The atmosphere turned awkward.
Everyone present — except Zhen Xin — was mulling the sa question:
'Once the primary personality ascends to godhood, and the balance of consciousness is irrevocably tipped — does the secondary personality even have room to survive?'
'Could Zhen Yi have—'
The thought made Cheng Shi's expression shift. His pupils contracted sharply as he looked at Zhen Xin. Seeing the dimness behind her eyes, his heart sank. mories of every encounter with Zhen Yi flashed across his mind.
The Master of Trickery who had always kept that signature "hee" on her lips — who laughed boisterously while tornting the world — had disappeared because her sister ascended?!
Zhen Xin had paid such a price for her apotheosis?!
Admittedly, in other players' eyes, Zhen Yi was a demon incarnate. But in Zhen Xin's eyes, she was still her little sister — the only person who had been there for her through the darkest tis.
Cheng Shi couldn't imagine how devastating Zhen Yi's departure must have been. Yet this resilient Magician had never uttered a single word of complaint.
She, too, had given so much for the Jokers, for the world...
"I'm sorry."
Cheng Shi bowed his head, tinged with sorrow.
That single apology shattered the atmosphere entirely. A wave of sadness suddenly perated the space between the Jokers.
Even Long Jing — who had clashed with Zhen Yi more than anyone — wore a trace of grief. He didn't dare look at Zhen Xin. His gaze drifted to the distance as he muttered, barely audible:
"Idiot. So you finally screwed up, huh.
Couldn't even fool your own sister?
Pretending to be a hero... Yeah, I wanted to play hero too. Except I'm still alive. What about you... You're so damn clever — why couldn't you find a way to save yourself..."
His words teetered between insults and mockery, yet the emotion behind them was unmistakable.
'Bad luck' was never a lie. When Zhen Yi was alive, nobody thought she wasn't bad luck.
But the instant they learned the Master of Trickery had sacrificed herself for the "greater good," that uneasy feeling transford — into reluctance, understanding, and forgiveness.
Especially after knowing the Zhen sisters' past, it beca a kind of tenderness.
She had appeared at the mont of Zhen Xin's deepest suffering, sheltering her sister from the downpour. Then she had vanished at the mont of Zhen Xin's greatest "glory," leaving the Universe nothing but a silent "hee..."
That behind-the-scenes-yet-unforgettable behavior struck a chord with Long Jing. President Gong actually turned his head and quietly sniffled.
Every Joker present stood at the pinnacle of the Universe. No matter how subtle a movent, it wouldn't escape their notice. Naturally, President Gong's two sniffles beca the turning point in the funeral mood. He'd barely turned back around before the others were saying, in various expressions:
"At least we fooled one."
"President Gong empathizing with Zhen Yi — now that's sothing I never expected."
"Mm, another fine Collection piece."
"Hee~"
"!!!???"
Long Jing couldn't believe his eyes — or his ears!
He stared in disbelief at the four "companions" before him: that detestable Squinty Zhang with his eyes crinkled in laughter; that detestable Cheng Shi, brows arched, barely containing a grin; that detestable Dragon King, chuckling endlessly; and finally — that detestable Zhen Yi, face brimming with cunning!
It was definitely Zhen Yi. Her smile was too familiar. There was no mistaking it!
"You... you people..." President Gong was furious. "You actually played !"
Zhen Xin doubled over laughing, brimming with energy:
"Hee~
Who played you?
Old Gong, we didn't say a single word, you know? Who could've guessed you'd suddenly start sniffling?
Wait — did you think I was dead?
So you'd actually be this heartbroken if I died? Oh my — do you like ?"
"I like your—%@#$%!!!"
Long Jing's defenses crumbled. He jabbed a finger at Cheng Shi and demanded:
"You knew all along, didn't you, Fate Weaver!
If you knew Zhen Yi wasn't dead, why did you say 'sorry'?!"
Cheng Shi had finally rediscovered a sliver of joy among the Jokers. He smiled:
"Knowing I was about to trick you, I figured I should apologize in advance. Nothing wrong with that, right?"
"???"
Long Jing's pitch shot up, his face contorted: "You were saying it to ?!"
Cheng Shi nodded: "Of course. Fooling you is still wrong. A preemptive apology is only polite."
"But your face clearly changed! You were obviously thinking the sa thing I was. Why did you suddenly figure it out?"
"Simple. If Zhen Yi had truly departed, no matter how well Zhen Xin hid it, there's no way she could've hidden it from the Fate Chosen who's always cared about her.
And given the Fate Chosen's personality — if he'd learned sothing that serious yet didn't co to
for help, it could only an the premise itself didn't exist."
"..."
Long Jing's blank brain turned it over and had to admit it made sense.
But he wasn't having it. He rounded on Old Zhang next. Zhang Jizu, eyes narrowed tight, wanting no trouble, rattled off a quick explanation:
"I'm a Death follower. Even if I hadn't inherited the Benefactor's everything at the ti Zhen Yi supposedly left — the Benefactor never issued an oracle about it. Which is good news in itself."
"..."
The mont Zhang Jizu finished, Li Jingming chipped in: "Sa for mory. No new Collection piece appeared in the Hall — which ans nothing happened."
"..."
'So you're ALL geniuses, and I'm the only idiot?!'
Long Jing staggered back a step, fingers pressing furiously against his own nose. He let out staccato laughter — syllable by syllable — then roared:
"Ha. Ha. Ha. CLOWN!!!"
The rrint in the Void reached new heights. Every inch of space rang with laughter.
Everyone except Long Jing...
And Cheng Shi.
'Seriously, bros? The Clown's suffered enough already — and you're still flogging him?'
Cheng Shi couldn't laugh anymore. Then again—
'Wait. I'm not the only Clown here. Why isn't the other one taking it personally?'
He looked at Old Zhang. Zhang Jizu glanced back at him, and the arc of his squinting smile widened even further.
"..."
'Squinty Zhang is absolutely NOT laughing at . He's laughing at Long Jing!'
Before long, Li Jingming's amusent slowly faded. He turned to Zhen Yi, seemingly about to say sothing.
But Zhen Yi shook her head at him with a bright smile, shutting the words before they left his mouth.
Zhang Jizu, having noticed the undercurrent, stood aside in silence. In the end, it was Cheng Shi who spotted the tension, let out a long sigh, set aside his genuine laughter, and said softly:
"Go on, then. Joy is wonderful — but fleeting.
Zhen Xin, you were part of that plan from start to finish. You must understand Deceit's intent. He didn't place you on that Throne on a whim.
So what are your thoughts?
The Dragon King seems to want you to return to Deceit's path... wait!"
Sothing clicked in Cheng Shi's mind. His expression shifted, caught between alarm and suspicion: "Dragon King — you don't an for Zhen Yi to inherit Deceit's Throne, do you?!
One body, two souls. Split succession across two seats?"
Whether it was feasible aside — just imagining one era's "hee" replacing another era's "hee" gave Cheng Shi a headache.
'True, a new Oblivion could be a cosmic crisis. But a new Deceit might be just as dangerous...'
He rubbed his temples and looked at Zhen Yi. His expression was sowhat grave:
"Zhen Xin — is this what you want too?"
All eyes turned to Zhen Xin. She still wore Zhen Yi's face, the corner of her mouth curled upward. But before long, the smile slowly fell away.
Eyes cast slightly downward, no longer playful, she spoke:
"The Benefactor truly didn't act on a whim.
He fulfilled a wish of mine. He gave
a sister."
"?"
While the group was still puzzling over the aning of Zhen Yi's words, her shoulders sank — as though shedding an infinite disguise. She raised her head and forced a smile so strained it was almost painful:
"I am Zhen Yi. I've been Zhen Yi all along.
From the very beginning — from the past you all know — it was already .
I am this body's... primary personality."
...
Reviews
All reviews (0)