"Count me in!" Zhan Yuwu followed closely behind Huo Qubing, took a chess piece from Lin Qiye's hand, and grinned. "Wherever my lord goes, I go."
"Tch, your hands are fast." Yan Zhong had clearly been standing right behind Lin Qiye, yet Zhan Yuwu had still beaten him to it. Yan Zhong shot him a vicious glare before taking a white piece as well. "What, are you trying to show that you're more loyal to my lord than I am?"
"I'm doing this for the common people!"
While Yan Zhong and Zhan Yuwu argued, Wu Quan silently stepped forward and took a chess piece.
After hesitating for a moment, he still asked, "Brother Qi Ye, will Brother Qing Zhu... receive a chess piece like this someday?"
"Of course. He's Shen Qingzhu." Lin Qiye smiled.
Wu Quan nodded and silently clenched the chess piece in his hand. "I'll protect him."
"I made the first move in this game. Looks like there's no escaping it, no matter what." Chloe shrugged helplessly. "Give me one too."
Hu Jia walked up to Lin Qiye, took a white piece with both hands, and said solemnly:
"Lord Lin, Hu Jia will not fail you!"
Seeing everyone else taking chess pieces, Jialan blinked, rose to her feet, and reached for the last white piece in Lin Qiye's palm.
Before her fingertips could touch Lin Qiye, his hand pulled back.
Jialan froze, then glared at Lin Qiye with her hands on her hips. "Lin Qiye, what do you mean by that? Am I not worthy of doing my part for the common people?"
"Don't rush." Lin Qiye immediately soothed her. "The Immortal Pill inside you can't be hidden by this alone. It's better to leave it for someone who needs it more..."
As his words fell, Lin Qiye's