Volume One, Chapter 15: What? Me, Fighting the Lord of the Red Robes?

One hour ago, on the outskirts of Dayan City, inside an underground military research base.

“Incredible!”

“Absolutely incredible!”

Before a reinforced glass wall in the laboratory, a group of researchers clad in white coats could not help but marvel. Though all seasoned experts in the study of the uncanny, the scene before them shook them profoundly.

Behind the glass were two condemned prisoners about to be executed. No—more precisely, two individuals who had just mastered the uncanny as Controllers of the Strange.

This might sound trivial, but what if these two death row inmates had tamed the exact same uncanny entity?

“Professor Chu, the uncanny energies within both subjects are stable. There’s no sign of reawakening for the time being. We have successfully replicated a Controller of the Strange,” reported a young female researcher excitedly to a stern man wearing black-rimmed glasses.

The man showed no expression, merely nodding slightly. He had already conducted an experiment before, directly using the Ghost Mirror to replicate a Controller of the Strange.

However, unsurprisingly, the copy that emerged from the mirror immediately unleashed its uncanny powers, attempting to kill its original host—completely uncontrollable.

After the first experiment failed, he this time chose to replicate the uncanny first, then implant two distinct uncanny entities separately into two different death row inmates.

This time, he succeeded in creating two controllable Controllers of the Strange.

But even that was far from meeting his expectations. Chu Xuan turned his gaze toward a coldly beautiful young woman and a middle-aged man with a square jaw, both standing nearby with stern expressions.

“What are you staring at? When will this experiment end? I don’t have the patience to babysit you all any longer,” Cold Hua Ping snapped back, glaring. She had long wanted to find Chu Xinghe but had been dragged here to act as bodyguard for the researchers.

“Ahem, Officer Leng, please be patient a little longer. If anything goes wrong during the experiment, we will need your intervention,” the square-jawed man spoke up, smoothing over the tension. He knew well the temperament and power of this Red-Clad Sovereign.

“Isn’t having you—the military’s strongest—enough? Why drag me into this?” Cold Hua Ping glanced at the seemingly simple man in front of her, a faint ache prickling between her brows. It seemed Li Jianjun’s strength had recovered considerably.

“It was my request,” Chu Xuan stepped forward, pushing up his glasses as a glint flashed across the lenses. “I want to push the Ghost Mirror’s limits. Ordinary uncanny replications, even if successful, will be mere drops in the ocean compared to the calamity coming in two years. What I need is a powerful ace capable of tipping the scales.”

“Well then, hurry up and test it. What good is telling me, a frontline soldier, all this?” Cold Hua Ping crossed her arms, giving Chu Xuan no quarter.

Wei Hongying couldn’t stand it any longer. Putting aside Chu Xuan’s harsh disposition, this professor in his thirties had earned the respect of every citizen of China for his contributions in combating the uncanny.

“Leng Hua Ping, Professor Chu’s rank is actually three levels above yours. Watch your tone,” Wei Hongying lightly nudged Cold Hua Ping’s arm, trying to help her avoid offending Chu Xuan—a far graver matter than crossing a noble family patriarch.

“Fine, fine. I’ve been waiting so long; can’t I complain a bit?” Cold Hua Ping muttered softly, prideful but not foolish.

“But what exactly do you want to test that requires both me and Li Jianjun to be present?” Cold Hua Ping looked up at Chu Xuan. At this stage, the number of dangerous uncanies requiring their joint effort could be counted on one hand.

Chu Xuan shook his head, his gaze fixed on Cold Hua Ping. The answer was clear without him speaking.

At first, Cold Hua Ping thought he was teasing, but after a moment, realization dawned, and disbelief spread across her face.

“Are you insane?”

Cold Hua Ping had already guessed what high-risk uncanny Chu Xuan wanted to test—it was none other than herself, the Red-Clad Sovereign.

Not only Cold Hua Ping, but Li Jianjun and Wei Hongying beside her also ignored her outburst, looking at Chu Xuan with suspicion and alarm. Li Jianjun was already drenched in sweat.

What? Fight the Red-Clad Sovereign? Could I win?

“I’m calm. If even a Controller of the Strange at your level cannot be replicated, then the research value of the Ghost Mirror is far less than I imagined. I need to focus my limited resources elsewhere,” Chu Xuan answered solemnly.

How could he say that? The Red-Clad Sovereign was far from weak. Cold Hua Ping’s anger flared so intensely that the fabric of her clothes subtly began shifting toward red.

“Officer Leng, calm down, calm down. Professor Chu didn’t mean it like that,” Li Jianjun quickly tried to soothe her.

“How can I calm down? Don’t you know the first thing a copy does is try to kill its original? If a completely unrestrained Red-Clad Sovereign emerges, who do you expect to fight it—me or you?” Cold Hua Ping snapped.

Li Jianjun had no retort. Cold Hua Ping’s concerns were valid. Despite Chu Xuan’s words belittling her as if she were a mere foot soldier, if a reckless Red-Clad Sovereign were unleashed, not only would it be disastrous for them, but the entire Dayan City could fall.

He wasn’t exaggerating; these were events that had truly unfolded in the previous life. But this time, there was no Chu Xinghe to turn the tide. And as for the current amnesiac Chu Xinghe, it was best not to mention.

“Professor Chu, I understand your urgency, but the risks are simply too great. I must respectfully disagree,” Li Jianjun said firmly. Though he served Chu Xuan, he was not obliged to follow him into certain death.

“Regarding this issue...” Chu Xuan was about to explain. After all, if even Li Jianjun, a straightforward man, had considered it, how could he have overlooked it?

“This matter will be handled by my old mentor,” a faint voice echoed from all directions. When they all looked up, a white-bearded elderly man in a Zhongshan suit had appeared beside Chu Xuan.

“Old Sun,” they said in unison.

Upon seeing the old man, both Li Jianjun and Wei Hongying bowed respectfully, and even the usually rebellious Cold Hua Ping lowered her proud head and obediently greeted him.

“No need for formalities. You’re all good kids,” Old Sun said kindly, showing no airs. If not for his sudden materialization, he would have seemed like an ordinary retired elder.

“Old Sun, now that you’re here, what about the safety of that person?” Li Jianjun hinted toward the north.

“No worries. Few know about this matter, and besides, China is rich in talent. One old man like me won’t make a difference,” Old Sun waved his hand humbly.

Li Jianjun looked around; the ordinary researchers were still chattering unaware of the newcomer or their conversation. He said no more.

Since even Old Sun had come, it was clearly a directive from higher up. He, a simple man, would obey orders.

Cold Hua Ping also put away her temper. Whether she liked it or not, she must cooperate. The fact that Old Sun had been assigned to Chu Xuan showed how seriously this was being taken.

“Leng girl, don’t worry. Though I’m old and slow now, I can still protect you fledglings,” Old Sun saw the reluctance on Cold Hua Ping’s face and comforted her kindly.

“Thank you, Old Sun.” Only then did Cold Hua Ping relax. She had been given a second chance at life and had many things left to accomplish—not wanting to die young.

She then turned to Chu Xuan, reluctantly asking, “Tell me how to cooperate.”

“Not your turn yet. Beyond testing the Ghost Mirror’s limits, there is a more urgent matter—” Chu Xuan ignored Cold Hua Ping and instead looked at the heavily guarded Ghost Mirror, murmuring to himself:

“The time is almost here.”