I Really Didn’t Mean to Play Go!
Chapter 320: Black's Only Path to Survival

Inside the match venue.

After Yu Shao placed his next move, Higashiyama Kaoru was furiously analyzing the board in his mind, calculating the life and death of the formations.

After a long think, Higashiyama Kaoru finally played again.

Column 9, Row 8 – Extend!

Immediately, Yu Shao responded with another move—

Column 11, Row 4 – Small Knight’s Move!

Upon seeing that move, Higashiyama Kaoru’s expression subtly shifted, his face turning paler. He picked up another stone and placed it.

Tap, tap, tap...

Black and White stones clashed in a brutal tangle—the battle on the board growing ever more ferocious. There was no room for compromise!

The deeper the game progressed, the more sweat beaded on Higashiyama’s forehead.

These last few moves—he had hoped to shake up the board and regain the upper hand, but White’s responses were flawless, relentlessly targeting his weaknesses without giving him the slightest opening!

“He predicted all my attacks—and even exploited them. He saw through everything!”

Higashiyama Kaoru placed another move. When he saw White’s reply, his expression grew even paler.

The situation had begun slipping out of control—tilting more and more toward White!

“If I connect in the center here and he responds with a strong sacrifice, then my only option is to extend and look for a chance!”

Thinking this, Higashiyama finally stopped hesitating. He picked up a stone and placed it swiftly!

Column 11, Row 8 – Extend!

No sooner had he done so than Yu Shao reached into the bowl and dropped his next move!

Tap!

Column 11, Row 12 – High Knight’s Jump!

“A high knight’s jump?!”

This move was again beyond everyone’s expectations—including Higashiyama himself!

In the central lower area, Black’s formation wasn’t just strong—it was formidable. White should have proceeded with utmost caution, defending with solid moves.

But—

White instead chose the large knight’s move, the most vulnerable option, going against all convention—clearly intending to challenge Black head-on!

Higashiyama Kaoru almost reflexively reached into the bowl, ready to place a stone directly on top of White’s position, to ignite a fierce fight.

But the moment his fingertips touched the stone, he froze—his expression changed dramatically!

“If I play directly on top, White’s extension becomes sente. If I connect, and he pushes again—I’ll be caught in a bind!”

“If I extend in the center, and White plays hane, not only does the lower side open up, but once the left side connects, the situation gets even worse. Black could end up being surrounded!”

“If I try to clamp and kill White, he still has the ‘dig’ tesuji. If I atari, he also ataris—then it becomes a ko fight, and White has countless ko threats!”

“This high knight’s jump—it’s a brilliant move that attacks through defense!”

Realizing all this, Higashiyama gritted his teeth and unwillingly picked up a stone and placed it.

“There’s no choice now. I can only cut White off first—and wait to see what he does next.”

Tap!

Column 6, Row 8 – Cut!

Yu Shao looked at the board, and quickly picked up a stone to respond.

Tap!

The crisp sound of the move echoed in Higashiyama’s ears. He looked toward the board—and when he saw the location of Yu Shao’s move, his expression was filled with confusion.

White!

Column 14, Row 8 – Attach!

“He tenuki’d over here?”

The fight was raging like oil on fire—and he played tenuki, shifting elsewhere? It was so bizarre, so baffling.

But the next moment, Higashiyama’s face went even paler!

“A sharp tactic—like something from the gods!”

Even the female recorder nearby was initially confused, but as she came to her senses, her face was full of shock!

“That attach move—it’s like a divine strike from beyond the heavens!”

“That attach not only supports the central White stones—it also attacks the right-side Black group. He’s actually... actually ready to abandon that huge White group in the center at any time!”

Everyone stared at the board, minds blank—hearts trembling with fear.

“We thought he was going for a mutual framework with Black—but in fact, he used White’s aji to prep for invasion and life!”

“We thought he wanted to live inside—but even that was a feint. All the entanglement in the center, so carefully cultivated—he’s ready to give it up at any moment!”

“After all those moves—and he’s willing to abandon it?!”

If Higashiyama’s earlier press had the grandeur of encircling half the board—

Then Yu Shao’s attach, prepared to sacrifice the entire central White group to thicken his outer formation and seize the right-side domain—was nothing short of a cosmic move!

Think about it: someone spends half their life building up something great—and then says, “I don’t want it.” That’s terrifying. That’s chilling.

After a long pause, Higashiyama bit his lip, picked up another stone, and played it quickly!

Tap!

Column 13, Row 10 – Jump!

Yu Shao immediately responded.

Tap, tap, tap...

Stones once again fell back and forth.

“No... this can’t go on. It can’t!”

Higashiyama’s expression grew anxious. Sweat streamed down his cheeks. He could clearly feel it—he was trapped in a dead game!

“White’s extension not only builds a structure in the lower right—it also magnifies the weaknesses in my central formation!”

“If I don’t find a breakthrough soon—every move I make will just be a futile struggle!”

“He won’t make mistakes—at least, not in this game. I have a strong feeling he won’t make a single mistake!”

Higashiyama stared intensely at the board, fists clenched so tightly that even his dull fingernails pierced into his palms!

“I can’t hope for him to slip up—that’s not where salvation lies!”

Time ticked on, second by second.

Higashiyama sat in front of the board, locked in a long contemplation.

“I must find the path myself—the one and only…”

“…path to survival!”

Finally, after a long while, with a crisp “clack,” Higashiyama once again reached into the Go bowl, picked up a Black stone, eyes fixed firmly on the board—and slammed it down!

Tap!

Column 12, Row 9 – Block!

“Block?!”

Everyone following the game stared at that block move—and froze in unison!

“To block right there? Isn’t he afraid White will jump?”

Yu Shao looked at the board, quickly picked up a White stone, and gently placed it.

Tap!

Column 14, Row 13 – Jump!

This jump—a two-birds-one-stone masterpiece—was ferocious to the extreme. It gobbled up Black’s stones on the lower side, while also setting up a latent extend threat above, preparing to surround Black on the right!

If this worked, Black would be pushed straight to the brink!

But upon seeing Yu Shao play that jump, Higashiyama’s expression didn’t change at all. He instantly picked up a Black stone and played!

Tap!

Column 10, Row 10 – Push and Cut!

Yu Shao stared at the board, reaching into the bowl to grab a stone. But suddenly, as if realizing something, his eyes shifted slightly—and his hand froze mid-air.

A few seconds later, his expression grew solemn. He finally picked up the stone and placed it down.

Tap!

Column 12, Row 7 – Placement!

“Another brilliant move. An atari would have been standard—but instead of going straight for it, White first played a placement above, connecting the whole board!”

Even though it was winter, the female recorder beside him was sweating profusely, eyes glued to the board nearby!

This kind of nuanced move speaks volumes about a player’s strength.

A direct atari would’ve been decent—but compared to this placement, it was like a 99 versus 100 move.

Ordinary players—under this board state—wouldn’t even see this move, much less play it!

Clack!

As for Yu Shao’s move—Higashiyama seemed to have expected it. He quickly picked up a stone and, almost impatiently, slammed it down!

Tap!

Column 13, Row 7 – Connect!

Stones continued to fall on the board.

“Black’s position is worsening. Will Yu Shao emerge victorious from this match?”

The recorder kept sliding her mouse, logging the moves—while thinking to herself.

“But even if Higashiyama loses—this game will still be a glorious defeat...”

Thinking about the open and hidden battles waged by both players so far, she still felt deeply shaken. Regardless of the outcome—countless people would be captivated by this game!

Just then, Higashiyama made another move.

Hearing the sound, the female recorder snapped out of her thoughts, looked up at the board, and prepared to log the move.

But when she saw the position—her expression froze slightly.

She didn’t quite understand it—but wasn’t too surprised. She had gotten used to it.

This game had already produced plenty of moves she hadn’t understood at first—only gradually grasped as the game progressed.

She looked away and recorded the move.

Tap, tap, tap...

A few more moves later, it was Higashiyama’s turn again.

When the female recorder looked at the board—she suddenly froze on the spot!

“This...”

She stared intensely at the board. A drop of cold sweat slowly slid down her cheek.

Not just her—the two referees also stared at the board. In that moment, they seemed to realize something—eyes wide, pupils constricting sharply!

Right now—the entire world, everyone watching this match, had their eyes glued to the board, unable to look away!

At this moment, every move Higashiyama had placed—

—had become a massive web.

And now, it was tightening all at once!

Everything that had seemed unclear—every mystery—was suddenly resolved with this move!

“Oh my... God!”

Everyone stared blankly at the board, barely breathing—only the thunderous beating of their hearts could be heard.

Looking at this game—it felt like standing at the foot of a towering mountain, gazing up at its summit disappearing into the clouds.

“Black, right here—”

“Has forced a ko fight that should never exist under proper play! On such a complex board—both sides have countless ko threats!”

“This ko... it’s an earth-shattering ko!”

“He’s going to use this world-shaking ko to ignite a board-wide revolt—fighting White with everything he has!”

“This... is Black’s only path to survival!”