That High Schooler Was Incredibly Strong

After a brief silence, the crowd finally began to stir, followed by a wave of sighs and murmurs.

"What? So he doesn't know how to play at all."

"You got me all worked up just now, and this is what you show me...?"

"Even beginners should know that opening with a 3-3 Point is a bad move. This kid probably only knows the basic rules of Go, right?"

"Boring, boring. I'm leaving."

Quite a few people lost interest upon seeing that 3-3 Point. Some even shook their heads and left outright, convinced there was no longer any suspense in this game.

A 3-3 Point in the opening? Was he kidding?

Anyone with even a little knowledge of Go knew that playing the 3-3 Point was shortsighted.

Although the 3-3 Point occupied a vital point and secured solid territory, it came at the cost of giving the opponent limitless outside influence!

During the opening phase of Go, every move was crucial. Any casual move could be worth more than twenty-five points.

Therefore, playing the 3-3 Point in the opening was absolutely a case of losing the greater for the lesser—an atrocious move.

Zheng Qin glanced at Yu Shao and found it rather amusing. He had almost started taking this seriously just now, but his opponent was obviously a complete Go novice.

"Then I'll go a little easy on him."

After pondering briefly, Zheng Qin picked up another stone and gently placed it.

Tap.

Third column, fourth row, Block.

Yu Shao followed immediately, placing his stone.

Fourth column, third row, Crawl.

For a while, both sides played at lightning speed. Black and white stones fell one after another, and more than a dozen moves were completed in no time.

Yet as the crowd watched the game unfold, they gradually noticed something strange, and their expressions turned astonished.

"Something's off."

"That kid doesn't look like he can't play. You could even say... his opening is remarkably steady!"

"Exactly. His style isn't very common, and some of his moves are strange, but it's obvious he knows how to play. His level should even be pretty good."

"Then why did he play the 3-3 Point directly on his third move?"

"Well... who knows."

"If that kid knows Go and still deliberately played the 3-3 Point, wouldn't that be an insult to his opponent?"

"No idea. But he did waste a move on the 3-3 Point in the opening. Even if he's playing steadily now, once Little Zheng's outside influence takes shape, he won't be able to stop it."

Hearing that, quite a few people nodded in agreement.

The disadvantage caused by opening with the 3-3 Point was simply too great. Even if that high schooler truly had some skill, it would be difficult for him to make up the gap. Besides, Zheng Qin was sitting across from him.

Within the crowd, Xu Ziqin remained silent. She only furrowed her brows slightly, her beautiful eyes fixed tightly on the Go Board as though she were searching for something.

For some reason, she felt that while the current position appeared calm on the surface, turbulent undercurrents lay hidden beneath. Whenever she looked at it from White Stone's perspective, she felt an overwhelming sense of danger.

Yet no matter how hard she searched, she couldn't figure out why.

"An illusion?"

But Xu Ziqin quickly rejected that possibility.

"No, it's definitely not an illusion."

"There must be something somewhere, something concealing... unimaginable danger!"

Just then, Yu Shao picked up another Black Stone.

His hand descended from on high, and the stone struck the board with a crisp, metallic sound.

Tap.

Eight-twelve line, Cut!

"What?"

"Th-this is...?"

"Are you serious? Black Stone actually went after him?"

That single move was like a bomb exploding through the crowd. Everyone gasped sharply, their faces filled with disbelief. Even Xu Ziqin was momentarily stunned when she saw it.

Black Stone had actually chosen to launch an attack at this moment?

"How could he dare?"

Someone nearly lost his voice as he blurted out:

"Previously, Black Stone secured territory through the 3-3 Point, while White Stone kept developing outside influence. White's outside influence is terrifying now. At most, Black should rely on his territorial advantage, hold firm, then counterattack from defense!"

"Black Stone occupies the 3-3 Point, so he's extremely solid. If Black can seize on one of White's mistakes and take a vicious bite, then even though White had a huge opening advantage, Black may still have a chance!"

"But he chose to attack proactively???"

It wasn't just him. No one else could understand Yu Shao's move either.

In their eyes, calling Black Stone a rabid dog wouldn't have been an exaggeration.

And White Stone was a lion!

Yet now, this rabid dog had bared its sharp fangs at the lion, intending to bite through its throat!

Zheng Qin was also stunned when he saw that Cut.

He had already picked up a stone and was about to place it, but the hand holding the stone froze in midair.

"Cut...?"

Only after a long while did Zheng Qin take a deep look at Yu Shao before finally placing his stone again!

Smack!

Seven-twelve line, Extend!

The moment Zheng Qin placed his stone, Yu Shao followed suit. Both sides once again played in a flurry, crisp stone-placement sounds ringing out without pause.

But it was obvious that the atmosphere had become completely different from before.

During the earlier opening phase, the spectators had still chatted and whispered among themselves, discussing every move. Now, however, almost no one made a sound.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

The sounds of stones being placed continued without end.

Everyone stared intently at the Go Board, completely immersed in the game. As they watched each stone fall, it was as though they saw flashing blades and clashing swords, saw schemes and deception.

The game had now reached the point where one move affected the entire board, plunging into the fiercest and most brutal fight to the death!

"Are you kidding me? I don't even dare breathe!"

No one knew how much time had passed before someone finally couldn't help speaking. Even as he spoke, though, his eyes never left the Go Board.

"Same here."

A young man beside him said with a face full of shock, "This is incredible, they're too strong! Zheng Qin being strong is one thing, but that high schooler is unbelievably strong too!"

"When White Stone counterattacked Black's vital point, Black should have played a Hane, but instead chose the counterintuitive Throw-in, forcing White Stone to retreat!"

"And in the face of Black Stone's desperate biting attack, White's response was flawless too. Especially that Tenuki to Connect—the overall judgment was incredible. It's simply breathtaking!"

"I even feel like I'm watching two Professional Go Players facing off!"

Someone immediately said, "Exactly, I feel the same way! Someone can actually play Zheng Qin to this extent? Who is that kid? Did he come from a Go academy?"

"No, I heard he's just an ordinary high school student. He hasn't even earned an amateur rank," someone beside him answered.

"How is that possible?!"

The man couldn't help staring wide-eyed. "An ordinary high school student without even a rank can play like this? Can he really match Zheng Qin move for move?"

"To be honest, I don't really believe it either... How could a kid without professional training reach this level?"

Amid the crowd, Xu Ziqin continued staring at the Go Board without saying a word, but inwardly, she rejected everyone else's assessment.

"Evenly matched?"

Xu Ziqin lowered her gaze.

"No..."

"It's definitely more than that. Black Stone chose to attack proactively. White Stone clearly held the advantage, yet has now begun defending. That means White Stone is gradually falling into a disadvantage!"

This is a niche genre, so please support it carefully. I beg you to keep reading and add it to your collection!!!