I Really Didn’t Mean to Play Go!
Chapter 17: Zheng Qin's Counterattack

“So… it’s like this?”

Zheng Qin stared at the board in disbelief, cold sweat dripping down his forehead and tracing its way along his face.

The press at Row 4, Column 11 was difficult to even describe as a “brilliant move,” because if one could foresee many steps ahead, it was, in truth, just the most ordinary and logical move.

And yet, this very press, played so long ago, now exerted a suppressive force that was far greater than the most dazzling, ingenious moves by orders of magnitude!

True brilliance is unassuming.

Yu Shao had simply glimpsed the entirety of the board, calculated every possible development, and played the most basic move—but its force was overwhelming.

At this moment, Black’s formation had cracked wide open, and it was clear that White’s retaliatory attack would soon come crashing down like a violent storm!

But that wasn’t all.

What made it even worse was that the seemingly greedy jump earlier had also given White the opportunity to claim additional territory!

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Zheng Qin, after a long pause, reluctantly placed his next stone.

Click.

Row 7, Column 16 — Large Knight’s Move!

Yu Shao’s eyes flickered briefly. After a moment’s thought, he immediately responded.

Row 7, Column 15 — Cut!

“As expected, he cut—so sharp!”

Seeing this move, someone couldn’t help but voice their thoughts aloud.

Just as everyone had predicted, after Black’s formation cracked, White wasted no time targeting Black’s weak points, relentlessly pursuing and refusing to give Black any breathing room!

White had already latched onto half of Black’s formation!

Could Black hold on?

Click.

Click.

Click.

The sound of stones landing filled the room, tension saturating the atmosphere.

Even though White had sunk its teeth into Black’s formation, Black refused to admit defeat, gritting his teeth and trying to break White’s fangs!

“Little Zheng is defending so tenaciously. Even though White has the initiative, it’s not easy to break into the center area just yet.”

Someone, fully focused on the board, exclaimed in amazement:

“If he can keep dragging it out and make the board even more complex, while it may be impossible to isolate White completely, Black might find an opportunity to muddle through and survive!”

“That’s incredible. If it were me, I would’ve already given up after White’s cut, but Black is managing to hold on this far!”

Hearing this, someone beside them shook their head, adjusted their glasses, and said, “But that kid’s attacking ability is really strong, and his position is excellent. While Little Zheng can barely hold on for now, he likely won’t last much longer.”

“How did things turn out like this?”

Someone else shook their head, still deeply shaken by that earlier press:

“This game has already surpassed my level of understanding. Normally, you’d only see games like this in Go textbooks or on television.”

Upon hearing that, the room fell into a brief silence.

It was true. While they had played and watched countless games of Go, a match like today’s was something you’d only see in televised tournaments or professional books.

Especially that press—it was like something divine, a move so breathtaking they knew they’d never forget it for the rest of their lives. The feeling of realization hitting only after the fact was far too overwhelming.

“Hm?”

Just then, as Black placed another move, someone’s eyes lit up.

“This defensive placement is brilliant. It not only protects Black’s central position but also puts pressure on White’s isolated stones. Is he trying to defend by attacking?”

“If White hesitates because of his own weak stones, Black might get a chance to breathe!”

This remark immediately pulled everyone’s attention back to the game.

On the other side, after seeing Black’s move, Yu Shao pondered briefly before placing his next stone.

Row 17, Column 9 — Connect!

Seeing this move, the crowd couldn’t help but pause for a moment, visibly puzzled.

“Why not play a hane (bend)? With a hane, White could secure life for those isolated stones!”

But soon, after mentally simulating the potential developments, the expressions of the spectators became utterly fascinating.

“If he had played the hane, White could indeed secure life, but Black would then solidify the key points on the right flank, forming an unassailable fortress. Attacking that area would become incredibly difficult. He even thought that far ahead?!”

“What kind of game is this?!”

For a moment, everyone felt their hearts pounding.

Each move, by both Black and White, was brimming with calculation and sharp intent. The slightest carelessness could lead to complete and utter disaster.

Even though White was currently on the offensive and had the advantage, every single detail was meticulously accounted for, showcasing an unparalleled strategic grasp of the overall game.

At this moment, a thought surfaced in everyone’s minds:

That high schooler, Yu Shao…

Is he really only good at aggressive play? Could it be that he also excels at intricate, subtle strategies woven with hidden sharpness?

Click.

Click.

Click.

As the board’s situation continued to shift, the room grew quieter and quieter.

Black’s responses in every aspect were nothing short of masterful. Faced with White’s relentless attacks, Black repeatedly defused the threats with surprising finesse.

Several times, the crowd thought Black was on the verge of collapse, yet Black managed to turn the situation around each time.

If they imagined themselves in White’s position, they asked themselves: Could they break into Black’s central territory?

No.

Perhaps Black had truly risen from the ashes, even starting to counterattack against White.

But.

The one controlling White wasn’t just anyone—it was Yu Shao.

Every move White made was sharp and precise, like a surgical strike, ruthlessly targeting Black’s weaknesses with storm-like ferocity.

Even someone as tenacious as Zheng Qin, controlling Black, now appeared to be running on fumes, nearing collapse!

Finally, after another dozen moves, Black no longer continued.

Zheng Qin stared blankly at the board, falling into silence.

The left flank of Black’s formation, after fracturing, had been entirely decimated despite his immense efforts. No piece was left intact.

While White had sacrificed stones earlier, Black should have been able to balance the game by gaining compensation on the right flank.

But that was assuming White didn’t claim large swaths of territory elsewhere.

After White’s earlier jump, their attack into Black’s central territory had been a resounding success, carving out that territory as their own, making them unstoppable.

Thus, the current board was no longer a balanced battle.

When Black’s left flank was completely overrun and forced into submission, Black had already fallen into a disadvantage!

The spectators around the table glanced at Zheng Qin with worried expressions.

The board now showed that Black was undeniably behind, but it wasn’t a lost cause—yet. The game could still continue, though the path ahead would be excruciatingly difficult.

However, even if the outcome wasn’t entirely decided, after the previous exchanges—after White’s game-changing press that struck with surgical precision—could Black muster the resolve to rally and challenge White again?

The crowd tried putting themselves in Black’s position and fell into silence.

If it were them, they probably wouldn’t keep playing.

After exhausting every strategy and still suffering a crushing defeat, the psychological blow was immense, enough to shake anyone’s confidence to the core.

They turned their eyes to Zheng Qin, waiting for his decision.

Zheng Qin stared at the board, biting his lip.

After a long while, he suddenly reached into his stone bowl and picked up another piece.

Then—

Snap!

Row 16, Column 10 — Attach!

Seeing this move, the spectators couldn’t help but feel a surge of energy.

“Black hasn’t given up!”

“Little Zheng… he’s choosing to go on the offensive!”

“Even though he’s at a disadvantage, the game isn’t over yet. There’s still a chance—Black might still be able to pull off a miraculous comeback!”