Everyone around was utterly confused. Seeing Wu Zhixuan’s move, they felt it was incredibly abrupt, even bordering on incomprehensible.

“Just now, the moves looked so good?”

“A good opening doesn’t guarantee the middle game. Once it enters the complicated middle game, there can still be shortcomings. Female players tend to favor aggressive killing tactics, and that’s a universal truth. This board actually demands a fierce kill.”

“However, taking such a risk can also be a legitimate strategy.”

Whispers spread quickly as everyone exchanged quiet remarks.

From their perspective, Black and White’s positions were almost equal. The hane was a desperate move;

although Black inflicted damage on White’s lower right corner, Black’s own formation became thin and vulnerable. It was a high-stakes gamble—too aggressive.

Among the crowd, a man in his thirties with thick hair furrowed his brows slightly.

He studied the board intently, and after a moment, suddenly froze. Then, as if realizing something, his eyes widened in disbelief: “No, maybe the situation isn’t what we thought!”

Hearing this, those next to him glanced at him with mild surprise and curiosity.

“Brother Zhou, what do you mean?”

The middle-aged man surnamed Zhou was clearly a regular at the Go hall, well known to everyone nearby.

Although his voice was low and many didn’t catch his words, seeing others look toward him, even those who missed his words cast glances his way.

“If the situation was truly evenly matched, then that hane would certainly be unreasonable.”

Brother Zhou stared at the board with a stunned expression and replied, “But maybe we misjudged the situation!”

Everyone was baffled, exchanging puzzled looks.

“White has external influence, and Black has a large empty area. It looks like an even fight, but Black’s large empty space below is actually based on White’s external influence forming a framework!”

Brother Zhou didn’t blink, continuing, “Normally, White’s huge external influence would naturally form a framework.”

“But if White holds back and doesn’t form the framework, instead uncharacteristically reduces influence shallowly, then Black is in danger!”

“So, just now, the two sides weren’t evenly matched. White actually held the upper hand!”

“That hane by Black, if this were a balanced game, would indeed be unreasonable. But in this situation, it might be... the strongest single response!”

Everyone was stunned by Brother Zhou’s explanation.

They looked back at the board and, following his reasoning, carefully considered the position. Their expressions began to change.

The atmosphere grew even quieter.

Tap!

Tap!

Tap!

The sound of stones being placed echoed sharply.

Nobody knew exactly when the quiet had fallen. There were no more whispers or side conversations. Everyone’s eyes remained fixed intently on the complex board, some even holding their breath.

Unconsciously, fewer and fewer people stood around the board watching. Even some players who were in the middle of their own games temporarily set their stones aside to gather around.

In the blink of an eye, another seventy moves passed. Yu Shao’s eyebrows were deeply furrowed, his teeth clenched tightly, face growing increasingly grim, sweat beads forming on his forehead.

In contrast, the girl opposite, though deeply focused, remained calm throughout.

Yu Shao frowned as he observed the game.

Although Wu Zhixuan had keenly sensed the shift in position and played the hane to disrupt the flow, the girl sitting opposite Wu Zhixuan responded with remarkably beautiful moves, surprising even him.

Black’s position had not improved;

at this point, it even showed signs of being unable to hold on alone.

“She’s not an ordinary amateur player...”

Yu Shao thought silently.

While some amateurs could match professionals and occasionally even defeat a 9-dan professional, Wu Zhixuan was a professional 4-dan. Even if this amateur was strong, winning wasn’t guaranteed.

But this game, judging by overall strategy, opening use, middle game tactics, calculations of fighting and sacrifice, and speed of moves... the girl opposite Wu Zhixuan was no longer an amateur.

Beside Yu Shao, Wu Shuheng had clearly noticed this too. His expression had become very serious at some unknown point.

Finally, after a long consideration, Wu Zhixuan played another hane, placing a stone on the board!

Tap!

The crisp sound of placement rang out!

Column 13, row 11, knight’s move!

Tap, tap, tap...

Both sides quickly placed stones again. In a flash, seven more moves were completed. It was the girl’s turn to move. She picked up a stone and placed it quickly!

“White’s shoulder hit just now completely dismantled Black’s hard-earned central attack...”

Watching the girl’s move, everyone present felt a chill, silently observing the fierce battle that made even the men watching sweat with embarrassment.

Time passed by the minute. Wu Zhixuan’s expression grew darker and darker, and her moves slowed down.

Finally, after ten minutes, when the girl played another hane and placed her stone on the board, Wu Zhixuan stared at the position in front of her, gritting her teeth but not continuing to place stones.

After about a minute, Wu Zhixuan lowered her head with difficulty, her voice heavy with discouragement: “I lost.”

“Thank you for the lesson.”

Hearing this, the girl opposite smiled slightly, bowed her head in a courteous gesture, appearing extremely composed.

The game was over...

Many people couldn’t quite recover, their eyes still fixed on the intricate board, seemingly immersed in the brilliant match.

Some withdrew their gaze from the board and turned to continue the games they had temporarily paused, though their moods were inexplicably complex.

“Let’s play another game. I underestimated you just now and didn’t show my full strength.”

Wu Zhixuan’s eyes flashed with stubbornness, clearly unwilling to admit defeat. While packing away the stones, she spoke in English, “Can we play another game?”

Those who had just been about to leave froze, their footsteps stopping immediately. Yu Shao looked at Wu Zhixuan with some surprise.

“Another game?”

The girl was slightly surprised but soon nodded and smiled: “Sure, let’s go.”

Upon hearing the girl accept Wu Zhixuan’s invitation for a rematch, the crowd’s eyes brightened. Those who had left immediately turned back, jogging to return.

Some, however, seemed to realize something and hurriedly turned and descended the stairs.

Thump, thump, thump!

Soon, a dense rush of footsteps mixed with voices rose.

“Really?”

“Two female experts? Experts? How expert can they be?”

“Why did they drag me upstairs? Downstairs, Old Wang and the others are having an exciting match.”

...

The group who had left earlier returned to the second floor, followed by a large crowd from the first floor. The faces of those coming upstairs were either filled with disbelief or confusion.

Very quickly, everyone surrounded Wu Zhixuan and the girl’s table, forming an impenetrable circle.

Wu Zhixuan ignored it all, as if unaware so many people were watching the game.

“All right!”

Wu Zhixuan quickly packed up the Go bowl, lifted her head, and fixed her gaze on the girl opposite. It seemed like only her opponent existed in her eyes as she said, “Let’s decide colors.”

The girl nodded and reached into the Go bowl, beginning the nigiri.

The result came quickly.

This game, Black and White remained the same: Wu Zhixuan played Black, the girl played White.

Wu Zhixuan rubbed the handle of her folding fan with her right hand, took a deep breath, and finally bowed to the girl: “Please instruct me.”

“Please instruct me,” the girl replied with a bow.

After the courtesy, Wu Zhixuan looked at the board with sharp eyes. She quickly reached out, pinched a stone, and placed it swiftly!

Snap!

Column 16, row 4, star point!

“This is only the first move, but you’re already this serious. The pressure almost reached me.”

The girl noticed the difference in Wu Zhixuan’s aura from before. Seeing her fierce determination, a smile appeared on her lips.

Soon, the girl pinched a stone and placed it on the board again.

Tap!

Column 4, row 17, small point!

“Snap!”

Just as the girl placed her stone, Wu Zhixuan quickly followed, pressing down her stone!

On the board:

Column 16, row 16, star point!

The girl thought for a moment, pinched another stone, and gently placed it down.

Column 4, row 3, small point!

At this stage, Wu Zhixuan used the twin-star opening, while the girl chose the rarer approach small point opening, creating a twin-star versus approach small point formation!

Wu Zhixuan thought for two seconds, then pinched another stone and placed it swiftly!

Tap!

Column 3, row 5, small knight’s approach!

“Responding with small knight’s approach?”

The girl stared at the board, deep in thought.

“The simplest response here is to retreat the shoulder hit to resolve it. The fight for entanglement aims to pressure the white stone threatening the small knight’s approach. To fight evenly, the alternative is to also use small knight’s approach to approach the star point corner.”

“But these moves are a bit too common and lack novelty. She just played the 3-3 point, right? Otherwise...”

The girl glanced at Wu Zhixuan, finally reached into the Go bowl, pinched a stone, and placed it on the board!

Tap!

Column 17, row 3, 3-3 point!

“Bring it on!”

Seeing White play the 3-3 point, Wu Zhixuan was slightly stunned but quickly recovered, gritting her teeth as she pinched another stone from the bowl and placed it stubbornly!

Tap!

Tap!

Tap!

Both sides quickly placed stones again. The onlookers grew increasingly serious.

After White’s 3-3 point, the game didn’t ease with simple extensions or sacrifice maneuvers. Instead, following the small knight’s approach and retreat, the Great Storm Joseki unfolded, opening the curtain on the fiercest killing battle!

Those who had come from the first floor initially looked indifferent, but as the game progressed, they became stunned, then extremely focused.

...

...

Phoenix Go Hall, first floor.

“Boss, why’s business so bad today?”

Several men in their thirties walked into Phoenix Go Hall together and saw the nearly empty hall, with only a few scattered players. They expressed surprise: “That doesn’t make sense. The Phoenix Cup is about to start. The Go halls in this ancient city should be packed, right?”

“There are quite a few people, but they’re all upstairs watching a game.”

The bald boss looked puzzled: “Two young girls are playing. I heard the match is pretty intense.”

“Two female players?”

The men were stunned for a moment and exchanged glances.

“Not watching the epic battles of the big guys, but watching two girls fight?” One man laughed, “How exciting can two girls’ game be?”

“Don’t say that. Back then, Kojima Ritsuko, a 9-dan, showed no weakness against male players. She slaughtered all the men.” Someone shook his head with a smile.

“Kojima Ritsuko was indeed formidable, but no female player has ever won a world championship. She was the closest, but then Master An Hongshi came along.” Another laughed.

“Why don’t we go upstairs and take a look first?”

A burly man thought for a moment and asked.

“Sure, no rush with our games. Let’s go see.” The others agreed and nodded.

Soon, they agreed and headed upstairs.

After arriving on the second floor, they saw the game table so tightly surrounded that even mosquitoes couldn’t get through. They couldn’t even see the board.

“Are you kidding me?”

One man was dumbfounded: “What’s going on here?”

“We can’t squeeze in. Let’s stand on chairs and take a look.” The burly man said.

He hadn’t wanted to watch the game initially, but this scene piqued his curiosity.

They quickly found chairs and stood on them to finally see the board.

Just looking at the board, before they could even judge the position, they were stunned: “Why is this so complicated?”

On the board, Black and White stones were tightly tangled in five or six groups, inseparable, dazzling to the eye.

Tap, tap, tap...

Black and White stones continued to be placed alternately.

Watching the moves, the expressions of the burly man and his group gradually changed.

“So strong.”

One man stared at the board in awe: “I thought White would patch the cut just now, but White immediately sacrificed and reignited the battle. Too fierce to imagine.”

“Black didn’t sit still either. The hane-connect handling was beautiful, willingly sacrificing stones to White. The fight is ferocious.” The burly man also expressed disbelief.

As the stones continued to fall, time ticked by.

But everyone kept their eyes glued to the board, seemingly forgetting time, completely immersed in this intense battle!

Yu Shao stood silently behind Wu Zhixuan, watching this revenge match. By this point, he had already foreseen the result.

Not only Yu Shao, but Wu Shuheng also had a darkened expression and said, “Looks like... Zhixuan is still no match for her.”

Tap!

Tap!

Tap!