Why do you ask that?
For the first time, a sense of panic arose in the Mirror Demon's heart. It didn't know why it felt this way. The feeling was strange, just like how Chen Qing seemed to recognize its origins at first glance, which it found extremely illogical.
"We've been together for quite a few years now. Since I took you from Painted Skin Mister, we've been through thick and thin together for at least three years, haven't we?"
"Yes, it's been quite a few years."
"But I always feel like you're hiding something from me," Chen Qing said, looking at the Mirror Demon.
"Why do you say that?" The Mirror Demon's voice carried a hint of mystery.
Over the years, it has been diligent and conscientious. When Chen Qing was selecting Mountain God and gate gods for other cities in Jiangnan, it was it that was in charge of the selection. Xu Hu's fighting Battle God Army was able to quickly promote qualified people and improve its overall quality so much in three years. In addition to Xu Hu's clear distinction between rewards and punishments, its own strong ability to recognize talent was also key.
It wasn't this diligent when it was following Painted Skin Mister. Of course, it was also because it dared not slack off. Chen Qing was different from Painted Skin; he often had a clearer understanding of its abilities than Chen Qing himself.
"I don't know either," Chen Qing shook her head, because she felt something was wrong.
In fact, he had always had this feeling that the Mirror Demon had indeed worked very hard since it started following him. Whenever he asked a question or made a request, it never did anything underhanded. It honestly revealed the person's background and future fortune clearly and never secretly did anything evil.
When she first distrusted the other party, she actually tested them several times. But after a few times, Chen Qing was certain that the other party didn't seem to have any intention of being two-faced, and then she gradually began to trust them.
But despite the trust, I often felt that the Mirror Demon was still holding back some things from me.
It never proactively mentions anyone's potential to Chen Qing; Chen Qing can clearly sense that the other party is observing him, is holding back, and doesn't intend to completely submit to him.
This Mirror Demon should be the one who understands the benefits of his Divine Path Style the most, yet even so, it still doesn't seem to have a high opinion of him.
why is that?
Previously, Chen Qing didn't understand and thought it was just that the Mirror Demon was conservative, but now that he knows about the existence of the Three Lives Eye, he suddenly has a new idea.
"Just answer my questions," Chen Qing said, looking at the Mirror Demon.
The Mirror Demon silently watched Chen Qing. It sensed that Chen Qing was very serious, as if hiding anything further might lead to him doing something bad to it.
"A thousand years ago," the Mirror Demon replied honestly.
"A thousand years ago?" Chen Qing's pupils contracted. "You didn't go through the Great Reincarnation? The Great Reincarnation that the Heavenly Secrets spoke of!"
After a few moments of silence, the Mirror Demon finally said, "No. I was born in the Warlock Dynasty. I don't know who created me; I only know that the first person to find me was a warlock named Yu Ji."
Yu Ji.
Chen Qing rubbed her fingers together, her heart pounding!
He had never heard of this person.
The world doesn't seem to be the way I thought it was. There's something wrong with this world!
Chen Qing suddenly felt something was very wrong. The presence of the Mirror Demon meant that many of the later modifications were still there. The appearance of the Three Lives Eye meant that the deletions and changes made by his team were useless, which was very strange. Moreover, the way the Mirror Demon appeared was also problematic.
In the original design, the Mirror Demon was a tool created by an ancient master craftsman to change his inherently weak fate after the appearance of the Heavenly Wonder Codex. It was later destroyed by a joint attack of several major forces, and the Heavenly Demon artifacts were scattered among the mortal world. They deliberately avoided the ancient past and hid among the mortal world, waiting for a destined person.
The "destined ones" refers to the players; these things represent opportunities for the players in the future. This setting is full of adventure and replayability.
But a clear change has occurred here.
"A thousand years ago? You don't know how you were born?" Chen Qing stared intently at the Mirror Demon: "Don't you know about the Heavenly Duke Codex?"
Mirror Demon: "."
"So you knew." Chen Qing's eyes turned cold. "What are you trying to hide from me?"
Mirror Demon: "No, I've heard of the Heavenly Duke Codex and know my origins, but my memories only go back a thousand years. I'm not lying to you."
Chen Qing: "."
Once a contract is signed, the other party cannot lie directly. If they say this, it means the thousand-year-old memory is real.
Artifact Demon do not have Samsara; they will be destroyed if they are damaged. However, due to their immense value, few people will destroy them, so many Artifact Demon survive for a very long time. They can also use their rich experience and knowledge to help players who are destined to encounter them avoid many detours.
But this Mirror Demon only has a thousand years of memories?
He remembered that the setting wasn't like that; the other party wouldn't lose its memories like the Samsara demon. It said a thousand years, meaning it was only activated a thousand years ago.
This is unreasonable!
Even if the initial group of players changed history, if the creation of Artifact Demon hadn't changed, then they should have existed for many years already. Why would something as valuable as Mirror Demon end up in the mortal realm?
Why was it only opened a thousand years ago?
Something's not right.
"Is there anything else you're hiding from me?" Chen Qing asked directly.
The Mirror Demon, unable to lie, could only grit its teeth and say, "But I can't tell you right now."
Chen Qing: "Why?"
"Because I don't know what the consequences will be if I tell you, and I'm not sure if you can still protect me after you know some things, after all, your existence is very strange."
"My existence? Is something wrong?" Chen Qing asked, squinting.
Aren't you curious why there are two Pu Yunchuan in this world?
"You really are suspicious!!!" Chen Qing stared intently at the Mirror Demon.
Pu Yunchuan. Heavenly Secrets hadn't discussed this name with him in depth several times, because Heavenly Secrets was still unsure whether he or the King of Qin was the imposter.
But this guy clearly knows something!
Do you know something?
I know some things, but I can't tell you!
"What can't I tell you? This world hasn't fully awakened yet. Right now, I can at least protect myself for the time being. Do you think that if you reveal it now, some divine power will descend and annihilate me?"
Mirror Demon: "."
"Really?" Chen Qing was stunned.
"You'd better not ask anymore. You'll find out in time."
This time, Chen Qing didn't press the matter further. Instead, she slowly sat down, her emotions fluctuating.
He had never felt so unsettled; a nameless fear rose within him.
He had never felt this way before, because no matter how difficult the situation, he always carried a sense of superiority as the designer. But now, he was somewhat uncertain.
Am I truly the designer of this world?
Chen Qing gazed at the sky. This world wasn't the one he had improved; it felt like a world that had been continuously patched up.
Yes, a patch.
Only with this explanation can we conclude that this world is the original game blueprint, and the later Mirror Demon and others are merely patches.
The patch content was designed by my own team. Whether it was the Mirror Demon, the Dragon Palace, or the Ancient Insect, they were all exactly the same as the ones I designed later, but they all seemed to have been added on a temporary basis.
So here's the question:
Who's patching it?
Chen Qing silently gazed at the sky. He wasn't afraid of the so-called guild that Heavenly Secrets had mentioned. He and his group had an infinite number of chances to Samsara. Even if they failed this time, there would always be another opportunity. Moreover, he didn't think he would lose. He wasn't afraid of whatever advantages those players gained. He had designed the rules, and no one knew better than him how to catch up.
But what if something exists outside of this world?
Once this terrible thought arose in my mind, I couldn't shake it off.