Seeing Yu Shao agree, the young man finally pulled out a chair and sat opposite him.

The people around exchanged glances. From the first game between Wu Zhixuan and the girl until now, several hours had already passed, and their legs were getting sore from standing.

However, not a single person thought of leaving. Everyone remained rooted in place, silently waiting for the game to begin.

Their emotions were extremely conflicted and complicated. It was somewhat absurd—before the girl and Yu Shao played, they initially thought Yu Shao was unlikely to win, but he did.

Now, with the young man about to play Yu Shao, they felt the young man was unlikely to win.

Soon, the young man gathered all the stones on the board back into the go bowl, then looked up at Yu Shao. Although his expression was calm, it was very serious as he said, “Let’s nigiri.”

Yu Shao also looked at the young man. Despite the mask, the young man’s deep brows and facial contours showed he was good-looking.

The young man reached into the go bowl and grabbed a handful of white stones, rubbing them tightly in his palm. Seeing this, Yu Shao also reached into the bowl and took out two black stones, placing them on the board.

The young man released his hand, and five white stones fell onto the board.

“Five stones, odd number. I play black,” the young man said, staring at the stones on the board.

“I play white.”

Yu Shao nodded. He had guessed an even number and was wrong, so naturally he played white and replied calmly.

Quickly, the two put the stones back into the bowl and exchanged boards with each other.

The young man bowed first and said, “Please teach me.”

“Please teach me,” Yu Shao replied immediately with a bow.

Hearing Yu Shao’s reply, everyone’s expressions grew more solemn, focusing intently on the still empty board, as if foreseeing a thrilling battle.

The girl’s skill was obvious to all, and as the young man was her companion, his skill was likely not inferior—most likely, he wouldn’t disappoint.

The game had begun!

The young man focused intently on the board, and after a moment, finally reached out and picked a black stone from the go bowl, then slowly placed it down.

Clack!

With a crisp sound, a single stone appeared on the previously empty board!

Column 16, row 4, star point!

Yu Shao looked at the board, pondering whether to choose the star point or komoku. After a moment, he made a decision, picked a stone, and gently placed it on the board.

Clack!

Column 4, row 16, star point!

Seeing Kang Jun’s move, the young man slowly picked another stone and placed it down.

Column 11, row 18, large point!

Wu Zhi didn’t think too much and quickly placed her stone.

Column 4, row 4, star point!

Black played star-komoku, right;

white played twin-star formation!

This was an extremely classic opening. Compared to twin-star versus twin-star, star-komoku versus twin-star appeared more often in professional matches because this formation was complex, unpredictable, and highly flexible.

Compared to twin-star versus twin-star, this opening, with both sides vying for influence and speedily occupying large areas, star-komoku versus twin-star could either pursue speed for rapid expansion and fighting or scatter the board into a battle of fine moves.

Countless famous games, countless intense battles, countless brilliant moves began with this formation.

The expressions of the people around grew even more serious.

Soon, the young man picked another stone and placed it down lightly!

Clack!

Column 14, row 16, large knight's move defending the corner!

“Large knight's move defending the corner?”

Seeing this move, everyone slightly raised their eyebrows. Even Wu Shuheng and Wu Zhixuan, the siblings, were a little confused.

Usually, komoku corner defense was small knight's move, creating a safe corner, but the large knight's move defending the corner was extremely rare, or rather, there was only one professional player who favored the large knight's move defending the komoku corner.

Wu Shuheng and Wu Zhixuan couldn’t help but turn to look at Yu Shao’s back.

Yes.

That player was Yu Shao.

And Yu Shao was now sitting opposite the young man, quietly watching the large knight's move black stone on the board.

Seeing the young man play the large knight's move defending the corner, Yu Shao’s expression didn’t change much. He soon picked a stone and responded.

Column 17, row 3, 3-3 point!

“He went to 3-3...”

Someone chuckled softly and whispered, “If this game had been played two years ago, everyone would probably think they didn’t know how to play Go.”

“Indeed.”

A person beside nodded deeply in agreement, saying, “The large knight's move defending the corner and the 3-3 point—either move would baffle players from two years ago.”

“The way Go is played has changed drastically compared to two years ago...”

Someone who overheard their conversation sighed with emotion, “These things—I couldn’t even dream of them two years ago.”

Clack, clack, clack...

Black and white stones began falling rapidly on the board.

The surrounding people soon stopped talking and concentrated deeply on the game, immersing their minds and bodies once again in the match.

Soon, the young man looked at the board, thought for two or three seconds, and placed another stone.

Clack!

Column 7, row 13, large knight's move!

Seeing this move, everyone’s expressions changed slightly.

“As expected, not just some ordinary player traveling with that girl.”

Among the crowd, a buzz-cut young man was somewhat shocked and said, “This move doesn’t directly attack the vulnerable black stone but instead stays ambiguous in the center, supporting the black stone above and threatening the white stones pressing from the lower right!”

“Just this move alone, I couldn’t learn it even after a hundred years. On this board, I remember this move, but if the board changed, I definitely couldn’t play it.”

The burly man beside nodded with a heavy expression, “But the terrifying thing is, even if someone can play such a move infused with the spirit of heaven and earth, he still might not be a match for that young man.”

Silence fell all around. No one responded.

The previous game with the girl had been so brilliant with the black stones, leaving an indelible deep impression.

So now, even seeing this large knight's move, they didn’t think the black stones had much chance of winning!

Clack, clack, clack...

Behind the young man, the girl also nervously watched the game. She clearly understood how terrifying the young man’s skill was. For him, this move was probably just a casual move.

Even so, this was a move far beyond many people's reach. Yet after playing the last game, in her heart, she still felt the young man might not necessarily win.

“No, how could I think that?”

The girl quickly dispelled the thought that the young man might not win, “Senior Brother Sato will definitely win;

he is Senior Brother Sato, after all... Kisei!”

Clack!

Clack!

Clack!

The sounds of stones falling continued endlessly. After seven or eight moves, black placed again.

Clack!

Column 14, row 15, diagonal move!

Seeing this move, many people’s expressions twisted with confusion.

“Black could have attacked white, but didn’t? Instead, he played a diagonal here to reinforce?”

“White has weaknesses there. Reinforcing might be too conservative, making it slow!”

“He probably knows white is hard to deal with, so he dares not launch a fierce attack to decide the game, preferring to play it safe. But the stronger the opponent, the more you should fight! Fighting is the only chance!”

In their eyes, white’s shape was obviously thin, visible to the naked eye, no doubt about it. So black attacking was the strongest and most correct choice.

But after black’s attack, the board would become dangerous, and black would also be at risk.

This diagonal move strengthened black’s position. Although not a bad move, it was a bit slow and not tight.

Such slow moves were okay in ordinary games but could be fatal in high-level matches!

That was why after the small knight's approach to corner, that ancient diagonal move was eliminated by the times.

People whispered with some confusion.

“Slow move?”

Behind the young man, the girl couldn’t understand the discussion, but judging by their expressions, she guessed what they were talking about.

She was the only one in the room who saw the true purpose of this move!

“No... that’s not it!”

The girl stared intently at the board.

She had understood one move and felt the unparalleled power hidden behind this overwhelmingly strong move!

“From a local perspective, directly attacking white is the strongest, but looking at the big picture, it’s not necessarily so!”

“Senior Brother Sato has seen that a fierce attack on white, though somewhat aggressive, isn’t enough to seriously harm white. If you spend many moves attacking, white’s group is indeed in danger, but... white’s rapid expansion of influence actually becomes easier!”

“Even if that white group is truly killed, if white controls too many large areas, the dead stones might still have many uses!”

“The thinness of that white group isn’t necessarily exposed by black’s pressure;

perhaps white deliberately exposed it!”

“Therefore, Senior Brother Sato’s diagonal move seems like a reinforcement but is actually waiting and watching, preserving the possibility of attacking white while ready to fight for the crucial point!”

The girl glanced at the young man in front of her and breathed a sigh of relief, no longer so nervous.

“As expected of Senior Brother Sato. If it weren’t for this diagonal move, I wouldn’t have seen this at all.”

Yu Shao lowered his eyes, staring at the board. Seeing the young man’s diagonal move, his expression was a bit surprised.

“No attack, but reinforcing by diagonal—coincidence, or...”

After thinking for a moment, Yu Shao placed another stone.

Clack.

A clear stone placement sound rang out.

Column 15, row 11, small knight’s approach!

Seeing Yu Shao’s non-attacking small knight’s approach, everyone was stunned.

Next moment, the young man quickly followed up with a move.

Column 16, row 14, extension!

Seeing this move, Yu Shao’s eyes grew serious. Playing this meant the previous diagonal move was no coincidence;

his opponent had truly seen through the hidden killing intent on the board!

Soon, Yu Shao picked another stone and placed it down.

Clack, clack, clack...

Both sides alternated moves, black and white stones shining like stars on the Milky Way!

However, everyone else was completely baffled, struggling to understand what was happening.

“What does it mean?”

“White clearly has thinness;

black doesn’t attack;

white doesn’t reinforce?”

“Is this... my problem?”

Everyone, including Wu Zhixuan and Wu Shuheng, stared tightly at the board. As the game progressed, their expressions grew increasingly confused.

Logically, the focus of the battle should be the white group that was thin but had potential. If that white group really grew strong, black would be stuck!

But from here on, they couldn’t understand the moves at all.

“White’s 74th move is a knight’s approach;

it looks like he’s attacking black!”

“Black’s connection looks heavy and clumsy, but white suddenly turns to run. After black pushes, white already shows flaws, but...”

“But black seems to be sleepwalking, playing a large knight’s move as a delayed move. White’s threat is urgent. Black’s 81st move sacrifices stones to fight?”

Confusion and amazement filled the air.

Before Wu Shuheng could figure it out, Wu Zhixuan’s pupils suddenly shrank. She realized something and her face showed shock!

“No, I completely misunderstood!”

Wu Zhixuan couldn’t help but shout, staring at the young man opposite Yu Shao in disbelief.

“Black and white aren’t fighting over the present, but the future. Even if they get injured now, they accept it. They are contesting the big areas!”

“Hundred-stone knight’s approach looks like suicidal recklessness but is actually a threat of self-sacrifice to suppress black. Black’s connection is unmoved, showing flaws, true, but to fight for the big picture, white naturally turns and runs!”

“Since white runs, black attacks fiercely. After black pushes, white is indeed crushed, but white would rather self-harm than give up the big picture. After assessing, black had to give up the attack and choose the large knight’s move!”

That delayed move was actually a delayed attack. The hundred-stone knight’s approach was the most aggressive move, leaving no breathing room for black, so black decisively cut off the limb and sacrificed stones!

Only then did Wu Zhixuan finally understand what Yu Shao and the young man were playing—a game full of traps and killing moves like a spider’s web, each move a deadly strike, each step terrifying enough to make one’s scalp tingle with fear!

Before, they had been completely unaware, only confused and unable to comprehend.

Hearing Wu Zhixuan’s explanation, the questions that had troubled everyone else were finally answered. The truth was finally revealed!

But the answer was too shocking!

Looking at the game again, black’s moves were not random but played so well it made one’s scalp tingle and disbelief rise!

They lifted their heads in disbelief, staring at the young man opposite Yu Shao.

“J-Joking... right?”