Chapter 41
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“I’m suddenly worried about your health, Grandfather.”
“What?”
“When a person suddenly changes, well… isn’t that usually a bad sign?”
“You rascal!”
It’s natural to be startled when the old man, who was always obsessed with Go, suddenly acted like this.
“A guest will be arriving. You’ll help me prepare to welcome them.”
“A guest?”
“Yes.”
“Grandfather, shouldn’t you leave such preparations to the servants?”
“Hey! When an elder gives an order, you obey without argument. I don’t know why you’re so full of complaints today!”
Well, Grandfather.
I was just about to enjoy some rest when I was urgently summoned. Can you imagine how unjust this feels?
Not that I’m saying I won’t do it.
“Yes, yes, I understand. But who’s the guest, all of a sudden?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I didn’t think you had any friends other than Hwang Bo-chung.”
“What? That guy, Hwang Bo-chung, is my sworn enemy! Enemy! What friend?”
“Well, Grandfather, you meet him regularly, play Go together, and sometimes even share a drink. Socially, we call that a ‘friend.’”
“We are not friends! And don’t you dare think of me as just some backroom old man. There are plenty of people lining up just to meet me!”
“That sounds more like solicitation than friendship, doesn’t it?”
“You insolent brat!”
“So, who exactly is the guest coming today?”
“…”
For some reason, Grandfather hesitated there, as if unable to speak.
After some deliberation, he finally managed to mutter.
“It’s Hwang Bo-chung.”
See? They are friends.
“So, you’re saying you’re close enough to visit each other’s homes, but you’re not friends?”
“If I say we’re not friends, we’re not!”
“Yes, if you say so, Grandfather~.”
Teasing Grandfather like that, I quickly helped finish the preparations. The truth is, the Grand Elder’s room was always kept impeccably clean by the family’s servants, so there wasn’t much to do in the first place. There was no real need for me to be summoned for this. Unless…
“Grandfather, the preparations seem to be done. I’ll take my leave now. Please enjoy your time with your friend.”
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“?”
“He’s not coming to see me. He’s here to see you.”
That abrupt declaration caught me off guard.
So my suspicions were correct after all.
***
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
“Hmph, it seems you’ve been eating well. Your face is glowing.”
“And you’ve been holed up in Anhui Province, looking quite spirited yourself!”
Was this their way of exchanging pleasantries or picking a fight?
Grandfather and Hwang Bo-chung were undoubtedly friends.
“So, this young man is the Lee Se-woong you spoke of?”
“Yes, Elder. I’m Lee Se-woong. It’s an honour to meet you.”
“Ah, yes. I’ve heard of your reputation from afar. You must have had a hard journey getting here.”
“Not at all. I’m humbled to meet someone as esteemed as yourself.”
“Haha, such a polite young man! Quite the contrast to someone else I know.”
“A hard journey? What nonsense! Anhui Province is just a stone’s throw away from here!”
Hwang Bo-chung’s muscular physique was impressive for someone his age. If you didn’t know better, you might mistake him for a warrior instead of a strategist. Despite being retired from active duty, his influence within the Hwang Bo family remained strong due to his previous role as a key advisor.
“Young man, it seems you’ve been training diligently. Your physique is quite remarkable.”
“I’m not even close to your level, Elder. I’ve just been trying not to fall behind.”
“No need to be modest. A strong body supports strong inner energy. It’s rare to see such dedication in the younger generation these days.”
It wasn’t exactly by choice that I built up this physique. Let’s just say my demanding environment forced it on me.
Hwang Bo-chung’s eyes gleamed as he scanned me from head to toe. Somehow, I felt like I’d already passed his assessment.
“But I heard from your Grandfather that you wanted to see me?”
“Well, yes, but to be precise, it was he who called me here. Didn’t he tell you?”
This is news to me.
I was dragged here first thing this morning without any explanation.
“Well, that’s part of the fun, isn’t it?”
“Grandfather, would you care to explain what this is about?”
When I asked, Grandfather glanced away, avoiding eye contact.
“For now, play a game of Go with him.”
“Didn’t you say this wasn’t about Go?”
“I said I wouldn’t play. I never said you couldn’t play.”
A word game. Of course.
So this was his plan all along. If he’d just been upfront about it, I might have been less annoyed.
He deceived me! I’ll make him pay for this.
“Did he not tell you? Actually, I’m the one who requested this game. A man who always played predictable moves suddenly started employing brilliant tactics. I had to know why.”
“…”
“Though he kept it well hidden, I eventually discovered the reason. It was you. Would you do me the honour of a match?”
Hwang Bo-chung’s tone was polite, but his eyes burned with competitive spirit.
“You’ve come all this way. How could I refuse? I’ve also been curious about the skill of the great Hwang Bo-chung.”
“Haha, I like this young man’s straightforwardness!”
“It’s an honour to play a game with you, the greatest Go player in Central Plains.”
“Hahaha! No need to overpraise me. It’s no more surprising than the sun rising in the east.”
Snap!
Grandfather, his veins bulging, interjected angrily.
“Greatest my foot! To claim that title, you’ll have to get past me first!”
“Elder, shall we decide with a draw of the stones?”
“Excellent. I appreciate your confidence. It’s refreshing.”
Ignoring Grandfather’s grumbles, I began my match with Hwang Bo-chung, who took the black stones.
“You’re being bold from the start!”
“Your counterattack was completely unexpected!”
Just by observing someone’s game record, you can understand a lot about them.
A first-rate Go player knows how to read between the lines.
Hwang Bo-chung’s playing style was exactly as I had imagined: bold and focused on combat.
However, unlike other players who solely prioritized fighting, Hwang Bo-chung was also well-versed in practical gains. He only initiated battles when the outcome was favourable, retreating decisively if it wasn’t.
Typically, such an approach would still incur some losses. However, as expected from the so-called greatest Go player in Central Plains, his calculations were meticulous, leaving no room for mistakes.
“I’ve lost. May I play with a handicap?”
“Are you sure?”
“Young man, one must never let pride get in the way when seeking to learn.”
Three consecutive games followed.
I won every single one.
There was no room in my mindset for holding back, so I played each match with full sincerity.
It was refreshing to see Hwang Bo-chung admit his inferiority so cleanly—very unlike a certain stubborn elder I knew.
“Hey, where’s that Go player now?”
The Grand Elder, who had been observing our matches, was practically giddy with excitement.
“Oh dear… that’s not how you should play.”
Perhaps it was because of the grudge he’d built up from losing to Hwang Bo-chung so many times before.
“Hey! You should place it here!”
He even pointed out moves, fanning himself enthusiastically. That fan wasn’t given to you for this purpose, Grandfather. Use it when you’re the one winning.
He reminded me of the loud kids at an internet café in my past life, chattering behind someone’s back while saying, “That’s not how you do it.”
“Hmm, why is it so noisy in the middle of a match?”
“Don’t mind him. They say a gentleman avoids anger and frustration, after all.”
“Anger and frustration?”
“It means a gentleman must keep away from worries and rage.”
“Haha, fascinating. Is that what young people are saying these days?”
Actually, I just made that up.
It sounded nice.
“Yes, a few people seem to use it.”
“Then let us follow that principle as well!”
“Let’s do that!”
Ignoring Namgung Hwan’s grumbling, we continued the game. With every match, Hwang Bo-chung’s skill and energy seemed to skyrocket. His raw talent was truly terrifying.
“This is enough. I simply can’t find a way to defeat you.”
“You flatter me. Elder, your moves were sharp enough to graze my neck.”
“Thank you for saying that. Now I understand why his skill has improved so much.”
“You’re being too generous.”
“It’s fortunate that I’ve met a teacher like you, even now. It feels like my eyes have been opened.”
“You’re not content with merely reaching the mountaintop—you’re preparing to walk among the clouds. Truly, you’re worthy of the title of the greatest in Central Plains!”
“Haha, your ability to flatter is exceptional, I see.”
Though the exchange of moves was fierce, the atmosphere was harmonious and pleasant.
That is, for everyone except one person.
“Are you all just playing around now?”
“Oh, you’re still here?”
“This is my house, you brat!”
“Why so sour? You should be grateful for the insight from such an excellent game.”
“Never mind that. Have you forgotten what I told you? Just answer already!”
“Oh, that.”
At the Grand Elder’s stern demand, Hwang Bo-chung responded as if he had just remembered.
“You had a point in making that request.”
“Didn’t I tell you? How dare you doubt my judgment!”
“Seeing is believing. I only trust what I witness firsthand.”
The two seemed to have an arrangement only they understood.
Surely, Grandfather… you didn’t bet on me, did you?
“Young man.”
“Yes, Elder. I’m listening.”
“As you know, one can infer a lot about a person through Go. For instance, whether they are someone whose pride exceeds their ability.”
“Cut the nonsense and get to the point!”
“Anyway, while I did want to play a match, this was also about assessing you.”
After clearing his throat, Hwang Bo-chung continued.
“I’ve never seen anyone your age like you. Bold yet cautious, polite yet not excessive. Your respect for elders is admirable. Truly, you are a role model for the younger generation.”
The sudden flood of compliments left me unsure of how to respond.
“Your unwavering diligence, your martial prowess capable of enduring even Namgung Hyuk’s ten-second strikes, and your strategic thinking rivaling my own… it’s more than sufficient.”
“…?”
“You should be thankful that Namgung Hwan asked me to consider taking you as his adopted son.”
Adopted son?
That was the last thing I expected.
“I told you I called him here for something else, didn’t I?”
Grandfather’s voice faded into the background.
Adopted son?
—
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