The second match of the Great Go Player Tournament concluded with Su Yiming achieving a mid-game dragon-slaying victory.

This meant the next match would be the deciding game. If Su Yiming won again, the tournament would end directly. Only if Fu Shunan emerged victorious would there be a possibility for a fourth match.

After a moment, Yu Shao withdrew his gaze from the television screen and turned to the Go board before him.

If the previous match showcased Su Yiming constructing a grand framework and overwhelming Fu Shunan with astonishing boldness, this match was purely a contest of calculation and attacking power.

In Yu Shao's view, Su Yiming still had shortcomings. He clearly understood where the gap between Su Yiming and himself lay.

Yet Su Yiming's keen insight into complex board situations and his formidable oppressive force in battle surpassed every Go player Yu Shao had encountered in both his past and present life.

"Over a year's time, the current him is completely different from the one at the high school Go league."

Yu Shao silently studied the board, replaying in his mind every move from start to finish like fleeting shadows.

He still remembered their first encounter at the high school Go league.

Back then, while he found Su Yiming unexpectedly strong, it was merely that - strong enough to surprise but not enough to truly command attention.

The gap between them had been obvious - over a year's worth!

Fu Shunan's opponent, let alone himself - even if Su Yiming gave his all, the disparity between them seemed unbridgeable.

He had never imagined that in just over a year, Su Yiming would catch up to this level.

"Will the final match directly conclude the Great Go Player Tournament?" Yu Shao pondered silently.

Judging from these two matches, Su Yiming's skill should surpass Fu Shunan's. But Go had too many variables, and Fu Shunan was by no means weak either. Yu Shao couldn't definitively say Su Yiming would win the next match.

"All we need to do is wait..."

Yu Shao focused on the board, slowly picking up a black stone and placing it gently.

"Wait for the day he appears across from me!"

Clack!

The stone landed on the board.

Column 8, row 10 - hane!

Only when they heard the stone's landing did Xu Zijin and Zheng Qin finally emerge from their absorption in the recently concluded Great Go Player match and turn their attention to the board.

Immediately, expressions of astonishment appeared on their faces.

"Black plays hane here?"

Zheng Qin's eyes widened gradually. "An utterly unexpected position!"

"But..."

His face showing amazement, Zheng Qin involuntarily stood slightly and exclaimed: "Upon reflection, this move is quite remarkable!"

Beside him, Xu Zijin simply stared fixedly at the board, her beautiful eyes trembling slightly.

"Facing white's aggressively formed tiger's mouth, white's natural response would be to advance. But Jiang Ying... chose hane instead."

"This move follows the natural flow, deeply understanding Go's principles of movement and stillness, perceiving all potential variations on the board."

"This move comes from an elevated perspective, calmly surveying the entire situation while observing major trends!"

Yu Shao naturally couldn't know Xu Zijin's thoughts. Seeing Zheng Qin's astonished expression and glancing at the board again, he felt rather satisfied with this move himself and said with a smile: "It should be acceptable."

"Acceptable?!"

The more Zheng Qin contemplated this move, the more profound its implications seemed. His mind raced through potential follow-ups as he uncontrollably reached out to demonstrate: "If play continues like this, white will be in danger!"

Zheng Qin demonstrated several variations, growing increasingly amazed with each one.

Finally, after showing the small knight's approach continuation, he paused and frowned slightly: "Though if white plays small knight's approach here, there seem to be countermeasures!"

"If white plays small knight's approach, black doesn't necessarily have to bend - actually, shoulder hit is possible."

Yu Shao considered, picked up a stone, and placed it gently, continuing Zheng Qin's variation while explaining: "Shoulder hit may appear to concede the low position, letting white develop outward, which seems unfavorable."

"But because this stone limits white's efficiency, white's outward influence isn't as thick as imagined. If black wants to attack, there are methods available."

Watching Yu Shao demonstrate this line, Zheng Qin's eyes gradually brightened: "I see! Because white's outward influence appears overwhelming, I instinctively dismissed this move. In reality, while white's influence seems formidable, there are cutting points to exploit!"

"Exactly."

Yu Shao smiled in response. Zheng Qin hadn't considered shoulder hit because of lingering traditional Go concepts. Although many viewpoints in the Go world had been overturned recently, not everyone could adapt immediately.

Take Zheng Qin - though he knew allowing opponents to form massive outward influence wasn't as terrifying as believed, he still instinctively worried about it, hence missing this shoulder hit opportunity.

This issue couldn't be changed overnight.

Some players adapted quickly, others slowly, and some never changed at all - in his past life, such players eventually faded away in the AI era.

These unadaptable players might have created numerous famous games and produced many stunning brilliant moves, but once the AI era arrived, their legends ended.

"If shoulder hit is played, white can only wedge, then black reinforces with tiger's mouth, white cuts here..."

Zheng Qin enthusiastically extended his hand, speaking while continuously demonstrating follow-up variations on the board. The more he played out, the more awed he became by the game development after Yu Shao's hane move.

"Here, white should probably jump."

As Zheng Qin spoke, he reached into the stone container again, about to pick up another stone when suddenly a slender, pale hand reached onto the board, pressing down on the stones.

Zheng Qin paused momentarily, his right hand freezing in the container.

Yu Shao also looked up in surprise, seeing Xu Zijin's amber-like eyes fixed intently on him.

"Xu Zijin, what's wrong?"

Feeling slightly unsettled under her gaze, Yu Shao couldn't help asking.

"Yu Shao, play a game with me."

Xu Zijin continued staring, as if fearing refusal, and added: "It's been a long time since we played, hasn't it?"

"Play a game?"

Hearing this request, Yu Shao felt puzzled but quickly nodded: "Sure."

"What I mean..."

Xu Zijin maintained her intense gaze, pausing before finally saying: "Let the version of you from the third National Hand Championship match play - let... the you who made this hane move play!"

These words stunned Yu Shao, leaving him dumbfounded as he looked at Xu Zijin across from him.

Zheng Qin also froze momentarily before lifting his head to look at Xu Zijin.

"That match, your playing style was completely different from before. Many thought it was just a one-time inspiration, since players occasionally changing styles isn't uncommon."

Xu Zijin's gaze remained locked on Yu Shao, as if trying to see through him completely: "But that wasn't the case for you, was it?"

"I've known you far too long. Precisely because of this, I understand you well. In fact, your earliest games most resembled that third National Hand match - they've become less similar over time!"

"This hane move you just played isn't something one could conceive so simply - it requires that specific experience as foundation!"

"In other words, the style from that third National Hand match should be what suits you best, right?"

Hearing this, Yu Shao stared blankly at Xu Zijin, opening his mouth but failing to produce words for a long while.

What Xu Zijin said was correct.

Although he'd been playing his current style for nearly two years, the style from that third National Hand match - he'd played it his entire previous life, across countless games!

"I can't confirm whether my speculation is correct, but if it is—"

Xu Zijin paused before continuing: "I want to play against him!"

Her eyes never left Yu Shao for even a moment, containing a resoluteness as if she'd made up her mind. Placing her right hand over her heart, her voice carried a hint of urgency: "Let me... play against him!"

Silence.

The private Go club room fell completely still.

Yu Shao had never seen Xu Zijin like this before. She'd always been rather aloof, giving the impression that nothing could greatly affect her emotionally.

Yet now, her tone carried urgency - even a trace of pleading!

"Xu Zijin..."

Beside them, Zheng Qin looked at Xu Zijin distractedly, feeling moved as never before.

Though Xu Zijin was a girl with lesser Go skills than himself, at this moment Zheng Qin felt inferior to her.

What Xu Zijin said - hadn't he realized it too?

After all, he was the first to play against Yu Shao!

Those two games at Mountain Sea Go Club, while different from the third National Hand match, clearly bore more resemblance to it than later games did!

After watching the third National Hand match, his first thought had been those two games at Mountain Sea Go Club!

He'd also wondered - could that style be Yu Shao's most natural one?

But he'd dismissed the thought, not dwelling on it further.

After all, if that match represented Yu Shao's ordinary level rather than inspired brilliance, it would be too shocking.

He couldn't imagine how anyone could consistently play at that level - that overwhelming positional style seemed designed to crush opponents' morale.

Even Jiang Changdong, renowned as the Dragon-Slaying Sage, hadn't stood a chance, suffering his most devastating defeat without any opportunity to fight back!

A half-point loss.

Before this match, Zheng Qin had never imagined "half-point loss" could be described as "devastating"!

For this reason, though similar thoughts to Xu Zijin's had crossed his mind repeatedly, he'd never asked. Even if true, he didn't want to play against that version of Yu Shao.

Because, honestly... he'd stand no chance of winning.

Professional players were proud - even low-ranked ones, because becoming professional already marked them as geniuses. Especially top professionals like themselves.

What kind of courage would it take for such a professional to face having zero chance of victory?!

Yet now, Xu Zijin was saying—

She wanted to play against that Yu Shao!

Tick, tock, tick, tock.

Only the wall clock's ticking broke the private room's silence.

......

Yu Shao looked at Xu Zijin, remaining silent.

During the National Hand Championship, he'd resolved to bid farewell to his past.

But this wasn't Xu Zijin's request - it was... a Go player's request.

A Go player's desire to face a strong opponent.

Yu Shao himself knew that while his current self had improved and was strong, he probably still couldn't match his past self's level - after all, he'd played that style for nearly thirty years in his previous life.

Perhaps, regardless, he should respond to this kind of expectation from a fellow player.

After a silent moment, Yu Shao finally spoke: "I understand."

Without confirming or denying Xu Zijin's speculation, he simply said: "Let's play."

Hearing this, Xu Zijin took a deep breath and moved beside Zheng Qin, who silently stood up to yield his seat.

Xu Zijin pulled out the chair and sat across from Yu Shao.

"Nigiri?"

Yu Shao asked while clearing the board.

"I'll take black."

Xu Zijin replied calmly.

Yu Shao said nothing. He remembered during their Jiangling High School days, no matter how many times she lost, Xu Zijin always insisted on nigiri.

But this time... she wasn't requesting nigiri - she wanted black's first move advantage.

Though black faced a 7.5-point komi handicap, Xu Zijin excelled at playing first - even with komi, black retained initiative.

"Alright."

Yu Shao nodded, quickly finished clearing, pushed the black stones to Xu Zijin, and kept white for himself.

Xu Zijin accepted the container, then bowed slightly to Yu Shao: "Please instruct me."

"Please instruct me."

Yu Shao returned the courtesy.

The game began.

Xu Zijin studied the board briefly before extending her slender right hand, picking up a stone, and making the first move.

Clack!

Column 17, row 3 - 3-3 point.

Yu Shao silently picked up a white stone and placed it gently.

Column 4, row 16 - star point.

Clack, clack, clack...

The two began exchanging moves as Zheng Qin stood beside the table, silently observing the match unfold, listening to the crisp stone placements echoing continuously.

As the stones fell frequently, time passed minute by minute.

Finally.

After an hour.

Xu Zijin gazed at the complex board before her, clenched her left fist. Though she'd been mentally prepared...

Ultimately, she lowered her head and said: "I resign..."

Beside them, Zheng Qin could only respond with profound silence.

He'd watched the entire game from start to finish. Xu Zijin's performance had shaken him deeply.

Yet in the end, black couldn't create any waves before the game concluded.

This match had begun quietly, and ended just as silently.