But none of that mattered. She'd never needed Cheng Shi to acknowledge any specific behavior. What she was reading was his attitude. As long as the Fate Weaver didn't deny helping those people, it proved he wasn't a bad person.
And as the conversation deepened, the Blind One beca increasingly convinced that Cheng Shi was perfect for the Torchbearers.
Of course, Cheng Shi wasn't empty-handed either. His probe had paid off.
The fabricated trial details he'd casually spun weren't challenged by the Blind One—aning she knew nothing about the Torchbearers' actual trial. She only knew he'd helped Torchbearers.
So the answers all lay in that diocre Person gathering—and the breakthrough was his attitude toward Cui Qiushi!
Cheng Shi's heart tightened. He silently vowed: next ti he encountered soone whose mories had been erased, he couldn't make one-sided suspicious moves again.
"Is it my turn now?"
The Blind One nodded slightly:
"I know what you want to ask. No need to voice it—I'll just tell you directly.
The diocre Person Society. All answers lie in that gathering.
We believe it was originally organized by a Folly follower. But in the end, the Torchbearers co-opted it.
We used dreamscapes to decorate that rust-covered stage, and then..."
The Blind One held nothing back. She recounted everything that had happened at the diocre Person Society in full—continuing past the point where Cheng Shi had dragged everything visible into Go Lis's Grudge, narrating the story's unfinished aftermath with perfect clarity.
She even knew what happened after she and Qin Xin had left—including Lao Deng's appearance and the Prisoner's return!
Yes—she even knew what occurred after their "departure."
"Qin Xin's senses are far sharper than mine. During the conversation, his eyes signaled that others were present in the venue. So we staged a fake withdrawal, creating the space for whichever person was hiding to reveal themselves.
We just didn't expect that hidden figure to be him—the Ti Chosen, Lao Deng.
It's not that I don't want to use his real na. He only ever called himself 'This Deng.' Nobody ever knew his true na.
He appeared, and the Prisoner scared him off. But mory's dreamscape hadn't dissipated. We'd set a trap outside—and imdiately caught him as he fled... along with the Prisoner, who'd followed right behind.
A Torchbearer's na must never be shared outside of recruitnt. So we had to handle both of them knowing about the organization. Of course, given their strength, we offered a peaceful solution first.
Qin Xin provided two vials of Rembrance Needle. But both Lao Deng and the Prisoner refused to use them.
Their attitudes, however, were completely different.
The Prisoner..."
At the na, the Blind One paused several seconds before continuing with a peculiar expression: "The Prisoner said he had a better thod for resolving the situation—one that didn't require him to lose his mories. After significant deliberation, Qin Xin agreed to his proposal."
"..." By this point, Cheng Shi was already speechless.
That na had a kind of magic. Simply hearing it induced silence. He could practically picture exactly how the Prisoner had gotten Qin Xin and the Blind One to silently accept his solution.
'Hiss—'
'Don't tell
he... wanted to join the Torchbearers.'
"He chose to join the Torchbearers," the Blind One said, her tone layered with complexity.
"..."
'Called it!'
Cheng Shi went numb.
'As expected from the Chosen of Silence plus the second most jinxed man alive. That thought process is absolutely subli!'
The Blind One paused for a long while before continuing: "But Lao Deng rejected every option. He refused to forget, and he tried to break out of Qin Xin's dreamscape.
So, reluctantly—together with the Prisoner—we killed him."
"A Chosen... just died like that?" Cheng Shi still struggled to believe it. He almost wanted to switch back to Fate and check whether the Ti Ladder had actually lost its top na.
"Not yet. The special trial's arrival bought him a few extra days.
But the mont this trial ends, he'll be dead.
This is the Fixed Destiny within Fate. The extinction within Silence. And the forgetting within mory."
Regarding Cheng Shi's solemn expression, the Blind One smiled again: "I think I've been sincere enough. What about you, Cheng Shi?"
"What about ?" He raised an eyebrow and glanced at his pocket watch. The next hour was approaching. He whipped out a scalpel and slashed toward the Blind One's throat.
Out of respect for the Torchbearers, the strike carried no real force—purely precautionary. The Blind One didn't even dodge. She "stared" straight into his eyes and smiled:
"You're more like the Torchbearers than you realize. The only difference is you refuse to admit it, while we an what we say.
Cheng Shi, join us. You don't have to see the Torchbearers as a burden. You could entirely—"
"What's Qin Xin's role?" The scalpel stopped just short of her neck. Unable to determine whether a completely unresisted attack counted as a "conflict," he pivoted from slash to tap—flipping the handle and lightly rapping her shoulder.
Despite the gentle touch, it was enough to stagger her.
Her face darkened. She opened her mouth—but Cheng Shi cut in with a smile:
"Sorry—precautions. I ant his role within the Torchbearers."
The Blind One frowned briefly, sighed, and decided not to press the matter. She answered quietly: "If you want to know, you can ask him yourself."
"He's not the Torchbearers' founder, is he?
A mory follower created an organization that opposes the gods?
What—does he want to dedicate the blasphemous mory of it to his 'terrifying' Benefactor?"
The Blind One "looked" at Cheng Shi with a weird expression: "No need to bluff . I won't take the bait. I've said enough for today. Have these secrets swayed you?"
"Hmm—almost. Just a little more." Cheng Shi gave a half-laugh, showing zero awareness that he'd gained every advantage, and continued shalessly: "I'm curious—what did you an earlier about 'trusting you within this trial'?"
As if she'd predicted this question, the Blind One smiled and produced a slender vial from her inventory.
"This. Regardless of whether you join, after this trial Qin Xin and I will use this unused Rembrance Needle.
This isn't deliberate forgetting. It's the Torchbearers' respect—for those who've helped us, and for the other Fire Seeker's principles.
So while I still rember your connection to the Torchbearers, I naturally trust you, Cheng Shi.
But if I forget all of this..."
Cheng Shi smirked and shook his head: "If I chose to join, and you forgot everything about —how would I prove my identity?"
"The Fire Passer Proof." The Blind One's expression turned grave. From her sleeve she produced a brilliantly glowing fla-patterned emblem and displayed it briefly. "I'll give you this to verify your identity. When Torchbearers see this emblem, they'll know you're a trustworthy... one of us.
So, Cheng Shi—have you decided?"
"Yes. I've decided!" His expression cycled through several changes before settling into absolute seriousness.
The Blind One's head snapped up. Behind the black cloth, sothing like hopeful light blazed in her sealed eyes. "You—"
"I've decided to take your advice and check out the Magma Crystal Mine outside town.
Let's go—right now!"
With that, Cheng Shi charged ahead, striding into the alley's dry breeze.
"..."
The Blind One stood frozen. But a mont later, she burst into rueful laughter.
"This Fate Weaver really is... quite the character."
Reviews
All reviews (0)