" Master Yang, please have a seat. I have been wanting to visit you for the past few days, but I have been unable to find you. I am truly sorry."
In the main hall of the government office, Chen Qing respectfully poured tea for the old man. After confirming that the academy's opening ceremony would be held tomorrow, Chen Qing naturally wouldn't let this old fellow who had appeared out of nowhere leave.
As always, Old Master Yang looked at Chen Qing with a mixture of satisfaction and distance between the common people and officials. His gesture of accepting the tea with both hands was extremely sincere, and his sense of propriety was impeccable, just like that of an old man who had mastered all the ways of the world.
The only thing missing is the playful, worldly gaze that once belonged to Painted Skin Mister and Mr. Origami.
Chen Qing frowned and decided to take the initiative to ask, "Where has the Master been these past few days? Things are chaotic outside, and I'm worried something might have happened to him. If he doesn't reappear soon, I'm even planning to lead a city-wide search."
The words carried a hint of probing, but also a hint of threat.
"I'm sorry to have worried you, sir." Master Yang looked apologetic. "I don't know what happened. I only remember being in a daze on North Street that day, with strange noises constantly popping into my head."
"Strange sound?" Chen Qing frowned and approached. If it wasn't the real body, he wouldn't be killed directly, but destroying a clone would come at a great cost. It would be impossible to create a second one in the short term, which would be extremely disadvantageous given the current situation that required operating on two fronts.
"Ah," Master Yang nodded, "Some strange sounds, some strange sights, I can't explain them to myself, I was just in a daze, and when I opened my eyes it was today. When I ran out into the street, there were Tiger Guard Army fighting everywhere, and when I asked how much time had passed, more than a month had gone by. I found it incredibly strange, and if I hadn't experienced it myself, I really wouldn't have believed it."
Chen Qing was taken aback. What did that mean? Was he just pretending to be stupid?
Or should we play the amnesia card?
Isn't that a bit old-fashioned?
Chen Qing's expression turned serious as he said, "Master, I'm not forcing you, but the main thing is that on the day you disappeared, a murder occurred not far from you. You were at the scene that day, do you remember?"
"A murder case?" Master Yang was taken aback and stood up abruptly. "But it was a middle-aged man dressed in all black, with a gloomy face and always wearing dark circles under his eyes."
Chen Qing stared at the other person in astonishment, not expecting that the other person would actually go along with what she said.
Suppressing his doubts, he nodded and said, "Yes."
"It's not at my place," Master Yang shook his head, rubbing his head. "It's on the next street."
Chen Qing's eyes lit up, and he put down his teacup. "It seems that you are indeed involved in this matter, Master. Could you tell me what exactly happened that day?"
"What is it?" Master Yang looked at Chen Qing with a strange expression, and for a moment he didn't know how to start the conversation.
Chen Qing felt increasingly puzzled by the other person's gaze and said directly, "Master, please speak freely."
"I see you there, sir."
"Me?" Chen Qing never expected this answer.
He chuckled to himself, "And then?"
"Then, sir, what did you say to that middle-aged man? After you left, in just a few breaths, that middle-aged man was enveloped in black mist, turning into a terrifying, dried-up corpse!"
Chen Qing: "."
What does this mean? Are they trying to shift the blame onto themselves?
What is the significance?
"Does the Master remember clearly?" Chen Qing frowned. "Are you sure it was me, your student?"
Master Yang scrutinized Chen Qing carefully, and after a long while, shook his head and said, "It's not you."
"What exactly is the Master trying to say?" Chen Qing was extremely patient, but even he couldn't stand the other party's cryptic chatter.
"I don't know, my head feels so messed up. Chen Qing, my head is so messed up."
Chen Qing frowned, stopped probing, and took two steps back, saying, "How long are you going to keep up this pretense, Mr. Five Poisons!"
As soon as the last four words appeared, Master Yang froze. He then turned his head stiffly like a puppet to look at Chen Qing. In that instant, Chen Qing felt a chill run down his spine. The other man's eyes changed, becoming sinister and terrifying, and carrying the same look that the other two teachers had once had.
The way those Samsara demons look at mortals!
Chen Qing frowned and stepped back, becoming wary.
He knew very well that while the Mr. Five Poisons was powerful, he was also incredibly fragile. His clone possessed Divine Path power, which, in theory, should be unharmable. Furthermore, he had arranged for Xu Hu and others to ambush him outside. Although the Mr. Five Poisons was skilled in using poison, his direct strength was only at the level of a mid-level living corpse, making him easy to capture.
But for some reason, the moment the other person's gaze swept over him, he had a feeling that he had encountered his natural enemy. In an instant, he knew that the other person could hurt him!
"Yes. I am Mr. Five Poisons." A sinister smile immediately appeared on the other person's face, "And who are you? Little one, you look familiar!"
Chen Qing: "."
Why did you occupy the body of the reincarnated King of Qin?
"What did you say?" Chen Qing's eyes widened suddenly. Ignoring the other party's terrifying abilities, she moved closer and grabbed him. "You said I took what?"
But in the instant he caught the other party, Chen Qing saw that a soul of Master Yang instantly left his body. It was a very familiar figure, so familiar that Chen Qing found it unbelievable!
How is that possible?
The next second, a giant hand appeared out of thin air, grabbed Master Yang departed soul, and stuffed it back into the old man's body like dough.
The moment Master Yang left his body, his eyes were like a robot that had shut down, lifeless. After his soul re-entered his body, it returned to its dark color, but it became quite confused.
Once again, after regaining his senses, Master Yang looked around in confusion and muttered to himself, "How did I get here?"
Chen Qing stared blankly at the other person, but this time she had no doubt that the other person was lying.
"My lord!"
Before long, and before the atmosphere in the hall had even settled, a familiar voice rang out.
Without turning his head, Chen Qing knew who the person was.
" Wei Gongcheng?"
"My lord!" Wei Gongcheng hurriedly asked, "What did you just do? Why did the entire underworld stop functioning?"
"Because the Great Reincarnation has begun," Chen Qing replied, "Your Underworld only occupies the land of Liuzhou, Lesser Reincarnation has not yet been established, so it will naturally still be affected by the laws of the Yin-Yang Road."
" The Great Reincarnation?" Wei Gongcheng was taken aback. "My lord, what does this mean?"
"You don't need to know for now." Chen Qing shook his head, but quickened his pace. "I'm going to tell you a few important things now. Remember them, and you must pass them on to me word for word when I return. And before I come back, you must remember not to touch Master Yang again, nor to search for the spirit of Mr. Shen Er."
Wei Gongcheng was taken aback. Why did he have to deliver the message himself? Wasn't this clone supposed to share memories and information once the real person returned?
A bad thought suddenly popped into my head, could it be...?
"My lord, you..."
"Don't come any closer!" Chen Qing shouted sharply, and only then could Wei Gongcheng see clearly that Chen Qing's entire body was becoming transparent.
"Time is running out, listen to me."
"Please speak, my lord!" Wei Gongcheng stopped asking questions. At this moment, the soldier's instinct for obedience prevailed, making him choose to suppress his many doubts. No matter how serious the situation was, he believed that since his lord had spoken, he must have a solution!
"First, when Chen Qing returns, tell him that under no circumstances should he mention the name A Li spoke of to Master Yang."
The name A Li mentioned?
Wei Gongcheng confused, but he still remembered and replied, "Yes!"
"Secondly, tell Chen Qing that Mr. Shen Er was not killed by anyone!"
Was the Lao'er of the Shen Family killed by no one?
"Yes!"
Third, tell Chen Qing that the most formidable enemy is one's own people!
One of our own?
Wei Gongcheng's vigilance heightened. Who was it? Chen Ying? That couldn't be right; she didn't have that ability. Could it be Murong Yunji?
"Have you remembered it?"
"Your subordinate has remembered everything!" Wei Gongcheng looked at Chen Qing, who was now almost invisible, and although he had many doubts, he could only suppress them at this moment. He respectfully bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, please rest assured, I will convey every word!"
"Alright," Chen Qing turned around, smiling and nodding. "Build up the Underworld well, step by step. While I'm away, just proceed according to the original plan. Don't be scared. As soon as I return, all problems will be solved!"
"Yes!"
"Go."
Wei Gongcheng nodded, turned around, and transformed into a black shadow, disappearing from the hall.
Not long after he disappeared, a sneer suddenly came from beside Master Yang.
"His return will solve all problems. How dare he say that!"
Chen Qing's eyes, already blurred, held a fierce glint as he looked toward the direction next to Master Yang.
At that spot, a beam of light and shadow illuminated an incredibly mysterious figure.
Exactly the same as myself!
I never expected this!
Chen Qing sighed, "I never imagined it would be you. Was my Divine Path Style also part of your calculations?"
"What do you think?" the other person laughed. "You should know that I am the person who understands you best in this world!"
"Really?" Chen Qing smiled. "The reverse is also true for me."
The other party was taken aback for a moment, then laughed and said, "Then let's give it a try!"
"Then let's give it a try!"
--
Yangzhou City, Chishui County
Chen Qing, who had been here for three days, was very satisfied with the current development. In just three days, thanks to the word of the villagers who scavenged for scraps, more than a thousand people had come to the county town. It has to be said that in the biohazard apocalypse, it is really easy to gain the trust of a commoner.
A relatively safe environment and enough food and clothing can quickly gather a large number of people to stand behind you, which is much easier to manage than a prosperous era.
But before it even got dark, Chen Qing felt an unprecedented pressure.
My clone in Liuzhou has disappeared!
Before leaving, he had prepared a backup plan. If the timing was not right, Xu Hu, Wei Gongcheng, or his own clone could instantly retreat to the location of Great Azure Mountain. This was the best way to retreat and defend after the Great Azure Mountain God was promoted to the Yellow level and the Earth Vein touched Liuzhou.
Chen Qing has granted all gods the authority to teleport, meaning any god can teleport to Great Azure Mountain with a single thought. In the current world, theoretically, no one can break the Azure Dragon Barrier.
But his clone still got into trouble.
What could possibly be capable of eliminating its own clone under such protection?