Chu Tianqiu looked at the room Chen Junnan had entered—the door actually had the character “Zi” written on it.

A search-type game.

Was this intentional on Chen Junnan’s part or just a coincidence? His “Heaven’s Vigorous Movement” couldn’t be utilized at all in a “search-type” game. Even if he activated divine power and demolished the venue, he might not necessarily achieve victory.

If he really entered the room, with Chen Junnan’s reckless personality, he would definitely find a way to gamble with his life. Even if he couldn’t kill Chu Tianqiu, it would be enough to stall for time.

“Come on, Little Chu,” Chen Junnan swallowed and said. “Didn’t you want to kill me?”

For Chen Junnan now, this was equally a desperate gamble. Their side’s display screen had already been destroyed—how could they ensure victory in this game next?

“No… I can’t say ‘victory.’ I can only try to find a way to ‘not lose.'”

Thinking of this, Chen Junnan slightly raised the corners of his mouth. Why not just go smash the opponent’s display screen too?

Once both sides dragged it out until time expired, they could only decide the outcome based on the scores before the display screens were smashed.

Qi Xia had already obtained nearly twenty points. Could Chu Tianqiu possibly have that many too?

After confirming his tactics, Chen Junnan turned to run, but as soon as he opened the door, he discovered Wen Qiaoyun blocking the room behind him. She didn’t seem to want to continue advancing; rather, she had received some command to guard this place.

He thought this was bad and hurriedly turned to leave the room from the left side, then went to check the route forward. However, Doctor Zhao was in the room leading to the “river channel.”

Without even needing to guess, Chen Junnan could tell that the other rooms were also blocked by Xu Liunian and Yan Zhichun.

“Damn… you all came?!” Only now did Chen Junnan finally realize the other side had launched a general offensive.

But where were his own people?

Most critically… where was Qi Xia?

After a moment, Chen Junnan received general confirmation. In the rooms he couldn’t reach, Lawyer Zhang, Qi Xia, and Tiantian were very likely trapped in games together with the opponents.

In this game, as long as two people were trapped in a game, all four doors of that room would lock. They couldn’t even borrow the path to reach the “river channel”—it was clearly a “dead end.”

Once the opponent truly established such a “defensive line” built from “dead ends” on their side, this game wouldn’t even have a one percent chance of victory.

“First smashing our display screen, then blocking our people… you do have some skills,” Chen Junnan said with false bravado. “But don’t you notice Old Qi isn’t here? Aren’t you afraid?”

“Unfortunately,” Chu Tianqiu said, “Qi Xia is trapped in a game with Yan Zhichun. He has no way to do anything during this time period. I’ve won this game.”

“Little Chu… you’re so arrogant,” Chen Junnan said. “If it weren’t for that kid Zhang Shan’s ability protecting you, this master would definitely spar with you.”

After hearing this, Chu Tianqiu reached out to touch the necklace on his chest, then shook the clothes draped over his body. Countless streams of foul-smelling blood began to slowly drip down.

“Even without ‘Heaven’s Vigorous Movement,’ what could it change? The hundred-plus eyeballs I’m carrying make me omnipotent. Here, only the ‘Deviant’ is the existence closest to ‘god.'” Chu Tianqiu stared at Chen Junnan and said, “How exactly can you, with just a ‘Scapegoat,’ possibly defeat me here?”

Chen Junnan knew Chu Tianqiu wasn’t wrong. In competing with “Echoes,” he wasn’t a match. In competing with “brains,” he also might not gain the upper hand. If he wanted to obtain the “characters” from Chu Tianqiu’s hands, he could only choose to compete in martial prowess.

But Chu Tianqiu had deployed “Heaven’s Vigorous Movement,” essentially blocking off all paths.

Now Chen Junnan was forced into a corner with nowhere to turn. He could only try his best to solve the immediate problem and stall until Qi Xia returned to handle this matter.

But what could he do?

“Wait…” Chen Junnan suddenly narrowed his eyes, remembering that after Qi Xia had finished explaining this matter, he had said one sentence.

“If this situation really occurs, then do whatever you want to do.”

“Hasn’t it already occurred…?” Chen Junnan widened his eyes and said, “Old Qi… you mean…”

He knew Qi Xia understood him. What he wanted to do every day was neither “pass through walls” nor “quarrel.”

It was “Scapegoat.”

“Then this master will have to use an unconventional move…” Chen Junnan muttered to himself. “I’ll trust that kid Zheng Yinghao just this once… Maybe I’ve already ‘Echoed’ by now?”

After hearing this, Chu Tianqiu narrowed his eyes, not knowing exactly how Chen Junnan would use “Scapegoat” to resolve the situation before him.

But in the next second, he discovered Chen Junnan shifting his gaze toward Qiao Jiajin on the ground.

“Little Chu… watch carefully today. This master’s ‘Echo’ is called ‘Summon Old Qiao.'”

As soon as the words fell, Chen Junnan’s cheeks suddenly split open. In an instant, blood splattered everywhere. He suppressed the pain and let out a muffled grunt.

“Old Qiao, your injuries—this master is bearing them…”

Within just a few seconds, Chen Junnan’s entire body became covered in layers of wounds and bruises like fish scales. Before long, he spat another mouthful of fresh blood onto the ground.

He felt that Qiao Jiajin not being beaten to death was simply a miracle. Before he had completely borne all these injuries, he already felt like he was leaving this world.

“Damn it…” Chen Junnan said through gritted teeth. “Old Qiao, your injuries… *cough*…”

Another large mouthful of fresh blood sprayed onto the ground. Chen Junnan’s entire body began to sway unsteadily, nearly falling to the ground.

After watching this, Chu Tianqiu couldn’t help but reveal a smile. “Chen Junnan… what difference is there between your ‘Scapegoat’ and ‘suicide’? You’re just saving me the trouble of doing it myself.”

Only now did Chen Junnan realize he had indeed been somewhat rash. If he transferred all of Qiao Jiajin’s injuries onto himself, he would certainly die without a doubt.

For someone who didn’t frequently take beatings, the piercing pain alone could make him pass out.

Originally, he wanted to let Qiao Jiajin stand up and rescue him, but now he was about to commit suicide before Qiao Jiajin even woke up.

The words were already spoken… what else could he do now?

“If I’d known your injuries were this severe, why would this master show off…” After coughing a few times, Chen Junnan began thinking about his next strategy.

In this kind of confusing situation, Old Qiao had Old Qiao’s strategy, Old Qi had Old Qi’s strategy.

And as Chen Junnan, he also quickly determined his own strategy.

That was to bear half this time, and bear the rest next time.

“No… can’t do it…” Chen Junnan said. “How about I just bear this much… This master feels like even standing here motionless, I’m about to get beaten to death… I still have a meeting to attend. Please excuse me for a moment.”

Chen Junnan wanted to say more, but his entire body felt another wave of dizziness, and he sat down on the ground with a thud.

Watching Chen Junnan’s freely controlled “Scapegoat,” Chu Tianqiu didn’t know how to evaluate it for a moment. Originally, there was one severely injured Qiao Jiajin plus one vigorous and lively Chen Junnan.

After “Scapegoat” was activated, it became two injured people who couldn’t stand up. How exactly should he describe this ability?

“It does save me trouble though,” Chu Tianqiu took out a chain from his pocket, balled it up, and suddenly threw it toward Chen Junnan.

Chen Junnan cried out in alarm and used all his strength to roll once, barely dodging that chain that flew like a meteor.

The chain made a tremendous sound as it embedded itself deeply into the ground.

“Impressive… truly impressive…” Chen Junnan watched the chain in shock and said, “The ability that Zhang Shan fought so hard to protect—is this it?”

Not far away, Qiao Jiajin, who had just sat up, felt the condition of his body and instantly understood what had happened.

“Brother Nan… what are you doing…?”

“What timing!” Chen Junnan said. “I was just thinking about how long I could hold out, and you woke up! Old Qiao—hurry up and beat the crap out of him!”

Qiao Jiajin looked at the wounds covering Chen Junnan’s body and immediately understood. He gritted his teeth, endured the residual pain on his body, and slowly stood up.

“Old Qiao feels really sorry…” Qiao Jiajin said. “You shouldn’t have done this…”

“Stop the nonsense!” Chen Junnan said. “If you’re sorry, then show it with your fists! Hurry up and smash him flat! Otherwise, this master is going to die here!”

Qiao Jiajin shook his somewhat dizzy head, then clenched his fists and glared at Chu Tianqiu.

“Come on then,” Chu Tianqiu said coldly. “Let me see if you, in your current state, still have the qualification to fight me.”