Seeing Yu Shao hesitate to accept the bracelet, Wu Zhixuan's face fell with disappointment as she asked, "Huh? Don't you like it? It looks really pretty though..."

"No, I do like it."

Yu Shao finally snapped out of his daze, shaking his head as he took the Go bracelet from Wu Zhixuan's hand. A faint smile appeared on his face as he said, "Thank you."

"No need for thanks!"

Wu Zhixuan's eyes curved into crescents as she watched Yu Shao accept the bracelet. She immediately reached out to put it on him, saying while adjusting it, "Let me help you try it on."

Yu Shao looked down at Wu Zhixuan's hands - fair, delicate and slender, though not particularly fleshy. When her fingers brushed against his wrist, he could feel their coolness. Despite the calluses on her index and middle fingers from years of playing Go, they didn't detract from their beauty at all - a real treat for hand enthusiasts.

Completely unaware of Yu Shao's gaze lingering on her hands, Wu Zhixuan quickly finished putting on the bracelet. She examined it carefully, then lifted Yu Shao's wrist to inspect the bracelet in sunlight before nodding in satisfaction. "As expected of my taste! It looks perfect on you. You must wear it when playing from now on - that way I can share my luck with you!"

"Alright."

Yu Shao examined the bracelet on his wrist and found it indeed quite attractive. Smiling, he said, "You shouldn't have spent so much."

"No big deal, just pocket change! As long as you like it. Good luck at the World Championship!" Wu Zhixuan waved her hand dismissively, acting as if the 4,900 yuan bracelet meant nothing to her.

Had Yu Shao not known her well, he might have believed it.

"I say, in all your life, have you ever bought anything for your brother?" Wu Shuheng interjected gloomily. "You act like buying me milk tea is equivalent to murder."

"Are you worthy? Yu Shao is competing in the World Championship, and the phoenix design has great symbolism. You can get one after you qualify for the title match main event," Wu Zhixuan retorted with a huff.

"Really? If I make it to the World Championship main event, you'll buy me a 4,900 yuan bracelet?" Wu Shuheng looked touched, as if finally seeing hope of plucking feathers from his stingy little sister. He pressed eagerly, "Promise?"

"Hmm..."

Wu Zhixuan tilted her head as she walked forward, appearing to consider it very seriously before finally declaring, "I could treat you to milk tea! A large one!"

At this, Wu Shuheng rolled his eyes so hard they nearly disappeared into his skull.

The trio continued walking and browsing. Along the way, Wu Zhixuan would stop to examine every curious item she saw, though she never asked about prices, just studying them intently.

"Over here!"

Soon Wu Zhixuan dragged Yu Shao and Wu Shuheng to a stall selling Go stones. Squatting down, she ran her fingers over the stones.

"Yu Shao, these are nice!"

Wu Zhixuan picked up a stone from the stall and placed it on the small board set up there. Hearing the crisp sound it made, she exclaimed in delight, "The sound when placing these is even better than regular stones!"

"Miss, absolutely! We specially selected high-quality stones for these. If you like them, why not buy two sets?" The stall owner, seeing potential business, immediately began promoting enthusiastically.

"Never mind, I'll keep looking."

Wu Zhixuan quickly shook her head and turned to the stall opposite. Standing up, she headed over while beckoning Yu Shao and Wu Shuheng, "Come this way."

Wu Zhixuan chattered nonstop, her mouth never resting. Though Yu Shao typically preferred quiet, he didn't find her noise bothersome at all. Watching her dart excitedly from stall to stall actually lifted his mood considerably.

Before long, Wu Zhixuan arrived at a stall selling game records and began flipping through them with great interest.

"Speaking of which, with the tournament about to start, I'm surprised so many participants are out shopping here?"

While Wu Zhixuan browsed the game records, Yu Shao observed the passersby and asked Wu Shuheng curiously, "Don't they need to prepare?"

"Hmm?"

Wu Shuheng gave Yu Shao a strange look. "What makes you say that?"

"The masks."

Yu Shao gestured toward a group of people nearby. "Professional players wear masks to avoid being recognized, like us. I've seen many masked people along the way."

Hearing this, Wu Shuheng couldn't help but laugh. "You're mistaken. I'd wager ninety percent of those masked people aren't professionals but tourists pretending to be them."

"Pretending?"

Yu Shao looked puzzled.

"Right. During World Championships, competing professionals usually disguise themselves when going out to avoid recognition and trouble," Wu Shuheng explained with a smile. "After people learned this, some started copying them because vendors around tournament venues often overcharge. Pretending to be professionals might get them better prices."

"At first, this trick actually worked - some vendors suspected they were real professionals and sold at cost. But as more people did it, the effect wore off. Still, many continue the practice."

Yu Shao suddenly understood and nodded. "I see."

"Come here!"

Just then, Wu Zhixuan's voice called from a short distance to their left.

Yu Shao and Wu Shuheng turned in confusion - Wu Zhixuan had vanished from the stall in front of them. Following the sound, they found she had moved to another stall.

The two quickly caught up to find Wu Zhixuan at a stall covered in folding fans of various sizes.

Carrying a fan is somewhat traditional among Go players. Ancient players often used folding fans to stay cool, and many believe a fan lends players an air of composure - the ability to discuss life and death with a smile.

Even in modern times with air conditioning, many players still carry fans - partly as tradition (if a teacher uses one, students follow), and partly because some believe holding a fan forces them to put it down before picking up a stone, creating a brief pause that might reveal overlooked mistakes in their strategy.

Thus, even today, Go fans remain part of the game's culture. However, Yu Shao had never been particularly fond of them - neither in his previous life nor this one.

"These Go fans are beautifully made, and the calligraphy isn't printed - it's all handwritten!" Wu Zhixuan exclaimed in amazement as she picked up a fan and handed it to Yu Shao.

Yu Shao opened the fan to see bold, sweeping characters reading "Unshaken by the Eight Winds." He was surprised - the vigorous, powerful strokes clearly came from a master's hand, obviously handwritten rather than printed. Bringing it closer, he could even detect a faint ink fragrance.

"Oh?"

Wu Shuheng also seemed surprised. Taking the fan from Yu Shao, he examined the calligraphy closely before asking the vendor curiously, "Sir, which master wrote these characters?"

"Haha, no master - my old man wrote them," the middle-aged vendor laughed. "He enjoys practicing calligraphy in his spare time. With the World Championship coming up, he helped by inscribing some fans for me."

"True masters often remain hidden."

Wu Shuheng marveled at the fan, repeatedly studying the calligraphy. "This could rival the 'Sit and Discuss the Way' and 'Worthy Opponents' scrolls displayed at the Go Institute, couldn't it?"

"The Go Institute?"

The vendor looked startled. "Young man, are you a professional player?"

"No, no."

Wu Shuheng quickly shook his head in denial. "Just an amateur who once had the privilege of visiting the Institute."

"That's still impressive!"

The vendor sighed. "An amateur strong enough to visit the Go Institute must be quite skilled indeed! I've loved Go since childhood but lacked talent - never mind becoming professional, I'm still only amateur 3-dan. How I'd love to visit the Institute someday."

"You'll get your chance."

Wu Shuheng, having taken a liking to the man, offered this encouragement before looking back at the fan, growing fonder of it by the second. After some thought, he asked, "How much for this?"

"Ten thousand."

The vendor stated without hesitation.

At this, Wu Shuheng's budding goodwill evaporated instantly. His eyes widened in disbelief. "Ten thousand?"

"You've been to the Go Institute, young man. As I said, my father's calligraphy matches what's displayed there. Ten thousand isn't expensive," the vendor said shrewdly. "Besides, the fan handle uses premium nanmu wood, and the paper employs ancient craftsmanship. Otherwise, why would players from Shen Yi's era all..."

Hearing this, Yu Shao began to understand why so many had pretended to be professionals by wearing masks.

Wu Shuheng twitched his mouth, regretting having praised the calligraphy earlier. While the writing was indeed good and could command a higher price, the unknown calligrapher certainly didn't justify such an exorbitant cost.

"Can you lower the price?"

Wu Zhixuan, holding another fan, looked up and tentatively asked.

Her chosen fan had gold thread inlaid in the handle. One side featured an ink landscape painting, while the other bore the bold inscription: "The board is square and still;

the stones are round and dynamic."

"Thirteen thousand for that one. If you're serious, ten thousand takes it," the vendor offered after some thought.

The price clearly exceeded Wu Zhixuan's expectations. After several longing glances at the fan and much hesitation, she finally set it down.

"I'll scan the payment."

Just then, Yu Shao took out his phone and told the vendor.

"What?"

Wu Zhixuan looked shocked. "Yu Shao, have you gone mad? That's too expensive!"

"It's fine."

Yu Shao shook his head, quickly completed the payment, then picked up the fan Wu Zhixuan had just set down and handed it to her with a smile. "You gave me a bracelet earlier. This is my gift to you."

Wu Zhixuan stared blankly at the offered fan, her mind slow to process this. She had assumed Yu Shao was buying it for himself, never expecting it to be for her.

"You don't want it?"

Seeing her hesitation, Yu Shao began withdrawing the fan. "I'll use it myself then."

"I do! I do!"

Wu Zhixuan quickly snatched the fan from Yu Shao's hand, her eyes narrowing into happy slits. "Yu Shao, you're the best! I love you to bits!"

"Looks like you're 5,000 yuan ahead."

Wu Shuheng muttered under his breath while taking out his phone. Addressing the vendor, he said, "Seven thousand. Let's be friends."

Clearly, he genuinely liked the "Unshaken by the Eight Winds" fan too.

"Deal!"

The vendor agreed immediately to the counteroffer, making Wu Shuheng realize he should have bargained lower. But it was too late now - he could only complete the payment.

With their new fans in hand, the trio continued onward.

Having obtained her coveted Go fan, Wu Zhixuan was overjoyed, repeatedly opening and examining it from all angles, her smile never fading.

After walking awhile, Wu Zhixuan struck a fanning pose with an unusually solemn expression and asked, "Yu Shao, do I look like a female Go saint now?"

"You do."

Yu Shao suppressed a laugh as he answered. While he didn't genuinely feel Wu Zhixuan exuded the untroubled aura of a true master who could reduce fleets to ashes with a smile, she did look rather adorable.

"Right? Right?"

Taking his words at face value, Wu Zhixuan preened. "When I become a female Go saint, this will be known as the Saint's Fan! Centuries later, it might even become a cultural relic!"

"Please, you? A female Go saint?"

Wu Shuheng rolled his eyes. "Xu Zi stands a better chance. You're no match for her now."

"Who says I can't beat her?"

Wu Zhixuan bristled at this. "Tell her to play ten matches with me! I'll knock her teeth out!"

"You?"

Wu Shuheng gave her a disdainful look.

"Drop dead!"

Wu Zhixuan glared furiously before turning away, refusing to engage further.

"Hey, I was joking! Don't be mad."

Realizing she was genuinely angry - having even cursed at him - Wu Shuheng hurried after her to apologize, but Wu Zhixuan ignored him completely.

As Wu Shuheng chased after her with apologies, Wu Zhixuan walked on as if hearing nothing.

After some distance, Wu Zhixuan suddenly stopped to look at a storefront. Yu Shao and Wu Shuheng halted as well, following her gaze to see an antique-style Go hall on their left, its signboard bearing several large characters:

Phoenix Go Hall!