Chapter 269: The Past

Upon hearing this, Song Qi’s eyes widened in an instant, and he hurriedly went up to cover Chen Junnan’s mouth.

“Don’t say that name!” Song Qi looked at the man in front of him in shock. “Wait—who the hell are you?”

“What the hell…” Chen Junnan impatiently shook off Song Qi’s hand. “Why cover my mouth? I’m not one of the Calabash Brothers—calling your name won’t make me capture you.”

Qiao Jiajin, sensing something off, chimed in, “Handsome, I think that was the Golden Horn King’s line.”

“Oh? Really?” Chen Junnan pondered for a moment. “Wait, wasn’t ‘I’ll call your name—dare you answer?’ from *Calabash Brothers*?”

“Cal… Calabash Brothers? What’s that?” Qiao Jiajin asked, confused. “Wasn’t that the Golden Horn King’s thing?”

“Ah, Old Qiao, it’s been a while since I last schooled you!” Chen Junnan laughed, patting him on the shoulder. “Come on, let me educate you. *Calabash Brothers* is a cultural treasure! The story goes—”

“Wait, hold on…” Song Qi felt these two were acting weird. “Is now really the time to discuss *Calabash Brothers* and the Golden Horn King?”

“Oh, right…” Qiao Jiajin seemed to suddenly remember something. “Someone said they were looking for me earlier—Explosion Guy, was it you?”

“I…” Song Qi shook his head helplessly. “There’s a brother at the ‘Sheep’ game who needs help…”

“My god!” Qiao Jiajin yelled. “Did Liar get his ass kicked?”

Chen Junnan also froze. “What? Did Old Qi get beaten up?”

“No…” Song Qi felt like communicating with these two was an uphill battle. “That brother needs assistance, and he specifically asked for ‘Qiao Jiajin’ to help him.”

“Alright, I’ll go right now.” Qiao Jiajin nodded and was about to head off.

“Hold on.” Chen Junnan grabbed Qiao Jiajin, thought for a moment, then asked Song Qi, “That little bastard—did he win or lose?”

“He won,” Song Qi answered.

“He won, but still needs help?” Chen Junnan stroked his chin.

“Exactly,” Song Qi nodded.

“Got it.” Chen Junnan patted Qiao Jiajin. “Old Qiao, go with Little Chu and grab two sacks.”

“Sacks?” Qiao Jiajin blinked. “Why me? Why don’t you go?”

“You’re not even wearing a shirt—just go get them,” Chen Junnan sighed.

“Uh…” Qiao Jiajin looked down and realized he was indeed shirtless. “Damn…”

As he ran off, Chen Junnan called after him, “Old Qiao, grab a couple of handy weapons while you’re at it!”

“Huh? Got it!”

Song Qi gave Chen Junnan a puzzled look. “You… have we met before?”

“Before?” Chen Junnan thought for a second. “Nope, first time, right?”

“First time…?” Song Qi frowned. “But you just called me by my real name… How did you know?”

“I divined it,” Chen Junnan said flatly. “I did the math—your destiny lacks ‘brightness,’ and your fate clashes with ‘radiance,’ hence your name, ‘Song Minghui.'”

“What the hell…” Song Qi felt like talking to this guy was frying his brain. “Then how did you know my surname is ‘Song’?”

“Because I damn well feel like it,” Chen Junnan said impatiently. “Little Song, don’t ask too many questions. Some things are better left unknown.”

Song Qi still eyed Chen Junnan suspiciously. This guy was just too bizarre—it seemed impossible to get a straight answer out of him.

Before long, Qiao Jiajin returned, now wearing a jacket.

Under his left arm were two iron pipes, their breaks looking fresh, as if they’d just been snapped off a water pipe. In his right hand, he carried two grimy woven sacks.

“Handsome, I’m back,” Qiao Jiajin grinned. “Are we knocking someone out and hauling them off? I picked two big sacks just in case.”

“Any size works,” Chen Junnan chuckled. “We’re gonna do him a *big* favor.”

Then he turned to Song Qi. “That little bastard didn’t say ‘only Qiao Jiajin can come,’ did he?”

“No, he didn’t,” Song Qi shook his head.

“Then it’s settled,” Chen Junnan said. “Old Qiao, let’s go. I’m coming with you.”

“Sure thing,” Qiao Jiajin nodded.

The two had Song Qi lead the way while they followed behind, pipes and sacks in hand.

Song Qi found it all a bit strange. There was something oddly… *feline* about these two. He just wasn’t sure if guys like them would be willing to join their side.

——

Qi Xia was at his wit’s end.

The woman in front of him, Qin Dingdong, absolutely refused to leave. Her real target from the start had been getting close to *him*.

Qi Xia had imagined countless dangerous scenarios, but never did he expect she was actually looking for *Chen Junnan*.

This was such a convoluted mess, almost like facing another “Earth-level” opponent…

Who knew what the hell Chen Junnan had done back then?

Qi Xia could only pray Chen Junnan *didn’t* show up—otherwise, things would get even messier.

“Seven years…” Qin Dingdong gritted her teeth. “That bastard’s been dodging me for seven damn years!”

Qi Xia silently rubbed his temples. He’d heard this line at least a dozen times already.

To change the subject, he turned to the long-haired man beside him.

“Bro, what’s your name?”

The long-haired man gave a polite nod. “Bro, I’m Liu Ershiyi.”

The name struck Qi Xia as odd.

“Liu… Twenty-One?” He couldn’t fathom what kind of parents would name their kid like that.

Then again, the other guy was called “Song Qi”… Maybe these weren’t their real names?

Their outfits were similar too—were they part of some organization?

Qi Xia quickly realized this long-haired man wasn’t much of a talker, making it impossible to steer the conversation. He fell silent, the atmosphere now even more bizarre than when he’d first entered the Sheep game.

Soon, Song Qi returned.

Liu Ershiyi nodded at him and stepped aside.

Next, Qiao Jiajin walked in, iron pipe in hand, cautiously scanning the room.

There were only four people inside.

The Sheep-head guy, the leather-jacket guy, Liar, and the pretty lady.

Qiao Jiajin suddenly felt a bit lost—who was he supposed to knock out?

“Old Qi… let me see what you’ve gotten yourself into this time—” Chen Junnan strode in, sack and pipe in hand, but his voice cut off the moment he stepped inside.

Before anyone could even get a good look at him, the sack and pipe clattered to the ground—he was already sprinting away.

“You bastard! Chen Junnan!!”

Qin Dingdong shrieked and bolted after him. As she passed Qiao Jiajin, her expression shifted abruptly, softening into a smile.

“Oh, A-Jin, long time no see! You’re still as buff as ever.”

“Huh?” Qiao Jiajin blinked. “You are…?”

Qin Dingdong didn’t have time to answer—her face twisted back into fury.

“Chen Junnan, you goddamn coward!”

And with that, she vanished out the door.

Everyone left in the room stood frozen.

“Liar… what the hell just happened?” Qiao Jiajin scratched his head. “What *was* that thing that ran out?”

“Probably a person,” Qi Xia sighed. “Fists, come here. I’ve got something to tell you.”