Chapter 10: The Gatekeeper

Market Pavilion.

Chen Tiansheng stood at the entrance of the second floor, not entering immediately. Last time he had contact with the gatekeeper, but the interaction was too brief to verify his previous hypothesis. All he knew for certain was that the opponent possessed formidable "tuning" skills and was armed with a knife or some other weapon.

He, however, was unarmed. Bare-handed!

Steadying his resolve, Chen Tiansheng prepared himself and strode through the doorway.

Stepping inside, he encountered the same environment as before. Five meters ahead stood a man identical to himself. The Gatekeeper.

Unlike last time, the Gatekeeper did not approach with a facade of familiarity upon seeing him. Instead, he stood his ground, drew a blade, and said coldly, "You are too weak to be my match. No matter how many times you come, you cannot escape the fate of being killed by me."

Chen Tiansheng narrowed his eyes. Clearly, the Gatekeeper had not reset; having realized that his previous charade could no longer deceive Chen, he had dropped the act entirely.

As these thoughts crossed his mind, the door behind him slammed shut, sealing off any path of retreat. This was to be a fight to the finish.

Looking at his exact double, Chen Tiansheng felt no fear. He replied calmly, "If you could kill me last time, it was only because I was careless. How could such a brief encounter reveal the extent of my true strength? Your words are nothing but an attempt to intimidate me. Do you really think I’ll fall for that?"

The opponent’s "tuning" skills were strong enough to deceive even him, which only made his words all the more untrustworthy.

Hearing this, the Gatekeeper was not surprised. He retorted with a sneer, "As expected of myself, you are indeed not stupid. But I can tell you truthfully: we are the same, yet I have a blade while you are empty-handed. The advantage is clearly mine. Do you still think you have any chance of winning?"

Chen Tiansheng knew the opponent was trying to unsettle him. He had been prepared for this and remained unfazed, countering sarcastically, "You have a blade, but if I kill you just once, you will vanish. Even if I lose, I am alive in reality and can challenge you countless times." He added, his tone growing more biting, "You are merely my replica, a stepping stone for me to surpass myself."

At these words, the Gatekeeper’s expression changed. It struck a nerve.

Just as Chen had guessed, the Gatekeeper was created for this very purpose. However, possessing independent thought, he had come to realize the meaning of his own existence and developed a deep, visceral hatred for Chen Tiansheng. He was determined to block Chen's path, to remain in the Market Pavilion forever, hoping that by surviving, he might one day leave this place or perhaps even take its place.

After a moment, the Gatekeeper regained his composure and said smugly, "You might not know this, but every time you lose to me, the interval until you can challenge again increases. First by days, then by months, even years. By the time you die of old age in the outside world, do you think you’ll still be able to challenge me?"

"A stepping stone? It is not yet certain who is whose stepping stone!"

Chen Tiansheng’s heart tightened. He couldn't discern if the Gatekeeper was lying, but if it were true, it would severely hinder his progress in mastering the Market Arts. As a mortal, the Market Pavilion was his greatest reliance for venturing into the pugilistic world and perhaps even ascending to the immortal gates; he could not afford any delays.

To avoid revealing his concern, Chen Tiansheng maintained a calm facade and probed, "Perhaps you are right, but as long as I grow stronger during the interim, you will no longer be my match."

The Gatekeeper laughed. "Too bad. As you grow stronger, so do I."

Chen Tiansheng chuckled along. "In that case, what are you waiting for? Come and kill me."

Though the Gatekeeper possessed the same steady temperament as Chen, his hatred for him was so intense that he could not endure the constant provocations. "If you wish to die, I will grant your wish!"

With that, the Gatekeeper charged with his blade.

Faced with the attack, Chen Tiansheng chose not to engage head-on, but to run!

"Heh, so much for your big talk—you’re nothing but a coward," the Gatekeeper mocked, giving chase. "Running is useless. Our stamina is the same. The difference is that this is my territory, and you are an outsider. Time in reality is ticking away. You may not feel it here, but your physical body outside could starve, die of thirst, or even be killed. The longer you drag this out, the better it is for me."

If it were true, it would indeed be disadvantageous for Chen. But Chen ignored him entirely, retorting in a mocking, singsong voice, "If you’re capable, keep chasing! If you can't catch me, you’ll be stuck eating my dust. Does it taste good, little brother?"

"You're courting death!"

The Gatekeeper, enraged, redoubled his efforts. As Chen Tiansheng fled, he continued to taunt him relentlessly.

The Gatekeeper, already loathing Chen, masked his fury on the surface but was seething within. Confident that their physical limits were identical and that he would eventually prevail, he chose to pursue him to the bitter end. For a long time, the two chased and fled across the vast, hundreds-of-square-meter space.

During the flight, Chen felt his real physical energy depleting, confirming that there were indeed stamina limitations here. At the same time, he realized he couldn't outpace the Gatekeeper, confirming that the latter’s claim about their parallel growth was likely true. With no physical advantage, he had no choice but to continue running.

Half an hour later, the Gatekeeper stood with his hands on his knees, gasping for air, drenched in sweat. A half-hour of sprinting had exhausted him. Although he hadn't managed to kill Chen, he was satisfied; as long as Chen was worried about the outside world, he would eventually find an opening.

"Done chasing? Can't run anymore?"

Chen Tiansheng’s mocking voice echoed from ahead.

Looking three meters away at Chen, who was panting just as hard, the Gatekeeper sneered with disdain, "Why aren't you running? Can't move anymore?" He sat down on the ground, unconcerned that Chen might attack, and said bluntly, "Our bodies are the same. If I’m tired, you’re tired. We are one and the same. But as I said before, you should be worrying about yourself in reality."

"The same, are we?" Chen suddenly asked.

The Gatekeeper laughed mockingly. "Stop the act. We are equally matched in the Market Arts; you can't fool me with your tricks. If you were truly capable, you’d come and kill me. I don’t mind telling you—I have no energy left to move."

As soon as he finished speaking, the fatigue on Chen Tiansheng’s face vanished. He stopped panting, stood tall, and even performed a few stretches.

Seeing this, the Gatekeeper’s eyes widened in disbelief. "How are you not exhausted!"

Their bodies were identical; they had run at full speed together. If he was drained, Chen should be too. Why did he still have the energy to do this?

He didn't understand! He was too weak and exhausted to mask his state with the "Color Gate" or "Tuning" techniques.

Chen Tiansheng had seen through this, which was why he had dropped the facade. Looking at the Gatekeeper, who was struggling to stand on trembling legs, Chen said plainly, "Our physical bodies are the same, yes. But our minds are different."

"Perhaps they were identical at the start, but we are not one entity. You cannot change the lack of unity in our thoughts."

The Gatekeeper roared with all his remaining strength, "You scum! What does a difference in thought have to do with physical stamina!"

Chen Tiansheng was not angered by the insults; instead, he smiled with satisfaction. "Just as you are showing now, you are filled with hatred for me. When you chased me, I intentionally provoked you to keep you fueled by rage. Your current state proves that my guess about your hatred was correct."

The Gatekeeper growled, "And what does that prove!"

Chen Tiansheng replied, "Since you are my clone and have dabbled in the 'Leather Gate,' you should know that maintaining anger for a long period consumes a massive amount of energy."

The Gatekeeper realized it too late, then retorted, "I do hate you, I want to tear you to pieces! But don't you hate me? How can you be so calm while being hunted?"

Chen Tiansheng said, "In my eyes, you are just a common guard. I have no reason to hate you; I am only thinking about how to defeat you and find your flaws."

*Clang.*

The knife fell from the Gatekeeper’s limp hand. He wore a self-deprecating, bitter smile. He had viewed Chen Tiansheng as an enemy to be replaced, which was why he was so easily provoked. He had assumed Chen felt the same way.

Yet, in Chen Tiansheng’s eyes, he was merely a guard of a game level.

Was that not true? His mission was simply to be a stepping stone for Chen Tiansheng...

Watching the Gatekeeper, who had lost all will to fight, Chen Tiansheng did not hesitate. He picked up the fallen blade and pierced the Gatekeeper’s heart.

With the Gatekeeper dead, his body shattered into fragments and dissolved into nothingness.

Having killed his own double, Chen Tiansheng felt a flicker of unease, but it quickly faded. Only by facing one's own death could one become truly fearless of it.

Where the body had vanished, a brocade box the size of a pastry box appeared. At the same time, the environment around him began to change.