Standing Next To You-Chapter 401: You lost

Bei Sangyun neither agreed nor disagreed with Head Master Fei’s proposal. However, they began the game with the bet in mind.

They agreed to play three matches, with the overall victor being the one who won the most matches.

Bei Sangyun was familiar with the rules of Go, though she hadn’t played in a long time.

Back then, Old Master Lin had just passed away, and as the heir, she needed to secure the support of the other family heads associated with the Lin family to solidify her position. To enter their circle, she learned to play Go, using the matches as a way to bond with them.

She picked up skills from various places, such as the streets and some unknown Go clubs, and encountered different styles and strategies.

Unfortunately, she was unable to practice effectively because, in order to curry favor, she always had to make mistakes and deliberately lose. Thus, she was unaware of the full extent of her skills.

Bei Sangyun was not an expert like Head Master Fei, but she was curious about the old man’s abilities. His personality and thinking would be reflected in his moves and playing style. This would be a good opportunity to observe him.

Bei Sangyun and Head Master Fei sat across from each other at the traditional Go board, the polished zitan wood gleaming under the soft light.

As the player with the black stones, Bei Sangyun made the first move, placing her stone on the board. She decided to play conservatively, as she always did in this game, focusing on building her territory along the edges and corners—a common strategy for beginners and those playing defensively.

Head Master Fei, with the white stones, watched her with a keen eye. He responded with sharp, strategic moves, quickly establishing his own influence in the center of the board.

Bei Sangyun continued to place her stones cautiously, creating safe, enclosed spaces and avoiding direct confrontation. She was observing, learning, and assessing Head Master Fei’s style.

As the game progressed, Head Master Fei shifted to a more aggressive strategy.

He began to invade Bei Sangyun’s territory, placing his stones in positions that threatened to cut off her connections and capture her groups. Bei Sangyun tried to respond, reinforcing her borders and attempting to counter his advances, but she struggled to keep up with his relentless attacks.

Head Master Fei executed a series of skillful moves, setting up multiple threats and strengthening his groups while weakening Bei Sangyun’s. His white stones surrounded her isolated black stones, and one by one, he captured several of her groups.

He placed his final stone and looked up with a satisfied expression.

"Well played," he said, nodding with a delighted grin.

This round was won by him effortlessly.

Bei Sangyun stared at the Go board, deep in thought.

Unlike before, she did not try to lose deliberately, but old habits came into play, leading her to use a strategy that was easily crushed by Head Master Fei.

Bei Sangyun nodded. "You indeed have good skills."

At least, Head Master Fei had proven his membership in this prestigious Go club. Unlike the old men Bei Sangyun played against in the past, who only showed shallow skills, Head Master Fei played with exceptional strategies. He was the most challenging opponent she had faced so far.

However, she had observed enough.

They began the second match. This time, Bei Sangyun abandoned her previous strategy.

Initially, Bei Sangyun’s strategy seemed similar to the first match. She cautiously defended her territory, placing stones along the edges and corners while occasionally putting stones in seemingly unnecessary areas.

Head Master Fei observed her play with a hint of amusement, interpreting her moves as overly cautious and perhaps inexperienced.

Feeling confident from his recent victory, Head Master Fei went on the offensive once more.

He began to capture Bei Sangyun’s scattered stones, removing them one by one, his white stones steadily encroaching upon her territory. His attacks were swift and calculated, and it seemed he was on the path to another decisive victory.

However, as the game progressed, a subtle shift occurred.

Bei Sangyun’s stones, initially appearing misplaced, began to form a pattern. Just when Head Master Fei thought he had the upper hand, Bei Sangyun suddenly launched a counterattack. She connected her stones in a series of rapid, unexpected moves, striking at the heart of Head Master Fei’s territory.

The tense atmosphere in the room reached its peak as her strategy unfolded.

Her seemingly scattered stones now revealed themselves as a well-laid trap, ensnaring Head Master Fei’s groups and cutting off his connections. The white stones, once dominant, found themselves surrounded and vulnerable. In a series of deft moves, Bei Sangyun captured a large portion of Head Master Fei’s territory, turning the game in her favor.

The confidence on Head Master Fei’s face instantly vanished. He tried to turn the tables, but Bei Sangyun immediately cut off his retreat.

By the time he recognized the trap, it was too late to recover. His attempts to reclaim his lost territory were futile, and the balance of the game had irrevocably shifted.

With a final, decisive move, Bei Sangyun secured her victory.

There was only silence at the table as the second match ended.

Head Master Fei was silent, his eyes still on the board, replaying the game in his mind. He was baffled by how he did not see this coming.

"I won this time. It seems the third match will determine the winner." Bei Sangyun was calm, as if winning the second game was not a big deal.

Head Master Fei’s initial confidence was now replaced by cautiousness. He did not dare to underestimate this young woman again.

"You are right. I did not expect you to change your strategy so quickly. Tell me, are you perhaps an expert? Was the first game just a fluke to lower my guard?"

"I’m not. I just learned some skills from the streets."

Head Master Fei chuckled. "There’s no way this is from the streets. I have played with different kinds of experts, and you and they have something in common." Head Master Fei’s keen eyes glinted. "The calmness as you laid a trap and the confidence that I would take the bait—these are qualities only experts have."

"To be compared to those experts is quite an honor," Bei Sangyun shrugged.

She paused just before making a move, "In this last match, do you still want to play white?" she asked.

Head Master Fei smirked. "Just because you won once doesn’t mean you can look down on me. Don’t let your guard down, little girl. Go on, make your move."

Bei Sangyun nodded, not letting the disappointment show on her face. She wasn’t looking down on Head Master Fei. In fact, she could only use that strategy once because Head Master Fei would surely be on guard the second time around.

She wanted to use the black stones so she could change her strategy and surprise him again. Unfortunately, this cunning old man did not take the bait.

Bei Sangyun placed the black stone on the board.

This time, both of them approached the game with extreme caution.

As this was the last match that would determine the victor, Bei Sangyun was meticulous in her moves. She placed her stones deliberately, avoiding any aggressive advances and focusing on solidifying her territory.

Head Master Fei, having learned from the previous match, was also careful in his approach, creating a complex and intricate pattern of stones on the board.

Time passed. The tea on their table was changed many times.

The game dragged on, with neither player willing to take significant risks. The stones were laid out in an intricate dance of defense and subtle probing, each player testing the other’s defenses while fortifying their own.

The board was a mosaic of potential traps and counter-traps, and any misstep could be disastrous.

As the hours passed, it became clear that this match would be decided by the smallest of margins. Bei Sangyun maintained her focus, observing Head Master Fei’s every move with keen attention.

She noticed subtle patterns in his play, slight hesitations, and favored strategies. Patiently, she began to formulate a plan.

In a critical moment, Bei Sangyun identified a weakness in Head Master Fei’s formation—a small, vulnerable group of stones near the center of the board.

She carefully maneuvered her stones to exploit this weakness, placing them in seemingly unremarkable positions that slowly built up pressure.

Head Master Fei, engrossed in his own strategy, did not immediately recognize the threat.

As he prepared to place another stone, still unaware of his impending loss, Bei Sangyun spoke calmly.

"You’ve already lost, Head Master Fei."

Head Master Fei’s hand hovered above the board, and he glanced up at her, puzzled.

"What? Not yet—" He paused mid-sentence as his eyes scanned the board.

The realization hit him like a wave; he could no longer expand his territory nor capture any of Bei Sangyun’s stones.

"How..." Head Master Fei was stunned.

He had thought his last two stones would secure his victory, but Bei Sangyun had outmaneuvered him. Her careful planning and strategic placement had blocked all his potential moves.

Head Master Fei’s expression was one of disbelief. This loss was far more impactful than the previous match. He had believed he was on the path to victory, only to be outsmarted at the crucial moment. He lost by the narrowest of margins.

Bei Sangyun’s words snapped him out of his daze.

"Since I won two rounds, you have to fulfill my condition, right?" she smirked triumphantly, causing Head Master Fei to be flooded with frustration and annoyance.