"Young Master Zhou Hong, your second brother has returned." Just as Zhou Hong was about to leave for the Taigu Academy assessment, a servant rushed to report.
"My second brother is back?" Zhou Hong's face lit up with joy upon hearing the servant's report.
In this family, Zhou Hong had two elder brothers. His eldest brother had died on the battlefield during Zhou Hong's transmigration from Earth. His second brother was still serving as a small captain in the northern army.
He hadn't expected his second brother to return today.
"Yes, Young Master Zhou Hong. He's almost at the family gate. The clan head and everyone else have gone out to greet him."
"Good!" Zhou Hong also immediately rushed out of the gate.
Indeed, about five minutes later, a carriage arrived at the family gate. A young man in armor alighted from the carriage.
This young man was none other than Zhou Hong's second brother.
Zhou Hong hadn't seen his second brother for a long time. Seeing him again now, his face was filled with surprise and joy.
However, just as Zhou Hong was about to rush forward, he suddenly had a feeling that his second brother wasn't the same as before.
"Why would I have such a thought?" Zhou Hong wondered. Yet, human intuition was very peculiar. Looking at his second brother now, he felt a sense of unfamiliarity he hadn't felt before.
At that moment, Zhou Hong's second brother's eyes fell upon Zhou Hong, and he said with a smile, "Third Brother, it's been a while."
"Second Brother, you've finally returned." Zhou Hong walked up with a smile and hugged his second brother.
But as Zhou Hong hugged his second brother, that sense of unfamiliarity grew even stronger.
"Heh heh, perhaps it's because I haven't seen Second Brother for so long," Zhou Hong quickly smiled and shook his head.
Zhou Hong's second brother seemed to have become more mature than before. He greeted everyone in the family one by one.
Finally, he inquired about Zhou Hong's parents. However, when Zhou Hong's second brother mentioned the death of their parents, there was no genuine sorrow flashing in his eyes.
Zhou Hong became even more puzzled. Logically, his second brother should have shown some pain when speaking of their parents' demise. Instead, he accepted it very calmly, as if... he were acting. Yes, it was like an actor on Earth performing grief at the loss of parents, but without true emotion in his heart.
"Third Brother, I heard that you have now cultivated to the Fusion Late stage, becoming the first young genius in the history of our Zi Xiao Continent. Second Brother congratulates you," Zhou Hong's second brother turned to Zhou Hong and said with a smile.
"Thank you, Second Brother. I will continue to work hard. I was actually preparing to head to Taigu Academy for the assessment today."
"Haha, then Second Brother has returned at just the right time. I can still see you off."
"Thank you, Second Brother."
Just then, the voice of the Dark Golden Crow echoed in Zhou Hong's mind: "Zhou Hong, your current Second Brother may not be your real Second Brother."
"What do you mean?" Zhou Hong frowned immediately.
"What was your Second Brother's previous realm?" the Dark Golden Crow asked.
"One realm lower than mine. Although my Second Brother is a few years older than me, his talent is lower than mine, so his cultivation realm is not as good as mine."
"But this Second Brother before you, his true realm has already surpassed the Emperor. He is now at the Nascent Soul Late stage."
"Ah, how is that possible?" Zhou Hong was greatly shocked. His second brother was actually at the Nascent Soul Late stage? The Emperor of the Zi Xiao Empire was only at the Nascent Soul Mid stage.
"Didn't you notice anything different about your Second Brother compared to before?"
Zhou Hong nodded vigorously. "Yes, from the moment I saw him, I felt that Second Brother had become a stranger. I no longer felt the former brotherly closeness. I thought it was because we hadn't seen each other for so long."
"That's right. Your Second Brother has likely died. This current body has merely been taken over by someone else. Therefore, he can cultivate so quickly and reach the Nascent Soul Late stage."
"No, it's impossible." Zhou Hong's body trembled violently.
"In the cultivation world, some powerful cultivators, when their physical bodies reach the end of their lifespan, will find young people with compatible spirits to possess, to live on in another way. Those who possess others can quickly rise to prominence using their past lives' experience."
"My Second Brother is dead? No." Zhou Hong seemed unable to accept such a blow. His eldest brother had died on the battlefield, and now his second brother had returned, only to tell him that his second brother had likely been possessed, and someone else was controlling his body.
"Of course, this is just my guess. Perhaps your Second Brother had some fortunate encounter, which is why his cultivation is so fast. Or perhaps, like you, he transmigrated from Earth and took over the body of someone with the same name."
"Is there any way to confirm it?" Zhou Hong quickly asked.
"There's no way, unless he reveals a flaw himself. However, I see that he recognized you just now and knew you were his Third Brother. From this aspect, he has at least obtained your Second Brother's memories. As for whether your Second Brother's soul is dead or alive, that remains unknown."
Zhou Hong clenched his fists tightly. If his second brother's body had truly been taken over by someone else, he would not let it go.
"Third Brother, you are about to depart for Taigu Academy for the assessment. As your Second Brother, let me give you a parting magic artifact." At this moment, Zhou Hong's second brother suddenly said to Zhou Hong.
"Thank you, Second Brother." Zhou Hong nodded with a somber expression. He didn't know if the person before him was truly his second brother, so he couldn't show anything.
"This is a magic artifact I happened to acquire. It's called 'Hua Xue' (Melting Snow). I give it to you today, Second Brother, and I wish you a good ranking." Zhou Hong's second brother took out a pure white sword and presented it to Zhou Hong. Sudan Novel Network.
"Hua Xue?"
"Yes. After you refine it, using this magic artifact in a moment of crisis, you can instantly turn the enemy's weapon into snow and destroy it, greatly increasing your strength."
"Thank you, Second Brother." Zhou Hong nodded.
"You're welcome. Then hurry and be on your way. Don't delay your assessment."
"Okay." Zhou Hong was disheartened, so he didn't say much to his second brother. If it were truly his second brother, and he had obtained such a fortunate encounter, Zhou Hong would naturally be happy for him. But if it were for other reasons, how could Zhou Hong be happy?
"Zhou Hong, do you want me to act and capture your Second Brother, and interrogate him severely?" the Dark Golden Crow asked Zhou Hong.
"Not yet. What if he really is my Second Brother?"
"If he is indeed your Second Brother, you can just apologize to him. Relatives won't blame you. If he isn't, you'll also get a definite answer. Otherwise, carrying this burden in your heart will surely make you unhappy."
Zhou Hong hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "Alright, I'll postpone my departure by a day. Tonight, I'll control my Second Brother and get to the bottom of this. I want to know if my Second Brother is dead or alive."