I Really Didn’t Mean to Play Go!
Chapter 72: Three Consecutive Tenuki

The boy sitting opposite Yu Shao froze upon seeing White’s unexpected tenuki.

"Not reinforcing, but instead threatening my right flank?"

He quickly regained his composure and responded by grabbing a stone and placing it decisively.

Snap!

Row 1, Column 13: Turn!

Facing White’s tenuki, Black refused to back down, launching an attack on the right flank in a bid to claim a valuable area and seize the initiative.

Yu Shao appeared unfazed, calmly responding with another stone.

Snap!

Row 2, Column 14: Connect!

The battle intensified as stones clattered onto the board, drawing the audience's complete attention. The sound of each move echoed in the otherwise silent hall.

Snap!

Row 3, Column 12: Attach!

Yu Shao’s gaze flickered as he reached for another stone.

Snap!

Row 17, Column 8: Extend!

"He’s… tenuki again?!"

The crowd erupted into whispers.

The first tenuki had already left them puzzled, but this second one defied belief.

White had been aggressively attacking the left flank, but their shape wasn’t without flaws. By playing tenuki again, White allowed Black’s position to grow thicker.

While the large area White claimed was undeniably important, this move seemed to weaken their offensive momentum on the right flank. Black even seemed poised for a counterattack.

Yet, at this critical juncture, White tenukied once more, this time targeting the left flank and ignoring Black’s attempts to turn the tide.

"No, wait..."

He Yu’s eyes widened as realization struck.

"Black does have a chance to counterattack, but White is aiming for a bigger initiative on the right flank!"

"White is abandoning the left flank, settling for survival there. By securing the large area on the right, Black will have no way to recover!"

He Yu took a deep breath, steadying his racing thoughts.

"White saw through Black’s earlier press trap. Even knowing it was a trap, they provocatively entered, seemingly inviting a counterattack. But by giving up the left, they’re putting immense pressure on Black elsewhere!"

Across the board, the boy facing Yu Shao finally understood White’s intentions.

Clenching his jaw, he placed another stone close to White’s position.

Snap!

Row 15, Column 7: Jump!

"He’s following up? Why? Black still has opportunities on the left flank!"

The audience was baffled.

White had tenukied again, and the right flank didn’t look immediately dangerous. Shouldn’t Black counterattack on the left?

But as they analyzed the board more carefully, a chill ran down their spines.

"My… god!"

The spectators’ voices wavered with awe.

"White’s clamp earlier subtly shifted the dynamics on the right. After this second tenuki, White now has a brilliant move to press!"

"Moreover, even on the left flank, White’s position seemed precarious. Black had set a trap earlier. But in hindsight, White’s tenuki was perfect!"

The realization hit them like a tidal wave.

They hadn’t noticed the meaning behind Black’s press, nor had they seen the brilliance of White’s tenuki. Only after White’s second tenuki did the entire picture become clear.

The delayed realization left them feeling insignificant—like ants gazing up at the vast heavens.

"You’ve finally noticed?"

Yu Shao wasn’t surprised when Black chose to pursue the fight on the right. After a brief pause, he picked up another stone and placed it.

Snap!

Snap!

Snap!

Stone after stone fell on the board, each one more intense than the last.

The room grew utterly silent as everyone stared at the game, holding their breaths.

"Black’s recent moves are excellent," Su Yiming muttered, his eyes fixed on the board. "But White’s responses are even sharper, breaking Black’s influence on the edge and transitioning to capture stones below."

"If Black plays a peep, it would be their strongest move, threatening a capture race and forcing White into a tight spot on the right."

The boy across from Yu Shao hesitated, deep in thought. After a long pause, his eyes lit up as he seemed to have found the answer. Grabbing a stone, he placed it quickly and pressed the timer.

Snap!

Row 14, Column 10: Peep!

The crowd murmured in approval.

"A peep! A fantastic move!"

"This could lead to a capturing race and even open the possibility for a ko fight."

"Coming up with such a move in this situation… as expected of a former dojo trainee!"

However, Su Yiming’s expression remained calm, showing no sign of excitement.

"The peep is resilient, but White has a sharp response that could push directly through."

"But..."

His eyes reflected the entire board as he murmured, "The strongest, most decisive, and most graceful response for White is undoubtedly—"

Yu Shao reached for another stone.

"It’s undoubtedly… Row 3, Column 13: Push!"

Snap!

Row 3, Column 13: Push!

The entire hall fell silent.

Su Yiming exhaled deeply, his gaze fixed on Yu Shao.

"He saw it."

All eyes were drawn to the single white stone, trembling in awe.

White had once again chosen to tenuki, this time ignoring Black’s threats and launching a fierce attack on the neglected right flank.

The boy across from Yu Shao froze. His fingers, holding a black stone, slackened, and the stone slipped from his grasp.

Clatter.

The sound of the stone dropping back into the bowl broke the silence.

He stared at the board, his expression vacant, as if his soul had been drained.

White’s previous tenuki had targeted the right flank, making it the main battlefield. Now, by tenukying back to the left, the board’s entire dynamic had shifted.

One move sealed Black’s fate.

Continuing to play would only lead to utter annihilation.

After a long silence, the boy lowered his head and, through gritted teeth, whispered, "I… I lost."