I Really Didn’t Mean to Play Go!
Chapter 104: The Only Game Shen Yi Ever Lost?

After defeating Su Chengping, Yu Shao finally gained his parents' support and could officially embark on the journey from amateur ranking to professional Go qualification.

Meanwhile, on the internet, a rumor had been brewing for over a week—

Shen Yi was not undefeated.

In fact, after turning twenty-three, he had supposedly lost a game.

If this had been just another baseless claim, everyone would have dismissed it as nonsense.

But along with the rumor came something shocking—a Go record of the game itself.

This immediately sparked heated discussions across the internet!

At first, the topic circulated only within the Go community. But as discussions intensified, it began breaking into mainstream conversations.

Online, three distinct camps emerged, each growing more aggressive, to the point where people were practically ready to settle their arguments in person.

Shen Yi losing? Impossible. If he had a worthy opponent, how could he have died at just thirty-three, feeling utterly unchallenged?

After all, Shen Yi’s last recorded words before his death were:

"What a pity… I improved too quickly in my youth, and now, there is no one left to challenge me."

This statement was well-documented and could be historically verified.

If he truly had lost a match, how could such words exist? The game record must be a forgery.

The second camp believed the game was real—

Their reasoning? The way White played was unmistakably Shen Yi’s style.

The tenacious, unrelenting struggles, the large-scale influence-based strategy—it was nearly impossible for an imitator to replicate such precision.

But the biggest proof was that this match produced an entirely new opening pattern, one that had never been seen before.

During the mid-game battle, both sides demonstrated godlike precision, creating an awe-inspiring masterpiece.

A game like this had to be played by Shen Yi and another legendary master. It was too complex, too intricate to be a fabrication.

The third camp believed in a different interpretation—

They acknowledged that the game might have involved Shen Yi, but they argued that the record was incomplete.

Yes, Black had dominated most of the game. But Shen Yi’s mid-to-late game prowess was unrivaled—could he have pulled off an impossible comeback?

After all, everyone knew that no one could match Shen Yi in the endgame.

There were also a few scattered voices claiming that the game wasn’t some historic duel, but simply a match played in a local high school Go league between two amateur students.

But that theory was drowned out instantly.

Even the internet’s notorious trolls didn’t bother arguing against such nonsense.

Amateur high schoolers?

A high school Go league?

"Pfft. Look at this clown!"

"This game is unreal!"

At Kong’s Dojo, a group of Go trainees huddled around a board, meticulously analyzing the match, their faces full of admiration.

"White’s playstyle is so Shen Yi. That Tiger’s Mouth move… at first, it looked like a defensive patch-up, but it turned out to be a counterattack! That level of resilience is insane!"

Another trainee chimed in: "But Black played even more ruthlessly! That Star-Point Attachment… I never even considered such a move! It’s terrifying!"

"Yeah! That kind of leap in thinking is just crazy! Who would even come up with such a move?"

Someone muttered in awe, "If deeper analysis confirms it, this might actually become a brand-new standard pattern. I wouldn’t be surprised if we start seeing this in professional tournaments soon."

"But… is this really Shen Yi’s game? I’m getting confused now."

A bespectacled trainee hesitated before speaking: "I don’t think so. If it was really Shen Yi’s, why have we never seen him play Star-Point Attachment before?"

"That’s true… but still! This game is too damn brilliant!"

A burly trainee pointed at the board and added, "And another thing—both players played extremely cautiously. Look here, when White approached the corner with a Small Knight, modern theory says Black should pincer. But instead, Black chose a Small Knight Extension!"

"That move is way too slow! These days, Black has a high komi advantage—only in the old days, when komi didn’t exist, would anyone play like this. That’s why I think this has to be an ancient game!"

"But if it’s not Shen Yi’s game… then who else could’ve played it?"

The bespectacled trainee shook his head and countered, "That logic is flawed. Just because the moves are slow doesn’t mean it’s an old game. Plenty of modern amateurs play slow-paced games!"

"And just because a move is slow doesn’t mean it’s wrong. Some pros deliberately slow down to create variations. Plus, there’s always the possibility that someone intentionally played this way to mimic ancient records!"

The burly trainee was about to argue back when suddenly, a rough-looking man in his early thirties approached. His face was covered in stubble, and he had a rugged, no-nonsense demeanor.

Immediately, all the trainees fell silent.

"What the hell are you all arguing about?"

The man frowned in irritation. "Why aren’t you training? Do none of you want to pass the ranking tournament?"

"Master."

The bespectacled trainee lowered his head respectfully. "We were discussing that online game record."

Go dojos still preserved the traditional master-disciple relationship, unlike modern schools where teachers were merely instructors.

Once accepted into a dojo, a student formally apprenticed under a master. They treated their master with the same respect as a father.

Even if the master disciplined them harshly, they had no right to protest.

Unlike in schools, where students could report teachers for mistreatment, in a dojo, such an act was unthinkable.

"What game?"

Kong Zi frowned.

"Master, you haven’t heard?!"

The bespectacled trainee was shocked. "A week ago, a rumor started spreading online that after turning twenty-three, Shen Yi actually lost a game—to some mysterious master!"

"What kind of nonsense is this?"

Kong Zi’s brows furrowed deeper.

The Tengen title match was fast approaching, and Zhuang Weisheng was on the verge of challenging for the title.

Four years ago, Kong Zi had barely managed to take the Tengen title from Zhuang Weisheng, narrowly winning the final game by half a point.

Now, Zhuang Weisheng is coming back stronger than ever.

If he made it to the title match, Kong Zi wasn’t sure if he could hold onto his crown.

With his temper already running high from the pressure, hearing such ridiculous rumors only made him angrier.

"Get back to your training."

He waved them off impatiently. "You still play like crap, yet you waste time debating online garbage? You really believe that nonsense? The internet is full of lies!"

The trainees didn’t dare argue and obediently scattered to resume their matches.

Kong Zi shook his head, stormed off to the break room, and dropped onto the couch.

He pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and exhaled a cloud of smoke.

"These brats actually believe Shen Yi lost a game? What a joke."

But after thinking for a moment, he pulled out his phone and searched for the rumored game.

Anyone who knew Kong Zi well understood how much he admired Shen Yi.

Even though their playing styles were polar opposites, Kong Zi held Shen Yi in the highest regard.

Kong Zi’s style was aggressive and forceful, prioritizing strength and attack. He crushed opponents in mid-game battles with sheer power.

But his sense of overall balance was weak, and his endgame skills were rough. If he ever fell behind, catching up was nearly impossible.

Perhaps it was precisely because Shen Yi excelled where Kong Zi was weakest that he respected him so deeply.

As he scrolled through the discussions, Kong Zi finally found the game record.

At first, his frown deepened.

But as he kept reading, his expression changed.

His eyes widened.

"Star-Point Attachment?"

"A direct attachment after a Small Knight approach? Someone actually played like this?!"

His face grew serious. Before he knew it, he was completely immersed in the game.

"Shen Yi’s playing style is the hardest to imitate—because without reaching his level, imitation is impossible. The saying ‘The high rule of the center’ may be a Go principle, but only a handful of players truly master the art of controlling the center."

"And Shen Yi… was one of those masters. His large-scale territorial play and overwhelming presence on the board made his opponents feel crushed under his weight."

"But now… Black is exerting that same kind of pressure."

Kong Zi frowned deeply, lost in thought.

"This game couldn’t possibly be one of Shen Yi’s. If it were, then the Star-Point Attachment should have appeared in his later records. But it never did."

"Still, Black’s level is undeniably high—remarkably similar to Shen Yi’s. That much is indisputable."

"So then… who was Black? Who could force someone playing so much like Shen Yi into such a dire position?"

"And that Star-Point Attachment… it's absolutely mind-blowing."

Kong Zi’s frown deepened further.

He didn’t even notice that the cigarette between his fingers had burned down to the filter.

Meanwhile,

"Master Zhuang, even with Li You, a 7-dan pro, performing so well this year, he still lost to you. Looks like you’re determined to reclaim the Tengen title!"

A young man in his early twenties grinned as he greeted the imposing figure who had just walked in.

"It won’t be that easy," Zhuang Weisheng shook his head. "I haven’t even secured a spot in the challenger tournament yet. It’s too early to talk about winning the title. And even if I make it, Kong Zi is no pushover."

"Master Zhuang, you’re as humble as ever," the young man sighed. "Everyone says winning a World Championship is easier than taking the Ten-Dan title from you."

"That’s just flattery," Zhuang Weisheng chuckled. "I only happened to perform well in the Ten-Dan matches."

"Oh sure, just ‘happened to’—for twenty years straight," the young man smirked.

Then, as if something suddenly occurred to him, he said, "By the way, Master Zhuang, have you seen the viral discussion about Shen Yi’s so-called ‘defeat’?"

"Shen Yi’s defeat?"

Zhuang Weisheng raised an eyebrow in amusement. "Now that’s a fresh term. I’ve been too busy preparing for the Grand Yuan tournament and playing with Zhuang Feiming—I haven’t had time to check the internet."

"Your son is finally entering the pro qualification tournament?"

The young man was surprised. "He’s had the skills for years but always refused to go pro. Why the sudden decision?"

"He felt he wasn’t ready. He wanted to refine his skills and qualify with an undefeated record. He said losing before turning pro would embarrass me. Now, he believes he’s strong enough."

Zhuang Weisheng nodded, his expression carrying a hint of pride. "And to be fair, he’s improved tremendously this year."

"So he’s planning to absolutely dominate, huh?"

The young man clicked his tongue. "Like father, like son—one crushing high-level players, the other demolishing low-ranked ones. You guys don’t leave any room for the rest of us!"

He patted his chest in mock relief. "Good thing I’m stuck in the middle. You can’t crush me… yet."

Zhuang Weisheng laughed and shook his head. "You’re exaggerating."

Then, his gaze turned curious. "So, tell me—what’s this about Shen Yi’s defeat?"

"Apparently, after Shen Yi reached the peak of his skill, he actually lost a game. A record of the match has been circulating online, and it’s causing an uproar."

The young man grinned. "Of course, the whole thing is probably fake, but the way White plays… It really does resemble Shen Yi. And the game itself… Master Zhuang, you might be shocked when you see it. Want me to lay it out for you?"

Zhuang Weisheng smiled faintly. "Well, if you’re saying even I’d be shocked, it’d be rude not to take a look."

"Alright then!"

The young man’s eyes lit up with excitement as he quickly pulled out a Go board and started placing stones, replicating the game move by move.

Then—

As he placed a Black stone beside White’s Star-Point move, Zhuang Weisheng’s expression flickered ever so slightly.

"A direct Attachment?"

His eyes narrowed slightly as he watched the young man lay out the upper-left corner sequence.

The air around him suddenly grew tense—dangerous.

Those who knew Zhuang Weisheng well understood what this meant.

When he narrowed his eyes, it meant he was taking something seriously.

A few moments later, the young man finished setting up the game and looked at Zhuang Weisheng expectantly.

"Master Zhuang, what do you think of this game?"

Zhuang Weisheng didn’t respond immediately.

He continued to study the board, silent for a long time.

Then, he finally asked:

"Who played Black? And who played White?"

"No idea," the young man admitted. "That’s why the internet calls it ‘Shen Yi’s Defeat.’"

"But White’s relentless fighting style, the large-scale framework—it’s uncanny. It really does look like Shen Yi’s work."

"It couldn’t possibly be from Shen Yi’s era," Zhuang Weisheng stated, still gazing at the board. "If this were an old game, the Star-Point Attachment wouldn’t have remained obscure for over a century."

"This must be a recent game."

"I think so too," the young man nodded, rubbing his chin. "But honestly, I’m more curious about who played Black. They actually forced someone playing like Shen Yi into such a desperate situation."

"More importantly… that Star-Point Attachment is just… terrifying."

The young man thought for a long time before finally settling on a word to describe the move.

He let out a deep sigh and muttered, "I kind of wish this really was a match between Shen Yi and some hidden master."

Zhuang Weisheng remained quiet, his eyes locked onto the board.

After a long while, he finally said,

"Is that so?"

"I, on the other hand… hope it isn’t."