Chapter 1226: A Favor Owed

After hearing this, Chu Tianqiu glanced at Qian Wu, whose condition clearly wasn’t great.

After all, he wasn’t in a dwarf’s body—he had probably used the “Twin Flowers” ability multiple times already.

“Is it true that ‘Cat’ has successively taken down Xuanwu and Zhuque?” Chu Tianqiu asked.

“Just luck,” Qian Wu replied, reaching for a cigarette before realizing he had none left. A few seconds later, he remembered he’d given the remaining half-pack to Officer Li.

He patted his pockets helplessly, then turned his head to look at a “Ground Dog” standing at the side of the corridor—a large, thick-headed bulldog.

Qian Wu just stared at the Ground Dog without saying a word, but the intensity of his gaze made the dog extremely uncomfortable. After avoiding eye contact for a while, the Ground Dog finally forced a bitter smile.

“Hey… what’s the matter?” the Ground Dog asked nervously. “Boss Qian, I…”

Qian Wu remained silent, still watching him coldly.

The Ground Dog awkwardly chuckled, then obediently walked over. He reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a crudely rolled cigarette, respectfully placing it between Qian Wu’s lips before fishing out a lighter.

*Click.*

The lighter’s flame flickered, illuminating Qian Wu’s indifferent face before igniting the cigarette in his mouth.

Beside them, Qiao Jiajin and the others were utterly confused by this interaction. They stared at Qian Wu for a long moment, unsure where to even begin asking questions.

“Boss Qian…” The Ground Dog put away the lighter and handed over the remaining few cigarettes from his pocket. “Don’t look at me like that… You know how it is. We just made a deal, it wasn’t like we signed a contract…”

Qian Wu grabbed the Ground Dog’s hand and casually pocketed the lighter as well.

“Dog,” Qian Wu said, exhaling smoke. “In the ‘Land of the End,’ if someone owes me a debt and refuses to repay it, I won’t let them off easy—not even if they’re a ‘Zodiac.’ You know that, right?”

“I know, I know…” The Ground Dog nodded frantically. “I’ve done business with your Boss Song before. I understand your rules.”

“You think you’re worthy of mentioning Old Seven?” Qian Wu scoffed, blowing out smoke. “Old Seven is steady and gives everyone face—he’s the ‘Cat’s’ diplomat. But I’m different. I only remember grudges.”

Qian Wu turned his cold gaze back to the Ground Dog. “I told you to cause some trouble for Zhuque, but it seems like you didn’t lift a finger.”

After hearing this, Chu Tianqiu glanced at Qian Wu, who was clearly not in good shape.

After all, he wasn’t in a dwarf’s body—he had likely used the “Twin Flowers” ability multiple times already.

“I heard that ‘Cat’ has taken down both Xuanwu and Zhuque in a row. Is that true?” Chu Tianqiu asked.

“Just luck,” Qian Wu replied, reaching for a cigarette only to find his pockets empty. It took him a few seconds to remember that he’d given the remaining half-pack to Officer Li.

He patted his pockets helplessly before turning to look at a Earth Dog standing to the side of the corridor—a large, broad-headed bulldog.

Qian Wu simply stared at the Earth Dog without saying a word. The intensity of his gaze made the Earth Dog visibly uncomfortable. After avoiding eye contact for a while, the Earth Dog finally forced an awkward smile.

“Hey… what’s going on?” the Earth Dog asked. “Boss Qian, I…”

Qian Wu remained silent, his eyes fixed coldly on him.

The Earth Dog let out an awkward chuckle, then obediently walked over. He reached into his suit pocket, pulled out a crudely rolled cigarette, and respectfully placed it between Qian Wu’s lips. Then, he took out a lighter.

*Click.*

The lighter flickered, casting a glow on Qian Wu’s indifferent face and igniting the cigarette in his mouth.

Qiao Jijin and the others nearby were completely baffled by the scene. They stared at Qian Wu, unsure of what to even ask.

“Boss Qian…” the Earth Dog said as he put away the lighter and handed over the remaining few cigarettes from his pocket. “Don’t look at me like that… You know how it is—we made a deal, but it wasn’t like we signed a contract or anything…”

Qian Wu grabbed the Earth Dog’s hand, took the lighter from him, and pocketed it.

“Dog,” Qian Wu said coldly. “In the ‘Land of Finality,’ if someone owes me, Qian Wu, a favor and doesn’t repay it—even if they’re a ‘Zodiac’—I won’t let them off easy. You know that, right?”

“I know… I know…” the Earth Dog nodded nervously. “I’ve done business with your Song Qiao before. I understand your rules.”

“You think a dog like you is worthy of mentioning Old Seven?” Qian Wu exhaled a cloud of smoke. “Old Seven is steady and knows how to save face for everyone. He’s the diplomat of ‘Cat.’ But I’m different—I only keep track of favors and grudges.”

Qian Wu turned his cold gaze back to the Earth Dog. “I told you to cause some trouble for Zhuque, but it seems like you did absolutely nothing.”

“Boss Qian…” the Earth Dog’s eyebrows twisted into an obsequious frown. “You’re really putting me in a tough spot… You showed up so aggressively, demanding we repay a favor—how could any of us ‘Zodiacs’ dare refuse? If we refused, you would’ve swapped our bodies on the spot…”

“Aren’t ‘Dogs’ supposed to represent loyalty?” Qian Wu flicked his cigarette ash. “Your attitude is quite unexpected.”

“What does ‘Dog loyalty’ have to do with me?” The Earth Dog grinned. “LMAO, my game type is ‘Loyalty,’ but the actual name of my game is ‘The Messenger.’ At most, I can help you deliver letters or pass on messages. But if you want me to risk my life… I’d have to think twice.”

Nearby, a Earth Rat couldn’t help but chuckle at the bulldog’s behavior.

“You dog…” the Earth Rat muttered. “I’ve never seen you suck up to someone like this before. This time, my human eyes have truly underestimated a dog.”

“Pfft, as if you’re any better?” The Earth Dog frowned at the Earth Rat. “Haven’t you done your fair share of bootlicking? I’m literally dying of laughter.”

Qin Dongting found the Earth Dog’s way of speaking particularly odd. She rarely saw anyone blend so much internet slang into everyday conversation.

“’Bootlicking’? That’s debatable,” the Earth Rat shook his head. “At least I act the same way with everyone. You, on the other hand, are a whole different story.”

“Can you cut down on those crappy idioms of yours?” the Earth Dog snapped. “We’re discussing serious business here. Don’t interrupt.”

The Earth Rat naturally had no interest in dealing with such two-faced individuals. In his eyes, people like this were even more opportunistic than he was—unpredictable and dangerous in any situation.

“Boss Qian…” the Earth Dog turned back to Qian Wu. “I really didn’t expect you to make it onto this ‘train’… Fine, I admit defeat. Whatever you say, I’ll do it.”

Hearing this, Qian Wu’s lips curled into a slight smile. “Good. You said it yourself.”

The moment he saw Qian Wu’s expression, the Earth Dog knew he’d miscalculated.

What kind of person was Qian Wu? How could he not understand his own nature?

Put nicely, he hadn’t repaid Qian Wu’s favor and was now forced to comply with his demands. But looking at it now, it seemed everything had gone exactly according to Qian Wu’s plan.

Even if he hadn’t caused trouble for Zhuque, they still managed to take Zhuque down. So, from the very beginning, this plan never required his involvement.

He was nothing more than a pawn destined to help Qian Wu on this “train.”

“Boss Qian… It feels like you set a trap for me to walk into…?” The Earth Dog’s face twitched, his expression displeased.

“A trap?” Qian Wu shook his head. “Not entirely. If you had chosen to ‘flee and cause chaos’ for Zhuque back then, you wouldn’t be here taking orders from me now.”

The bulldog’s face was unreadable, but the corners of his mouth drooped downward, clearly unhappy.

Despite Qian Wu’s aggressiveness, the Earth Dog had no way to retaliate. After all, trying to kill him would mean making physical contact—and that could easily result in being forcibly taken away by him.

“You…” The Earth Dog thought for a moment, then asked irritably, “What do you want me to do? Let me make this clear—I won’t do anything life-threatening.”

“I need time,” Qian Wu said. “Starting now, these few and I will rest in your room for a while. You’re responsible for keeping us safe.”

The Earth Dog slowly narrowed his eyes, then stuck out his tongue and licked his nose.

“Boss Qian… This is really strange…” The Earth Dog glanced at the numerous “participants” standing before him. “Was all of this planned by you guys from the very beginning?”

“Why do you ask?”

“It’s all just too much of a coincidence,” the Earth Dog said, furrowing his brow. “It’s as if you anticipated everything, step by step, luring me into a trap. This kind of ‘thinking three steps ahead’ maneuvering is beyond my comprehension…”

“Then just consider it a spur-of-the-moment decision,” Qian Wu replied. “If you can’t figure it out, stop trying.”

Chu Tianqiu nodded slowly upon hearing this. Qian Wu’s strategy seemed like yet another brilliant move.

No one would expect them to hide in the room of an Earth Dog they had almost no prior interaction with. Even if Qinglong sent people to investigate all the “Zodiacs” who might “rebel,” it would be difficult to suspect this particular Earth Dog.

“You two, come with me,” Qian Wu said, tossing his cigarette butt aside and turning to Qiao Jijin and Zhang Shan. “We need a quiet place to get you ready for ‘battle preparations.’”

“Aren’t ‘Dogs’ supposed to represent loyalty?” Qian Wu flicked his cigarette ash. “Your attitude is… unexpected.”

“What does ‘Dogs’ being loyal have to do with me?” The Ground Dog grinned. “LOL, my game type is ‘Loyalty,’ but my game name is ‘The Messenger.’ At most, I can deliver letters or pass messages. If you want me to risk my life… I’ll need to think carefully about that.”

From a distance, the Ground Rat couldn’t help but laugh at the bulldog’s behavior.

“You damn dog…” the Ground Rat muttered. “I’ve never seen you grovel like this before. This time, my human eyes truly underestimated you.”

“Oh, please, like you’re any better?” The Ground Dog shot back with a frown. “How much ass-kissing have *you* done? I’m dying of laughter here.”

Qin Dingdong found the Ground Dog’s speech pattern particularly jarring—she rarely saw someone blend internet slang so heavily into everyday conversation.

“‘Ass-kissing’? That’s debatable,” the Ground Rat shook his head. “At least I’m consistent with everyone. You, on the other hand, are two-faced.”

“Can you *please* stop using those weird idioms?” the Ground Dog snapped. “We’re discussing serious business here—don’t interrupt.”

The Ground Rat naturally had no patience for such double-dealers. In his eyes, people like this were even worse than opportunists—unpredictable and dangerous in any situation.

“Boss Qian…” The Ground Dog turned back to Qian Wu. “I really didn’t expect you to make it onto this ‘train’… Fine, I lose. Whatever you say, I’ll do it.”

Hearing this, Qian Wu’s lips curled slightly. “Good. You said it yourself.”

The moment he saw Qian Wu’s expression, the Ground Dog realized he’d miscalculated.

Who was Qian Wu? How could he *not* know the Ground Dog’s nature?

Putting it nicely, the Ground Dog owed Qian Wu a favor and had no choice but to comply now. But looking back, it was clear this had all been part of Qian Wu’s plan from the start.

Even if the Ground Dog *hadn’t* caused trouble for Zhuque, “Cat” would’ve still killed Zhuque. This entire scheme had never needed his involvement.

And now, as a pawn, he was destined to help Qian Wu on the “train.”

“Boss Qian… it feels like you set me up…” The Ground Dog’s jowls trembled in displeasure.

“Set you up?” Qian Wu shook his head. “Not exactly. If you’d chosen to ‘rout’ and caused chaos for Zhuque back then, you wouldn’t be at my mercy now.”

The bulldog’s face was hard to read, but his downturned lips made it clear he wasn’t happy.

Despite Qian Wu’s aggression, the Ground Dog had no way to retaliate. Trying to kill him would mean physical contact—and that risked getting his body forcibly swapped.

“You…” The Ground Dog thought for a moment before grumbling, “What do you want me to do? Just so we’re clear—I won’t risk my life.”

“I need time,” Qian Wu said. “Starting now, these people and I will rest in your room for a while. You’ll be responsible for our safety.”

The Ground Dog slowly narrowed his eyes, then licked his nose.

“Boss Qian… this is really strange…” He glanced at the “participants” standing nearby. “Was all this planned from the start?”

“Why do you ask?”

“It’s just too much of a coincidence.” The Ground Dog frowned. “It’s like you foresaw everything, and now you’re methodically leading me into a trap. This level of foresight is mind-boggling…”

“Then just consider it a spur-of-the-moment idea,” Qian Wu said. “If you can’t figure it out, don’t bother.”

Chu Tianqiu nodded slowly. Qian Wu’s strategy was yet another masterstroke.

No one would expect them to hide in the room of a Ground Dog they’d barely interacted with. Even if Qinglong sent people to investigate all potentially rebellious “Zodiacs,” this particular dog would be the last suspect.

“Follow me,” Qian Wu said, tossing aside his cigarette butt before looking at Qiao Jiajin and Zhang Shan. “We need a quiet place to prepare you for battle.”