I Really Didn’t Mean to Play Go!
Chapter 215: Who Is Hunting Whom?!

All the confusion surrounding this match—every unanswered question—suddenly became clear the moment White played that small knight’s move.

Or… did it?

Not quite.

Yu Shao’s earlier two-space extension had hinted at an intent to attack Black. But now, with this small knight, the dagger was fully unsheathed.

It wasn’t that Black was stronger—White believed it was stronger!

This single move made it clear—Yu Shao wasn’t defending. In his eyes, he was the hunter. White was killing Black, not the other way around!

His judgment of the game’s balance was completely different from everyone else’s.

Inside the playing room.

Le Haoqiang stared at the board in disbelief. He could no longer remain calm—his mind was in turmoil, waves of shock crashing over him.

This move made everything clear—

White believed that the one at risk… was Black!

Ever since White’s high-hanging invasion, Le Haoqiang had been waiting, expecting some kind of hidden follow-up. But White’s response was clear—there was no hidden follow-up.

White had simply played to this point and already believed itself to be ahead!

Wu Zhixuan was completely stunned. She sat motionless, staring at the board, her face filled with confusion and shock.

Seconds ticked by, stretching into minutes.

Finally, Le Haoqiang clenched his fist, forcing himself to suppress the emotions surging within him. He reached into the bowl and placed his next move.

Click!

Column 12, Row 4—Tiger’s Mouth!

At that moment, Su Yiming finally withdrew his gaze from the game. Without a word, he turned and walked back to his own board.

"That high-hanging invasion, followed by the sixth-line pressing moves… At first glance, it seemed like White was just helping Black build a massive territory."

"But even though Black formed a large area, White gained thickness—outer influence. And that thickness concealed a hidden threat against Black’s Star Point stone."

"If you strip away the fear of Black’s massive territory and reevaluate the balance of influence and solid points—"

"Then the board position from before wasn’t Black’s advantage. It was evenly matched."

Su Yiming sat back down at his own board and glanced at the position. Feng Zhenzhong had already made his move long ago.

Without hesitation, Su Yiming reached into the bowl, grabbed a stone, and quickly placed it down.

Back at the main match, after seeing Le Haoqiang’s Tiger’s Mouth, Yu Shao paused for a moment before responding.

Click!

Column 12, Row 2—Stand!

Le Haoqiang’s expression subtly changed.

This move… carried deadly intent.

It was razor-sharp, striking directly at Black’s weak point. With precise calculation, it destroyed Black’s eye shape!

Le Haoqiang’s left hand unconsciously clenched into a fist. After a long pause, he finally stretched out his right hand, took another stone, and placed it down.

Click!

Column 15, Row 6—Push!

"A counterattack."

Yu Shao wasn’t surprised. This was the price Black had to pay for ignoring White’s previous move. White was guaranteed sente here.

"If I reinforce, I leave Black a slim path to survival, and the game stabilizes. But…"

"If I block and completely cut off Black’s escape, then Black will be cornered. With no way out, he’ll have no choice but to fight for survival—even if it means mutual destruction."

"If that happens, the board will become intensely chaotic, unpredictable. Even I would be at risk. Not a single mistake could be made—I’d have to launch a relentless attack, without pause."

Yu Shao lifted his eyes and looked at Le Haoqiang. His gaze was calm, serene.

Across the board, Le Haoqiang’s eyes were locked onto the position, burning with fierce determination.

He wasn’t resigned to losing.

His fighting spirit was still raging—if he spotted even the smallest flaw, he would pounce like a wolf, sink his fangs in, and never let go!

After a brief pause, Yu Shao withdrew his gaze, reached into the bowl, and focused back on the board.

But this time—

For the first time in the game—

The usual calm in his eyes had shifted.

A sharp, almost imperceptible edge had emerged.

In the end, the key to victory wasn’t just raw skill—it was about seizing that fleeting, decisive moment in the chaos of battle.

Le Haoqiang reached into the bowl and pulled out a stone.

"Fine, then—let’s go!"

Click!

Column 14, Row 4—Block!

"This time, I refuse to be like my past self!"

"I won’t stagnate. I will reach greater heights, even if it means throwing myself into life-and-death situations over and over again!"

But the moment Yu Shao played that block, Le Haoqiang’s eyelid twitched. His left fist clenched even tighter.

White’s block was merciless—it completely shattered any hope of Black living on the top side. Now, Black had only one path left: fight to the bitter end.

After a moment of silence, Le Haoqiang finally grabbed a stone, gritted his teeth, and slammed it onto the board.

Click!

Column 11, Row 10—Jump!

Click! Click! Click!

The sound of stones landing filled the room in rapid succession.

At this point, every move was a life-or-death decision. The tension was suffocating. Wu Zhixuan held her breath, unable to even blink.

Black and White were now entangled in an all-out capturing race—the game burned with intensity, like oil poured onto fire.

The game recorder frantically moved between the playing room and the review room, relaying every move as it happened.

"Black… is struggling!"

"White believed it was stronger and went for the kill… and now, in this mutual slaughter, White really is coming out ahead?"

The players in the review room placed stones on the board in sync with the live match, their hands trembling in disbelief.

Even the atmosphere in the review room had taken on an eerie, murderous air, as if the battle on the board was manifesting in reality.

"Black has no eyes left. Now… all it can do is run and try to survive!"

Everyone stared at the board, feeling the sheer killing intent radiating from the pieces—this was no longer just a game. This was war.

Dou Yiming gripped his folding fan so tightly that sweat began to bead at his temple.

"This level of play…"

His voice trembled as he muttered, "He’s attacking Black so ruthlessly, striking at every weakness without mercy!"

Zheng Qin carefully studied the board. Then, without a word, he moved the stones on the review board, analyzing two possible variations.

"Earlier, White’s attach completely cut off the four Black stones at the top."

Someone exhaled sharply and said, "No matter which way Black hanes, White will cut immediately—no wonder Le Haoqiang chose to peep instead!"

"The peep was a desperate attempt to threaten White’s four stones below, trying to counterpressure and relieve the top. But even that brilliant maneuver was neutralized by White!"

Another player took a deep breath and muttered, "Le Haoqiang… is in serious trouble."

"No, Le Haoqiang never just rolls over and accepts defeat."

Even though autumn had already set in, Dou Yiming felt his body heating up from the sheer intensity of the match. He flicked open his folding fan, which had the words "Unrivaled" written on it, and fanned himself as he spoke.

"Le Haoqiang… is not someone you can take down so easily!"

At that moment, the game recorder rushed into the review room again.

"The next move—Black plays Column 15, Row 18—2-5 Invasion!"

"Black is invading White’s massive lower territory!"

Before anyone even placed the move on the review board, just hearing the words 2-5 invasion made them instinctively tense up. They quickly turned their eyes to the board, grabbed stones, and played the move.

But the moment the stone landed, a wave of unease swept over the room.

"Isn’t… this a bit risky?"

Someone hesitated, voicing their doubt.

"Risky? It’s suicidal! Black has no choice but to make a large knight’s move after this, and then White can simply peep in the center—Black will be completely dead!"

"But if that’s the case… why would Le Haoqiang play this move?"

A deep silence followed.

Then, a voice broke through the tension.

"Because Black no longer has any good moves left. His judgment of the position is that precise."

Everyone turned toward the source of the voice.

It was Zheng Qin.

He was staring at the board with a solemn expression.

"Take a good look."

At his words, everyone instinctively lowered their heads, focusing on the board.

And then—

Their eyes widened in shock.

"Yes… Under White’s relentless attack, Black is already hanging by a thread. His judgment is razor-sharp."

Zheng Qin spoke in a low voice.

"That’s why Black has no choice but to take a huge gamble—force White into a chaotic battle, mess up the board, and search for a last-minute chance to turn things around."

For a brief moment, the entire review room fell into dead silence.

"This is insane…"

After what felt like forever, Dou Yiming swallowed hard, his face full of disbelief.

"Le Haoqiang… is actually being pushed to this level by someone his own age?"

Players continuously walked in and out of the review room, bringing updates from the main game.

Click. Click. Click.

The sound of stones landing filled the air.

But as more and more moves were played, the room grew quieter.

Because the deeper they analyzed, the more hopeless it became.

White wasn’t giving Black even a single opening.

Black had deliberately thrown itself into a dangerous position, hoping to create a mess—but White’s responses were effortless, flowing like water, striking like lightning.

Black was no longer fighting back.

It was barely hanging on.

Time ticked by, second by second.

Even though they weren’t in the main playing room, the players in the review room could feel the tension from the match as if they were right there.

Black’s shape was beginning to fall apart.

"Black… is at the end of the road."

After what felt like an eternity, Zheng Qin finally spoke, his voice calm yet absolute.

The review room fell into complete silence.

No one could refute it.

Because—

The killing blow hadn’t landed yet, but there was no doubt.

The dragon was already dead.

There was only one path left. And the two players in the main game… saw it even more clearly than anyone here.

It was over.

Black had been killed.

Not long after, the game recorder returned to the playing hall.

But this time—

He wasn’t here to report the next move.

He stood in the doorway of the review room for a moment, looking at everyone in silence.

Then, he finally spoke.

"It’s over."

He paused before continuing.

"Le Haoqiang… has resigned."

For a long moment, no one said a word.

The review room was deathly still.

The match had ended.

With this result, one of the three spots for the Yingjiao Cup main tournament had been decided.

And the player who secured that spot—

Wasn’t Le Haoqiang.

It was Yu Shao.

In this game—this battle of who was truly hunting whom—

The answer had finally been revealed.

White had killed Black.

And not just killed—slaughtered.