“He actually sacrificed his stones.”
Sai gazed at the nine rows and ten columns of the press, various changes appearing in his mind.
The opening, a 3-3 Point and a center point, was imposing.
A 3-3 Point, a corner star, a second 3-3 Point, overturning the joseki, shocking the entire venue.
Then a sudden jump in the middle, baring fangs and claws, to decide the victor and the vanquished.
Finally, sacrificing stones, pressing, a magnificent turn, deceiving the opponent.
“Interesting, interesting.”
Sai’s lips curled up slightly, “Except for that small mistake with the hane and connection, all variations were within calculation.”
“Even the center point and the jump…”
“To have such terrifying computational power at such a young age, the future is worth looking forward to.”
“Sai?” Shindo Hikaru mumbled, “Did Ao Ying reverse the situation?”
Sai smiled but said nothing, as if savoring the fragrance of fine wine, his eyes intoxicated.
A moment later.
“Hikaru, try to sense the Wrapped-Head Man’s emotions.”
Shindo Hikaru was startled, looking towards one end of the Go board, only to see the Wrapped-Head Man pulling open a corner of his scarf, his chest rising and falling erratically.
Stare—
Activating his Staring Eye technique…
“Sai, he’s so fierce, like… like a cornered beast.”
Sai’s mouth twitched. He said it casually, and Hikaru did it casually.
What the heck is a beast?
It seems sensing emotions wasn't accidental; there must be some special quality.
“Hikaru, look back at the top right corner. At that time, didn’t Ao Ying rely on playing elsewhere to seize the initiative?”
“Yes, Sai, you said there was no need to play elsewhere; black stone only needed to simply push out.”
Shindo Hikaru nodded blankly.
Since Sai had this judgment, he firmly believed that Ao Ying had complicated a simple problem.
This was the white-robed figure, even more formidable than a professional 7-dan.
“black stone didn’t push out, so the left side was very soft externally. Seizing this opportunity, white aggressively attacked to expand the center.”
Shindo Hikaru recalled what Sai had explained, trying his best to repeat it.
At his current level, he could only act as a repeater; his personal insights were all wild guesses.
As a ghost friend who spent every waking moment with him, Sai knew him inside and out, explaining: “white’s attack on the left side seems proactive, but it’s actually the result of being lured.”
“Is the Wrapped-Head Man better than Toya? Can he also be deceived?”
Shindo Hikaru was suspicious. It was reasonable for him to be deceived, but for a professional to be deceived…
Wouldn’t that make him just like him?
“Every Go player can be deceived. The deceit and sudden changes on the Go board are comparable to life itself.”
Sai sighed: “black stone playing elsewhere left a delicious meal. In the short term, no drawbacks are apparent, and most people would choose to eat it.”
“This move allowed white to build a massive force in the center.”
“But black stone’s center point stone is stuck in the throat, very annoying.”
“If it were you, Hikaru, what would you do?”
“Me?” Shindo Hikaru was stunned, “Of course, I’d eliminate the center point.”
“Exactly.”
Sai snapped his folding fan, “This is what a normal person would do, and white did the same.”
“However, all of this was within black stone’s calculations.”
“When the Wrapped-Head Man attacked the center point, black stone not only didn’t run but instead jumped into white’s sphere of influence, adopting a counter-attacking stance.”
“In a local area, if one side has four stones against three, both sides can be considered even. Five stones against three is barely even. But a whole area against a single center point stone, this can no longer be described as a disadvantage.”
“Ao Ying used this point to make a second lure, deliberately sacrificing the ‘jump’ stone.”
“Now white is in a dilemma. If he takes the ‘jump’, black stone will build a territory from the right side to the center point. If he doesn’t take it and lets the ‘jump’ escape, white’s central influence will shrink.”
“Thus, white’s attack on the left side yields less profit than black stone’s seizure of the upper right corner.”
“The Wrapped-Head Man will certainly not play this way towards the endgame.”
“He is an excellent competitor.”
After hearing Sai’s explanation, Shindo Hikaru realized that many stories had unfolded on the Go board, and he couldn’t help but feel a longing.
Battling people is endlessly enjoyable.
“I am the Wrapped-Head Man…”
Shindo Hikaru murmured to himself, his eyes suddenly lighting up, “First, I’ll beat the crap out of him.”
“Uh…”
Sai’s body stiffened, “Hikaru, yes, that’s the spirit! Even if you lose, lose with style.”
“Remember this game. In future professional matches, you must always maintain a belief in moving forward fearlessly.”
“Me? Professional?” Shindo Hikaru pointed at himself, “Sai, what are you kidding? How could I become a professional Go player?”
At this moment, Toya Akira glanced over, his brows tightly furrowed.
“Hikaru, the fact that you can sense Go players’ emotions means you have a connection with Go, and it’s very likely you’ll embark on the professional path in the future.”
“Moreover, you promised me you’d help me find God's Hand. How can you do that without becoming a professional?”
Sai floated around Shindo Hikaru’s head, covering his face with his hands as if about to cry.
“Ah!”
Shindo Hikaru retched, repeatedly scratching his head, “I know, I know! I’ll try to become a professional.”
Whenever the Go spirit Sai felt distressed, he would feel it too, nauseous and wanting to vomit.
Upon receiving a satisfactory answer, Sai instantly transformed into a smiling ghost doll.
Toya Akira’s brows furrowed even tighter. He opened his mouth then closed it, repeating this several times.
“But Sai, my Go skill is almost zero. Can I really become a professional?”
“Hikaru, with me to guide you, there will definitely be no problem.”
The folding fan gently tapped Shindo Hikaru’s forehead.
“Oh, okay.”
Shindo Hikaru numbly agreed.
“Sai, if you were the Wrapped-Head Man, what would you do?”
Sai softly chanted: “The center point, the jump, combined with the press and sacrifice, black stone has successfully lured white, completely blocking the path to the right side.”
“Is there no way?”
Shindo Hikaru said with disappointment, trying hard to widen his eyes, wanting to sense more emotions.
“black stone’s press is an absolute sente locally. If white ignores it, the loss will be huge.”
“Alas, from the moment white attacked the left side, it would lead to the current situation.”
“The Wrapped-Head Man played very strongly, each move strictly adhering to Go principles, but being too rigid was exploited.”
“Ao Ying is terrifyingly skilled.”
Sai narrowed his eyes, “An ambush from dozens of moves ago, hundreds and thousands of variables, he calculated them all.”
“Even more terrifying is the fifth move, the center point. This was the beginning of everything. Without this luring move, white wouldn’t be like a small fly caught in a spiderweb.”
“Precise calculation, wonderful conception, such talent…”
“Truly enviable!”
Sai praised repeatedly, intense light glowing in his eyes, his folding fan covering his mouth.
“How many years has it been? Finally, a delicious fruit has appeared. Can I comprehend God's Hand through him?”
“I truly wish it were me playing against him.”
“Unfortunately, I’m not ready, and he hasn’t reached his peak.”
“Wait a little longer, that day won’t be too far.”
Lost in thought, the folding fan pointed to a spot.
“The right side.”
“Don’t worry about gains and losses in the center. Play elsewhere to create chaos on the right side.”
“That’s white’s last chance. This path is incredibly difficult; a single misstep, and he’ll fall into a bottomless abyss.”
Shindo Hikaru turned his head, delighted, “Can white win?”
“No, I don’t know, it’s just a feeling.”
Sai sighed, “At this point, if both sides play peacefully, the Wrapped-Head Man will lose by five and a half points. black stone’s opening advantage was too great.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Ogata moved.