Illusion Report

Chapter 158: Chapter 126: Han Liuyue: Chickens and Rabbits in the Same Cage?

In the dim, hazy rain, Jin Xueli stood before the excavator and glanced back at Han Liuyue.

Though her expression was indistinct, her tone was natural, betraying nothing out of the ordinary.

"...You checked the coffin on your way here, didn’t you?"

Han Liuyue froze for a moment.

"Oh, yeah. I checked on it."

It was the most natural answer. She couldn’t possibly have walked past the coffin without taking a look.

"So? Is Vulture still in the coffin?"

Han Liuyue opened her mouth to answer, then hesitated.

’Regardless of who this person is, I need to think carefully about how to answer.’

’Telling whether this is Vulture or Jin Xueli is as simple as checking for the mark. The problem is, if this is the real Jin Xueli, she’ll know I marked her.’

’Vulture is definitely nearby. I don’t know where, but my gut tells me so.’

’The mark is my trump card. I can’t play it until I can see and check both "Jin Xuelis" at the same time. Otherwise, Vulture could just wipe it away, and I’d lose my only advantage.’

Besides, something else was bothering her.

’Why did Vulture slip away early?’

’Isn’t it supposed to believe, wholeheartedly, that it *is* Jin Xueli?’

’Could it have evolved since the last time? Can it read minds now?’

’I have to test that theory.’

"...Yeah, it’s still in there."

After a few seconds’ thought, Han Liuyue finally answered, "When I checked, the creature was still in there pleading with me."

When the real Jin Xueli checked the coffin, the lid had been shut tight, and Vulture was still inside.

The Vulture, however, knew that when Han Liuyue had checked the coffin, all she had seen was a dead Westley.

Therefore, only Vulture could know she was lying.

And from Vulture’s perspective, Han Liuyue would have no reason to lie to the real Jin Xueli. This meant that by lying, Han Liuyue was sending Vulture a signal: she believed the *other* Jin Xueli was the real one.

If Vulture had, by some means, actually read her mind, it would realize that sending this signal proved her actions didn’t match her thoughts.

This broke down into four possible scenarios:

1. The Jin Xueli by the excavator is the real one. She believes Vulture is still in the coffin, so she won’t find anything strange about Han Liuyue’s statement.

2. The one by the excavator is Vulture, and it *can’t* read minds. It will assume Han Liuyue believes the one from behind the coffin was the real Jin Xueli. Its reaction in that case would be unknown.

3. The one by the excavator is Vulture, and it *can* read minds. It will realize Han Liuyue is deliberately lying, her words contradicting her thoughts. On the surface, the lie is directed at the ’Jin Xueli by the excavator,’ but what’s the deeper implication?

Her words imply, ’The one from behind the coffin is the real Jin Xueli.’ But her thoughts while checking the coffin were the exact opposite.

So why deliberately send this false signal?

Because Han Liuyue had already figured out that the Jin Xueli by the excavator and the one from behind the coffin were one and the same. If so, it would definitely make a move.

4—

"Then I can rest easy," Jin Xueli said, exhaling.

The next second, she whirled around, swinging her arm. A heavy whoosh cut through the curtain of rain, sending droplets flying as something swung straight for Han Liuyue’s head.

’So it really is the Vulture from scenario three?’

Han Liuyue was prepared. She ducked just before the attack connected, dodging the axe as it whistled over her head.

’So that’s what it was rummaging around in the excavator for?’

Jin Xueli’s Body Techniques and strength were far inferior to her own. Even with her opponent holding an axe, Han Liuyue didn’t feel at a disadvantage in the slightest. She used the momentum from her dodge to dive to the ground, bracing herself with both hands despite a wave of dizziness.

’For an instant, the copy of Jin Xueli seemed to hesitate, as if it sensed the danger. Its combat instincts aren’t half bad, I guess.’

The thought had barely crossed her mind when Han Liuyue swept her leg out, landing a solid kick on Jin Xueli’s shin. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

Under the force of the blow, Jin Xueli folded like a scarecrow, losing her balance and collapsing. The axe flew from her grasp, thudding onto the ground a few feet away.

Han Liuyue whipped out her phone, switched on the flashlight, and shined the bright beam right in her face.

Blinded by the intense light, Jin Xueli couldn’t get up. Furious and flustered, she yelled, "Han Liuyue, why aren’t you coming out to help me already!"

...Huh?

At that moment, all Han Liuyue could do was give a wry smile.

’Great. So it was scenario four?’

She quickly glanced up at the excavator.

Because the excavator was tilted in the muddy pit, it was hard to see anyone on the ground from the cab.

Even though she was already eighty percent sure, Han Liuyue grabbed Jin Xueli’s chin and lifted it. Sure enough, this Jin Xueli’s chin was spotless. Forget a mark, there wasn’t even a speck of mud on it.

"You saw... another Han Liuyue?"

Jin Xueli froze.

"All right," Han Liuyue said in a low voice. "Go stand over there. Leave the rest to me."

’It’s just one Vulture. What’s the big deal? Compared to a human steamroller like Brother Chaisi, this thing could evolve a few more times and still not measure up.’

As Han Liuyue took a few steps and scooped up the axe, Jin Xueli scrambled to her feet behind her, asking in a hushed voice, "You—if you’re the real Han Liuyue, why did you lie to me and say Vulture was still in the coffin?"

’If I tried to explain the four scenarios I just ran through in my head, we’d be here all night.’

"It has your phone," Han Liuyue replied, turning back. "If you don’t believe me, you can—"

She didn’t get to finish. A dark figure suddenly shot out of the excavator, tackling Jin Xueli. Unable to dodge, Xueli let out a cry as the figure slammed into her, and the two of them tumbled to the ground, sending mud and water flying.

"Han Liuyue!"

A voice—Jin Xueli’s—cried out from the grappling pair, making it impossible to tell which one had shouted. "It turned into me! Hurry up and help!"

Han Liuyue stood her ground, axe in hand, watching the two Jin Xuelis go at it like a couple of cats in a sack. After a moment, she heaved a long sigh.

’Vulture might not be much of a threat, but it’s incredibly annoying.’

"Nobody move," Han Liuyue commanded. "Anyone moves and I’ll whack ’em like a mole."

Both Jin Xuelis seemed to value their lives. The moment the words left her mouth, they both stopped, panting and glaring at each other.

They had rolled around in the mud a few times, and now both were equally wretched-looking, covered in mud, grass, scratches, and bloody scrapes.

Han Liuyue glanced down. Great. The phone that had been on the Vulture a moment ago was now lying on the ground between the two of them.

’This Vulture is a real pain in the ass.’

"I don’t get why you didn’t just run for it in the dark and try to blend into Blackmoor City. Isn’t that what you wanted? You just had to turn into us and try to trick us... Well, whatever. This works too."

She didn’t expect an answer from the Vulture, of course. She sighed again. "Lift your chins. Let me see."

The two Jin Xuelis exchanged a glance, then both hesitantly tilted their chins up.

...Well, after that mud-wrestling match, both of their chins were equally filthy.

Just perfect.

"Well? Have you figured it out?" the Jin Xueli on the left complained. "My neck is getting sore."

"My neck’s not sore," the one on the right said, trying to curry favor. "Take your time, Han Liuyue. The one who doesn’t want you looking is definitely Vulture."

"The one whose neck *isn’t* sore after all this time has to be the Vulture!"

"That’s your brilliant test? How childish can you get?"

Neither Jin Xueli was looking up anymore. They were too busy glaring at each other.

’Brother Chaisi’s warnings really weren’t an exaggeration. No matter what the situation, she manages to derail it.’

"Can you two just be quiet for a second? Let me think...

"Hmm, so the Vulture didn’t turn into me because Jin Xueli wouldn’t be able to get rid of the real me. But if it turns into Jin Xueli and tricks me, it can use me to kill the real Jin Xueli."

Han Liuyue cradled the axe and thought for a moment. "Your goal is to kill one of us. You chose to impersonate Jin Xueli because she’s the weaker one, right?"

Of course, the Vulture didn’t respond.

Both Jin Xuelis protested. Phrases like "Hey, don’t underestimate me!" and "I’m an independent Hunter, you know!" hung in the air for a moment.

"I have so many questions, but that’ll have to wait until after I’ve caught the Vulture."

Han Liuyue flashed a grin at the two on the ground. "Roll up your pant legs. Let me see."

"This day is the worst," one Jin Xueli muttered, slowly rolling up her pant legs to reveal her calves. "Even my underwear is soaked through."

"Tell me about it," the other Jin Xueli said, also beginning to roll up her cuffs. "Why are you looking at our legs? Is this some kind of ’chickens and rabbits in a cage’ problem? ...Huh?"

Halfway through, she suddenly froze, her eyes widening in realization. "That’s right! You kicked me earlier! My leg must be bruised!"

The Jin Xueli on the left froze, a visible panic seizing her.

"Wait, a bruise? But—"

She looked down, quickly hiking up her pant leg to glance at her left calf.

Before she could say another word, Han Liuyue’s axe was already cutting through the night and the rain, swinging down with heavy finality.