Fang Yuan arrived first. The round-faced chubby fellow truly was the most orderly person in this trial. Even bearing a reputation for disobeying [Order], he'd arrived at Yesterday Truth before the agreed ti.
He hid in a corner of the tower's ruins and waved Cheng Shi over.
Cheng Shi was hiding in a corner too. He could hardly stand atop the ruins in plain sight waiting to be spotted. But when Fang Yuan beckoned, he didn't move — instead inviting Fang Yuan to co to him, simultaneously asking with his eyes what leads the man had found.
Fang Yuan sotis thought this Fate Weaver was fine in every way except for being too cautious. With skills at this tier, walking a few steps over was impossible to detect.
But upon reaching Cheng Shi's position, he realized he'd underestimated the Fate Weaver's caution. There in the collapsed corner were three magic lamps, each half-shielded — filling the space with shadowless light.
Fang Yuan was speechless: "I thought you were guarding against the Afterglow Church. Turns out you're guarding against Chen Yi?"
Cheng Shi smiled: "Better safe than sorry. Harbor no ill will toward others, but never drop your guard against them.
Galusha is a lunatic — guard against her. Our own teammate is also a lunatic — naturally guard against him too."
Fang Yuan's expression turned odd: "You're implying sothing, Fate Weaver."
"If a follower of Him doesn't toss a barb or two, I'd seem insincere. Relax — it wasn't aid at you.
So — find anything?"
"Nothing." Fang Yuan's face went serious instantly. "I saved quite a few scholars through rescue operations and extracted so secret lab locations from them. But none showed traces of grand scholars — just civilians hiding.
Honestly, your ti window was too short. Tusnat is huge. Even with just one direction, I could barely manage a thorough sweep.
But my instinct says the Erudition Presidium isn't in the south district. You — find anything?"
"A trap."
"Trap?" Fang Yuan started. "Whose? The grand scholars'? You found them?"
"Not certain. It could also be a trap left by the Reason Association's leader. So I ca back to discuss with everyone before probing further."
As they debated Wei Zhi's suspicious behavior, the agreed ti was nearly up — yet the Life Sage still hadn't returned.
Right at the deadline, ng Youfang appeared exactly on the dot. Expressionless, he walked toward them.
eting Cheng Shi's questioning look, he shook his head:
"Nothing. Lots of experintal traces and sites, but none connected to the Erudition Presidium.
I skipped the obvious buildings and focused on inconspicuous alleys and odd corners. Still nothing.
I subdued countless Toll Knights and scholars along the way, but not one had useful information.
This is [Truth]'s city, after all. As its rulers, the grand scholars could hide far too easily."
He pointed skyward with a smile: "For example — the void. Have you checked the experint grounds up there?"
The mont he finished, the sky above the ruins tore open. A black-skirted silhouette descended gracefully from the void. The instant she landed, she shook her head at Cheng Shi:
"Nothing. The void's situation is no better than Tusnat's. The Afterglow Church hasn't forgotten the grand scholars' capabilities — warfare there is even fiercer than in reality.
The north is also empty. Every place I could think of — no trace of the grand scholars."
Cheng Shi naturally trusted Hu Xuan. But the others were another matter. Fang Yuan listened and frowned:
"Life Sage, I don't doubt your ability. But searching both the north district and the entire void in this limited ti...
What I an is — were you thorough?"
Hu Xuan smiled at Fang Yuan: "Naturally. My thods may be more thorough than yours. If you don't believe
— co~"
She extended her hand. Fang Yuan's face changed. He believed her.
"..."
When this scene played out between others, it was rather amusing. Cheng Shi wanted to laugh but didn't dare. He cleared his throat and told everyone about discovering a hidden underground space in the west district — prompted by Wei Zhi's tip.
ng Youfang heard this and imdiately volunteered to venture in. Cheng Shi grabbed him — thinking, 'I finally found a perfect scapegoat; if sothing happens to you, how do I operate later?'
But this gesture gave ng Youfang the wrong idea. He thought Yu Xi was warning him about the trap's danger — covertly lowering his trial difficulty. So he declared with righteous solemnity:
"I must face every challenge head-on, leaving no blemish on my path of return.
Good brother, I understand your eagerness for our reunion, but rules must be followed. This is the road I must walk."
"..."
At this, the sole [Order] believer present couldn't hold back. Fang Yuan glanced oddly at ng Youfang, certain the man was about to start calling his Benefactor "brother."
Sure enough, ng Youfang continued: "...It's also my respect for my old friend, [Order]."
"..."
Cheng Shi's forehead throbbed. He wondered what spell could cure delusion.
'You respect [Order] so much — does [Chaos] sitting on [Order]'s throne know?'
Well, [Pride (Order)], chained behind [Chaos]'s throne, certainly didn't know.
Regardless, Cheng Shi refused to risk his scapegoat. So he offered a safer suggestion:
"This trial is a six-person ga. To clear it, everyone should contribute sothing.
Even if Wei Zhi has an agenda, at least he shared the location. So the one teammate who hasn't contributed — shouldn't they step up?"
Clearly aid at Chen Yi — but the [mory] follower wasn't visibly present.
Everyone scanned their surroundings. They assud Cheng Shi had detected his presence. Little did they know, Cheng Shi had no idea where Chen Yi was.
He just feared the psychopath had nothing to do and would turn around and drill him again. Better to find the fellow so work — and make use of him in the process.
Hu Xuan, confused: "Even if he's here, why would he listen to you?"
"I'm not expecting him to. I'm just saying — what if [mory] happens to be in that underground space?"
"?"
Pure nonsense, and every intelligent person knew it. The hook was absurdly transparent — couldn't even stay in a fish's mouth.
But Cheng Shi pivoted:
"Even if He isn't there — a mory of being willingly used for His sake and self-recorded in the process... shouldn't that qualify for entry into His Collection Hall? Worthy of becoming an exhibit to please Him... right?"
The mont those words landed, everyone sensed sothing vanish from a nearby shadow.
'!!!'
'Wait — you were actually here!?'
'Fine, you were here — but you actually bit!?'
'What hook was there to bite? This was a fisherman taping a photo of bait to his line — and the fish climbed up the string!'
'How could sothing this absurd exist in this world!?'
Nobody could speak.
Fang Yuan stared at Cheng Shi in utter shock, eyes wide: "Your [Deceit] people are playing open sches now? Have so decency..."
Cheng Shi hadn't actually expected Chen Yi to be there. He'd had backup plans. But with soone volunteering to sweep mines, the backups were unnecessary.
He instantly mirrored Fang Yuan's shock, pretending ignorance: "I told you, I was just making conversation. What just happened?"
"..."
They'd seen shaless people before — never one this shaless. A liar's mouth truly held no truth.
But regardless of whether the liar's words were genuine — so people's feelings... were painfully real.
...
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