“From now on, I’m not using my brain anymore,” Chen Junan declared. “Otherwise, it’s just exhausting with no payoff. From here on out, I’m going to wing it.”
“Fine,” Qi Xia replied.
“If ‘Shuai’ can’t ‘cross the river,’ can ‘Bao’ cross?” Chen Junan pondered for a moment before adding, “This complicates things. If my ‘Bao’ crosses, what does that even make it? An export package?”
“You’ve participated in ‘Earth-level games’ before. They hide a lot of critical rules,” Qi Xia said. “Right now, it seems pieces that aren’t supposed to ‘cross the river’ don’t get eliminated when they do, but there must be other hidden rules. If you’re bold enough, you can test it yourself.”
“My boldness has never been in question,” Chen Junan shot back. “I’m just worried you might think I’m *too* bold.”
“Boldness isn’t the issue,” Qi Xia nodded. “It’s part of the strategy.”
“Well, that’s perfect then,” Chen Junan grinned. “Old Qi, so the ‘unconventional move’ you suggested was just bait to draw out *my* unconventional move, huh?”
“Yes,” Qi Xia confirmed. “Consider it ‘casting a brick to attract jade.'”
“So which of us is the brick and which is the jade…?”
Qi Xia shook his head. “So, are you going alone? Or do you need two people?”
“Nah… I don’t care if it’s the game or a fight, I’m good either way,” Chen Junan waved it off. “Sweetie, wait here for a bit and see if that cocky kid’s team needs an extra hand.”
Sweetie hesitated. “Am I… holding you back?”
“Huh?” Chen Junan quickly waved his hands. “No, no, no, no! It’s just that my next move is way too reckless and dangerous. It wouldn’t be safe for you to follow me.”
“Alright…” Sweetie nodded reluctantly.
“Sweetie, I have another task for you,” Qi Xia interjected. “It’s about ‘Qiao Wu.'”
“‘Qiao Wu’…?” Sweetie frowned. “Qi Xia, those ‘characters’—I really can’t—”
“Not ‘characters,'” Qi Xia clarified. “Chen Junan, you go ahead. Sweetie stays. I have a game-winning plan.”
……
Lawyer Zhang and Zheng Yingxiong exchanged puzzled looks at Chen Junan.
“Really…?” Lawyer Zhang asked.
“Of course,” Chen Junan replied. “Change of plans. I’m going solo now, no more team-ups.”
“But we’re all in pairs. Isn’t it unfair for you to go alone? Maybe—”
“Forget fairness,” Chen Junan cut in. “Just hand over the ‘characters’ and report back to Old Qi. He’s got a new plan too.”
Zhang Chenze and Zheng Yingxiong glanced at each other. Zhang Chenze barely knew Chen Junan or Qi Xia and couldn’t make a quick judgment.
Zheng Yingxiong, however, sensed something off. Even if Chen Junan really intended to go solo, shouldn’t he bring his teammate along to explain? What if he ran into enemies on the way?
Thinking this, he sniffed the air—but immediately covered his nose. The scents here were too overpowering… he couldn’t pick out Chen Junan’s at all.
“If that’s the case…” Zhang Chenze nodded, reaching into her shirt pocket for the ‘character.’ But before she could hand it over, Zheng Yingxiong grabbed her wrist.
“Wait,” he said, turning to Chen Junan. “Brother, did you run into anyone else just now?”
“Yeah, damn it,” Chen Junan answered. “I opened a door and saw some lady, so I noped out immediately.”
“I see,” Zheng Yingxiong nodded. “Then we’ll give you the ‘character’ and head back.”
“Got it,” Chen Junan stepped forward.
Zhang Chenze extended her hand, and Zheng Yingxiong dug into his pocket.
When Chen Junan was just three steps away, Zheng Yingxiong suddenly lunged, slamming his full weight into Chen Junan’s stomach.
The impact was brutal—Chen Junan doubled over and collapsed, while Zheng Yingxiong’s crown clattered to the ground.
Before Zhang Chenze could react, Zheng Yingxiong scrambled up and rifled through Chen Junan’s pockets.
“Found it!”
He yanked out a chain, revealing a ‘Chariot’ piece dangling from his hand.
“‘Chariot’…?” Zhang Chenze blinked. “Little brother, you—”
“Run! He’s not Chen Junan!” Zheng Yingxiong grabbed her hand and bolted toward the ‘Preparation Zone,’ pausing only to snatch his crown from the ground.
The crumpled ‘Chen Junan’ wore an expression of sheer frustration. He hadn’t expected a *kid* to attack him. Caught off guard, he lay winded for a good seven or eight seconds before staggering up.
“Bastard…” He clutched his stomach, leaning against the wall, utterly baffled. Even though he’d broken free of this place’s constraints and gained ‘Echo,’ he’d been exposed immediately.
As far as he remembered, Chen Junan wasn’t particularly close to these two. So why had they seen through him so fast?
“Could my ‘Echo’ still be unstable…?” He touched his face, certain he’d solidified his conviction. Where had he gone wrong?
……
Chu Tianqiu was deep in conversation with Yan Zhichun in the ‘Preparation Zone’ when Chen Junan slouched in, looking utterly dejected.
The two paused, then quickly understood.
“Why the long face?” Chu Tianqiu asked.
“I’m done,” Chen Junan muttered. “My ability is useless in your team and Qi Xia’s… I couldn’t even fool his teammates. Another failure. I quit.”
“Failure isn’t the end,” Chu Tianqiu said. “Where’s the ‘character’?”
“Lost it too,” Chen Junan sighed. “Ask Di Long if I can just leave. There’s still time to replace me.”
“Don’t lose heart,” Chu Tianqiu reassured him. “Like you said, it’s early. The game isn’t over yet. And your conviction is still intact—your ‘Transformation’ hasn’t faded.”
“But it’s pointless. I lost the ‘character,’ and I can’t fool anyone…” Chen Junan muttered.
Yan Zhichun sighed. “It’s fine. I got one.”
She turned to Chu Tianqiu. “Chu Tianqiu, do you accept my terms?”
“Terms…” Chu Tianqiu smiled. “You said you’d give me the ‘character,’ and in return, I’d lead ‘Paradise’s’ members to help you handle a ‘thorny problem’… That’s a tough sell.”
“Your chances are limited,” Yan Zhichun countered. “Many in this game have their own agendas. You know this isn’t just a game. If you refuse, I’ll hand over my ‘Stone’ and ‘Shuai’ to the other side.”
“So… what exactly is this ‘thorny problem’?” Chu Tianqiu pressed.
“I need ‘Paradise’ to back the ‘Extremists’ in clearing obstacles.”
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