RAAS Chapter 91: Copied Life (4)

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Shi Qing's entire body went rigid. In that instant, a thought surged into his mind, throwing his brain into chaos.

Could it be that he was really just a copy? A copy of himself?

And that person... was the real him?

Then what was he now?

In the next moment, even more unthinkable notions flooded in, as if all the scars he had hidden away were suddenly torn open, revealing a bloody, unbearable sight.

Unable to Communicate with Qin Mo—Was It Because He Wasn’t Really Shi Qing?

For more than ten days, Qin Mo hadn’t come looking for him. Was it because he wasn’t himself?

Qin Mo must have already found Shi Qing. But Shi Qing was the real Shi Qing, not him—the copy.

Yes, after so many crossings, except for the one time his memories were sealed, Qin Mo had always found him almost immediately.

But this time, more than half a month had passed—something that had never happened before.

If Qin Mo hadn’t already found the real Shi Qing, how could he have been delayed for so long?

But if he wasn’t Shi Qing, then what was he?

He existed. His consciousness was clear. He had all his memories. He had emotions. He remembered his parents and loved ones. He remembered Qin Mo. He had love, friendship, and family bonds. He was not a lifeless object, nor was he some fleeting, insubstantial mist destined to disappear at any moment.

But why… did everything he knew seem to deny his existence?

At this moment, Shi Qing finally understood the pain of being a copy.

They had human memories. They had pasts. The marks of their existence were deeply imprinted in their minds—parents, lovers, friends—the ones they loved, the ones who loved them, the ones they liked, even the ones they disliked. Everything was crystal clear.

But one day, all of it was no longer theirs.

They could only watch as “themselves” possessed it all, while they were cruelly stripped away.

Parents would no longer show affection. Lovers would no longer hold them close. Friends would no longer share their lives. Because they were merely copies—mass-produced, low-cost industrial products.

All the experiences that had once proven their existence now, instead, proved that they did not exist.

Because everything belonged to “someone else.” Or, to put it more gently, everything belonged to the past version of themselves.

But if the past version of themselves was them, then what were they now?

Shi Qing had thought he could face this calmly. But when he truly saw Qin Mo with “himself,” it completely shattered him.

He had always believed he could never be separated from Qin Mo. He had thought Qin Mo would never let go of him either.

He was Qin Mo’s system. Qin Mo was his host.

They would be bound together for eternity. They only had each other.

But now, he had been extracted.

And his opponent… was himself.

How absurd. How ridiculous.

Shi Qing felt as if his heart had stopped beating.

If he truly was no longer himself, what could he do?

Now, he completely understood those copies who obediently worked in the mines.

It wasn’t that they didn’t want to resist. But if they did, what were they even resisting? Who were they resisting against?

Would they go and confront themselves? Or would they turn against the ones they loved?

It was easy to judge them, but just the thought of turning against Qin Mo made Shi Qing feel as if the world was collapsing around him, plunging him into an icy abyss.

He couldn’t do it. It was simply impossible.

So… the only choice left was to stay there.

To work. To work endlessly, day after day. To be exhausted. To drown in physical labor and mindless repetition until their thoughts grew numb. Until, eventually, they lost all sense of self—until death.

Shi Qing shuddered, an overwhelming fear rising from the depths of his soul, pushing him to the edge of collapse.

Ten days of relentless searching, the long periods of externalized spiritual awareness—it had consumed too much of his energy.

His cultivation was high, far above anyone else in this world. But that didn’t mean he was inexhaustible.

This level of prolonged overexertion had left his body drained. And now, at this critical moment, seeing such a scene, confirming such a truth—he could barely hold on.

His body swayed unsteadily, but Shi Qing forced himself to stand firm, his face pale as he gazed ahead.

He looked at “Shi Qing.” Then he looked at Qin Mo.

Qin Mo was habitually stroking “Shi Qing’s” neck. The young man shrank back slightly before tilting his head up and smiling at him.

Shi Qing had never imagined he would one day see himself from this perspective.

He had never realized before—this was how he looked at Qin Mo.

As if Qin Mo was the only person in his entire world.

Shi Qing lowered his gaze slightly, concealing the emotions in his eyes.

Qin Mo had already noticed his presence.

But the look Qin Mo gave him was unfamiliar and indifferent, sending a chill through Shi Qing’s heart.

He had seen this expression before—the way Qin Mo looked at everyone else besides him.

Cold. Distant. Those dark eyes devoid of any emotion.

Shi Qing had once been proud of this, believing that he was special. That he was the only one. That he alone lived in Qin Mo’s heart.

It had even given him a strange sense of happiness.

But now, it was all a joke.

“Shi Qing” had noticed him too.

The young man walked over quickly, scrutinizing him with great interest.

After a full minute of examination, he finally withdrew his gaze, turned back to Qin Mo, and said with a smile:

“This is incredible. I knew copies were possible, but I didn’t expect them to be this identical. It’s astonishing.”

Qin Mo didn’t spare Shi Qing a single glance; his gaze had been fixed on the young man from the very beginning.

The ‘Shi Qing’ turned his head toward Shi Qing, smiling with curved eyes as he asked, “How did you end up here? Were you looking for me?”

Shi Qing stared at him, unsure of how to respond. He couldn't control himself—his gaze seemed to have a mind of its own, constantly trying to shift toward Qin Mo. He wanted to see him. He had been away from him for too long. He really missed him.

But Qin Mo didn’t look at him. Not even once.

However, this subtle expression of his didn’t escape ‘Shi Qing’s’ notice. The smile on ‘Shi Qing’s’ face slowly faded.

“I see. You’re here for Qin Mo.”

Shi Qing remained silent. He couldn’t even begin to imagine—how was he supposed to talk… to himself?

And… what was he thinking right now?

The extreme exhaustion of his body combined with the violent shock to his mind left Shi Qing unable to think. He even overlooked many details that he should have noticed.

All he wanted was to return to Qin Mo’s side, to talk to him, or even just for Qin Mo to look at him.

But he couldn’t go back. There was already someone else beside Qin Mo.

That person wasn’t Shi Qing. He wasn’t Qin Mo’s system. And he certainly wasn’t the person Qin Mo held in his heart.

Then what… what exactly was he?

In his previous life, the meaning of his existence had completely slipped away from him.

He couldn’t return to his parents or family. He would never see his closest friends again. He was dead—already dead.

And then, he was lucky enough to be granted a whole new world.

A world that had only one person in it.

Qin Mo. He only had Qin Mo.

But now, he wasn’t even himself anymore.

Shi Qing’s thoughts were a chaotic mess, his mind overwhelmed by countless clashing emotions. The immense contrast between what was and what is, the crushing despair—it all surged toward him until a crisp voice suddenly reached his ears, seizing his heart in an instant.

“Feeling lost? Helpless? You’re not me anymore. You’ve lost everything.”

“Do you want to become yourself again? Not a clone, not an abandoned burden, but a real person?”

“To become Shi Qing again, to reclaim everything you once had.”

The voice, once familiar, suddenly deepened, carrying a hoarse and eerie undertone.

“Kill yourself. If you die, you can return. You’ll be able to merge with me. You’ll become me.”

Death?

If he died, would he really go back to the way things were? If he died, could he really become himself again?

But if he died… would he still exist at all?

Moreover—

Suicide?!

Shi Qing’s heart jolted violently. He abruptly lifted his head and stared at the person before him.

Black hair, black eyes—his exact reflection, as if he were looking into a mirror.

This was him. It truly was him. But how… how could he say such a thing?

How could he possibly try to coax someone into committing suicide? How could he have such a cruel thought?

The details that had been blurred by his initial shock now became crystal clear.

He was a clone. But he was still Shi Qing. He was himself, and his thoughts could never change.

If he had really been cloned, then the real Shi Qing—the original—would never abandon his clone to die in despair.

Even if he were a ‘black-clothed clone,’ so what? If the real Shi Qing had created him, he would never discard him!

So what if he had lived through chaotic experiences and endured monotonous, tedious work? If he didn’t even have the courage to bear these memories, could he still call himself a person?

His previously lost and confused eyes gradually regained clarity. Shi Qing forced himself to pull together his resolve.

This wasn’t him.

This person was definitely not him!

Once his mind straightened itself out, he quickly noticed more differences. A person could be copied, but what about his wristband?

Could his food-storage wristband be copied as well? Even in the system’s store, that item was one of a kind!

With this world’s technology, there was no way they could replicate it.

His gaze snapped toward Qin Mo in an instant.

Qin Mo had been deceived. He had to tell him—this person wasn’t Shi Qing. He was!

But before he could even open his mouth, the vast courtyard was suddenly plunged into darkness. Thick clouds gathered, fierce winds howled, and sandstorms raged wildly. The scorching daylight was instantly swallowed into pitch-black nothingness.

Then, an overwhelming force descended, blanketing the entire space.

All three people in the courtyard were visibly shaken.

‘Shi Qing’ and Qin Mo looked utterly shocked and taken aback, but Shi Qing’s heart pounded wildly.

This wasn’t just the distant resonance of a contract—it was a presence he knew intimately, one so powerful it could never be faked.

The moment that gentle yet formidable aura wrapped around him, Shi Qing understood.

This was his master. His real Qin Mo.

Before Shi Qing could even turn his head, strong arms suddenly pulled him into a tight embrace. His entire body was pressed against a firm, familiar chest. The scent he had longed for enveloped him completely.

Shi Qing wrapped his arms around the man tightly. He didn’t need to look, not even once—he already knew.

This was his master.

His Qin Mo.

Qin Mo encircled his waist, slowly stroking his back, his voice low and hoarse from long silence.

“I’ve found you.”

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