An Mingyu!
She was back!
Cheng Shi and Qin Xin whipped their heads around, only to find that a ghastly white Bone Gate connecting to the Void had silently opened in the earthen wall of the inn behind them at so point.
And that Destiny Chosen who had died from peering at the Origin simply lifted the hem of her black gauze dress and stepped out from the Bone Gate with a smile.
Only this ti, the black cloth that once blindfolded her face was gone, and a pair of tightly shut eyes had beco the most striking finishing touch on her serene features.
She truly looked like a prophet.
Her hair fell in loose curls, bangs parted slightly, and her sculpted features were refined and precise. Especially those eyes — clearly shut tight, yet they always gave the impression of radiating a mysterious glow.
Her return was most comforting to Qin Xin, but most thrilling to Cheng Shi!
Though Cheng Shi wasn't excited because he'd brought the Blind One back to life, nor because Brother Mouth had finally stopped lying to him, nor because his part-ti employer had been so accommodating — it was because he desperately wanted to know what she had seen that led to that death from which there was no resurrection!
What he cared about wasn't her, wasn't it, wasn't Him — but the Origin!
Cheng Shi nearly couldn't contain himself and almost blurted out his questions right there in front of everyone. Fortunately, reason ultimately triumphed over curiosity, and he swallowed the words that had already reached the tip of his tongue. He put on an air of casual indifference, nodding toward the Blind One as if greeting just any old teammate, though he still couldn't resist slipping in a quip at the end.
"Well, well — if it isn't Destiny's very own Chosen, An Shenxuan. So you actually rembered to co back for the trial?"
"..." An Mingyu stumbled mid-step at his words, her expression flickering between laughter and exasperation. But she didn't say much — just offered a smile to the players present before falling silent.
After all, for those who sat atop the Ladder of Ascent, they hardly needed to explain their whereabouts to everyone.
Li Wufang was also pleased to see the Blind One return. He didn't care where she'd been — he simply asked the Destiny Chosen for another prophecy. A prophecy about the trial's prospects, naturally. He clearly understood her talents.
An Mingyu didn't refuse. She pondered for a mont, then produced a twelve-sided die.
But for so reason, the mont Cheng Shi saw the Blind One pull out a Destiny die, his heart gave an involuntary shudder.
PTSD.
These mad won always managed to leave him with one kind of trauma or another.
'Lady, you just ca back from the dead — please don't go doing anything reckless again!'
Of course the Blind One wasn't about to divine that unknowable existence again. She cast a smiling glance at Cheng Shi, then tossed the die onto the ground.
The pale Destiny die rolled across the floor in a lazy arc before wobbling to a stop right at Cheng Shi's feet, landing on a twelve.
Maximum roll!
Everyone froze, then imdiately asked in unison: "What did it prophesy?"
The Blind One gave a mysterious smile and casually addressed the two NPCs still trembling nervously in the room:
"It prophesied whether your decisions were correct. And from the looks of it — you've done very well."
"!"
Li Wufang stared at the die on the ground, let out a snort-laugh, and shook his head. His reaction made it clear he wasn't particularly impressed by Destiny's guidance. But he still refrained from dampening the group's spirits, tossing out a casual word of encouragent:
"All that effort's finally paying off — not a bad start!"
Wang Mou heard this and shot him a peculiar look, correcting him with a straight face: "Ad Ric was found by the Fate Weaver, Alo Manni wasn't found by you either, and your so-called 'effort' probably only amounted to provoking the Extinguisher. Investigator, what you just said — it doesn't hold up logically."
"..." Li Wufang's smile froze on his face. He stared at Wang Mou in disbelief for a mont, then let out a helpless sigh. "How are you more Order than I am? Doctor, I always thought you were the open-minded type."
"I am not a doctor. Assassination Doctor is rely a profession — addressing
as such is also inappropriate. My na is Wang Weijin. You may continue calling
Wang Mou, or simply use my real na."
"..."
Li Wufang was left speechless. He suddenly felt the man had beco rather cutting. But as long as it didn't affect the trial, cutting was still better than dead weight. So he gave an awkward chuckle and decided to put so distance between himself and the Doctor.
But soon enough, when he caught the strange expressions on the three people across from him, his face fell again.
"Don't tell
you three are planning to go together?"
Qin Xin smiled without a word, the Blind One wore her trademark mysterious look, and Cheng Shi furrowed his brows slightly.
He was a bit puzzled as to why Wang Mou would suddenly reveal his real na.
'Could it be that since his true profession was exposed, he figured there was no point hiding anymore?'
His gaze flickered imperceptibly over Wang Mou. He quietly filed this away, then put on a nonchalant expression and turned to Li Wufang with a grin:
"One Civilization team, one Void team — works out perfectly, doesn't it?"
"But your Void team has an Existence mber in it! Besides, who says we have to split by Path of Fate?" Li Wufang winced at the thought of being paired with this acerbic Truth follower. His temples were already throbbing.
"Why not?" Cheng Shi smiled, gesturing between himself and the Blind One. "The two of us — one Priest, one Singer — we're lacking in combat power. Qin Xin happens to be the main fighter who lacks support. We complent each other perfectly.
By your own logic, Existence and Void together creates balance. Isn't that the very doctrine of balance you advocate, Investigator?"
"Order has never been about balance — otherwise, how would justice triumph over evil?
But fine. I'll go along with the arrangent."
Li Wufang couldn't shake the feeling that his luck had been terrible. Nothing had gone smoothly from start to finish. He let out a resigned sigh and shuffled grudgingly toward Wang Mou.
"Let's go, Doctor. Give them so space. I can see what's going on here — they're the inner circle, and we're the outsiders.
Alo Manni was the one you brought back, so we'll head to the Shanty Area to investigate.
Don't look at
like that — I'm a decent man. This is purely for the investigation. I've got no ulterior motives whatsoever.
What's with that look? I'm a follower of Order!
The most law-abiding group of players in this entire ga!"
"True, but this has nothing to do with Order.
Cross-referencing yields more accurate results. The Fate Weaver's team has already investigated the Proxy Hand once, so this ti it makes sense for us to go instead. If you want to co with , then we'll head to the mine first and find A Rad.
As for the Shanty Area — leave it to them."
With that, Wang Mou hoisted the reeking Ad Ric and strode out of the room without giving Li Wufang a chance to object.
This Truth follower was every bit as shrewd as the Investigator. He'd long since noticed that the other three had things to discuss. Since he couldn't wedge himself into their circle, there was no point forcing it.
Besides, he had his own matters to attend to — so he left without hesitation.
Li Wufang watched the familiar scene unfold with a spectacular array of expressions crossing his face. It took him a good while to compose himself before he waved halfheartedly at Cheng Shi and the others, then hurried after Wang Mou with a deep furrow in his brow.
With their two teammates having tactfully excused themselves, Cheng Shi couldn't hold back any longer. He exchanged a glance with Qin Xin, and upon receiving the all-clear to speak freely, he imdiately stepped forward...
And knocked Alo Manni unconscious again.
Then, in this room that now held only Torchbearers and the Torchbearers' "friend," Cheng Shi asked — with equal parts anticipation and trepidation — the question that weighed heaviest on his mind.
"An Shenxuan... what did you see?"
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