**Chapter 20: The Weight of Mirrors**
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### **1. The Ring of Echoes**
Chen Zhen stared at the jade ring, its dragon-phoenix carvings glinting in the dawn light. Mei Ling's laughter echoed across the clearing—a sound so achingly familiar it made his chest tighten. Xiao Wei tugged at his sleeve, holding up a crude drawing of a man with lightning fists.
*"Look, Uncle Chen! It's you!"*
The boy's grin mirrored Xiao Peng's, down to the gap where a baby tooth had fallen out. Chen forced a smile, ruffling his hair. *"Good job, buddy. But I'm not as handsome as that, am I?"*
*[Heart rate elevated. Cortisol levels rising.]* The clone's voice was clinical. *[Recommend emotional recalibration.]*
*"Not now,"* Chen muttered, slipping the ring onto his finger. It constricted sharply, drawing a bead of blood, then loosened—a perfect fit.
Shanggu Feng snorted. *"Ancestor's gifts demand blood. A small price for power."*
Lou Tian's flames flickered in Chen's mind. *"Power you'll need. The woods beyond this clearing are no sanctuary."*
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### **2. The Vault of Shadows**
Chen's spiritual sense plunged into the ring's spatial realm. Stacks of Thunder Bison cores hummed with storm energy, while Fire Ox nuclei pulsed like miniature suns. The silver puppet stood motionless, its faceless head tilted as if listening.
*[Analysis: Puppet's core contains traces of Shanggu Julong's spiritual imprint. Activation protocol tied to lethal threats only.]*
*"Two uses,"* Chen murmured. *"Better make them count."*
Mei Ling's voice pulled him back. *"Your tea."* She offered a steaming cup, her eyes lingering on the ring. *"My husband had one like that. He… he said it was a family heirloom."*
Chen's throat tightened. Li Na had given him a jade pendant before his flight—a cheap trinket, but she'd saved for months. *"Did he?"*
*"You look like him. Sound like him."* Her smile wavered. *"But your eyes… they're older."*
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### **3. The Crucible of Sparks**
The new training robes weighed Chen down like lead. Each punch ignited sparks, but the flames sputtered unevenly.
*"Focus!"* Shanggu Feng barked. *"Lightning isn't a club—it's a scalpel!"*
*"And fire needs air!"* Lou Tian snapped as Chen's kick fizzled. *"You're suffocating it!"*
Xiao Wei giggled, mimicking Chen's stance. *"Whoosh! Bang!"*
Mei Ling's gaze lingered on the boy. *"His father trained every dawn. Said discipline was the root of strength."*
*"Smart man,"* Chen grunted, sweat dripping. *"I'm more of a… trial-by-fire type."*
*[Literal and figurative,] the clone noted. *[Current success rate: 38%.]*
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### **4. The Puppet's Secret**
That night, the clone hacked into the silver puppet's core.
*[Discovery: Ancestor Julong encoded a secondary directive. Priority: Protect Mei Ling and children at all costs.]*
Chen frowned. *"Why hide that?"*
*[Hypothesis: He anticipated your attachment. Emotional bias deemed a security risk.]*
Outside, Mei Ling sang to her children—Li Na's lullaby, note for note. Chen's fists clenched. *"He knew. About the resemblance."*
*[Probability: 97.6%.]*
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### **5. The Edge of Twilight**
At dawn, Chen stepped beyond the barrier. The forest loomed—a cathedral of ancient trees, their trunks wider than subway tunnels. Xiao Wei's drawing fluttered in his pocket, a makeshift talisman.
*[Caution: Rank 3 spirit beast detected. Territorial boundary 200 meters ahead.]*
Shanggu Feng growled. *"Thunder Bison herd. Perfect for target practice."*
Lou Tian's flames dimmed. *"And perfect ambush sites for Lou Clan scouts."*
Chen ignited his fists, fire and lightning intertwining. *"Let's hope they're watching."*
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### **6. The First Hunt**
The Thunder Bison charged, horns crackling. Chen ducked, slamming a fiery palm into its flank. The stench of burnt fur filled the air.
*"Behind you!"* Lou Tian warned.
Chen spun, lightning arcing from his heel. The second bison collapsed, convulsing.
*[Efficiency improved to 54%.]* The clone sounded almost impressed.
Xiao Wei's voice echoed in his memory: *"Again, Uncle Chen!"*
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### **7. The Reflection in the Water**
By the stream, Chen scrubbed bison blood from his hands. His reflection rippled—Li Na's face flickered beneath the surface, mouthing words he couldn't hear.
*[Hallucination triggered by emotional stress. Recommend meditation.]*
*"Or a Nexus trick,"* Chen muttered.
Shanggu Julong's voice boomed from the ring. *"Trust nothing. Not even your eyes."*
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### **8. The Unseen Threads**
Mei Ling found him at dusk, her steps silent. *"You're leaving soon."*
*"We both are."*
She hesitated. *"The children… they dream of you. Of a city with metal birds and endless lights."*
Chen's breath hitched. *"Shanghai."*
*"Is that your home?"*
*"Was."* He stared at the puppet. *"I'll get back. For them."*
*"For *us*,"* she corrected softly.
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### **9. The Calm Before**
Chen packed the ring at dawn: spirit cores, medicinal herbs, the puppet. Xiao Wei hugged his leg. *"Don't go."*
*"Just scouting,"* Chen lied. *"Stay with your mother."*
Mei Ling met his gaze. *"Come back whole."*
*[Probability: 62%.]* The clone paused. *[Recommend increasing to 85%.]*
*"How?"*
*[Use the puppet preemptively.]*
*"No."* Chen stepped into the shadows. *"Not yet."*
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### **10: The Watchers**
Deep in the woods, a scout lowered her telescope—a twin to Mei Ling, her eyes glowing violet.
*"Target located,"* she whispered to the shadows. *"The Matriarch will reward us well."*
Above, a storm brewed—not of clouds, but of crackling Nexus energy.
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