Deviant: No Longer Human

"..."

Master Long's expression darkened, his brow furrowed as he assessed the crimson-robed man before him.

Though Wang Xiao's aura seemed less imposing than his own, there was something deeper—something unfathomable.

I mustn't underestimate him.

Master Long thought.

In this world of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, the most dangerous foes are often the ones who conceal their true strength.

But before Master Long could act, the red boy stepped forward, his childish voice cutting through the tension. "Feel free to kill each other, but this guy…" he sneered, pointing his spear toward the stage, "…is ours!"

The crowd hiding behind the debris froze in terror.

They could feel the red boy's killing intent, and a gasp rippled through the survivors as they realized whom he was pointing at.

It was none other than the imposter Wang Xiao.

The cowering man, who had been pretending to be Wang Xiao, looked up in suprsie "Huh?!"

Wang Xiao, still standing amidst the blood-soaked battlefield, tilted his head toward the red boy, a slow, amused smile spreading across his face.

He chuckled—a deep, relaxed sound—as if everything that had happened was beneath his notice. "You've got to be kidding me," he said, glancing at the imposter with a raised eyebrow. "So now people are hiring children and red-ass monkeys to do their dirty work?"

His gaze shifted toward the giant monk, still toying with Master Long's four disciples like a bored child crushing ants. "This is who they sent?"

The red boy's eyes burned with fury, his knuckles turning white as he tightened his grip on the spear. "You dare mock me, worm?!" he shouted, his voice rising in anger.

Wang Xiao didn't even blink. "Mock you? I barely even noticed you." He waved his hand dismissively. "Come back when you've grown a few inches."

For a moment, the battlefield fell silent, save for the distant crashing of waves and the soft crackling of the blood-soaked fires.

The red boy's face flushed with rage, his energy flaring around him as he prepared to attack.

Master Long, meanwhile, saw an opportunity. "You…" he began, his voice softening. "You're not here to kill Murong Shan, are you?" He glanced at Wang Xiao, the wheels in his mind turning quickly.

If this man had no quarrel with Murong, perhaps a deal could be made.

After all, Master Long had seen enough to recognize that recruiting someone like Wang Xiao could turn the tide in his favor.

"There's no need for us to fight, fellow warrior," Master Long continued, his tone growing diplomatic. "You are, after all, a son of the Qing Dynasty. Why waste your energy fighting against your own people?

If you side with us and help defeat these two monsters, the Dragon's Gate will reward you handsomely." He nodded toward the red boy and the giant monk, hoping to appeal to Wang Xiao's self-interest. "Our resources are vast, and we value talent like yours. Think of the prestige, the power—"

Wang Xiao cut him off with a snort. "Prestige? Power?" He let out a low laugh, shaking his head as if he had heard the most absurd thing in the world. "You really think you can give that?"

Master Long's eyes narrowed, but he remained silent as Wang Xiao took a step forward.

His aura expanded—not the brute force of energy like the others, but something far more refined, far more deadly.

It was the kind of aura that made the heavens pause in respect.

Wang Xiao raised his sword lazily, pointing it at the red boy first. "You, red monkey—don't overestimate yourself." Then he turned, pointing his other hand toward Master Long. "And you—do you really think you can buy someone like me with with your little strength?"

The crowd behind the stage shivered at Wang Xiao's casual dominance.

One of the livestreamers whispered into his phone, "Holy… this guy just challenged both Master Long and that red kid at the same time. No fear at all!"

user6969: "Bro's talking like he's already won. What a beast."

cultivationlord888: "He's got that main character energy. This dude's on another level."

Wang Xiao's voice broke through the murmurs. "You two idiots… just come at me already. I don't have time to waste on this nonsense."

Master Long's expression turned cold. 'So arrogant,' he thought, his pride wounded. "Very well, boy. Let's see if you can back up that mouth of yours!" His aura asurged once more, the winds howling as a tornado formed beneath him, sending his robes billowing out like a storm.

The red boy twirled his spear, flames suddenly erupting from his body, wrapping him in the fiery red glow of hellish flames.

His lips curled in excitement as he licked them in anticipation. "Finally! Let's see if you're as tough as you act, worm!" His whole figure was now a towering blaze, his demonic energy flaring wildly as he lunged forward with his spear aimed straight at Wang Xiao's heart.

Wang Xiao cast an interested glance at the spectacle, unbothered by the inferno bearing down on him.

Master Long, however, had no intention of waiting.

He summoned his four clones, each one identical to his real self, wielding the same cane and circling around Wang Xiao with perfect precision.

From one side, the red boy came roaring forward, his spear blazing, while from the other side, the Master Long clones closed in, moving in perfect unison.

Kacha!

Clink! Clink! Clink!

In an instant, the battlefield exploded into a whirlwind of clashes.

The sound of weapons striking against each other echoed like thunder as the fight accelerated into a blur of movement.

Clink! Clink! Clink!

Wang Xiao, limited to the level of a Grandmaster in this fight, had to move with blinding speed, blocking their attacks with swift parries.

The air crackled as his sword met the assault, but despite his best efforts, the tide was pressing against him. 'If I don't attack soon' he thought, 'I'll lose the initiative.'

Master Long's clones were becoming a nuisance, each one mirroring the real Master Long's movements perfectly.

Their constant attacks prevented Wang Xiao from launching his own strikes, forcing him into a defensive stance.

Crash!

"Ugh—"

With a sudden burst of power, Wang Xiao kicked the red boy across the battlefield, sending him crashing into the ground, flames sputtering from his body.

Without wasting a second, Wang Xiao leaped backward, distancing himself from the red boy and glaring at Master Long.

"You dare use my own clone technique against me?" He let out a mocking laugh as five identical Master Longs stood in front of him, all sneering in unison.

"You've already lost!" The five Master Longs shouted, their voices blending as they launched themselves toward Wang Xiao, their canes glinting with deadly intent.

Wang Xiao shook his head with a smirk. "Finding the real one might be hard for anyone else, but for me? It's child's play." His eyes flicked toward the ground, where he instantly spotted the real Master Long through the shadow that betrayed him.

Whoosh!

In the next instant, Wang Xiao vanished, his body becoming a blur as he clashed directly with the real Master Long.

The clones froze mid-strike as the real Master Long's cane met Wang Xiao's blade.

KRRRRRR—

There was a sickening sound of sword slicing through hardened flesh.

For a split second, time seemed to stop.

The air grew heavy, and the battlefield fell silent.

Thud!

Master Long's hand, still gripping the cane, fell to the ground, severed at the wrist.

His eyes quivered with disbelief, his mind struggling to comprehend what had just happened. "H-How…" he stammered, his voice weak as blood poured from his shoulder.

Puchi! Puchi! Puchi!

Blood spurted from the deep wounds, spraying the ground in crimson.

Wang Xiao stood before him, a smile playing on his lips as he watched the Great-Grandmaster tremble in agony.

"Let me show you what a true clone technique looks like," Wang Xiao said calmly, his tone dripping with superiority.

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