“The game board is amazing! It’s like there’s no hope for the black pieces, how did he manage this? I’ve got to say, it’s the most exciting Go match I’ve ever seen in my life!”
Colin appeared despondent and couldn’t bring himself to look at the board. He was muttering to himself in disbelief, “How is this possible? It must be a coincidence. There’s no way I could lose to an in-law…”
“Colin, face reality,” Leo said with a faint smile.
“Reality?” Colin suddenly stared at Leo with intense eyes, saying, “No, I can’t possibly lose to you. It must have been your luck earlier. I want to play another game with you!”
Leo shrugged indifferently, “If you want me to prove your incompetence again, be my guest.”
The black and white pieces were put back into their respective boxes, and the two of them immediately started another round of play.
Leo continued to let Colin make the first move. This time, Colin was no longer underestimating Leo; he was laser-focused. With each move, he meticulously showcased his highest level of skill.
Colin was determined not to lose the second game. Another loss to a freeloading son-in-law would be the ultimate disgrace to him and his master.
The spectators, who had previously been bored, now watched the game intently. They wanted to know if Leo’s victory in the first game had been a fluke.
Master Spencer also stopped underestimating Leo. His focus was intense, and he understood that Colin’s move was almost equivalent to his own in terms of strategy.
When it was Leo’s turn to place the white piece, everyone assumed he would play haphazardly, as he had before. However, they were in for a shock. Leo launched an aggressive attack against Colin from the start, leaving Colin surprised. He thought, “This freeloading son-in-law isn’t following the usual pattern? Alright, I’ll face you head-on.”
Colin placed the second black stone with determination.
Leo continued his bold tactics, immediately countering and attacking Colin.
As the black and white pieces continued to be placed on the board, the onlookers’ hearts started racing.
Master Spencer, an outsider to the game, felt excited as he watched Leo’s aggressive tactics. Even though he was a Go enthusiast, he felt the pressure that he hadn’t experienced in a long time.
Several times, he wanted to tell his disciple to step aside and let him take over, but he resisted the urge.
It was simply too thrilling!
After more than ten minutes, the onlookers were filled with excitement. The Go board became a battlefield, and the game resembled a fierce battle with no room for retreat. It was all about fighting until the very end.
Soon, the black side began to show signs of weakness. Under the relentless assault of the white pieces, the black side kept falling.
Colin’s forehead was once again covered in sweat. His heart was pounding rapidly. It seemed like he had become a general leading the black pieces in a life-or-death charge.
On the game board, with only black and white stones, an aura of intense competition and tension filled the air.
Twenty minutes later, Colin was gripping his head with his left hand while holding a black stone in his right, unable to make a move. Leo casually took a sip of tea and asked, “Colin, how are you feeling?”
Colin was close to being driven mad by Leo’s tactics. He grasped his scalp tightly and pondered intensely for a solution. It took him quite a while to place a black stone.
“This is… the Heavenly-Origin Go pattern! How is this even possible?” After recognizing the layout on the board, Master Spencer couldn’t help but exclaim in astonishment.
In the midst of his exclamation, Leo calmly placed a white piece on the board.
With that move, the black side was utterly defeated.
After hearing Master Spencer’s exclamation, August, Jack, and the others wore stunned expressions on their faces, their shock almost numbing.
You see, escaping the confines of the Heavenly-Origin Go pattern was an impossible feat without profound mastery of the game.
Colin slumped back into his chair once more. At this moment, his eyes lacked any glimmer, as if he’d lost his very soul.
Leo clapped his hands and rose from his seat. He seemed to have known the outcome all along, displaying no signs of jubilation after his victory.
Master Spencer quickly stood up from his chair, his voice low as he inquired, “Leo, would you be kind enough to inform me of your teacher?”
Master Spencer, however, had a strong urge to challenge Leo himself, wishing he had been the one to play the second game.
Leo gave Master Spencer a glance, and his nonchalant response was, “I’m self-taught. This kind of simple pattern is nothing to me.”
Self-taught? A simple pattern? Master Spencer nearly choked on his own blood at Leo’s response. He couldn’t believe that such a masterful strategy like the Heavenly-Origin Go pattern was considered “simple” by Leo.
After recovering, Colin called out desperately, “Leo, let’s play five games, best of three!”
Poor Colin, despite the heavy blow, he still wasn’t willing to give up.
Master Spencer knew that even if they played ten games, Colin wouldn’t be able to defeat Leo. He coldly stopped him, “Colin, you lack the skill, don’t continue embarrassing yourself.”
Looking at Leo, he asked, “Leo, I’d like to challenge you.”
Leo was considering giving this experienced but arrogant man another lesson and nodded, “Sure, let’s play.”
However, Master Spencer hastily waved his hand and said, “Not now. You just played two games with my disciple, and challenging you immediately again would be unsporting. I’ll come visit you personally on another day.”
This seemingly modest statement was actually filled with hypocrisy. Master Spencer didn’t want to be publicly defeated by Leo because it would damage his reputation. He was wise enough to maintain a facade of grace while vowing to study Leo’s tactics to prepare for their future encounter.
If Master Spencer didn’t make a move, Jack was set to lose today, so he quickly urged, “Master Spencer, Leo only managed to win against Colin by chance. A freeloading son-in-law like him has no right to challenge you!”