Foolish Game of the Chapter 1279: Why Aren't They Back Yet?

Gods loved self-destruction?

That was the simplest lesson Cheng Shi had distilled from his past experiences.

Of course, there was a deeper one: extre devotion is always blasphemy!

Why else would Sin of Desirelessness have committed such supre sacrilege against his Lord Corruption before death—going so far as to create a person devoid of desire?

Cheng Shi studied Poison with an expression that ran through every shade of complexity. After a pause, he offered:

"I understand."

This was sothing he'd learned from the gods themselves. When you can't give a precise answer, just say "I understand" and leave the other person trapped in "I don't understand."

Cheng Shi had undoubtedly mastered the essence, because after hearing this, Poison proved remarkably... accepting.

Perhaps in her eyes, a god was supposed to look exactly like Cheng Shi right now—cold and detached. Before, his player persona had been too disarming, always making her instinctively want to draw closer. Now she'd been "disillusioned" about the Fate Weaver.

Not because her mindset had changed—but because her desire had been stripped away.

Just as Poison herself had said, she was rely performing the role of herself now. Performing the assassin who wanted to be near the Fate Weaver.

Seeing Poison's confusion, Cheng Shi gave a light chuckle:

"Perhaps this is for the best. Only by setting down the weight of desire can you see the truth hiding behind countless illusions in a world warped by desire.

Your information is very important to . Corruption is indeed one of the universe's mysteries. When I have ti later, I'll investigate thoroughly.

But right now, I need to focus on Deceit's trial.

I need to figure out whether He's an ally I can win over, or an enemy I need to fight..."

Cheng Shi's voice trailed off, as if dissolving into self-murmuring. But then he looked up with a smile. "Also—don't overestimate your own importance. I guided you to see Aph Ros only because Aph Ros was bored and needed entertainnt, and you happened to have the desire for faith fusion.

A win-win arrangent—nothing to do with what you've witnessed today.

Since there's no desire left in your heart, don't be too hard on yourself. Enjoy the gentle breeze of the present.

This is a rare mont of peace for you."

With that, Cheng Shi turned and headed straight for the hill where Long Jing and Old Zhang were hiding.

Both Joker mbers paled slightly at the sight.

'Oh no—they hadn't heard a thing, and now the man himself was coming over?'

Long Jing's eyelids twitched frantically. Without a word, he burrowed straight into the ground and vanished. Zhang Jizu, on the other hand, refused to leave in such an undignified manner. With a quiet sigh, he stood where he was, waiting to be caught red-handed.

Cheng Shi had been heading for them specifically, and he already knew neither had overheard anything significant—so naturally he wouldn't make an issue of it. His thoughts were still a ss; he was still trying to parse Drasilco's behavior. When he rounded the hill to find Old Zhang standing ramrod straight, he blinked, glanced at the adjacent mound, and said with a peculiar expression:

"What's this?

Your security guard instincts kicked in?

Old Zhang, you really don't need to be this dedicated. You see a dirt mound and think you're back in the cetery. You're standing guard for nobody.

Unless you want

to praise you?"

He clapped theatrically, murmuring, "Oh my, what excellent posture..."

Zhang Jizu's face went black. His eyes nearly disappeared into the shadows of his brow.

But for once, he didn't fire back.

He was wrestling with his own complicated feelings—because he'd sensed the Death energy perating the area around Cheng Shi and Poison.

He'd rung that Bone Bell again.

The Joker didn't know, but Zhang Jizu was keenly aware: the being behind that Bone Bell wasn't the benefactor on the Fishbone Hall's white bone throne. It was the very god who had bestowed this trial—Deceit!

Having learned so of this trial's backstory, Zhang Jizu had been mulling over what Deceit was really alluding to. Back then, he'd believed Deceit's claim of saving the world and had cooperated to deceive all the Joker mbers. Now, sensing Cheng Shi's strikingly ambiguous attitude toward this trial, he was starting to wonder if he too had been duped.

But he had no proof. Terrified that his "foolish act" might ruin things, he was caught in indecision.

He was debating whether to co clean with Cheng Shi—but that internal struggle, when viewed through Cheng Shi's eyes, simply looked like the old man was emotionally compromised.

Cheng Shi quit while he was ahead and stopped teasing. After a mont's thought, he tossed Zhang Jizu the question Poison had raised:

"What do you think desire really is?"

Zhang Jizu blinked, then turned to peer around the hill at Poison standing motionless in the distance. He shook his head.

"People's hearts all differ. Hard to generalize.

What happened to Poison?"

Cheng Shi sneered at such evasive diplomacy. He waved a hand dismissively:

"She lost 100 S-rank artifacts to

in a ga of rock-paper-scissors. Couldn't accept the defeat, so she's standing there playing freeze-fra to soothe her wounded ego.

Tsk—debt collection is getting harder every day. That puts

at 200 unreturned articles now. Old Zhang, do you think I'll ever collect in this lifeti?"

Zhang Jizu narrowed his already-narrow eyes and said coolly: "Collecting after death is always an option."

"..."

'You'd actually accept a grave as collateral?'

Cheng Shi couldn't laugh anymore.

He checked the ti, his brow furrowing: "Why aren't Zhen Xin and they back yet? Two people shouldn't have this much trouble finding a single NPC."

Zhang Jizu didn't take the bait. After a mont's reflection, he decided to test Cheng Shi's attitude toward Deceit, hoping to confirm the suspicion in his heart.

"Aren't we going to talk about Yu Xi?"

"?" Cheng Shi's expression froze. A second later, he played dumb: "What about Yu Xi?"

"Poison told . I know everything."

Cheng Shi stared at Old Zhang's narrow eyes for a long ti, suspicion written all over his face. Then he snorted:

"Tsk—trying to bluff ?

Old Zhang, just because you've fused with Deceit doesn't an you can out-trick . For all you know, you're the one being deceived.

Believing anyone and everyone without question—what, you've never been played?

People need independent judgnt. Otherwise, they'll get led straight into a ditch."

He'd spoken casually, but the listener took it to heart. Zhang Jizu instantly thought of Deceit's "saving the world" rhetoric. His heart sank.

anwhile, Cheng Shi's expression grew steadily more serious.

"Sothing's wrong.

This spot is far from the Imperial City, sure, but for those two it shouldn't take this long. Could they have run into trouble at the palace?

And Long Jing?

Where did he go?

One by one, they all vanish on . Are these people plotting sothing behind my back?"

"..." Zhang Jizu looked away and kept silent.

Cheng Shi's unease grew. He frowned and peered toward the Kurd Imperial City—just as a figure appeared in the distance from that direction.

Long Jing!

The acrobat had returned, sprinting back at full speed. When he saw only Cheng Shi and Zhang Jizu nearby—with Poison standing alone in the distance—his expression turned visibly bewildered.

eting Cheng Shi's questioning gaze, he exclaid:

"The Zhen woman isn't back?"

Cheng Shi's eyes sharpened: "You went to the Imperial City. You didn't see them?"

Long Jing had clearly sensed sothing off as well. He dropped all pretense about the eavesdropping and nodded:

"When I saw you heading over, I figured I'd get a head start and see what the Zhen woman had found. But I couldn't find anyone at the palace.

News of the Morning Joy ringmaster's disappearance has already spread within the Imperial City. Luckily, it hasn't leaked out; the Canlival royal family has sealed off the information and is searching the entire palace.

I thought I'd just missed them on the way, so I rushed back.

They're really not here?"

Long Jing's suspicion deepened. He looked at the two in front of him, his tone uncertain:

"You two couldn't actually be the Zhen woman and the Grand Marshal in disguise, putting on another show for , could you?

Still trying to make

the clown!?"

"..."

"..."

Cheng Shi stared at the acrobat, thinking PTSD had beco a full-blown epidemic.

...