When Kong Zi mentioned the Torch Battle, everyone's expressions became somewhat peculiar.

Indeed, the Torch Battle had only happened a year ago - the first match all professional Go players enter upon joining the professional circuit. As the name suggests, it symbolizes the passing of the Go torch to the next generation.

Yu Shao's partner in that Torch Battle match had been Kong Zi himself. It was also during that game that the 3-3 point strategy first appeared before the world's eyes.

Looking back at that Torch Battle match with today's perspective after a year, there's something almost humorous about it.

Now that research into the 3-3 point strategy has deepened considerably, when they review that Torch Battle match, many feel Kong Zi was actually holding Yu Shao back in that game...

After all, at that time, no one's understanding of thickness and thinness had yet changed.

So privately, many people had teased Kong Zi about that Torch Battle match - something Kong Zi was undoubtedly aware of.

"Hahaha, so you must be Yu Shao? I've heard so much about you. Truly, heroes emerge from the young."

A slightly plump middle-aged man suddenly broke the somewhat awkward atmosphere, smiling as he extended his hand toward Yu Shao. "I'm Zhang Yufang, the director for today's promotional video shoot."

Yu Shao immediately turned to Zhang Yufang, shaking his hand with a smile. "An honor to meet you, Director Zhang. I've watched your film 'Red Flutter' multiple times - truly excellent work."

Hearing this, Zhang Yufang's face lit up with delight, immediately taking a liking to Yu Shao. With false modesty, he said, "Oh please, that film wasn't even up to my own standards."

"If that's your 'unsatisfactory' work, I can't imagine what your satisfied ones must be like!" Yu Shao said with exaggerated surprise.

Zhang Yufang paused slightly, giving Yu Shao a surprised look before his smile widened further. "Hahaha, for such a young 3-dan, you certainly know how to sweet-talk."

As a renowned director, Zhang Yufang had met countless young prodigies, but most carried an air of arrogance.

He had assumed Yu Shao would be the same, perhaps even more so given his unprecedented achievements at such a young age - the kind that typically bred hubris.

Moreover, Go players weren't exactly known for their social graces, having spent most of their time immersed in the game rather than navigating complex social situations.

Yet meeting Yu Shao today, Zhang Yufang was pleasantly surprised to find him quite humble and polite, instantly raising the director's opinion of him.

"Now that both our leads are here, let's prepare to start shooting quickly and wrap this up efficiently."

Zhang Yufang turned and called out to the makeup artist, "Xiao Li, do Yu Shao 3-dan's makeup."

"On it!"

A woman in her mid-twenties with meticulous makeup promptly responded, grabbing her kit and approaching Yu Shao. Once he was seated, she immediately brought out foundation to prepare his face.

"Director Zhang, what's your vision for the shoot?"

During the makeup session, Yu Shao curiously asked Zhang Yufang.

Adjusting his camera lens, Zhang Yufang smiled at the question. "Ever read wuxia novels?"

Wuxia novels?

Yu Shao paused before slowly nodding. "Of course."

"Perfect."

Jiang Changdong chimed in enthusiastically: "I want to capture that wuxia novel atmosphere - the feeling of two peerless masters in a climactic duel."

"Honestly, since I play Go too and can understand what's happening, when I watch two players compete, I genuinely get that vibe of two swordmasters battling at Mount Hua."

"We'll use cooler, darker lighting with intense drumbeat background music, employing extensive montage editing to rapidly switch scenes and accelerate the promotional video's pacing..."

Zhang Yufang unleashed a torrent of professional jargon. Though Yu Shao only partially understood, he could tell Zhang Yufang was extremely confident about this shoot.

"Director Zhang seems quite assured about this production," Yu Shao remarked with a smile.

"It's just a promotional video - how complicated could it be? The whole thing's only two or three minutes - we'll finish shooting in a morning. The post-production color grading, editing and scoring will take longer."

Zhang Yufang smiled. "You'll just need to make some expressions - intense concentration, solemnity - then keep playing moves."

"Understood. I'll do my best."

Yu Shao nodded with a smile.

Soon after, once both Yu Shao and Jiang Changdong had finished makeup and the multiple cameras in the Go room were properly adjusted, Zhang Yufang gave the order and filming finally commenced.

True to Zhang Yufang's word, the shooting process wasn't complicated. Yu Shao and Jiang Changdong simply recreated a recorded game, placing stones while following directions for specific expressions.

Notably, to emphasize the match's intensity, Zhang Yufang even had crew members spray water on their faces to simulate sweat.

The entire two-minute promotional video took nearly two hours of repeated takes before they finally wrapped.

"Okay, that's a wrap! Great work, both of you!"

Zhang Yufang gave Yu Shao an okay sign, smiling. "Now we just have post-production - should take a day or two. We'll send you both the final cut for review."

With filming finally complete, Yu Shao couldn't help but exhale in relief.

Though he'd merely been sitting at the board pretending to play, having to maintain specific expressions made this over an hour session more exhausting than an actual game.

At least it was finally over.

As filming concluded, Jiang Changdong finally set down his prop folding fan.

Jiang Changdong didn't actually have a habit of using fans during games - this was Zhang Yufang's idea. The fan bore the characters "National Champion," as Zhang Yufang claimed it gave the senior player more gravitas.

Throughout the shoot, Jiang Changdong had it much easier, mostly just needing to maintain a composed expression.

After completing the promotional video, Yu Shao finally understood Zhang Yufang's vision.

Though neither he nor Jiang Changdong had any lines, Zhang Yufang clearly wanted to tell a story through microexpressions.

After all, Jiang Changdong was the current National Champion and senior player, while Yu Shao was the young challenger.

Thus from the start, Yu Shao was instructed to appear solemn, frequently gazing tensely at the board in deep thought.

Meanwhile, Jiang Changdong lightly tapped his folding fan against his palm, the picture of an unshakable master.

This told the story of a young player challenging a veteran, with Zhang Yufang clearly aiming to show the senior's calm confidence.

However, after a close-up of Yu Shao placing a stone, Zhang Yufang had Jiang Changdong start looking more serious, increasing his fan-tapping frequency.

This obviously marked the story's turning point where the composed veteran begins feeling pressure, the game reaching fever pitch.

Then came sequences of both players placing stones with beads of sweat on their brows - clearly depicting an evenly matched, intense battle.

The promotional video ended abruptly here without showing the final result, though the game record Zhang Yufang chose ultimately had Jiang Changdong (playing black) winning.

Naturally so - this being just a promotional video meant to pique curiosity, there was no precedent for showing actual outcomes in such previews.

"Looking forward to the final product," Yu Shao said with a smile.

"Don't worry, it'll be explosive!"

Zhang Yufang patted his chest proudly. "Though post-production isn't done, I can already see the final version in my mind."

At that moment, Jiang Changdong suddenly looked at Yu Shao.

After a silent pause, Jiang Changdong slowly rose from his seat and finally spoke: "With the promotional video done, all that remains is the championship match itself."

Yu Shao blinked in surprise before nodding.

Jiang Changdong's gaze lingered on Yu Shao momentarily before he turned to leave the Go room without another word.

As he reached the door and placed his hand on it, Jiang Changdong seemed to remember something, pausing abruptly.

"There's much talk online about you starting a revolution in Go - that a new era has arrived."

Jiang Changdong's back remained turned as he spoke without looking back: "An interesting notion, don't you think?"

These words stunned everyone present, all eyes turning to Jiang Changdong's retreating figure.

Still facing away, Jiang Changdong continued: "If you win, the media will feast on it - a seventeen-year-old champion, Go's new era - both sensational topics."

"It would prove the times are progressing, that the tide of a new era has come - such an uplifting narrative."

"Besides, I've held this National Champion title long enough."

With Jiang Changdong refusing to turn around, no one could see his expression as he spoke these words, leaving everyone perplexed as they stared at his back.

What did this mean?

Was Jiang Changdong planning to throw the match?

Even Kong Zi frowned slightly at Jiang Changdong's retreating figure.

Yet everyone understood Jiang Changdong's point - the media would undoubtedly prefer Yu Shao claiming the title, given its sensational potential.

A seventeen-year-old National Champion would send shockwaves globally - undeniably huge news.

Just then, Jiang Changdong spoke again—

"Fortunately, I've held this title long enough - otherwise I might have missed it."

"So let's see exactly how Go's so-called 'new era' intends to clash with the old!"

With that, Jiang Changdong finally pushed open the door and strode out.

The Go room's atmosphere instantly grew tense.

All eyes turned back to Yu Shao.

A clear power play!

Everyone recognized Jiang Changdong's words as an unmistakable show of dominance, signaling his supreme confidence about the upcoming title match.

Facing the collective gaze, Yu Shao found himself momentarily at a loss for words.

"That old fox Jiang Changdong."

Suddenly, Kong Zi's voice cut through the silence with a curse.

As surprised looks turned toward him, Kong Zi approached Yu Shao and said gravely: "I don't buy his act of confidence for a second."

"If he were truly certain of victory, he'd never say such things. I've played him too many times - I know him well."

Kong Zi continued: "He's feeling the pressure. Don't let his intimidation tactics get to you."

"It's fine."

Yu Shao shook his head, finally standing up himself. "Words mean nothing. The National Championship challenge match begins in a few days."

Kong Zi's eyelid twitched slightly at this, momentarily speechless.

"I'll take my leave too."

With that, Yu Shao strode out of the Go room.

With both Jiang Changdong and Yu Shao gone, the remaining occupants exchanged bewildered looks.

Among them, Zhang Yufang - recalling their almost palpable confrontation - suddenly took a deep breath and whispered to his assistant: "I think... I have some new ideas for post-production."

The assistant stared wide-eyed as Zhang Yufang's gaze followed the departed players, alight with inspiration.

"We can't limit this to just the board!"

Zhang Yufang inhaled sharply. "We should broaden the scope - this isn't just two players competing, but two eras colliding!"

"I have a feeling this championship match will defy all expectations. I can't wait to see the actual game!"

......

Having exchanged WeChat contacts during the shoot, Yu Shao received Zhang Yufang's final cut just two days later - a product completely different from what he'd imagined.

Yu Shao had expected a narrative of a young challenger facing a veteran who transitions from calm confidence to pressured intensity before their climactic battle.

Instead, the final version omitted Jiang Changdong's initial composed sequences entirely - both players appeared serious from the first move.

Zhang Yufang's directorial prowess shone through as rapid drumbeats accentuated each stone placement, somehow transforming a Go match into something resembling armies clashing on a battlefield.

What truly impressed Yu Shao was the color grading - his scenes featured warmer, brighter tones while Jiang Changdong's appeared cooler and shadowed.

The video culminated in a wide shot with Yu Shao on the left and Jiang Changdong on the right - one light, one dark, distinctly divided!

This wasn't just about their black/white stone colors - it symbolized something far more profound!

New versus old! Light versus dark! Black versus white!

[How is it? Not bad, right?]

Zhang Yufang messaged.

Yu Shao quickly replied—

[Director Zhang, this is absolutely brilliant!]