Chapter 197: Split Personality

Li Na's pupils contracted sharply.

The man before her still had Chen Shao's face and Chen Shao's body.

But the aura that seeped from his bones, deep and solemn like an abyss and laced with absolute arrogance, had nothing to do with his previous refined and weak image.

They were like two different people.

"... Split personality?"

Li Na thought of that term immediately.

The man, or rather, another Chen Shao, heard her words and the corner of his mouth curled into a playful arc.

He didn't answer; instead, he instinctively stretched out a hand, feeling the long-lost sense of control over this body, his face showing an almost intoxicated expression.

"That's right."

After several seconds, he spoke lazily, his low, magnetic voice seeming to carry an strange charm.

"You can understand it that way. After all, with your cognition, you can only think of it on this level."

He turned his head, his knife-sharp eyes locking onto Li Na.

"Speaking of which, I have to thank you."

He moved his neck slightly, producing a crisp crack of bones.

"If you hadn't driven him to desperation, forcing him to finally admit his 'weakness,' I wouldn't have been able to regain control of this body so quickly."

Li Na's thoughts raced, and she coldly asked, "What do you mean?"

"It means......"

Chen Shao laughed.

"There is an agreement between me and 'him'."

He raised a finger.

"We were born from the same origin on that rainy night when our parents died. Unable to protect my sister alone, he chose weakness and escape, while I chose to bear all the pain and hatred, then killed those two drunk-driving scumbags who fled."

"From that moment on, I was stronger than him, but I cannot completely replace him, because this body ultimately belongs to 'Chen Shao'."

"To him, I am an uncontrollable presence, and he does everything he can to avoid letting me take over."

"So we made a pact: as long as he—the weak, naive, glasses-wearing Chen Shao playing the good child—verbally admits his incompetence and weakness, then full control of this body will forever be mine."

His voice carried a victor's pleasure.

"He tried hard. He tried hard to prove he didn't need me. He even went to a psychologist, underwent foolish hypnosis, and treated those glasses symbolizing his refined image as a so-called 'seal,' thinking that by wearing them willingly he could lock me away forever."

Saying this, he snorted with laughter.

"It's really laughable, isn't it?"

"Obviously, our goal has always been the same."

The man raised his hand, lightly rubbing his lips with his thumb, a rare flicker of something that could be called tenderness flashing in his eyes.

"That is, to make Yao Yao happy."

"As long as we can let my sister live and find happiness, we are willing to do anything—including... becoming infiltrators and burying all of you here."

Li Na let out a cold snort, her eyes full of provocation: "You think just because you've come out you can beat me?"

"Just now, you were kicked to your knees by my foot. Changing your guise, you think you're capable?"

The other Chen Shao, hearing this, smiled even more broadly.

It was the kind of smile one gives a child throwing a tantrum, full of the superiority of a higher position.

"Then, want to give it a try?"

He spat out two words.

Before his voice even faded, his figure moved!

Without any warning!

His body, like a bowstring pulled to its limit, exploded in an instant!

His whole person turned into a blurred afterimage, shooting straight toward Li Na!

Too fast!

Li Na's pupils contracted sharply, almost instinctively raising her arm to block, relying on her honed combat instincts.

Bang!

A terrifying force she could hardly imagine surged from his fist!

Li Na felt her blocking arm as if struck by a heavy hammer!

Excruciating pain!

Indescribable excruciating pain!

Her whole body flew backward uncontrollably, slamming into the wall behind her with a dull thud.

How is that possible?!

This isn't the strength of the same person at all!

Chen Shao didn't pursue; he simply stood there, leisurely shaking his fist, a satisfied expression on his face.

He kindly explained.

"Different personalities can draw upon completely different 'talents'."

"Because we've developed entirely different areas of the brain."

"Chen Shao, that poor fellow, possesses top-tier rational thinking; his brain is like a precision computer responsible for analysis and layout. But the trade-off is his control over this body is pitifully weak."

He pointed to his own temple, the smile at the corner of his mouth growing icier.

"And I... I possess an absolute strong 'combat talent'."

"Whether it's the extreme use of every muscle or the instant prediction of battlefield situations, it's an innate instinct of mine."

"Your combat skills are quite good. Too bad..."

He stepped forward, walking toward Li Na, who was lying on the ground.

"In the face of absolute power and talent, even the most exquisite techniques are just flashy moves."

Li Na clenched her teeth, enduring the excruciating pain as she got up from the ground.

She doesn't believe in evil!

"Enough chatter!"

She let out a roar and launched an attack on her own initiative!

This time, she used all of her strength!

Side kick, elbow strike, chokehold!

Her attacks were like a raging storm, each move ruthless and deadly!

However, in another Chen Shao's eyes, it was all laughably slow.

He didn't even take a step back.

He simply used a series of inconceivable, extremely subtle sidesteps, head tilts, and blocks to effortlessly deflect all of Li Na's attacks.

His movements were filled with violent aesthetics!

Precise! Efficient! Lethal!

"Too slow."

After dodging Li Na's whip kick once more, he seized the fleeting opening.

He struck like lightning, his five fingers forming claws that precisely gripped Li Na's ankle!

Then, he twisted with force!

Crack!

A bone‑cracking sound that made one's teeth tingle rang clearly in the storage room!

"Ah—!"

Li Na let out a painful scream, her whole body losing balance from the intense pain, and she fell heavily to the ground.

She clutched her twisted ankle, trembling with pain as cold sweat instantly soaked her back.

The battle was over.

Although Li Na possessed combat skills, she was still a woman and physically weaker than a man.

Chen Shao suddenly gained tremendous muscular control and combat ability; she was no match at all.

—She lost.

She was utterly defeated.

She lifted her head, and for the first time, desperation appeared in her eyes.

But she still clenched her teeth, using her last ounce of strength to curse:

"You madman... you won't get out!"

"Jiang Yuan won't let you go."

It was her last hope.

The young man who always creates miracles in desperate situations.

Upon hearing the name "Jiang Yuan," Chen Shao's face finally showed a hint of interest.

"Jiang Yuan?"

He repeated it and then smiled.

"You mean that fool whose own power is backfiring on him?"

Chen Shao crouched down, leaned close to her ear, and whispered in a devilish tone:

"He is probably too preoccupied with himself right now."

"But rest assured, I'll give him a hand."

"I will... ensure he is completely backfired upon, until death."

"And I only need to sit back and reap the Fisherman's profit."

Li Na's body trembled from extreme terror.

She finally understood.

The man before her had plotted everything from the start!

He not only wanted to kill everyone, but also turn Jiang Yuan... into a complete monster!

"You... you won't die a good death..."

"Perhaps."

Chen Shao stood up and picked up the fallen scalpel from the ground.

The cold blade spun deftly on his fingertip, reflecting the faint candlelight.

"But you, surely can't see it now."

He walked up to Li Na and raised the knife in his hand.

"By the way, I forgot to tell you."

"Your death still serves one final purpose for me."

A cruel smile appeared on his face.

"The Infiltrator's mission requires that ten people be kept here forever."

"And you are the ninth."

Having said that.

The scalpel in his hand, without any hesitation, slashed hard across Li Na's neck.