Chapter 63: What's Your Relationship with Chess Player Huang Tian?

 Chapter 63: What's Your Relationship with Chess Player Huang Tian?

As the siblings chatted along the way, they passed through a garden and arrived at another villa.

Nan Huang noticed a car in the driveway that didn't seem to belong to the homeowner, as well as several people standing nearby. She asked, "Are there guests at home today?"

"Yes," Xie Ziran replied with a smile. "It's Grandfather's old friend, the national treasure-level Go player, Master Zhuang. He's here, and Grandfather insisted on challenging him to a game. Come, let's take a look."

Xie Ziran and Nan Huang walked through the villa and reached the backyard. The backyard was beautifully designed, with a serene koi pond, and there was an octagonal pavilion nearby. Inside the pavilion, two elderly men were playing Go, and a quiet young man in his twenties stood beside them.

Xie Ziran introduced, "See the one in white Zhongshan suit? That's my grandfather, Xie Tang. And the one in traditional Tang suit is Master Zhuang Han. The young man watching the game is Master Zhuang's disciple, a 5-dan Go player named Zhong Ya."

Xie Ziran looked back at the young boy standing behind them and asked with a smile, "By the way, I haven't asked about this little guy. Is he your assistant? He looks quite young."

Nan Huang smiled and glanced back at the boy who seemed nervous in this unfamiliar environment.

"He's my younger brother."

"Your brother?" Xie Ziran asked in surprise.

Nan Huang nodded, "My mother adopted him. He's quite handsome, isn't he?"

Xie Ziran chuckled softly, "What's his name?"

"Xie Wen."

"Good, very good." Xie Ziran looked at Xie Wen and advised him, "Now that you're part of the Xie family, make sure to listen to your sister."

Xie Wen nodded shyly. "Okay."

Nan Huang and Xie Ziran approached the elderly men, who were deeply engrossed in their game and hadn't noticed their arrival.

With bated breath, Xie Tang contemplated for a long time before making a serious move on the Go board.

Zhuang Han raised his eyes and smiled when he saw his opponent entering his trap. After making a move, he said, "You'd better think carefully about your next move. If you make a mistake, you'll lose."

Xie Tang, troubled, stared at the Go board, unable to figure out his next move.

Zhong Ya, who had been focusing on the game, also started to look concerned.

After a long moment of contemplation, Xie Tang seemed uncertain about his move, and his finger hesitated just before placing a stone on the board.

Nan Huang, seeing this, spoke up, "Wait a moment. Move 5-4 to 4-9 can break the siege. However, a falling star can counterattack. If you place a stone here, you'll fall into Master Zhuang's trap."

As Nan Huang spoke, Zhong Ya, who had been studying the board intensely, suddenly had an epiphany. He raised his head and looked at Nan Huang, his eyes filled with surprise.

Xie Tang also hesitated when he heard her words, and his finger withdrew the stone that was about to be placed.

"Hey, hey, are you bringing in a ringer?" Zhuang Han immediately questioned, raising an eyebrow.

Xie Tang chuckled, "What ringer? This is my granddaughter. She's helping me with one move of Go; is that not allowed?"

With a smile, Xie Tang turned to Nan Huang and said, "Isn't that right, Nan Huang?"

Nan Huang nodded and smiled in agreement.

Zhuang Han pointed to the Go board. "You, play properly, don't underestimate the game."

Nan Huang apologized, "I wouldn't dare."

Zhuang Han, looking at the Go board, said, "Make your move, and show some determination."

Nan Huang thought for a moment, looking at the elderly man in front of her. Should she really engage in a serious match with him?

Zhuang Han's expression grew even more displeased. "What do you think I'm here for? Call your best moves!"

Nan Huang nodded.

She picked up a Go piece, and her demeanor suddenly changed. With a powerful presence, she made a series of moves on the board. With each move, she pushed back Zhuang Han's attacks until all his efforts were in vain.

"Young lady, you dare to underestimate me in a game of Go?" Zhuang Han exclaimed in disbelief.

Zhong Ya was also taken aback. He had been watching the game with great intensity.

Nan Huang, feeling a bit embarrassed, quickly responded, "I didn't mean to."

Zhuang Han pointed at the Go board. "Play properly, show some spirit."

Nan Huang took a deep breath and picked up a Go piece again. Her aura changed, and her moves became more aggressive. Zhuang Han watched her attentively, and the atmosphere on the board grew more intense.

As the game progressed, the board turned into a fierce battlefield, with both sides engaged in a tense struggle.

Zhong Ya couldn't help but hold his breath, and even Xie Ziran, who was an amateur, was captivated by the game.

Nan Huang made another move, and her momentum soared. Zhuang Han, watching the board, suddenly asked, "Young lady, what's your relationship with the Go player Huang Tian?"

Huang Tian?

Zhong Ya immediately turned his gaze towards Nan Huang, recognizing that name as the online username of a famous Go player.

Nan Huang hesitated for a moment and then replied with humility, "Master Zhuang, I am Huang Tian. I am the one who plays Go online under that username."

"What?" Zhong Ya was the first to be surprised. He hadn't realized it was her, but now it made sense.

"What's the matter with Huang Tian?" Xie Tang, who was not as focused on Go matters as Zhuang Han, asked with curiosity.

"This matter will be explained to you later by Zhong Ya," Zhuang Han said. "Right now, this old man is going to play a proper game of Go."

Xie Tang, not knowing the details, agreed, "Alright."

With that, the intense Go match continued, with both Zhuang Han and Nan Huang fully engaged in the game.

(End of this chapter)