Chapter 570: Breaking the Scapegoat

Chen Jun Nan followed Qiao Jia Jin and ran along the street for a few more minutes, feeling increasingly uneasy.

"Lao Qiao… Are you afraid I can't handle it on my own, so you've been holding back your pace to wait for me?" Chen Jun Nan asked, with a hint of anger.

"What are you talking about…" Qiao Jia Jin wiped the sweat from his forehead, "Jun Nan Zi, don't overthink it. I'm just naturally slow. Come on, let's keep going."

Unfortunately, Qiao Jia Jin wasn't very good at lying, and Chen Jun Nan saw right through it.

"So that's it…" His steps slowed with each one, and after seven paces, he stopped completely.

"What do you mean, 'so that's it'…" Qiao Jia Jin turned back and called out, "Don't stop, Jun Nan Zi!"

"Because I'm running alone and might give up at any moment… that's why you're deliberately slowing down to stay with me…" Chen Jun Nan gave a bitter smile, "I knew it was weird how you were running right beside me the whole time…"

"Uh, well…" Qiao Jia Jin hadn't figured out how to explain when he noticed the black lines closing in behind Chen Jun Nan. "Jun Nan Zi! Get moving! If you have something to yell at me about, save it for later… We're running out of time; it's almost over…"

Although Qiao Jia Jin said it was fine, Chen Jun Nan could see his legs trembling.

He could have run faster, but instead, he was using the same effort to hold himself back.

"Damn it, are you trying to make me furious…" Chen Jun Nan bent down slowly, hands on his knees, looking furious. "What if you die here? What then…"

"No way! Jun Nan Zi!" Qiao Jia Jin forced a smile, "Neither of us is going to die…"

As he spoke, he stepped forward and grabbed Chen Jun Nan's arm again: "Trust me, we're almost there!"

Chen Jun Nan felt Qiao Jia Jin's hand shaking as he held on, and he let out a cold laugh.

"You're really getting on my nerves…"

"Getting on your nerves?"

"Lao Qiao! Go on without me!" Chen Jun Nan shoved Qiao Jia Jin's hand away, "I'm pissed off, fed up, and I'm not running anymore."

Qiao Jia Jin was at a loss seeing Chen Jun Nan give up like that. He thought for a few seconds, then walked in front of him, turning his back and bending his knees slightly.

"Jun Nan Zi, I'll carry you!" Qiao Jia Jin said seriously, "We have to go now, or it'll be too late… We both will…"

"You won't." Chen Jun Nan straightened up and glanced back at the slowly approaching black lines.

"What…?"

"Lao Qiao, you won't die." Chen Jun Nan said with a weary smile, "I'll take your death for you."

Qiao Jia Jin's eyes widened in shock: "That can't be right… Jun Nan Zi, what gives you the right to…"

Before he could finish, Qiao Jia Jin watched as the black lines that should have been heading for him suddenly veered toward Chen Jun Nan.

The two lines extended from afar, converging toward Chen Jun Nan's forehead.

The sky was now covered in black lines, but Qiao Jia Jin only focused on the two carrying a aura of death. They seemed to envelop Chen Jun Nan, like two vultures circling in for the kill.

"Goodbye, Lao Qiao." Chen Jun Nan smiled calmly, as if death were as ordinary as sleep, "After I die, remember to tell Lao Qi about my Sa…"

Chen Jun Nan didn't finish his sentence and just shook his head helplessly: "Forget it, Lao Qiao. That's it."

A sense of defeat radiated from him, making Qiao Jia Jin feel a pang of sadness.

Was he going to watch another teammate die right beside him?

Because of this ridiculous black line game…

"No." Qiao Jia Jin frowned and spoke up suddenly, "Jun Nan Zi, I won't allow it."

"Won't allow it…?"

"I won't allow you to die for me."

There was a loud clang!!

A resonant bell rang out from afar, not as powerful as Qi Xia's, but still deafening.

"Damn it!" Chen Jun Nan's brows furrowed into an eight-character shape, "Lao Qiao, are you out of your mind?! Not again?!"

"Jun Nan Zi, you can't cheat!" Qiao Jia Jin said with a serious face, "My line is my line! I grew up poor, so I won't give away what's mine! You handle your own line and stop trying to take mine."

"What the hell are you say—"

Before Chen Jun Nan could curse, one of the black lines twisted away just as it was about to reach his forehead, heading straight for Qiao Jia Jin instead.

Seeing he had drawn the line back, Qiao Jia Jin turned and bolted.

"You bastard…" Chen Jun Nan was furious. He hadn't wanted to run, but if he didn't chase that line now, Qiao Jia Jin would probably die.

He had to save someone, but he had to chase after them to do it.

What kind of absurd situation was this?

"Jun Nan Zi! Run, now!!" Qiao Jia Jin shouted as he fled with his line, "If you stop, you're done for!!"

"I was going to die anyway!" Chen Jun Nan yelled at the top of his lungs, "You used 'Po Wan Fa' to break my 'Ti Zui'—do you even know how to use your own damn skill?!"

"I don't care!!" Qiao Jia Jin shouted back, "If you want to take my black line, come and get it!"

"I'll chase your ass!" Chen Jun Nan cursed, though his heavy feet were already moving, "Lao Qiao, wait up… Let me explain…"

"Come and chase me!"

"You pervert?!" Chen Jun Nan felt like his lungs were about to burst, "You're running off like some giggling girl in the sunset, and I'm supposed to chase you? Why the hell would I?!"

"Jun Nan Zi! You're looking more energetic now! That's great!" Qiao Jia Jin called from a distance, "If you're mad, come hit me!"

"Damn it, damn it, damn it!!" Chen Jun Nan frantically grabbed at his hair, "Aaahhh! Lao Qiao!! I already said I'd take your death! Stop making me run! I'm exhausted!!"

No sooner had he spoken than the line behind Qiao Jia Jin swerved again, drawing a 180-degree arc in the air before flying back toward Chen Jun Nan.

"No cheating!!" Qiao Jia Jin shouted over his shoulder.

"I've taken it!"

"No!"

"I've taken it!"

"No!"

The black line in the air twisted like it was caught in a gale, weaving back and forth.

"Jun Nan Zi, watch out!!" Qiao Jia Jin was getting anxious, "Stop controlling my line and deal with the one behind you!"

"You…" Chen Jun Nan turned around and saw the black line almost touching his face, startling him into mustering his last bit of strength to run.