Flender and Liu Erlong exchanged a glance, a flicker of doubt flashing in their eyes.
After twenty years, was the man before them really Yu Xiaogang?
Something didn't feel right.
"I have no reason to hurt my brother."
"I…"
The two glanced at each other again, and suddenly, a spark of realization struck them simultaneously.
"Who are you? You absolutely cannot be Yu Xiaogang!"
"Speak! What have you done with Yu Xiaogang? A mere Spirit Grandmaster dares to deceive two Spirit Sages? How bold of you!"
Liu Erlong and Flender spoke almost in unison.
"???"
Yu Xiaogang froze, struggling to process their accusations. If he wasn't Yu Xiaogang, then who was?
"Stop pretending! If I'm not Yu Xiaogang, who could I possibly be? Liu Erlong, Flender, you two…"
Before Yu Xiaogang could finish, Liu Erlong's slender hand landed a sharp slap across his face.
The force of the blow sent Yu Xiaogang rolling across the ground, twice and a half over.
Liu Erlong sneered coldly, "You absolutely cannot be Yu Xiaogang. The three of us share a Martial Soul Fusion ability. Appearance can be faked, cultivation can be disguised, but the resonance of our Martial Souls? That can't be forged."
At her words, Flender nodded in agreement. Indeed, he hadn't sensed that unique connection either.
Their Martial Soul Fusion technique was centered on Yu Xiaogang, with Flender and Liu Erlong as auxiliaries. Flender and Liu Erlong could sense each other, but there was no resonance with Yu Xiaogang.
In that case, the only possibility was that Yu Xiaogang was the problem!
Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang instinctively nodded—then froze again.
He hadn't felt the resonance either, which meant the Flender and Liu Erlong before him might be fakes!
No wonder "Flender" had hit him, while "Liu Erlong" merely watched coldly from the sidelines.
Believing he had unraveled the mystery, Yu Xiaogang swallowed hard. Why were these people impersonating Flender and Liu Erlong? What could their motive possibly be?
He couldn't figure it out.
Yu Xiaogang was utterly numb with shock.
He was just a Spirit Grandmaster. The two before him, however, were likely Spirit Sages!
Spirit Sages!
Not everyone would tolerate his usual arrogance. These impostors certainly wouldn't.
What should he do? What could he do? What did they want?
"You… who exactly are you?"
He only dared to think these words, not say them aloud.
Seeing "Yu Xiaogang" remain silent, Liu Erlong and Flender's expressions darkened. They exchanged another glance.
"Boss Flender, this man dares to impersonate Xiaogang. Xiaogang may already have met with misfortune!"
"Hmph! If someone dares harm my brother, I may be old, but I'm not dead yet!"
Yu Xiaogang: "???"
Was this necessary? Did these impostors really need to go to such lengths?
What kind of grudge or grievance did they have to conspire as Spirit Sages against a mere Spirit Grandmaster like him?
Yu Xiaogang wanted to say something, but before he could open his mouth, darkness consumed his vision as he passed out.
Flender scowled. "Erlong, you go rest for now. I'll make sure he tells us Xiaogang's whereabouts."
"Alright, Boss Flender. I'll leave it to you."
Liu Erlong nodded. She was exhausted and threw a fierce glare at Yu Xiaogang before heading toward the city.
Why would someone impersonate Yu Xiaogang with his limited abilities? What could their motive be?
Could they be trying to deceive the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan? Or that woman?
That seemed plausible!
"You've got Xiaogang's personality down pat, but fake is fake! Xiaogang, what's happened to you?"
Liu Erlong muttered anxiously.
But what could she do? The reason Flender insisted on handling the "interrogation" was that she might have killed the imposter in a fit of rage.
Yu Xiaogang: "…"
As night fell, a basin of cold water splashed over Yu Xiaogang, jolting him awake.
"???"
Opening his eyes, Yu Xiaogang froze. What was going on? Why was he chained up?
And where was his spirit power?
To prevent Yu Xiaogang from using his spirit power to escape, Flender had directly crippled it. From that moment on, Yu Xiaogang was an ordinary person.
For a Level 78 Spirit Sage, this was an easy task.
"Are you going to talk now, or do you need more persuasion?"
Flender sneered, his face dark with anger. The audacity of someone to impersonate his brother and deceive him and Liu Erlong—this was unforgivable!
Deceiving him? That, Flender could tolerate.
Deceiving Liu Erlong? Absolutely not!
"???"
Yu Xiaogang was stunned. Talk about what? And where was his spirit power?
Seeing Yu Xiaogang's confusion, Flender's face darkened further.
"Very well, so you won't talk!"
Without waiting for Yu Xiaogang's response, Flender struck with a whip.
"Argh…"
Time passed, and Flender, slightly fatigued, had to restrain his strength to avoid killing the imposter outright.
Otherwise, as a Spirit Sage, he wouldn't even need to activate his Martial Soul to take Yu Xiaogang's life with a casual strike.
"So you're stubborn, huh?"
Flender praised begrudgingly.
Yu Xiaogang: "…"
Stubborn about what? You haven't even asked me anything!
Yu Xiaogang was numb with frustration. This "Flender" wasn't asking questions, just beating him. What was he supposed to say?
"Why don't you ask something first…"
Summoning all his strength, Yu Xiaogang roared.
Hearing this, Flender froze. He hadn't asked any questions? Wait a minute—he really hadn't.
Had he misunderstood this imposter?
Flender knew he was at fault, but still, this "Yu Xiaogang" had dared to deceive him and Liu Erlong. Shouldn't he be beaten for that alone?
"Speak! What have you done to my brother, Yu Xiaogang?"
For now, other concerns could wait. Yu Xiaogang's safety was the priority.
Deep down, Flender harbored a faint, shameful hope: that this man would say Yu Xiaogang was already dead.
He knew such thoughts were wrong, but he couldn't bear to see Liu Erlong in pain again.
Yu Xiaogang: "???"
What had he done to Yu Xiaogang?
He was Yu Xiaogang!
Was this "Flender" mocking him?
"I am Yu Xiaogang…"
Under the circumstances, Yu Xiaogang had no choice but to bow his head. Let the impostor toy with him; he could only answer truthfully.
Hearing this, Flender's eye twitched. This guy was on the brink of death and still dared to lie!
Did Flender look like someone who wouldn't fight back?
"Fine. You've succeeded in angering me!"
Flender clenched his fists and turned to leave.
Yu Xiaogang was stunned. What was wrong with this "Flender"? He'd told the truth!
Wait… was he just going to leave?
Of course not. Flender was worried that if he stayed, the imposter would die. He had gone to fetch a healing Spirit Master and Zhao Xin.
(End of Chapter)