I Really Didn’t Mean to Play Go!
Chapter 265: A Sword That Spans Generations

At this moment, the audience watching the live stream remained completely silent. Still stunned, they hadn’t yet snapped out of it—many were still dazed.

Finally, after what felt like ages, once the brief silence passed, everyone’s faces erupted with an expression of sheer disbelief and excitement!

“He... he did it!”

“Yu Shao, 2-dan—eight straight wins!”

“He even beat Ma Jie, such a formidable opponent!”

No one could stay calm. Shock and excitement overwhelmed their hearts. After all, Ma Jie, Lu Yihong, and Zeng Jun were the core reasons why the American Go Academy had dared to initiate this Fight for Pro Status.

Up until now, Yu Shao had pushed the match to its limits. Against Ma Jie, he had challenged him head-on with an unreasonable contact move against komoku, forcing a complex fight. In the midgame, he sacrificed stones to launch an attack—it seemed brute force, yet was part of a grand, strategic vision. He didn’t manage to slay the dragon, but he seized the center!

Though Ma Jie was at a disadvantage, he unleashed astonishing resilience. White's attacks couldn’t break through, but in the end, Yu Shao’s invasion and reduction shattered convention, and dashed Black’s final hopes of a comeback!

Yu Shao had defeated Ma Jie!

For most standout young players, the top professionals often commented: not bad, but still inexperienced—promising future ahead.

But Ma Jie and the other two were different. No one needed to comment on them—they were beyond needing evaluation.

In the Chinese team’s review room, everyone stared blankly at the TV screen. They still hadn’t recovered, as if the lingering taste of White’s final invasive move held them captive.

“When the move landed here, Black crawling felt inevitable.”

At that moment, Su Yiming, staring at the board, suddenly reached out and moved a black stone, then said, “But what if Black had pressed here instead?”

Only then did the others snap out of it, instinctively turning to the board.

They looked at the spot where Su Yiming placed the stone—utter confusion on their faces.

Press there?

How was there even a move there?

The next second—

Everyone suddenly realized something, like their throats had been tightly seized by an invisible hand!

Time ticked on as they all frantically simulated the board’s future in their minds.

Since Su Yiming played Black, they mentally took the White side’s perspective. The more they played it out, the redder their faces grew—even their ears turned completely flushed.

“If White connects here, Black can stand, forcing a ko. If White then fights the ko, Black will drag it into an epic, earth-shattering ko battle!”

Qin Lang stared at that black stone on the board, momentarily dazed.

“And that stone leverages the iron-wall formation White built in the center to suddenly explode with a devouring force during the ko fight!”

“But if White doesn’t connect, then that seemingly distant black stone—miles away from the fight—can split White apart and revive Black’s position!”

“One move... just one move, and Black could be reborn from the ashes.”

“That move is practically—”

Qin Lang lifted his head and blankly looked toward Lu Yihong. Lu Yihong was staring intensely at the board, his expression fierce, seemingly analyzing every variation.

“A blade across time.”

---

That night, countless people lay sleepless in excitement.

The first round of the Fight for Pro Status had seemed like a surefire win for the American Go Academy. Not just the Americans thought so—even Chinese netizens had been quite pessimistic about the opening match.

A few years back, Zhu Huai’an was still young, and even Li You—now nicknamed “Half-a-Title”—had been inexperienced then.

Even if the two had faced the current American lineup at eighteen years old, it would've been a fierce battle with uncertain results.

In fact, the American lineup for the first match had a real shot even against Japan or Korea!

But no one had expected Yu Shao to carve a bloody path through seven opponents, forcing Ma Jie onto the board—and still defeated him!

That was just too shocking.

Tomorrow would be the ninth match.

And Yu Shao’s next opponent would be—Lu Yihong.

---

The Next Day

The ninth match of the Fight for Pro Status was about to begin.

By now, online attention for the match was off the charts. From early morning, viewers flooded into the livestream room, anxiously and eagerly waiting for the game to start.

When Yu Shao arrived at the Handtalk Room, the record keeper and referees were already in place. Only today’s opponent, Lu Yihong, had yet to arrive.

Yu Shao walked straight to the center, pulled out a chair, and sat down.

The record keeper and two referees said nothing, silently observing him—and felt a chill inside.

After eight grueling games, though exhaustion clearly showed on his face, Yu Shao’s calm demeanor radiated an inner resolve that only grew more terrifying.

Not long after, a tall young man in a suit appeared at the door.

Lu Yihong had arrived.

He didn’t enter immediately. He stood at the doorway, locking eyes with Yu Shao for a long moment before finally stepping in and sitting across from him.

The two sat in silence, facing one another.

What is Lu Yihong feeling, going into this match?

The same thought passed through the minds of the record keeper and referees, their emotions slightly complicated.

As time passed, the atmosphere in the Handtalk Room grew heavier and more oppressive.

Eventually, one of the referees checked his watch, exhaled slowly, and stood up.

“Each side has five hours, one-minute byo-yomi, 7.5-point komi.”

“This game, Yu Shao, 2-dan, will play Black. Lu Yihong, 6-dan, will play White.”

He paused, looked at both players, then announced firmly: “The match begins now.”

The two bowed to each other.

The game officially began.

Yu Shao looked at the board, quickly picked up a stone, and placed the first move.

Tap!

Column 16, Row 4 – Star Point.

Lu Yihong, eyes focused, immediately placed his move.

Pa!

Column 4, Row 17 – Komoku.

“So fast!”

Seeing this, the referee and record keeper were slightly taken aback.

In the previous eight games, even during the opening, players typically waited five to six seconds before placing a stone. But not today.

Yu Shao, undeterred, picked up another stone and played.

Column 4, Row 4 – Star Point.

Click!

Lu Yihong instantly reached into the Go bowl and responded.

Tap!

Column 17, Row 16 – Komoku.

“Let’s do this.”

After this move, Lu Yihong looked up at Yu Shao, his gaze sharp and unflinching—silent, yet deafening.

On the board: Black held two star points, White held two komoku points—Double Star vs. Double Komoku.

The Americans were still going with their classic Double Komoku Opening!

Yu Shao studied the board and soon played again.

Tap!

Column 15, Row 17 – Small Knight’s Approach!

“He didn’t play the contact move.”

Seeing that Black didn’t play the same reckless contact against komoku as yesterday, but opted for the standard small knight’s approach, Lu Yihong furrowed his brow slightly.

So he's going with a normal game today?

He quickly refocused, reached into the Go bowl, and made his move.

Tap!

Column 3, Row 15 – Small Knight’s Move.

Since Black approached the lower right, White couldn’t secure an unassailable corner there. So White pivoted to form it on the left. You get one or the other.

An unassailable corner was known for its solidity and defense. While Go theory now questions its "unassailability," it remains a valid approach.

Yu Shao glanced at the bottom-left White stones and played again.

Tap!

The sound echoed in the room.

Though faint, to the four people present, it rang deafeningly in their ears.

Above White’s corner on the diagonal—

Column 4, Row 14 – Shoulder Hit!

“Shoulder hit?!”

Lu Yihong, just reaching into his bowl, froze mid-action—staring in disbelief at the board.

“This is very Yu Shao,” he muttered.

The female record keeper and the referees stared as well, holding their breath.

A shoulder hit against an unassailable corner—what kind of move is that?!

If anyone else had played it, they’d be freaking out right now. But coming from Yu Shao—it almost felt normal.

They didn’t even dare to judge the move anymore.

At this point, neither did the viewers watching from TVs and computer screens.

So many judgments they had once held dear had already been proven wrong—like with the 3-3 invasion and the Demon Blade joseki.

Now, seeing Yu Shao’s shoulder hit, they no longer trusted their own instincts.

In the American team's review room, not a word was spoken.

All eyes fixed on the screen—yet no one dared comment, not even Ma Dong.

Shoulder hits, in Go theory, risked leaving stones too loose, prone to disadvantage in local fights—used only in specific contexts.

And yet, Black had played one now—directly.

Across the world, a strange phenomenon unfolded.

Countless Go players were watching—many likely high-dan, maybe even titleholders.

But at the sight of this so-called “bad move,” everyone was silent.

Utter silence.

As if Black had simply opened with a star point.

A plain move, yet full of mystery.

If Black really has a follow-up—then what is it?

This was the question on everyone’s mind.

In the Handtalk Room, Lu Yihong stared at the board, deep in thought.

If I extend, will he tenuki and attack my bottom right? Is that shoulder hit going to be used for leverage?

He took a deep breath, eyes clear, picked up a stone and placed it.

Tap!

Column 4, Row 15 – Extend.

Yu Shao responded quickly.

Tap!

Column 6, Row 14 – Jump.

He didn’t tenuki—just jumped?

Lu Yihong blinked in confusion.

This move wasn’t unexpected—it was almost too predictable. The standard follow-up after a shoulder hit.

And once Black jumped, White could simply tenuki. No further development.

Which meant... Black had no follow-up?

Then this exchange had gained him nothing—possibly even weakened his shape.

It wasn’t just Lu Yihong. Everyone who saw this move looked confused.

Shoulder hit, followed by such a normal move?

I thought there’d be some deep, unexpected follow-up!

But a simple jump? It’s not a bad move, but... where’s the benefit?

The livestream chat scrolled wildly.

“Don’t let your guard down!”

Lu Yihong stayed focused, analyzed the board again, and responded.

Soon, Yu Shao replied in turn.

Lu Yihong stared at the board—visions of the past eight games and four from the Hero’s Pride Cup flashing before his eyes.

His expression turned more serious.

He’s no ordinary opponent. It’s hard to believe, but his strength is truly beyond expectations.

Click.

He placed another move.

That’s why—I can’t take this lightly.

No matter what, I have to win this game. There’s no room for failure!

Tap!

With the crisp sound of stone hitting wood, another black stone landed.

Lu Yihong reached again into the Go bowl, eyes locked on the board, simulating all possible variations.

I must stay patient. Don’t engage recklessly. Avoid direct combat too soon.

Like a lion in the forest, I must wait for the right moment—

—and when I strike, I’ll tear into his throat, never letting go!

No chance for him to react!

Like lightning—too fast to stop!

Lu Yihong grabbed another stone.

He struck like the wind.