Evil Emperor Zun

Chapter 2021: The picture shows the dagger
It was the next day when Chen Shiyu and Ye Yunyan stood together again in front of the Gnawing Clan's cage.

He was waiting for someone. He knew that person would definitely appear.

Finally, he heard footsteps behind him, just as he had expected.

"Good morning."

Hei Shiyu had a faint smile on his face, but his eyes were pitch black without a trace of light.

"You asked Su Ye to tell me that you wanted to talk to me alone. Is it because you've already decided who to trust between me and that guy in the mirror?"

On the other side, Lan Shiyu, who brought the cloning machine, also came to the vicinity with Chu Tianyao and hid there, waiting for an opportunity to make a move.

"Shall we make our move now?" Chu Tianyao asked in a low voice, observing the situation on the field.

Lan Shiyu still held back a bit. After explaining how to use the cloning machine to him last night, she took it back for safekeeping. It seems that even with a personally chosen ally, she wasn't entirely comfortable letting another person hold the cloning machine for an extended period. Chu Tianyao saw through this but didn't say anything, raising no objection.

"Wait a minute." Lan Shiyu gestured for him to calm down, but its own body was clearly tense, and its expression was extremely solemn. "My elder brother still needs him to draw out another mirror image. Only his past self can do this."

Chu Tianyao frowned: "Aren't mirror images only able to follow the original 'body'? Can a mirrored past self continue to serve as an anchor point?"

Lan Shiyu gave a vague "hmm," and tightened his grip on the copying machine: "The net needs to be tightened little by little... Don't rush, my older brother will give the instructions when it's time to act."

All eyes were now focused on Chen Shiyu. He wore a calm smile, his bangs casting shadows across his forehead.

"Yes, I've thought it through."

"The guy in the mirror is gone. You're next."

Hei Shiyu's expression changed: "What do you mean?"

Chen Shiyu met its gaze, his face still relaxed, even the smile on his lips remained largely unchanged. But the more composed he appeared, the more an undeniable aura emanated from him.

"You went to great lengths to turn me into a mirror image, but it helped me understand many things and see things I couldn't see before. In fact, I should thank you."

He recounted his experience in the mirror space.

"To entrust everything to the past self and walk towards death alone... In the end, I have never been that kind of person."

"It wanted to play the tragic hero, so I also prepared the most suitable ending for it."

"After leaving the mirror space, while I was still standing in front of the mirror, I asked Yunyan to push another mirror behind me, so that it was directly in front of the mirror in front of me."

"According to the movement pattern, the mirror image will first come to mirror number 1 in front of me. Then the next place I will be reflected will be mirror number 2 behind me."

“但是与此同时，1号镜子也会映照出2号镜子里的我，于是它会自动变成‘下一面镜子’。而2号镜子又会同时映照出1号镜子里的我，1号镜子也会映照出2号镜子里的1号镜子里的我……”

"Such reflections will repeat countless times. The mirror image will be trapped in an infinitely looping mirror maze, never able to escape."

"But it is not dead. It will continue to exist in the mirror, and its existence will always limit you, preventing you from becoming the real thing."

Defeating Jing Shiyu was undoubtedly a brilliant victory, but the biggest gain from this trip to the Mirror Space was finding the safest way to contact the Devouring Clan.

When Chen Shiyu first discovered that he was in the same space as the Gnawing Clan, he was indeed quite shocked. But he quickly realized that their forms of existence were different.

I am a real, tangible living being, standing here in this time and place, while the true forms of the Devouring Clan are not here. They are merely reflections projected into the world of the mirror.

That means no matter what I do, they won't sense it, and it won't trigger the curse's corruption...

Having figured this out, Chen Shiyu no longer hesitated and immediately used his pupil technique!

"I roughly know what they're trying to hide. I'll naturally discuss with my companions how to deal with your master then, so there's no need to explain it to you anymore."

Back then, he was prey in the eyes of these clones, and all his doubts, struggles, and fears were clearly seen by them. Now that the roles of hunter and prey have reversed, Chen Shiyu is quite pleased to see that these same emotions are now being observed by the enemy.

He chose this place to say these words intentionally, specifically to let the Gnawing Clan hear them. He wanted them to realize that their grand plan for the birth of a king was over.

As the two sides faced off, the Gnawing Clan behind remained motionless, like a frozen statue.

After a long while, Hei Shiyu sighed softly.

Strands of hair fell down from its forehead, and on its face, which was exactly the same as Chen Shiyu's, only a faint trace of regret remained.

"I didn't underestimate you, but unfortunately you're more troublesome than I thought."

There was none of the frustration and hysteria usually seen in losers; it looked as if it had reviewed a game with its opponent and had just realized its mistake. It admitted to making a wrong move, only regretting that it could have done better.

"Alright, I've explained everything that needed to be explained to you. You've died knowing the truth." Chen Shiyu didn't want to waste any more time; it was time to put an end to this farce. "Now, go back to where you belong."

Ye Yunyan raised the copying machine and aimed it at Hei Shiyu. Its outline began to be automatically drawn on the small screen.

Hei Shiyu stared intently at the camera in front of him, one eyebrow lowered low, while the other eyebrow was raised arrogantly: "Wait, it's not over yet."

A command pierced through the looming shadow of death, simultaneously spreading in two directions: "Attack!"

That's a unique data transmission capability between clones, similar in principle to the spiritual transmission of a cultivator, enabling private communication with a designated target.

Without making a sound, Hei Shiyu activated the hidden piece he had laid out. He felt much more at ease and continued to distract Chen Shiyu and the other person with words: "You should have guessed it too. The reason you became a mirror image is because there is another clone who shares energy with you and is still moving freely. The cloning machine is also in its hands. Only I know where they are."

"Even if you take me away now, my companions outside will still do what needs to be done for me. We replicants are data life forms, and it doesn't matter which one survives to the end. But you only have one life, and you don't need to fight me to the death."

“You and I are not from the same time and space, and our relationship is not one of either/or. I can prove what I’m saying.”

"So, let's make a deal. If you let me go, I'll hand them over to you to do as you please..."

Just as it was trying to use a friendly expression to coax and stall for time, it suddenly received a telepathic message from its companion.

"Brother, there's a barrier!" "They've set up a barrier here, isolating themselves from the outside world!"

"Their main purpose is probably to prevent the cloning machine from using a very weak barrier. It can be dispelled as long as the energy center is destroyed. Brother, hold on a little longer, give me some time."

The same message also came from Lan Shiyu's side.

Hei Shiyu cursed them inwardly for making it sound so easy, while simultaneously trying his best to conceal his true feelings. Just then, Chen Shiyu said:
"The other clone is probably hiding nearby with its allies. But do you really think it will obediently help you? In the end, only one of you can stay. After you take me in, it will be left to fight you for ownership of the original. Obviously, it is no match for you."

"If I were it, I would sit back and watch the fight, trying to stall for as long as possible, ideally until we capture you. Then, if we could just take me down unexpectedly, it could immediately revert to its original form. Or at the very least, I would use us to wear down your strength as much as possible. The more we weaken you now, the better its chances of winning will be in your final showdown."

At this point, he raised a finger and pointed to his temple with a hint of amusement: "You are all copies of me. What I can think of, you can naturally think of too, right?"

Chu Tianyao noticed that Lan Shiyu's eyes flickered slightly, and his hand on the copying machine stiffened, clearly indicating that these words had struck a chord with him.

This is indeed a problem that we will have to face sooner or later. Although they do not have a direct competitive relationship for the time being, and do not need to rely on the same source of life energy—Black Ten Feather is "affiliated" with Mirror Ten Feather, and Blue Ten Feather is "affiliated" with Dust Ten Feather of this space-time—even if they can each become their own bodies, two Dust Ten Feathers cannot exist in the same space-time at the same time. Only one of them can go to the future.

If it were just an unknowing, unfeeling object, it would be fine to be manipulated at will. But once an object develops consciousness and begins to think with its own mind, everyone would want to exist longer.

If Dust Ten Feathers is eliminated, Black Ten Feathers has a 99% chance of staying. With its overall strength, saying "it doesn't matter who stays" won't sound magnanimous to those competitors who are destined to be sacrificed. They will only feel trampled on by the successful one and forced to listen to its swagger.

Hei Shiyu lowered one eyebrow even further, exuding an aura of impending doom. Chen Shiyu's words inevitably had an effect on it as well. Recalling the message it had just received, it even began to wonder if the two clones were truly trying to break the barrier, or if they had other plans, given their hesitation in making a move.
"...You don't need to stir things up here." Finally, Hei Shiyu spoke, its face grim. Its next words were both to maintain its composure in front of Chen Shiyu and to subtly hint at the clone lurking in the shadows, "After I copied it, the job I gave it was to help me retrieve you. This order is absolute; it must take you in!"

Before the words were even finished, it had already shot out like lightning, rushing straight towards Ye Yunyan!
Its original plan was to have Lan Shiyu lead a group to collect Chen Shiyu, and then have another clone attack Ye Yunyan, so that it could take the opportunity to seize the cloning machine. After it was all over, even if Lan Shiyu refused to return the machine it had given it, it would have another one as a backup.

However, unexpected events occurred. Currently, it was blocked by a barrier of uncertain authenticity. Even knowing that the two were trying to stall for time and wear it down, it had no choice but to bite the bullet and attack. If it couldn't seize the machine quickly, Ye Yunyan would definitely take it back immediately!
Chen Shiyu rushed forward to stop it. The two quickly began fighting.

As a result, Ye Yunyan dared not make any rash moves. The two of them were mirror images, and in their entanglement, their figures would occasionally intertwine. If she was not careful while operating the machine, she might endanger the real Chen Shiyu.

Black Ten Feather was thinking exactly the same thing. Having unlocked the original's combat data package, it knew Ye Yunyan was no match for it. If it attacked her, it was certain Black Ten Feather wouldn't stand idly by and would intervene. Therefore, seizing the machine in one fell swoop would be ideal. Even if it failed, as long as it dragged Black Ten Feather into the battle, it would at least make Ye Yunyan hesitant to attack it. This brief delay would also give the clones enough time to break the barrier they spoke of.

Sure enough, it soon received good news from its allies. Chu Tianyao also received instructions that he could take action.

"..." Seeing him decisively raise the copying machine, Lan Shiyu hesitated for a moment, then swallowed hard and whispered, "Let's get started."

Hei Shiyu was right; he had to carry out its orders.

Replicants are created to work for others. However, most replicants complete their work first, and only develop self-awareness in the remaining time, while this one goes through the exact opposite process.

To increase the burden on its original body and consume its life energy, it was thrown into the time-accelerated space early on, where it gained sentience over a long period of time. However, at this point, it had not yet completed the task originally assigned to it.

As a data entity, it is naturally subject to the constraints of data encoding. That job is like a chain around its neck; only by completing it can it truly gain freedom. Before that, its authority will always be lower than that of its "master," Hei Shiyu, who, if the latter so desires, can directly collect it using a machine without relying on others.

Conversely, it can't even find someone to retrieve Black Ten Feathers. The parts of its data that "think this way and do this way" are directly removed—otherwise, Black Ten Feathers wouldn't have been so comfortable handing over the cloning machine to it.

Becoming a mirror image of the other party on equal footing at least allows one to compete for the ultimate ownership of the original. Without taking this step, one doesn't even have the right to compete.

Letting his thoughts drift far away, when Lan Shiyu came back to his senses, he found that Chen Shiyu in the arena had not yet been put away.

“No.” Chu Tianyao noticed its gaze, lowered the copying machine, and shook his head. “It’s shaking too much; I can’t focus.”

Lan Shiyu also leaned over to look at the small screen and confirmed that he was telling the truth.

Although the recycling process is not as complicated as manufacturing and does not require the voluntary cooperation of clones, it still requires keeping the object to be recycled still for a few seconds so that the machine can fully capture its data and perform targeted erasure.

When Ye Yunyan retrieved the first-generation clone, only the clone's arms were moving, and the overall situation was relatively stable. However, the two people in front of her were fighting fiercely, their figures almost blurring into afterimages, and the camera could not clearly outline Chen Shiyu's silhouette.

"What do we do?" Blue Ten Feather's adaptability was as mediocre as its combat strength. Without Black Ten Feather to give it orders, it would be at a loss when faced with an unexpected situation alone. "What else can we do?"

Chu Tian gazed at the battle ahead, his expression still calm, his voice carrying a faint chill: "I suggest you go and help it, first subdue Chen Shiyu. As long as you can temporarily incapacitate him, I can retrieve him."

Lan Shiyu stammered, "You want me to help?" It was truly flustered and no longer cared about hiding its true feelings from Chu Tianyao. "But with my strength, I'm afraid I can't help. Besides, that would deplete my stamina, and if my older brother turns against me, I'd be at an even greater disadvantage..."

Chu Tianyao glanced at it casually, showing no surprise at its "lowly" behavior. He was shrewd, and his limited interactions with Lan Shiyu were enough for him to understand what kind of person Lan Shiyu was. He then patiently continued his explanation:

"The two are evenly matched, making it difficult to determine a winner. At this point, adding even a small factor to either side could easily disrupt the balance."

"Ye Yunyan is currently observing the battle, probably waiting for a suitable opportunity to retrieve the enemy. In fact, the best option for her is to first put the cloning machine into a storage magic item, then help Chen Shiyu control your companions as soon as possible, and then retrieve them."

“Those involved are often blinded by their own interests, but we don’t have much time left. Once she realizes what’s happening and becomes part of Chen Shiyu’s side, even if you go to help her, it will be too late.”

The subtext of this statement is simple. Black Ten Feathers and Dust Ten Feathers have achieved a perfect balance, while Blue Ten Feathers' strength is insufficient compared to Ye Yunyan's. Therefore, considering all factors, it is naturally a victory for Dust Ten Feathers' side.

"Furthermore, you told me that your companions have also placed another clone nearby. I believe it is also waiting for you to make your move."

Lan Shiyu's head was spinning: "Why is it waiting for me...?"

"It also needs to consider what is best for it." Chu Tianyao's gaze swept around the surroundings without leaving a trace, searching for possible hiding places for the clone. "No matter what it originally thought, after Chen Shiyu brought it up, it will realize its situation."

The last clone served the role of the "seed" that Chu Tianyao had mentioned. Black Ten Feather had indeed thought of the same thing; it needed to maintain a "weight" that could always "hold" Chen Ten Feather in place. Otherwise, if something unexpected happened to Blue Ten Feather while he was acting alone, causing Chen Ten Feather to revert to his original form, mirroring him again would be extremely difficult.

Meanwhile, adhering to the principle of "not putting all your eggs in one basket," and given that Lan Shiyu already had one cloning machine, it didn't want to entrust the task of retrieving another machine to the same person. Therefore, this task fell to "Seed Feather."

It will be indispensable until the operation is over. But once the Dust Feathers are successfully recovered, this "seed" will no longer be needed to produce more fruit, and the seed itself will also be recycled.

"Its mission was to attack Ye Yunyan, but unfortunately, the barrier caused it to miss the best opportunity. If we act now, the cloning machine will almost certainly fall into our hands, which is not what it wants."

Black Ten Feather is temporarily unable to attack, and Seed Feather is probably not known for its combat prowess either. Even if it comes down to pick up the scraps, Chu Tianyao and Blue Ten Feather can easily suppress it in a two-on-one fight. Blue Ten Feather naturally understood this as well and nodded thoughtfully.

"So it's been waiting. It knows that if this situation continues to stalemate, you'll have to step in to help. As long as you're also tied up in the fighting, it'll have a chance to fish in troubled waters."

“If it’s smart enough, it should make its move when the two of you have Chen Shiyu under control. At that time, I will be operating the machine and will also need to remain still for a few breaths. That will be enough time for it to grab the spoils and escape unscathed.”

"However, we also need just such an opportunity. An opportunity that can bring it out and solve it once and for all."