Osaka, Japan, the venue for the semi-finals of the Fujitsu Cup.

"I haven't been here for several years......" Li Xiaoqiang, who stepped off the plane, stretched comfortably, he seemed to be in a good mood.

Osaka is a port city known as Japan's "water city". Compared to Tokyo, Osaka has less tension and more of a laid-back feel. It is said that Japanese people are delicate and orderly, but Osaka has a different feeling, where the queues are not as regular as in Tokyo, and there are more loud people talking on the street, which makes it look a little more energetic.

"Xiaoqiang, you have been talking about what temptations and temptations have been making mistakes every day for the past two days, I see, this one who came to greet you is really ready to make mistakes, so ah, you must pay attention to it these days."

After stepping off the plane, reporter Zhang Da, who was looking around, quickly discovered something, and he immediately joked with Li Xiaoqiang: "Tsk, this is Osaka, if you want to say that it is Tokyo, it is easy to understand, you see that everyone has chased to Osaka, if you want to say that there is no relationship between you and her, no one will believe it." ”

Li Xiaoqiang followed the direction pointed by reporter Zhang Da, it was Yukari Umezawa. Well, it's no wonder that Zhang Da reporter would say something wrong. It's July, and Yukari Umezawa is indeed dressed coolly.

Hearing Zhang Da's ridicule, even Coach Luo on the side was happy. Li Xiaoqiang is now participating in international competitions, and if he is the only chess player left, then the composition of the Chinese delegation is basically this fixed trio. There is no other reason, this is all Li Xiaoqiang's own strong request, he is greedy for Coach Luo's good cooking skills.

Li Xiaoqiang: They walked in the direction of Yukari Umezawa. Yukari Umezawa watched Li Xiaoqiang walk towards him.

Like a cool breeze blowing through the lingering thoughts in Umezawa's heart, it was difficult for Umezawa Yuka to distinguish her feelings for Li Xiaoqiang. Especially after returning from China last month, the relationship between the two has been normal, and the two letters a month are still thunderous.

But whether it is time to go or not, and whether it is time to stay. Yukari Umezawa feels that she is like she is in the next first version of her life, dreaming of beauty and not staining the dust. conceived a beautiful and real piece. Between himself and Li Xiaoqiang, just like this season, more and more beautiful poems of reunion and parting have been weaving.

"Alas......" It's a pity that Yukari Umezawa didn't have time to feel sorry for herself, and this atmosphere was interrupted by Li Xiaoqiang.

"Yukari, those two tesuji last time, you should be proficient now, right?"

Li Xiaoqiang is talking about the game of chess that Yukari Umezawa lost to Hua Xuemin. In the last two letters, Li Xiaoqiang has made fun of her.

"Palm...... Mastered. ”

"Haha, it's okay for the Xuannu to grind the mirror, I really don't know this. But Caifeng's turn over must be mastered, not only to master, but also to be proficient, understand? ”

Yukari Umezawa's Chinese skills are very profound. Listening to Li Xiaoqiang's words, she instantly blushed. Umezawa muttered quietly:

"Stinky Rascal......

"This is Miss Izumi Kobayashi, and the two of us are staff members sent to the arena by the chess academy. Izumi is the new beginning of this year. You can't underestimate her, her chess is very good, even Mr. Wu once praised Quan Mei's chess talent......"

Yukari Umezawa introduces the people who accompanied her. Izumi Kobayashi greeted everyone politely:

"Hello Li Sang, I like your chess very much, and you are also my role model, when I am at home, my father often calls us to learn from you......"

Li Xiaoqiang saw the beauty of Kobayashi Quanmei in front of him, and he sighed again in his heart. Of course Izumi Kobayashi knows. The beloved daughter of Mr. Kobayashi Koji, and the granddaughter of Mr. Minoru Kitani. In later generations, Mr. Lin Haifeng was the wife of Zhang Xu. Due to the friendship between Wu Qingyuan and Minoru Kitani, Izumi Kobayashi received personal guidance from Mr. Wu at a very young age. So Umezawa said that Mr. Wu once praised her chess talent, which should also be true. In fact, among Japanese female chess players, Izumi Kobayashi is indeed very powerful. She is one of the few female chess players who can enter the "main tournament" of Japan's seven major chess tournaments.

Of course, a reborn like Li Xiaoqiang. When he saw Kobayashi Quanmei, he immediately thought of Zhang Xu.

"Now Zhang Xu should have entered Mr. Lin Haifeng's door, and I don't know when he started to ......"

Li Xiaoqiang's emotion lies in this: how unknowingly, more and more junior chess players have begun to appear in his sight.

"I heard that Mr. Lin Haifeng accepted a high-level apprentice, are you familiar with him?"

"Oh? Are you talking about Zhang Xu who is quiet and shy like a girl? It is said that many seniors praised his chess talents. He is thought to be a promising star in the Japanese chess world. ”

On the way to the stadium after leaving the airport, everyone chatted happily. Hearing such an evaluation from Xiaolin Quanmei's mouth suddenly made Li Xiaoqiang snicker.

Zhang Xu and Gu Dali are the same generation of chess players. So in Li Xiaoqiang's mind, Zhang Xu and Kobayashi Quanmei and others are naturally his juniors. After chatting, I learned that the age of this "junior" is actually not young, only 2 years younger than himself. And Zhang Xu is 3 years younger than Kobayashi Quanmei.

Knowing this situation, Li Xiaoqiang could only sigh again in his heart, it seems that in the Go world, "hugging gold bricks" is still quite traditional. Li Xiaoqiang recalled some interesting anecdotes about Zhang Xu and Kobayashi Quanmei falling in love, and couldn't help but glance at Yukari Umezawa. Yukari Umezawa was inexplicably looked at.

Of course, Mei Ze would not know that in Li Xiaoqiang's letters to her, there are often some official questions and dead and alive questions created by Li Xiaoqiang. In fact, Li Xiaoqiang learned from Zhang Xu of this trick.

It is said that when Zhang Xu was dating Kobayashi Quanmei, Kobayashi Quanmei occasionally wanted to be romantic, such as basking in the moon and watching movies or something. But Zhang Xu is a chess nerd and a master of creating his own life-and-death problems. He often thinks of a life-and-death question or an official question temporarily, and immediately takes it out to test Kobayashi Izumi. Kobayashi Quanmei herself once revealed that the question of life and death is better, but she often can't do Zhang Xu's official question, which makes her miserable, and at the same time she can't cry or laugh.

"It is said that Mrs. Reiko is not in good health, is her condition better now? We'd like to visit her when we have time. ”

It was Coach Luo who spoke this time, and when he heard the mention of his mother, Kobayashi Izumi's expression became gloomy:

"Thank you for your concern, my mother's condition is not very good, but she refuses to go to the hospital......"

Kobayashi Izumi's mother is naturally Mrs. Reiko Kobayashi, the beloved daughter of Minoru Kitani. The former butler of the "Mugu Dojo". There are many people who have commented that the reason why "Kitani Dojo" has such a brilliant achievement is due to Mrs. Reiko.

Not long ago, a major event just happened in the Japanese chess world, that is, the "chess master" changed hands. After the chess saint won 8 consecutive times, Kobayashi Koji finally waited for the strongest challenger, and he handed over the title of "chess saint" with a score of 2 to 4.

Not only that, Li Xiaoqiang also knows that if history has not changed, then in the next year or two, Kobayashi Hikaru will lose his title in the second hand. Some people in later generations commented that Kobayashi Koji's hegemony was actually suspended by Mrs. Reiko's death.

Is there a necessary connection? Li Xiaoqiang believes that although it can't be said so absolutely, it still makes some sense. Otherwise, it is impossible to explain that when Kobayashi's life is a little more stable, he will immediately win the World Championship. And once became the "five champions" of Japanese chess.

"As a professional chess player, you really need a very stable life." Li Xiaoqiang sighed in his heart.

Just when Li Xiaoqiang was thinking nonsense, he didn't know why, he couldn't help but glance at Yukari Umezawa. Coincidentally, Umezawa's gaze also swept over.

Yukari Umezawa looked thoughtful.

Walking on the way to the hotel, seeing that the atmosphere in the car was a bit dull, reporter Zhang Da decided to change the topic:

"Korean chess players, they've arrived, right?"

"Arrived early, they arrived a day before you. Xiao Qiangjun, you have to be careful, the South Korean delegation is very high-profile this time, and they show the momentum of victory. In an interview yesterday, especially your opponent Yoo Chang-hyuk, he confidently said that he had found a way to deal with you, claiming that he was confident of winning tomorrow's fight. Xiaoqiang, do you think he is telling the truth? ”

"Of course, it's true that it's not easy for a player to make it to the semi-finals. The first thing you need to have is the belief that you must win, otherwise you won't have to play the game at all. And Liu Changhyuk's opponent is not simple, he said that he found a way to deal with me, then he must have really found a way, he must have some new experience, so he said this kind of thing. ”

"Oh? It seems that you know him well, so I would like to ask you, do you have the confidence to defeat him? ”

"Huh."

Li Xiaoqiang smiled reservedly:

"In such a private setting, I don't think there is a need to be grandiose. All I can say now is that it's all on the chessboard......"

After arriving at the hotel where she stayed, Yukari Umezawa rarely found a chance to be alone with Li Xiaoqiang, she seemed to have something to say to Li Xiaoqiang, and she looked like she wanted to say something:

“…… I'll tell you in Tokyo next month, Xiaoqiang, come on! ”

Although he didn't say anything grandiose, before Li Xiaoqiang walked into the arena, in the face of an interview with reporters, Li Xiaoqiang still said the following paragraph:

"I played chess in the special game room of the Nippon Chess Academy, which I experienced once three years ago. It was an amazing experience and for me, it was a wonderful feeling that I haven't felt in a long time. Let's be honest with everyone, I believe I can return to the same place. I'm sure I'll be able to relive that good feeling next month......"

After saying this, Li Xiaoqiang walked into the game room.

Yoo Chang-hyuk was waiting for him inside. (To be continued......)