Chapter 327: Deciding the Victor Through Martial Combat

Zuo Li consciously took a step forward, blocking Xie Ning’s line of sight.

’This Zhou Jiangye really is no good. The way his aggressive gaze is fixed on my little sister... It’s like a hungry wolf spotting Tang Seng’s flesh. Damn it, he’s really pissing me off.’

"So this is the help Captain Zuo brought? Don’t you want to tell us brothers where she’s from? A brief introduction, perhaps?"

Zhou Jiangye’s tone was languid, with a faint, sinister edge. His eyes seemed capable of piercing through Zuo Li’s body, right into the depths of her soul.

"The moment I hear him talk, I just want to punch him," Zuo Li leaned her head in and whispered in Xie Ning’s ear.

Xie Ning nodded. "Then let’s make him the first one we fight later."

Zuo Li couldn’t help but chuckle when she heard that.

’That’s my dear little sister, all right. I knew with her taste, there’s no way she’d fall for a refined scoundrel like him. Hahaha.’

"Zhou Jiangye." Zuo Li made a circle with her finger. "About the negotiations... Golden City Base, from today—oh no, from this very moment—is done negotiating with you."

"Let’s drop the stuffy, overly formal act. How about we do something more interesting?"

Zhou Jiangye raised an eyebrow. "Captain Zuo, are you sure you don’t want to introduce your new helper?"

"Do I need to introduce my people to you?" Zuo Li lifted her chin, a look of utter arrogance on her face. "Who do you think you are? How about I introduce you to your mother? You want that?"

Everyone: "..."

Surprisingly, Zhou Jiangye didn’t get angry. Despite Zuo Li’s outrageous words, he maintained a good-natured appearance and just smiled at her.

He looked like a friendly big brother from next door, watching his clueless little sister throw a tantrum.

The smile sent a chill down Zuo Li’s spine. She took half a step back to lean closer to Xie Ning. "Ningning, doesn’t this guy seem like a total creep? This is exactly it. Every time I try to provoke him at the negotiating table, he always has this nonchalant, unfazed smile."

"It’s like nothing in the world can stir his emotions. Zero emotional response."

"It means he’s incredibly calculating," Xie Ning murmured softly. "Don’t worry, I’ll deal with him."

With that, she stepped out from behind Zuo Li, her feet treading on the yellow earth as she walked toward the Chaoyang Base contingent with a smile.

"Base Chief, be careful!" a member of Chaoyang Base immediately shouted. "That woman has grenades on her! Watch out for her tricks!"

"Xie Ning. Captain of Golden City Base’s Starfire Team."

"A pleasure, a pleasure." Zhou Jiangye smiled and took a few steps forward. "I am Zhou Jiangye, Base Chief of Chaoyang Base. I’m delighted to make your acquaintance, Captain Xie."

"You’ve heard of me before?" Xie Ning asked, tilting her head.

Zhou Jiangye paused for a moment, then shook his head honestly. "I can’t say that I have, but..."

"Then why say it’s a pleasure?" Xie Ning cut him off before he could continue, letting loose a verbal tirade. "Hypocrite! So fake! You don’t even know me, but you say it’s a pleasure? A pleasure for what? What’s there to be pleased about?"

"Your men were just shouting about killing me and chasing me all the way up the mountain from the restaurant down there! Didn’t you want to fight? Then let’s fight. What’s with all the pointless talk?"

Everyone: "..."

Caught off guard by the verbal assault, Zhou Jiangye subconsciously twitched the corner of his mouth, but then he put on that doting expression again, as if looking at a mischievous little sister. "Miss Xie is right. It was indeed a slip of the tongue on Mr. Zhou’s part."

"How about this? Let Mr. Zhou be the host and treat Miss Xie and Captain Zuo to a simple meal?"

"I’ll eat your grandma’s bro—!"

Before Zuo Li could finish her outburst, Chen Xiao lunged forward and clamped a hand over her mouth.

The members of the Sweet Potato Team, their faces lined with exasperation, dragged their captain backward.

’Hilarious! For Base Chief Zhou to tolerate a captain like ours for this long... he’s definitely not an ordinary person.’

"We don’t need a meal." Xie Ning waved her hand dismissively. "Since Base Chief Zhou is here, let’s talk about the resource allocation between our two bases."

"Our captain just said that we’re done with the negotiating table, starting now. Of course, we wouldn’t want to bully Base Chief Zhou, either. Everything will be decided fairly."

"Let’s decide the resource allocation with a martial contest."

"Each base will send out five people. Best three out of five. What do you think? It’s a good proposal, isn’t it?"

"It’ll be a one-on-one, fair relay match. If you lose, you’re out. If you win, you continue. Of course, even if you win, you can concede and step down if you’re too exhausted."

"Fine!" Before Zhou Jiangye could respond, a piercing female voice cut through the crowd.

"A one-on-one, fair relay match. Count me in." Zhang Biyun strode forward with a grim expression, her eyes locked on Xie Ning, who stood before the tent. "Xie Ning, your Golden City Base was the one to propose this competition. So, for it to be truly fair, Chaoyang Base must be the one to set the rules."

"That includes the time, place, and specific regulations of the matches. All of it should be decided by Chaoyang Base."

Xie Ning raised her eyebrows and glanced at Zhang Biyun, a faint, mocking smile on her face. "Miss Zhang, I don’t mean to discourage you, but shouldn’t you have asked your Base Chief before saying all that?"

"Judging by the look on your Base Chief’s face, it seems he’s having a hard time deciding."

"Base Chief, I request to fight!" Zhang Biyun turned and shouted angrily. "Base Chief! This woman is responsible for the deaths of my father and brother! I must kill her today!"

"Zhang Biyun." Zhou Jiangye shot her a cold glare, his expression darkening slightly.

’This woman, Zhang Biyun... damn her, she’s ruining everything.’

’Who gave her the right to agree to this when I haven’t even made a decision?’

This was something he could have easily handled at the negotiating table, but now it had suddenly turned into some martial contest. Things were starting to slip out of his control. Zhou Jiangye’s mind raced, weighing the possibilities.

"Miss Xie, perhaps you should reconsider?" Zhou Jiangye chuckled softly. "After all, we were the ones who got to Barbarian Base first. Although your side’s subsequent cooperation was perfect, Chaoyang Base’s contribution in securing all of this base’s supplies was indispensable."

"For the sake of friendship, Chaoyang Base isn’t unwilling to make a few concessions."

"Why are you so full of crap?" Xie Ning interrupted irritably. "Are we fighting or not? Competing or not? It’s a one-word answer. Spit it out."

’No wonder Zuo Li said she wants to punch him on sight.’

’I really do want to hit him. Beat him until he’s looking for his teeth on the ground and can’t talk anymore. He’s so long-winded, it’s giving Ningning a headache.’

"Base Chief! Please give the order!" Zhang Biyun howled, her voice drowning out everyone else.

Seeing Zhou Jiangye’s expression instantly darken, Teng Hongming quickly stepped forward and pulled Zhang Biyun aside, scolding her in a low voice, "Are you trying to get yourself killed faster? Don’t you know your own limits? You want to fight her? She’s an Attack Ability User!"

"Fine!" Finding himself in a bind, Zhou Jiangye maintained his gentle expression and nodded with a smile. "Since Captain Zuo has already decided, a contest it is."

"However, Miss Zhang is right. The specific regulations for the competition should be left for Chaoyang Base to decide."

Xie Ning raised a hand impatiently. "Let’s do it now. The sooner we get it over with, the sooner we can rest."