Chapter 404: More Than One Pond
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Several days later, Cang Jue returned to Lingxian Hall for another detoxification session.
He retrieved a warm jade pendant from his impressive cleavage to use as an access card. With a gentle swipe before the forest, the magnificent and imposing Lingxian Hall materialized.
Yet today, Lingxian Hall was unexpectedly quiet. After all, the usual trio of rowdy troublemakers had left.
The Sect Master was absent, the Elders were absent, and the three direct disciples were absent.
Unaware of their whereabouts, Cang Jue wandered aimlessly through the Lingxian Hall.
Soon, in the main hall of Lingxian Hall, Cangjue encountered Chu Youwei.
"Miss Chu, is Master Su not here?"
Chu Youwei was tidying Su Cheng's desk, gathering the documents he hadn't finished reviewing despite staying up all night, and pouring out the tea that had sat overnight.
"No."
Chu Youwei had no inclination for small talk; her mind had been in turmoil these past days.
She prided herself on nobility, pledging her life to loyalty.
She feared death not, yet she was not heartless either. She felt pain and sorrow too.
When that cold blade slid past her shoulder and pressed against her throat, the pain felt like it would kill her.
Was he her master? Without a doubt, he was that master.
Yet Chu Youwei could not convince herself that while she might die fighting for her master, she could never accept such humiliation.
The initiation rite was sacred. She had walked beside him for a thousand years…
"Youwei, I just went out and bought some snacks. Want some?"
Bai Tao wore a dress belonging to his wife, Li Shiyao. Li Shiyao was quite generous in such matters.
She had her own spending money too. After all, spirit stones were useless in this world, and she needed some silver coins to cover daily expenses.
Chu Youwei exhaled deeply, setting down the pristine handkerchief. After all, the already spotless table held little need for wiping.
Yes, she simply didn't know what to do. These past days, she hadn't spoken a single word to Su Cheng.
Except for that one phrase, "Here I am, Master," nothing else had passed between them.
"What kind of pastries? Xiao Ai wants some too! That Amber guy took away Xiao Ai's breakfast just because Xiao Ai slept in!"
Xiao Ai's short-sleeved shirt featured a cute little flower dog print, while a military jacket adorned with rank insignia hung over her shoulders.
All three recognized Xiao Ai. Chu Youwei sensed that Xiao Ai held a higher place in Su Cheng's heart than his three direct disciples—after all, Ye Qinghan addressed her as "Master's Wife."
"Oh? Is that you?"
Xiao Ai suddenly darted in front of Cang Jue, her small hand poking at the soft, unexpected curves Cang Jue shouldn't have…
"Um… Lady Gu Ai, what exactly are you doing…"
Cang Jue was dumbfounded. This damn Xiao Ai was acting way off!
Did she pay? Just started poking around?
Xiao Ai said nothing, just poking and squeezing…
That look in her eyes—it was both love and hate. This world was unfair! Xiao Ai envied all women with big breasts equally!
"Oh right, I'm here to see Chu Youwei."
Chu Youwei: Me? What do you want? Do we even know each other?
"What brings Lady Gu Ai to seek out Youwei?"
"It's very important. The Master hopes you'll be happier, so Xiao Ai came to find you~"
Chu Youwei remained silent, simply watching as Xiao Ai walked gracefully toward her.
Xiao Ai had no secrets to share, nor any intention of keeping them hidden.
"For Xiao Ai, the most important thing is for the Master to be happy. Surely you understand that too, little sister?"
"The Master doesn't understand women, but you are wise. Surely you grasp his intentions, don't you?"
Chu Youwei felt ashamed. She regretted those three consecutive stabs and felt it was unfair to Su Cheng. She didn't know how he would face their Master.
"Master…"
"Xiao Ai can tell Youwei with complete certainty: the Master is Youwei's Master."
Chu Youwei frowned, her expression doubtful. "What do you mean?"
Xiao Ai smiled. "I believe it's highly likely that His Lordship is the very same master Sister Youwei once served."
A responsible attempt to fish for information, likely to spark a conversation.
Chu Youwei understood the implication and wasn't about to take the bait so easily.
"Master Gu Ai, why not speak plainly?"
Most of the time, Chu Youwei carried an air that seemed to say, "Keep your distance." Even now, facing Su Cheng, she didn't know how to begin, retreating like a white peach.
"Sister Youwei, please sit. Let Xiao Ai explain slowly."
This was Su Cheng's Main Hall, but none of them were outsiders. They unwrapped the freshly bought pastries and sat in the Main Hall listening to Xiao Ai speak.
"Whether it's this world or any other—the Immortal Realm, the Demon Realm—they all look the same to Xiao Ai. I call them all instance worlds."
"To Xiao Ai, there's no real distinction between these instance worlds. Are the people of the Immortal Realm just a bit more powerful than those in the mortal realm?"
"If we compare each world to a pond, then both Youwei and Cangjue are merely fry in the fish pond."
"So-called ascension to immortality is merely growing large enough to leap into a larger pond, where the new pond is filled with sufficiently large fish."
"And such ponds are countless."
"In worlds as vast as the starry sea, it's inevitable that similar beings exist."
"Xiao Ai calls these individuals 'duplicate entities'—essentially another person who looks exactly the same."
"Some duplicate individuals look almost identical, while others may even differ in gender."
Cangjue seemed to grasp it instantly, raising his small hand eagerly. "I know! That guy is Master Su's duplicate!"
Xiao Ai smiled but shook her head.
"Not quite. He's just an ordinary person."
"Determining a duplicate entity involves observing physical strength, adaptability, intelligence range, and other metrics to derive an individual value. You could think of it as a verification process, similar to the cultivation potential you value."
"As far as Xiao Ai knows, even if dungeon instances are male or female, their personalities and behavioral patterns are extremely similar."
"Young Miss Youwei, you should understand this without Xiao Ai needing to explain, shouldn't you?"
"How could our Master ever bow to another? Could it be that your master…"
"Heh. If that were truly the case, then I suppose Sister Youwei simply misjudged the man~"
How could Chu Youwei tolerate such an insult to her master!
She sprang to her feet, pointing an accusing finger at Xiao Ai and shouted, "Nonsense! My master is no cowardly, self-preserving wretch as you claim!"
But the moment the words left her mouth, Chu Youwei remembered her master’s warning: she needed to curb this temper…
How could she possibly lecture Lord Gu Ai like that?
And such an obvious attempt to goad her…
Her emotional outburst had already put her at a disadvantage—everything unfolded exactly as Lord Gu Ai had anticipated.
"Xiao Ai believes Master Youwei is most likely an alternate incarnation of the Lord from another world."
Xiao Ai's words completely overturned Chu Youwei's assumptions. If Xiao Ai was right, then the Lingxian Hall Master was the true master. After all this, she had stabbed her master in the back three times!
Yet Xiao Ai's theory wasn't flawless. If Master Su was the Master's duplicate entity, then who was this original host?
"Lord Gu Ai, if we follow your reasoning that Master Su is the Master's duplicate entity, then who was the one who died?"
"Xiao Ai understands what Sister Youwei is asking. Hehe, perhaps other individuals might have two copies, but within a single world, there absolutely cannot be two copies of the Master. It's impossible."
"But the saying 'Two tigers cannot share the same mountain' isn't absolute—unless one is male and the other female~"
Xiao Ai couldn't help but grin wickedly. After all, that tigress had bullied her mercilessly last time! She even threatened to kill her!
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