This Isn't a Game for Ordinary People

Xia Wen gazed curiously at the Go board, watching Xu Ziqin skillfully pick up black and white stones, placing them one after another on the board.

At first, Xia Wen hadn't paid much attention, but after Xu Ziqin made her fifth move, she couldn't help but freeze.

"A 3-3 point?"

Xu Ziqin nodded slightly, offering no explanation, and continued to place stones.

Xia Wen frowned slightly, continuing to watch the board, feeling puzzled.

The player using white was clearly a novice. How could they make such a poor opening move as the 3-3 point? Why would Xu Ziqin want her to watch a game like this?

Xia Wen knew Xu Ziqin's personality well and understood she wasn't someone to act without reason. So, despite her confusion, she patiently continued to watch.

As the game progressed, Xia Wen's expression slowly began to change.

Her expression shifted from confusion to surprise, then to seriousness, and finally, to an unprecedented gravity.

At first glance, it seemed the white player was completely incompetent. However, looking at the subsequent moves, it was clear that wasn't the case.

She could see that white's subsequent moves were all incredibly precise, and their attacking prowess was so sharp that even she, a professional Go player, felt immense pressure!

The entire living room fell into an profound silence, broken only by the sound of stones being placed on the board.

Finally, Xu Ziqin made the last move.

Tap.

White, Dragon Slaying Victory.

The living room remained silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Xia Wen stared intently at the board, her beautiful face etched with shock. Unbeknownst to her, beads of cold sweat had appeared on her forehead.

"This game... reached this level?"

Xia Wen murmured in disbelief.

Xu Ziqin didn't answer, also gazing at the game.

Even though she had watched the entire game at the Go salon before, seeing it replayed now still felt incredible.

"The player using white was Zheng Qin?" Xia Wen suddenly asked.

As soon as the words left her mouth, Xia Wen negated her own question. "No, I've seen his games. While he's not weak, he definitely couldn't play like this. So, was it Zheng Qin playing black? But this... this is far beyond his usual skill level."

"Zheng Qin was playing black."

Xu Ziqin nodded and asked, "Teacher, how was it? What was the skill level of the white player?"

"Very strong. No, extremely strong."

Xia Wen stared intently at the board, pondered for a moment, and then pointed to the center of the board, saying gravely, "Here, an ordinary player would have unhesitatingly chosen a small knight's move.

"But white played three consecutive extensions. The depth of this concept is immense; it's not a move an ordinary person could make."

"And here, too."

Xia Wen pointed to another spot. "Black's jump here was intended to set a trap, luring white to attack. This move was very subtle, but white saw it and even exploited it, turning the tables on black."

"Moreover..."

Xia Wen took a deep breath. "Although white's move to tuoxian and then push surprised me quite a bit.

"But what I found most unbelievable was white's attack after sacrificing stones twice. Almost every move was precise, every attack was fatal, and it flowed seamlessly, without any hesitation!"

"Brilliant moves made in a flash of inspiration are certainly praiseworthy, but a single brilliant move can win a game, not many games."

"What truly determines the outcome of a game are always the seemingly insignificant fundamental moves!"

Hearing this, Xu Ziqin paused for a moment and then asked, "So, Teacher, what do you think the skill level of the white player was?"

Xia Wen shook her head. "It's hard for me to say. Although Zheng Qin played far above his usual level in this game, many of his moves still seemed too immature and unpolished.

"Therefore, I can't judge the opponent's skill level based on Zheng Qin's play. Unless I play a game against the white player myself."

"So, I can only make the simplest judgment: the player using white possesses at least the level of a professional Go player."

Xia Wen paused, then looked at Xu Ziqin and asked, "So who was playing white? Was it also a professional player?"

"No."

Xu Ziqin shook her head. "He's a classmate of mine from the same school. His name is Yu Shao."

"Ah?"

Upon hearing this answer, Xia Wen's beautiful eyes widened, and she exclaimed, "Your classmate? Did he come from a Go dojo?"

"According to him, no."

Xu Ziqin said, "He also hasn't had any teachers instructing him in Go."

"Another one who hasn't trained at a Go dojo or had a Go teacher?" Xia Wen sounded incredulous.

"Another one?"

Xu Ziqin keenly caught the key word in Xia Wen's statement.

"Yes."

Xia Wen nodded and said, "Actually, I only found out a few days ago. He's a freshman at Guangnan High School, named Su Yiming."

"He's interested in signing up for this year's High School Go League. To test his skill, his teacher played a game with him, and then, he won."

"What was his teacher's skill level?" Xu Ziqin asked.

Xia Wen replied, "Amateur 5-dan."

"He just beat an Amateur 5-dan?"

Hearing this, Xu Ziqin couldn't help but feel a bit puzzled.

If he just beat an Amateur 5-dan, how could that compare to the skill Yu Shao displayed in that game?

Although Amateur 5-dan is already very, very strong among ordinary people.

"That's right, he just beat an Amateur 5-dan."

Xia Wen nodded, then added, "But, it was a teaching game."

"A teaching game?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Ziqin was slightly stunned.

A teaching game, by definition, is a game played with the aim of guiding the opponent toward correct moves. During such a game, the teacher would not play ruthlessly in pursuit of victory.

Playing a teaching game for an Amateur 5-dan?

It might not be difficult to defeat an Amateur 5-dan, but to be able to play a teaching game for an Amateur 5-dan, the required skill level would far exceed that of an Amateur 5-dan.

"It's quite funny, isn't it? A student playing a teaching game for his teacher, turning things upside down."

Xia Wen found it somewhat amusing and said, "His teacher knows He Yu 5-dan. He sent the game record to him, and a few days ago, He Yu 5-dan sent it to me. Do you want to see this game? I can set it up for you."

"Yes, thank you, Teacher."

Xu Ziqin nodded.

Soon, Xia Wen finished setting up the board and began placing stones. Xu Ziqin watched quietly from the side.

Clack.

Clack.

Clack.

The crisp and pleasant sound of stones being placed echoed through the living room.

After a while, Xia Wen made the final move.

"Alright, Black has played here, and White concedes."

Xia Wen looked up at Xu Ziqin and asked, "So, what do you think after watching this game?"

Xu Ziqin's beautiful eyes were fixed on the board, and she remained silent.

"It seems you've given me your answer. It's quite incredible, isn't it? It really was just a teaching game. Black suppressed White from beginning to end, but never played aggressively."

Xia Wen looked at the board and commented, "Even though it was a teaching game, you can see that Black's style is flexible and varied, playing moves that are as unrestrained as a soaring celestial horse. It has the style of the Go Sage, Shen Yi. He must have studied many of his game records."

Speaking of which, Xia Wen couldn't help but sigh, "Geniuses emerge one after another. Your classmate, this Su Yiming, and you, Ziqin. As a professional player, I feel immense pressure!"

"But, fortunately, Ziqin, you're destined to inherit the family business."

Xia Wen smiled and teased, "Otherwise, if you had dedicated yourself to Go, with your talent, you might have already become a professional player, and I wouldn't be your Go teacher anymore."

Xu Ziqin fell into silence.