The rendezvous point had been chosen by Jie Shu — the rooftop of an abandoned high-rise.
The layout here closely resembled Cheng Shi's rest area. According to Jie Shu, a similar setting would also improve the success rate of spatial targeting.
Zhao Xishi and Mo Shu had yet to arrive. Jie Shu watched the two approaching figures, his gaze darkening as it swept back and forth across Long Jing with undisguised suspicion.
He had heard about the incident during the Trial where soone had impersonated Su Yida. From that, he'd inferred a few things and had since subjected the Master of Trickery to a series of probing tests.
But the Master of Trickery's responses had been flawless. He couldn't claim to rember every detail of their past exchanges, but the critical points were spot-on, while trivial details were peppered with convincingly vague recollections — exactly what you'd expect from a normal person's mory. Jie Shu had found no cracks.
Long Jing had been secretly relieved at the ti. Thankfully, Jie Shu hadn't asked about anything beyond the world's borders — or the cover would have been blown for certain.
But the Wise Man was inherently suspicious. Once Jie Shu started doubting, the matter wouldn't simply be set aside.
Originally, the only ones who knew about the plan and had shown interest were Li Jingming and Long Jing, both of whom had caught wind of it during that Trial.
Li Jingming was the sort who would use only straightforward ans to preserve a mory — Jie Shu was actually unconcerned about him.
But Long Jing...
Liars had too many sches. Jie Shu couldn't predict what the Acrobat might do to achieve his ends.
He had assud Long Jing would try to eliminate one of the plan's mbers and take their place, fishing in muddy waters. The Master of Trickery was the weakest link, making Su Yida the most likely target.
But the stubbornly proud Master of Trickery had refused all warnings and insisted on pushing himself harder during Trials. This had forced Jie Shu to constantly monitor his movents and ensure his safety.
Fortunately, Long Jing had also shown up today — so that particular concern could be shelved for now. What was troubling, however, was the attitude implied by the Master of Trickery and Long Jing secretly teaming up without informing him. When the two appeared, Jie Shu's expression turned sour.
Su Yida, too, knew that unilaterally bringing soone to a plan like this broke the rules. But considering he was the star of this plan, he offered his explanation with a mixture of arrogance and stiffness:
"The Acrobat helped
during the Trial. And I've looked into it — he genuinely has a grudge against Cheng Shi. He can be an asset for us."
Long Jing flashed a grin and gave Jie Shu a casual wave. His beaming face seed to say: 'See? I ca without needing your invitation.'
A muscle twitched in Jie Shu's face. "Where did you 'look into it'?" he asked in a low voice.
Su Yida paused, then furrowed his brow. "Through my own channels. They're absolutely reliable."
"..."
Jie Shu said nothing.
Based on what he knew of the Master of Trickery, this reaction tracked perfectly. Su Yida was a stubborn, arrogant, ambitious man with no self-awareness — otherwise he would never have agreed to the plan in the first place.
What Jie Shu had actually been watching for was the opposite: if the two of them had explained, in ticulous detail, the process of how they just happened to et and reach so kind of agreent, he would have been certain Su Yida was being controlled and that this Long Jing was compromised.
But right now, Su Yida was almost too perfectly Su Yida. Jie Shu couldn't find a single flaw.
What was even more impressive was that Long Jing — who clearly didn't belong to this plan and might very well be saboteur material — carried himself with an air of "my presence here is a favor to you," without the slightest trace of the nervousness one would expect from soone harboring ill intent and fearing exposure...
It had to be said: in this mont, the Master of Trickery and the Acrobat were a rather perfect match.
Perfectly nauseating.
Jie Shu drew a deep breath, deliberating whether to let Long Jing stay — and then Zhao Xishi arrived.
The long-absent Historian still carried that composed look of soone holding all the cards. The mont she appeared, the shrewdness on her face rivaled Jie Shu's own.
She greeted everyone. When she noticed Long Jing's presence, she rely raised an eyebrow, looking unsurprised.
Jie Shu caught Zhao Xishi's expression and frowned slightly:
"You disappeared for a long ti."
Zhao Xishi gave a light laugh. "That's why I'm still alive."
"?" Jie Shu's pupils contracted. "You ran into trouble. Who was it?"
"Who else? An old rival."
At the ntion of her rival, Zhao Xishi's laugh turned cold in an instant, her voice bitter with resentnt. "The Magician gained sothing at the Chaos Temple. She's probably about to shed her mortal shell and ascend to godhood.
I couldn't accept it. I tried to test her — and got chased like a holess stray dog. Spent ages hiding out in the wild."
"Ascend to godhood? Zhen Xin is going to beco the Envoy of Chaos?!" Jie Shu started. He genuinely hadn't known.
"What — you still didn't know?
The Magician secretly rged with Chaos. Her deceptions have beco even more masterful because of it.
I'd advise you all to stay well away from her for the ti being. If you get burned, don't say I didn't warn you."
There was a distinct edge of gnashing teeth in Zhao Xishi's tone, and a barely perceptible flash of defeat in her eyes.
Both Jie Shu and Long Jing were consummate judges of character. They could see the shift in the Historian's temperant, but neither offered consolation.
For one, the ever-proud Historian might not welco comfort from others. For another, everyone present was rely in a working relationship — one held together by mutual interest, not friendship. Nobody had standing to comfort anyone.
Long Jing did mutter a few grumbled curses under his breath upon hearing that Zhen Xin had rged with Chaos, and then silence settled over the rooftop once more.
Zhao Xishi swept her gaze across the group, her expression cool, and moved a little closer. Behind her, an aura of Chaos quietly unfurled and slowly blanketed the rooftop.
Jie Shu had still had questions on his lips — but the mont he opened his mouth, his mind churned with confusion. He seed to forget what he'd been about to ask, and decided everything was perfectly reasonable after all. With a nod, he said nothing more and waited in silence for the final mber to arrive.
Before long, Mo Shu appeared.
This ti, unusually, he wasn't carrying his pastry box. Instead, he held a pen. The instant he materialized, he addressed everyone present:
"What, truly, is Oblivion...?"
"..."
Jie Shu's eyelid twitched violently. Looking at these decidedly unreliable mbers standing before him, he felt a kind of indescribable "grief and fury" welling up inside!
'The plan wasn't supposed to be like this! How has it been only a few months and everything feels so different?!'
Stubborn, reckless, defeated, deranged... These were no longer the spirited peak players of before. This was a lineup of lunatics!
Watching Mo Shu's manic appearance, Long Jing burst out laughing.
"Ha ha ha..."
It wasn't a break in character — it was mockery of the mbers in Jie Shu's plan.
President Gong's acting was always on point. With everyone else having changed so dramatically, it would actually look suspicious if he didn't react.
"Now this is entertaining. Is this so-called plan of yours still even viable?
Su Yida, don't forget what we agreed on. I'm here seeking a partnership — not doing charity work.
If your plan can't deal with the Fate Weaver, don't bla
for turning around and walking out.
I don't see where your edge is."
The provocation clearly struck a nerve with the Master of Trickery. Su Yida's expression hardened:
"The plan hasn't even started yet. It's too early for talk like that.
Wise Man — everyone's here. Let's begin."
Jie Shu forced down the swirling unease in his mind, his brow furrowed tightly:
"Don't assu that just because the Master of Trickery vouches for you, I'll trust you too.
President Gong — give
a reason to believe in you. Why should I think you won't sabotage the plan mid-execution?
Rumor has it you and Cheng Shi have fought side by side before. Your relationship with him... seems rather amicable, doesn't it?"
...
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