The world of film and television begins with Hikaru no Go

After agreeing on the arrangements for the audience with Master Yuanzhen the next day, Di Renjie did not linger in the temple and descended the mountain through the back gate.

As we turned onto the main street, the noise of people began to rise.

Ahead, under an old locust tree by the roadside, a group of people were gathered.

A low table was set up in the crowd, with two old men sitting on either side.

A man dressed in a gray cloth short brown shirt, with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing two arms tanned by the sun, held a chess piece in one hand and rested the other on his knee. His knuckles were thick, and dirt that couldn't be washed off remained under his fingernails.

Another man, dressed in a worn blue robe with a belt around his waist, was thin and had a goatee on his chin. He was holding a teacup and sipping slowly.

A chessboard was placed on the table, and in terms of the situation, White had the advantage.

Black had a large dragon in the center, winding its way up from the left, with more than a dozen stones connected together. It had a lot of liberties and a strong presence.

But now the dragon is surrounded, blocked on the left and right, and its tail has been stabbed. The dragon is like someone has grabbed its vital spot, curled up in the middle of the chessboard, unable to advance or retreat, with only a few breaths left, and it looks like it is about to be slaughtered.

The old man with the black chess pieces frowned, three deep lines on his forehead, the one between his brows furrowed into a knot.

The chess piece in his hand remained empty for a long time, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing together, unable to place it.

The spectators were even more anxious than he was.

A middle-aged man was half-squatting, one hand supporting his knee, the other pointing at the chessboard, muttering, "This...where do we go? The bottom is blocked, the left is blocked, this is completely hopeless..."

A tall, thin man next to him glanced at him sideways and said, "Shut up. Can't you see Old Zhou is thinking about it?"

"What are you thinking about?" Another spectator shook his head. "White's outside influence is so thick, anyone would be doomed. If you had listened to me earlier, you might have been able to turn the game around, but now..."

Before he could finish speaking, the person next to him nudged him with their elbow. He glanced at the old man's face and swallowed the rest of his words.

Some people sighed, some clicked their tongues, and two people offered advice from the side. One suggested trying to turn the bottom left corner, while the other suggested doing it right there. The two disagreed and their voices grew louder and louder, almost leading to an argument.

The old man in gray was already annoyed, and their noise made the veins on his forehead throb. He suddenly raised his head and glared at the person who was giving advice.

That look in his eyes was both fierce and resentful, as if to say, "If you're so capable, then you do it."

The few who had offered advice awkwardly shut their mouths and took a half step back.

The old man in the green robe kept his lips pressed down, but a smile was always hidden in the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. When serving tea, his goatee would always twitch.

Di Renjie stopped and stood outside the crowd, not pushing his way in, but slightly tilting his head to look at the chessboard through the gaps in the crowd.

Zhang Rui had no choice but to watch as well.

He neither particularly liked nor disliked Go.

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I used to play chess a lot, and after a while I haven't touched it, I have to say I've been missing it.

Looking at this chessboard now, my eyes swept from left to right and then from top to bottom.

The large black group is indeed in danger. It's blocked by two white stones on the left and a row of white stones on the right, so the large group can't stretch out at all...

and many more.

right.

Zhang Rui's gaze lingered on the upper right corner of the chessboard.

The white pieces in the upper right corner are surrounded like an iron barrel, and they look like a living group, with two clear eyes.

Between the two eyes, there is a white piece that is a bit thin, stuck there alone, while a black piece diagonally opposite is staring at it menacingly.

If Black makes a cut here...

White must respond.

If it is not answered, the eye becomes a false eye; if it is answered, the liberties of the entire white group become tight.

If the move continues, the large black group will gain an extra liberty, allowing it to not only survive but also potentially draw white stones back in.

They're close to turning the tide, but they can survive.

If a dead dragon comes back to life, then the game can be played.

Zhang Rui glanced at Di Renjie, who was stroking his beard, his gaze fixed on the chessboard. His face was expressionless, but the two fingers stroking his beard were still there, clearly indicating that he was engrossed in the game.

He leaned closer and lowered his voice: "Sir, cut off the hand in the upper right corner."

Di Renjie's gaze shifted to the upper right corner.

They paused for a while.

Then the two fingers that were twirling the beard gently pinched it.

His brows relaxed slightly, so much so that it was barely noticeable unless you got very close.

The old black chess piece finally landed in an insignificant spot.

The white chess player put down his teacup and, almost without thinking, made a move, further blocking the black pieces' retreat.

The onlookers shook their heads more and more, and their sighs grew louder.

Di Renjie withdrew his gaze, straightened his cuffs, turned around, and continued walking forward.

Zhang Rui followed.

After walking a dozen steps, getting far away from the old locust tree, and hearing the voices of the chess players gradually fade into the distance, Di Renjie suddenly spoke.

"You know how to play chess?"

Zhang Rui shook his head: "No."

"How did you figure that out?"

"It's just... a feeling."

Di Renjie didn't reply. He took a few more steps before slowly saying, "Your intuition is quite accurate. Did you learn it before?"

"no."

Have you watched others play chess?

"I can't remember."

Whenever this topic comes up, Zhang Rui has no choice but to pretend to be clueless. After doing it so many times, he's become quite adept at it.

Judge Di nodded and asked no further questions.

The two walked for a while longer, and then Di Renjie suddenly said, "I'll teach you when I have time."

Zhang Rui paused for a moment.

"Since you're staying by my side, you can't just waste your days like this. You're still young, it won't hurt to learn more."

He didn't go on to explain what to teach or how to teach it, saying that there was plenty of time ahead and one could learn whatever came their way.

Zhang Rui looked at Di Renjie's profile; the old man's steps remained unhurried.

"...Okay, then when you have some free time."

"It won't be long before things become clear after tomorrow's audience. Everything that needs to be arranged has been arranged, everything that needs to be done has been done, and there will be some free time later."

Zhang Rui quickened his pace and walked alongside him.

"it is good."

We had lunch at the same restaurant, in the same private room, and the food was more plentiful than yesterday.

There wasn't much to do in the afternoon, and it was too far to go back to the inn. I also had to come here to pick up my clothes in the evening, so I simply ordered a few more dishes and ate slowly.

The two ate their meal until the sun was setting before leaving the restaurant.

The clothing store is very close by; it's just around the corner.

When the shopkeeper saw Di Renjie enter, he came out from behind the counter to greet him, stacking several piles of clothes on the counter with a smile.

"Sir, look, it's all made to the size you specified, and the cuffs are tightened, so it'll fit you perfectly."

The shopkeeper unfolded the two robes and laid them out on the counter; the indigo robe was dignified and composed, while the moon-white robe was simple and elegant.

Judge Di picked up the garment and examined the stitches, which were fine and dense both inside and out. He then checked the inner lining of the garment to confirm that the silk floss was of even thickness before paying the balance. He then glanced at the miscellaneous shelves next to the counter, picked out two pairs of plain cloth socks, and bought them all together.

After leaving the shop, the two returned to the inn.

No need to buy shoes, Zhang Rui and Di Gong are the same size. Di Gong doesn't wear new shoes often, and many of his issued official boots haven't been touched, which is perfect for Zhang Rui.