Chapter 1231: Stubborn

As the situation reached a stalemate, the skinny Di Hu suddenly thought of something. He scanned the area and spotted several Can Yu Zhe moving along the wall on the opposite side, heading directly away from the Lie Che. What kind of logic was this? They came and went as they pleased, now using their enhanced bodies to humiliate the Sheng Xiao. The more Di Hu thought about it, the angrier he became. In a flash, he lunged forward, grabbed a female by the neck, and used her as a human shield amid her startled cry.

The surrounding Can Yu Zhe scattered in panic, and Qiao Jia Jin's face darkened.

"After all, Can Yu Zhe are just Can Yu Zhe..." the skinny Di Hu said. "How dare you board the Lie Che, trying to take it over...? You've never suffered as the Sheng Xiao have, so why should you enjoy their benefits?"

"The Sheng Xiao's... suffering?" Qiao Jia Jin paused, finding the other's words confusing. He shook his head and changed tack. "Never mind that. First, let her go. This is a fight, so keep it between us—don't point your gun at innocents. That's my first warning."

"Things have escalated this far... How can you still say something as ridiculous as 'a fight is just a fight'...?" Di Hu snarled viciously. "Do you really think we can walk away and pretend nothing happened?"

"You can take your anger out on me." Qiao Jia Jin stared coldly at the several Sheng Xiao. "Don't drag unrelated people into this. That's my second warning."

Di Hu hesitated, sensing that Qiao Jia Jin's demeanor had shifted from before. But backing down after being challenged like this would make him lose face completely.

"I don't ask for much!" Di Hu said. "You lot can get off the train with those Can Yu Zhe, and we'll call it even."

Qiao Jia Jin chuckled lightly. "Shouldn't 'conditions' come from the winner? Besides, what are you thinking, you little Di Hu... Do you really believe holding someone in front of you can stop me?"

No sooner had he spoken than Qiao Jia Jin shot forward from his spot in a burst of speed. He dashed up to Di Hu, planted a foot to halt abruptly like an emergency brake, and a rush of wind followed his movement.

Di Hu felt a fierce gust slam into his face, making it impossible to open his eyes, and his body tilted back involuntarily. Yet, his left hand still gripped the female Can Yu Zhe's neck tightly. In the next instant, he felt someone seize his left wrist and twist it lightly, numbing it instantly. The female Can Yu Zhe was pulled away to safety.

Before Di Hu could react, Qiao Jia Jin grabbed his dislocated wrist and swung him like a weapon toward the remaining Di Ji.

Screams echoed as the three were flung against the wall, smashing the Di Gou room's wall to pieces.

Zhang Shan and Chu Tian Qiu dodged to the side, and the Di Ji tumbled into the room. Two of them rolled their eyes back, unconscious, while the only one still aware, Di Hu, had his arm twisted like a pretzel, completely out of the fight.

Di Shu swallowed hard, mentally reviewing whether he had offended this man earlier.

"Damn... You really went all out." Zhang Shan shook his head. "Weren't you saving some energy for the Che Tou?"

"I'm just pissed off." Qiao Jia Jin lowered his head, glancing again at his powerful body, a strange feeling spreading through him.

"What's there to be pissed about?" Zhang Shan asked. "If you can't win fair, use dirty tricks. You've been on the streets for years—haven't you seen that plenty of times?"

"No... It's not that." Qiao Jia Jin sighed. "Big guy, tell me... Why do Can Yu Zhe want to become Sheng Xiao?"

"Hmm?" Zhang Shan paused. "What do you mean?"

"Is it just for... this enhanced body?"

"Maybe." Zhang Shan nodded. "After all, the only real strength of Di Ji, from our perspective, is using these enhanced bodies to overpower Can Yu Zhe."

"But..." Qiao Jia Jin turned back, looking at Zhang Shan with a deeply complex expression. "Big guy, your body was naturally stronger than others'. Does that make you happy?"

Zhang Shan fell silent for a moment before replying, "I'm... not sure. When I was young, I was proud of this body, but if I had a choice... I'd rather be an ordinary person."

"I feel the same way—I'm confused." Qiao Jia Jin said. "In the past, I fought people who were probably stronger than me, so I never felt this before... But now, I'm really lost..."

Qiao Jia Jin clenched his fist again, feeling the surge of power, yet only emptiness. "...Has using a body stronger than others to bully the weak become something people crave?"

No one expected Qiao Jia Jin to focus on this, leaving everyone momentarily speechless.

"Some people will always want it." Chu Tian Qiu interjected. "You can't impose your own thoughts on others."

"You two leaders..." Di Shu shook his head and stepped forward. "You only think this way because you already have strengths others don't. But what about those ordinary people with nothing? How can they choose? This might be their only chance to be superior."

Qiao Jia Jin nodded, seeming to partially understand.

"I suggest you leaders head to the Che Tou as soon as possible. If you wait too long, you might miss your chance to... well, meet your end."

"Fair enough..." Qiao Jia Jin sighed, about to say more when he noticed Di Gou nearby. "What about you... Still want to fight?"

Di Shu glanced at Di Gou with annoyance and said quietly, "You traitor, we used your room, but you sold us out. As long as you don't cause more trouble, we're even."

"I'm dying of laughter..." Di Gou's face turned awkward, but he stubbornly continued, "It's clearly me who doesn't want to get tangled with you all, okay? Don't act like you're letting me go. I didn't even want to be let go, and if we really fought, who knows who'd be scared. I'm really laughing..."

Before he could finish, Qiao Jia Jin threw a lightning-fast punch straight to Di Gou's chin.

Di Gou's eyes rolled back as he dropped like a broomstick.

"Uh..." Di Shu was stunned. "Tattooed leader, what was that for?"

"Huh?" Qiao Jia Jin didn't get it. "Wasn't that what he said? He wanted to keep fighting, so I obliged."

"Oh, that makes sense." Di Shu nodded. "No issues there. Let's head out."