Three consecutive games, three consecutive losses.
Lu Zheng wasn’t holding back on purpose; he genuinely couldn’t win.
“Not bad, not bad. Although you didn’t win, you gave me a few ideas. Perhaps I can deduce a few more approaches, and there might even be a chance for victory,” the old man said, nodding with satisfaction.
With a wave of his/hand, a nearby stone wall cracked, and a small piece of rock fell into his hand. With a gentle brush of his fingers, the rock transformed into a palm-sized stone bottle.
Glancing at a stalactite, drops of stalactite spring water began to emerge from its surface, forming a steady stream that flowed into the bottle.
Lu Zheng saw it clearly. This stalactite spring water was dark green, thick, and viscous, with a sweet, clear fragrance. Just inhaling its scent from the side, he felt his mind clear and his true qi stir within him.
After filling the small bottle with this stalactite essence, the old man sealed it with a small stone and handed it to Lu Zheng. “Your chess skills are impressive, young friend. In the future, come to my cave to collect stalactite spring water. This stalactite essence is limited, but there’s plenty of the ordinary stalactite spring water.”
“Thank you, Senior!” Lu Zheng respectfully accepted the bottle. “I’ll study this endgame further when I return, to see if I can find a solution. If I come up with new ideas, I’ll return to play chess with you, Senior.”
“Good.” The old man nodded, though he didn’t hold high expectations.
In his view, Lu Zheng’s ability to devise four approaches on the spot was already due to prior experience. Finding new paths would require years of study. To play against him again, it would likely take months, perhaps even a year.
By then, the old man thought, he might have already solved it himself.
“I take my leave, Senior!” Lu Zheng said, bowing. Seeing the old man nod and return his focus to the chessboard, Lu Zheng slowly backed away, exiting the cave entrance. He then descended the cliff and left.
…
Peach Blossom Hamlet.
“Such potent spiritual stalactite essence!” Shen Ying opened the bottle, took a whiff, and quickly sealed it again.
“Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!”
“Water! Water! Water!”
A blur flashed by, and Zhi Ma darted into Shen Ying’s arms, causing a ripple of movement. With a shake, a large piece of lingzhi mushroom fell from its back into Lu Zheng’s hand. It stared at the bottle in Shen Ying’s hand. “Water! Water! Water!”
Lu Zheng, “…”
Poor Zhi Ma, already so conditioned…
Shen Ying smiled, opened the bottle, and fed Zhi Ma three drops of the essence, followed by a cup of ordinary stalactite spring water. She then waved it away.
“Let’s talk inside,” Shen Ying said, inviting Lu Zheng into the house. “I didn’t expect such a powerful demon in the deep mountains of Tonglin County. I wonder what its true form is.”
“Indeed, and a chess fanatic at that,” Lu Zheng said with a laugh, recounting the events of his trip.
Shen Ying’s eyes lit up. She quickly pulled Lu Zheng into the study, urging him to set up the endgame. “From this great demon’s behaviour, if you can help him solve this endgame, the rewards will be significant.”
“Probably just a few more bottles of this stalactite essence?” Lu Zheng said with a smile, setting up the chessboard, sorting the black and white pieces, and arranging them according to his memory.
“That’s already quite good!” Shen Ying said seriously to Lu Zheng. “If you consume more of this stalactite essence, your cultivation will surely soar. Though it comes from the same source as the stalactite spring water, they’re not the same thing!”
Lu Zheng nodded. “I tried a sip on the way back, and it indeed boosts cultivation.”
While studying the endgame, Shen Ying handed the bottle to Lu Zheng. “Keep it safe, Lu Lang. You can also give some to Sister Qingyan. Her cultivation is still a bit low.”
“Hm?” Shen Ying frowned. “Can white really win?”
Shen Ying’s chess skills were considerable, so at first glance, she felt white was doomed to lose.
“I tried four approaches, all losses, but the Senior said white can definitely win,” Lu Zheng said.
“Your chess skills are profound, Lu Lang!” Shen Ying’s fingers brushed her cherry lips, her eyes flickering. “I can only see five approaches. Maybe we can put up a fight.”
“Lu Lang, I’ll take white. Let’s try,” Shen Ying said.
“Alright!”
…
The hour of Shen had passed, and the sun was setting in the west. Shen Ying tried all five approaches, but with her and Lu Zheng’s chess skills being close, she lost every time.
Shen Ying rubbed her heavy forehead, shaking her head lightly. “I can’t win.”
Lu Zheng put the pieces back into the wooden box, smiling consolingly. “If this endgame were so easy to solve, that Senior wouldn’t have pondered it for thirty years.”
“True,” Shen Ying nodded. Watching Lu Zheng pack away the pieces, she gave a gentle smile, leaning softly against him with a delicate expression. “My dear, after five games, I feel dizzy and unsteady. Could you help me to my room to rest?”
“Madam, you’ve worked hard. I know a few massage techniques. Shall I give you a massage?”
“That sounds wonderful~”
Lu Zheng supported Shen Ying, who leaned half her body against him. The two wobbled back to the main bedroom.
Xiao Cui entered the courtyard, intending to ask Lu Zheng if he wanted dinner. She caught sight of their figures leaning together and the main bedroom door closing.
…
In the modern world, Lu Zheng first downloaded a Go app, inputted the endgame, and selected the hell-difficulty computer to play white and go first.
Then…
He played ten games against the computer, all ending with the computer conceding.
Damn it!
He needed AlphaGo!
The problem was, AlphaGo wouldn’t just play with anyone who asked.
Moreover, his chess skills were still inferior to the old man’s. Even if AlphaGo could beat him, he couldn’t just copy its moves. Who knew how the old man would adapt?
Lu Zheng’s face soured. Did he really have to rely on himself?
Why did improving this side profession feel so endless!
This was too hard!
“Jade Seal, enhance!”
“Buzz!”
Lu Zheng felt a daze in his mind as a flood of chess strategies and thoughts poured in.
Looking at the endgame, his mind raced with countless ideas, calculating furiously, only to find that white still couldn’t win.
“Jade Seal, enhance again!”
“Woo…”
The Jade Seal vibrated, indicating that Lu Zheng needed to absorb his current chess knowledge first.
Lu Zheng frowned, reopened the Go app, and played against the hell-difficulty computer, winning three games in a row.
“No good. I’ve figured out this lousy computer’s strategies. Playing more won’t help consolidate my skills,” Lu Zheng muttered. He opened the long-unused Penguin gaming lobby. “Let’s find real players. Maybe there are some experts on this platform.”
