Although Group Eight was already determined, the process had to be completed formally.
After confirming the assignments from Jiangling Fifth High and South China Third High, the principal turned and wrote the final grouping on the whiteboard with a marker.
With the first-round matchup avoiding South China Third High, everyone aside from Jiangling Fifth High heaved a sigh of relief.
However, rather than feeling schadenfreude, an unusual solemnity hung over the room. On the contrary, a heavy, inexplicable weight seemed to settle in everyone’s hearts.
Even if they didn’t face South China Third High in the first round, the single-elimination format of the tournament remained relentless.
Out of 16 schools, at least eight would be eliminated in the first round.
Even those who advanced would risk encountering South China Third High in subsequent rounds. If not the second, then the third. And if they somehow avoided them all the way to the finals, they would inevitably face South China Third High there.
The name “South China Third High” loomed over everyone like an oppressive weight, sapping their confidence.
Naturally, no one took joy in Jiangling Fifth High’s unfortunate draw; instead, a shared sense of empathy and foreboding pervaded the room.
“Alright, the groupings are set. The matches will officially begin in 15 minutes at 9:00 AM. Competitors, please prepare yourselves,” the principal announced before returning to the referee’s table.
The suffocating tension eased slightly, as competitors began leaving the venue in silence. Some headed to the restroom, others splashed their faces with cold water to calm their nerves, while a few simply stepped into the hallway for fresh air.
“Anyone need the restroom? If not, go ahead and take your seats at the board to get ready,” Chen Jiaming instructed Yu Shao and the others.
Zhong Yufei decided to visit the restroom, while Yu Shao and Xu Zijin walked straight to their Group Five table and sat down.
As 9:00 approached, the competitors who had left gradually returned to the venue, each taking their seats.
The three competitors from Jianghai Affiliated High also sat across from Yu Shao and his teammates, pulling out chairs and preparing for their games.
Non-participating students gathered near the players they were interested in, waiting for the matches to begin.
Just before the start, Zheng Qin returned to the competition venue.
Scanning the room, he quickly located Yu Shao and walked straight to his table.
The two young men trailing Zheng Qin exchanged glances and followed him.
Although they had deduced that Yu Shao might have defeated Zheng Qin—possibly even twice—they still struggled to believe it.
How could a regular high schooler, with no dojo training, possibly beat Zheng Qin?
After all, Zheng Qin had already defeated several dojo-trained “promotion-seekers” in the preliminaries and semi-finals of this year’s Promotion Tournament.
Both young men shared the same thought:
“If this Yu Shao really beat Zheng Qin…”
“What kind of game will he show us today?”
Finally, as the clock struck 9:00, the referee beside the principal stood and announced, “Time’s up! The team tournament begins now. Best-of-three matches, the winners advance to the next round. Competitors, please determine the turn order!”
Hearing this, Yu Shao reached into the Go bowl and grabbed a handful of stones.
Across from him, the Jianghai player took a deep breath, glanced at Yu Shao, and then reached into his bowl to grab stones as well.
Yu Shao released his grip, letting the stones fall onto the board.
“Two, four, six, eight.”
Counting the stones, Yu Shao raised his head and said, “Eight stones.”
The boy across from him opened his hand, revealing a single black stone.
“You didn’t guess right. You play black,” he said, putting the black stone back into the bowl before exchanging Go bowls with Yu Shao.
In the team tournament, only the main players determined color through guessing. If the main player took black, the vice and third players would take white and black, respectively, and vice versa.
“Please guide me,” Yu Shao said, nodding politely.
“Likewise,” the boy replied with a nod.
Yu Shao’s gaze fixed on the board as he reached into the bowl and drew out a stone.
Despite this being a relatively amateur high school Go league, the tension unique to the competition setting brought a familiar sensation from his previous life rushing back to him.
As Yu Shao placed the stone, a peculiar aura radiated from him.
The crisp sound of the stone echoed.
The boy across from Yu Shao was momentarily stunned by his composure. It took him four or five seconds to recover.
A wave of inexplicable irritation surged within him. His chest rose and fell as his expression darkened, though even he couldn’t pinpoint the reason for his frustration.
Taking a deep breath, he reached into his bowl, drew a stone, and mimicked Yu Shao’s confident gesture.
“Let’s see how you handle this!”
The two began trading moves, quickly forming a basic opening of Small Point vs. Star Point. Within just a dozen moves, the game was in full swing.
“Should I jump or bend here?”
The boy stared intently at the board, deliberating his next move. Finally, he decided.
After glancing at Yu Shao, he drew a stone and, copying Yu Shao’s earlier confident motion, slammed it onto the board.
Rather than jumping or bending, the boy boldly chose Atari, revealing White’s fangs and pressuring Black just a dozen moves into the game.