Foolish Game of the Chapter 701: Wait — What Did You Just Say?

"Stop spacing out. We're facing a very serious problem."

Qin Xin walked over and patted Cheng Shi on the shoulder. Even though he wasn't the Qin Xin Cheng Shi knew, he seed virtually identical to the real one.

"I never imagined the Torchbearers' will could transcend ti to foster trust between us. Since we all share the sa goal, let's skip the unnecessary formalities and get straight to business.

Honestly — the Torchbearers, at least those in my tiline, desperately need Mo Rabic's Divinity-extraction experint. It's one of the few thods that could help the Torchbearers achieve a certain objective.

So whether or not I can return to my original tiline before the trial ends, the Folly experint must be secured. That way, even if I can't go ho, at least this world will have one more spark to preserve.

Ming Yu — we need to do this."

"..."

This Qin Xin's thinking clearly differed from the "fire-carrying is hard" Qin Xin's. The beauty he wanted to protect wasn't confined to a single world.

Yet the current An Mingyu obviously thought differently. Her convictions aligned more closely with the other Qin Xin's.

Still, she greatly admired the current Qin Xin's vision and nodded in agreent. Before they understood why so many discrepancies were occurring, locking down any advantage within reach was a sound choice.

As for Cheng Shi — he had no objections at all.

He'd co looking for clues in the first place. Since his first theory had been wrong, everything needed to be rebuilt from scratch. And the foundation of any new theory required understanding who had changed this ti — only then could he identify the root cause hidden within Ti's variations.

So he also wanted to return to the mine and check whether the Li Wufang with incorrect prophecy knowledge had undergone a third change.

The three exchanged glances, nodded simultaneously, and began walking toward the mine — maintaining a distance that was neither intimate nor cold. But after only a few steps, all three froze in place.

Not because they'd sensed a new threat. One of the two players still on the mountain had appeared right before them!

Li Wufang!

The Investigator had abandoned the Truth believer, ditched his surveillance responsibilities, and was strolling down the mountain without a care in the world!

Wasn't he worried about Wang Mou causing problems during the experint?!

The three below obviously didn't look pleased. Cheng Shi especially — his heart pounded. His gaze locked onto Li Wufang, searching for so covert response. But...

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Li Wufang acted like an ordinary teammate. He showed zero reaction to Cheng Shi's "expectations." His sharp eyes swept across the three of them, then past them to the slightly distorted space behind. After a mont, he clicked his tongue:

"So the Oblivion believer was quite a handful. All three of you tead up to deal with her?"

"..."

With that, Cheng Shi finally confird: Li Wufang had changed. He was no longer the "Destined One" Li Wufang, but a "stranger" — just an ordinary Investigator.

But this "stranger" was awfully cavalier. If he'd co down, then the Doctor was—

Li Wufang seed to read their concern. He laughed: "Relax — trust in an Investigator's judgnt. I'm an excellent read of people. In this trial, anyone might sabotage the experint — but never the Doctor!

He values this experint more than any of you. Before I ca down, I asked him. He said all his life's luck was spent on encountering this experint. So he'd absolutely never let anything go wrong.

Don't worry — your little skeleton puppet is up there watching. The experint's security is well assured.

I was just curious who won. That's why I ca down to check."

The mont Li Wufang finished, Cheng Shi's heart lurched. He suddenly realized sothing else was wrong in this trial — it wasn't just Li Wufang. The Truth believer seed to have changed too.

Because he distinctly rembered: before heading downhill, Wang Mou had said: "Luck — an uncontrollable variable — can never be important!"

So how could a player who scoffed at luck possibly claim his life's luck had been spent on encountering a Folly experint?!

The realization darkened Cheng Shi's expression. Ti's third discrepancy seed to have erupted.

Though the timing...

While Cheng Shi was frowning in contemplation, the Blind One suddenly raised her head to "look" toward the mine, pressing her lips together with evident concern — clearly disagreeing with Li Wufang's assessnt.

Li Wufang's keen perception caught her reaction instantly. His smile faltered: "You don't trust my judgnt, Chosen One?"

"It's not you I distrust — it's Ti.

Even if the Doctor was normal before you left, how can you be certain he'll remain normal going forward?

And as for Wang Weijin as a player...

Sigh. He's not truly a player. He's 0221's slice."

"!!??"

Everyone present was speechless.

"He's a slice — you're sure?"

"Yes. I'm sure. I didn't figure it out — he told us himself.

In my world, the Doctor realized his own identity long ago. But he didn't seek revenge, nor did he complain. He simply lived quietly, chanically completing trials — neither wanting to die nor harboring any ambitions.

He said Truth never brought truth — only endless illusions. Yet he depended on Truth's gifted power and couldn't bring himself to abandon his faith. So he drifted through life, and began worshiping every truth that wasn't Truth.

So I'll say this, Investigator: you're far too slow in registering Ti's changes. If the Doctor was swapped during your absence for the version from my world... he won't care about any Divinity-extraction experint.

We might even need to start praying — praying he doesn't infect the Folly believer with his apathy, convincing them both to 'relax and stop wasting effort'..."

"..."

Li Wufang's face instantly darkened. He turned to glance back at the mine, about to mount so defense — but caught Cheng Shi, who'd sohow erged from his thoughts, seizing the gap to deliver a cutting jab:

"Tsk — the Investigator's legendary eye isn't all it's cracked up to be. First you missed the Extinguisher, now you've misread the Doctor. Your Order faith... running out of steam?"

Li Wufang couldn't hear the true aning behind Cheng Shi's last line. Still, with a stiff, embarrassed expression, he tried to defend himself:

"The current Doctor is extrely dedicated to the experint. As for Wu Cun...

I wouldn't call it a miss. At least while she was in my sight, she wasn't that unhinged!

I—"

"Wait — what did you just say?!" Cheng Shi's expression snapped taut. He whipped his head up to lock eyes with Li Wufang, a gleam of insight flashing through his gaze. Word by word, with deadly gravity, he asked:

"What did you just say?"