“……”

Could it really work like that?

That tea is pretty damn impressive then.

However…

Jiang Ye had been quite tempted initially.

But after hearing Lin Ling’s explanation, he became less and less interested.

This feeling was probably like…

When you see an apartment you really like and feel tempted.

But then the real estate agent keeps praising how amazing this apartment is.

You instead develop rebellious thoughts, thinking if it’s really that good, why would the owner be so stupid to sell it?

The same logic applied to this “Clear Conscience Tea.”

The more Lin Ling hoped he would agree to mutual tea drinking,

The less Jiang Ye wanted to do it.

Lin Ling wasn’t stupid.

If something truly only benefited Jiang Ye without any advantage for her, would she be so eager to persuade him?

Obviously not!

Thinking from this perspective, Jiang Ye instantly lost interest in this “mutual tea drinking” transaction with Lin Ling.

However, he didn’t outright refuse either, instead rationally analyzing:

“Alright, your tea is indeed good tea.”

“But if it really works as you said—asking each other three questions that must receive clear answers…”

“This whole process would waste so much time.”

“Moreover, I need to carefully consider what specific questions to ask.”

“What if I ask some useless questions, or if I get an answer using one question slot only to discover the answer myself shortly after? That would be a waste…”

“So regarding this ‘mutual tea drinking,’ I think we can postpone it. After I’ve considered it thoroughly, we can proceed.”

As he spoke, he glanced at the two cups of steaming tea in Lin Ling’s hands and added:

“This tea shouldn’t lose its effectiveness when it cools down, right?”

Lin Ling pursed her lips, staring at him for a good while.

Finally, with a flip of her hand, she put away the two cups of Clear Conscience Tea, her voice cool: “This tea won’t cool.”

“Then let’s wait until I finish exploring that hidden residence according to your steps before considering mutual tea drinking?”

Hearing this, Jiang Ye’s eyes lit up, his eyebrows raising: “You’re not doubting my description is 100% true anymore?”

Lin Ling similarly raised her eyebrows:

“Of course not—” she deliberately paused, “possibly not doubting.”

Put together, she still doubted.

“However, it’s not a big problem.”

Lin Ling’s gaze remained cool as she glanced at him again:

“I’ll strictly follow the process you described.”

“But if I still can’t see the ‘Safe Exit’ in the end, we’ll have to have a serious discussion.”

Jiang Ye thought to himself: Discuss then discuss.

It wasn’t like he owned that hidden residence anyway.

If Lin Ling really couldn’t enter, there was no way it could be blamed on him.

What he really wanted was to see Lin Ling transform into his appearance…

Of course, while thinking this, he didn’t show it.

He didn’t urge Lin Ling to transform immediately either, instead thoughtfully taking out the 9999 apartment administrator substitute work badge for Lin Ling.

Lin Ling accepted it promptly.

However, holding the small metal piece, she didn’t bind it directly.

Instead, she lowered her gaze in thought for a moment before suddenly saying to Jiang Ye:

“You just said the [Mask of Deceit] was taken into the [Court of Disorder] by your clone…”

“But that Qu Xing has killed nearly a hundred administrators while wearing the [Madman Mask].”

This statement clearly carried hidden meaning.

Jiang Ye acted as if he didn’t understand, directly patting his chest to assure:

“My clone hasn’t returned from asking 0000 for support yet. Once he’s back, he’ll definitely go deal with Qu Xing immediately!”

“Heh.”

Lin Ling let out a meaningful light laugh but didn’t say more, only asking another question:

“That special immobilizing talisman you got from Zhou Yuling under the pretext of capturing Qu Xing alive—is it currently with the clone looking for Administrator 0000?”

This question seemed ordinary.

But Jiang Ye didn’t dare take it lightly.

After all…

The clone looking for Administrator 0000 had obviously become a “fake clone” too.

If Administrator 0000 was really Lin Ling’s person,

Then Lin Ling should already know—

That talisman wasn’t with that clone.

But if forced to say where it was…

Jiang Ye thought briefly but didn’t give a clear answer, instead raising his eyebrows to counter-question:

“That talisman is quite special. As a Rune Grandmaster, you should be able to sense where it is, right?”

Quite cleverly, he threw the question back at her.

Lin Ling chuckled again, finally stopping these meaningless probes.

She directly produced a drop of blood from her fingertip, performed blood-drip acknowledgment on the administrator substitute work badge, then coldly changed her form.

In an instant, her entire appearance—from facial features to body shape—transformed into Jiang Ye’s likeness.

Originally, this should have been what Jiang Ye most wanted to see.

Yet at this moment, he was completely shocked!

Because…

Even though Lin Ling before him had disguised herself as his appearance…

He actually didn’t feel that clone connection!

Meaning, the current Lin Ling didn’t count as his clone at all!

Not even a [Fake Clone]!

This… what was going on?

Was Lin Ling’s transformation method too special?

For example, was she not truly disguising as him, but using some illusion technique to make him see her as him?

So this disguise was only a visual change for Jiang Ye, not an actual transformation of Lin Ling herself?

It must be—only this could explain it…

Jiang Ye was utterly astonished inwardly.

He wasn’t sure if Lin Ling’s unusual transformation method came from her having figured something out.

Regardless, he didn’t dare show the slightest hint of surprise on his face.

Without asking more or saying anything else, he watched as Lin Ling, wearing his appearance, entered the red-lit elevator.

However, not long after.

Lin Ling’s slightly cold voice came through the voice transmission bead in Jiang Ye’s hand:

“I did exactly as you said, but I still don’t see the ‘Safe Exit.’ I’m on the 50th floor now…”

As she spoke, Lin Ling flashed and directly appeared from the 50th floor to the 1st floor, beside Jiang Ye.

Her gaze toward Jiang Ye clearly carried doubt and dissatisfaction.

Jiang Ye thought for a moment, then took out a [mimic mask] and tested the waters:

“How about you try using a [mimic mask] instead?”

Lin Ling didn’t refuse.

However, after taking the [mimic mask], she didn’t put it on immediately.

Instead, she glanced at the mask, then looked meaningfully at him:

“How difficult it must have been for you to prepare a [mimic mask] in advance.”

“Ordinary players wouldn’t have a [mimic mask] of their own face.”

Hearing this, Jiang Ye almost suspected this woman had installed surveillance in the Mask Master’s Shop!

Although Jiang Ye’s Mask Master clone couldn’t leave the Mask Master’s Shop due to insufficient permissions,

And hadn’t gained the Mask Master’s memories because he didn’t dare randomly use the incomplete [Life Stone],

To be honest, when Jiang Ye returned to the shop as the Mask Master, he had been quite excited.

Simply because…

The Mask Master had become his clone too!

Didn’t this mean those [mimic masks] made from the Mask Master’s face could be considered masks of his face?

Couldn’t players wearing those [mimic masks] be considered his clones?

Yet unfortunately, he found it didn’t work that way at all!

The bald version [mimic masks] issued by the Mask Master always differed from the Mask Master’s actual appearance!

So those players wearing bald version [mimic masks] only resembled him but weren’t him!

This small detail made Jiang Ye miss out on a huge number of clones!

However, the Mask Master clone hadn’t been idle either, immediately starting to make [mimic masks] using the Mask Master’s face in the shop.

His thinking was simple—

If he changed the original bald version [mimic masks] to Jiang Ye face [mimic masks]…

Players in the market would inevitably react.

Those who didn’t know Jiang Ye would be fine.

But players who had seen Jiang Ye’s face would definitely wonder.

Especially big shots like Lin Ling who already had many suspicions about him.

They might directly guess the secret of Jiang Ye face [mimic masks] from this detail!

Therefore, Jiang Ye didn’t plan drastic reforms or mass production of Jiang Ye face masks.

Instead, he planned to continue issuing the original bald face masks.

Only these bald faces would all be his clone faces.

He could generate some mutated clones, shave those clones bald, then use those bald clones to make bald face [mimic masks].

Such masks released into the market naturally wouldn’t raise suspicion.

Of course, the Mask Master’s own bald face masks could also be mass-produced quickly and released into the market.

However, just as Jiang Ye used the Mask Master’s face to make [mimic masks]…

He discovered another miraculous unexpected phenomenon—

The face he saw of the Mask Master was clearly a very distinct face: slightly plump and round, smiling like Maitreya Buddha.

Yet, the [mimic masks] he made using the Mask Master’s face…

When worn, they weren’t the Mask Master’s face at all!

Those faces were all bald and resembled the Mask Master.

But strangely, none were the Mask Master’s actual face!

This situation was a first for Jiang Ye.

Logically, the effect of Skin Sand was that using whose face would produce a mimic mask of that face…

Strangely, the Mask Master seemed exceptionally special.

It was as if…

He didn’t have a definite face?

The clone in the Mask Master’s Shop researched this phenomenon for a long time.

Eventually he thought—

Perhaps the Mask Master had fused with too many other people’s [mimic masks].

To the point where he truly no longer had his own face.

In the end, Jiang Ye could only have the Mask Master clone generate mutated clones, shave those mutated clones bald, then make bald version [mimic masks].

Of course, he also made some Jiang Ye face [mimic masks].

So all his clones could pull out a [mimic mask] with Jiang Ye’s face at any time…

And Lin Ling’s suspicion was indeed reasonable.

Ordinary players truly wouldn’t make mimic masks of their own faces.

Jiang Ye knew what this woman suspected.

He even vaguely felt his secret was almost impossible to hide.

But he showed nothing on his face, his eyes displaying the clear foolishness of a college student:

“Ah? Is that so? I’m just a newbie player, how would I know so much?”

“Then how about you return the mimic mask to me?”

“Speaking of which, you already have a mimic mask of me, right? My other clone seems to have given you one?”

“En.”

Lin Ling nodded indifferently and stopped probing.

She directly put on the [mimic mask] right in front of Jiang Ye.

Then, under the mask’s effect…

Lin Ling’s entire form transformed into Jiang Ye again.

She said meaningfully: “Like this, right? Then I’ll try again. Hope it won’t disappoint me.”

With that, she turned and headed toward the red-lit elevator again.

Jiang Ye showed nothing on his face.

Yet inwardly, he was utterly shocked once more!

Because this time…

Even though he personally watched Lin Ling transform into him by wearing the [mimic mask]…

He still didn’t sense this clone!

Still not even a [Fake Clone]!

This…

What was going on?

Did Lin Ling use some trick when putting on the mask?

Or had she used some other method beforehand?

At this moment, Jiang Ye remembered that term he had pondered repeatedly before—

Container!

The administrator of Apartment 4869 was also a special case.

That guy’s face couldn’t be changed.

So no matter what, he couldn’t become Jiang Ye’s appearance…

Could the “container” Lin Ling used have undergone more advanced processing?

In this instant, Jiang Ye recalled that sentence he discussed with Zhou Yuling about players’ physical bodies—

Many people live as assembly line products.

Only a very few live as works of art.

Back when discussing with Zhou Yuling, they mentioned how players’ real-world diseases don’t carry over to the apartment.

Real-world HIV also almost never carries over to the apartment.

So Zhou Yuling believed players’ “physical bodies” in the apartment weren’t their true “physical bodies.”

At that time, Jiang Ye only took it as gaining knowledge without thinking deeper.

But now, the bizarre situation with Lin Ling made him suddenly think—

Why was it that even though the Defenders’ Alliance had confirmed diseases and HIV don’t carry over to the apartment,

Wan Xin’s HIV had been brought over?

Jiang Ye knew then that Wan Xin was a special case.

But he hadn’t wondered why Wan Xin was special?

Now he suddenly realized—

Could it be that players don’t all enjoy the same level of “containers”?

He had even categorized his clones from [Generated Clone] to [Fake Clone]…

Could players’ “containers” also have different grades and classifications?

And Lin Ling transforming into him without being sensed by his clone talent—

Was it because her “container” level was higher?

Including the “container” the Mask Master used might also differ from ordinary players?

Then what about Wan Xin’s situation?

Jiang Ye now couldn’t wait to test—

If he had Wan Xin disguise as his appearance…

Could he sense Wan Xin with his clone talent?

At the same time, remembering Wan Xin, he recalled a very small detail—

Wan Xin’s own “physical body” had actually disappeared during the Reincarnation Graveyard experiment.

Later, he shared a “physical body” with Yang Wenchao.

Back in the Reincarnation Graveyard, to protect himself, Wan Xin had publicly revealed his secret of having HIV blood.

Because of this, he attracted Lin Ling’s attention.

At that time, even Wan Xin wasn’t sure if he, sharing one body with Yang Wenchao through dual-soul fusion, could still produce HIV blood.

But Lin Ling was absolutely certain—

Even sharing a “physical body” with Yang Wenchao,

Even though that “physical body” had Yang Wenchao’s appearance,

That “physical body” still carried HIV blood!

Back then, Jiang Ye hadn’t thought much about it.

After all, he knew nothing, while Lin Ling seemed to know everything.

But now…

Through this detail of Lin Ling understanding Wan Xin,

Jiang Ye suddenly felt—

Perhaps Lin Ling knew the secret about “containers”?

That’s why she was so certain back then that the physical body looking like Yang Wenchao still retained Wan Xin’s HIV blood?

And just as Jiang Ye was pondering these things,

Lin Ling’s slightly cool voice came through the voice transmission bead in his hand again:

“The experiment failed again.”

“Is this what you called higher success rate through one-to-one replication?”

“Now, shouldn’t I have a proper discussion with you?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep