No Ye Family Member Is Innocent

Although Ye Jiang and Ye Tong were currently covered in wounds pierced by the Nine Heavens Dragon Roar Spear, Ye Zhengping did not immediately take their lives.

Ye Jiang and Ye Tong screamed frantically, "Ye Zhengping, have you lost your mind? You are betraying the family!"

"Heh, who told you I was Ye Zhengping?" The doppelganger Ye Zhengping smiled indifferently.

"???" Ye Jiang and Ye Tong were filled with confusion. The person standing before them, who else could it be but Ye Zhengping?

"Forget it, you wouldn't understand even if I told you." After saying this, two more figures appeared simultaneously beside him.

When these two appeared, the pupils of the battered Ye Jiang and Ye Tong dilated instantly.

"Who are you?" The two people before them looked exactly like them. If not for the difference in their attire, they would have thought they were looking into a mirror.

"The Master said that villains often die from talking too much. Don't waste time with them, just do it." The one who spoke was the newly appeared doppelganger, who looked exactly like Ye Jiang. The other doppelganger, who looked like Ye Tong, nodded.

"Mm, you two begin! I will stand guard for you," the doppelganger Ye Zhengping said.

The doppelgangers walked toward Ye Jiang and Ye Tong.

"What are you doing?" Ye Jiang and Ye Tong watched the "themselves" approaching in terror. Neither doppelganger wasted any words; each placed a hand on their respective target's head and began to cast the Soul Searching Technique.

Ye Jiang and Ye Tong's faces twisted in agony. Soon, the two doppelgangers released their grip, and Ye Jiang and Ye Tong collapsed limply to the ground.

"How was it?" the doppelganger Ye Zhengping asked as he stepped forward.

"Soul search successful. The two of them are useless now; they can be wiped out."

"Kill them. The Master said that not a single one of them, the Ye family members, is innocent," the doppelganger Ye Zhengping said.

Following this, Ye Jiang and Ye Tong turned into ashes, and the two doppelgangers collected their belongings.

"Next, we wait for the Master's next plan."

"Let's go, continue the patrol; the time isn't up yet."

The three doppelgangers exchanged a smile and continued their performance.

In Chen Ze's residence:

"Master, the information retrieved from the soul search by the doppelgangers didn't contain much useful data; their ranks are simply too low."

Nowadays, the doppelgangers did not report directly to Chen Ze unless it was something special. Everything was first sent to Zhao Ling'er, who would organize and filter the information before reporting it to Chen Ze, allowing him to hear only what he needed to know. Chen Ze did not want a voice suddenly speaking in his mind every single day.

"Mm, that was to be expected. However, this Ye Feiyang is quite interesting. Not even thirty years old and already an expert in the Foundation Establishment Realm. It seems this Ye Feiyang has his own secrets. What is the situation with the doppelganger Chen Fan?"

Zhao Ling'er continued her report, "The doppelganger Chen Fan is also proceeding smoothly. In the Qingyun Sect, while they don't pay much attention to the grade of one's aptitude for cultivators with existing cultivation, one must participate in the sect's assessment to join."

"Mm, with the doppelganger Chen Fan's strength, this assessment shouldn't be a problem."

"Yes, that is exactly what the doppelganger Chen Fan reported back."

"Good, everything is progressing steadily, though we are a bit short on Spirit Stones."

"Master, the 10-year-old medicinal herbs will be ready for harvest tomorrow. Combined with the Mysterious Iron Ore harvested by the doppelganger Zhao Yun and the others, we will have enough to buy another doppelganger tomorrow."

"There is no rush for the next doppelganger. There are several Ye family guards in the mine, and since Zhao Yun and the others decide how much is handed over each day, the yield of Mysterious Iron Ore should only increase."

"It's just that the chance of being discovered by others is also increasing."

"It's fine. As long as we have the points, we don't need to fear being discovered. At worst, I'll just replace them all."

"The Master is right."

At this moment, Chen Ze seemed to remember something. "By the way, Ling'er, you haven't stepped out of this courtyard yet, have you?"

"No, I am wherever the Master is," Zhao Ling'er said.

"Haha, do you want to go out and take a stroll?"

Zhao Ling'er hesitated for a moment, but did not answer immediately.

Although she was only a doppelganger, she possessed her own thoughts just the same.

She was actually very curious to see what lay beyond this courtyard.

"Let's go. No need to cook today; we'll eat out."

"Yes, Master."

Chen Ze smiled and said, "Come to think of it, I haven't actually tried the food in this world yet. I wonder how it tastes—probably not as good as your cooking, Ling'er."

Hearing Chen Ze's praise, Zhao Ling'er blushed. "If Master likes it, Ling'er will make it for you every day."

Seeing Zhao Ling'er's shy expression, Chen Ze felt a momentary trance. If only she weren't a doppelganger.

"Alright, enough talk, let's go! It's been a long time since I've been out and about."

"Yes."

The streets of Wannan City remained as bustling as ever; they would not change regardless of who came or went.

As they entered the market, Zhao Ling'er looked at the shops and the items being sold by cultivators at their stalls with a face full of wonder.

"Ling'er, see if there's anything you like. I'll buy it for you."

Having lived two lifetimes, Chen Ze understood better than anyone that what girls loved most was shopping; spending was a pleasure they enjoyed.

"Master, there's no need. I'm just looking, and I have no use for these things anyway."

Although the doppelganger Zhao Ling'er said she didn't need anything, her eyes were still drawn to the jewelry from time to time.

Chen Ze noticed all of this, and he stopped in front of a stall selling accessories.

This stall did not sell items required by cultivators, but rather ordinary jewelry for women.

The goods on display were for commoners, but the variety was vast, and the styles were quite novel.

Chen Ze had already noticed that Zhao Ling'er's gaze had lingered here several times.

Chen Ze scanned the stall, finally picking up a minimalist hairpin, feeling that it suited Zhao Ling'er's temperament perfectly.

"Try it on," Chen Ze said with a smile.

"Ah?" Zhao Ling'er was slightly stunned.

"I said try it on." Before Zhao Ling'er could answer, Chen Ze gently tucked the hairpin into her hair.

Zhao Ling'er froze for a second, looking at Chen Ze before her, a warmth surging in her heart.

She gently touched the hairpin in her hair.

"Do you like it?" Chen Ze asked.

Zhao Ling'er nodded.

"That's good." Chen Ze didn't say much more; he simply asked for the price and paid one tael of silver.

"Let's go! Let's keep moving," Chen Ze said.

"Mm-hmm." Zhao Ling'er nodded, still immersed in the joy of the hairpin she wore.

With the hairpin in her hair, Zhao Ling'er followed by Chen Ze's side like a little girl.

Passing by what used to be Shopkeeper Tong's restaurant, Chen Ze saw that the name of the establishment remained unchanged.

Although the restaurant now belonged to the Ye Family, it was still called Tongfu Restaurant.

The decor hadn't changed much either, save for a few new tables and chairs and a couple of new waiters.

This had been one of the original owner's favorite places, and it was where the story between Chen Ze and Shopkeeper Tong began; he felt an inexplicable urge to walk inside.

Without realizing it, Chen Ze headed toward the entrance. "Ling'er, let's try the food here today and see how it tastes."

"I'll listen to Master."

"Mm, such a good girl!" Chen Ze smiled slightly and reached out to pat Zhao Ling'er on the head.

This made Zhao Ling'er blush once more, her face full of shyness.