The Scales That Would Decide the Winner

Yu Shao studied the black stones on the board. After a moment's thought, he pincered a stone and placed it on the board.

Tap!

Thirteenth column, tenth row—Jump!

Zheng Qin bit his lower lip and immediately played a stone.

After falling behind, Black chose to launch an active attack against White. For a while, both sides played at lightning speed, engaging in a fierce struggle and clash over the open space on the left wing!

"Black had clearly fallen behind, so why did he choose to attack first? If White finds an opportunity, won't Black lose quickly?"

Watching the game, someone looked puzzled by Black's move. "White is obviously in a much stronger position. Shouldn't White be the one pressing the advantage?"

"No. It's precisely the opposite."

Someone immediately shook his head. "That's the thinking of an ordinary player. For experts, precisely because they've fallen behind, they have to choose a powerful attack."

"Only by muddying the waters can they find a glimmer of hope."

"Otherwise, against an opponent of equal Go strength, they can only wait to die!"

"White was the one seeking a fight before, but now, Black is probably the one most eager to drag the game into a complicated and fierce battle. As for White, what he wants most now is stability!"

"What we need to see now isn't whether Black can kill White—that's nearly impossible—but where Black can guide the game!"

Hearing this, everyone felt a faint chill in their hearts.

Tap!

Tap!

Tap!

As the stones continued to fall, the game grew increasingly complicated. Black was like a starving lone wolf lurking in the forest, ready to bare his fangs at White at any moment!

The murderous atmosphere of the game affected everyone as well, and gradually, not a single sound could be heard.

Just then, Black played again.

Eighth column, seventh row—Hane!

"He played a Hane?"

Seeing this move, everyone couldn't help widening their eyes in disbelief.

Wasn't he putting himself in danger?

But after thinking it over carefully, everyone instantly grew excited!

"There's actually a Hane here? I completely failed to notice it!"

"At first glance, after Black plays this Hane, White can shoulder-hit and put Black in immediate danger. But if you think about it carefully, you'll realize Black has a counterattack near the Mokuhou!"

"That makes the position extremely complicated. Although Black could be wiped out completely with the slightest mistake, White is in danger too!"

"If White doesn't shoulder-hit and instead chooses to cut, White will still have the advantage, but Black will get a chance to catch his breath!"

"As expected of Little Zheng. I never considered this Hane. Or rather, even if I had considered it, I would have dismissed it without analyzing it deeply, wouldn't I?"

Yu Shao lowered his eyes and stared at the board.

"A Hane?"

He had indeed considered that Black might play a Hane, but when Black actually chose it, he was still somewhat surprised.

"Indeed, if White chooses a shoulder hit, the position will become extremely complicated, and White will be in danger too."

"But if White doesn't shoulder-hit and instead cuts, Black can strengthen his position..."

After a moment, Yu Shao finally reached into the Stone Box and picked out a stone.

His hand swept down from on high!

The stone struck the board with a metallic ring that echoed throughout the entire Go room.

Eighth column, sixth row—Shoulder hit!

The white stone landed on the board, gleaming brightly!

The entire room fell deathly silent.

Everyone was stunned. They stared blankly at the white stone on the eighth column, sixth row, their faces filled with disbelief.

"He chose... a shoulder hit?!"

A moment later, the entire room nearly exploded. The move was even more unbelievable than the previous press.

"Why?!"

"After the shoulder hit, Black will be in even greater danger, but the position will become so complicated and chaotic that Black will have a counterattack too!"

"If White cuts, he'll still have the advantage. Why take the risk?"

"Could he really be so confident that he won't make even a single mistake in such a complicated position?"

"Exactly. If White cuts, then as long as he plays steadily from here, he'll most likely still win!"

Even Zheng Qin was stunned when he saw the shoulder hit.

Although the shoulder hit was indeed the first move that came to mind, and playing it would immediately place Black under White's pressure, the problem was that if White thought more deeply, he would see that Black had a counterattack as well.

So had White failed to see it?

No, impossible. Even if the others couldn't see it, he definitely could.

Zheng Qin was certain that Yu Shao, the high school student sitting across from him, had seen it.

But even after seeing it, he had still chosen the shoulder hit.

Zheng Qin let out a long breath, clenched his teeth, reached into the Stone Box again, picked out a stone, and slammed it down!

At once, Black and White began playing one stone after another, engaging in another fierce battle. The position was locked in a stalemate, with neither side able to gain the upper hand!

Everyone stared fixedly at the board, unwilling even to blink.

Even while merely looking at the board, they seemed to feel the thick aura of slaughter spreading from the game. Both sides had bared their sharp edges, intent on sending the other to their death!

"If I choose a pincer attack, perhaps he'll attach directly? That would create problems in the shape, so... should I use a two-space extension?"

Yu Shao reached into the Stone Box and examined the position.

"But that move seems a little too crafty."

"Then I might as well extend directly."

With that thought, Yu Shao finally placed his stone.

Eleventh column, third row—Extend!

Zheng Qin stared intently at the board. When he saw Yu Shao's move, he quickly played one of his own.

Yu Shao thought for a moment, reached into the Stone Box, and played again.

Second column, thirteenth row—Invasion!

Soon, six more moves were played, and it was Zheng Qin's turn again.

Zheng Qin stared fixedly at a point on the board, reached into the Stone Box, picked up a stone, and placed it as if he couldn't wait another moment.

"Clack!"

The stone landed on the board with a crisp sound!

Ninth column, fourteenth row—Reverse move!

Yu Shao was just about to play, but when he saw where Zheng Qin had placed his stone, he froze for a moment.

A reverse move?

At that moment, the surrounding spectators also fell completely silent.

Every face was filled with shock.

"A reverse move?"

Someone swallowed, his throat dry, his face pale with astonishment, and blurted out, "Black actually ignored the Ugly Shape and pushed in with a reverse move, cutting White apart instead!"

At that instant, the crowd seemed to explode!

"White wanted to seize the urgent point earlier, while Black played three consecutive Hane moves. I thought he only wanted to connect the large dragon and had given up the fight over territory, but now it seems..."

"Everything Black did was preparation for this reverse move!"

"Black's path to survival has appeared!"

"Little Zheng... played the most dazzling move of all!"

Yu Shao stared intently at the board, constantly calculating the variations that would follow.

This reverse move had indeed been beyond his expectations. He had seen the move earlier, but he hadn't expected Zheng Qin to actually be able to play it at his level.

If he had known, he would have chosen the more aggressive two-space extension earlier instead of simply extending outward!

That was because this reverse move was not a pattern an ordinary player could think of. It was even completely contrary to normal thinking. An ordinary amateur Go player would find it extremely difficult to play such a move.

Yu Shao reassessed the position, and his expression finally grew solemn.

"I did underestimate him. He... isn't that weak!"

"He isn't an ordinary amateur Go player!"

After Black's reverse move, the connection between the two large groups of white stones had been severed. Even the three large dragons were now at risk of attack!

Yu Shao reached into the Stone Box.

"Looks like I'll have to show no mercy!"

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