# 1664
Chapter 1657: I... Am Also Fake
"It seems this Marquis has also been fooled..."
On the city wall, Huo Qubing in robes gazed at his other self in the distance, his expression darkening.
At the same time, the armored Huo Qubing squinted slightly, glancing at the approaching prismatic mist, and said in a deep voice:
"To choose such a moment... It seems you've planned this long in advance?"
"Lin Qiye, go block that mist. Don't worry about me—this Marquis can handle my own counterfeit." The robed Huo Qubing spoke again.
"Lin Qiye, save Chang'an City first! Besides me, you're the only one here who can stop this mist."
"This mist should only be the monster's cover-up. Its true body must be hidden within the mist!"
"What are you waiting for? I said this Marquis will handle this! Go kill its true form! If you let it enter Chang'an City, there will be mass slaughter!"
The two Huo Qubings spoke in succession. Whether in words, expression, or movement, neither showed any flaw—both equally prioritized the world, hoping Lin Qiye would directly go to stop the prismatic mist.
Lin Qiye had considered some clever tricks. For instance, having both Huo Qubings accompany him to kill the monster's true body in the mist. Whoever didn't attack would be the fake... But the moment he thought it through, he knew this method would be suicide. Outside the mist, the two were already impossible to distinguish. Inside the mist was the monster's home turf. If the counterfeit suddenly turned on them while they were fighting the monster's true body, neither Lin Qiye nor the real Huo Qubing could possibly walk out alive.
Lin Qiye swept his gaze across both Huo Qubings without answering. Instead, he turned to look at Gongyang Wan behind him:
"Well? Can you tell?"
Gongyang Wan's willow-branch arm raised, the eyeball at its tip fixed on the two identical Huo Qubings. After a long moment, she nodded slightly:
"Yes."
"Which one is the fake?"
Gongyang Wan raised an eyebrow but didn't answer. Her eyes flickered with light, as if lost in thought.
"Gongyang Wan." Lin Qiye's voice was stern. "Answer my question."
"In truth, even without my help to tell them apart, there's a way to find the real Huo Qubing, isn't there?" Gongyang Wan's lips curved slightly upward. "Whoever can take the 【Heart-Returning Gu】 from my body... naturally would be the true Marquis."
Lin Qiye frowned. Just as he was about to speak, he seemed to sense something and turned to observe the expressions of both Huo Qubings.
"Unacceptable."
"Unacceptable."
Both Huo Qubings spoke simultaneously. "Gongyang Wan, give up on that idea. This Marquis won't let you return. This Marquis has said it... this Marquis can handle my own counterfeit."
The words fell, and both Huo Qubings struck simultaneously!
The next moment, the tens of thousands of weapons scattered throughout Chang'an City all trembled, as if responding to some summons, and hurtled into the sky with a roar!
Countless blades surged skyward like a tsunami, then abruptly stopped. The weapons themselves vibrated intensely, as if two invisible hands were fighting for control over them.
Both Huo Qubings squinted simultaneously, and the sky-full of weapons instantly split down the middle from the center, hurtling madly toward each other. Blade clashed against blade above the two Marquis's heads, and dazzling sparks lit up most of the night sky!
Indeed, the prismatic mist had perfectly replicated 【Emperor's Dominion】—their abilities were truly indistinguishable.
The armored Huo Qubing coldly snorted. He gripped his spear and flew forward, instantly charging to the robed Huo Qubing's front!
The robed Huo Qubing frowned. His spear thrust out like a swimming dragon, clashing with the armored Huo Qubing's spear. With a dull roar, the robed Huo Qubing was knocked back half a step.
The armored Huo Qubing keenly sensed his weakness. His spear whirled out shadow after shadow, while the robed Huo Qubing's movements seemed sluggish, barely managing to block the attacks and retreating repeatedly.
"Gongyang Wan!" Lin Qiye shouted. "What are you waiting for? Do you really want to watch Chang'an City fall to slaughter?"
Gongyang Wan's body trembled slightly. She glanced back at the devastated Chang'an City, filled with cries of suffering. It was as if she was recalling something, and her fists clenched tightly...
Finally, she took a deep breath. "Remember your promise to me..."
She raised her hand, pointing at the Huo Qubing in the blood-stained robe, and slowly said:
"He's the fake."
Seeing the robed Huo Qubing falling behind, Lin Qiye slightly relaxed. He glanced at the approaching prismatic mist. After only a moment's hesitation, he spoke again:
"There's no time left... I'll go block the mist. You go help the Marquis."
"Understood." Gongyang Wan nodded, her expression unusually serious.
Gongyang Wan's head wobbled slightly. Her original face instantly transformed into that of a rough, muscular man. A clear bird's cry rang out from her body as the whole person shot forward like a sword toward the two figures locked in close combat!
Just as Lin Qiye was about to move, Wu Quan's voice rang out from behind him:
"Seven Nights Brother, I'm coming with you!"
Lin Qiye turned back to see Wu Quan's eyes filled with utmost seriousness.
"No. We still don't know how strong the Cthulhu Faction creature's true body is in that mist... It's too dangerous for you to come with me."
"So what if it's dangerous?" Wu Quan stubbornly shook his head. "Seven Nights Brother, you've always protected me, along with Qingzhu-ge. Though I'm safe... but if it stays like this, I'll never grow stronger, right? The Marquis has 【Emperor's Dominion】, and so do I. I want to become as strong as him too!
Only then can I fulfill my dream."
Lin Qiye froze. His mind flashed back to the black umbrella sheltering Shen Qingzhu on the wall of the Hanshan Orphanage... Wu Quan's dream.
Lin Qiye gazed at Wu Quan complexly for a moment. In the end, he nodded.
"Fine... Stay close to me. Once we enter the mist, do not leave my sight. Understood?"
"Got it!"
Wu Quan's eyes shone bright.
Lin Qiye moved swiftly, carrying Wu Quan as they burst out of Chang'an City's walls. The surrounding night was dispelled by flickering lights. The iridescent mist gradually engulfed the barren lands outside the city, like a beast painted in poisonous colors, silently devouring everything.
Two figures fearlessly charged into the mist and vanished.
Meanwhile, at the edge of Chang'an City, the robed Huo Qubing blocked the armored Huo Qubing's spear attack with his own, then used the force to twist his body and leap high, landing on distant ground far away.
His gaze swept across the surroundings. Gongyang Wan and Yan Zhong were charging toward him from different directions!