Chapter 991: Checking for Omissions and Filling in the Gaps

Qi Xia’s strange behavior left Chu Tianqiu somewhat perplexed.

He pondered the “generals” Qi Xia had already chosen—Qiao Jiajin, Chen Junnan, Zhang Chenze, and Han Yimo.

It seemed Qi Xia had a peculiar direction in his selections—all of them were from the interview room.

By now, his own team had already secured “Zhao Haibo,” and he had heard that someone named “Xiao Ran” had recently disappeared from the opposing room. Counting the remaining members, there were exactly seven left.

Was Qi Xia planning to gather everyone from that room this time?

“But that can’t be right… Qi Xia,” Chu Tianqiu thought to himself. “The first time we met, I warned you—there’s someone in your room who isn’t on your side…”

Numerous possibilities flashed through Chu Tianqiu’s mind, but he couldn’t quite grasp what Qi Xia was truly planning. He had a vague sense that Qi Xia wasn’t just participating in the game—there had to be something else at play.

If that was the case, then…

Chu Tianqiu stepped forward and wrote down three characters: “Wen Qiaoyun.”

Before the game began, he had never imagined that both Wen Qiaoyun and Yan Zhichun would join his team.

And indeed, Wen Qiaoyun didn’t hesitate much. Upon seeing the door open, she walked in.

Now, his team consisted of Zhang Shan, Jin Yuanxun, Zhao Haibo, Yan Zhichun, and Wen Qiaoyun.

In terms of “combat,” Zhang Shan and Jin Yuanxun could hold their own. For “strategy,” Yan Zhichun and Wen Qiaoyun could devise plans. And if peculiar props were involved, Zhao Haibo would be crucial in critical moments.

Though there was still one spot left, his team was already well-rounded in every aspect.

Even if this team had any shortcomings, he could compensate with the hundreds of “eyeballs” he carried.

But the final decision would depend on who Qi Xia chose as his sixth member.

Soon after, Qi Xia fell silent, barely speaking a word before stepping forward to write another name:

“Zhang Lijuan.”

This choice aligned with Chu Tianqiu’s expectations. The seventh member would likely be “Lin Qin,” uniting everyone from Qi Xia’s room in this game.

“Wait a minute…” Chu Tianqiu frowned slightly. He vaguely recalled Qi Xia mentioning that there had once been ten people in his room…

What about that police officer…? Could Qi Xia’s seventh choice not be Lin Qin, but Li Shangwu?

Shaking his head, Chu Tianqiu refocused on the game. However, the ability “Craft” had too many flaws. Even without considering that he had already secured “Dismantle,” even if no one could counter Tian Tian, she still had to rely on existing materials to create items.

Without “Materialize” or “Retrieve” to complement it, how could “Craft” conjure something out of thin air?

Even a skilled housewife can’t cook without rice, let alone something as complex as “Craft.”

“What exactly are you thinking…?” Chu Tianqiu muttered under his breath.

Not long after Tian Tian bid farewell to Zheng Yingxiong, she looked up and saw a glowing door appear before her.

After listening to Earth Dragon’s brief explanation, she hesitated for a moment but said nothing. After some thought, she stepped through the door.

Chu Tianqiu took a deep breath. Both of them were now at the final decision point. Once the seventh member was chosen, “Cangjie Chess” would officially enter the “battlefield” phase.

But what was his team still lacking?

No matter how he looked at it, his current lineup felt solid. Whoever he chose now wouldn’t make much difference. For Qi Xia, however, the situation was entirely different. Since every member he selected was from his own room, a flawed lineup would significantly impact him.

Chu Tianqiu knew Qi Xia was proud. If he provoked him, Qi Xia would undoubtedly take the bait.

Though this meant he’d miss the chance to choose “Yun Yao,” even if he could, there was a high probability she would refuse.

So, after a pause, he turned to Qi Xia with a faint smile. “For the last member… how about we make a bet?”

“Oh?” Qi Xia raised an eyebrow. “What kind of bet?”

“We’ll choose for each other. The person I write will join your team, and the one you write will join mine,” Chu Tianqiu said. “Otherwise, just picking according to our own plans is a bit too dull.”

Qi Xia glanced at Earth Dragon, as if seeking her opinion.

“As long as you both agree, I don’t care,” Earth Dragon shrugged.

“Fine,” Qi Xia chuckled. “I accept.”

Chu Tianqiu felt he had subtly grasped a sliver of Qi Xia’s thinking.

If Qi Xia had a weakness, Chu Tianqiu believed it wasn’t “Yu Nian’an” or “Yan Zhichun.” If anything, it was his “pride.” If he wanted to outmaneuver Qi Xia even once, this was the only angle he could exploit.

They switched places, with Qi Xia standing before Chu Tianqiu’s device. Raising his hand, he paused before writing and turned to Chu Tianqiu, speaking softly:

“Chu Tianqiu, you believe your team is already well-rounded, so whoever I choose won’t affect you much.”

Chu Tianqiu frowned slightly. He hadn’t expected Qi Xia to see through him so easily. With a sigh, he replied, “So?”

“So, I’ll help you further optimize your lineup,” Qi Xia mused for a few seconds. “Right now, your team isn’t lacking strategists or fighters. What you’re missing is someone like you—someone who can adapt to different situations with flexible tactics.”

“Don’t joke around…” Chu Tianqiu said. “After all these years in this place, anyone who fits that description is already on our team. Who else is left?”

“That just means your standards are too high,” Qi Xia smiled. “There is someone who can do something similar. Though not the smartest, they often react with their own ideas based on the situation. And right now, you’re missing someone with initiative…”

The more Chu Tianqiu listened, the stranger it sounded. Who could earn such praise from Qi Xia?

Only when he saw Qi Xia write down “Xu Liunian” did he finally understand.

As an opponent, why would Qi Xia be so generous?

Though his words sounded reasonable, “Xu Liunian” was hardly a powerful asset.

“She does have her own ideas and makes quick decisions, but could her tricks really fool you?” Chu Tianqiu asked.

“Why would she need to fool me?” Qi Xia countered. “My team isn’t just me. If we’re separated or face an emergency, Xu Liunian could be surprisingly effective—after all, not everyone in my team is sharp.”

By now, Chu Tianqiu could hardly tell whether Qi Xia was being sincere.

Only when Earth Dragon opened the door and announced to Xu Liunian outside that “Chu Tianqiu has invited you to assist” did Chu Tianqiu snap out of his thoughts and begin strategizing with his current team in mind.