Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Ghost Go King (3)
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At Eon Yong-un's words, Zhuge Seolji's brow furrowed.
'He wants me to swear on Grandpa's name?'
The words themselves aligned perfectly with a promise to keep one's word without fail.
It was no different from holding up three fingers to the heavens, the earth, and oneself, swearing an oath.
So, if taken lightly, it could easily be dismissed as trivial.
But in this case, the problem was the one who had uttered those words: Eon Yong-un.
'Young Master Yong-un plans even his breaths...'
Perhaps because of his reputation as a wastrel, stories about Eon Yong-un were often dismissed and ignored within the academy.
However, to Zhuge Seolji, such attitudes were the prelude to disaster.
'And disasters really did happen.'
Anyone who crossed swords with Eon Yong-un—regardless of dorm or year—tasted bitter defeat in various ways.
Among those who had tasted bitterness, even Zhuge Seolji herself was included.
Compared to others who had their noses broken or foreheads stamped before passing out in front of crowds, hers had been relatively mild.
'A dog-like defeat.'
Yet recalling it made her chest tighten anew; that bitterness was still etched deeply in her mind.
'I haven't truly lost yet. I'm just biding my time with patience and resolve.'
At that moment, Zhuge Seolji's mind raced to pinpoint what she might be overlooking.
'Why specifically ask me to swear on Grandpa's name, of all oaths?'
Out of countless ways to swear, Eon Yong-un had singled out her most revered grandfather.
'Young Master Yong-un is confident he'll win!'
It was proof he knew her well, but in this context, it also evidenced he was already thinking beyond victory.
'Once I swear on Grandpa's name, I won't go back on my word.'
Her thoughts reached that point, and three realizations flooded her mind at once.
The first: she wasn't trusted.
'That makes sense.'
Regardless of reasons, she had been the one refusing to accept the entrance exam outcome.
The second: Eon Yong-un needed something from her.
'No idea what.'
No matter how perceptive Zhuge Seolji was, she lacked a divine skill to peer into hearts, so without clues, she couldn't guess.
But that wasn't important.
'It won't happen if I refuse the bet or win.'
Thus, the crucial thought was the last one.
'Why does Young Master Yong-un think he'll beat me?'
Her grandfather, whom Eon Yong-un mentioned, was called the reincarnation of the Divine Strategist. Even in the academy's unassailable order, he was occasionally summoned to the imperial palace to teach Go to the emperor. And Zhuge Seolji was the only one in her family who could exchange honest moves with him without handicaps.
'Unless it's Grandpa himself or the eccentric who beat the Divine Strategist called that over a century ago. There's no way I'd lose.'
No.
Zhuge Seolji.
You jumped to conclusions like this last time and lost to Master Jeonghyeon.
'Let's think more coldly.'
Zhuge Seolji closed her eyes briefly.
She recalled the game record from the break between Eon Yong-un and Sima Rang, replaying the entire match in her mind.
'Lady Rang panicked at Young Master Yong-un's ferocious style, made several mistakes, and in fretting over them, surrendered prematurely.'
Even she might have erred if facing such a style for the first time without prior records.
But not as many as Sima Rang.
And even with all those mistakes, she would have stabilized mid-game and eked out a win in the endgame.
'The nickname Little Martial Empress is honestly overstated for me too, and in social maneuvering, I can't claim superiority over Young Master Yong-un.'
But in the battle of moves on the nineteen-by-nineteen grid...
'I am divinely calculating. The Zhuge family's Go is invincible.'
Her thoughts ended there.
Lifting her eyelids, Zhuge Seolji smiled faintly and sent a mental transmission to Eon Yong-un.
[Very well. I, Zhuge Seolji, swear on the three characters of my grandfather Zhuge Cheok's name that I will honor the promise just made with Young Master Yong-un.]
'Now that the positional battle has reached this point, it really looks like a painting.'
The board brimmed with white and black stones, dividing it like the Great Wall splitting grassland from heartland.
Of course, the real Great Wall could be extended endlessly with will and funds.
'But the Go board has strict boundaries.'
I hadn't known the first thing about Go before preparing for this tournament, but after countless practice games with Yin Xia Lian and Dang Ok-gi, I could follow a match's flow.
Now, beyond that, almost no spaces remained for stones.
'Isn't it over, Master?'
- Unless we add lines to the board's edges, yes.
Clack.
'And yet he plays anyway.'
- The territory difference isn't huge, so if we play the next move like utter fools, the Zhuge kid might miraculously recover.
'But that won't happen. Even I know that. Can't we just play right below where the young lady placed her stone?'
- Exactly. Play there. That ends it.
Clack.
"!"
It truly ended there.
Normally, I'd tease a bit.
- Heh heh heh. Now it's really over.
'Hee hee hee.'
- What a disappointment!
This time, Master and I just chuckled mentally.
"...D-did I... lose...? For real?"
Zhuge Seolji's pupils lost focus; she seemed utterly shocked without needing teasing.
I didn't want to provoke her competitive spirit further.
'That's why I gripped the stone properly this time, as Dang Ok-gi taught me, unlike with Sima Rang.'
That was enough.
Anyway.
As I thought that, the counting phase concluded—who controlled more territory.
"...I lost at Go...? For real...? How...? This can't be... No way...? H-how?"
"S-Seolji."
With other student council officers supporting the distraught Zhuge Seolji as she left the arena, Professor Han Young of the Kunlun Sect—who oversaw the match—stood, raised my hand high.
"Righteous Martial Academy Spring Dormitory Tournament! The final winner in Go is Cheongjuk Hall's Eon Yong-un!"
The hushed audience and Cheongjuk Hall cadets erupted.
"Waaaaah!!!"
"Cheongjuk! Cheongjuk!!"
As cheers filled the hall, Professor Han Young addressed me.
"You didn't sign up for my class."
"Pardon?"
"Oh, not scolding you. You did that Flying Heaven-Splitting something before, right? With such lightness skill and Go prowess, you're perfect for my lab. Drop by sometime."
What?
He's casually suggesting grad school like it's nothing.
I politely deflected Professor Han Young's offer with apt rhetoric, postponing it indefinitely, then sought my Eon underclassmen.
No need to hunt; they found me right after leaving the arena.
"Damn, we believed in you, bro!"
"Me too!"
"Bin-do was shocked. You played a move I wouldn't have, so I mulled it over endlessly. In the endgame, it crushed the young lady's vital point. How many moves ahead were you seeing? Beyond trees and forest—to the ocean itself. Bin-do is endlessly impressed!"
I waved off their chatter lightly and got to the point of seeking them first.
"Lady Yin? So, how'd the bets go?"
Yin Xia Lian beamed.
"This much profit!"
"Good work. Jeonghyeon. So our cadets are still holding position? Saw them on the far right earlier."
"Yes. As you instructed before your match, they stayed put. Professor No Sam was called by the president to headquarters, but with the council president there, no disruptions or deserters."
"Good. Gather it all and head there."
Shouldering the sack of silver with my Eon underclassmen, we reached the spectator seats.
While other fans had cleared out, only Cheongjuk Hall cadets awaited us.
Master at my waist quipped.
- Where'd all those spectators go? Bet on Sima Rang and Zhuge Seolji and drowned in the Yangtze?
'Heh. Academy event, so bet limits by status—no one lost that badly.'
- Then where?
'Securing seats for the next event.'
Next was polo—a preliminary semifinal.
Most popular after martial arts, so regular fans ebbed out for good spots.
'Our academy cadets have assigned seats, but other dorms, out of Go contention, moved in unison.'
Anyway.
As I entered amid the remaining Cheongjuk cadets, cheers and chants of my name exploded from peers.
"Waaaaah!!!"
"Cheongjuk! Cheongjuk!!"
"Eon Yong-un! Eon Yong-un!"
Appreciated, but I hadn't delayed for this.
I gestured for peers to quiet.
Once silent, I eyed the seniors in back, dumping the silver sack with a clink.
"Cheongjuk Hall cadets. Make any money?"
At my words, most—save a few—shuffled awkwardly.
'None thought I'd win, huh?'
Yet they cheered heartily; peers supported but feared Zhuge Seolji's name too much to bet.
Seniors in back, faces flushed or averting eyes, had bet on her.
'As expected.'
No blame. 'Don't gamble at dorm tournaments—bet on opponents' was proverbial wisdom until moments ago.
'Not like Yang Geum-pyo actively sabotaging for gain; personal choice.'
But couldn't ignore it.
Spring tournament was freshmen turf, but upcoming fall tourney—and fights with Demonic Cult and villains across realms—needed seniors' aid.
So I spoke.
"Looks like no winners. As you see, I made a killing."
Some seniors, heavy losers, reacted prickly; one shot back.
"Bragging? Or scolding? No direct foul—who you bet on, win or lose, what's it to you?!"
I knew every Cheongjuk cadet by name.
"Third-year Senior Seo Jin-hyo, right? Yes. Here to brag a bit."
"What?!"
"Not just made money—brag about betting on and winning big for Cheongjuk Hall."
"...!"
"Not blaming. As you say, no foul—whoever, my business? But as junior and vice council president, one question: Did you enjoy it?"
Seo Jin-hyo, unwittingly representing opposition bettors after blurting out.
"...Ha! Thought it was serious—teasing after all? Who enjoys losing money?!"
Senior, committed now, roared red-faced.
I shook my head at him.
"Not today. You've seen four prior tournaments before today—did you enjoy those?"
"Th-that! Ugh! Think we liked it?! You bet confident in your skill—we had no choice!"
Seo Jin-hyo bit his lip, venting rage.
"Only option! Damn! Betting on foes, self-mocking with pocket change—that's the festival's sole solace for the mocked, forcing a wry smile! You wouldn't get it!"
"I do. But saying 'you do' means you think I don't?"
"That's!"
"But I get that too. Old saying: generosity from full coffers. Conversely, hearts follow full coffers."
Had Radiant Prosperity Hall heirs been here, they'd whine about decorum.
"Not perfect match, but similar. Until yesterday, just now, Cheongjuk couldn't capture seniors' hearts. I understand."
Not just about wins and losses.
"Understanding, I say this: No more betting foes and feeling despair. Bet on Cheongjuk now."
"...">
Perhaps awkward words.
But silver between eased it.
Hoping averted-eyed seniors found comfort too, I laid it bare.
"I'll make back what you just lost."