Chapter 122: You Think I Don’t Dare?

"A game?"

The figure in the mirror wore an expression of astonishment; clearly, it had not expected such a result.

Though it didn't know what kind of trick was being played, the mirror entity, hearing Fang Mu claim that winning the game would allow him to turn around, hesitated for a moment before agreeing.

"What game do you want to play? You must keep your word." Aside from the pallor of its face, the entity's every posture was identical to Fang Mu's. It was curious to see what game Fang Mu intended to use.

Fang Mu patted his chest. "No problem. I am an honest and reliable young man; my word is absolute."

As Fang Mu patted his chest, the figure in the mirror performed the exact same motion. The entity felt something was amiss; it suspected Fang Mu was plotting something against it.

Fang Mu raised his right hand, looked at his identical reflection, and declared loudly, "Let's play Rock-Paper-Scissors."

He then explained the specific rules of the game.

The mirror entity froze, its expression darkening. "You are toying with me!"

Fang Mu clicked his tongue. "What, too afraid to play? I assume that aside from your expressions, your movements are just like mine, aren't they?"

"I don't believe you won't turn around!" the entity sneered. "We shall wait it out and see who wins."

Fang Mu scoffed and tossed the mirror away.

As the mirror flew through the air, a phantom appeared in front of him—an exact duplicate of Fang Mu.

The entity sneered, "From the moment you picked up that mirror, you were trapped. You will turn around..."

Beyond just the front, phantoms of the mirror entity appeared in all directions. They surrounded Fang Mu, whispering in unison...

"Turn around... turn around... I am watching you from behind..."

The low, resonant voices sounded like demonic incantations, seemingly imbued with dark magic. Fang Mu felt an involuntary pressure building in his heart, urging him to turn around.

Resisting the urge, Fang Mu lifted his foot and began to walk forward. As he moved, the phantoms moved with him. On the street, the whispers grew more intense with every step, eventually reaching the level of deafening noise. The white jade hairpin atop his head emitted a cooling aura, but for Fang Mu, it was like a drop in the bucket.

"Turn around... look at me... am I beautiful?"

The cooling sensation faded, and Fang Mu stopped. Having never encountered such a situation, he felt not only irritation but a surge of fury.

"Do you really think I have no way to deal with you?" Fang Mu said coldly.

The mirror entity laughed. "Can you? You don't even dare to turn around. You are too cowardly to face me."

Fang Mu narrowed his eyes. "You just want me to turn around and look at you, right? Fine, I will look at you."

A phantom shimmered over Fang Mu's body, landing beside him. In the blink of an eye, it transformed into an exact replica of Fang Mu.

*Shadow Clone Technique!*

The phantom was stunned, completely unable to comprehend the current situation.

Fang Mu snapped his fingers and said calmly, "Satisfy it."

The clone turned around and stared directly behind Fang Mu. A woman with a ghastly pale complexion was clinging to Fang Mu's back. When she saw the identical version of Fang Mu, she froze in shock.

*Whoosh!*

The woman was pulled uncontrollably toward the clone, merging into it. The surrounding phantoms vanished. The clone lowered its head and spoke in a woman's voice, "This... this..."

Fang Mu smiled. "This is how you seize a substitute, isn't it? Still saying I don't dare to turn around?"

In truth, Fang Mu had thought of this method long ago. Turning around meant becoming a substitute for the mirror entity, so why not use a clone to look instead? Aside from the difference in strength, the clone was, for all intents and purposes, exactly like him. However, Fang Mu hadn't wanted to try it earlier, as the Shadow Clone Technique could only be used twice a day and he hadn't wanted to waste it. Now, with no other options, he had used it decisively. Twice a day—one down, one left—this was manageable.

"No! No!" the mirror entity shrieked. "How can there be an identical you? Who are you!"

No one answered. Only a brilliant flash of a blade cut through the air.

Fiery red True Qi surged, and a web of blade energy engulfed the clone, instantly shredding it into pieces. The fragments dissolved into blue smoke, and a phantom emerged, slowly dissipating in mid-air. Invisible ripples appeared, and Fang Mu slowly reached out his hand...

[You touched the Mirror Spirit and obtained a sliver of True Qi.]
[You touched the Mirror Spirit and obtained the skill—Void-Reality Mirror Art: Can block one fatal attack!]

The True Qi merged into Fang Mu's body, followed by the information on the Void-Reality Mirror Art. After absorbing the details, Fang Mu realized this skill was truly powerful. As the name suggested, it could block one fatal attack. When a strike was determined to be lethal, the Void-Reality Mirror Art would render Fang Mu immune to it.

Of course, there was a drawback—or rather, a restriction. The Void-Reality Mirror Art could only be used once per day. But even once was enough; it was a life-saving measure.

A puff of black mist escaped from Abai's mouth, consuming the remains of the Mirror Spirit entirely. Fang Mu stroked the blade of his meat cleaver, wondering if he was under some kind of curse. The Shadow Clone Technique was meant to be a tool against enemies, yet every time he used it, he ended up hacking his own clone to pieces. Had he become "Fang 'I-Specialize-in-Hacking-Myself' Mu"?

He shook his head, casting aside this strange thought, and looked toward the street ahead. The Mirror Spirit had been eliminated, and he continued down the road.

...

The street remained silent. After a few minutes of walking, a pitch-black door appeared in front of him. It was shut tight, with nothing else around.

Fang Mu frowned and approached the door to examine it carefully. It stood alone on the street, and behind it lay the ordinary street itself. Fang Mu rubbed his chin and walked around the door.

Then, a bizarre scene unfolded. The door behind him vanished, and simultaneously, another door appeared in front of him—identical to the first.

"Interesting..." Fang Mu rubbed his chin and walked around it again. The door disappeared and reconstituted itself further ahead.

Fang Mu mused, "So, the implication is that I must open this door?"

The door was certainly persistent. Wasn't it trying to force him to open it? Fang Mu wanted to see what kind of game this door was playing. He walked up to it and placed his hand on the handle.

*Hum...*

A vibration traveled through the door handle. A light began to spread from the wooden door, covering its entire surface.

Fang Mu let go. Abai, perched on his shoulder, suddenly crouched low, his white fur standing on end. Since reaching the Profound Rank, Abai hadn't shown such a reaction in a long time. It was clear that this door contained something that terrified him.