I Really Didn’t Mean to Play Go!
Chapter 171: The Game of Proof

On the screen, the Go pieces continued to fall, alternating between black and white.

After Yu Shao’s earlier remarks, the atmosphere in the living room had clearly shifted. Jiang Xiahua and Yuan Wenyi were both intently focused on the game, synchronizing their moves on the board as they followed along.

Tak. Tak. Tak!

The crisp sound of stones landing echoed through the room.

"Teacher Fu Shunan is truly meticulous. Both an atari or a push would have been reasonable choices here, but he chose to press instead—forcing the lower black stones into submission and completely cutting them off!"

Watching another white stone settle onto the board, Jiang Xiahua’s expression turned serious. "Black is in trouble now."

"As expected of Teacher Fu Shunan, his observation skills are razor-sharp. I thought it would be a toss-up between an atari or a push, but he went for a press instead. Brilliant and completely unexpected."

Yuan Wenyi also wore a heavy expression. After pondering for a moment, he shook his head and said, "I have no idea how to respond to this."

Yu Shao stared at the board, deep in thought for a long time. Suddenly, he squinted slightly and focused on a particular spot.

"Could it be here?"

—

Inside the Handtalk Room.

Su Yiming gazed silently at the board, his expression calm as he pondered his next move.

At the judges' table, the referees, Wu Zhixuan, reporters, and cameramen all had their eyes locked onto Su Yiming, waiting for him to make this crucial play.

None of them could remain composed.

Just yesterday, they had witnessed a jaw-dropping 3-3 invasion. And today, in this very match, another move just as shocking had emerged—Tengen.

Even now, they felt as if they were dreaming.

What was going on with this year’s Flame Inheritance Match?

Why were the first-dan players this year so ridiculously strong?

Sitting across from Su Yiming, Fu Shunan’s expression had grown unusually serious.

It wasn’t just because of that Tengen move.

It was because… the moment Su Yiming played, Fu Shunan felt an undeniable sense of looming danger from him.

His intuition had always been his greatest weapon, a sharp instinct for victory and defeat that had won him countless games. He trusted it completely—this wasn’t some baseless paranoia.

"It’s like…"

"...a lion slowly waking up."

Fu Shunan looked at Su Yiming, his expression unreadable.

Click.

The soft clink of a stone striking another.

Su Yiming finally reached into the Go bowl, picked up a stone, and gently placed it onto the board.

Tak!

Column 12, Row 15—push!

Seeing this move, Fu Shunan’s eyes widened slightly. Then, as he fully grasped the waves it would set off, his expression shifted.

"I was wrong!"

He lifted his head to meet Su Yiming’s gaze. His eyes had turned sharp—dangerously so.

"This isn’t just a lion waking up…"

"His fangs… have already sunk into half my body, ready to tear me apart!"

—

Beside Su Yiming, Han Ying’s expression changed dramatically as well.

"A sacrificial push? That’s insane!"

"He’s completely ignoring the pressure from White's stones, forcing a large framework on the board. Once White invades, he plans to isolate those stones and fight to the death in his own territory!"

"These first-dan players this year are just…"

Han Ying was momentarily at a loss for words.

Even he hadn’t considered this move. It was completely beyond his expectations. Normally, when faced with White’s pressure, Black would either engage in a fight or reinforce their shape.

Sacrificing stones for an attack was a common sharp tactic.

But throwing them into the center—trying to build a massive framework that White could easily invade and shatter—this was earth-shattering!

Wu Zhixuan finally snapped out of her daze. She took a deep breath, forcing down the tremor in her chest, and quickly moved her mouse to record the move.

—

Staring at the board, Zhu Yi gritted his teeth and deliberated for a long time before finally placing his next stone.

Han Ying also took several deep breaths, thought for a moment, and played his move.

Finally, it was Fu Shunan’s turn.

He fixed his gaze on the board. The killing intent in his eyes was now unmistakable.

"Trying to sacrifice stones to build a framework and not fearing my invasion?"

"If I retreat, a simple hane and cut will suffice. But if I fight back, I’ll have to invade and isolate his stones."

"The number of moves required to complete this central framework is enormous. If Black’s shape collapses, Black is finished. But if White invades recklessly and gets trapped, White is the one who perishes!"

Fu Shunan reached into the Go bowl and picked up a stone.

"You think I’ll back down?"

"You’re dead wrong. I’m going to wipe you out completely!"

The next moment, the stone landed.

—

"Black actually played a push—sacrificing stones without an immediate attack, using sente to force a large framework. It’s terrifyingly bold."

"It’s impossible to say whether this is a brilliant move or pure madness!"

Jiang Xiahua moved the stones on the board, his face heavy with concentration. "Zhu Yi's move here is a bit passive, but I get it—he’s leaving the choice to Teacher Fu Shunan."

"Fu Shunan isn’t backing down at all. He immediately took the edge territory that Black offered him—looks like he’s really planning to invade and isolate those stones!"

Yuan Wenyi reached out and played through the sequence on the board. "If White blocks here, Black clamps. White extends, then Black... jumps?"

"This variation is way too complex. I can’t see the full picture at all."

Jiang Xiahua shook his head. "This is like fighting in complete darkness. Neither side can fully grasp what’s happening. If Black manages to seal off the area, Black wins. If not, Black loses."

"We can’t evaluate each move individually. Their value only becomes clear many moves later. This is all about judgment!"

Yuan Wenyi stared at the board, unconsciously holding his breath. After a long pause, he finally exhaled and muttered, "Just like Brother Yu said… there's no clear pattern here."

Beside them, Yu Shao also studied the board. After a moment of contemplation, he murmured, "White’s block seems like the obvious move, but maybe not. What if White peeps instead?"

"Peeps?"

Jiang Xiahua blinked in surprise and quickly played out the variation. His eyes widened. "If White peeps, it looks like a defensive move, but in reality, it helps isolate Black’s stones. It also puts pressure on Black’s big dragon!"

"After the peep, Black has no choice but to extend!"

Yuan Wenyi was equally shocked. He blurted out, "This is way stronger than just blocking—this is practically a divine move! Black is in serious danger now!"

Just as he finished speaking, the TV screen showed Fu Shunan placing a White stone.

Column 11, Row 12—peep!

"He actually played it!"

Jiang Xiahua couldn’t help but cry out.

Yu Shao’s eyes flickered slightly. He hadn’t expected Fu Shunan to see this move as well.

This was an extremely tricky play—almost bizarre. It defied conventional logic. Normally, in such an intense battle, no one would even consider a peep—it just seemed too slow.

"A true master..."

Yu Shao frowned slightly and turned to the screen, waiting for Su Yiming’s response.

It didn’t take long. On the screen, Su Yiming calmly placed his next move.

Column 9, Row 13—extend.

"As expected, Black extended. It was the only move. So now, does White follow up with a tiger’s mouth, or just connect here?" Jiang Xiahua asked as he placed the stones on his board.

"The tiger’s mouth puts more pressure on Black, but if Black counters with a throw-in, it could turn into a mutually destructive fight. If White simply connects and Black extends again, the game stays in a delicate balance."

Yu Shao shook his head. "Both moves are valid. It just depends on the strategy."

Moments later, the TV screen showed Zhu Yi placing his move.

"Tiger’s mouth."

Jiang Xiahua took a deep breath, placed the move on his board, and said gravely, "There’s no turning back now. This is an all-out war."

On the screen, the battle escalated. Black and White stones clashed relentlessly, the board becoming a tangled web of attacks and counterattacks.

Tak. Tak. Tak!

The game was becoming more brutal by the second. Even though Yu Shao and the others weren’t playing, they could feel the tension and hidden undercurrents surging through the game.

As the game progressed, Jiang Xiahua and Yuan Wenyi gradually fell silent, completely absorbed in the unfolding battle.

Minute by minute, time passed.

"It’s… evenly matched."

Jiang Xiahua swallowed hard, unable to believe what he was seeing. "Sacrificing stones in a two-player match is already risky. But for Black to sacrifice and then try to build a huge framework…?"

"And yet, somehow, Black and White have fallen into a deadlock!"

Yuan Wenyi was equally shaken. "This is unbelievable!"

On the screen, the stones continued to fall.

"Amazing."

Jiang Xiahua stared at the screen, unable to blink.

And then, after a long silence, a large hand reached into the Go bowl and placed a White stone.

Tak!

Column 10, Row 13—atari!

"Teacher Fu Shunan is cutting here?!"

Jiang Xiahua stood up slightly. This move was completely unexpected—it was so aggressive that he only realized its brilliance after seeing it played.

"What a move… What a move!"

Yuan Wenyi’s throat was dry. "It’s not just a simple atari… It strikes directly at Black’s weak spot. Black has no choice but to counter with a ko fight."

"But if they enter a ko battle..."

Jiang Xiahua finished Yuan Wenyi’s sentence, staring at the screen. "All those Black stones that were once so dominant… suddenly feel so heavy!"

Yu Shao, however, remained silent, his expression unreadable. He just watched the board with cold intensity.

The battle raged on.

None of them spoke. They simply stared at the screen.

Tak. Tak. Tak…

Finally, after a long silence, a hand reached into the Go bowl and pulled out two Black stones.

Then, with slow and deliberate movements, the stones were placed onto the board.

The game was over.

Silence.

"Black… lost."

After what felt like an eternity, Jiang Xiahua finally spoke, still staring at the screen. "That atari was the turning point. After that, Black’s framework was doomed."

"But… for Black to play such a game, even after opening with a Tengen…" Yuan Wenyi stared blankly at the screen, unable to find the right words.

The game had ended.

Yu Shao silently studied the board.

Every move was a reflection of the player’s thoughts.

He could feel it—Su Yiming wasn’t just trying to win.

He was trying to prove something.

He was proving that he had the courage to break from tradition. That he was thinking about Go in a new way.

"But in truth, you’re not trying to prove it to me."

"You’re trying to prove it to the AI watching behind me…"

"You think you’re chasing me, but you’re not chasing just me."

"I’m chasing it, too."

"Let’s see… which of us can catch up first."