Chen Jinzhao walked closer.
Shangguan Yu'an and Li Zengqi both turned to look at Chen Jinzhao. Chen Jinzhao asked, "Secretary Li, is there something you need me for?"
Li Zengqi glanced at Shangguan Yu'an.
Shangguan Yu'an took over the conversation, saying, "It's like this, Xuanwu from Jiangning wants to spar with you. What do you think?"
Chen Jinzhao searched his mind for a moment before remembering Xuanwu. He smiled and nodded, "Of course, I can. It's been years since I last fought him. I wonder how strong he is now?"
Li Zengqi chuckled, "Naturally, he's improved."
Shangguan Yu'an's brow furrowed. She felt Chen Jinzhao wasn't being cautious enough and lowered her voice, "Are you sure you want to fight him? Xuanwu has improved a lot in the past three years. I'm afraid you might not be his match."
Chen Jinzhao looked at Shangguan Yu'an. Did this woman not trust him?
Shangguan Yu'an realized she had said the wrong thing and explained, "I mean, you haven't been fighting much these past three years. You might be a bit rusty. Xuanwu has been carrying out missions every year."
With the ebb and flow, the gap between them might have long since disappeared, or Xuanwu might have even pulled ahead.
Chen Jinzhao waved his hand.
He said faintly, "It's nothing. It's just a simple spar. He won't kill me, will he?"
Shangguan Yu'an pursed her lips and said nothing more.
Chen Jinzhao looked at Li Zengqi, "Please trouble Secretary Li to tell Xuanwu that I accept his challenge. He can set the time and place, but I hope it can be within these three days, as I'm in a hurry to return to Ninghai to handle personal matters."
Li Zengqi's eyes lit up, and he quickly agreed.
This was a spar between two S-class experts, and he had to inform Wu Dingfeng of the Jiangnan Military Region!
After Li Zengqi left, Shangguan Yu'an expressed her worries to Chen Jinzhao, believing he had agreed to the challenge too hastily.
"If you lose, it will dampen the morale of the Candle Dragon team," Shangguan Yu'an said.
Chen Jinzhao naturally understood Shangguan Yu'an's concerns. He looked up at the horizon and chuckled, "Winning and losing are common in warfare. Besides, are you so sure I will lose to Xuanwu?"
Shangguan Yu'an lowered her head, not speaking.
Xuanwu's progress was obvious, and his chances of winning were indeed high. This was common knowledge.
"I know what you're worried about. Honestly, I don't have that much confidence either," Chen Jinzhao's expression was unusually serious, making Shangguan Yu'an look up at him in surprise. She frowned, "If that's the case, why did you still agree to his challenge?"
Chen Jinzhao walked forward with his hands behind his back, and Shangguan Yu'an hurried to follow.
Then she heard Chen Jinzhao sigh, "Life is like sailing against the current; one either advances or falls back. I've wasted the past three years. I want to use Xuanwu to find that feeling again. If I can win, that would be best, but even losing might not be a bad thing for me. A bitter defeat can constantly motivate me to move forward, rather than standing still."
Shangguan Yu'an suddenly understood Chen Jinzhao's plan.
She couldn't help but admire Chen Jinzhao's magnanimity and said with some guilt, "I took winning and losing too seriously."
Chen Jinzhao smiled and said nothing.
Li Zengqi soon returned, informing them of Xuanwu's decision—the spar would be held tomorrow afternoon at three o'clock at the Jiangnan Military Region's grounds. However, Xuanwu's request was not to let their respective team members know about the spar, and only a small number of people would be allowed to watch.
Chen Jinzhao said, "Xuanwu is quite considerate. He's afraid that if I lose, it will bring a heavy blow to my team, causing them to lose all hope."
Li Zengqi quickly replied, "General Chen, if you have any objections, you can voice them, and I'll discuss them with him."
"No need. It'll be as he says," Chen Jinzhao agreed.
"Good!"
"I'll go and coordinate all the arrangements now." Li Zengqi was overjoyed, his face showing unconcealed excitement.
Shangguan Yu'an hesitated to speak but ultimately remained silent.
As Li Zengqi took a few steps, he suddenly remembered something and returned to them, "Oh, there's one more thing I forgot to tell you both. Elder Xu and Elder Wu also expressed that they will come to watch tomorrow after hearing about this. I hope General Chen is mentally prepared."
Elder Xu and Elder Wu referred to Xu Hanchen and Wu Dingfeng respectively.
Chen Jinzhao's spar with Xuanwu had managed to attract the attention of these two elders, making Shangguan Yu'an feel immense pressure.
"Mm, I understand," Chen Jinzhao said.
Shangguan Yu'an stopped thinking about the spar. Winning or losing was not something she could decide. She smiled and asked, "General Chen, since you have so much free time now, could you accompany me for a tour of Jiangning?"
Jiangning was the ancient capital of six dynasties, possessing a profound historical heritage and being a renowned historical city in China.
Chen Jinzhao had visited Jiangning several times, but that was a long time ago.
Since Shangguan Yu'an had mentioned it, he was happy to take a look around.
The two changed into casual clothes and drove to the city center of Jiangning.
By the time they reached the city, it was dusk. They went to the famous Xuanwu Lake in Jiangning to admire the sunset. Shangguan Yu'an, dressed in civilian clothes, was no different from an ordinary woman, often taking photos with her phone.
She even took several pictures of Chen Jinzhao, but she said with some dissatisfaction, "You look handsome, but it's a pity about the sunset. It's such a bad omen."
Chen Jinzhao looked at the setting sun in the west and thought to himself that the sun would eventually rise from the east.
Night fell.
The two found a hotel at random for dinner and then wandered around the bustling downtown area for an hour before deciding to head back.
At this moment.
Chen Jinzhao's phone rang—
It was Qian Deshui calling.
Chen Jinzhao frowned slightly. Could Qian Deshui know he was in Jiangning? But he thought about it and figured it was just a coincidence; perhaps Qian Deshui had some new information.
He answered the phone and waited for Qian Deshui to speak.
Qian Deshui asked cautiously, "Mr. Chen, are you listening?"
Chen Jinzhao tapped his fingers on the car window and said, "Just say what you need to say. I don't like people beating around the bush."
From Qian Deshui's hesitant tone, he could guess that Qian Deshui might be in trouble.
Qian Deshui stammered for a long time, and only when Chen Jinzhao was about to hang up the phone did he grit his teeth and say, "Mr. Chen, I... I am indeed in trouble. Is it convenient to talk about it on the phone?"
"Just say it, no one dares to eavesdrop on my calls." Chen Jinzhao's words made Qian Deshui's spirits lift.
"Okay, then I'll be direct."
"I've encountered a big problem. Someone wants to force me to hand over half of my company's assets through unconventional means, including several five-star hotels and a Grade-A office building located in Jiangning."
"He wants my answer tonight, threatening to erase me from Jiangning's map if I don't comply."
"Mr. Chen, I'm truly out of options, which is why I've come to you."