47- The double personality Zhou Shun

Zhong Peng was taken aback by the notes he found on his bed.

He was convinced that the person who had left the notes was none other than Zhou Shun.

However, what truly astonished him was how Zhou Shun had managed to predict his return to the inn today.

Today was the beginning of the Cloud Gathering Contest, and if everything went smoothly, Zhong Peng would have surely spent the night at the Zheng Imperial Clan.

But how did Zhou Shun know all this? This question kept echoing in Zhong Peng's mind.

A multitude of theories did arise, but he refuted them all for their apparent unlikelihood.

"Zhou Shun is increasingly enigmatic these days. The more I come to know him, the more impenetrable he appears," Zhong Peng muttered to himself.

Zhong Peng ordered a bowl of food and devoured it hastily. Following that, he refreshed himself and reclined, gazing up at the ceiling.

The day had been long and eventful for him, with much unfolding. Tomorrow marked the commencement of the hunting stage of the Cloud Gathering Contest, and Elder Duanmu and Duan Jingtao were both attempting to constrain him.

His mind was in a state of frenzied tumult, fully cognizant of the fact that the forthcoming day would be exceedingly trying for him.

Consequently, he resolved to retire early to awaken at an early hour and make his way promptly to the Cloud Gathering Contest, to avert any potential cause for Elder Duanmu to belittle him.

A beam of luminance pierced through the window and cascaded upon the face of Zhong Peng, arousing him from his slumber with its radiant touch upon his face.

Having refreshed himself, Zhong Peng readied to depart for the cloud-gathering contest.

However, a sudden thought struck him, and he seized the note, jotting down a few words before returning it to its original position as he had found it the day before.

With that done, he turned on his heel and left the room.

The surroundings were abuzz with a multitude of activities.

An array of merchants lined the streets, vending a diverse assortment of wares, ranging from exquisite pieces of jewelry and formidable weapons to delectable edibles and fine wines, as well as an assortment of other sundries.

The street was packed with people from different backgrounds and social classes, making it difficult for Zhong Peng to walk through the busy crowd.

The bustling environment was overwhelming and left him feeling surprised and amazed.

This was the first time Zhong Peng had ever seen so many people on the street, both in his past and present life.

****************

As soon as Zhong Peng departed from his quarters, a mysterious figure made an appearance within the confines of the room.

This enigmatic being was draped in a somber, black robe and had its head concealed by a hoodie, which cast a deep shadow over its face, rendering its features indiscernible.

The sight of this obscure figure stirred a sense of unease, evoking a sense of foreboding within the room.

With a menacing air, the enigmatic figure strode towards Zhong Peng's sleeping quarters, its footsteps eerily silent, shrouding the room in a chilling atmosphere of dread.

The figure drew closer to the bed, where Zhong Peng had left a note, and deftly picked it up without making a sound, further intensifying the unnerving silence that permeated the space.

On the note, apart from the original message, Zhong Peng wrote a sentence that reads "I know you are watching."

After finishing reading the note, the figure gestured with his hand, causing the paper to disintegrate into dust. The breeze then blew away the remains of the note, leaving no trace of its existence.

The person remained rooted in position, gazing into the void before them for an extended duration without any discernible motion.

All of a sudden, he uttered, "He's got it! It appears that he may not be as foolish as you had made him out to be," the silhouette spoke as if conversing with another individual.

Had Zhong Peng been present, he would have identified the voice as belonging to Zhou Shun.

The form spoke once more, but with a different tone, "I never said that he was unintelligent. My only comment was that he is lacking in experience."

If overheard, one would assume that it was a dialogue between two distinct individuals, rather than a solitary entity.

It seems like Zhou Shun possessed a duality of personality within him.

Zhou Shun's voice spoke once more, "I hope that he will prove to be as beneficial as you said he would be."

The second voice repeated, "I'm confident that with sufficient experience, he'll become considerably stronger. But there's something peculiar about him that I can't quite comprehend."

Zhou Shun's voice resounded once more, "I've adhered to my end of the agreement. I trust that you will do the same."

"You don't speak to me in that tone," the second voice retorted, seething with anger. "I promise to aid you in your victory, and I shall fulfill my promise. Do not question my reliability, for I never break my word," he emphasized.

"I certainly hope so," Zhou Shun's voice murmured, barely audible. Then, just as abruptly as he had materialized, he vanished from the room without leaving any trace of his prior presence.