I Really Didn’t Mean to Play Go!
Chapter 220: Dragon and Tiger

As the drawing ceremony approached, the players entered the chess room one after another.

Click!

Click!

Click!

With each arrival, the flash of cameras lit up the room, and the reporters, faces flushed with excitement, rapidly pressed their shutters, eager to capture this grand event.

Every player who stepped into this room was a formidable talent, each possessing the skill to stand against the very best. It was certain that these young prodigies would stir up storms in the Go world in the years to come.

The top players from all regions had gathered here—this was a battlefield of rising titans. Now, the real war would begin.

Who would emerge victorious?

The answer was no longer just of interest within the country.

Since the Hero’s Pride Cup was tied to the upcoming battle for professional slots, international Go communities were also watching closely. This was a war for dominance, one that would captivate the entire world.

"Che Wenyu is here!"

Someone suddenly shouted, and immediately, everyone instinctively turned toward the entrance. The flashes of cameras flared wildly again, nearly blinding those in the room.

Amid the flashing lights, a tall young man with short hair strode into the room. Dressed in a well-fitted suit, his presence was striking.

With an air of confidence and sharp, piercing eyes, Che Wenyu immediately swept his gaze across the room. His stare was so intense that it carried a faint pressure, making many in the room tense up.

Che Wenyu’s record in previous years had been good but not exceptional. However, starting from the latter half of last year, it was as if he had undergone a transformation. His strength skyrocketed, and he crushed one opponent after another.

Even Chu Jiang, who had once been the most anticipated player in the Eastern Region, had fallen before him.

"He’s completely different now."

Many players in the room felt a wave of unease.

Some had faced Che Wenyu before, some had even played against him. Back then, though strong, he had not been intimidating.

But now, he carried an overwhelming presence—an unstoppable force. It was clear that he had evolved into a truly terrifying opponent.

Che Wenyu’s gaze passed over the players, eventually locking onto Qin Lang.

For a brief moment, their eyes met before Qin Lang nonchalantly looked away.

After scanning the other players, Che Wenyu finally fixed his gaze on Yu Shao, standing calmly on the far left side of the room.

He didn’t look away for a long time.

Yu Shao simply stood still, his expression calm. He watched this young talent who, like himself, had recently sparked heated discussions online.

The other players followed Che Wenyu’s gaze, turning toward Yu Shao. Their eyes flickered with different emotions—they all understood why Che Wenyu paid special attention to Yu Shao.

Last year, Che Wenyu had lost to Le Haoqiang in the Fertile Cup. This year, he had returned stronger than ever, likely hoping for a rematch.

But instead of facing Le Haoqiang, he saw that Le Haoqiang had been defeated—by Yu Shao.

Even now, many found it hard to believe that Le Haoqiang had lost. After all, among the younger generation, his strength was undisputed. Some even thought he was a cut above the rest.

But in Go, being the stronger player did not always guarantee victory.

If you played twenty matches and won eighteen, but the two losses came at the worst possible moments, you could still be eliminated.

Victory belonged to those who seized fleeting opportunities.

Everyone in this room had climbed to this stage over the bodies of countless fallen opponents. They were no ordinary players. The differences in strength between them were slim—anyone could grasp a chance to win.

Che Wenyu finally withdrew his gaze from Yu Shao and quietly took a spot in the room.

Soon after, another young man walked in. He had a crew cut, a solid build, and broad shoulders. The moment he entered, all eyes turned toward him.

"Gu Chuan, 4-dan…"

Everyone immediately recognized him.

Gu Chuan was from the Western Go Academy, and though he had only earned his professional status at fifteen—a relatively late age—his record had been outstanding from the start.

Now, in less than three years, he was already on the verge of reaching 5-dan. His rapid progress indicated that his true strength far exceeded his rank—he only lacked the official tournament matches to prove it.

Not long after, another young man walked in. His appearance was unremarkable, but he carried himself with effortless composure.

"The Central Go Academy’s Zhou Wei, 6-dan…"

Zhou Wei was a well-known prodigy from the Central Go Academy. If he performed well this year, he had a strong chance of qualifying for the title matches. He was undoubtedly another major contender.

Moments later, Le Haoqiang finally arrived.

For years, Le Haoqiang had maintained an impressive record since turning pro, and everyone in the room was already more than familiar with him.

As soon as he appeared, a particular young man clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. His molars ground together, eyes burning with hatred.

Cao Xinghuai.

Le Haoqiang gave him a glance but quickly lost interest, walking straight into the room and finding a spot to wait for the drawing ceremony.

Not far away, Che Wenyu narrowed his eyes slightly as he observed Le Haoqiang. Then, almost instinctively, he glanced at Yu Shao again.

And he wasn’t the only one. Many players unconsciously looked at Le Haoqiang, then back at Yu Shao, their minds filled with various thoughts.

More players entered one after another. Among them was Su Yiming.

Su Yiming drew considerable attention as well. Many players snuck glances at him before casting peculiar looks at Yu Shao.

Even though everyone knew that rank did not equate to true skill, it still felt strange to see two newly promoted 1-dan players competing in the main event.

After all, aside from Yu Shao and Su Yiming, the lowest-ranked player present was Gu Chuan—who was already a 4-dan professional!

Finally, all fifteen players had arrived.

The room fell into silence as they waited for the drawing ceremony to begin. Though no words were spoken, the tension was palpable.

Oddly enough, a few players who had been nervous at first now seemed to relax. The razor-sharp atmosphere in the room had replaced their initial anxiety with a sense of excitement.

Each of these young players exuded an unmistakable intensity. Their spirits burned bright, revealing their raw ambition. Even Yang Qiaozhen, the lone female player in the event, was no exception.

"This Hero’s Pride Cup is going to be a true battle of dragons and tigers."

A middle-aged reporter, deeply affected by the atmosphere, took a deep breath. His gaze swept across Qin Lang, Che Wenyu, Gu Chuan, Chu Jiang, and the others.

At this moment, the strongest young players from all major regions had assembled.

Even though he was much older than these young prodigies, he found himself unsettled by their sheer intensity. It was difficult to meet their eyes directly.

"Each of these players believes themselves to be unmatched. Only in such a fierce battlefield can legendary matches be born. Their games will undoubtedly captivate the world."

Yet, as he scanned the room again, the reporter suddenly felt that something was… off.

Among the fifteen young players, thirteen radiated sharpness. But two of them stood out—because they showed none at all.

One was Yu Shao.

The other was Su Yiming.

…

Shortly after, a middle-aged man in his forties entered the room, dressed in a formal suit and carrying a drawing box. His expression was stern.

With his arrival, the room immediately grew quieter.

He walked to the front, surveyed the room, and then spoke.

"My name is Duan Xingyao. I am the director of the Central Go Academy and the chief referee of this year’s Hero’s Pride Cup."

"First of all, congratulations on making it this far. Your presence here is undeniable proof of your skill."

"You are the brightest young talents from all regions, and you represent the future of Go. I trust that you will bring us incredible matches."

Duan Xingyao paused briefly before speaking again, his tone firm.

"Now, let’s begin the drawing ceremony."