“Yo…” Chen Junnan immediately became alert. “I wondered who it was… how is it you two again?”

Yan Zhichun took the first step into the “River Path,” leaving only Zhang Shan behind her, and said softly: “After all, I’m on the ‘Invasion’ squad. Since the mission isn’t complete yet, I can only continue going back to battle.”

“Yo, then Master Chen won’t keep you company,” Chen Junnan said. “I’m also on the ‘Invasion’ squad. Now I need to go to your side. How about we each invade separately and neither of us bothers the other?”

“I don’t care either way,” Yan Zhichun said. “I wasn’t familiar with them to begin with. Whether you want to deceive, kill, or attack anyone is up to you.”

“That’s just great,” Chen Junnan said. “Then let’s exchange places. Big guy in the back there, what do you say?”

“Sorry,” Zhang Shan said. “I still have some feelings for Chu Tianqiu and Jin Yuanxun. If you want to come to our side to cause trouble, you’ll have to get past me first.”

“Wait, how can you say that?” Chen Junnan said. “To be honest, don’t let my carefree attitude fool you—Master Chen’s true identity is actually damn Xu Liunian.”

Qiao Jiajin was startled and stared blankly at Chen Junnan.

“Chu Tianqiu said that from now on, we can’t trust any Xu Liunian,” Zhang Shan answered. “So you can’t pass.”

“Well done, then I’m Chen Junnan after all,” Chen Junnan curled his lip. “If I’m Chen Junnan, you can trust me, right?”

Zhang Shan didn’t speak, only staring at Qiao Jiajin. His frame was extremely massive, almost occupying the entire area of the door, yet he never stepped out.

“If you’re Chen Junnan, I can barely trust you now,” Zhang Shan said after pausing for a few seconds.

“Good, since you trust me, then Master Chen will tell you that I’m actually Xu Liunian.”

“…?”

Zhang Shan and Yan Zhichun, upon hearing this statement, lost all expression from their faces for a moment.

“This is nothing yet,” Chen Junnan laughed. “Master Chen hasn’t even gotten started.”

“Someone like you is too dangerous,” Zhang Shan said. “If we let you through, this half won’t have any peace.”

“Then what do you want to do?” Chen Junnan said. “Why won’t you big guy come out? The ‘River Path’ is so spacious—come out and talk.”

Qiao Jiajin naturally knew why.

Once Zhang Shan formally stepped into the “River Path,” the two would have to settle things here.

But the team on the opposite side was clearly not very reliable. At this moment, Zhang Shan was like their most stable “guardian deity.”

If the “guardian deity” had no way to protect the opposite territory and instead got into a fight with him in the “River Path,” that situation would be very unfavorable for them.

But Qiao Jiajin also understood this principle. The more unfavorable the situation was for the other side, the more he needed to lure them into this trap.

“Big Guy,” Qiao Jiajin said. “Didn’t we agree that as soon as we ‘meet’ in the ‘River Path,’ we’d get straight to it? What now? We’ve clearly ‘met’ but you’re pretending we haven’t.”

Zhang Shan looked at Qiao Jiajin in silence, his expression naturally not very pleasant.

“Do you want to admit defeat?” Qiao Jiajin continued. “Or are you saying our agreement is directly void?”

Seeing Zhang Shan hesitate, Qiao Jiajin took a step forward, pulled out a chain and “character” from his pocket, and cleanly dangled it in front of the other party.

“相” (Xiang, Minister).

“I’ve shown my complete sincerity,” Qiao Jiajin said again. “Not only have I been standing here for a long time, but I’ve also directly revealed my ‘character.’ If even with all this you still refuse to compete with me, then I won’t need to abide by any agreement either.”

Looking at the “相” hanging on the chain below Qiao Jiajin’s palm, constantly rotating, Zhang Shan turned his head to look behind him again.

There weren’t many people he could trust in this team—Chu Tianqiu counted as one, Jin Yuanxun counted as one.

If he were held up here and the other side launched a full “offensive,” both people behind him would encounter danger.

But the other party had already said this much—was there any possibility of avoiding battle?

If he didn’t restrain the flower-armed man before him, his own team would likewise encounter danger.

This was the most difficult choice placed before him.

“I was a soldier once,” Zhang Shan said. “Even though so many years have passed, there are two words I still remember, and that is ‘never retreat.'”

As his words fell, he slowly lowered his head, letting his tall frame avoid the doorway, and stepped into the “River Path.”

At this moment, Qiao Jiajin’s expression also turned cold, then he slowly removed his upper garment and threw it on the ground to the side.

“Oh…?” Zhang Shan stared at Qiao Jiajin’s upper body for a while and said, “Strange, you seem a bit thinner than I imagined.”

“That’s a long story,” Qiao Jiajin said. “The patterns on my body are still there, but my body has been reshaped.”

“Then wouldn’t I be bullying you?” Zhang Shan also slowly removed his upper garment. His physique was much taller and larger than Qiao Jiajin’s, appearing exceptionally strong.

“I’ve gotten somewhat used to this body these past few days,” Qiao Jiajin said. “That way, it won’t count as me bullying you either.”

The aura from both their bodies had gradually begun to spread. Chen Junnan and Yan Zhichun simultaneously felt something wasn’t quite right.

“Since that’s the case… Master Chen will be leaving first,” Chen Junnan said quietly to Qiao Jiajin. “Be careful yourself.”

“Don’t worry,” Qiao Jiajin moved his neck again, his eyes exceptionally serious.

Chen Junnan had seen this kind of look before. Qiao Jiajin would become a different person when fighting.

After hearing this, Yan Zhichun also looked at Zhang Shan. The two looked at each other, then each nodded.

She and Chen Junnan brushed past each other. Neither paid attention to the other, walking directly into the other’s area.

Now for Zhang Shan, holding back Qiao Jiajin was the only thing he could do.

Looking at the extremely serious man before him, Zhang Shan’s state of mind became somewhat chaotic for a moment.

Both were climbing upward following a capable person, yet he just felt Chu Tianqiu was more than one level more dangerous than Qi Xia.

He wasn’t certain whether Chu Tianqiu would truly value his loyalty, nor was he certain whether Chu Tianqiu could become the “Ruler” of this place as he claimed.

But since Heaven had already destined him to stand on Chu Tianqiu’s side, he could only win every battle he experienced.

Thinking of this, he spread his arms and stretched his body.

Being able to have a one-on-one with Qiao Jiajin without any interference—this situation was clearly rare. This fight was completely different from ordinary brawls. One small oversight could cause him to lose everything.

“Big Guy…” Qiao Jiajin twisted his waist and said softly, “We’ve both seen each other’s ‘Echoes.’ Whether we both activate them or both don’t activate them makes no difference, right?”

“Yes,” Zhang Shan nodded.

“If that’s the case, then I won’t consider the ‘Echo’ issue,” Qiao Jiajin said again. “Let’s just settle things between us here and now.”