Could Cheng Shi possibly be Yu Xi?
Of course he could—and the probability was extrely high.
It wasn't as though Zhang Jizu had never considered the possibility. He had simply never raised it with Cheng Shi, because there was no need.
First, whether or not Cheng Shi was Yu Xi didn't change Zhang Jizu's fundantal goal of surviving until the very end. Second, whether or not he was Yu Xi didn't change their friendship.
Cheng Shi's nostalgia for the past wasn't fake, and his desire to live could not be counterfeited.
That was enough.
During the trial in San Dales, the Joker mbers had learned that Crown had sacrificed himself for the cause and never beca Deceit's envoy. So the only person who could carry the mantle of Yu Xi was his "successor."
And Cheng Shi had collected nearly every one of Crown's masks—he was missing only the "clown nose." With such a blatant hint, it wasn't just Zhang Jizu—nearly every mber of the Joker had at one point or another suspected that Cheng Shi was Yu Xi.
Yet none of them had ever brought it up. Why?
Because there was no proof.
Don't forget—Cheng Shi had once impersonated Yu Xi right in front of them. If he truly were Yu Xi, that performance would have been no different from toying with idiots.
Cheng Shi could easily have stayed better hidden, yet he deliberately took the risky approach of resuming his true form in front of them while claiming it was rely an act. Deliberately putting the spotlight on himself like that was foolish, it was risky, and it wasn't the sort of thing a steady clown would do... so so people used that reasoning to talk themselves out of suspecting him.
Besides, everyone was searching for a path to godhood. Whether it was the God Worship Society or the Reason Association, there were zealots everywhere, and none had ever succeeded. And now soone was going to tell him a clown had beco an envoy right under everyone's noses?
No—Yu Xi's existence had a traceable lineage. He didn't seem like a servant god elevated from within the Faith Ga.
All in all, through a series of strange coincidences and silent calculations, the Joker mbers had tacitly agreed never to speak of it.
Zhang Jizu understood a bit more than the rest. After all, he had once deceived the Joker mbers on behalf of the Fun God's "world-saving plan." Given the Fun God's focus on Cheng Shi, the identity of Cheng Shi as Yu Xi was not far-fetched—it was actually quite logical.
So when Zhang Jizu now heard from Poison's lips that Cheng Shi was Yu Xi, he felt not the slightest surprise. He shook his head calmly:
"I don't know."
Though Poison couldn't directly see through lies, she was extraordinarily perceptive about the human heart. Seeing Zhang Jizu's reaction so placid, she gave a soft "Oh" and smiled:
"Sounds like you've thought about it.
Since you have, have you also wondered why he hides it from the rest of you—but chose not to hide it from ?"
Zhang Jizu's brow furrowed slightly. He was indeed a bit puzzled, but he didn't speak. He could tell that today's Poison had a strong urge to share.
Or perhaps "share" wasn't the right word. It was more like venting.
She had too many secrets bottled up inside her.
Sure enough, when Zhang Jizu offered no response, Poison leaned sideways against the wall and began muttering to herself, a troubled look on her face.
"Actually, it's not just . There's one other person who also learned his identity as Yu Xi.
Qu Yan. I don't know if you know him—he's a chaleon who follows Silence.
Letting a Silence follower know a secret isn't a big deal. They're experts at being silent, and they can keep secrets.
But why tell ?
I always thought it was the little priest's way of treating
differently from everyone else. I thought he said no with his lips but kept
in his heart, and that he was willing to throw
a lifeline in this tedious ga.
He even introduced
to Aph Ros, who helped
find a second faith... Ti.
I was so happy about it. I looked forward to eting him with my new identity and hoped I could navigate toward a future where he wouldn't reject
getting close.
But sadly, it was all my delusion.
When I t that person, I finally understood—gods are gods. Every step they take has an ulterior motive.
He told
his identity not to let
get closer to him, but because he was quietly getting closer to .
What he wanted from
was..."
At that, Poison stopped. She looked at Zhang Jizu with deep concern, pursed her lips, and asked:
"Can I trust you?"
"?"
For just an instant, Zhang Jizu drew his scalpel again.
He suspected the coy Poison before him wasn't the real Poison at all—she might very well be a certain Fate Weaver who was begging for a beating!
He still said nothing, and even took a few cautious steps backward.
Seeing this, Poison's troubled expression froze on her face. The awkward silence spread instantly.
"...Am I really that untrustworthy, or are you—"
"If you have sothing to say, say it. If not, goodbye." Zhang Jizu retreated another step, preparing to take a detour.
Poison's mouth twitched. Looking at this Death Chosen One of "pure desire," she said wistfully:
"Fine. It's rare I find soone to confide in, so I'll just say it.
Yu Xi's reason for getting close to
wasn't at all pure. He did all those things for
because what he wanted from
was...
pleasure."
As she spoke, Poison lowered her head in a mix of sha and anger. But when she looked up again, Zhang Jizu was nowhere to be seen. Only empty air remained before her.
"?
Was my lie that obvious?"
Yes, Poison had lied. She had never intended to share her inner secrets with Zhang Jizu. She had rely wanted to observe this Death Chosen One's reactions to verify certain theories she had about Cheng Shi. But steady old Zhang hadn't given her the chance.
Poison stared blankly at the now-empty path, then laughed at herself. She slid down the wall until she was sitting at its base, gazing up at the sky. With the tip of her Dance With Desire blade, she gently traced the shapes of the clouds above, murmuring in an indescribable tone:
"What exactly is desire?
Why... why would He do this?"
...
anwhile.
The two deceivers who had just "resolved to defy" Deceit didn't linger. They sprang into action once more, infiltrating the explosion site and combing through it for any trace of their missing teammate.
They found clues quickly.
Zhen Xin was absurdly wealthy. She was probably the richest magician in the entire ga. Setting aside the sheer resources a History School could provide her, her arsenal of deceptive tricks alone must have swindled countless magic cards from others.
While the outer periter was cordoned off, the two used illusions to conceal the scene, then stood brazenly in the blast's epicenter and searched to their hearts' content.
Of course, there wasn't much searching involved—it was all Zhen Xin tossing cards outward.
mory cards, Ti cards, Truth cards, Folly cards... For the first ti, Cheng Shi learned how the "wealthy" played the ga. As the cards fluttered down, the destroyed tent reconstituted itself, replaying scene after scene from before the explosion.
Cheng Shi's pupils contracted. His tone carried a hint of sourness: "In this mont, you really do look like soone who walked out of the Golden House."
Zhen Xin shot him a glare, then pointed at the entrance of the tent in the reconstructed mory field, and whispered: "Here he cos."
No sooner had she spoken than a figure pushed the door open and walked in.
Dawn light leapt over his shoulder, tracing his silhouette—but in its haste to embrace the darkness within the room, it missed his face.
Yet a silhouette alone was enough, because Cheng Shi would never forget the face of the Master of Trickery who had howled in frenzy across the ice plain!
It really was him—Su Yida!
...
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