It was a fine day, with a gentle breeze and clear skies.
In the Imperial Capital, within the Imperial City.
Inside a pavilion in the Imperial Garden, two figures were playing Go. As their hands moved, placing stones upon the board, a clear pattern of black and white emerged. One player's style was exceptionally sharp, his offense unparalleled, like a general seasoned by a hundred battles. The other played with steady deliberation, his defense as impregnable as a fortress and as firm as a great stone. The game had reached a stalemate.
One of the men wore a black brocade robe. His features were resolute, and with a mere knitting of his brows, he exuded a soul-stirring authority. The other, by contrast, had the white hair of an elder but the face of a youth. His eyes shone with a brilliant light, radiating immense wisdom. Facing the King's offensive, he remained perfectly calm, his responses flowing like water.
