Chapter 337: Chapter 286: Three Wu Zhao
Strictly speaking, Da Lang Wu Zhao is already dead.
The previous battle between Du Chengfeng and Da Lang Wu Zhao was a true fight to the death. The winner takes all, the loser loses everything, including their life. To leave an opponent with even a breath is disrespecting and looking down on them.
Moreover, the one who fought Du Chengfeng, was that really still Da Lang Wu Zhao?
Du Chengfeng was reluctant to delve into this topic, because once explored deeply, it touches upon the painful question of whether the resurrected Li Carpenter is still Li Carpenter—after all, according to his current understanding, the so-called gathering of the spirit soul onto the blade is more a backup of the deceased’s consciousness rather than the soul itself.
This concept has been tested with Da Lang Wu Zhao himself as evidence.
"You’re here?"
In the small courtyard at the corner of the valley, Da Lang Wu Zhao smiled warmly at Du Chengfeng as he walked through the door.
But this person only has Da Lang Wu Zhao’s face. As for the body, it is the Li family’s eldest son whom Da Lang Wu Zhao had possessed—Du Chengfeng initially brought him here to see if he could erase the memory of the possession and help him return to normal.
But that attempt failed, as expected, because erasing specific memories is not easy. Furthermore, the Li family’s eldest son probably admired Da Lang Wu Zhao to begin with. Over time, he actually became like Da Lang Wu Zhao.
It wasn’t just in appearance but reality; the Li family’s eldest son even changed his face using the technique of altering flesh with Evil Qi, which Du Chengfeng used to restore his crippled right hand, and this transformed Da Lang Wu Zhao’s Li family’s eldest son used it as easily as eating and drinking.
"So how should I address you now?"
Du Chengfeng scratched his head; the situation was quite baffling.
"Should I still call you Li family’s eldest son, or..."
"Call me Wu Zhao."
The Li family’s eldest son smiled.
"When something looks like a monkey, smells like a monkey, and moves like a monkey, then it is a monkey... Just like now, I have Wu Zhao’s thoughts, Wu Zhao’s memories, and even Wu Zhao’s skills, so I am naturally Wu Zhao."
"..."
Du Chengfeng was silent for a long time.
It seems that the memory erosion of Da Lang Wu Zhao is far more severe than imagined, as few can resist a memory far heavier and longer than their own lifespan. This Li family’s eldest son, his time with Wu Zhao’s memory, has become tens or even hundreds of times longer than his own time as the Li family’s eldest son. So has the Li family’s eldest son inherited Wu Zhao’s memories, or has Wu Zhao been reincarnated in the body of the Li family’s eldest son?
Du Chengfeng didn’t quite understand; it was somewhat mind-bending to him.
So he turned to look at the second patient.
"So, are you feeling any better lately? Have you accepted his claim to be Wu Zhao?"
"It’s okay... I guess."
Next to the Li family’s eldest son, or should we say Wu Zhao, another person who looks identical to Wu Zhao sighed.
This was another person who inherited Wu Zhao’s memory, who was also possessed by Wu Zhao. This unfortunate Swordsman was not killed by Du Chengfeng in that battle, but that doesn’t mean he could truly regain himself—due to Wu Zhao’s excessive use of this body, the Swordsman’s memory erosion is even more severe than the Li family’s eldest son.
The Li family’s eldest son may still say things like "I am myself" to convince himself, while this Swordsman has completely believed he is Wu Zhao, so when he sees another Wu Zhao with his face, just like him, he naturally attacks aggressively.
Few can accept the existence of another self, especially knowing both are merely memory backups.
Rather than eliminating another self, it’s more about not being able to accept this absurd reality.
"But in such matters, acceptance is inevitable."
The other Wu Zhao chuckled.
"After all, the true me indeed died long ago... Now, what’s the point in dwelling on this? Can I possibly come back to life? Even if I could, how would I know if the revived me is truly me or just another replica carrying my memories?"
"Don’t ask me these things."
Du Chengfeng waved his hands, refusing to engage in such taxing mental gymnastics.
"If you really want to ask..."
Du Chengfeng thought for a moment, then took out a steel hairpin and pinned it into his hair.
"Huh? You actually let me use your body?"
Du Chengfeng spoke again, but the words sounded somewhat eerie.
"Then I won’t hold back."
"You should be polite though."
Shaking his head, Du Chengfeng pulled the steel hairpin out, glanced around, and saw the big yellow dog in the courtyard.
So Du Chengfeng simply grabbed the dog, styled its fur into a topknot, then placed the hairpin on its head.
"Woof woof woof!"
The big yellow dog excitedly spun around but soon realized something seemed amiss.
"Woof?"
The angry big yellow dog glared at Du Chengfeng with eyes that desired to retaliate fiercely.
But just as the yellow dog was about to bite Du Chengfeng’s leg, Du Chengfeng’s hand swiftly grabbed its mouth first, followed by two punches that made the dog-headed Wu Zhao crouch down holding its head.
"Woof!"
The dog-headed Wu Zhao angrily lifted its head and glared at the other two Wu Zhao, who were already laughing uproariously.
Evidently, though they all were Wu Zhao, watching another Wu Zhao suffer seemed to bring joy to each Wu Zhao.
"Alright, let’s get to business."
Du Chengfeng wasn’t interested in figuring out which Wu Zhao was the real one, as it was just too perplexing. Besides, he had serious business to deal with—after calming the three Wu Zhao down, Du Chengfeng solemnly explained the mysterious wall-banging incident outside.
And all three Wu Zhao frowned upon hearing it.
"This situation you mentioned... it didn’t exist in my era."
Looking particularly wise, Da Lang Wu Zhao thought for a moment.
"But what you mentioned does remind me of something else."
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