At some point, Bai Zao had arrived beside the pavilion and stood quietly among her fellow disciples.
The breeze lifted her veil, revealing her delicate, frail face.
Her fine brows were slightly knitted, and she seemed somewhat worried.
The other Zhongzhou Sect disciples were not worried in the least that Tong Yan might lose, their expressions perfectly calm. Only Xiang Wanshu was earnestly calculating the position on the board.
Guodong stood outside the crowd, neither close to nor far from Zhao Layue and the others. While everyone was watching the pavilion, she was watching Zhao Layue.
Zhao Layue knew she was watching her. Ordinarily, she would certainly have looked back, but now she would only watch Jing Jiu.
Bored with watching, Se Se held out the grilled fish in her hand to Zhao Layue and whispered, "Don't turn your nose up at it. It really is delicious."
Zhao Layue shook her head. She rarely ate, whether on Green Mountain or elsewhere.
Watching this, Guodong looked satisfied.
He Zhan suddenly shouted, "How can you play that move? It makes no sense!"
Everyone around them looked toward the pavilion, wondering who had made a misstep.
Inside the pavilion, Jing Jiu and Tong Yan continued quietly studying the board, as though they had not heard him.
Jing Jiu had played that last move. To many people, it seemed perfectly ordinary and safe, and they could not understand why He Zhan had reacted so strongly.
Tong Yan made his response, setting down a white stone with seeming casualness.
This move was also ordinary and safe.
Who would have expected He Zhan to shout again, "That makes even less sense!"
Many eyes turned toward him.
People did not understand why this expert in the Way of Go was reacting so strongly to two such ordinary