The Twin Stars Cup unexpectedly concluded with one win and one draw, drawing the curtain on the event. This match became a memory that many people were destined never to forget for the rest of their lives.

Although the competition had ended several days ago, one could still see groups of people gathered in Go clubs along the streets and alleys, reviewing every move from the two games, passionately discussing the match.

"Yu Shao’s game was truly masterful, reversing thickness and thinness, overturning thousands of years of Go theory."

"The first game? Indeed, even now when I recall it, I feel a burning excitement all over."

"The second game was even more spectacular, right? Both Yu Shao and Su Yiming played at an extraordinary level, battling fiercely with a deadly intensity that darkened sun and moon, ultimately ending in a draw! Simply legendary!"

"I'm really looking forward to their performance in the World Championship. With these two rising stars, along with Zhuang Weisheng and Kong Zi... this year at the World Championship, we’re sure to achieve great results!"

"Su Yiming and Yu Shao’s two games were truly life-or-death battles. I was afraid they’d start fighting after finishing the moves."

"After watching this match, other competitions suddenly feel dull. Now I only look forward to their next encounter."

...

Ma Zhengyu was passing by a street-side Go club and heard the enthusiastic discussions inside. A faint smile appeared on his lips.

"This match was really worth hosting. I didn’t expect it to cause such a huge sensation."

Ma Zhengyu felt a bit proud inside about the Twin Stars Cup, which he had helped push forward.

"Now everyone is full of confidence for the upcoming World Championship, and there’s even a new Go craze. According to Xiao Ding, the number of children registering to learn Go in major Go clubs has surged these past few days."

"The future looks promising!"

With a light mood, Ma Zhengyu hummed a tune as he soon arrived at the entrance of the Southern Go Academy.

He entered the academy’s hall, walked through the corridor, and finally reached his office. He lay back in his chair and let out a contented sigh unique to middle-aged men.

Knock knock.

Just after Ma Zhengyu sat down, there was a knock on the door.

He immediately straightened up, cleared his throat, and said, "Come in."

"Good morning, Chairman Ma."

Soon, a staff member of the Go academy pushed the door open and walked in, greeting him while handing over some documents. "Here is the list of players from various countries registered for the Phoenix Cup. Please take a look."

"Alright."

Ma Zhengyu nodded, took the documents, and asked, "There must be a lot of sponsors for this World Championship, right?"

"Wow, Chairman Ma, it’s more than a lot."

The staff member gasped with a look of being shocked, clicking his tongue. "The sponsorship fees for this World Championship have already been set very high, but the sponsors are still coming in like a flood, unstoppable!"

"Especially those well-known domestic companies, their enthusiasm is a bit scary."

Ma Zhengyu smiled lightly, with an expression of ‘everything is as expected,’ and said, "This year’s Phoenix Cup not only has Teacher Zhuang Weisheng but also Yu Shao and Su Yiming. Naturally, they’re willing to invest heavily in sponsorship."

"I’m also looking forward to their performance at the World Championship. I’m a die-hard fan of Su Yiming."

The staff member smiled and said, "Oh?"

Ma Zhengyu became interested and asked with a smile, "Why not a fan of Yu Shao?"

"It’s normal to have different preferences in play styles. Yu Shao’s calculations are far-reaching;

he’s good at capturing his opponent’s psychological state. Often, under complex and volatile boards, he uses cunning and disruptive tactics to crush opponents."

The staff member said, "Many of his moves are quite extreme. To me, he’s like an unparalleled master of the villainous school."

"But Su Yiming’s style is different."

At this point, the staff member smiled with some admiration. "His games are full of strength and fighting spirit. He doesn’t use flashy tricks or ghost moves but follows deep military strategy principles. His style is upright and dignified, yet full of hidden killing intent in the invisible."

"Their rivalry, to me, is like a struggle between good and evil."

Hearing this, Ma Zhengyu couldn’t help but laugh and tease, "If Ding Huan heard you say that, he’d probably fight you for three hundred rounds. He’s a die-hard fan of Yu Shao."

"Different strokes for different folks." The staff member laughed carelessly.

After a few more casual words, the staff member finally said goodbye and left Ma Zhengyu’s office.

After the staff left, Ma Zhengyu finally opened the Phoenix Cup registration list and began to read.

Soon, he saw many familiar names on the list. Behind these names were almost all players who had shaken the Go world and created legends.

There were also some unfamiliar names, but overall, not many.

"Unconsciously, they’ve all come this far."

Ma Zhengyu couldn’t help but feel sentimental. He was the chief referee of the Go Ranking Tournament last year, and the scenes from that time seemed vivid in his mind.

Now, a year later, Yu Shao and Su Yiming have both advanced to the World Championship and become highly watched rising stars, each with their own loyal fanbase. This indeed was deeply moving.

"However, none of the names on this list are lightweights. The World Championship is bound to be no easy battle."

Ma Zhengyu’s smile gradually faded as he looked at the names on the list.

The New King who consecutively took two major American titles this year, sweeping the North American Go scene, known as the "Savior," Andy, 10-dan!

Fujiwara Kiki Sei, who has maintained the highest winning rate above 7-dan in Japan for five years!

Kang Han-eun, 9-dan, who set an undefeated record in international matches for two consecutive years, known as the fierce Korean tiger!

Ishida Norio Doza, notorious as China’s "bitter enemy," with a high winning rate against top Chinese players, having caused many to shed blood on the board!

Hans, the "Barbarossa of the Go world," who holds five major German titles, has won the European Go League four times, and appeared as a dark horse in the World Championship by defeating Zhuang Weisheng and An Hongshi, capturing that year’s world championship!

Kimura Go, Higashiyama Kaoru’s teacher, who fought An Hongshi several times, pushing him into dead ends countless times. Though never winning a world championship, he’s called the "uncrowned king," 10-dan!

...

These legendary names, the titans of the Go world, all listed on the registration form made Ma Zhengyu feel the list itself had grown heavier.

Keep in mind, the Phoenix Cup registration had just opened, and it was foreseeable that the number of registrants would surge soon. Those names who had once shone in Go history would all gather at the Phoenix Cup.

When the Phoenix Cup begins, it will be a time when the stars shine brightest!

"Winds rise and clouds surge..."

"Our national Go level is ranked in the world’s top three overall, and we have many top players, but the competition in the World Championship is just too fierce, with an extremely low margin for error."

Thinking of this, Ma Zhengyu let out a long sigh. "Except for Teacher Zhuang Weisheng, we really haven’t had good results for a long time."

Knock knock knock.

At this moment, the knocking sounded again.

Ma Zhengyu steadied himself, placed the Phoenix Cup registration list aside, and said, "Come in."

Soon, a staff member wearing glasses entered the room and handed over a document at Ma Zhengyu’s desk. "Chairman Ma, this is the list of players who successfully earned professional initial dan status this year in our competition area. Also, the Torch Battle needs to be arranged quickly."

"Torch Battle?"

Hearing this, Ma Zhengyu patted his head and said, "I was so busy with the Twin Stars Cup that I almost forgot about this. I’ll arrange it right away."

The staff member nodded, handed the document to Ma Zhengyu, and hurriedly left.

Ma Zhengyu opened the paper document and scanned the list of newly promoted professional initial dans from top to bottom. His gaze finally fixed on the name Zhuang Fei.

"That kid Zhuang Fei finally earned his dan?"

A smile appeared on Ma Zhengyu’s lips, and he recalled the Go ranking tournament from a year ago.

"Zhuang Fei lost to Yu Shao back then and completely lost his composure... But now, he probably doesn’t think much about it."

Ma Zhengyu smiled, picked up a pen from the desk, and wrote "Zhuang Wei" after Zhuang Fei’s name. Just as he was about to write "Sheng," his pen suddenly paused, as if he thought of something.

His eyes scanned the other names on the list and quickly locked onto the second-place player from this Southern competition area’s Go ranking tournament.

He Yu.

"He Yu... seems to be the rising dan player from the Tiandi Dojo, right?"

Ma Zhengyu fell into thought.

After a moment, Ma Zhengyu picked up his phone and dialed Zhuang Weisheng’s number.

...

...

One hour later.

Yu Shao’s home.

"My partner for the Torch Battle is He Yu?"

Hearing Ma Zhengyu’s words on the other end of the call, Yu Shao slightly raised his brow and asked, "I remember no amateur player earned dan status successfully in our Southern competition area this year, right?"

Upon learning that he might have to participate in the Torch Battle according to regulations, Yu Shao immediately checked the relevant information.

Indeed, players who earn titles in their first year must participate in the Torch Battle, but only if an amateur player appears.

Otherwise, since these players have teachers and senior brothers, they naturally prefer their teachers or senior brothers to lead them in their first professional match rather than a stranger.

And none of the players who earned dan status this year in the Southern competition area are amateurs.

Yu Shao had almost breathed a sigh of relief, thinking the Torch Battle had nothing to do with him, but then Ma Zhengyu called.

"He Yu’s teacher is the retired 8-dan Bai Suqian, and their dojo’s only 9-dan senior brother is Kong Junxuan, 9-dan. His recent record isn’t ideal, and he finds it troublesome."

Ma Zhengyu cleared his throat and explained, "I asked He Yu if he was willing to let you be his partner in the Torch Battle, and he immediately agreed."

A senior brother finds it troublesome even to accompany a junior to play the Torch Battle?

Yu Shao was a bit confused. Is the relationship in that dojo really so cold?

"Yu Shao, although you are still young, you already hold a title. As one of the seven major title holders and a National Champion, you must shoulder the responsibility of welcoming newcomers."

Ma Zhengyu spoke with righteous earnestness.

"Alright then."

Yu Shao knew he couldn’t avoid the Torch Battle, so he agreed. Then he casually asked, "Who’s my opponent? And who’s their partner?"

...

Hearing Yu Shao’s question, Ma Zhengyu suddenly fell silent on the other end.

"Hello?"

Yu Shao found it strange and said, "Can you hear me? Is the signal bad?"

"Ahem, ahem."

Ma Zhengyu coughed twice and replied, "I can hear you. Your opponent in the Torch Battle is... Zhuang Fei."

Hearing this answer, Yu Shao’s lips twitched involuntarily.

Surprisingly, he didn’t feel much shock upon hearing this news. After all, the opponent in the Torch Battle is arranged by the Go academy, and the academy will definitely assign whoever they want.

"And Zhuang Fei’s partner is..."

Ma Zhengyu paused and then continued, "Su Yiming."

Yu Shao was completely stunned, and after a long moment, he reacted and asked in disbelief, "Su Yiming? Not Teacher Zhuang Weisheng?"

"Yes, Teacher Zhuang Weisheng had an emergency, so only Su Yiming could partner." Ma Zhengyu sounded a bit guilty but still forced himself to say it.

His own son became a professional player, and as a father, he was bringing his son to play the Torch Battle. Could there be any problem at this stage?

Yu Shao didn’t believe Ma Zhengyu at all and suspected he was doing it on purpose, but he had no proof.

Hearing Yu Shao’s long silence on the other end, Ma Zhengyu quickly said, "Anyway, everything has been arranged. You just need to come to the Torch Battle the day after tomorrow."

"Moreover, your opponents are Zhuang Fei and Su Yiming. Isn’t that better? If it were Zhuang Fei and Teacher Zhuang Weisheng, you wouldn’t have a chance to win. This time, it’s absolutely impossible to win!" Read full story at novèlfire.net

Yu Shao was speechless, unable to refute.

Indeed, if his opponent in the Torch Battle was Zhuang Fei with Teacher Zhuang Weisheng as partner, he himself would feel his winning chances were slim.

After all, there’s a saying: "When father and son fight side by side, they naturally gain synergy."

Furthermore, "No one knows the child better than the father." Teacher Zhuang Weisheng would probably know exactly what Zhuang Fei was thinking. In this doubles match, if the partner isn’t strong enough, Yu Shao feared he’d be beaten to a pulp.

"Chairman Ma, I really want to know, how did you convince Teacher Zhuang Weisheng to let Su Yiming be Zhuang Fei’s partner?"

Yu Shao said softly.

Ma Zhengyu hurriedly replied, "I didn’t. Teacher Zhuang Weisheng had an emergency, so..."

Hearing Ma Zhengyu trying to argue, Yu Shao called out softly again, "Chairman Ma..."

"Ahem."

Ma Zhengyu cleared his throat twice and finally told the truth, "I said a player should be able to stand on their own, not be sheltered behind their father."

"The first step a player takes into the professional Go world can be led by anyone, but that person must not be the father."