Once Long Jing's proposal was rejected, silence fell over the room again — and as ti stretched on, the silence grew increasingly charged.
Cheng Shi's current situation was, in truth, deeply awkward. He had revealed his identity, which ant the Jokers now knew he was the answer to this world's equation — the sacrifice [Fate] intended to offer to the Creator.
If the Era Curtain Call had been real, with Outer Gods circling like wolves, they would have had no choice. To protect the world, they'd have had to guard Cheng Shi — that would have been the only option.
But now it had been proven to be nothing more than a "trial." And so, before the Jokers, a new road had opened up:
Hand over the sacrifice to [Fate], and complete the prescribed offering.
For clever people, that was the optimal solution for preserving their own survival.
The Jokers were, of course, clever. But not one of them brought it up. Why?
Because they were sharper than rely clever. Cheng Shi had said nothing explicitly — but the Curtain Call he'd described had said everything that needed saying.
The final image of "War" making its last stand against the "Outer God" had written one word in every drop of blood it shed: defiance.
Fixed Destiny was not sothing he would ever compromise on.
Of course, Cheng Shi's resolve mattered — but it wasn't the only factor. After learning all the details of the false Curtain Call, the Jokers couldn't help but think about what the Fun God had intended with this terrifying trial.
Did the Outer Gods truly exist?
Did that overwhelming [Origin] power truly exist?
And most importantly — if [Fate] completed the fixed sacrifice, did that guarantee this world would have a future?
Even the "Outer God" had failed once, hadn't it?
And with the parallel worlds numbering in the billions, Fixed Destiny must exist in billions of forms as well. Who could be certain that the throne their world produced would be the one to move [Origin]'s heart?
No one could. Not even [Deceit]. Otherwise, [Deceit] wouldn't have rebelled in the first place.
It wasn't ignorant of the fact that submitting to Fixed Destiny was one possible answer. That terrifying trial... looked at from a certain angle, it wasn't impossible that [Deceit] had used it as a kind of attempt.
But [Deceit] simply couldn't guarantee that its answer would be the one the Creator actually wanted.
Perhaps that was exactly why the Fun God feared.
In this mont, the Jokers felt it too — and for the first ti, they resonated with the Fear Faction's intent.
Cheng Shi quietly took all of this in. Then he broke the silence with a laugh, cupping his hands toward the group in a mock bow.
"I thank the Jokers for sparing my life."
At that, Zhen Xin rolled her eyes, Li Jingming smiled quietly, the Doctor looked reverent, and Long Jing looked disdainful.
If this particular clown hadn't chosen to pull back the curtain on the Real Universe for the Jokers — even as the peak players that others looked up to — they'd be able to do nothing but keep their heads down and grind the ga, living on like oblivious, clueless NPCs forever.
But now they were gathered here together, discussing gods, exploring the universe, probing the cosmos, speculating about [Origin] — all because one clown had chosen to extend his trust.
It couldn't be denied that the clown was doing it to survive — but his sincerity had been seen, and it had earned their sincerity in return.
Real friendship was exactly like that. When a friend was in trouble, you didn't think twice. You helped — that was it.
Seen in that light, Big Cat's "philosophy of flourishing" really was a step ahead of everyone else.
Watching his friends worry on his behalf over a fixed, uncertain future, Cheng Shi smiled — a genuine smile.
He had known the Jokers' positions all along. None of what had just happened was a test. It was him steadying his own resolve.
Whatever happens, he thought, I won't let my friends bear that despair for
again. I can't.
"You eat one bite at a ti. You walk one step at a ti. So roads have been sealed off — so we walk the ones that are already paved.
Let's talk about sothing lighter.
Before I find the answers from the divine beings — let's first discuss a very important plan.
When are we... going to see Jie Shu?"
"?"
Everyone paused, and only the Doctor looked genuinely confused.
"Why are we looking for Jie Shu? Praise be to Yu Xi."
The others exchanged slightly awkward expressions, and it occurred to them that this Joker eting — already missing one mber — now seed to have quietly "gained" one.
In the infiltration sche targeting Jie Shu's circle, Cheng Shi, Zhen Xin, and Long Jing each had roles to play. Li Jingming, not wanting to lose this mory, had even added a personal note to the script himself.
Only the Doctor had been left out entirely — kept in the dark and still completely unaware.
Zhen Xin explained the whole sche to the Doctor with a smile. Once he understood, the Doctor's voice took on a peculiar tone.
"Though I firmly believe that [Folly] is a blasphemy against [Truth]... well, [Truth] is gone now, so perhaps blasphemy is a moot point.
Jie Shu is a brilliant mind. Far simpler than you imagine him to be — he absolutely isn't.
His rank of second on the Road to Ascension says everything.
How many scholars and so-called wise n have tried to challenge him, only to find themselves unable to so much as see his back?
Are you certain your plan won't be found out?
Praise be to Yu Xi!"
"Precisely because we aren't certain — which is exactly why we're discussing it as a group." Cheng Shi smiled.
Long Jing beside him gave a dismissive wave. "That fanatic devotee of Yu Xi should stop putting himself down and elevating others. Ahem. This is my plan, backed by President Gong's reputation — just follow my lead and enjoy the applause that follows."
"..."
Everyone ignored Long Jing and began hashing out the details. Before long, they'd hamred out an infiltration sche that satisfied the whole group of schers. As the eting was wrapping up, Zhen Xin smiled and asked:
"The stage is set — but the Fate Weaver still hasn't told us what any of this is really for. Don't just say it's to stop Jie Shu from plotting against you — if he could have handled you, [Fate] would have disposed of him long ago.
And this plan needs a na. Calling it 'Jie Shu' out loud is too easy to give away."
Long Jing imdiately perked up and started racking his brain for a na. He looked up — only to notice every pair of eyes in the room was fixed on Cheng Shi.
"..."
Everyone was watching the clown — and yet sohow not watching the clown.
He sighed and followed their gazes toward Cheng Shi — only to find that Cheng Shi was the one looking at him instead, his expression carrying a weight that was entirely out of place.
Long Jing blinked. Then he heard Cheng Shi address him with complete seriousness:
"Torch-Passing.
The na of this plan is Torch-Passing.
A single spark can set a prairie ablaze. Hope was never ant to be kept in just one place. I didn't understand that before, but now — I think I'm starting to.
I don't know if I'm the one who gets to receive the torch. But I want to try, while I still can, to be soone who can pass it on.
And the lead in this Torch-Passing performance — is you, President Gong, with your wealth of stage experience.
Long Jing. I'm counting on you. Don't let
down."
"???"
In that mont, and he couldn't explain why, Long Jing's spine straightened on its own.
eting everyone's eyes, he wore three parts confidence, three parts recklessness, three parts disdain — and ninety-one other parts of stiffness — as he said:
"...Just don't hold
back."
The Jokers fell silent for one collective second — and then erupted in laughter.
"Hahahahaha—"
"Laugh all you want! Laugh all you want! Keep laughing and I'm out!"
"We're done, we're done — kukukuku—"
"Still laughing! Do you people have no sha?!"
"Sha?
Probably not.
And no one ever said the Jokers were normal anyway — aren't we just... a bunch of lunatics standing on [Void]'s stage, laughing at ourselves?"
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