Inukai Jaren took over the conversation with a meaningful expression, saying, "Hu Gong is truly a breath of fresh air in the world of Go. All by himself, he is enough to make the entire South Korean Go community sit up and take notice. Yet ever since he rose to fame, he has rarely appeared in tournaments, dedicating most of his energy instead to nurturing his disciples. Every single one of his disciples is exceptional, repeatedly claiming the crown in major competitions. As for Shangbin, he suddenly vanished from the public eye after achieving fame, and I have no idea whether he will show up for this tournament. But once he makes a move, he will surely be a formidable opponent who cannot be underestimated."
Hearing this, Koinu Yoichiro gently shook his head and said, "Shangbin shouldn't appear this time; his name is not on the entry list. I am still considering whether it is worth probing Yanhuang State on this occasion. After all, Yanhuang State's international influence is growing day by day, and the outcome of a match between us is hard to predict."
Inukai Jaren smiled slightly and replied, "Winning or losing is not something we can entirely control. Winning would certainly elevate our international standing, but even losing would be of little consequence. After all, a competition is merely a way of exchanging skills, and what matters is that we can absorb the essence of Yanhuang State's Go techniques from it."
Chapter 421