[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-tokyo-you-call-this-normal-equipment":3,"chapter-tokyo-you-call-this-normal-equipment-tokyo-you-call-this-normal-equipment-chapter-621":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Tokyo: You Call This Normal Equipment?",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1955837,2739,"Chapter 621","tokyo-you-call-this-normal-equipment-chapter-621",621,"\u003Cp>This was his area of confidence, one he had used to tear through many a difficult defensive line before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Xia Xia Mujun, as always, responded in seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the piece that fell was not the passive block or retreat that Honda had anticipated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A subtle exchange of \"Pawns,\" like inserting an inconspicuous yet crucial wedge before the opponent's pincer movement could close, instantly disrupted the rhythmic coordination between the \"Silver\" and the \"Knight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following that, with almost no pause, came a seemingly plain and unremarkable advance of the \"Gold General.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These two moves, flowing like moving clouds and flowing water, not only dissolved Honda’s momentum into nothingness but also used his own strength against him, leaving Honda’s \"Knight,\" which had pushed the furthest into the pincer, isolated at the front of the enemy formation, trapped in an awkward position where it could neither advance nor retreat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the scorching lights of the arena, a layer of fine, distinct beads of sweat seeped from Honda Honda Chongsi’s temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared fixedly at that \"Knight\" which had suddenly become cumbersome and dangerous, his brain racing with unprecedented speed to calculate the possibilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Force a breakthrough? With no support, it would be tantamount to throwing the piece away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turn and retreat? That would be admitting that this meticulously planned offensive had failed completely, handing over the precious initiative.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An invisible yet tangible pressure was radiating from the boy opposite him, who was as calm as an ancient well, chillingly soaking into the board and wrapping around every one of his pieces and every breath he took.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air seemed to have become thick and heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pondered for a full five minutes, his fingers unconsciously pinching his knees tightly, his expression shifting from focus to gravity, even revealing a trace of imperceptible agitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, he chose the most secure, yet most conservative, way to connect, barely saving the \"Knight,\" but at the cost of his entire formation becoming stagnant, losing its previous agility and sharpness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at the very same instant his fingertips pressed the chess clock, emitting a soft \"click\"—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tap.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Xia Xia Mujun’s piece had already fallen, the sound crisp, the rhythm steady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was not to pursue the \"Knight\" that had just escaped, still shaken, but to quietly adjust a \"Rook\" that had been lurking in the back to a throat-position capable of overlooking most of the board, full of deterrent power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, the \"Bishop\" on the other flank also lifted slightly, locking onto a new target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Xia Xia Mujun’s entire formation suddenly opened up because of this move, shifting quietly from a steady defensive posture to a subtle yet firm offensive stance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a giant net already woven and waiting patiently, it began to gently and irresistibly close in and infiltrate Honda Honda Chongsi’s territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honda Honda Chongsi’s face changed completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The previous gravity was covered by a spreading pallor; his lips were pressed into a straight line, and his jawline became rigid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere at the commentary desk was instantly ignited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inoue Masazo’s voice rose sharply, filled with amazement:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Exquisite! This mid-game transition by contestant Xia is brilliant! Not only did he neutralize contestant Honda’s signature offensive, but he also took advantage of the momentum to complete a formation shift, turning the guest into the host! Now, contestant Honda’s formation looks somewhat cumbersome, and his space has been significantly compressed!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nanjo Maiko’s voice could not hide her excitement either:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Contestant Honda’s long deliberation did not bring the expected improvement in the situation; instead, he was caught by contestant Xia’s transition rhythm! Now the initiative seems to have... shifted to contestant Xia? This is truly a development that was hard to predict before the match!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An irrepressible uproar erupted in the audience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Horikawa Kaori covered her mouth tightly, a light of unbelievable surprise bursting in her eyes, and she whispered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The advantage... Xia Xia Xia Mujun, has he taken the advantage?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fukuda Tsukasa leaned forward, almost pressing against the front seat, staring at the broadcast screen, and muttered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What the hell... Honda’s 'Silver-Knight Assault' was broken just like that? And he even got counter-pushed? This kid...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Furukawa Saio excitedly shook Furukawa Masahiro’s arm:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Grandpa, look! This is the path Xia Xia Xia Mujun taught Saio!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If he keeps going, he will definitely win!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Furukawa Masahiro stroked his beard and smiled, his eyes shining with the light of someone who sees through everything:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stay calm, Saio. A chess game is like a long-distance run; it is too early to make a judgment now. However... Xia Xia Xia Mujun is indeed playing with great method.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fukuda Yasuhiro’s face flushed red, and he stubbornly insisted:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It... it was just a momentary miscalculation by Honda! He just needs to adjust, and he can turn it back immediately!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The private Tsukikage Shogi Club activity room was already boiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The advantage! It’s really the advantage! Xia Xia Xia Mujun is awesome!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Araki Araki Araki Yuai sprang from her seat, waving her fists excitedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yasui Ryoto also slapped his thigh hard:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well done! That bastard Honda’s signature move has been seen through! This mid-game intuition is too sharp!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Nomura Tomohiro was still relatively calm, but his clenched fists and the shining eyes behind his lenses betrayed the turmoil in his heart:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stay calm, Xia! The advantage needs to be converted into a winning position! Honda Honda Chongsi will never admit defeat easily!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Xia family main residence, the atmosphere was subtle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The smile on Xia Xia Muqihui’s face had long since disappeared, replaced by irritation and confusion:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is this Honda doing? How is he at a disadvantage?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Does he even know how to play?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Xia Youzhen was still holding his teacup, but the force with which his fingertips pressed against the cup wall revealed his lack of composure. He stared at the screen and said slowly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uncle Natsume Qi Society, the game of chess is unpredictable. Cousin Qianjing may have seized a momentary opportunity. But Honda-kun has a deep foundation and is best at creating chaos when at a disadvantage. To call a win now is, I fear... still too early.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Xia Mu Chunhui’s posture remained unchanged, still supporting her chin with one hand, only her gaze was focused more deeply on Xia Xia Xia Mujun’s almost expressionless side profile, lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the board, the \"Rook\" that Xia Xia Xia Mujun had adjusted into place and the \"Bishop\" waiting for an opportunity were forming a potential fire net that was gradually tightening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honda Honda Chongsi felt as if he had fallen into an invisible quagmire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter which direction he tried to mobilize his pieces to find a breakthrough or organize a counterattack, Xia Xia Xia Mujun could always land his pieces in the most uncomfortable positions for him, a few beats faster, not only neutralizing his intentions but often further squeezing his space and plundering small amounts of territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His position was being nibbled away inch by inch, the efficiency of his pieces was continuously decreasing, and the seemingly solid \"Yagura\" castle now appeared riddled with holes and crumbling under the opponent’s precise infiltration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And what made his heart go cold, almost making him feel suffocated, was the decisiveness with which the opponent placed his pieces—without any hesitation, almost by instinct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The time that pair of calm eyes swept over the board was so short it could almost be ignored, and then it was just taking a piece, placing a piece, all in one go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as if the variations for the next dozen moves or even further on the board had already been evolved within that deep calm, and he was merely executing the predetermined optimal solution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How is it possible... how can he think so fast, so deeply?! Does he not need to calculate branches and risks?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honda Honda Chongsi was screaming wildly inside, and a vine called \"fear\" began to entwine his confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chess clock ticked, each beat like a heavy hammer striking his increasingly fragile nerves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eight minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared at the board, the sharpness in his eyes long since replaced by bewilderment and a trace of desperately concealed panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sweat slid slightly from his temples and the sides of his nose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every difficult move that exhausted his heart and took a long time was met with Xia Xia Xia Mujun’s understated, yet seemingly already waiting, fatal second-response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was worse, a thought uncontrollably crept into his mind: if I lose, all the prize money I won before will go down the drain!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was nearly 310,000 yen! Not a small sum!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—the game isn’t over yet, why am I thinking about defeat first?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I am Honda Honda Chongsi, a professional shogi player with high expectations!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could I possibly lose to some guy who popped out of nowhere!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A brief moment of self-encouragement allowed him to barely suppress the panic, the cold sweat on his forehead seemed to recede a bit, and he took a deep breath, trying to refocus his scattered attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, reality is cruel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just the moment after he mustered some fighting spirit—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tap.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another soft sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of Xia Xia Xia Mujun’s \"Pawns\" that had penetrated deep behind enemy lines quietly promoted in a corner no one noticed, transforming into a fatal \"Gold General,\" forming the final, unbreakable encirclement with the \"Bishop\" that had already infiltrated the belly of the formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The defensive point on the flank of Honda Honda Chongsi’s King, which seemed to be the last barrier, emitted a clearly audible moan of structural collapse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The defensive line, at this moment, declared total collapse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His fighting spirit, which he had just barely managed to muster, deflated instantly like a balloon pricked by a needle, his expression becoming dazed again, even paler than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why... why, even when he plays so fast, can he still precisely capture every one of my intentions?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why do all my moves seem transparent in front of him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is simply... unreasonable!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere at the commentary desk had reached its peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inoue Masazo’s voice changed slightly due to extreme shock and excitement:\u003C\u002Fp>",1691,"2026-06-15T07:23:19.074Z","2026-06-15T07:45:41.024Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","54af24c1148e47ffdccc46f8ff46a4e4f41bcd761df82cad4572f9afead5a84a","tokyo-you-call-this-normal-equipment-chapter-622","tokyo-you-call-this-normal-equipment-chapter-620",624,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Ftokyo-you-call-this-normal-equipment-cover.jpg"]