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Standing still at the entrance gate, Shi Guang looked around the pottery in search of a glimpse of his best friend but to no avail. All he could see was unfamiliar faces. He returned Yu Liang's inquiring gaze with a light reassuring pat on the back as they entered the pottery and wandered around aimlessly like a lost lamb until a man approached them.
“Aren't you the professional Go players, Shi Guang and Yu Liang?” the man who later on introduced himself as Yuan-ge said the moment he recognized them. Before long, he excitedly led Shi Guang and Yu Liang to a more secluded area in the pottery where they soon spotted a familiar young man.
It's good to see Hong He again after all the hectic months of tournaments. The last time they saw each other was at the hospital, when Hong He's father suffered from sudden stroke and the young man had to withdraw from the Hokuto Cup, giving the second and final spot to Shi Guang instead with a heavy heart.
It was painful for both of them, but a single promise they made to each other ended everything in a hopeful note.
And now it's time for Shi Guang to do his part of the promise.
“Hong He!” Shi Guang called out with a radiant smile.
“Yo, xiongdi!” Hong He called back the moment he saw him. In an instant, he stopped whatever he was doing at the time to clean his hands, hug Shi Guang and shake hands with Yu Liang.
“So, it's true that you know them both, huh,” said Yuan-ge.
“That's for sure!” Hong He immediately confirmed. “Don't you know? Before the Twin Stars of Go was born, there was the legendary Three Musketeers and I was a part of it.”
Shi Guang huffed.
Yu Liang frowned.
Yuan-ge raised his eyebrows. “Really?”
“Of course! The three of us”—Hong He gestured at himself and then at his two friends—“were the original line-up for the Hokuto Cup. The Three Musketeers. The what do they call it again? Ho-Holy Trinity? Whatever. But because of the change in rules, only two players were allowed to participate. That's why I'm not there.”
There was a tinge of sorrow and restraint in Hong He's voice when he uttered those words. Yuan-ge said nothing, and just nodded knowingly at Hong He. Before long, the man excused himself and left to continue his job.
“Three Musketeers? Really?” Shi Guang shot a disbelief look at Yu Liang who then shrugged his shoulders in response. It reminded him of old time, of The Four Musketeers Go club. Jiang Xueming, Gu Yu, Tian Sha, Lu Jinzi... He wondered what they'd been up to these days other than college.
“Well, there were three of us, right?” Hong He said. “So, Three Musketeers. Do you have any better name?”
“Okay, fair enough. How's your father?” Shi Guang cautiously asked after taking a seat on the stool Hong He kindly offered to him.
“My dad? He's fine. Pretty much the same.”
Shi Guang quietly nodded in response.
“He still can't speak,” Hong He added. “Well, the doctor said it's impossible anyway for him to regain his speech ability. But at least he can make out some words. These days, though, he'd been repeating the word weiqi a lot. At first, I didn't understand what he's trying to say. I told him that I'd stopped playing Go. That I'd take over the kiln and his business. But he still repeated the word while shaking his head. Then Yuan-ge helped me interpreted it.”
“What was it?” Shi Guang asked, curious. Yu Liang who sat beside him also leaned forward, eyes glimmered with curiosity.
“He said that maybe what my dad meant to say was for me to not stop playing Go. At first, I didn't believe him. I mean, that old man was always the first one who would stop me from touching Go board. But the more I pondered on it, the more I got curious. So one day, I tried asking my dad if it's true he didn't want me to stop playing Go... And Yuan-ge was right. He doesn't want me to stop playing it.” A small wistful smile graced Hong He's features.
“Maybe he feels guilty,” Yu Liang commented after a short pause, saying each word carefully. “After all, you made it. You were qualified for the Hokuto Cup, regardless of the sudden change of the rules.”
Shi Guang nodded his agreement. “That's right! You're the best among the best! I'm sure somewhere deep in your father's heart, he is proud of you,” he said and gave Hong He's arm a firm pat. “Chin up, Pottery Master!”
Hong He shot him an amused look. “Hey, you know that nickname?”
“Of course! Who doesn't know Hong He, the Pottery Master of Guangming road whose Go skills rival that of a professional player. Everybody wants to play against him at least once these days.”
“Aiya, you flatter me.” Hong He slapped Shi Guang's arm out of embarrassment. “But you're right. I am that great,” he added and chuckled boastfully.
“Hmm, people call you Pottery Master for your Go skills. But what about your pottery skills? Is it any good like your Go?” Shi Guang glanced around the working space. He noticed some deformed potteries sitting on a lower rack. “I bet all those ugly vases down there are your works.”
Yu Liang gave him a quick nudge at that.
Hong He harrumphed, his face fell. “W-Well, I'm still learning, okay? You think it can take just one day for me to learn everything and then be surprisingly good at it? Also, I actually want to make you two something as a gift for winning the Cup. But you saw it yourself. I'm not that skilled yet. Everything I made turned out ugly. But I promise you when I'm good at this I'll make you two the most beautiful and finest porcelain ever. Trust me.” Hong He patted on his own chest to reinforce his point.
Shi Guang's face lit up with excitement on hearing him. “Is that so? Okay! I'll be looking forward to your masterpiece then. But really, Hong He, just knowing that you're still playing Go is good enough for me.”
“That's right,” Yu Liang agreed. “Putting aside the porcelain, it's good to know that you don't stop playing Go.”
Hong He stroked his chin as though he had a beard. “Really? Then, should I just cancel the porcelain thing?”
“Hey, hey! What do you mean?” Shi Guang frowned.
“You said it yourself. Knowing that I still play Go is good enough for you. That porcelain is not really necessary now, is it?” replied Hong He as he dusted off the dirt on his clothes absentmindedly.
“Eh, you're the one who make the promise and now you're taking back your words? Hong He, you—” Just then Yu Liang tapped on Shi Guang's shoulder and then pointed at the Go board sitting lonesome at a corner of the place with his chin. An idea popped into his mind shortly after. He gave Yu Liang a quick thumbs-up and shot Hong He an excited look. “Fine. Let's do it this way then. If you can defeat me in Go, then you can forget the porcelain. But if you lose, you will make us one no matter how long it's gonna take, you hear me?”
Hong He narrowed his already small eyes at Shi Guang in hesitation. But he agreed to the deal nevertheless and before long they set up a table, the board and the stones. Sitting between them was Yu Liang who quietly oversaw the game as it progressed.
“You know what, Shi Guang,” Hong He said. “Even if you don't propose this match, I will still make the porcelain for you two, and play a round with you today.”
Smiling, Shi Guang placed his white stone at an intersection on the board. “I know. I know.”