Chapter 1228: Who Are You? The Liars Cheng Shi Mentioned? |
Sadly, iron will and unwavering conviction offered Qin Xin no help whatsoever in the Real Universe.
After parting ways with Cheng Shi and Hong Lin, he used his own methods to return to his arrival point. But there was no longer a single trace of the passage. He had, it seemed, lost his way home.
Qin Xin didn't give up. He tried every tool at his disposal — even harnessing the Authority's might to attempt tearing through the spacetime barrier. All of it failed.
Worse, the enormous noise drew the attention of other beings in the Real Universe.
Before long, two blurred figures came streaking toward him. Fragments of their conversation lingered in the rushing wind.
"I can feel the aftermath of [War]'s power erupting. Think this could be where the Authority fell?"
"Maybe. But we need to be fully prepared — in case those two liars are using this to bait us into a trap.
Careful. The ambient temperature is rising."
While the pair was still cautiously feeling their way forward, Qin Xin — who had exhausted every option — had long since detected their presence through [War]'s "vigilance."
'Why did they return?'
Qin Xin frowned, sensing something was off. He quickly suppressed the Authority's aura, withdrew [War]'s power, and edged warily toward the approaching pair. He made no effort to hide his own form, however, and his position was quickly exposed to their senses.
Hong Lin was the first to register the approaching presence. She halted abruptly, staring ahead in disbelief:
"Qin Xin?! How can he possibly be here?
Wait — this has to be a trap!
Those two liars disguised themselves as Qin Xin — it's just like you said. They released [War]'s power to lure us in.
Damn it, we fell for it! Let's go!"
Big Cat turned to bolt. But this time Cheng Shi held her back with all his might.
'Wait, Big Cat!'
'If that really is Qin Xin, this might not be a trap at all.'
Cheng Shi's face showed excitement tempered with suspicion.
He knew Qin Xin was sharp. To prevent Qin Xin from reading any tells off Big Cat — and thus piecing together that Cheng Shi had been secretly communicating with the Flame of Hope — Cheng Shi had never told Big Cat that Qin Xin would also be coming to the Real Universe. So the Qin Xin before them might be genuine.
Then again, a fake was far more likely. Cheng Shi didn't believe his luck could be this good after defying [Fate] — unable to find anyone for ten days, only to run into two teammates on the same day.
He frowned and thought for a moment. Even if it was a fake, engaging was worthwhile. After all, he still planned to use [Silence]'s "secret" to extract useful intelligence.
He calmed the alarmed Big Cat, shook his head at her, then looked toward the approaching silhouette of Qin Xin. After a moment's deliberation, a plan formed. Putting on a thoroughly shocked expression, he acted as if he knew nothing:
"Qin Xin?
What are you doing here?"
The performance was flawless. Unfortunately, the timing was all wrong.
Had this been Qin Xin's first encounter, the battle that had just taken place might never have happened. But as it was, Qin Xin had already heard this exact question once before.
So when he heard the same words a second time, Qin Xin's face hardened. He understood immediately: these two were most likely not his friends at all — they were the very tricksters Cheng Shi had warned him about!
'So these two unknown imposters have set their sights on me?'
'Are they after the Authority too?'
Qin Xin's gaze went cold.
Dealing with the Real Universe's swindlers required not kindness, but fire. Unless you burned them enough to hurt, they would never learn restraint.
In the next instant, Qin Xin raised the giant bow, his expression frigid.
The hostile stance left no room for negotiation. Cheng Shi instantly realized he had underestimated the situation. Then, sensing the searing heat of the arrow blazing with the aura of Authority, Hong Lin shouted in alarm:
"Authority!
Cheng Shi, [War]'s Authority is in his hands!"
'What?!'
Cheng Shi was dumbfounded. He never imagined their combined efforts could be less efficient than Qin Xin working alone. In the time they had been apart, Qin Xin had already reclaimed [War]'s Authority?
'That smooth?'
'We're wandering lost in the Real Universe, and you're treating this like your own living room?!'
Cheng Shi didn't particularly care who held the Authority. To him, Qin Xin was actually the optimal vessel.
On one hand, as the founder of the Torchbearers, Qin Xin needed the strength to lead them through the coming crisis. On the other, a Qin Xin who had drawn infinitely close to a god's throne could silence the Flame of Hope — preventing the little candle from putting all its hopes on Cheng Shi alone.
In fact, one of Cheng Shi's purposes in bringing Qin Xin here had been to turn him into the Authority's "Container."
So when Cheng Shi realized the mission might already be accomplished, he was genuinely happy.
Whether that happiness could be cashed in, though, remained to be seen.
Because he couldn't confirm whether this Qin Xin was from his world.
And also because Qin Xin's arrow had already been loosed, screaming straight at his face.
An identical scene replayed itself — only this time, two-thirds of the performers on stage had been swapped out.
Hong Lin reacted in a flash. With a roar, she became a giant bear and threw herself in front of Cheng Shi, catching the arrow bare-handed.
The arrow packed force, but it was still a probe. [War]'s flames hadn't flooded the battlefield. Qin Xin merely wanted to gauge how troublesome these Real Universe opponents would be.
White flame wrapped around the bear's paw but failed to singe a single hair.
[Prosperity]'s power and [War]'s aura wrestled on her paw. Feeling the threat of [War], Hong Lin forgot her fear entirely. Excitement took over. Every fiber of her being itched for a fight.
Cheng Shi could see it: Big Cat wanted to brawl. Especially after he had hinted the opponent might not be an enemy — she wanted to throw down even more!
'Lady — which one of you is [War] again?'
Cheng Shi's eyelid twitched, his expression grave.
Hong Lin could afford to shut her brain off. He couldn't. He had to work out what Qin Xin's opening shot meant. He knew Authority wasn't easy to find, so he couldn't guess what Qin Xin had paid for it. But he was certain the man had gone through something involving betrayal or deception. Otherwise, upon running into the two of them, he wouldn't greet friends with an arrow — he'd greet them with a smile.
To prevent the misunderstanding from deepening, Cheng Shi chose not to retaliate immediately. He held the agitated Hong Lin in check and explained — calmly, composedly:
"Whatever you've been through, whoever you've met — Qin Xin, I need you to know: I am Cheng Shi, and she is Hong Lin. Our identities are real.
As for whether you're Qin Xin... I think you probably are. Otherwise, [War]'s Authority wouldn't be on you.
But even if you are Qin Xin, we're not necessarily 'friends.'
This is the Real Universe — the breathing space beyond ten thousand worlds' cages, and the graveyard from which countless 'jailbreakers' can never escape. I can't confirm where you're from. But I'll say this: no matter which world you hail from, if you are Qin Xin, we should at least not be enemies.
The Torchbearers... actually, forget the Torchbearers. Let's talk about you personally.
Even if you don't trust me, you should trust Hong Lin. With her personality, in any world, she'd be your friend. Isn't that right?
So relax. If there's a misunderstanding here, we can absolutely clear it up.
And to preempt any suspicion that I'm stalling for an ambush, let me lay my cards out.
We came here to find [War]'s Authority. And the reason we sought the Authority..."
Cheng Shi paused. Only after feeling Qin Xin make a subtle adjustment to his arrow's angle did he continue:
"...is to hold power in our own hands, so that before the ending [Fate] has written for the universe arrives, we can find a path of survival for me and my friends within the unbreakable 'fixed destiny.'
And you, the Qin Xin of that world — you're one of my friends."
'[Fate]'s ending?!'
Hearing this, Qin Xin slowly lowered the giant bow. He could feel the sincerity behind those words. But...
Why were the two Cheng Shis describing completely different "futures"?
The Cheng Shi before him — which world's Cheng Shi was he?
...