I Really Didn’t Mean to Play Go!
Chapter 166: The Eternal Tenth Dan

“And yet… this truly is the best move.”

At that moment, Zheng Qin finally spoke—his first words since the match had begun.

Hearing this, the room fell silent as everyone turned to look at him.

But Zheng Qin kept his eyes locked on the screen, speaking without even glancing back.

“Zhuang Weisheng’s two-space extension was an excellent move to secure territory and create complications in a losing position.”

“If Black had jumped instead, that move alone would have solidified his territory, built influence in the center, and put pressure on the lower-side stones. It’s undoubtedly a great move, but White would still have opportunities in the ensuing fight.”

“This hane, however… It may appear to be an attack on White’s left-side stones, but that’s not its true purpose.”

“After this move, Black has numerous forcing moves. White will be forced to escape.”

“But the moment White’s stones run, Black will strengthen its left-side position, forming an impenetrable wall. And once that wall is complete… White’s group below will be completely sealed off—with a very real possibility of being killed!”

“If Black wants to completely crush White’s comeback chances… this is the only opportunity!”

The room fell into silence.

Of course, they all understood this.

However, while Black held the advantage, his shape wasn’t exactly stable—there were still many thin spots. Playing this hane meant losing control of the game entirely—from here on, it would be a fight to the death.

At this point, Black could not afford a single mistake. Every move had to be precise—flawless.

If White ever found a moment of hesitation, he could turn the tables from the brink of death!

On the other hand, if White’s massive group in the lower board was killed, the game would end instantly. No amount of skill or brilliance could save White then.

On the screen, after a long deliberation, White finally made his move.

The reviewing players immediately picked up a stone and placed it on their board to mirror the game.

Row 6, Column 7—Jump!

The discussion room fell silent.

Everyone held their breath, their hearts pounding as they awaited Kong Zi’s next move.

This was it—the final showdown!

From this point on, every move would be decisive!

The unconventional sequence Yu Shao had introduced in the lower-left had already left everyone speechless.

A position that had seemed unshakable was now crumbling under Black’s relentless assault.

And now, Black’s fangs were about to sink in for the kill.

White would resist with everything he had—this would be a fight to the bitter end!

How would this game conclude?

On the screen, under the watchful eyes of all, Black and White began placing stones once more.

This time, every move was played slowly—each player taking their time, deeply contemplating every step.

It was clear that all four players understood the gravity of the moment—they were walking on a knife’s edge.

Click, click, click!

The sound of stones landing on the board seemed to echo through the room.

Inside the Playing Room

“White is playing exceptionally well,” someone murmured. “It’s not just Zhuang Weisheng—even Fang Haoxin, a mere first-dan pro, is holding up under this immense pressure without making mistakes!”

Ding Huan was staring at the board, too anxious to even breathe.

Krrrk.

The sound of stones colliding filled the room.

Kong Zi’s expression was solemn as he swiftly reached into the bowl and placed his next move.

Pa!

Row 10, Column 2—Hane!

The move landed like a thunderclap.

“Hane!”

Ding Huan instinctively bit his thumb. Even though he was merely a spectator, he felt as if he were inside the game itself, nerves stretched taut.

This move cut deep into White’s formation, threatening White’s eye space and directly severing White’s path to survival on the lower board!

Zhuang Weisheng carefully examined the board before making his move.

Click!

Row 10, Column 14—Jump!

Even the way the stone landed seemed to carry a weight, a presence—it felt oppressive.

Yu Shao’s eyes remained lowered, calmly studying the board. He reached into the bowl and placed his move.

Click!

Row 11, Column 13—Flying Press!

The stone landed with a faint echo.

Seeing this move, Fang Haoxin’s face paled. He sank into deep thought.

This move completely locked White in—it was an unyielding seal.

Yu Shao was giving White no way out.

Time passed.

White and Black exchanged move after move, their battle growing increasingly intense!

“This is bad for White…”

Ding Huan’s forehead was damp with sweat as he studied the board. Even he could now perceive the subtle shift in the game.

“White’s responses have been solid—there haven’t been any obvious mistakes.”

“But Yu Shao and Kong Zi keep playing one brilliant move after another. Their coordination is so flawless, so seamless, that even a master and disciple wouldn’t be able to match this level of synergy!”

“It’s as if they instantly understand each other’s attacking ideas!”

“If White wants to survive… standard moves won’t be enough.”

A few moves later, it was Zhuang Weisheng’s turn again.

He studied the board for a long time before finally placing his move.

Click!

Row 14, Column 19—Throw-in!

“Throw-in?”

The entire playing room froze.

Even Yu Shao was momentarily stunned.

This was a move he hadn’t predicted.

But the moment it landed—after carefully reassessing the position—he realized the game had shifted once more!

“Amazing move…”

Wu Zhixuan’s eyes widened in astonishment. She was so absorbed in the board that she forgot to continue recording the game.

Her gaze remained locked on that single White stone at Row 14, Column 19.

“Fang Haoxin’s earlier connection was solid but a bit slow.”

Ding Huan, as a journalist, couldn’t spot the problem with Fang Haoxin’s move—but Wu Zhixuan, as a professional second-dan, immediately recognized it.

“In a life-and-death battle like this, attacking directly is often stronger than reinforcing your shape.”

“Instead of connecting, he should have gone for a counterattack against Black’s cutting points!”

At this point, the game had reached a stage where every move had earth-shattering consequences.

Would Black’s ferocious attack end in total annihilation of White?

Or…

Had Zhuang Weisheng just set the stage for one final, breathtaking reversal?

No one could say.

The only certainty—

Was that this game would go down in history.

"And yet… Zhuang Weisheng, the Tenth Dan, has turned Fang Haoxin’s earlier slow move into a masterpiece!"

"With this throw-in, White is using that previous connection to force Black into a shortage of liberties, creating a desperate path to survival!"

"This is Zhuang Weisheng…"

Wu Zhixuan finally tore her gaze away from the board and looked at Zhuang Weisheng, seated beside Fang Haoxin.

"This is… the Eternal Tenth Dan!"

Yu Shao studied the board carefully.

His eyes moved from Fang Haoxin’s earlier connection to Zhuang Weisheng’s throw-in, and his expression grew even more serious.

“Weisheng…”

Of course, Yu Shao understood the meaning of Weisheng in Go—it referred to stones that were on the brink of death but had not yet perished.

And right now, this throw-in embodied that very concept.

The White stones, seemingly on the verge of annihilation, had suddenly found a sliver of hope for survival.

Even Fang Haoxin’s earlier move—previously thought to be a mistake—had now become a crucial tactical tesuji after this single throw-in!

Yu Shao contemplated for a moment before finally reaching into the bowl, picking up a stone, and placing it lightly onto the board.

Click!

Row 11, Column 14—Cut!

“Cut?”

Kong Zi’s expression flickered with a trace of surprise. He wasn’t immediately sure of the reasoning behind this move.

But after a brief moment of thought, he suddenly understood—and his shock deepened.

“He’s ignoring the White stones thrown into Black’s jaws. This cut is meant to trigger a ko fight above… while continuing his relentless assault on the lower White group!”

Fang Haoxin clearly realized this as well. His face darkened, his teeth clenched, and he sank into deep thought.

After a long silence, he finally picked up a White stone and slammed it onto the board.

Kong Zi took a deep breath. Even he was shaken by the sheer killing intent in Yu Shao’s moves.

This was a do-or-die strategy—a fight with no retreat.

"With this, Black either wins… or dies."

Kong Zi’s sharp gaze locked onto the board.

"If we’re going to cut off White’s last escape, then we have to go all in—attack with everything we have, tear through White’s formation, destroy their eye space, and shatter their shape!"

Click!

Row 12, Column 13—Peep!

"White will have no chance to live!"

Inside the academy’s discussion room, not a single sound could be heard.

No one was even moving the review stones anymore.

Everyone was simply staring at the screen, unwilling to blink for fear of missing even a single move.

Black had now burned all bridges.

In a desperate bid to slaughter White’s massive lower-side dragon, he had thrown everything into this attack.

If Black failed to kill White, then Black himself would perish.

Each move placed on the board sent ripples through the crowd, their nerves stretched to the breaking point.

Click!

Click!

Click!

One by one, stones continued to land on the board.

And with every move, the tension in the room grew heavier.

"White… can’t hold on."

Zheng Qin’s voice finally broke the suffocating silence.

Nobody objected.

Because they all saw it too.

Earlier, Zhuang Weisheng’s throw-in had been brilliant beyond words, finding the only possible path to survival from certain death.

But after that, under the brutal assault from Yu Shao and Kong Zi, Fang Haoxin and even Zhuang Weisheng himself had begun to falter.

The storm was too fierce.

The pressure was too overwhelming.

On the screen, Kong Zi’s hand hovered over the bowl.

And then, without hesitation—

Click!

Row 15, Column 10—Hane!

The moment that stone landed, everyone knew the game was over.

This was the move that sealed White’s fate.

The lower White group—slaughtered.

Dead.

"Black has done it… the dragon has been slain!"