With that, she smiled, nodded toward Xia Liang's group, and turned to leave.
"I discovered this place by chance," Chang Ge began to explain to them as she led the way inside. "The food is delicious and the view is lovely, but not just anyone can dine here. You have to leave sothing behind, and it has to be to the owner's liking before you're allowed in."
She continued, "The first ti I ca, my grandfather brought . He was only allowed to dine here after painting a picture for them."
As she spoke, Chang Ge pointed to the "Dragonfly and Lotus Painting" on the main hall's wall.
"That one right there."
Looking at the painting, Xia Liang was sowhat surprised. "Your grandfather is the traditional Chinese painting master, Ye Yuqiu?"
"That's right."
Chang Ge was a little surprised she had given away her background so quickly. Then again, she thought, how many people in the entire Dragon Country can claim the title of master of traditional Chinese painting? Besides, the seal on the painting is so conspicuous it would be strange if no one recognized it.
"Then what about you?" Xia Liang asked, his composure quickly returning. "How did you get into this restaurant on your own? And how can you bring us with you?" He was less concerned about the painting and more curious about Chang Ge herself, especially since Sister Xu's attitude towards her was clearly so favorable.
"? I just got lucky," she said. "I played a tune that the owner happened to like, and that's how I got in."
Chang Ge found it a bit odd that he wasn't focused on the famous painting, but on her instead.
Xia Liang didn't believe her for a second. His gaze swept over the walls, which were covered in famous paintings, and the intricate sandalwood carvings that adorned the room. He noted the pearwood tables set before four bamboo-shuttered windows. On the tables were items for cultured pursuits: a guqin, a Go board, and the Four Treasures of the Study—brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Beside each sheet of Xuan paper sat an arrangent of plum, orchid, bamboo, or chrysanthemum blossoms. Every detail revealed the room's understated luxury and restrained elegance.
"This area is mainly for first-ti visitors," Chang Ge explained. "If they leave behind a work that catches the owner's eye, they're invited upstairs. Now, let take you up for a look."
She then made an inviting gesture toward a large pillar.
"Hold on a second!"
Xia Liang stopped in his tracks, his eyes fixed on a pearwood table where a Go ga was set up.
"Chang Ge, do you know who played this ga?" he asked, staring intently at the board.
"That ga has always been here. It seems to be an unresolved ga; no one has ever been able to solve it." Why is he so interested in a ga of Go? she wondered.
"This ga is interesting. I'd like to give it a try, if that's alright."
Since receiving the Divine Level Chess Skill from a previous mission, Xia Liang hadn't had a chance to use it. Now that an interesting ga was right in front of him, he naturally didn't want to pass up the opportunity.
"But no one has been able to solve this ga for many years," she started, trailing off. "You..."
Chang Ge hesitated. She knew that even many self-proclaid masters had failed to solve this ga, let alone Xia Liang. She was also keenly aware of the restaurant's rules. If Xia Liang failed, Sister Xu would certainly not make an exception for her and would kick them all out.
"If the young man wants to give it a try, of course he can," a voice said from behind them. "But if you can't solve it, don't bla for not making an exception for Miss Ruan and asking you to leave."
Of course. Just my luck, Chang Ge thought, hearing the voice she dreaded. She wanted to persuade Xia Liang to give up, but he simply gave a slight nod and walked toward the unfinished ga.
Hearing that soone downstairs was attempting to solve the ga, several middle-aged people on the second floor couldn't remain seated. They all looked down, but they lost interest upon seeing that it was just a young man in his early twenties.
Xia Liang sat down and studied the board. He picked up a white stone, his brow furrowing slightly in thought. After a mont, he placed the white stone back in its bowl and picked up a black stone instead.
"Hmm? This young man is intriguing," a white-haired elder murmured from a secluded spot on the third floor. He himself had beco a VIP and earned his place on the third floor precisely because he, too, had once understood this key detail about the ga.
Just from that one move, this young man is no simple character, the old gentleman thought. He'll have a place here in the future.
Indeed, Sister Xu also gave a subtle nod of approval at his action. According to the restaurant's rules, it didn't matter if his choice was a coincidence or if he was a hidden master; she could no longer drive Xia Liang and his party away.
At that mont, however, Xia Liang was still hesitating. He saw the brilliant trap within the ga. On the surface, it looked like Black had more stones than White. In reality, the empty spaces were positioned so that a single move by White could capture a vast number of Black's stones.
That was precisely why the ga remained unfinished.
Most observers would assu Black was dood, but in truth, White was poised to win. This was the reason Xia Liang had switched from holding the white stone to the black one. But while he understood the ga's nature, solving it was no easy task. It created a dilemma: no matter where Black moved, a group of its stones was fated to be captured by White.
"Break before establishing."
As he spoke these words, a look of certainty filled Xia Liang's eyes. After another mont of contemplation, he began to place his stones.
His words, however, made the elder on the third floor's eyes light up. "Break before establishing," he murmured to himself. "Of course. Why didn't I think of that?"
Years ago, the elder had understood the dilemma but had been stumped. He knew that no matter how Black moved, so stones would be captured. That realization had made him hesitate. For all these years, he had stayed in Xijing City, searching for a solution. He never imagined that the problem that had plagued him for so long would be solved today by a re youngster.
Truly, the new generation surpasses the old, the elder thought, filled with a myriad of emotions.
Once Xia Liang began, he moved without hesitation. Within a few steps, he had already secured a path to victory. As he placed the final stone, the outco of the ga beca crystal clear: an undeniable win for Black.
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