Ding Chunqiu carried Wang Liang over to where Su Xinghe and Duan Zhengchun were positioned, observing the current state of the board. Duan Zhengchun had reached a dead end, trapped in a dilemma. He held a black stone in his hand, lost in deep thought. Looking at the board, it was clear that Duan Zhengchun’s "great dragon"—his primary formation—was completely surrounded.
The match was exquisite, and for Duan Zhengchun, playing the black stones was proving nearly impossible. Seeing him so deeply engrossed, Ding Chunqiu realized why Murong Fu had received no acknowledgment when he had played against Duan Zhengchun earlier; the man had not even looked up. After watching for quite some time, the two had already played dozens of moves.
Duan Zhengchun placed a stone, and the white stone followed instantly. As soon as the white stone landed, all of Duan Zhengchun's previous efforts were rendered futile. He was immobilized, unsure of his next move.
Chapter 74