Pretending To Be A Boss
Chapter 918 - 67: Tang Jing's Battle of Wits with the Master of Eden

Tang Jing listened and thought the explanation seemed credible. If it weren't for the intelligence provided by Qi Yuan and the information from the Dark Crow and the remnants of the Sea God Cult, he might have actually believed it.

It indeed looked very similar to a possession. Perhaps parts of his brother's memories had also been revealed.

Tang Jing's reaction was immediate. He didn't feign being moved too obviously—such a response would be too straightforward. Instead, he expressed some doubt.

"Are you really my elder brother? Why haven't you returned to Baichuan City for so long? Everyone assumed you…" His tone carried a hint of reproach, controlled with perfect precision.

The Lord of Eden shook his head and said:

"It's not yet time to return to the human world. Besides, the human world is at peace. Even if I don't go there, I know what's happening. There are more important matters here."

"What matters? Now that all the beasts have come to worship you, I still have no idea what you're planning!"

"Tang Xian" smiled faintly.

A mutual probing, perhaps? This human—or rather, to be exact, he was no longer a human—was a new form of life created uniquely by the Order. He seemed to embody characteristics of both humans and the Order.

"Do you not trust me, Jing?"

"I just want an explanation. Everyone thought you were dead."

"I will never die."

"But your behavior now is strange. This is nothing like the former you. To the point where I even suspect… you're not Tang Xian at all!"

What appeared to be an accidental slip of the tongue was actually the most genuine move. Tang Jing's acting bore no trace of performance; true authenticity always surpassed mere imitation.

Now, he acted exactly as he felt, leaving no room for flaws to emerge.

The Lord of Eden furrowed his brows slightly. In his estimation, the person before him likely harbored significant inner conflict.

This marked the first probing from the human world in several months, and it required careful handling.

"It's true—I am not Tang Xian."

Someone capable of acting so naturally and deceiving so skillfully was not limited to Tang Jing alone.

Tang Jing's eyes widened as he looked at the Lord of Eden with guarded vigilance.

The Lord of Eden continued:

"Most of the time, I am still myself. But on occasion, I am not. You should understand this feeling, shouldn't you? After all, you've had a similar experience."

Tang Jing was momentarily stunned.

This tactic, appealing to his empathy to gain his trust, was exceptionally cunning. It indeed brought back memories of the days when he became an Angel Envoy and was forced to enter the divine realm.

At that moment, Tang Jing's expression revealed a trace of pain—both for himself and for the "Tang Xian" before him.

The Lord of Eden was also analyzing, trying to determine how much of this human's heart had started to believe in him.

[The next question was crucial. If he continued probing rather than showing concern, it would indicate that this human had already dismissed the idea that he was Tang Xian.]

Tang Jing reacted almost simultaneously.

He couldn't keep probing; he had to show a necessary degree of worry. Otherwise, all his previous groundwork would seem too deliberate.

After a few seconds of silence, Tang Jing asked:

"Can this state be undone? What you're doing now… is it truly your own will? Won't it eventually consume you entirely?"

The Lord of Eden smiled and shook his head:

"It might be hard for you to believe, but the Lord of Eden and I often share moments of resonance, of overlapping thoughts. It feels as though I fully comprehend his intentions and can completely understand his actions."

This statement was spoken with sincerity by the Lord of Eden.

Far away, Tang Xian felt the same way. He experienced what could only be described as a profound connection with the Lord of Eden. To call it a telepathic link might be too philosophical, but undeniably, he felt like the Lord of Eden's confidant.

"So, brother… everything you're doing now is a shared intention? Are you certain it hasn't influenced you?"

"When we encounter things we don't comprehend, perhaps instead of solely doubting them, we should also consider the benefits of acceptance."

Tang Jing didn't immediately ask about the benefits; instead, he feigned contemplation.

The Lord of Eden thought: At this point, someone standing from a human perspective should begin shifting their focus.

And sure enough, Tang Jing, in a professional manner, asked:

"I truly cannot understand your actions right now. But the people of Baichuan City are still waiting for you. We're not only grappling with the unease you bring but also guarding against the Order."

The Lord of Eden was starting to believe that Tang Jing might actually be convinced by his disguise.

Yet he still needed further confirmation:

"The Order? You needn't worry about it. For a long time, it will find ways to avoid the other me."

"The Arbiter was defeated? Or… is it dead?"

"The Beast God is hard to eliminate. Over the centuries, it thoroughly prepared in the Holy Mountain."

Tang Jing's question was abrupt, but the Lord of Eden understood its implications.

In his eyes, Tang Jing's performance remained exceptionally convincing.

"But you don't need to worry. I've already found the weapon to restrain the Order. Although I haven't returned to the human world, I'm confident that Baichuan City is temporarily safe."

"Still, everyone is worried about you. I wasn't present during the Holy Mountain battle, but they said you suddenly drove everyone off the battlefield."

"The will of the Lord of Eden awakened, which filled me with immense unease. To ensure your safety, I had no choice but to send you away."

"What happened after that?"

"The Arbiter was extremely powerful. If it weren't intrinsically fearful of the Lord of Eden, victory that day wouldn't have been easy. The entire Holy Mountain held the accumulated preparations of hundreds of years. In a sense, our actions that day could be called a path to destruction. The altar in the Holy Mountain contained a formation that simulated the Order's methods from back then—that was the Arbiter's true trump card."