Chapter 1030: Official and Prime Minister
"Oh…" Chen Junnan immediately became wary. "And who might this be… Why is it you two again?"
Yan Zhichun was the first to step into the "riverway," leaving Zhang Shan behind her. She said softly, "After all, I'm part of the 'Invasion' team. Since the mission isn't complete yet, I have no choice but to go back and continue the fight."
"Oh, then I'm not sticking around." Chen Junnan said. "I'm also in the 'Invasion' team, heading over to your side now. How about we each invade our own turf and leave each other alone?"
"I don't mind." Yan Zhichun replied. "I'm not exactly close to them anyway. Feel free to trick, kill, or attack whoever you want."
"That's great." Chen Junnan said. "Then let's just swap places. You, big guy back there, what do you say?"
"Sorry." Zhang Shan said. "I still have some feelings for Chu Tianqiu and Jin Yuanxun. If you want to come over here and cause trouble, you'll have to get through me first."
"Come on, how can you say that?" Chen Junnan said. "To be honest, I know I look like a slacker, but my real identity is none other than Xu Liunian."
Qiao Jiajin was stunned, staring blankly at Chen Junnan.
"Chu Tianqiu said that from now on, we can't trust any Xu Liunian." Zhang Shan replied. "So you don't get through."
"Fine, then I'm Chen Junnan again." Chen Junnan curled his lip. "Since I'm Chen Junnan, you can trust me now, right?"
Zhang Shan didn't say a word, just stared at Qiao Jiajin. His frame was enormous, almost completely filling the doorway, yet he never stepped forward.
"If you're Chen Junnan, I guess I can trust you for now." Zhang Shan said after a few seconds of hesitation.
"Alright, since you trust me, then I'll tell you—I'm actually Xu Liunian."
"…?"
Hearing this, Zhang Shan and Yan Zhichun's faces instantly went blank.
"Man, you're something else, Jun Nan Zai. So that's 'Heart Piercing'?" Qiao Jiajin asked with a smile.
"That's nothing." Chen Junnan laughed. "The young master hasn't even started yet."
"Someone like you is way too dangerous." Zhang Shan said. "If I let you through, this half will be in chaos."
"So what do you want?" Chen Junnan said. "Why don't you, big guy, come out? The 'riverway' is plenty spacious. Come out and talk."
Qiao Jiajin naturally knew why.
Once Zhang Shan officially stepped into the "riverway," the two would have to settle things right here.
But the opposite team clearly wasn't reliable. At this moment, Zhang Shan seemed like their most stable "guardian."
If the "guardian" couldn't protect their territory and instead got into a fight with him in the "riverway," the situation would be very unfavorable for them.
Yet Qiao Jiajin also understood this logic. The more unfavorable the situation for the opponent, the more he needed to lure them into this trap.
"Big guy." Qiao Jiajin said. "Didn't we agree that as soon as we meet in the 'riverway,' we'd start fighting? What now? We've clearly 'met,' but we're pretending we haven't?"
Zhang Shan stared silently at Qiao Jiajin, his expression far from pleasant.
"Are you trying to surrender?" Qiao Jiajin continued. "Or is our agreement just void?"
Seeing Zhang Shan hesitating, Qiao Jiajin stepped forward, pulled the chain and the "character" from his pocket, and let it hang cleanly in front of the other.
"Prime Minister."
"I'm showing you all my sincerity." Qiao Jiajin said again. "Not only have I been standing here for a while, but I've also directly revealed my 'character.' If you still refuse to spar with me even after this, then I don't have to honor any agreement either."
Staring at the "Prime Minister" character that hung from the chain beneath Qiao Jiajin's palm, spinning continuously, Zhang Shan turned his head to look behind him.
There weren't many people in this team he could trust. Chu Tianqiu was one, Jin Yuanxun was another.
If he got held up here and the other side launched a full-scale "offensive," the two behind him would be in danger.
But the other party had already put it so bluntly. Was there any way to avoid the fight now?
If he didn't hold down this tattoo-armed man in front of him, his own team would also be in danger.
This was the hardest choice laid before him.
"I was a soldier." Zhang Shan said. "After all these years, there are still four words I remember: 'Never retreat.'"
As he spoke, he slowly lowered his head, letting his tall frame clear the doorframe, and took one step into the "riverway."
At that moment, Qiao Jiajin's face also turned cold. He slowly took off his shirt and tossed it aside on the ground.
"Oh…?" Zhang Shan stared at Qiao Jiajin's upper body for a moment and said, "Strange. You seem thinner than I expected."
"That's a long story." Qiao Jiajin said. "The tattoos are still here, but the body has been reshaped."
"Then doesn't that mean I'm bullying you?" Zhang Shan also slowly took off his own shirt. His build was far larger than Qiao Jiajin's, looking extremely strong.
"I've gotten a bit used to this body over the past few days." Qiao Jiajin said. "So it's not like I'm bullying you either."
The auras of the two men gradually spread out, and Chen Junnan and Yan Zhichun both felt something was off.
"In that case… the young master will be on his way." Chen Junnan said softly to Qiao Jiajin. "Take care of yourself."
"Don't worry." Qiao Jiajin cracked his neck again, his eyes unusually serious.
Chen Junnan had seen that look before—Qiao Jiajin became a different person when he fought.
Hearing this, Yan Zhichun also looked at Zhang Shan. The two exchanged glances and then nodded to each other.
She brushed past Chen Junnan, neither of them acknowledging the other, and walked straight into the other's territory.
Now, for Zhang Shan, holding Qiao Jiajin back was the only thing he could do.
Staring at the serious-faced man before him, Zhang Shan's mind was momentarily in turmoil.
Both of them were climbing upward with a capable person, but he always felt that Chu Tianqiu was a whole level more dangerous than Qi Xia.
He wasn't sure if Chu Tianqiu truly valued his loyalty, nor was he certain whether Chu Tianqiu could really become the "ruler" of this place as he had claimed.
But since fate had already destined him to stand on Chu Tianqiu's side, he could only win every battle he faced.
With that thought, he spread his arms and stretched his body.
Opportunities to have a pure one-on-one with Qiao Jiajin without interference were clearly rare. This fight was completely different from ordinary brawls; one small mistake could cost him everything.
"Big guy…" Qiao Jiajin twisted his waist and said softly, "We've both seen each other's 'Echo.' Activating them at the same time is no different from not activating them at all, right?"
"Yes." Zhang Shan nodded.
"In that case, I'll forget about the 'Echo' problem." Qiao Jiajin said again. "Let's just settle this right here, once and for all."