But instead of exposing his opponent’s trick, Jaden simply leaned back in his chair and resumed the match.His hand moved with calm precision. Each placement of a stone was quick, natural, and confident, as though he were a teacher guiding a student through practice rather than clashing with an international challenger. His expression never changed, his breathing steady, his body language relaxed.From the audience’s perspective, it looked like Jaden was untouchable.Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in Seoul, South Korea, a different kind of battle was unfolding.Inside a lavish VIP chamber in one of the nation’s most prestigious Go halls, a group of men gathered around glowing screens. The air was thick with cigar smoke and smug laughter.At the center sat Sung Chu, the reigning South Korean Go prodigy, a man hailed as a genius since childhood and respected worldwide. Around him were a dozen of the country’s most celebrated Go experts, their eyes fixed on the live feed of Jin Chen’

Three years had passed. In that time, Sung Chu had buried his shame, convincing himself that no one else remembered his solitary defeat on Jeju Island. He had paraded as South Korea’s Go master, basked in national pride, and silenced the memory of that humiliating loss.Until now.Until Jaden Rift dragged the skeleton out of the closet—in public, before countless eyes.Sung Chu’s body went rigid as he stared at the tall, sharp-looking figure on the broadcast. His lips trembled, his voice breaking as he muttered, “It’s him… So it’s him after all.”The realization crashed over him like a tidal wave.“No wonder he looked familiar… This man, Jaden Rift, was the one who defeated me on Jeju Island three years ago!”His words struck the other South Korean Go experts like a hammer blow. The room fell into stunned silence. Cigarettes slipped from fingers, tea cups rattled on their saucers. Not one of them dared to breathe.Their master… their pride… was admitting that this nameless Karethwyn c

Larry Black could hardly believe what he was hearing.Do such low-profile people still exist today?Here was Jaden Rift—who had just crushed South Korea’s Go master in front of thousands—calmly dismissing himself as “average.” The sheer understatement left Larry bewildered.Average? Impossible.Larry had been immersed in Go for decades, and he knew talent when he saw it. Jaden’s precision, his creativity, his flawless composure—this was no ordinary skill. What Larry had witnessed earlier wasn’t just strong play; it was world-class mastery, the kind reserved for the very pinnacle of the game.As someone who was already considered a formidable player himself, Larry understood the difficulty of improving without facing worthy opponents. Watching Jaden had reignited something within him. He couldn’t allow this chance to slip away.So, when Jaden mentioned looking for someone to teach his daughter, Larry seized the opportunity with both hands.“Haha!” Larry chuckled warmly, stroking his be

Larry Black had no choice but to rise to his feet. His face was stiff, but his voice was firm.“I did,” he said coldly. “You’re selling fake liquor. And you can’t do whatever you please just because you’re Mr. Smith’s son!”For a brief moment, silence hung in the air. Then Barry’s lips curled into a cruel smirk.“Hehe… you think this is just about me?” Barry sneered, spreading his arms wide in mock innocence. “The Moreish isn’t mine alone. This establishment has many powerful shareholders backing it. Quin West—son of Captain West of the Investigation Unit. Mitch Langford—son of the Head of the Traffic Management Bureau. And if that doesn’t scare you enough, the Mayor’s son himself, Zeke Crow, holds a piece of this place. So tell me, old man…” Barry leaned forward, his voice dropping to a chilling whisper. “…how dare you accuse us of selling fake liquor?”Larry’s face drained of color. His fists clenched by his side, but his shoulders stiffened with the weight of reality. He hadn’t exp

Selena tugged gently at Jaden’s sleeve, her other arm wrapped protectively around their daughter. Her voice was soft, but there was a tremor of urgency in it.“Jaden… these men are nothing but bullies. We don’t need this. Let’s just go somewhere else and eat in peace. Come on, everyone—let’s leave.”Her words carried both concern and quiet pleading, as though she feared things would spiral out of control.But the moment her suggestion reached Barry’s ears, his face twisted into a scowl. The laughter that had been on his lips vanished, replaced by a sharp, predatory edge.“If you’ve got the guts to make trouble in my place,” he sneered, his tone dripping with malice, “then don’t think you can just walk out without paying the price.”His gaze swept the room, but then it stopped, locking onto Selena. His eyes narrowed, and a flicker of greedy light lit up within them.What a woman.She stood there in her flowing Bohemian-style dress, the fabric brushing gracefully against her heels adorn