"If the scroll you described depicts the future, I can say with confidence that we have a strong chance of witnessing that scene firsthand.
"But if the gathering took place in the past..."
Jiang Chi sighed.
"As you know, [Ti] isn't [mory]. Rewinding isn't replaying. If it happened in the past, things get very complicated.
"Either way, we first need to determine one thing: whether the current mont is before or after that event.
"Miss Poison, while our original agreent didn't involve the Gift of Sores, if you write 'helping find the dagger' into the contract, I'm willing to accept.
"Of course, the price... would increase slightly."
Cheng Shi's brow twitched with interest. He was very curious about this [Ti] follower's "price."
Poison nodded with a smile and accepted without question: "Naturally."
"Hot damn, quit the yapping. First show us that puzzle. If it's real, priority one isn't figuring out the tiline — it's killing that nuisance Gongyang Jiao. Otherwise, we'll be on tenterhooks every day. How are we supposed to find anything?"
?
Cheng Shi stared at Da Yi in disbelief. 'Didn't you literally just say to walk the other way when you see him? And now you want to go back and kill him?'
'What is wrong with you [War] people—'
Jiang Chi frowned slightly at the suggestion. Only Poison — ever compliant with Da Yi — cheerfully nodded: "Sure. Whatever you say."
Da Yi grunted with satisfaction, but an instant later his face darkened. He spat irritably:
"Hot damn, don't pull that crap on ."
Poison pursed her lips: "Listening to you isn't allowed either?"
"...No. Well, yes... Hot damn, being around you is a headache. Just show us the puzzle already. Once we've looked, we move. Stop wasting ti."
Cheng Shi watched their exchange with fascination, a realization crystallizing.
'So what Poison sold Da Yi was... obedience.'
'Interesting. Da Yi had a need for control?'
Cheng Shi had matched with Poison long ago. During his post-trial analysis, he'd recognized that this [Corruption] assassin was like a world-class saleswoman — except she didn't sell products. She sold emotions.
She wore many faces, each tailored to a different "custor." She provided the precise emotional experience each "custor" craved, trapping them in the enjoynt of that emotion until desire blood naturally within them.
And the price for these emotions? Simply letting the "custor" indulge the desire she'd kindled.
Yes — she never took. She only wanted you to feel happy!
But that was exactly what made her terrifying!
Descent, descent — once you sank into it, you beca desire's plaything!
Da Yi clearly enjoyed Poison's compliant attitude. But he couldn't help guarding against her motives, because once you fell into her emotional trap, an addiction seeped bone-deep — making escape from this [Corruption]-woven cradle of depravity all but impossible.
Not because his willpower was lacking. But because Poison had the tools to erode willpower itself. If soone fell into her trap even while clearheaded, how could they possibly claw their way out once already lost inside?
This was precisely why Cheng Shi feared her.
Even though she'd long since identified his lack of trust and was willing to "sell" trust to his face, the purchase was one Cheng Shi truly didn't dare make.
He was afraid of drowning too.
This explained the polarized opinions peak players held about Poison. Those who loved her thought she was perfect in every way. Those who hated her — also because she was perfect in every way.
She walked the [Corruption] path, yet blazed a trail no other [Corruption] follower had explored: seamless "accommodation."
Everyone who knew her understood that her warmth and affection were fake. But they were drawn to her regardless — because they knew that even though Poison's "fake" was fake, her fake was more genuine than anyone else's truth.
She showed the mummy kindness. She showed Da Yi obedience. She showed Cheng Shi trust. This [Corruption] Chosen One always delivered the exact emotion a "custor" needed most, right when they needed it — then waited silently for their desire to stir.
And that was how she'd surpassed every terrifying [Corruption] follower to reach the summit of the Ladder of Ascent with her "seemingly delicate" facade.
This made Cheng Shi curious: what was Poison selling to Jiang Chi?
With Da Yi pressing, Poison's expression finally shifted.
She grew fidgety. Her eyes started to wander. When even Jiang Chi turned a suspicious look her way, the smirk she'd been maintaining collapsed entirely. Worse, an embarrassed flush crept across her cheeks.
"It's gone."
"?" Da Yi's gaze darkened: "Gone? Hot damn, Poison, I suggest you look harder."
Poison bit her lip, looking genuinely conflicted.
"I can't find it. Mr. Ram took the bandage puzzle."
"!!!" Jiang Chi was stunned: "Gongyang Jiao?"
"Yes..." Poison looked even more embarrassed. "I can't beat him. Him snatching that girl's keepsake from ... isn't exactly surprising, is it?"
"Then doesn't he also know where the Gift of Sores is!?"
"No. The instant he took it, the lunatic swallowed the bandage. He said even in death, the girl belonged in his stomach.
"So the image now only exists in my mind... and in Gongyang Jiao's stomach.
"The second option is admittedly a stretch. It would require that from the mont he swallowed the bandage until now... he hasn't had a bowel movent."
"..."
"..."
"..."
The room went dead silent.
Reality could be absurd — Cheng Shi could accept that. What he couldn't accept was that Poison hadn't embellished a single detail. Every word was true!
'Brilliant.'
'A perfect case of dead n tell no tales.'
"If you don't believe , I can draw it."
Poison actually produced a pen and began sketching on the floor.
Watching her frown with concentration while drawing with agonizing slowness, the others estimated it would take ten days to two weeks to finish. With a five-day trial clock, who could wait?
Cheng Shi's eyes darted. He offered a suggestion: "I have so items that can replay [mory]. How about you skip the drawing and just let
dig through your past instead? Suffer a bit for the cause."
The instant he finished, Poison's pen-hand paused — but she covered it quickly, looking up at Cheng Shi with wounded eyes:
"Then go ahead. Just... be gentle."
"..."
Cheng Shi rolled his eyes. He obviously had no such "mory-reading item." He'd only spotted Poison putting on an act for sympathy and wanted to call her bluff. When she agreed, he deflected with a laugh:
"Just kidding. Just lightening the mood. But seriously — neither of you two has any [mory] items?"
Jiang Chi studied Cheng Shi thoughtfully, shook his head, and smiled. Da Yi frowned and ntally cursed his luck.
He fixed Poison with a probing stare for a long mont. Finally, gritting his teeth, he growled:
"Hot damn, I'll trust you this once. Poison, don't string
along like a sucker. Otherwise I'll switch sides and help Gongyang climb the ladder."
Poison lowered her eyes ekly, looking deeply grateful: "I never lie."
"?"
'Stealing lines now, are we?'
Cheng Shi was incredulous. He'd never expected the interrogation to end this easily. But watching Da Yi's teeth-grinding resolve, he had to reassess just how important this dagger was to the man.
Not just Da Yi — Hu Wei's determined deanor was equally vivid in mory. So how had two people who both wanted the Gift of Sores managed to cooperate so peacefully?
'Could it be... they weren't seeking it for themselves?'
Cheng Shi frowned and filed away the thought. But when he looked up again, he clearly saw Poison's lips curve upward once more.
His heart sank — and then he smiled.
'Look at that. A "custor" had already taken the bait.'
'So had the [War] assassin's decision been influenced by [Corruption]... or not?'
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