The negotiation went smoothly. Before long, Herobos personally escorted Cheng Shi back to the Trial.
Note — escorted, not dumped.
This was the first ti Cheng Shi had departed the void with such dignity. Herobos had even torn open the passage between void and reality Himself, watching as Cheng Shi returned safely.
Still, Cheng Shi knew that regardless of how cooperative Herobos appeared, the Envoy would inevitably question the truthfulness of the whole affair. After all, "usurpation" was perhaps the most insane sche imaginable beneath this starry sky. A mortal who hadn't even beco an Envoy yet couldn't possibly put Herobos at ease with nothing but talk.
So Cheng Shi guessed that Herobos would seek verification from soone — and the best candidate was, of course, his own Benefactor: [Deceit]!
Therefore, the instant Cheng Shi returned to the Trial, his first priority was contacting the Fun God to tell Him "don't blow it."
Given the tacit understanding between this man and his god, [Deceit] would presumably be delighted by such pri entertainnt. But the steadiness etched into Cheng Shi's bones wouldn't let him sit idle. Opportunities were never won by waiting — the philosophy of braving wind and waves ant riding the wind when it ca, and creating your own when it didn't.
He pulled out his dice and began reciting [Deceit]'s prayer, urgently expressing his "devotion." But no matter how long he prayed, his Benefactor gave no response. This abnormal silence made Cheng Shi's heart lurch, and his mind began to race with anxious speculation.
'Where did the Fun God go?'
'He couldn't possibly be fighting soone again, could he?'
As a matter of fact, [Deceit] had indeed gotten into a fight with [Fate]. But it was already over.
Neither had been able to overpower the other. The passionate infighting concluded anticlimactically, and after exchanging mutual contempt, they went their separate ways.
Shortly after the two sovereigns of [Void] split apart, Herobos — having co to seek verification — intercepted [Deceit] and appeared before Him with a peculiar expression.
Gazing at those playful, mischief-laden eyes that wouldn't stop darting about, Herobos didn't even dare breathe. He simply stood there, head bowed, hands clasped in deference.
He didn't know how to broach the subject, and didn't dare speak first. If this whole affair turned out to be fabricated, then the mont the word "usurpation" left His mouth, [Deceit]'s shaless nature might well pin the whole thing on Him as the instigator.
So He just stood there, awaiting [Deceit]'s "judgnt."
Those eyes regarded Herobos with a complex expression — though the complexity didn't seem directed at Him. After a long while, He spoke:
"Tsk—
You want to ask but don't dare. So why are you here?"
That single sentence told Herobos that what Cheng Shi had said was most likely true. But He still couldn't gamble on the remaining chance that it wasn't, so He offered a careful reply:
"With all due respect, True God — there should not be such distance between my Master and [Void]. I've co to see whether there might still be room for reconciliation."
The response was impressively crafted — giving nothing away while tossing the ball back to the other party.
Those eyes rolled slightly, scrutinizing Him for a mont, then gave another scoff:
"The Sea of Desire surges endlessly because all beings — mortal and divine alike — have desires.
I know exactly what you're thinking. Put your heart back in your belly.
You don't actually believe a re mortal approached you to discuss overthrowing a true god, do you?
Heh. That would be too ridiculous."
"!!!"
'I knew it!'
Herobos's gaze sharpened as certainty settled in His chest.
Just as He'd suspected — this wasn't Yu Xi's sche at all. It was almost certainly [Void]'s plot against His Benefactor all along. At most, Yu Xi was nothing more than a ssenger!
The only problem was that this open sche struck at His deepest vulnerability, making it impossible to refuse. Herobos examined His own heart once more. Even though it was deeply unfair to His Benefactor, they had said it themselves — only when plunged into the abyss of despair could one burn the boats...
'Without annihilating the self, how can there be rebirth?'
'My Benefactor, for the sake of Your will of [Oblivion], the suffering of the Divine Throne — let
bear it for You!'
Suppressing the turmoil in His heart, Herobos gave a slight bow to those eyes. The matter was settled — He no longer needed to verify anything. But just as He was about to withdraw, those eyes called Him back.
"A Divine Throne does stir the heart, doesn't it?
It seems you're already fantasizing about the day you'll stand as my equal."
Herobos's heart trembled. Not daring to reveal His true thoughts, He responded dutifully: "I wouldn't dare."
"Tsk—
It's not that you wouldn't dare think it. You just wouldn't dare say it.
Oh well. Soone has to benefit. You're simply the one [Fate] chose.
Since a new [Oblivion] is about to ascend, the title of [Oblivion]'s Envoy should be of no use to you anymore, correct?"
Herobos froze, not understanding what [Deceit] ant.
Those eyes didn't bother with suspense and got straight to the point:
"When the day cos that you ascend to the Divine Throne, leave your container to my follower.
Now go."
Herobos's pupils contracted in shock: "But I've already negotiated terms with Your Envoy, Yu Xi."
"Negotiated?"
Those eyes turned cold, and the void around them began to crystallize with frost.
"Who told you this was a negotiation?
I'll say it once more — the container is of no use to you. Leave it to my follower. Then get lost.
When you're truly my equal, then you may question ."
"..."
Herobos's expression cycled through several changes before He finally drew a deep breath, gave a slight nod, and departed without another word.
The mont He left, those upturned eyes went cold in an instant. The frost in the void spread everywhere.
He gazed in the direction Herobos had departed, then toward the mortal world where His follower resided, and spoke without joy or sorrow:
"Envoy of [Deceit]... Yu Xi?
You certainly know how to cater to Him. But His path is wrong."
With that, those eyes blinked twice, releasing the chattering noise beside His ear into the void. And then, from within this frozen expanse, ca the urgent voice of a certain Clown:
"Cannot distinguish true from false...
Lies of yesterday...
Benefactor, please pick up! Why is the line always busy? Herobos is coming to find you — do you realize that?!
Maybe that bastard didn't forward the call?
What if I pray through the mask and He drags
up there instead?
God, save ."
Those eyes listened to these blasphemous words, growing ever colder — and ever more resolute.
Fixed Destiny was never wrong, and would never be wrong. His follower must not be led astray down the wrong path.
He pondered for a mont, then departed from this stretch of void.
And after those eyes had gone — as the frost across the heavens began to thaw — an identical pair of star-bright eyes quietly opened in the very sa spot, clicking His tongue:
"So that's why She insisted on picking a fight with . She wanted to pick up so of [Deceit]'s aura from my body.
Deceiving people without batting an eye — my dear little sister has finally made progress.
Too bad progress down the wrong path is just another chain.
Your road... has never been the right one."
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