Volume 2, Chapter 102 – The Doppelgänger’s Three Obediences and Four Virtues to the Main Body

“Qi-Leaking Powder? You… why are you asking about that?”

Wang Zong was caught completely off guard.

“Just tell me if you know anything!”

Qi Huang was growing impatient. The whole reason she hadn’t asked Cheng Hongling or Xu Mei directly was to avoid suspicion—after all, she had prior conflicts with the Huang Family. She hadn’t expected to be interrogated by this guy.

“Ah—I know a little, but not much!”

Wang Zong sensed danger and hurriedly explained: “Qi-Leaking Powder comes from a vile cult in the mortal world called the ‘Severed Immortal Sect’. Even a tiny dose can drain the innate spiritual energy from ordinary people. A large enough dose can even dissipate a cultivator’s true qi.”

“That potent? Tell me more about this Severed Immortal Sect.”

Qi Huang pressed eagerly.

“The Severed Immortal Sect is made up of disgraced martial artists. Their founding purpose was to eradicate cultivators—you can tell just from their name. Because of this, the Immortal Alliance has labeled them the number one heretical sect.”

Wang Zong didn’t dare withhold information.

“Eradicate cultivators? How audacious!”

Qi Huang was stunned. To mortals, cultivators were practically immortals—many seniors from major sects had actually ascended to immortality. Wasn’t this sect openly challenging gods?

“Not just audacious—they’re also incredibly powerful. They’ve spread to nearly every nation in the cultivation world. Some weaker sects have been completely annihilated by them, rivers of blood left in their wake.”

Wang Zong’s expression turned grave.

“Why would they do this?”

Qi Huang couldn’t comprehend it.

“Supposedly… it’s to ‘stand up for mortal men’. They believe that only by destroying sects will women return to the mortal world, allowing men to find wives.”

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Wang Zong sounded uncertain himself.

“What?!”

Qi Huang was baffled by such naive logic. “Do they not realize women flock to sects not because they’re ‘wonderful’, but because the outside world is unsafe? If cultivators are gone, who’ll protect commoners? At that point, both men and women will die—how is marriage even a concern? Wouldn’t it make more sense to eliminate the wandering ghosts and demons first?”

“They know. But martial artists can only refine their bodies, not qi. They’re powerless against spirits. So they resort to this superficial ‘solution’. Though… it’s possible their ‘noble cause’ is just a front to hide their true motives.”

Wang Zong speculated.

Qi Huang nodded thoughtfully. Fighting for all men’s welfare—such a lofty, righteous-sounding cause could easily sway the ignorant. No wonder the Severed Immortal Sect had grown so powerful.

“Do you know where to find Severed Immortal Sect members in the Western Radiance Dynasty?”

Qi Huang lowered her voice. This was her real goal—she hoped to trace the Qi-Leaking Powder back to her master. After three years, directly searching for him would be near impossible.

“I’m not sure. But the Severed Immortal Sect is outlawed even by mortal governments. If you’re serious about finding them, the government office might have records.”

Wang Zong offered helpfully.

“The government office…”

Qi Huang fell silent, mentally scanning her connections. Soon, a suitable candidate emerged—the infatuated son of the Prefect.

“As the Prefect’s son, he should have no trouble accessing such information.”

The thought delighted her.

Though puzzled by her interest, Wang Zong remembered his earlier misstep and wisely kept quiet.

Qi Huang thanked him politely and left Yangchun Courtyard under his longing gaze.

Now, she needed a plan. Since the government office might hold clues, visiting the Prefect’s Manor was a must. But how? She was essentially “a hidden flower in a golden cage”—how could she convince her main body to let her leave the Honghua Sect?

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“Should I sneak out? Once I’m beyond her Divine Sense range, the Soul Tether can’t forcibly recall me.”

Escape was tempting.

“No… what if I anger her?”

A shiver ran down her spine. Cheng Hongling’s authority terrified her—not because of cultivation strength, but something deeper.

“Fine, I’ll ask first. If she agrees, great. If not… then I’ll run. I refuse to become the cultivation world’s poster child for ‘rebellious doppelgängers’.”

She resolved to try diplomacy before force.

Upon returning, she found Cheng Hongling brewing medicinal herbs.

“Good, you’re back. I was about to hunt you down.”

Cheng Hongling’s voice was calm, but her words cut like a blade.

Qi Huang stiffened, forcing an awkward chuckle.

“Stop grinning like a fool. Have you forgotten you’re supposed to be the main body now?”

Cheng Hongling’s brows furrowed.

Qi Huang’s smile vanished.

“Here, drink this. It’ll aid your cultivation.”

Cheng Hongling handed her a bowl of medicinal broth.

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“You have it. I don’t need it.”

Qi Huang declined. After tasting the benefits of enhanced Divine Sense, she cared little for physical cultivation—it would only distract her.

“‘Don’t need it’? Do you think strong Divine Sense alone makes you invincible? Your actual cultivation is only at the Spirit-Gathering Realm. Even with Incarnation Realm-level Divine Sense, could you defeat a Unity Realm expert? Some problems can’t be solved by running.”

Cheng Hongling saw right through her.

Qi Huang paused. She had to admit her main body was sharp. Against Unity Realm opponents, her Divine Sense’s suppression was limited.

But she still had her hair—her ultimate trump card!

Not daring to argue, she obediently drank the broth. Warmth flooded her body, strength surging through her veins.

“Good. From now on, remember the Three Obediences and Four Virtues ¹ A set of moral principles and social code of behavior for maiden and married women in East Asian Confucianism but for doppelgängers in this case a doppelgänger owes her main body. Behave, stop acting on your own, unless you want to be infamous—dragged to the Doppelgänger Virtue Academy for ‘rehabilitation’.”

Cheng Hongling smirked.

“D-Doppelgänger Virtue Academy? What’s that?”

Qi Huang stammered.

“An institution established by the Immortal Alliance to ‘correct’ unruly doppelgängers. Every province has a branch. Rumor says even the most rebellious come out docile as lambs.”

Cheng Hongling’s tone was teasing.

“Wha—?!”

Qi Huang paled. Pacing anxiously, she wrestled with herself.

But… Master defied the Honghua Sect’s elders for me.

Gritting her teeth, she blurted out: “E-Even if I get sent there… I still need to tell you something. I want to leave the Honghua Sect for a while.”

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Cheng Hongling’s eyes narrowed. She set down her tools. “Why?”

“I… can’t say!”

Qi Huang retreated a step.

“Then forget it.”

Cheng Hongling turned away dismissively.

“W-What if I go anyway?”

Qi Huang challenged, bracing herself.

“Go anyway?”

Cheng Hongling turned back, lips curling. “Then let’s see if you’re faster… or my Soul Tether is.”

Qi Huang’s confidence wavered, but for her master’s sake, she was willing to gamble.

The moment Cheng Hongling finished speaking—

WHOOSH!

Qi Huang’s Divine Sense enveloped her body, launching her outward like a hurricane.

Cheng Hongling didn’t even glance her way.

Her Divine Sense locked onto Qi Huang’s position—

The Soul Tether shot out faster than the eye could follow, as though folding space itself.