Chapter 378: Rain Through the Night
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Outside Ling Shuang Pavilion, Su Cheng could even hear the disciples' voices. Qing Han seemed to be beating Dongfang Jue again…
The main gate stood wide open, as if awaiting his arrival—though few ever came here in the first place.
Upon reaching this spot, Su Cheng immediately sensed the presence of a positioning anchor point. No wonder he couldn't contact the other disciples.
Stepping over the threshold, Ling Shuang Pavilion felt like a different world inside. Though not as grand as Lingxian Hall's grand formation, the barrier here was sufficient to keep the wind and snow sealed outside.
As expected, he arrived without Qinghan or the others by his side.
"Let's go. Talk?"
As expected, the original owner spoke first. Su Cheng always gave off an aura of being stubbornly hard-headed, or perhaps meek yet principled.
"Let's go."
It seemed like the standard procedure for big shots—before a fight, they always tried to communicate first, as if seeking some kind of peace of mind.
Perhaps to issue threats, perhaps to seek a way to ease tensions, but regardless, it seemed a fight was inevitable.
Finding a secluded spot, Su Cheng stood with his hands behind his back, staring at the original owner across from him.
"Truth be told, I've been waiting for you for a long time. You're slower than I expected."
"Hmm, some matters delayed me."
Like old friends, they shared a knowing smile. Perhaps it was the calm before the storm, as they seemed to be gauging each other's strength.
"Do you enjoy role-playing?"
"It's out of necessity. But I haven't played someone else's role since a very long time ago."
But no one would believe such words. The original host seemed to want to mock this disgusting imposter, yet the other party appeared utterly indifferent.
"You probably didn't expect this either. You went to such lengths to trap me in that black mist, yet fate intervened and your own disciple saved me."
"You're overthinking it. If it had been me, you'd never have escaped."
"You're quite confident?"
"Always have been."
Su Cheng possessed a certain self-awareness regarding his own actions. Eliminating threats at their root was his consistent approach; he would leave no possibility unchecked.
This wasn't a game. He had only one life, no chance for a do-over.
"Even your name is stolen. I hope your confidence is genuine."
"This is my name."
The original owner slowly drew a glass spear, gazing at Su Cheng as he spoke.
"Thanks for the gift. I like it."
"No one said it was a gift. But I prefer taking spoils from corpses over accepting them willingly."
It was like logging in with a high-level character. Since arriving in this world, Su Cheng had never felt this comfortable.
"Zero Two, be gentle. I still need this positioning anchor."
Behind Su Cheng, a patch of black mist materialized out of thin air, revealing a long-haired beauty!
Without a word, she wrapped her arms around Su Cheng's neck, clinging to him like a devoted wife, nestling close to his side.
"He looks fragile. Can't you handle him yourself?"
His large hand encircled her slender waist, which seemed as though it could snap with the slightest pressure. Su Cheng merely grinned.
The girl beside him dissolved into black mist, only to manifest as the apocalyptic demon sword. Its world-shattering might transformed into an overwhelming pressure, instantly scattering the heavy snow.
"Master!"
At that very moment, the three direct disciples arrived upon hearing the commotion. They stared dumbfounded at the "two masters"!
"Senior Sister…"
Ye Qinghan raised her hand to stop the two junior sisters from approaching, realizing the problem herself.
No wonder Master's gaze had been so unsettling!
No wonder I always felt something was off about Master!
All doubts vanished in an instant!
It wasn't that Master had changed—it was that this wasn't Master at all!
Both masters turned their heads at the sound, returning that signature, indulgent smile.
Honestly, if it weren't for the three of them having special abilities, it would be impossible to tell them apart!
Li Shiyao spotted the fake at a glance. Ye Qinghan instantly heard the truth in their hearts. As for Jue'er, though the system's description was vague, she knew perfectly well—the mysterious one was the real Master!
Ironically, the one without the encryption symbol—the one who seemed like the real master—was actually the fake!
But before the trio could speak, the two masters had already devised a plan to distinguish the real from the fake!
With a sweeping gesture, the original host calmly declared, "Qinghan, step aside for now. Watch as your master subdues this imposter!"
The spatial anchor transformed into a spear held horizontally at his side. Its tip suddenly exploded like a blossoming flower, energy surging toward the spearhead with a force that seemed capable of shaking heaven and earth!
Su Cheng likewise stood with his sword drawn, replying with equal confidence, "The one who dies is the fake, isn't that right?"
Perhaps only by entrusting this world to Su Cheng before him could everything gradually return to its proper course.
Xiao Ai had made it perfectly clear: the paramount objective of this mission was to reclaim the spatial anchor point. Personal feelings should be set aside.
From the very beginning, he had never been that master.
Yet he remembered her vow: even if Ye Qinghan escaped, she would be brought back!
But if he wasn't that master, then who was?
In an instant, earth-shattering power erupted. The apocalyptic authority clashed with spatial might, causing mountains to tremble and the heavens to darken!
Both masters vanished from sight in a blur, their movements too swift to follow!
Empowered by the anchor point, the original host now descended like a true god, a far cry from his former self!
"Impostor! Today, I shall reclaim everything—with interest!"
As the words fell, divine might erupted. Bolts of heavenly thunder crashed down, deafening roars echoing across tens of miles like a storm of lightning!
And this was merely the appetizer!
"No one owes you anything. You asked for death—don't blame others!"
Truth be told, Su Cheng hadn't originally intended to kill him. After all, it was Su Cheng who had stolen the other man's life.
But this wasn't Su Cheng's original intention either—he never wanted to be a sect master!
If this guy had shown some sense, willingly handed over the spatial anchor point, and explained everything to Qinghan and the others, Su Cheng might genuinely have spared him.
But!
Things rarely unfolded as Su Cheng wished. Not only would Qinghan and the others likely refuse to accept their legitimate master's departure, but even this original host wouldn't simply let Su Cheng walk away.
"Qinghan, I've never regretted taking you as my disciple."
"Dànxuě."
Without further ado, Su Cheng didn't give him a chance to speak. Though Su Cheng's power was reduced to less than a tenth of what it once was, he was still an ordinary cultivator—hardly a match for him.
Zero Two wasn't meant for him either—he wasn't worthy.
This was the first time Ye Qinghan had witnessed the black light—as if a black marker had been drawn across a photograph…
Crisp and decisive, utterly expressionless—making slaughter seem like an art form.
Not only did the original host never expect this, but even Ye Qinghan and the other disciples were stunned. Even Chu Youwei, who had been trailing far behind, was left speechless!
But she had no time to ponder such things now. What she wanted to know more than anything was who her true master truly was.
If her memory served her correctly, the technique the original owner had just used was her master's divine power, known as the Summoning Thunder Technique. While it wasn't exactly a unique secret art, she could still recognize her master's Summoning Thunder Technique!
If that was the case, had she mistaken her master?
Chu Youwei felt a wave of panic wash over her, like insects crawling across her cheeks—a tingling sensation that wasn't quite itchiness.
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