Volume 2, Chapter 99 – This Doppelgänger Has Lost Her Mind

Cheng Hongling was a proud daughter of heaven, a master of strategy—yet she found herself increasingly baffled by her own doppelgänger. Not only was her personality completely different, but now they were even at odds in their opinions. Shouldn’t matters of uncertainty be left to the main body to decide? Why had she gone ahead and made the decision on her own? It made Cheng Hongling feel like she was the doppelgänger instead.

Beside her, Xu Mei was also startled and cast a questioning glance at her beloved disciple.

“This wasn’t my idea. She acted on her own.”

Cheng Hongling could only explain in a low voice.

“What admirable ambition! Truly worthy of being the Honghua Sect’s number one genius!”

Elder Wu, his scheme having succeeded, immediately offered insincere flattery.

“Wait—”

Cheng Hongling spoke up, her face burning with embarrassment.

“What now?”

Elder Wu’s expression darkened in an instant. “As the Honghua Sect’s top genius, you wouldn’t go back on your word, would you? Just who exactly is in charge here?”

Hongling had spoken up in haste, without thinking of a way to extricate herself. For a moment, she was left speechless.

“I’m in charge! I’m in charge! I’ll take the mission!”

Qi Huang, however, eagerly jumped in—because she could speak, and she was very capable of it.

“Oh? So now I can’t even stop you, is that it?”

Cheng Hongling let out a cold snort.

Qi Huang turned her head and saw her main body glaring at her with narrowed, furious eyes. She shuddered and meekly retreated.

“Heh, a main body and a doppelgänger disagreeing—this is the first time I’ve seen such a thing. You’re not suffering from a split personality, are you?”

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Elder Wu burst into laughter, and the surrounding high-ranking members of the sect could barely hold back their amusement.

“Elder Wu, there’s no need for your sarcasm. I am Cheng Hongling, and so is she. What I have promised, I will not take back.”

Seeing no way out, Cheng Hongling clenched her teeth and accepted the mission.

“You’d better think this through!”

Qin Quan quickly reminded her.

“Excellent! Then I wish you swift success! But let me add one more thing—how long has this been going on with you? Shouldn’t you see a physician?”

Before Cheng Hongling could respond, Elder Wu cut in, as if afraid she might change her mind.

“No need. Thank you for your concern. I’m perfectly fine.”

Cheng Hongling replied coldly, then turned to glare at the doppelgänger who had suddenly decided to throw away her life—and drag her along for the ride.

Qin Quan could only shake his head helplessly. He didn’t know whether this genius disciple was truly suffering from a split personality, but since the person in question had already agreed, what could he do?

“She must have some way to protect herself”, he speculated inwardly.

“Wait! I still have something to say!”

Though Qi Huang was nervous, she had to make her demands clear. This mission was high-risk labor—she wasn’t about to work for free.

“If you want me to lure that snake using ghost tomatoes as bait, fine. But I have two conditions. First, the number of ghost tomatoes you have is far too few. I don’t want to be dangling right in front of that snake’s mouth, so before we act, I expect the Honghua Sect to gather as many as possible. Second, once we obtain the Blue Scale Stone, I want half.”

Her first demand was for her own safety; the second was for those she cared about.

“The first point is no problem—ensuring your safety is our responsibility. As for the second… What does everyone think?”

Qin Quan turned to consult the other high-ranking members present.

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“Sect Leader Qin, to be honest, the Blue Scale Stone is meant to forge weapons for our female disciples. It’s not of much use to the rest of us, so I have no objections to her request.”

Elder Ruan was the first to voice his agreement.

The other elders quickly followed suit. Even Elder Wu remained silent this time, knowing when to quit while he was ahead.

“Good. Then it’s settled. But before we act, we must prepare. First, we’ll gather more ghost tomatoes. Second, we’ll scout the situation in Panshan Village.”

Sect Leader Qin quickly assigned tasks—Elder Ruan would handle gathering the ghost tomatoes, while Elder Wu would investigate the village.

“Sect Leader, what about the Heyi Sect’s poisoning of innocent villagers? Those people deserve justice.”

Xu Mei reminded him.

“Naturally. I will personally handle negotiations with them. If the Heyi Sect refuses to take responsibility, I’ll hand that Ma fellow directly over to the Immortal Alliance.”

Qin Quan responded gravely.

With that, the meeting concluded. Qi Huang followed her nominal master and main body back to their residence.

Cheng Hongling, having been tricked by her doppelgänger, wore an expression as cold as frost, deterring any disciples who happened to pass by.

Qi Huang wanted to explain, but with so many people around, she had no choice but to remain silent for now.

“Ahem… Hongling, what’s going on with you two? I’ve always heard that a main body and doppelgänger share the same mind. How could you disagree?”

Xu Mei, worried, finally couldn’t hold back her questions on the way back.

“Who knows? This doppelgänger of mine has never been in sync with me. At most, there’s some faint mental connection. But now, it seems she’s developed an independent personality.”

Cheng Hongling glared coldly at Qi Huang.

Qi Huang, trembling, didn’t dare make a sound—completely forgetting that her divine sense had already reached the Incarnation Realm, meaning she had no real reason to fear Cheng Hongling.

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“Could it be… as Elder Wu said, that you’re suffering from a mental affliction? If so, you must tell your master. Illnesses must be treated early.”

Out of concern, Xu Mei pressed further.

“Master, can’t you tell? Elder Wu was just mocking me. You actually believed him?”

Cheng Hongling was exasperated.

“Your master is just worried about you.”

Xu Mei replied sheepishly.

“I think the issue is that she isn’t a complete doppelgänger. After all, I created her during the Unity Realm, and she was only given a face—like a premature birth.”

Cheng Hongling mused, her gaze toward Qi Huang now carrying a trace of… pity.

“Pre… premature birth?!”

Qi Huang nearly spat blood. I’m not your child! You’re my main body, not my mother!

“If that’s the case, then she must be mentally deficient. I should inform the rest of the Honghua Sect, lest she cause trouble later that we can’t clean up.”

Xu Mei also turned to stare at Qi Huang, her eyes filled with sympathy.

“Mentally deficient?! That’s going too far, Master!”

Qi Huang couldn’t take it anymore and protested—but was completely ignored.

“Well, if she’s not right in the head, we can’t blame her. The most important thing now is how to overcome this hurdle. If the rumors are true, that Blue-Scaled King Snake is at least at the Incarnation Realm. Without thorough preparation, recklessly acting as bait would be suicide.”

Xu Mei immediately began discussing countermeasures with her beloved disciple, not even sparing a glance for the “mentally deficient” Qi Huang.

“What can we do? Incarnation Realm demons can fly. My ‘Wandering Butterfly Movement Technique’ is fast, but it still relies on my legs—how can I outrun something like that?”

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Cheng Hongling sighed in resignation.

And so, master and disciple continued their discussion all the way back to Orchid Pavilion, leaving the “brain-damaged” doppelgänger completely sidelined.

“I’m not afraid of death—but if I die, what will become of the Honghua Sect?”

Unable to find a solution, Cheng Hongling’s delicate face showed helplessness.

“Hey, hey, hey! I’m the one holding the ghost tomatoes as bait, not you! No need to be so pessimistic!”

Seeing that no one else was around, Qi Huang finally spoke up, unable to endure any longer.

“You? A mere Gathering Spirit Realm doppelgänger would die even faster! Even if there’s the slightest chance of survival, I must grasp it myself.”

Cheng Hongling clenched her delicate fist.

“Don’t underestimate me! Sure, I’m only at the Gathering Spirit Realm, but I can fly. Can you?”

Qi Huang grinned confidently.

“You… can fly?”

Cheng Hongling and her master exchanged glances, their expressions growing even more troubled.

“The condition seems worse than we thought. How can someone at the Gathering Spirit Realm possibly fly?”

Xu Mei delivered her diagnosis.

“Hah! Who says the Gathering Spirit Realm can’t fly?”

With a smug smile, Qi Huang released her divine sense—and in an instant, her body shot upward, soaring higher and higher.