I Really Didn’t Mean to Play Go!
Chapter 223: No Way Out

Meanwhile, at the New York Go Academy—

“What the hell are they playing?!”

A group of blond-haired, blue-eyed young players huddled around a computer screen, staring in shock.

They were all preparing for the upcoming Fight for Pro Qualification tournament, so naturally, they were studying potential opponents. But what they saw on-screen completely defied their expectations—

Two games, both featuring 3-3 Point Invasions!

Was this even Go anymore?!

“How can you invade 3-3 so early in the opening? And not following up with hane-connect? Crawling on the second line instead?” One of them looked like he was having an existential crisis.

“How did these guys even make it to the main tournament?”

Another player immediately shook his head.

“No, forget that—how did they even become professionals?!”

The group erupted into a chorus of discussions, each person voicing their disbelief.

Only one player stood silent—Zeng Jun.

The tall, broad-shouldered young man stared at the screen, saying nothing.

“Zeng Jun, what’s up? You haven’t said a word.”

Someone noticed his silence and turned to ask.

Zeng Jun kept his eyes on the screen. Without looking away, he spoke:

“Have you guys ever paid attention to the Flame Inheritance Match?”

“The Flame Inheritance Match?”

The others exchanged puzzled glances.

Of course, they hadn’t.

That tournament was more of an exhibition match, meant to symbolize the passing of Go tradition. It wasn’t even their country’s event, so why would they care?

“What’s there to pay attention to? It’s just an entertainment event. Not even a real tournament, right?” One of them asked, confused.

“I watched it.”

Zeng Jun continued staring at the screen.

“The 3-3 Point Invasion without hane-connect—the idea is to leave White with a thin outer influence and then ignore the fight to play elsewhere.”

“Thin influence?”

Now they were even more confused.

Zeng Jun furrowed his brows and explained:

“When Black invades 3-3 but doesn’t play hane-connect, White’s outer influence isn’t as strong as it looks. If White doesn’t reinforce it properly, it becomes a liability instead of an advantage.”

“In fact, Zhuang Weisheng, 10-dan, lost a game because he overlooked this detail.”

“WHAT?!”

Everyone’s eyes went wide.

Zhuang Weisheng lost because of this one move?!

“No way!”

One of them quickly snapped out of it and refuted,

“If that move actually worked, then even if we didn’t pay attention to the Flame Inheritance Match, someone else would have played it by now!”

“Exactly.”

The others nodded in agreement.

“If the 3-3 invasion was really viable, it would’ve taken the entire Go world by storm! No way it just stays hidden until now.”

The room buzzed with heated discussion.

Meanwhile, Zeng Jun’s frown deepened.

“…You’re misunderstanding something.”

He shook his head.

“The reason no one plays this isn’t because it’s wrong—it’s because it’s a trap move.”

“If White realizes their outer influence is weak and plays elsewhere instead, White should still have the advantage.”

“A trap move?”

Now they were even more confused.

“But if it’s a trap, why are these guys still playing it? Didn’t everyone already figure it out?”

“…That’s exactly what I want to know.”

Zeng Jun’s eyes remained fixed on the screen.

---

Inside the Handtalk Room—

After finishing the 3-3 invasion sequence in the lower right, Yu Shao ignored the local fight.

Cao Xinghuai didn’t immediately respond.

Instead, he fell into deep thought as he stared at the board.

“If he plays elsewhere, my outer influence in the lower-right won’t be as solid. He might attack it later.”

“But my outer influence has massive potential!”

“As long as I defend it properly, I won’t give him any weaknesses to exploit—and then his position will collapse on its own!”

"First, ensure I cannot be defeated—then wait for my opponent to make mistakes!"

Cao Xinghuai steadied himself, finalized his plan, and reached for a stone.

His eyes flickered with determination—then, he slammed it down.

“Bring it on!”

Click!

Column 8, Row 16—Two-Space Jump!

Yu Shao remained composed.

He studied the board for a moment, then picked up a stone and placed it down.

Click!

Column 13, Row 16—Large Knight’s Move!

Click. Click. Click!

The stones continued falling, their crisp sounds echoing through the Handtalk Room.

Nearby, Zhou Wei observed the game, his expression growing more serious by the second.

Then, Yu Shao placed another stone.

“…Good move.”

Zhou Wei’s gaze sharpened.

“Except for the 3-3 invasion, which is still up for debate, every other move he’s played has been incredibly solid.”

“No wonder people say he’s strong. His reputation isn’t just talk—he’s terrifying.”

“If I want to beat him… I’ll have to target the 3-3 invasion.”

Click!

A crisp click broke Zhou Wei’s train of thought.

He quickly refocused on the board, and his brows furrowed slightly.

Black’s last move had been excellent, but White’s response was just as solid, reinforcing the position without giving Black any openings.

“Black secured territory in the corner after the 3-3 invasion, but White’s outer influence is overwhelming. Black has to neutralize White’s potential before it fully develops—otherwise, he’ll be suffocated.”

Zhou Wei’s frown deepened as he analyzed Cao Xinghuai’s move.

“But… he clearly knows about the weaknesses of the 3-3 invasion. Even Zhuang Weisheng suffered from this before. Cao Xinghuai is playing extremely cautiously, which means…”

Click.

The sound of stones colliding rang out again.

Yu Shao studied the board for a brief moment, then calmly placed another move.

The match intensified. Both players continued playing at a steady rhythm, the only sound in the Handtalk Room being the crisp, rhythmic clicks of stones landing on the board.

Time passed quickly as over ten more moves were played.

---

Meanwhile, in the broadcast studio—

The large screen finally switched back to the match between Yu Shao and Cao Xinghuai.

“Yu Shao’s position… isn’t looking great.”

Zeng Chenlu carefully chose her words.

“Cao Xinghuai clearly recognized the structural weakness in the lower-right and is reinforcing steadily. Black hasn’t made any significant progress.”

That was putting it nicely.

To be blunt, Black had gained nothing. White’s influence was still unshakable.

Zhu Huaian studied the board in silence, his brows furrowing slightly as he contemplated the situation.

Then—

The next move appeared on the screen.

Click!

Column 14, Row 13—Press!

“He pressed?! Black actually pressed down?!”

Zhu Huaian and Zeng Chenlu both blinked in surprise.

And they weren’t the only ones.

In the Handtalk Room, Zhou Wei, who had been watching intently, also reacted.

His expression stiffened for a moment, and his body instinctively leaned forward.

At the recording table, the female recorder’s pen froze mid-air.

At the referee table, two officials exchanged stunned glances, their mouths slightly agape.

On the board—

That one black stone at Column 14, Row 13 emanated an immense sense of pressure.

Black was going all-in!

“He… he actually dares to press down directly?!”

Cao Xinghuai’s eyelid twitched. He never expected Black to play such an aggressive move.

Ignoring his own thin shape, Black was forcing a direct fight, targeting White’s key stones and attempting to shatter White’s influence!

This move was ridiculous!

Cao Xinghuai took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm.

“Think rationally… He’s doing this because he has no other choice. He’s desperate.”

He reached into the Go bowl, picked up a white stone, and refocused on the board.

“There’s no way he can actually break my outer influence. Even without the hane-connect, my position is still solid and untouchable.”

“All I have to do is keep playing calmly, avoid any mistakes, and I’ll crush him!”

He placed his stone down.

Click!

Column 10, Row 13—Press!

The moment White’s stone landed, Yu Shao immediately picked up another black stone and placed it down.

Click!

Column 12, Row 14—Jump!

The sheer speed of his response made Cao Xinghuai’s expression flicker.

“Is he trying to intimidate me with his unwavering speed, hoping I’ll make a mistake?”

Cao Xinghuai clenched his fist.

Instead of being shaken, he steadied himself even further.

He thought for a long moment before carefully picking up a stone.

“…He’s just bluffing.”

Click!

Column 9, Row 11—Hane!

The battle intensified.

Both players traded moves rapidly, each trying to outmaneuver the other.

Ten more moves passed in a flurry.

It was Yu Shao’s turn.

His gaze remained calm as he studied the board.

Then—

Click!

Column 8, Row 15—Atari!

“…He’s not just capturing my stones—he’s setting up a full-scale attack in the lower-right!”

Cao Xinghuai’s heartbeat spiked.

His mind momentarily blanked.

Another unexpected move!

But he quickly regained his composure.

“Doesn’t matter. If I extend outward, even if he tries to cut me off, my outer influence will crush him!”

Click!

White extended.

But the moment he placed his stone down—

Black immediately responded!

Click!

Cao Xinghuai didn’t hesitate. He picked up another stone and placed it down with force.

Click!

The battle escalated.

Within ten more moves, Yu Shao played another move, his speed never faltering.

And when that stone landed—

Cao Xinghuai’s pupils shrank to the size of a pinhead!

“…His center attack… how did this happen…?”

And then—

Six moves later.

Another Black stone fell.

Click!

A move that echoed like a hammer striking metal.

Column 18, Row 14—Throw-in!

“…Why?”

Cao Xinghuai’s eyes widened.

Beads of sweat trickled down his forehead, running down his cheek.

“…Why didn’t my outer influence work?!”