Mountain Sea Go Club.

"Hmm..."

Zheng Qin stared gloomily at the Go board before him, pondering for a long while before finally sighing and shaking his head. "Ah, I lost."

"You could have used the small knight's approach here too, right?"

Yu Shao thought for a moment, then reached out to point at a black stone on the board.

"Why?"

Zheng Qin looked puzzled, frowning slightly as he considered this. He picked up a stone and demonstrated the variations following the small knight's approach: "If I did that, you'd just make the hane-connect, wouldn't your central white group become even thicker?"

"It would indeed become thicker. But if black plays in this corner, the white stones would actually be in danger."

Yu Shao quickly picked up stones to demonstrate another variation where black responds differently to white's small knight's approach.

As Zheng Qin watched, his eyes gradually brightened with realization. "So that's how it works! I never considered playing that way. I thought my jump move was quite brilliant!"

Hearing this, someone at a nearby table couldn't help but tease: "Well, that's why Yu Shao is the National Champion! If you could play like Yu Shao, Zheng Qin, you'd be the National Champion too!"

"Hey hey hey, can't you say something to cheer me up?"

Zheng Qin pretended to be furious. "I've improved a lot, you know!"

The group exchanged glances and burst into laughter, the air filled with cheerful atmosphere.

"Thinking back, it's really quite remarkable..."

A middle-aged man suddenly spoke up nostalgically. "Even now, I remember vividly your first game at this club."

"Back then, neither of you were even professional players. Yet in the blink of an eye, Yu Shao has won the National Champion title, and Zheng Qin has made it to the main tournament of title matches."

These words drew everyone into reminiscence.

"True, Zheng Qin has always been our club's pride. That time when Yu Shao suddenly played the 3-3 point strategy, I thought - does this kid even know how to play Go?"

Someone marveled, continuing: "I stopped watching then, but later someone told me Zheng Qin had lost. I felt like the sky had fallen!"

"Yeah, who didn't feel that way?"

An old regular nodded in agreement, as if seeing that scene from two years ago again. "Zheng Qin couldn't accept it either. For days he holed up in the club, analyzing the game repeatedly, waiting for a rematch."

"I also thought Zheng Qin must have underestimated his opponent. If Zheng Qin had gone all out, Yu Shao wouldn't have stood a chance. So I stayed at the club every day too, waiting for their next match."

His tone mixed teasing and nostalgia as he continued: "When they finally played again, Yu Shao won once more, with moves so strong they seemed impossible. I was completely stunned!"

With exaggerated expression, he added: "After witnessing that game, I had only one question - how was this possible? Just who the hell is this Yu Shao guy?"

A younger member laughed: "That was the National Champion from two years in the future. If you'd known then, you wouldn't have been so shocked."

"Hahaha, true enough."

The old regular chuckled. "Who's this? Someone who can beat Zheng Qin? Oh, the National Champion from two years later? That explains it."

"But the most unbelievable part was the 3-3 point strategy. Even when Yu Shao won, I thought it was a terrible move that only worked because of sheer skill difference. Yet now, the 3-3 point is considered good strategy!"

Someone looked solemnly at Yu Shao. "Zheng Qin, you didn't lose unjustly!"

Hearing this, Zheng Qin rolled his eyes. "Why do you all keep reopening old wounds?"

"Hahaha!"

The group laughed even harder at this, even Yu Shao couldn't help smiling as those memories resurfaced.

Back then, he had just arrived in this world. It was here that he played his first game after transmigration against Zheng Qin, then the second, the third... up to now.

All those memories seemed connected by one game after another.

After the National Championship ended, Yu Shao had no immediate tournaments, so when Zheng Qin - having qualified for the main tournament of the Great Go Player title - invited him to the club for training matches, Yu Shao agreed.

Thus for several days, Yu Shao had been playing games daily with Zheng Qin at Mountain Sea Go Club.

Gazing at the board, Yu Shao seemed to see again that first game against Zheng Qin.

Back then, Zheng Qin had been clearly inexperienced. Even when Yu Shao deliberately went easy, victory came effortlessly. Though Zheng Qin's midgame play in their second match gave him a scare, the outcome remained the same.

But now, after two years in the professional Go world, Zheng Qin's play was completely transformed, bearing the vision and spirit of a true master. Even Yu Shao couldn't afford carelessness against him now.

"He's clearly grown."

Yu Shao thought silently.

Just then, Zheng Qin suddenly looked at Yu Shao and said after some thought: "Yu Shao, you seem... to have become even stronger than before."

Yu Shao blinked in surprise.

Zheng Qin turned his gaze back to the board and continued: "Actually, after our games these past days, I've been reviewing the records with other professionals. Not just me - they feel the same."

"Oh?"

Yu Shao smiled in response.

At this simple question, Zheng Qin fell silent.

He couldn't help recalling last night's discussion with several professionals about yesterday's game, particularly what 8-dan Chen Haiming had told him.

After analyzing the game and preparing to leave, he'd noticed Chen Haiming still seated, staring blankly at the board.

When asked why, Chen Haiming's answer had been unforgettable.

"The old Yu Shao was certainly strong, but even knowing I might lose, I still felt confident facing him - that victory was possible."

"But the current Yu Shao... I find I've lost that confidence."

"In fact, I suspect if I really sat across from him now, I might... lack even the courage to lift a stone."

Now, Chen Haiming's words seemed to echo in his ears again.

After long silence, Zheng Qin nodded slightly. "Yes, it's not just me. Others agree."

Yu Shao also fell quiet, looking again at the board.

Going from zero to sixty is easy;

the true challenge lies from ninety-five to one hundred. While Zheng Qin had grown, Yu Shao's own skills had finally begun advancing again.

All were striving forward in the vast ocean of Go.

After a moment, Yu Shao smiled. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it."

Zheng Qin exhaled deeply, then changed the subject: "By the way, Su Yiming mentioned you two have unfinished business? You don't have any scheduled matches - was this a private arrangement?"

Frowning slightly, he added: "This caused quite a stir online. If it's a private match, reporters will surely fight to broadcast it. The Go association won't miss this opportunity either."

"It's private, after the China-Korea-Japan team competition."

Yu Shao explained: "Su Yiming suggested we play again after both winning titles - a match to decide title ownership between us."

As these words fell, complete silence enveloped the Go club.

Zheng Qin stared dumbfounded at Yu Shao before his eyes gradually widened. "What? Decide title ownership?!"

"Yes."

Yu Shao nodded.

Seeing this confirmation, Zheng Qin's mind reeled.

"That's insane! Those are titles we're talking about!"

It took Zheng Qin a while to recover. "And it's too irregular - the association would never agree! Titles can't be decided through private matches!"

"I don't know about that. Honestly, whether it actually decides titles doesn't matter to me."

Yu Shao shook his head. "What matters is I want to play him again too. Our last game was the captain selection before the China-Korea-Japan team competition - so long ago now."

"Do you think you can win?"

Zheng Qin couldn't help asking: "He lost every previous match against you."

"Having studied his Great Go Player tournament games, I believe I can." Yu Shao answered after consideration.

"So confident?"

Zheng Qin was taken aback. "You sound certain of victory?"

At this, Yu Shao grew quiet.

After a pause, he suddenly said: "But those were his Great Go Player tournament games - not the title challenge matches."

Zheng Qin froze at this.

Yu Shao recalled Su Yiming's words after the National Championship.

Clearly, even Yu Shao could see Su Yiming had felt pressured watching his matches.

Yet Su Yiming's eyes showed no retreat - rather, they burned with even fiercer fighting spirit, shining brightly.

Like a lion baring its fangs!

"The Great Go Player title match is best-of-five with only two days between games, so the entire event is brief. But however short, he won't stop improving."

Yu Shao reached into the stone box, slowly picking one up. "He'll push himself to the limit, advancing with everything he has."

"So when the Great Go Player tournament ends, the opponent sitting across from me may be completely different from before the challenge matches!"

With that, Yu Shao swiftly placed the stone on the board!

"In short!"

"I'll be waiting for the moment he sits before me again."

Click!

The stone's clear sound echoed through the room.

......

A week passed in a flash.

Though the National Championship's fervor had faded from top trending spots, it remained a hot topic online.

Then on the eighth day, a new term rapidly climbed to first place, reigniting discussion of the championship:

The Great Go Player tournament was about to begin!

This year's event garnered unprecedented attention, rivaling even the recently concluded National Championship.

After all, Yu Shao's championship performance had stunned everyone.

And Su Yiming - often mentioned alongside Yu Shao - had vowed publicly to claim the title, heightening anticipation for his performance.

For three straight days, the tournament dominated online discussions.

Finally, as the clock struck twelve, with countless fans eagerly waiting, the countdown began!

Nine hours later, a black car stopped outside Southern Go Academy. Su Yiming stepped out.

"Yiming, do your best!"

His mother in the passenger seat couldn't hide her nervousness, encouraging him: "Just stay calm and play like you always do!"

Su Yiming nodded. "Mom, Dad, you can go. After today's match, I'll fly directly to Chuhan City."

"Alright, no pressure. Even if you lose the first match, it's best-of-five..."

After more parental reassurances, they finally said goodbye and drove off.

Watching them leave, Su Yiming turned and entered the academy, passing through the lobby into a hallway, stopping only at the Go room's entrance.

Here, the first match of the Great Go Player title challenge would be decided!

Pushing open the door, Su Yiming entered.

Inside, two referees and a recorder had been waiting. Seeing Su Yiming arrive first, they all turned to him.

"Good morning, 3-dan Su Yiming."

A referee greeted him.

"Good morning."

Su Yiming nodded, then walked directly to the central table, taking his seat to await his opponent's arrival.

The officials observed him quietly, surprised by his composure.

"Remarkably calm."

A referee thought: "Though often mentioned alongside Yu Shao, can he really match Yu Shao's championship performance?"

Yu Shao's championship play had been breathtaking, especially the final match's strategy of surrounding without killing, which stunned the world.

Even now, professionals still analyzed every move of that game.

Now it was the Great Go Player tournament.

How would Su Yiming perform?

He didn't know - but he wanted to find out.