He'd gotten too excited and forgotten his supposed perspective.
But this level of challenge was nothing for a clown. Cheng Shi swiftly shifted his expression to self-deprecation, then sighed with a bitter smile:
"You're right. I'm not really Yu Xi."
The instant the words left his mouth, Aph Ros's gaze turned razor-sharp.
"At least, not right now. Because my mask is shattered." Cheng Shi spread his hands, then pointed at his own face. "When my mask vanished, I stopped being Yu Xi. That's why I'm playing the role of Cheng Shi.
"Everything you find illogical — it's all because He and I... made a wager."
Aph Ros's expression turned serious: "[Deceit]!"
"Yes. My Benefactor, [Deceit].
"I need to set one thing straight: long before becoming a [Fate] follower, I was already a [Deceit] Envoy. I walked the path of [Void], but had an unexpected clash with [Ti].
"Whether that clash was good or bad is debatable. It was a gamble. I lost, and as the stakes, my mask — the embodint of my identity and mories — was shattered by Him.
"When my Benefactor learned of this, He didn't help
repair that mask that represented who I was. Yes, you heard right — that mask is my true form."
"Why?"
"Why? Because... the Fun God needs fun. And what's more entertaining than stripping your own Envoy of his Envoy status?
"The most hilarious part: He personally tracked
down, told
everything about my identity to my face, and mocked
without rcy.
"I had no choice. To restore my true body, I made another bet with Him.
"The wager's terms: start over. From the Path Starting Point. Reassemble my mask as a player, and walk back to the center of [Deceit]'s stage.
"That's why I beca a [Fate] follower.
"The bet forbids
from borrowing His power. So at the Path Starting Point, I picked up the die that symbolizes [Fate] — after all, as a [Void] walker, my only other option besides [Deceit] was [Fate].
"Everything [Deceit]-related you see on
now is partial power I recovered after reclaiming my tongue.
"So now you know, Aph Ros. That is every secret of Yu Xi.
"The only thing I can guarantee is that I am Yu Xi. Whether anything else I've said is a lie — you'll have to judge for yourself.
"Because this is who I am. This is [Deceit]'s Envoy, Yu Xi.
"A liar through and through... a fraud!"
Aph Ros listened, entranced. He was simultaneously verifying Cheng Shi's identity and using the information to fill gaps in His knowledge of this era's new gods.
Seeing such apparent candor, Aph Ros broke into another smile:
"Fascinating. Truly fascinating. I adore lies. Whether deceiving or being deceived — desire always flows through falsehood.
"You're right, my brother. When you can't suppress your compulsion to deceive, the distance between us...
"Grows ever smaller."
"..."
Cheng Shi gave an awkward laugh and finally steered the conversation back on track.
"There's actually one more thing I don't quite understand. I was hoping to consult soone who's witnessed several eras firsthand — a living..."
"Fossil?" Aph Ros gave Cheng Shi a half-amused, self-deprecating look. "Go on."
"How could I say fossil? You're a living archive of history!
"My question concerns a certain deity."
"Oh? Who? Surely not my Benefactor?"
"No — [Decay]!
"This god who descended after [Corruption] seems thoroughly unkind to His followers.
"I've encountered a kingdom that worshipped Him. Even though those people devoted their entire nation to Him, He never bestowed them so much as a single blessing.
"This contradicts what I know about Him. So I'd like your perspective — what kind of being is He, exactly?"
At the ntion of [Decay], Aph Ros's expression visibly sobered.
He fell silent for a mont, then sighed:
"If it's not absolutely necessary, I'd suggest you... stay away from Him."
Cheng Shi's pupils contracted: "Why?"
"Not all curiosity leads to answers. [Decay]... is unlike every other god.
"Co to think of it, His will does bear a certain resemblance to my Benefactor [Birth]."
???
'[Decay] and [Birth] with similar wills?'
'One rotted and withered. The other birthed new life. Where was the similarity?'
"The 'will' I'm referring to isn't the will that mortals presu gods to possess. It's Their own will...
"I can't tell you too much. But I can confirm that what you experienced was correct.
"In the earliest era, He was indeed extrely cold. Even cruel and harsh!
"The [Decay] period within the Sinking Era didn't last long. Or rather, the so-called Sinking Epoch saw only [Corruption] truly flourish for any significant duration.
"Both [Decay] and [Oblivion] were flashes in the pan. On the scale of history's long river, the periods when Their faiths were prevalent barely qualified as a single ripple.
"It wasn't until the Civilization Era's arrival that [Decay]'s attitude toward mortals shifted sowhat. He began to develop... compassion.
"After that, He gradually stopped resembling the original Him and beca what He is today.
"If you want to know more, my brother — my advice is: don't.
"Because His transformation is entirely related to that existence I refuse to ntion!"
Cheng Shi's entire body trembled. That terrifying divine na surfaced once more in his mind: [Origin]!
'[Decay]'s transformation was connected to [Origin]!?'
'So why exactly did He change, and what was His relationship with that being Aph Ros refused to go near?'
Seeing that the conversation had strayed into dangerous territory, Cheng Shi fell silent.
After a long pause, he nodded. "Thank you."
"No need to thank . The stories I heard from you today are far more interesting than anything I shared.
"I should be thanking you for helping
better understand this era.
"However — I've noted your outstanding tab.
"My brother, rember to pay up next ti. Of course, I'll accept... any thod of paynt."
"..."
Cheng Shi's eye twitched. He didn't dare respond. After a mont's thought, he decided it was about ti and prepared to bid Aph Ros farewell and return to the trial.
But as he rose, Aph Ros couldn't contain his curiosity:
"Not going to tell
anything else?"
Cheng Shi startled. Inside, his heart lurched. On the surface, he smiled: "What else would you like to know?"
Aph Ros studied Cheng Shi with interest, then directed his gaze toward the ring between Cheng Shi's fingers — the Ring of Bone Servant Le Le'er.
"Quite a remarkable ring. Last ti I rely noticed its existence — no other aura stood out. But this ti, when you arrived through [Death]'s power, I detected sothing on it... a faint trace of...
"[Corruption]'s scent.
"How interesting. You've brought a [Corruption] follower's soul-fragnt before , yet you haven't breathed a word about it. Could it be you were waiting for
to ask?"
!!!
???
'What!?'
'A [Corruption] follower's soul-fragnt!?'
Cheng Shi was stunned. Completely floored!
If Aph Ros had detected Le Le'er's divinity, that wouldn't have surprised him — Le Le'er was also connected to [Corruption].
But divinity and a soul-fragnt were entirely different things. This fragnt was clearly so dying-but-not-dead thing latched onto his ring!
'When!?'
'He hadn't noticed at all!!'
His heart sank. In a flash, he realized exactly what this fragnt was.
The Screaming Earl. Gongyang Jiao!
'No wonder!'
'No wonder that maniac had fought so savagely. No wonder he hadn't feared death at all. Cheng Shi had suspected that simply killing Gongyang Jiao wouldn't end things — that the man surely had a resurrection thod.'
'But he never imagined this audacious player had dared to "contaminate" his ring!'
'Was the man after the ring, or was this simply the Screaming Earl's unique revival technique?'
'Could he parasitize fear itself — and resurrect through another's terror?'
'What a peak player. He'd used his own death to slip right past Cheng Shi's guard!'
After piecing it all together, Cheng Shi was deeply troubled inside. But outwardly, he betrayed nothing. Instead, he laughed heartily:
"Working alone can be inefficient, you know. When you spot a suitable bruiser, naturally you want to grab him for labor.
"Persuading him as 'Cheng Shi' probably wouldn't work. So I had to bring him here to watch the show.
"Don't worry — he won't dare say a word."
Cheng Shi was lying again.
He knew nothing about the fragnt's state inside the ring — whether it could hear, what contingencies it had. But he said it anyway. The purpose: to con the nonexistent into existence!
Because he'd suddenly realized Gongyang Jiao was perfect labor material.
Formidable combat power. Poor judgnt. Constantly going berserk.
That three-in-one package ant anything he did required minimal explanation. He was practically the holy body of blackwork... no, the holy body of taking the fall!
And so in this mont, Cheng Shi told a single lie that deceived two beings at once — one person and one god!
He even began to hope that the parasitic Gongyang Jiao could hear his conversation with Aph Ros.
If things went well, the man might end up like Long Jing — another tool in Lord Yu Xi's arsenal.
After all, any sensible player would know they had zero power to refuse. Especially a [Corruption] follower, who — upon learning how close Yu Xi was to [Corruption]'s own Herald Aph Ros — would have even less reason to say no.
Aph Ros nodded in understanding at Cheng Shi's response.
'Recruiting a subordinate. Common enough.'
"So — your business with the Inquisition's entrance is concluded?"
Cheng Shi blinked, then waved his hand: "No, no, no — this was just the first ti. I'll probably need to trouble you a few more tis down the road."
"I enjoy your visits. But I'd prefer you reassemble your mask soon and converse with
as the true Yu Xi.
"The scent of [Death] isn't to my taste. In the future, if you co and need , knock. If you don't need
— I'd much rather share a sunset feast with you at the long table on Dolgod's terrace."
With that, Aph Ros smiled elegantly and strode into the depths of the Inquisition. The great door closed behind Him.
And in that mont, Cheng Shi's face turned grim. He raised his hand and stared at the ring.
"Enjoying the show... are we?"
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