Every expression on Cheng Shi's face froze solid.
His brain was running at full speed, trying to figure out whether she'd recovered her mories and co to "reunite," or whether she hadn't recovered them and was testing the waters!
Of course, there was a third, far more terrifying possibility: that after losing her mories, Ji Yue had joined the Torchbearers all over again—and this new Torchbearer had selected him, just like Fang Shiqing had before!
Cheng Shi couldn't accept any of the three.
Though if it really was the third option, he wasn't particularly surprised that Ji Yue could join the Torchbearers. After all, this Erudite Scholar had already articulated a will nearly identical to a City Builder's back in the void.
After thinking for ages without an answer, Cheng Shi opted to say nothing at all. He simply put on a puzzled expression that clearly asked:
'You sent The Prisoner away for this? Passing what fire?'
Ji Yue seed to have anticipated his reaction. She swept a hand through the air, deploying a barrier around them, and smiled:
"Why not co down and talk in detail?"
"I'm not that scary, am I?"
'Lady, right now you're a little scary.'
Cheng Shi pursed his lips, hopped down from the rooftop, checked the ti, and said: "Vacation ti is precious. Make it quick."
Ji Yue shook her head with a soft laugh:
"You're resisting , which ans you absolutely understand what I ant by 'passing the torch.'"
"Makes sense. You're a person with goodness in your heart, so naturally you can intuit my purpose."
"I won't beat around the bush, then."
Her expression turned serious:
"The gods descended and bestowed upon us a Faith Ga."
"They call it a ga, but I'd call it theater."
"They sit high above, pulling the strings of faith, puppeteering people through act after act on Their stage—all to inch closer to so purpose They keep hidden."
"But since it's theater, there must be tragedy and joy, reunion and parting. The joy belongs entirely to Them. The tragedy falls squarely on us."
"Mortals cannot struggle free. We can only endure Their manipulation and watch friends and loved ones be taken from us... Just as you said—we have to do sothing for ourselves and our friends!"
"So, Fate Weaver—are you truly content to remain at Their rcy forever?"
"..."
'This scene feels familiar.'
At this point, how could he not know? Ji Yue had definitely joined the Torchbearers. The only question was who'd recruited her.
'Surely not Fang Shiqing?'
'She shouldn't have any mories. Unless sothing happened afterward that I don't know about?'
Though many thoughts swirled, Cheng Shi's response ca almost instantly:
"I'm content."
"???"
Ji Yue froze. Her montum broke for a split second as she stared at Cheng Shi in disbelief, studied him for a mont, then burst into laughter.
"You're not content at all!"
"The faster you answer, the more it proves you're desperate to push
away. And the more you push, the more it proves you're discontent."
"I understand the feeling of having reservations that prevent you from taking the plunge. Just like how you saved all those people yet still insist you were just looking out for yourself."
"I was just looking out for myself." Cheng Shi's expression was strange.
"Really?"
"Then why is it that among all the people fighting for self-preservation, everyone else only thought about saving themselves—while you rescued every last soul in an entire experint site?"
"..."
Cheng Shi was stunned. The question left him genuinely speechless, his cerebellum practically boiling.
'Excuse , sister, since when did you analyze things from this angle?'
'Aren't you supposed to need an explanation when you do sothing bad? How does doing sothing good land
with this kind of "bla"?'
'In heaven's na—the situation was that if I didn't fight back, Zangier would've squashed
flat! Was I supposed to just stand there?'
'And besides, I only sent Zangier into Dolgod because I wanted his knowledge and treasures. How did I beco a saint in your version?'
The word "goodness" wasn't one just anyone could shoulder.
Cheng Shi shook his head, deciding he couldn't keep chatting with Ji Yue. Muttering "you're insane," he turned to leave—only for Ji Yue to grab his arm.
This Torchbearer's blazing eyes locked onto his:
"The goodness in a person's heart can't be hidden."
"I'll admit my read of people isn't as sharp as his, but I'm still certain you belong with us."
"Fate Weaver—join us. Let us be your shield. Let us clear away your worries."
Cheng Shi scoffed, turning his head:
"Do you even know what my worries are? And you want to clear them? Bold words."
"Fine. I'll give you a chance. Prove it."
"If you can clear my worries, I'll agree to join."
Ji Yue's eyes lit up. She was about to make a promise when Cheng Shi continued:
"Kill Oblivion. Then I'll go with you."
"..."
Ji Yue's smile solidified. It took her a good while to confirm that Cheng Shi wasn't talking about the Oblivion follower in this trial—he ant the god Oblivion Himself.
How could the Torchbearers possibly kill a true god?!
If they could, there'd be no need to pass any torch. The spark would've beco a wildfire long ago.
Seeing her reaction, Cheng Shi scoffed again:
"What's the matter? Can't do it?"
"If you can't, then don't make big promises. As everyone knows, Oblivion's followers are hunting . The root of it is my undying enmity with Oblivion."
"If you can't resolve a problem this fundantal, then stop bothering ."
"Besides, Scholar—when you ca to recruit , was it for the City Defenders or the City Builders?"
"!!!"
Ji Yue's face changed dramatically. Her gaze turned cold in an instant, fist clenching as if ready to strike at any mont. But she quickly realized that Cheng Shi had been deceiving her all along—he'd probably already turned down the Torchbearers before.
She shook her head with a rueful laugh, then sighed bitterly:
"I see. No wonder you resisted so strongly when you heard 'pass the torch.'"
"Who approached you before?"
"Fang Shiqing?"
"It could only be her. This might be hard to believe, but I actually ca to recruit you as a City Defender too."
"Because I can tell the goodness in your heart is about protecting, not attacking."
"I may be a City Builder's Fire Seeker, but I couldn't resist the urge to bring a peak player with genuine goodness into our fold."
"But coming now... was my own wishful thinking..."
She released Cheng Shi's hand, her eyes still brimming with admiration.
"You know the na of 'passing the torch,' yet you've never done anything to extinguish it. You may not be a true Torchbearer, but you will always be a friend of the Torchbearers."
With that, she bowed deeply to Cheng Shi.
When t with force, Cheng Shi only pushed back harder. But when you played this card...
Cheng Shi eyed the back of Ji Yue's bowed neck, debating whether to give this second Fire Seeker a chop.
But after thinking it over, he let it go. Ji Yue wasn't Fang Shiqing. If the chop didn't knock her out, he'd end up fighting a Torchbearer.
Ji Yue of course had no idea what filthy thoughts Cheng Shi was entertaining. She wanted to make one final pitch—even an honorary mbership would do—but when she raised her head, Cheng Shi was nowhere to be seen.
Staring at the empty alley, Ji Yue didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"...This Fate Weaver really is sothing."
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