Chapter 615

The kind smile on Ishida Ishida Kazuo's face stiffened slightly.

He didn't expect to be opposed so directly and fiercely, and the opponents were an old gentleman and a little girl.

He couldn't help but feel a bit unhappy; he was a dignified professional 6-dan, taking the initiative to take an apprentice, how many people begged for it?

He tried hard to maintain his demeanor, looking at Furukawa Masahiro and Saio, his tone peaceful but with doubt:

"May I ask the two of you... why do you think I am not qualified to be Xia Xia Xia Mujun's master?"

Furukawa Saio answered first, angrily, her little finger pointing at Ishida Ishida Kazuo:

"Because Big Brother's Shogi strength is much stronger than yours, Mr. Ishida! You are not qualified to be Big Brother's master at all!"

Furukawa Masahiro coughed lightly, stroked his white beard, and added slowly:

"Cough, although the child's words are straightforward, the logic... is roughly like that."

"Wh... what?!" Fukuda Yasuhiro exploded as soon as he heard it, jumping up and pointing at Furukawa Saio, "What are you little brat talking nonsense about! My master is a professional 6-dan! He is the favorite to win this tournament! How could he not be qualified! No matter how amazing Xia Xia Xia Mujun is, he is only quasi-professional; how is he stronger than my master?!"

Furukawa Saio did not show weakness, standing on tiptoe and glaring at Fukuda Yasuhiro:

"Not qualified means not qualified! Big Brother is just stronger than your master!"

"You...!"

"Enough, don't argue."

Seeing that the two little guys were about to argue, Xia Xia Xia Mujun felt a bit dumbfounded.

He gently patted Saio's little head, appeased the excited little girl, and then looked at Ishida Ishida Kazuo, his attitude still humble, but his refusal was clear and explicit:

"Mr. Ishida, thank you very much for your kindness."

"However, my thoughts are the same as last time; I really have no intention of taking a master at the moment. Sorry again for the trouble."

Seeing Xia Xia Xia Mujun himself refuse explicitly again, Ishida Ishida Kazuo felt regretful in his heart, but he couldn't be anxious, just sighed with a smile.

"I understand."

"However... perhaps there will be a turning point in the future; you can change your mind at any time, and I am very welcome here."

Seeing his master being rejected, Fukuda Yasuhiro still didn't accept it in his heart and snorted at Furukawa Saio.

"Hmph! You don't know quality! When you know how amazing my master is in the future, you won't have a chance even if you want to be an apprentice!"

Furukawa Saio immediately returned a grimace.

"Pfft, Big Brother doesn't need it at all!"

Fukuda Yasuhiro gritted his teeth:

"Stinky brat!!!"

"Yasuhiro!" Fukuda Tsukasa couldn't watch anymore and shouted to stop him, "How old are you, arguing with a little girl? What does it look like! Sit down!"

"Uncle?" Fukuda Yasuhiro only then noticed that Fukuda Tsukasa was also there, stunned for a moment, and then felt a bit sullen.

Ishida Ishida Kazuo also said in a deep voice: "Yasuhiro, pay attention to politeness, apologize, and sit down."

Under the dual pressure of his master and uncle, Fukuda Yasuhiro had to sit down unwillingly, saying sullenly: "...Sorry then."

But it was only because he understood that his master would beat him now.

And even more because his uncle often beat him in the past.

He had to apologize.

As for Xia Xia Xia Mujun being stronger than his master, he still didn't feel it at all!

Xia Xia Xia Mujun looked at this scene, feeling a bit subtle in his heart.

He didn't expect Fukuda Tsukasa and Fukuda Yasuhiro to be uncle and nephew... no wonder the two people's personalities had a strange similarity in some aspects, both carrying a bit of awkwardness and stubbornness.

It really lived up to the saying, not a family, not entering a family.

Just as the small storm here had just come to an end, there was movement again at the entrance of the contestant passage.

A boy with his hair combed meticulously and an unmasked, arrogant smile on his face walked in with his head held high.

It was the Shogi Club President of Private Private Private Tianhao, professional 4-dan Shogi player—Honda Honda Chongsi.

His gaze swept over the contestant seats like a radar, and soon locked onto Xia Xia Xia Mujun's position.

When he saw Xia Xia Xia Mujun sitting with Ishida Ishida Kazuo and others, the corners of Honda Honda Chongsi's mouth couldn't help but lift upwards, outlining a smile full of aggression and anticipation. ===== CHAPTER 985 =====

When Private Private Private Tianhao's Honda Honda Chongsi stepped into the venue, the attention he attracted was not particularly sensational.

After all, every contestant who could reach the sixth round was a strong player, and the spectators were already accustomed to all kinds of faces.

However.

When his footsteps, which carried a clear target, finally stopped in front of the seat where Xia Xia Xia Mujun was sitting.

The buzzing sound in the contestant seating area of A-zone and even the nearby spectator seating area suddenly rose by a magnitude.

Many people immediately recognized these two—the "enemies" from opposing schools, the two sides who called out to each other remotely in the live stream.

Now confronting each other at close range in the tournament, the smell of gunpowder instantly permeated.

"Tsk, I didn't expect this round's cross-zone adjustment to divide me into A-zone too."

Honda Honda Chongsi looked down at Xia Xia Xia Mujun, who was still sitting, the corners of his mouth splitting into an unmasked malicious smile.

He slowly raised his right hand, extended his thumb, and drew it forcefully and slowly across his neck from left to right.

A classic throat-slitting gesture full of insult and threat.

"However—this is also good."

He lowered his voice, but it was enough for those nearby to hear clearly, every word sounding like it was squeezed out from between his teeth:

"Pray, pray that you don't meet me in the draw. Otherwise... I will let you personally experience what complete despair is!"

Facing this naked provocation, Xia Xia Xia Mujun didn't even move his eyebrows.

He just raised his eyes slightly, his gaze meeting Honda Honda Chongsi's eyes, which were burning with fighting spirit and mockery, his tone as flat as if he were stating the weather:

"Is that so? I am actually looking forward to meeting you sooner."

Honda Honda Chongsi seemed to have heard some absurd joke, letting out a short, mocking snort from his nose.

"Still being tough, huh? Fine, let's see how long you can be tough."

He didn't say anything more, and with a face full of disdain, he turned around and walked towards the empty seat in the distance, sat down heavily, crossed his legs, and his provocative gaze still swept towards Xia Xia Xia Mujun's direction from time to time.

During the time Xia Xia Xia Mujun was chatting and resting with Furukawa Saio and others.

Suddenly.

The giant electronic screen hanging in the center of the venue, the moment it lit up on time, sucked away all the noise.

Sawada Rika stood in front of the screen.

She slowly restrained the professional, bright smile on her face at this moment.

Replacing it was a sharp look mixed with solemnity and faint excitement.

She didn't speak immediately, but used those carefully drawn, particularly spirited eyes to slowly sweep across the audience.

The contestant lounge was empty and murderous at this moment, with only eight figures remaining, each exuding a tough aura after the cruel baptism of the first five rounds.

The spectator area was also much quieter, with many people holding their breath, clutching the tournament schedule or cheering items in their hands, waiting for her announcement.

"Everyone."

Her voice came through the microphone, clear, stable, but with a heavy, almost ritualistic weight compared to usual.

"Welcome to the 'Newcomer Shogi Tournament'—Sixth Round, A-zone!"

Her words were like sparks thrown into hot grease.

Instantly igniting the even tighter anticipation that had already permeated the air.

A burst of irrepressible excited low exclamations and whispers erupted in the spectator area, and everyone's eyes were focused on her and the huge light curtain behind her.

"After the first five rounds, the screening and elimination of a total of more than two thousand matches."

"The once crowded tournament venue, now, only remains—"

She turned sideways, her arm sweeping towards the screen behind her like a blade.

On the screen, the number "32" appeared with a cold silver special effect, the edges seeming to have cold light flowing, carrying the sharpness after the battle.

"Thirty-two strong players standing at the peak of this tournament."

"And from here on, the road to the peak will no longer be a simple staircase."

Her voice suddenly rose, full of unquestionable declaration.

"From this round on, the tournament format will usher in a brand new chapter!"

"More concentrated confrontation! More direct elimination! The last step to the throne of the top sixteen is right in front of you!"

The background music had quietly changed at some point. ===== CHAPTER 986 =====