I Really Didn’t Mean to Play Go!
Chapter 234: The Way of Go is Like the Way of the Sword—One Without Killing Intent Cannot Win

"Crack!"

In the silent chess room, the crisp sound of Go stones being grabbed finally broke the stillness.

Hearing the sound, Yu Shao lifted his eyes and looked at Su Yiming, only to see that while Su Yiming slowly reached his right hand into the Go bowl, his gaze remained fixed on him.

But unlike before, this time, there was no sharpness in Su Yiming's eyes—only calmness.

Yes, no sharpness. Only calmness.

What is Go?

Half is about victory and defeat.

Half is about enlightenment!

For him, this game was no longer just about winning or losing. More importantly, it was a process of understanding the deeper meaning of Go.

Finally, Su Yiming grabbed a handful of white stones from the bowl, clutching them tightly in his palm.

Yu Shao withdrew his gaze, remained silent for a moment, then also reached into the Go bowl, took out two black stones, and slowly placed them on the board.

"Tap, tap."

Su Yiming loosened his grip, allowing the stones in his palm to fall onto the board. Then, with his fingers, he carefully separated and counted them.

"Nine stones—odd number!"

At the referee’s table, the referee glanced at the white stones on the board, then solemnly announced,

"For this game, Su Yiming, 2-dan, will play black, and Yu Shao, 2-dan, will play white!"

Upon hearing this, both players quickly retrieved the stones from the board and exchanged their Go bowls.

"Please guide me."

Yu Shao glanced at Su Yiming, then bowed slightly and spoke first.

Su Yiming followed suit, returning the bow. "Please guide me."

The moment Su Yiming's voice fell, the two referees and the female recorder unconsciously held their breaths, their eyes locked on the Go board in front of them.

The finals had begun!

Su Yiming did not immediately place a stone. He stared at the board in front of him—the intersecting 19x19 lines reflecting in his deep eyes.

Ten seconds passed in absolute silence before he finally reached into the Go bowl, pinched a black stone between his index and middle fingers, and slowly lifted it out.

The stone descended onto the board.

Tap!

Column 16, Row 4—Star Point!

The first move was played!

"Black plays the first move at the star point."

Seeing that Su Yiming had finally placed his first stone, the male recorder beside him trembled slightly, hurriedly moved his mouse, and clicked the left button hard to record the move.

Meanwhile, in the broadcast studio, Zhu Huaian silently picked up a black stone and placed it on the star point of the top-right corner of the demonstration board.

In the review room, a group of Go players gathered around a board. The moment they saw the black stone appear on the large screen, they also quickly placed the same move on their board.

Not just in China—similar scenes were unfolding in the U.S., Korea, Japan... all across the world!

Yu Shao quietly stared at the board. After a brief moment, he also took a white stone from the bowl and placed it down slowly.

Tap!

Column 16, Row 16—Star Point!

Black had claimed the upper-right corner with a star-point move, and white now mirrored it, taking the lower-right corner—standing in opposition from afar.

Su Yiming silently watched the white stone in the lower-right corner. A moment later, he took another black stone from the bowl and reached toward the upper-left corner, placing it lightly.

Tap!

The sound of the stone landing was crisp and clear.

Column 4, Row 4—Star Point!

For his second move, black played another star-point move. Now, the entire upper half of the board was occupied by black, the two black stones at the star points watching over all directions.

Seeing this opening, Yu Shao once again reached into the Go bowl and placed another white stone down.

Tap!

Column 4, Row 16—Star Point!

...

"A Double Star vs. Double Star opening?"

In the broadcast studio, seeing white's move, Zeng Chenlu was surprised. "This opening is... unexpectedly common."

Indeed.

Double Star vs. Double Star—this pattern had been played countless times over the past hundred years. Precisely because it was so common, it had been studied thoroughly by every professional. Ironically, that was why it had become rare in modern pro tournaments.

At this moment, after seeing white’s move, Zhu Huaian also picked up a large demonstration white stone, placed it on Column 4, Row 16, then stepped back to observe the board.

"It's black's turn. The common choices here would be either a knight’s approach or a corner enclosure."

After speaking, Zhu Huaian turned to the screen, hesitated for a moment, then added, "Of course... there is also an uncommon choice..."

But he did not continue speaking.

Zeng Chenlu also did not press further. She subconsciously took a deep breath and focused on the screen, waiting for black's next move.

Indeed.

There was another possibility.

No, rather than calling it "uncommon," it was more accurate to say that it had never been seen before!

Time ticked away, second by second.

Soon, ten seconds had passed.

Yet, after white played at the star point, black still hadn't made a move!

Ten seconds wasn't long, but at this early stage of the game—only four moves in—delaying ten seconds before making a move was unusual!

Seeing this, Zeng Chenlu suddenly felt a surge of tension. Her eyes were locked on the screen, not daring to blink.

On the side, Zhu Huaian also stared at the large screen in silence, waiting for black’s move.

Would black continue with the 3-3 point?

This wasn’t just her question—it was the question on the minds of every viewer watching the live broadcast!

Handtalk Room.

At this moment, the Handtalk Room was so silent that even breathing could barely be heard.

The female recorder and the two referees couldn't help but stretch their necks, their eyes locked onto the distant Go board, waiting for the outcome of Su Yiming's prolonged contemplation.

Su Yiming’s bright, clear eyes remained fixed on the board, as if there weren’t just four stones placed there, but an entire battlefield—black and white interwoven, complex and unpredictable.

"Crack!"

Three minutes after the previous move, Su Yiming finally reached his right hand into the Go bowl. The sound of stones clinking together instantly echoed through the silent room.

Hearing this, the two referees and the female recorder involuntarily tensed up, their eyes locked onto Su Yiming’s right hand as it dipped into the bowl.

Finally, under the watchful gaze of all present, Su Yiming pinched a stone between his fingers and slowly lifted it out.

The next moment—

The stone fell onto the board!

Tap!

The sound of the move was like the clang of metal—firm and decisive!

But when the female recorder and the two referees saw the position where the stone landed, they all froze on the spot!

"This..."

Then, their eyes widened in shock!

"It's not the 3-3 point, but... but..."

Even Yu Shao was momentarily stunned when he saw where the black stone had landed.

A moment later, his expression subtly shifted. Then, suddenly, he lifted his head and looked straight at Su Yiming.

At that moment, Su Yiming also raised his head, meeting Yu Shao’s gaze.

His eyes—at some point—had lost their previous calmness. Now, they gleamed with a sharp intensity, as if a cold blade had just been unsheathed!

Their eyes met in midair!

There were countless emotions in Su Yiming’s gaze, but the most overwhelming was a terrifying sharpness—like a jade blade shattering Kunlun Mountain, an unstoppable force.

Though silent, his stare carried an undeniable message—

"Let’s settle this in blood!"

On the board—

Column 10, Row 4—Star Point!

Triple Star Formation!

Black’s move landed once again on the star point along the edge. With three black stones now positioned at high points, they stood like a leviathan swallowing the ocean. Just three moves in, and the formation was already as vast as the Milky Way—grand, overwhelming!

After locking eyes with Su Yiming for a long time, Yu Shao finally looked away and turned his gaze to the board.

"He actually played Triple Star..."

The Triple Star Formation was known for having more losses than wins. Not only did Yu Shao know this, but every professional player did. And there was no way Su Yiming didn’t know it, either.

Moreover, in the National Master Battle Preliminaries, Yu Shao had once faced a Triple Star strategy. That game had spread widely within the Southern Region, and Su Yiming had most likely studied it.

And yet, Su Yiming had chosen to play Triple Star—in the finals!

In his past life, Triple Star had already been considered obsolete, rarely used by professional players.

However, according to AI calculations, Triple Star only resulted in a 3% lower win rate—well within an acceptable range.

Even in AI vs. AI matches, there had been instances where an AI played Triple Star as Black and ultimately won.

Then why was Triple Star almost never used by professional players?

Because the follow-up was too complex—too difficult to control.

Triple Star is synonymous with aggression. Playing it meant that both players would inevitably clash in a brutal, life-or-death battle in the center of the board. There would be no retreat—only survival or destruction!

Once Triple Star was played, the game would revolve around the center, forcing Black to expand an enormous framework. The formation had to be as overwhelming as an avalanche crushing a city, and the outer influence had to spread like the wings of a great roc—pressuring the opponent with sheer presence, using outward influence to slay the dragon!

There was an old Go saying:

"The high rule the center."

The center of the board was the most difficult area to manage. Almost no one dared to claim they could master it completely.

To play Triple Star, one had to not only possess an exceptional full-board vision, but also an unparalleled ability to kill in chaotic fights!

That was why, despite its speed in development and immense outward influence, professional players in the past had rarely used Triple Star—some even preferred weaker openings over this one.

And yet, knowing all of this, Su Yiming still played Triple Star in the finals.

His intentions were crystal clear—

He was willing to sacrifice flesh and blood to forge the spine of a sword!

Shedding his very essence to forge the ultimate blade!

Whether this Triple Star Blade would prove sharp enough would depend on the one who wielded it!

Yu Shao stared at the board, and from the three black stones on the star points, he could almost feel the intense killing intent emanating from them!

His gaze grew colder. Finally, he reached into the Go bowl again and pulled out another stone.

The Way of Go is like the Way of the Sword—one without killing intent cannot win!

On the board—

Only those who have calculated life and death to the finest detail may be called masters!

"Very well—let’s go!"

Tap!

Column 17, Row 3—3-3 Point!

The sound of the move landing was sharp and clear—like the ringing of a sword!