I Really Didn’t Mean to Play Go!
Chapter 317: Non-Human Go

Inside the competition venue.

Da, da, da—

Stones fell onto the board one after another, the sounds of moves landing echoing without end.

Higashiyama Kaoru stared intently at the board.

On the lower left, Black and White had already exploded into a fierce battle.

In this clash, White had originally sought to build influence.

But after Black forcibly attacked White’s key stones, White countered with two successive ataris, turning instead to secure corner territory —

and the fight ended in a rough balance.

"If I judge purely from a territorial perspective,

capturing this White stone on the third line would be hugely valuable, but..."

In Higashiyama Kaoru’s mind, countless variations raced by.

His expression grew more and more serious.

"If I really capture that White stone, White’s next atari will become sente.

After I reinforce, White can then pressure me from the outside..."

"And because of White’s earlier forcing move on the lower side, even after I extend, White won't be threatened by my cut points!"

In his eyes, there was nothing left but the board before him.

Countless stones seemed to rain down in his mind as he calculated endless possibilities.

"His moves look simple and straightforward on the surface,

but beneath that calm... hides an unfathomable undercurrent."

"One wrong step — and it’s total collapse."

"I must aim for a better, stronger move..."

"A better, stronger move..."

Clack!

Higashiyama Kaoru’s eyes lit up.

He reached into his Go bowl — the stones clashed noisily.

He pulled one out.

"If that’s the case — then this is it."

He placed the black stone!

Da!

Nine Columns, Fourteen Rows — Turn!

"Turn?"

Seeing this move, the recorder nearby widened her eyes in disbelief!

"Why... a turn?!"

"The simplest move for Black would’ve been to simply capture that White stone on the third line —

split the corner evenly with White!"

Cold sweat broke out on the female recorder’s forehead as she stared, stunned,

at this completely unexpected board state.

A simple capture had seemed inevitable!

"But..."

"Black didn’t capture — instead, he turned, meaning the third-line White stone likely won't die!"

"He chose the strongest, most forceful path —

giving up a massive chunk of territory just to keep building outside influence!"

Seeing this move, even Yu Shao’s expression finally shifted slightly.

He had seen this "turn" variation —

but he hadn't thought Higashiyama Kaoru would actually dare to play it!

After all, willingly giving up such a large corner territory, when you could easily claim it —

not everyone had the courage for that.

"This turn isn’t just about building influence.

Hidden within it is a lethal trap —

if Black follows up with a block, my three outside White stones could be killed!"

Yu Shao glanced at the board,

then quickly picked up a stone and placed it.

Da!

Thirteen Columns, Seventeen Rows — Crawl!

"Crawl?"

The recorder froze again,

completely unable to understand why White had moved there.

"Brilliant..."

Gradually, realization dawned —

and cold sweat poured down her back!

She jerked her head toward Yu Shao,

her eyes full of shock, swallowing hard.

"He... he even saw through that?!"

Higashiyama Kaoru, however, remained calm.

He wasn’t surprised that Yu Shao had detected his hidden attack.

Without hesitation, he pulled another black stone and placed it.

Da!

Fourteen Columns, Three Rows — Small knight’s move!

---

Inside the Korea Team’s discussion room.

"In the end, the Double Swallow formation still appeared,"

Honinbo Shinwa said after taking a drag of his cigarette,

placing a stone onto his own board.

He stared at the board, exhaling smoke slowly:

"Normally, the side who forms a Double Swallow has the advantage,

while the side caught by it struggles just to survive."

"But..."

An Hongshi glanced at the television.

Seeing Yu Shao’s latest move, he picked up a stone and placed it too, saying,

"He still chose to play like this."

Sixteen Columns, Six Rows — Press!

"..."

Honinbo Shinwa didn’t immediately respond.

He stared at the lower left corner —

even he found the exchanges there heart-pounding.

Although both sides had temporarily ceased fighting in the lower right,

each having gained their respective influence and territory,

the lingering killing intent seemed almost tangible.

"Truly remarkable..."

"Not just Higashiyama Kaoru — even Yu Shao, at this age,

can produce such a game..."

Honinbo Shinwa thought silently:

"But perhaps...

having such talented young players emerge is a cause for celebration."

---

On the television screen, Black and White quickly followed the standard Double Swallow sequence.

An Hongshi and Honinbo Shinwa mirrored the board, falling almost perfectly in sync with the match.

At that moment, it was Higashiyama Kaoru’s move again.

But this time, he didn’t play immediately —

instead, he fell into a deep, prolonged contemplation.

In the discussion room, everyone’s attention locked onto the television.

This was a crucial decision point —

there were many options for Black.

How Higashiyama Kaoru played this move would determine the direction of the entire game.

"In such a complicated board state,

the choice you make now truly tests a player's quality,"

Honinbo Shinwa thought to himself, his expression gradually growing serious.

Opposite him, An Hongshi rubbed his chin,

frowning slightly, also lost in thought.

Lee Junhyuk and the others in the room stared at the screen,

each calculating various outcomes.

---

After a long pause.

On the television, Black placed a move!

Thirteen Columns, Six Rows — Flying! (Large Knight's Move)

Seeing this move, Honinbo Shinwa’s expression changed,

and even An Hongshi paused,

his face turning more serious.

"Large Knight’s Move!"

Honinbo Shinwa didn’t immediately follow up,

but stared at the screen,

watching Black’s bold expansion, and said:

"A stylish move!"

"Normally, Black would play on the left to connect with his outside influence,"

An Hongshi said, eyes darkening.

"But this Large Knight's Move aims not only to claim the left —

it seeks to maximize control over the center as well."

It was indeed a move full of flair!

---

However, before they could finish discussing,

White had already played another move without much hesitation!

Thirteen Columns, Four Rows — Invasion Point!

---

"A super-strong move!"

Seeing this move, Park Zhiguo’s expression changed dramatically.

He exclaimed:

"I thought White didn’t have a good response —

but Yu Shao invaded directly and counterattacked viciously!"

On the television, Higashiyama Kaoru responded swiftly:

Fourteen Columns, Four Rows — Slide!

Seeing this, Park Zhiguo froze again —

he hadn’t expected Higashiyama Kaoru to respond this way.

But the deeper he thought,

the more terrified he became.

"Also a strong move!"

Lee Junhyuk stared at the television and said,

"White pushes, Black blocks, White cuts, Black turns..."

"In doing so, White’s two stones on the left side are severely short on liberties,

and the center battle will be brutal for White too!"

Park Zhiguo stared at the television in disbelief.

"So that earlier invasion...

was actually a losing move?"

---

Just then, Yu Shao placed another white stone.

Seeing it, Honinbo Shinwa was briefly stunned,

his pupils contracting sharply.

Even An Hongshi stared at the screen in a daze.

One move fell —

and the entire world fell silent.

---

"Seventeen Columns... Seven Rows..."

Lee Junhyuk stared blankly at the screen,

his vision blurring slightly:

"Cut?"

Earlier, Higashiyama Kaoru’s stylish Large Knight’s Move had already seemed like a move from another world —

something almost no one else could produce.

And now, Yu Shao’s cut —

there would be no second player capable of it!

The position was too bizarre, too unnatural —

at the sight of it,

everyone’s first reaction was simply:

Huh?!

"This cut looks reckless, almost suicidal at first glance..."

"But calculating the variations—"

Lee Junhyuk’s eye twitched violently:

"Black... seems to have no good response!"

"If Black ataris, White extends;

if Black crawls, White extends again,

White squeezes Black down to the second line —

gaining both profit and stability!"

"If Black tries to reinforce elsewhere,

White can attack and settle shape beautifully!"

The more Lee Junhyuk calculated,

the more sweat broke out on his forehead.

Everyone else clearly realized it too —

this move was beyond normal human thinking.

Not only were the local tactics stunning —

even the surrounding threats and follow-ups showed terrifying depth!

"This... what kind of Go strength is this..."

Kim Chaoen stared at the television,

his mind blank, muttering:

"It’s almost... not human."

This cut —

it couldn’t be called a mere brilliant move anymore.

It was simply—

Terrifying!