I Really Didn’t Mean to Play Go!
Chapter 201: The Shift Between Attack and Defense

"Did he… not misplace his stone?"

"Does he really believe the center is more valuable than the corners and sides?"

Someone finally broke the silence, his voice hoarse as he whispered to the person beside him.

But the other person didn’t respond.

There was no need.

If Yu Shao had truly misplayed, he would have shown some hesitation.

Instead, his composure remained unshaken.

That alone was already an answer.

The moment Yu Shao played the fifth-line shoulder hit, this match was no longer just about winning or losing.

This move was a direct declaration: Black believes the center is more valuable than the sides and corners.

But… if this move was truly valid, then Go theory, refined over thousands of years, would have to be rewritten!

To the spectators, Black wasn’t just at a disadvantage anymore—this was beyond losing efficiency. It was simply incomprehensible.

Zheng Qin stared blankly at the board, his eyes fixed on the divine-like fifth-line shoulder hit.

"He actually…"

"Played a shoulder hit on the fifth line."

He had considered every possible move from Yu Shao—a small knight’s move, a tenuki elsewhere…

But never, not even in his wildest dreams, had he imagined this.

Finally, Zheng Qin took a deep breath, forcing himself back to reality.

He lowered his gaze to the board, entering a long think.

Time passed, second by second.

Fifteen minutes later—

Zheng Qin finally reached into his stone container and pulled out a piece.

Snap!

Column 15, Row 9—Attach!

"He attached!"

The crowd collectively held their breath.

White had chosen not to back down, not to stabilize—but to directly bite into Black’s weak points, refusing to let go!

Zhang Dongchen remained silent, watching intently, waiting for Yu Shao’s response.

And soon enough—

Yu Shao reached into his stone container and, without hesitation, placed his move.

Snap!

Column 14, Row 10—Extend!

Zheng Qin immediately followed up.

Snap!

Column 13, Row 8—Small Knight’s Move!

Yu Shao’s hand moved almost instantly.

Snap!

Column 7, Row 16—Point!

"He tenuki’d again!

"Not only did he disregard White’s attack, but he’s also trying to dismantle White’s framework on the left!"

The spectators were shaken.

"Black has instantly identified the key turning point of the game!"

By playing tenuki here, Yu Shao was aggressively targeting White’s territorial gains while reinforcing his central control.

A brilliant strategy.

However—

Snap!

Column 7, Row 17—Crawl!

"But White has a perfect crawling move—Zheng Qin saw it!"

The crowd grew tense.

Zhang Dongchen stood motionless among them, his eyes locked onto the board, his expression unreadable.

And then—

Yu Shao, as if unfazed, immediately made his move.

Snap!

Column 4, Row 14—Connect!

"He connected directly?!"

The entire room erupted in shock!

"Is he really trying to fight White’s massive dragon head-on?"

"That’s way too risky!"

"Is he playing recklessly because he feels the position is too difficult? But White can simply defend solidly!"

"If he knew his position was bad, why did he even play the fifth-line shoulder hit in the first place? Before that move, the game was still balanced!"

At this point, from an objective standpoint, it was not wise for Black to launch a direct assault on the left side.

The safest move for White would be to reinforce its shape, extend its lead, and prolong the game.

But—

"No. He can’t just sit and wait!"

Zheng Qin’s eyes gleamed with sharp focus.

He studied the board, his hand already reaching into his container.

"If I play passively, I’ll be walking straight into disaster."

"Even if I have the advantage, I can’t let his attack build momentum. If I let him dictate the pace, I’ll be trapped in a desperate defense!"

A scene from their second-ever game surfaced in his mind.

Even though he had grown much stronger since then, he still wasn’t confident in dealing with Yu Shao’s aggressive attacks.

"He’s not someone you can just outlast and coast to the endgame against!"

"I have to take control. I have to carve my own path— waiting will only lead to disaster!"

Zheng Qin’s fingers tightened around a stone as countless possible variations flashed through his mind.

"I have to end this fight while I still hold the advantage!"

Finally—

Snap!

Column 4, Row 15—Attach!

"Attach!"

The entire room froze in shock.

"Instead of stabilizing, White has chosen to fight even more aggressively!"

"This is even more reckless than Black’s move!"

"He’s completely cornering Black, cutting off every possible escape route!"

This move was ruthless beyond belief.

Since Black had already played the unreasonable fifth-line shoulder hit, White was choosing to end things in one swift, decisive battle!

Zheng Qin wasn’t even trying to solidify his lead anymore—

He was going all-in.

He wasn’t just aiming to win—

He was aiming to annihilate Black completely.

Yes—this move was meant to decide everything in one battle!

"An attachment..."

Yu Shao’s gaze finally flickered slightly as he stared at the board.

"He’s already a fully developed player."

If White had chosen to retreat now, there would be no future left.

This aggressive clash with Black was the only path to survival!

Regardless of why Zheng Qin had chosen to escalate the battle, the fact that he had made this move—and that his judgment was unexpectedly accurate—was already impressive.

Without hesitation, Yu Shao reached into his stone container.

"Alright, then—come at me with everything you’ve got!"

Snap!

Column 6, Row 15—Diagonal Move!

Zheng Qin immediately responded.

Snap!

Column 8, Row 16—Hane!

…

…

The stones began to fall rapidly!

The entire room was entranced, watching the fierce exchange between Black and White.

Even Zhang Dongchen couldn’t tear his eyes away.

White had launched a relentless assault against Black—

Like the sky itself collapsing.

Snap. Snap. Snap…

The sound of stones hitting the board echoed through the room.

"The game is shifting… the momentum is tilting toward White!"

"In a direct fight, White clearly has the advantage—his attacking options are endless!"

"Black is counterattacking fiercely, but Zheng Qin’s responses are absolutely airtight—he’s not leaving even the tiniest gap!"

"Black is resilient, but under this relentless attack, he won’t last forever. In the end, he will have to pay the price for that fifth-line shoulder hit!"

"Black might be collapsing!"

The crowd watched the board, each with their own thoughts—shocked by Black’s tenacity, yet equally amazed by White’s precision and judgment.

Zheng Qin examined the board, analyzing the situation.

"After this whole exchange, Black has gained nothing. Meanwhile, I’ve captured two stones at the bottom, and Black’s central group is still unstable!"

But even with the advantage, Zheng Qin’s expression remained serious.

Every move was carefully calculated, executed with absolute caution.

"I can’t relax—I have to fight with everything I have, all the way to the endgame!"

He reached into his stone container, grabbed another piece, and placed it down swiftly.

Yu Shao responded immediately.

Snap. Snap. Snap!

The battle raged on.

But then—

As the game continued, the expressions of the spectators began to change.

And then—

Yu Shao placed another move.

Snap!

Column 16, Row 10—Attach!

"An attachment?"

Zheng Qin’s expression shifted slightly. He immediately reached into his stone container and responded.

Snap!

Column 17, Row 9—Extend!

Without hesitation, Yu Shao reached for another stone.

Snap!

Column 18, Row 6—Hane!

Zheng Qin gritted his teeth, quickly placing his next move.

Snap!

Column 18, Row 7—Block!

But the moment Zheng Qin played his move, Yu Shao was already reaching for another stone.

With lightning speed, he placed it down.

Snap!

Column 11, Row 4—High Jump!

A brilliant, star-like black stone appeared on the board.

Zheng Qin froze, staring at the move in disbelief.

Someone in the crowd gulped audibly.

"With this high jump… the once seemingly unfavorable local exchange…

"It no longer looks like a loss."

"In fact… it actually connects beautifully!"

The board—

Had undergone a subtle transformation.

After a brief pause, Zheng Qin clenched his teeth and placed his move!

Snap!

Column 18, Row 5—Atari!

Click.

Yu Shao picked up another stone and calmly placed it down.

Snap!

Column 18, Row 4—Atari!

The stones continued to fall, the rhythm of the game as sharp as clashing blades.

Moments later—

Black placed another move.

Snap!

Column 6, Row 9—Diagonal Move!

And at that moment—

It was like a thunderclap.

The entire room suddenly snapped out of their trance!

A long silence followed.

Only after several seconds did Zheng Qin reach for another stone, gritting his teeth as he placed his move.

Snap!

Column 7, Row 11—Peep!

But the silence remained.

"After Black’s reinforcement…"

Sheng Ziyan swallowed hard, staring at the board.

"White’s attack… doesn’t look as strong anymore."

"White responded perfectly to every move, but in the end…"

Le Wuqiang, still in a daze, muttered, "The battle… has reversed?"

"Or rather, what we thought was an advantage…"

He stared at the board, his pupils trembling.

"Was it ever truly an advantage in Black’s eyes?"

"Or has Black believed he was ahead this entire time—

"And we only just realized it now?"

Then—

As if to confirm their growing doubts—

Yu Shao reached into his stone container, picked up another piece, and placed it down.

Snap!

Column 7, Row 13—Clamp!

Black had just delivered a killing move!

At this moment—

Attack and defense had switched places.