Chapter 548: Whose Rules
I frowned. Only then did I realize he had tricked me.
Did Chu Tianqiu... really have that kind of "notebook"?
He had only been trying to bluff me, but never expected that my micro-expressions would betray me in an instant.
Yes, I wasn't the person in the room. He hadn't been able to confirm it before, but now he could.
I hadn't lost just now—I had lost from the very beginning.
This person had become terrifying. His current demeanor was approaching that of Qi Xia—or perhaps he had always been this way?
"You're not one of the 'Zodiacs,' and you're not a 'Participant' either..." Chu Tianqiu gave a bitter smile. "Let me take a wild guess... Could you be a 'third party' distinct from these two factions?"
I raised my hand to stop Chu Tianqiu.
"This can't be discussed." I swallowed and said, "If you keep talking, both you and I will be in serious danger."
Hearing this, Chu Tianqiu's expression changed, as if confirming his own suspicions.
"So that's it... You really are a person who keeps things hidden." After a few seconds, he smiled again. "In that case... tell me about your new plan."
Seeing that Chu Tianqiu had agreed, I leaned close to his ear and whispered my idea.
Although I was no match for him in psychological warfare, there were things I was good at—for example, I knew more of the "upper-level figures" here, while Chu Tianqiu didn't.
The intelligence I possessed was on a different level from his. Before he could guess everything, it would be enough for me to execute my plan.
"Chu Tianqiu, I want you to recruit Qi Xia into 'Heaven's Mouth.'"
Those words came out in a single sentence, and Chu Tianqiu showed no reaction.
I didn't know if he had already guessed what I was going to say, or if he had already been planning to recruit Qi Xia himself.
"You're saying that recruiting 'Qi Xia' is your plan?" He asked lightly in return. "Then I'd like to know... what benefit would recruiting this person bring me?"
"Don't you want to break all the 'Zodiacs'?" I asked. "I can help you obtain the 'Earth Grade' heads."
"'Earth Grade' heads...?"
Those five words stirred Chu Tianqiu even more than recruiting Qi Xia. His eager expression was written all over his face.
"That's right." I stared into his slightly manic eyes and said, "You should know... although these heads have no practical use, they can become your trump card."
"Indeed..." Chu Tianqiu looked down at the ground, then nodded. "They really can become my 'trump card'..."
I knew he understood what I meant. As long as "Heaven's Mouth" always had three "Earth Grade" heads guarding it, it could keep attracting the strong.
"Deal." Chu Tianqiu smiled. "You give me the 'Earth Grade' heads, and I'll recruit Qi Xia as soon as possible."
"Fine. Those heads are in the trunk of my car. Go get them. Also..." I handed Chu Tianqiu the car key and added, "If you want to recruit Qi Xia, the earliest it can happen is the next cycle."
"Oh?" He took the key expressionlessly. "Is he dead?"
"Yes... How—did you know?"
"Yes, he came." Chu Tianqiu put the car key into his pocket and turned his head to look at me again. I still couldn't see through what he was thinking. "Xiao Nian... why don't you want to reveal the fact that you've returned?"
"I want to be part of it." I said decisively. "This time, I want to play the role of you and carry out this plan together with you."
"Play me...?" Chu Tianqiu smiled slightly after hearing this. "Interesting. It seems your plan isn't just about recruiting Qi Xia. Do you have some other purpose?"
"Chu Tianqiu, I'm not as clever as you, but I have my own advantages." I laid my cards on the table. "Let's have a contest. Even if we end up killing each other with our schemes, I won't regret it."
He and I stood in the gradually darkening alley in silence. I didn't know what he was thinking. Could he guess my intentions?
"But... can you really play me?"
I thought I saw a strange glint in Chu Tianqiu's eyes.
Now even Chu Tianqiu had changed. A leader whom everyone could once rely on without worry had also become unhinged.
But maybe that was for the best. Originally, I still felt a little reluctance, but not anymore.
Even if, following Qinglong's instructions, I let Chu Tianqiu and Qi Xia have a proper fight, no matter which of these two eventually disappeared completely, I would have no psychological burden.
"I'll try to play the you from before." I replied. "The current you... I don't understand anymore. But I still remember clearly everything you used to do."
"'King of the Honest'?" Chu Tianqiu let out a light laugh. "I was originally going to discard that title immediately. I didn't expect you to come back... so let it be valid for one more cycle."
I thought I misheard. Was Chu Tianqiu about to abandon even the title of "King of the Honest"?
"So you want to impersonate me... and recruit Qi Xia?" Chu Tianqiu confirmed.
"That's right." I nodded. "This needs your support. Otherwise, I'll be in a difficult position."
"You haven't dealt much with Qi Xia, have you? He can see through you with just one look." Chu Tianqiu came up beside me with interest. "Even if you can change into my appearance, how are you going to earn Qi Xia's trust?"
"This..."
Hearing this question, I also hesitated.
Although I had transformed into other people's appearances to deceive before, those I tricked were all ordinary people. None of them could compare to Qi Xia.
"So what you're saying is... I can't play you?" I asked.
"No, no..." Chu Tianqiu pushed up his glasses and smiled at me. "I was thinking... since you're bound to reveal flaws anyway, why not deliberately give him a flaw?"
"What?"
"The next time you meet, I want you to act aloof and superior, giving him a well-timed show of authority."
"For example...?"
"For example, you could directly restrain his teammates and then tell him, 'My rules are the rules.'"
Hearing this, I slowly furrowed my brows: "But then what's the point of me playing you?"
"How could there be no point..." Chu Tianqiu shook his head, his smile growing stranger. "This is the first time Qi Xia has met 'me.' No matter what information he's heard about me before, given his personality, he'll definitely believe in 'seeing is believing.' If it were you... discovering that a leader who has been spoken of as legendary is actually all show—what would you do?"
I thought for a moment and got the answer: "I'd look down on him."
"You would underestimate your opponent. But Qi Xia might not." Chu Tianqiu said. "He might try to seize the initiative, hoping to use me to complete his own plan."