“Counter-attack, just as Toya-sensei said.”
“As expected, he wants to stabilize himself by counter-attacking black stone.”
“How will black stone choose? Defend? Continue the fierce attack?”
The white counter-attack wasn't a particularly brilliant move, and everyone showed a look of sudden realization.
Toya Akira was stunned, vaguely feeling that something was wrong.
He could figure out that this wouldn't work in the end, so there was no reason why the stronger Shindo Hikaru couldn't calculate it.
Considering this, he couldn't help but gather all his attention and conduct a thorough search of the entire board.
“Stabilize himself? Impossible!”
“That's it, the white piece's intention isn't in the middle.”
“There! He... he's aiming at the three black stone pieces in the Right Lower Corner!”
“A moment ago, he was threatened, but now he wants to ignite another battle.”
“The outcome is unclear... but his courage is commendable.”
Toya Akira muttered to himself, confirming that white was up to something, and immediately locked onto the new battlefield.
Ao Ying glanced at the counter-attack, unmoved, as the advantage was on his side.
The black stone piece slowly rose into the air and gently fell.
Pushing out, battle!
A surge of fighting spirit erupted, and the onlookers' eyes were fixed, as if their souls had been snatched away.
“Shindo, row thirteen, column eleven, turn.”
Following the fan's direction, Shindo Hikaru skipped the counting process and quickly placed a piece.
Even amateurs could think of the counter-attack move; Sai had calculated it clearly, and there was only one path for the subsequent shape.
Clack, clack...
The Go game progressed several moves.
As the empty points became fewer and fewer, both sides' forces met in the Right Lower Corner, and killing intent permeated the air.
“Amazing, truly amazing. The variations after the counter-attack are so miraculous. Can anyone tell me how a battle started again?”
“Shindo Hikaru's eyesight is unfathomable. The counter-attack isn't complicated, yet it subtly leads to complexity. Can you still see the life and death?”
“Can't... can't see. The yellow-haired kid threw out a flurry of punches, without order or method, yet every move struck at a vital point.”
“I'm starting to look forward to the future of the Go world. Our Sakura Country is in a slump in international competitions. If these two grow up, sweeping the world won't be a dream.”
“Hey, Ao Ying-sensei is Chinese. Can he represent us in the competition?”
“Uh... let the Ki-in's higher-ups worry about that. If they remain stubborn for a few more years, they won't even make it past the first round of preliminaries in future World Championships.”
“Watch the Go, watch the Go! Ao Ying-sensei's cut is a preemptive strike. Isn't he afraid his own Go shape is too thin and will be eaten up?”
“white is also thin, right? Thin versus thin, whoever lives or dies depends on calculation.”
“Sigh, I, a dignified amateur Godan, am considered a small expert among amateurs, but I can't even calculate the life and death of a local area. It's a bit of a blow.”
“Haha... I, an amateur Rokudan, also can't understand. These two kids both possess the Go strength of professional high Dan players.”
Muttering, muttering...
Since they couldn't understand anyway, everyone simply let Go, and exclamations of admiration continuously rang out.
The two players in the game ignored the crowd's noise. What's the point of a review if it's not lively?
One word from you, one word from me, oversights were often found inadvertently.
Of course, talking nonsense was definitely not allowed, but as long as the discussion was related to the Go game, a low level would not be blamed.
Even weaker players could get guidance on the spot. This was the meaning of a review, and it was also a default rule for informal games.
Being able to witness two legendary children in their early stages, the onlookers felt deeply honored. In the future, they could brag that a certain professional player had played Go with them.
Toya Akira clenched his fists, his eyes gradually recovering, and determination once again filled them.
“I cannot give up. I can catch up to them.”
“My love for Go is second to none. white's attitude of forging ahead bravely is worth learning from.”
“Ao Ying, currently you are observing all beings from a high vantage point, all your moves are within your calculations, but I will not shy away.”
“The stronger you are, the better. All of you become the driving force for my growth.”
“First, set a small goal: Shindo Hikaru, it's you. Once I defeat you, I'll challenge Ao Ying.”
Tap—tap—
Shindo Hikaru nodded his head lightly, his eyes growing brighter and brighter.
“Sai is full of fighting spirit, Ao Ying is calm.”
“I also want to be in the world they inhabit. I can do it.”
The soft sound of the Go stone falling was like a bell, each sound wave cleansing his body and mind.
Serenity, profundity, tranquility...
Several feelings surged into his heart. Shindo Hikaru saw a scene of mist before his eyes, with faint points of light appearing and disappearing within the white mist.
Slam!
The crisp sound of a Go stone falling reappeared.
Following the sound, Shindo Hikaru stepped forward to pursue it.
Layers of mist drifted past from both sides, and the points of light became increasingly bright.
“Shindo, there.”
A folding fan emerged from the mist.
Shindo Hikaru quickened his pace, and his eyes suddenly lit up.
“How... how beautiful are the stars.”
Parting the clouds to see the stars, a brilliant blue planet appeared before his eyes.
Shindo Hikaru couldn't help but be captivated.
“Sai, after we Go back today, I want to seriously learn Go. Please take care of me.”
“Shindo?”
Sai was stunned, then smiled slightly.
“Alright, let's deal with the opponent in front of us first.”
In the Right Lower Corner of the Go board, an intricate struggle unfolded. Every spot seemed to offer a way to live, yet also seemed to offer no way to live.
It was white's turn to play.
Sai's eyes gleamed, and his body became increasingly excited, his trembling greatly increasing.
“Thank the heavens for granting me a worthy opponent. My long-dormant state of mind has loosened.”
“Ao Ying, your calculation path has shown me where I can improve. Perhaps only by reaching the extreme in calculation can one create God's Hand.”
“No, it's to calculate God's Hand... the realm of God, it's right there.”
“One hundred and forty years ago, for the Meijin title and ownership of the club, I challenged all the world's masters. They are not as good as you.”
“Even though I am not at my peak, even though this Go game is just a review, even though you are still growing, I will defeat you here.”
“Currently, I am not as good as you in calculation, but my Go intuition should be slightly superior.”
“The next move, I can feel it, faintly calling to me.”
Shindo Hikaru didn't know Sai's many thoughts, only feeling that he had been thinking for a bit too long, twenty minutes already.
“Sai? Is it hard to come up with a solution?”
“Uh...”
Sai awkwardly covered his mouth with his folding fan and chuckled.
He couldn't very well say that he was relying on Go intuition to find a direction, and then would put it into calculation.
His calculation ability was being crushed by a middle school second-year kid.
A thousand-year-old Go spirit, doesn't he need his pride?
“Ao Ying, give it your all. I've found the direction again.”
“If I stand on the first line, I can gain one more breath. How will you respond?”
“Victory or defeat is decided in a single breath. It seems I've won?”
Sai had a flash of inspiration, calculated the subsequent moves, and let out a heavy sigh of relief.
“Shindo, stand.”
The folding fan struck.
Seeing Sai finally figure it out, Shindo Hikaru beamed with a smile.
“Toya Akira is in sixth grade, Ao Ying is in middle school second year. They are so strong at such a young age.”
“Every Go move they place on the board shines like a star, like the Creator creating the universe.”
Sai looked at Shindo Hikaru, his mouth slightly open, “Shindo... Shindo, have you also ignited your love for Go?”
“I want to be stronger than you all.”
“I can also create the universe.”
“Stars are born at my fingertips.”
Shindo Hikaru took a white Go stone from the Go box and slowly raised it above the Go board.
He slammed it down suddenly.
It seemed as if a ray of light lit up.