Countless pairs of tallic eyeballs emitting eerie blue light suddenly rose from beneath the rotting leaf cover all across the Sighing Forest. They pierced through soil and dead leaves, chanically rotated a few tis, then fixed their gaze in unison on the spot where the contract had reappeared.
Indeed—these chanical eyes hadn't been tracking the Twisted Night Pythons. They'd rely sensed the contract's return and lit up to guide the "companions" searching for it through the forest.
As the blue lights converged, over a hundred chanical serpents—identical in appearance to the Twisted Night Pythons—slowly crawled from their underground slumber, hissing and writhing, blending seamlessly into the rushing tide of snakes as they surged toward the contract's location.
anwhile, on the other side.
Cheng Shi had vanished—but he hadn't returned to the Void. Using a die he'd secretly stashed in the Mushroom-Footed People's Tribe, he'd transported himself back to the settlent that still desperately awaited its Divine Envoy's return.
When he and Hong Lin had been hamring out every detail of their plan in the Void, this pitiful Tribe abandoned in the Sighing Forest had never co up once.
Both of them had tacitly skipped past the Mushroom-Footed People, because they both knew—in the face of a trial, NPC lives didn't count as lives.
Sacrificed and gone. The deaths of a few hundred to a thousand people wouldn't cause a single ripple in the annals of history.
But Cheng Shi knew Hong Lin wasn't a cold-blooded player. She'd thought of them—she just couldn't afford to address it given his plan. So she'd chosen silence.
In truth, Cheng Shi had thought of them too. These were innocent lives. They shouldn't beco sacrifices for an experint or a gamble.
When caught between two harms, Cheng Shi had no choice but to pick the lesser. But if he could grab a little sothing on the side—this kind of "asset" that might turn into extra chips at the table's edge—he was willing to reach.
So when the timing was right, he'd rushed back for a look.
He hadn't been sure if the Mushroom-Footed People were already exposed to the Sighing Forest the instant the contract was torn. He didn't know if Eposka, enraged beyond reason, had slaughtered them all before camping at the spot where they'd vanished. He couldn't be certain whether nightfall had already seen them gnawed to nothing by [Decay]'s creations...
But what if?
Clinging to that hope, Cheng Shi appeared in the Main House—and found countless trembling, terrified Mushroom-Footed People packed in circles around the building, softly praying to [Prosperity]'s na. The Old Patriarch stood in the center, holding up a blazing white lantern, ceaselessly comforting his clansn as [Decay] gnawed at them and they slowly "withered."
He was saying: "The Divine Envoy will not abandon us. Amir's disappearance does not an He has revoked His forgiveness. This may be the fourth trial—and this trial tests our courage.
We must summon our spirits, ignite our [Prosperity], and prove with our bodies and blood to our Benefactor that we, the Mushroom-Footed People, are His most devout followers!
Even in our final monts, we will not decay to [Decay]. We remain children of [Prosperity]!
My brothers and sisters, do not give up. The Divine Envoy is already on his way back!"
But this speech had been repeated so many tis since nightfall that it was practically worn through. Almost no one believed the Old Patriarch anymore.
They believed Amir's performance had angered the Benefactor, prompting Him to withdraw His protection. And without [Prosperity]'s shelter, the Mushroom-Footed People were like rabbits tossed to wolves—no chance of survival.
The spread of [Decay] wasn't the terrifying part. What was terrifying was the despair rampaging through their hearts.
And precisely at this mont—Cheng Shi appeared!
As the Old Patriarch's trembling, hoarse words faded, Cheng Shi landed and imdiately shouted to the sea of Mushroom-Footed People before him:
"Praise [Prosperity]!"
Every Mushroom-Footed Person froze, then looked up in disbelief at their returned Divine Envoy—Master Baldy!
He had co back!
At the Tribe's darkest hour, he had co back!
Cheng Shi's appearance instantly ignited their devotion. They were beside themselves with excitent, tears of fervor streaming down their faces, countless hands clasped over mouths as they prostrated on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably, hysterically crying out "Master Baldy" and [Prosperity]'s Divine Na as they released every shred of fear and gratitude in their hearts.
Even the Old Patriarch couldn't believe his own words had co true. The mont the Divine Envoy actually returned, he crashed to the ground with a thud, weeping louder and more mournfully than anyone else.
"Master Baldy, you've finally returned! He hasn't abandoned us—what I said was true! He hasn't abandoned us!"
'Hasn't abandoned them? Well... perhaps.'
Cheng Shi sighed inwardly and helped the Old Patriarch up from the ground.
The Old Patriarch quickly leaned close to Cheng Shi's ear and whispered:
"Master Baldy, is this truly His trial?"
Cheng Shi smiled and nodded. But what he said next stunned the Old Patriarch frozen on the spot—and instantly silenced the thunderous cheers of the entire Mushroom-Footed People's Tribe, leaving every voice of praise mute.
He cleared his throat and announced with an air both mysterious and sacred:
"What follows is your fourth trial—the courage of absolute obedience!
From this mont forward, all of His children must...
Cease resistance. Embrace [Decay]. Beco part of this Sighing Forest. Through absolute submission and devotion, prove that you possess the unwavering resolve and... courage to return!"
"What?!!"
"Impossible!"
"Master Baldy, is the divine decree perhaps... mistaken?"
"How can this be... how can this be..."
The Old Patriarch was dumbstruck as well. His mind roared with white noise, all capacity for thought obliterated. After standing stunned for an eternity, he seized Cheng Shi's hand and stamred in disbelief:
"Master Baldy, we are children of [Prosperity]. If we're exposed to [Decay] without any resistance, we won't transform into [Decay]'s creations—we'll simply be corroded to death, right here in this forest...
Has He... truly abandoned us after all?"
Cheng Shi looked at the crowd's reactions and gave a cold laugh:
"Do you know why your Tribe was exiled here in the first place?
It's because during the campaign against [Decay], you disobeyed orders and fled. That is why our great Benefactor exiled you for eternity to this battlefield—to this enemy territory of the Sighing Forest—to atone and repent.
But He is rciful. He still gave you a sanctuary. And now, as the trials approach their end, you can no longer receive His protection. You must prove your courage in this Sighing Forest. The proof is simple: believe in the Benefactor's forgiveness. Believe that [Prosperity] will co.
In the mont you embrace [Decay], He will protect you. He will ensure you never die from [Decay]'s erosion.
Believe or don't believe. The choice is yours."
With that, Cheng Shi stepped back stone-faced, retreating to a corner.
The Mushroom-Footed People stared at their stern-faced Divine Envoy, hearts hamring, faces stricken with panic.
The Old Patriarch's expression shifted again and again. After glancing at Cheng Shi several tis, he finally steeled his resolve—and accepted the trial.
"My people! We are [Prosperity]'s most devout followers! We must have faith! He has never abandoned us!
And Master Baldy's arrival is the finest proof of that forgiveness!
Now that the trial's challenge has been proclaid...
Everyone—cease resistance. Embrace [Decay]!"
No sooner had the words left his lips than the Old Patriarch severed his own thread-thin "Prosperity" and let [Decay] flood into his body.
Seeing their patriarch's example, the Mushroom-Footed People outside the building wailed in terror—but they too abandoned resistance, letting their bodies decay and age.
And at that mont—watching nearly every Mushroom-Footed Person teetering at death's edge—a smile finally crept onto the face of the cold and distant Cheng Shi standing to the side.
An amused smile.
'Your lofty Benefactor up there... probably can't save you anymore...'
'But that's alright. You've still got —your Divine Envoy.'
'Doesn't matter what kind of Divine Envoy I am. If I can save you, I'm a good one.'
Thinking this, he secretly clutched the Die of Fate behind his back. His lips moved, voice barely a whisper:
"Lie Like Yesterday, mock today.
Yesterday I deceived a follower of [Death], so today...
I am a follower of [Death]."
The instant those words fell, a ghostly green glow kindled in Cheng Shi's eyes. He gazed upon the prostrate crowd before him and murmured with a soft laugh:
"Today, my mouth is the Book of Life and Death in His Lordship's hands. Everyone who obeys—none shall die.
I guard the Gates of [Death] on His behalf, selecting Sacrifices. And today, not a single one of you will be offered up to Him.
I'm sorry for the deception. What keeps you from dying was never [Prosperity]—it was... the great [Death]!
Praise His Lordship. We shall...
See each other shortly."
With that, Cheng Shi dropped a die, snapped his fingers, and vanished once more.
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