Chapter 28

"Brother, I'll go first," Jia Naji said eagerly, wanting to test himself against the opponent.

"Alright," Jia Qiyi agreed and stepped aside.

"Let's begin," Jia Naji said as he activated his brain and prepared for the match.

Jia Fuhai, their father, picked up a handy cam designed for casual home filming to record the moment. The two little ones didn't mind, as long as he didn't capture any embarrassing moments.

The match began with Jia Naji and Uncle Bai acting as substitutes for the opponent. Both players quickly entered the game, their expressions showing their concentration.

The Go master: Serious face.jpg

Jia Naji: Excited face "I'll place here, I'll place here."

The game started with both sides attacking each other right from the opening.

The Go master: '_>' "I need to think carefully."

Jia Naji: '<_' "Hmm, I need to think as well."

The game became more intense.

The Go master: '_°Δ°` "How is this baby so good? I'm a five-dan player!"

Jia Naji: ⊙o⊙ "This person's about the same level as my brother!"

The Go master: ￣△￣; "Impressive!"

Jia Naji: (???) "This guy's decent."

As the game drew on, they reached a deadlock.

"It's a draw," Zhen Fugui and Uncle Bai concluded after assessing the board. Even with their non-professional skills, they could see the result.

Uncle Bai was in awe, shouting in excitement, "Jia Naji is incredible! He's matched a five-dan Go master! If he trained a little...

Back at the Go club, the master was utterly speechless.

Am I not a five-dan? And I almost lost to a baby?! He thought, his face twisted in disbelief like he'd swallowed a bitter melon. He couldn't understand why today's babies were so terrifyingly good.

The master looked at his disciple, thankful that no one else had witnessed this. If his old friends saw, they'd never stop mocking him.

"Want to keep playing?" came a young voice from the other side of the video.

"Of course, let's go again," the Go master said, slapping his cheeks to shake off his nerves. This time, he'd be playing against Jia Qiyi.

The new round of concentration began.

The Go master: Serious focus "I must give it my all. I can't lose again, not in front of my disciple!"

Jia Qiyi: Determined "I need to make my little brother proud!"

The Go Master: Scrutinizing the board, "Where should I place this move?"

Jia Qiyi: Calm expression "Hmm, this is about the same level as my brother."

The Go master: Sweating "This kid is even stronger than the last one!"

Jia Qiyi: Casually, "This person's not bad."

Go master: Panicking "I'm done for..."

Jia Qiyi: "Checkmate."

"Jia Qiyi wins," Uncle Bai announced as the master's king was captured.

"Incredible, Qiyi!" Zhen Fugui couldn't resist scooping his grandson up, rubbing his face against Jia Qiyi in joy.

"Grandpa, it's uncomfortable," Jia Qiyi said, using his tiny hands to push away his overly affectionate grandfather.

"Zhen Fugui! Stop it! Let him go!" Chen Lina quickly stepped in and took Jia Qiyi from his grandfather, noticing the child's discomfort.

"Unbelievable," Uncle Bai exclaimed, still in shock. "That's a five-dan Go master! And he just got beaten by a little kid!"

Uncle Bai glanced at his now blackened screen, wondering if the Go master on the other side was just like Zhang yesterday—crying. He smirked at the thought, enjoying the idea a little too much.

At the Go club, the master slumped back in his chair, his eyes empty and his spirit crushed. His disciple, Zhang, ran over.

"Master, are you alright?" Zhang asked, shaking his teacher.

"I'm fine. That was... impressive," the master muttered, still processing what had happened. He had seen prodigies before, but these two brothers were on a whole other level.

Turning to his disciple, the master sighed in relief. At least no one else had seen his defeat besides Zhang. His reputation might still be salvageable.

"Zhang Zongwei, would you call these children geniuses?" The master asked, his voice trembling as he took a sip of his Goji tea.

"Yes, Master! I've been playing for years to get to my current level, but they... Zhang trailed off, feeling a tightness in his chest as he thought about the difference in talent. It wasn't just a gap between people—it felt like the gap between a human and a husky!

"Zhang, don't let this bother you. Take it one step at a time," the master said, trying to console his disciple. "Think of the ten-dan players. They've lost countless games, and your idol was no different."

Zhang's eyes brightened at the mention of his idol, who had overcome numerous losses to reach the top. The master had turned the conversation just in time.

"But, Master, you—" Zhang began, but the master cut him off.

"I'm old. My brain isn't as sharp as it used to be. Are you really going to compare yourself to me? Focus on getting to the fourth dan," the master said, waving off his disciple's concerns.

"But those prodigies... how could I possibly compete with them?" Zhang said, still rattled by his recent matches with the two boys.

"You're not competing with them. Remember what your idol always says: you're only competing with yourself. Just be better today than you were yesterday," the master replied sternly. Though he was stuck at five-dan, he knew there were monsters at higher levels.

Zhang nodded, his spirit revived by the pep talk. "Yes, Master! I'll keep going!"

"Good. Now get back out there and practice with your friends. You're ready to apply for the fourth dan soon," the master said, pleased with his disciple's recovery.

"Understood! I'll go practice now," Zhang replied, leaving the room determined.

Once Zhang was gone, the master wiped the sweat from his forehead. Today's children were something else.

And then, the prodigies...

The master frowned, thinking about the two brothers who had bested him. It didn't sting as much anymore. He had grown used to the idea that there were always stronger people out there. But still, if he could somehow bring those boys to his Go club...

However, based on their family's situation, it seemed unlikely. Their interest in Xiangqi (Chinese chess) was another barrier. Though Go was more complex, Xiangqi didn't have the same prestige or rewards.

Looking out the window at the crowded Go hall next door, the master sighed again.

Go was indeed more intricate than Xiangqi, but his love for the game remained undiminished. Still, he needed to find a way to reach out to those prodigies. Even though they had crushed his spirit, he felt that he had learned something from playing with them.

Once Zhang's mood had settled, he would ask for their contact information.