As the focal point of [Void]'s attention, Cheng Shi had no idea just how lively things had been inside the Mockery and Jeering he'd just left.
The four returned to Kanrival, back to that golden room refracting light in every direction.
Driven by the urge to get closer to Yu Xi, Hu Wei was brimming with energy. His enthusiasm for clearing the trial hit an all-ti high.
To make up for the ti squandered in Mockery and Jeering, he decided to split into two teams to accelerate clue-gathering. As for how to divide up...
"I'll go with Brother Cheng. Brother Zhang, keep Ming Yu safe."
He didn't give anyone ti to refuse, directly pushing "Cheng Shi" out the door.
And Zhang Jizu, wanting to give Cheng Shi room to operate, didn't resist. He simply let himself be dragged away with a helpless expression.
Cheng Shi watched the two disappear and silently offered Mi Laozhang a brief eulogy:
"Have fun."
An Mingyu smiled at that as well, then "looked" toward Cheng Shi: "So — where should we head?"
"A [Fate] follower asking [Death] for directions. The symbolism's a bit ominous, don't you think?"
Despite saying so, Cheng Shi surveyed the ostentatiously decorated house and mused:
"This is where the trial dropped us. There should be clues here.
To figure out what this so-called 'finale' ans, we first need to find out what happened in this land.
A building this flashy wouldn't be so naless place in Kanrival. So let's start by identifying who owns this house, then follow that thread.
What do you think, An Chosen?"
"Zhang Jizu's" suggestion was impeccable. An Mingyu had no objections. But just as she was about to look around, Cheng Shi smiled and looked at the Blind One again:
"How have you been lately, An Chosen?"
An Mingyu was taken aback. She hadn't expected the question. After a brief hesitation, she lowered her head:
"Trying to see [Fate] more clearly.
I once fancied myself the person closest to Him. But now I realize my understanding of Him is still far, far from sufficient."
Hearing this, Cheng Shi's lips curled. His smile turned playful.
"Whether your understanding of Him is sufficient doesn't matter. I wasn't asking about you. I was asking about An Chosen."
"?"
An Mingyu raised her head in confusion, apparently not understanding.
Cheng Shi had no interest in continuing the charade. He cut straight through her cover:
"Still acting?
You really think I'm Mi Laozhang?"
The mont the words landed, An Mingyu's entire body jolted. She froze on the spot.
She went silent. Then, slowly, she raised her head. The placid expression faded by degrees. The corners of her mouth began to curve.
The An Mingyu who had worn nothing but worry recently was now smiling — brilliantly.
"When did you switch?
When you climbed out of Mockery and Jeering?
I thought there was sothing off about a certain soone asking about
in there. So you'd already suspected ?
Interesting. When exactly did you start suspecting?"
Cheng Shi gave her a teasing look. He said nothing, offered no explanation.
Seeing this, An Mingyu's face darkened. She realized instantly that she'd been tricked. He hadn't swapped identities after Mockery and Jeering at all — the very first "Zhang Jizu" she'd t was already Cheng Shi!
"...And here I thought I was the one making others into clowns. Turns out the clown was
all along."
An Mingyu shook her head with a rueful laugh. She raised a hand to the black cloth over her eyes.
With a gentle tug, the blindfold slipped free. In the sa breath, the black gauze robes transford into a magician's suit. Flowing hair and a familiar face reappeared before Cheng Shi.
Zhen Xin!
[Deceit]'s first Collection was in this trial too!
No — her appearance was hardly a surprise. After all, this trial was about a "finale"!
Exposed, Zhen Xin showed no frustration. She tilted her head with a smile:
"If I could see through to essence the way Ming Yu can, perhaps I wouldn't be showing off my amateur tricks before a master Clown."
"...?"
'Your technique was sloppy and you didn't fool anyone. What's that got to do with Clowns?'
'Did Clowns eat your family's rice or sothing?'
Cheng Shi curled his lip in distaste:
"Even if you could see through to essence, it wouldn't help.
Because you're not An Chosen. You can't capture her essence..."
But the mont he said it, he regretted being so quick-tongued. He knew Zhen Xin understood An Mingyu best. She absolutely could capture An Mingyu's essence. The problem was, the An Mingyu she'd depicted wasn't the current An Mingyu.
That was why today's "An Mingyu" had co across as slightly cold — because it wasn't the An Mingyu who'd changed for the sake of fate, but the An Mingyu that Zhen Xin, as a best friend, was nostalgic for...
"..."
Discussing death was suffocating. Neither of them had actually uttered the word "death," but between clever people, things rarely needed to be spelled out.
Cheng Shi was visibly flustered, montarily at a loss for how to console her. Fortunately, Zhen Xin consoled herself. She shelved that wistful sorrow, instantly switching to a smile — corners of her mouth rising in an even more exaggerated arc:
"Hee~
Tricked you again. I'm not my sister. Why would I feel sad for that blind girl?"
"..."
Though his eyelid was twitching furiously, though every instinct scread at him to escalate, Cheng Shi held back.
Because he knew this wasn't "Zhen Yi" trying to deceive him. It was Zhen Xin deceiving herself.
This trickster seed to be using this thod to hypnotize herself — to temporarily forget the pain inside. But for soone as perceptive as her... could it actually work?
He hoped so.
This was the first ti Cheng Shi hadn't found Zhen Yi annoying.
Seeing Zhen Xin — still wearing Zhen Yi's persona — about to seize the opportunity to "cause trouble," Cheng Shi's expression sharpened. He imdiately changed the subject, cutting off her chance to speak, and walked away briskly:
"Let's not waste ti, Magician.
Since you also know how to use An Chosen's identity to dodge trouble, you should understand what a [Deceit] trial with a 'finale' prompt ans.
Especially since you're His first Collection.
This is very likely His annotation on this era's ending. Only by clearing this trial can we learn what kind of finale He intends for the [Void] Era.
So we can't lose this trial. We can only win.
We must decipher His will. Only then can we find our place in the era's curtain call — or even climb onto the stage and beco perforrs who write their own scripts..."
"Clowns?" Zhen Xin finished with a grin.
"..."
'???'
'Excuse ?'
'I'm being serious and analytical here, and you're sneaking in another profession-based insult?'
'Has anyone ever told you that you're just as insufferable as your sister?'
Zhen Xin's mischievous eyes seed to read Cheng Shi's expression perfectly. She smiled again: "No."
"Well, now they have.
You're every bit as jinxed as your sister."
Cheng Shi shot her a sideways glance and walked ahead in open disgust.
"..."
Zhen Xin blinked, gazing thoughtfully at Cheng Shi's retreating figure. She couldn't shake the feeling that this Clown who'd returned from the Real Universe was harder than before.
Not harder in words — but as though the confusion about the road ahead had, sowhere along the way, transford into conviction about the ground beneath his feet.
Interesting. What had happened beyond the world to change the Clown this much?
Zhen Xin tilted her head, eyes brimming with curiosity, and followed after him.
"Tell
about out there. Let
see just how magical this Real Universe really is."
Cheng Shi had no intention of hiding things from the Joker, and so naturally wouldn't hide them from Zhen Xin, either. At this mont — with the Fun God's will unclear — the only forces he could rally, aside from the few gods he hoped to win over, were mortals.
And the Joker and the Destined Ones were his last reserves of strength.
Even if Zhen Xin hadn't asked, he would have told her. But clearly, now wasn't the ideal mont.
Because just as he was about to search this golden house for clues, the front door was suddenly flung open. A flamboyantly gold-adorned "rchant" strode in, saw the two of them from behind, and barked imperiously:
"Get to work. Round up those useless lot. This one's a big deal."
...
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