking, "Are you the one from the day before yesterday..."

"Yes, it's me."

When the young man saw that Yu Shao recognized him, he nodded, looked at Yu Shao, and said, "That game of chess touched me deeply. I've been analyzing that game repeatedly for the past two days."

After saying that, the young man took a deep breath, extended his hand to Yu Shao, and said, "Let's get to know each other again. My name is Sato Takeru, and my current title is Go Saint."

Takeru Sato?
Yu Shao was no stranger to the name Takeru Satoh; in fact, the name Takeru Satoh was on the list of "immortals" that Zheng Qin had just mentioned.

However, compared to established veterans like Honinbo Shingo and Araki, Takeru Satoh, who only won the Gosei title last year from former Gosei Fujiwara Motoki and successfully defended the title for just one year, is not as well-known.

However, being able to hold a title for two years in the highly competitive Japanese Go world is already a testament to one's skill!
First of all, former Go master Fujiwaramoto himself was the player with the highest winning percentage in Japan for five consecutive years, maintaining a 7-dan or higher rank.

Secondly, while skill may play a role in winning a title, luck may also play a part. However, to hold a title for two consecutive years, defeat challengers, and successfully defend the title once again, can only be attributed to skill!
Although Yu Shao guessed that the person he played chess with the day before yesterday was definitely not an ordinary professional chess player, he did not expect that it would be Takeru Satoh.

Yu Shao thought for a moment, then extended his hand, shook hands with Sato Takeru, and said, "Yu Shao."

Sato Takeru stared intently at Yu Shao and said, "I hope to have the opportunity to face you again on the field."

Yu Shao looked at the fighting spirit burning in Sato Takeru's eyes, remained silent for a moment, then nodded slightly and replied, "Me too."

The surrounding crowd watched this scene in silence, without saying a word. Although they did not know what had happened between the two at the Phoenix Chess Hall the day before yesterday, they could guess the general idea from their conversation.

They played a game of chess at the chess hall, and the final result was...

Takeru Satoh lost!

This is definitely not good news for all Japanese Go players.

Amidst the crowd, Higashiyama Kaoru couldn't help but take a deep breath, while Kimura Go, standing beside him, narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at Yu Shao, the junior Go player who had turned the Go world upside down in just one year.

He was also the one who caused his most outstanding student, Higashiyama Kaoru, to fall into a slump this year.

Araki, on the other hand, simply watched this scene quietly, his face revealing no emotion.

　Asking for a monthly ticket!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)