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"Tian Heng is not the problem..."

Ali’s voice drifted from the side: "His memories are fine and generally match what he said, it’s just that I didn’t expect..."

"Didn’t expect what?" Shen San asked, frowning.

"Hmm... quite a complicated man..." Ali sighed.

Reading someone else’s memories has this particular drawback—it’s like living through someone else’s life.

Anyone who climbs to a high position is inevitably complex, and so is Tian Heng, from the passionate aspirations of youth to later becoming reserved and ruthless due to societal changes, and now even forced to abandon his own family.

The entire psychological journey is extremely intricate.

Having experienced all this, Ali couldn’t help but feel deeply moved.

"By the looks of it, his coming here probably has a message to convey.

" Shen San smiled slightly, "Letting you see his memories, allowing you to appreciate his struggles, which, if successful in this event, would make this success seem even harder-earned.

By then, the master would have no choice but to reward him more generously. "

Ali: "...."

"You’re being utilitarian."

"I don’t know him well, should I feel emotional resonance instead of being utilitarian?" Shen San rolled his eyes, then continued, "Excluding Tian Heng’s problem, the remaining issue is obvious."

Hearing this, Ali’s expression turned grim. Compared to Tian Heng’s betrayal, the situation with Shen Er was the real issue.

"Second Master would never betray," Shen Yuan shook his head.

"Oh?" Shen San immediately smiled, "Why are you so sure?"

"Second Master is someone who values loyalty... even more so than Seventh Master Shen..."

Shen San was taken aback by this, looking at Shen Yuan. Second Brother had always been somber, and many avoided him, even the Shen family members mostly revered and feared him. It was unexpected to find someone among the branches who understood him.

Indeed... although Second Brother was ruthless and his methods sometimes cruel, he was the most loyal person in the Shen family.

"How long have you been following Second Brother? How can you tell he’s a loyal person?" Shen San asked with amusement.

Shen Yuan replied plainly, "It’s obvious."

He once put in so much effort trying to gain his family’s approval.

Though young, he had experienced people’s warmth and coldness.

Someone like Shen Er, who was cold on the outside but warm inside, was easy to see through with just a few days of interaction, much like Principal Ziyue—cold in appearance but truly warm-hearted.

Ali rolled her eyes but didn’t refute. Having seen Shen Er’s memories, she knew he was a pitiable child and an even more complex person. She also believed Shen Er wouldn’t betray Chen Qing.

"If not betrayal, then there’s only one possibility..." Shen San said ominously, "Second Brother... has been replaced."

Ali’s expression changed, thoughts immediately going to one person: "King of Qin?"

"Who else could it be?" Shen San shook his head with a cold smile, "Such a lingering specter!"

"Weren’t we told... that any outsider entering Jiangnan would be detected?" Shen Yuan was momentarily stunned.

"That refers to our master, Chen Qing..." Shen San shrugged skeptically, "Not everyone has that ability. We can only perceive intruders within our specific domains. Like Tian Heng, he can only detect outsiders entering the West Sea."

"Moreover, even if the master were here, he might not be able to detect the King of Qin."

"Why?" Shen Yuan was puzzled.

"The King of Qin was once unified with the master. I always suspected he might possess some of the divine powers exclusive to the master. Now it seems... he does, which is why Second Brother fell..."

"This..." Shen Yuan furrowed his brows tightly; this sounded very troubling.

Shen San looked to Ali, "I am going to contend for Nanyang with Tian Heng. I suggest you come with me."

"Why?" Ali was startled.

"I suspect... King of Qin’s target is you!"

"Me?"

"Your ability is too useful. It’s only limited by your innate weakness and further constrained by the Heavenly Dao, creating this unique version of you.

But this rule has loopholes..." Shen San looked out the window and whispered, "If something exists that can directly steal another’s abilities, then you might be the prime target. "

"Steal someone else’s abilities, is there such a thing?" Ali asked, puzzled.

"Of course, there is. You’ve forgotten; that Sparrow Bee has this ability!

" Shen San whispered, "Honestly, I even suspect the Princess Royale has brought him over, targeting you for capture. However, it’s unlikely; your ability, unless controlled by a reigning power, will be restricted. Sparrow Bee can seize your ability, but the Siao Family might not allow it, or he’d become uncontrollable. "

"The most dangerous is the King of Qin. His ability has already been discussed by the master and Chen Ying with us, and Lady Ziyue mentioned it; after she was replaced, the King of Qin could even use some of her abilities. I suspect, the longer he’s trapped inside, the more he learns.

If you are replaced, it will be the same. "

"I can’t leave..." Upon hearing this, Ali shook her head, "Chen Ying is comatose, and before leaving, Ziyue entrusted me with certain tasks. She’s very important and cannot be lost. Only I can protect her best."

"This..." Shen San frowned deeply.

"And don’t worry..." Ali gazed outside, whispering, "I’ve heard of his ability too, as dangerous as mine. It’s almost like a contest of who realizes it first. Whoever does will lose..."

Shen San nodded, and she was right. The foundational abilities of both were vastly different, but this didn’t matter because as long as Ali’s ability wasn’t detected, even superior foundational abilities were useless. The victory depended on calculation.

Both Ali’s and the other’s abilities required identifying each other’s identity before being executed.

Ali excelled at disguise and was extremely hard to detect, whereas the opponent likely came in disguise too.

With Wei Gongcheng missing and unknown when King of Qin would sneak in, their victory would depend on who outsmarted whom.

"Do you... have confidence?"

Shen San sounded doubtful, given that in terms of cunning, the King of Qin was probably top-tier in the world, while Ali... not quite up to that level...

"In terms of cunning and scheming, I’m not his match," Ali admitted, "But everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. In all the years I’ve lived, I’ve been constantly mingling within various groups, playing different roles.

That’s my knack for surviving. If he can beat me at this game, then so be it. "

"Is that so?" Shen San laughed, realizing the Fox Demon, though not as cunning as the opponent, excelled in her own domain. No one could predict the outcome.

Considering whether to let Ali alone face it, avoiding confrontation if possible was preferable. But the current situation left no option but confrontation.

At this point, protecting anyone was wishful thinking. His trip to Nanyang City was uncertain, with Wei Gongcheng’s whereabouts unknown and Second Brother compromised. His own future was in jeopardy. Now, Ali... indeed had to rely on herself.

"Don’t push yourself. If things go south, even abandoning Chen Ying, preserve yourself first," Shen San urged.

"Understood..." Ali nodded.

But deep inside, she felt no panic; instead... there was a hint of excitement.

King of Qin...

It’s time to reminisce!