Ai Si had seized a left ear. Zhang Jizu held a right ear. And Cheng Shi... was holding the clown's mangled head.
When Ai Si and Zhang Jizu saw the head in Cheng Shi's hands, one pair of eyes blew wide while the other narrowed to thread — both pupils contracting in sudden understanding.
"As expected of you, Cheng Shi.
While we went for the ears, you went for the whole package."
Zhang Jizu shook his head with a wry smile, apparently having deduced Cheng Shi's thinking. He looked at the dried-out ear in his hand, then suddenly tossed it to Cheng Shi.
"Interesting. I'm suddenly curious myself.
If we truly 'reassemble' Crown here — or even resurrect him — will we witness His birth... or their reunion?
This is too interesting. It'll be one spectacular mory.
Go on. Do it. We'll wait and see."
Hearing this not-even-trying-to-pretend speech, Ai Si's eye twitched. Her conflicted gaze fell on Zhang Jizu — or rather, on Dragon King.
By now, everyone's identities were essentially open cards.
Long Jing wasn't like a certain traveler whose faith was called Deceit but was really mory — soone who profited as long as he collected enough mories.
He was a pure Deceit follower. He'd co solely to find the ears Lord Yu Xi needed and offer them.
And now he already had a lead on one ear. If he handed it over now for so unknown outco — one led by Cheng Shi —
Then everything he'd told the real Ai Si outside the Devout Land about "tempering Cheng Shi" would be a joke.
'I risked my life impersonating Lord Yu Xi, conned my teammates to boost my own odds — only to end up donating an ear to Cheng Shi's glorification?'
'What have I been doing this entire ti?'
'Who's been played in this trial?'
'And where did the real Ai Si go?'
'Does she have the Master of Deception too?'
'We had such a nice talk outside about giving Cheng Shi a hard ti, and then she vanishes the minute we're inside...'
'Little Skull and that pest too — where'd they all go?'
Long Jing's mind was a ss. The more he thought, the less he could keep his composure. And Dragon King's words did make so sense.
Though at this point, even if they hadn't made sense, Cheng Shi and Dragon King clearly intended to make them make sense — their looks had already turned predatory.
But Long Jing didn't want conflict with them. Because he, too, wanted to witness Lord Yu Xi's "rebirth." Even if it was just a fantasy — what if the lord actually appeared and rewarded contributions?
He'd at least contributed one ear, right?
So, after an agonizing internal battle, Long Jing sighed, decided to buy a share in this grand project of resurrecting Crown, and — dark-faced — tossed his ear to Cheng Shi.
"Don't disappoint Lord Yu Xi, Cheng Shi. You owe it to His guidance."
"..."
Cheng Shi gave Long Jing a strange look. The Acrobat had a real gift for playing the wronged partner — where was all that vinegar coming from?
"What are you waiting for? Start. I want to know if I'll have the honor of witnessing a miracle — a miracle belonging to... Lord Yu Xi."
Long Jing began picking up Crown's pieces from the floor. Li Jingming smiled and joined in. So did Cheng Shi.
Three shrewd "liars" had been eyeing these fragnts from the start. Not a single piece was missed. Before long, countless shards of remains were reassembled into a rough human form atop the stage.
"Cheng Shi — ti to show us that Fate Weaver power. Oh, wait — I almost forgot. It should be a clown's power, right?"
Long Jing's tone dripped sarcasm. He even snuck a glance at Dragon King — and when he saw zero surprise at Cheng Shi's Deceit faith, his eye twitched violently again.
'I was the only one who didn't know...'
'Everyone probably figured out that Cheng Shi was Fused. Everyone except
— and I had to extract it from a 2400-rated priest's mouth. Is that even fair?'
'How many clowns are there on this stage?'
Long Jing was practically gnashing his teeth. But Cheng Shi ignored all of it, focused on whether he could actually bring back this pile of remains.
Li Jingming noticed Cheng Shi's hesitation. Maintaining his squinting disguise, he pressed with suspicion:
"I don't know where the real Zhang Jizu went, and I don't know where Zhen Yi is. But you don't seem to be either of them — and you definitely aren't that naive War Supervisor. So what are you waiting for, Cheng Shi?
You're not expecting
to hand over my revival item, are you?"
Li Jingming's face twitched in a reflexive spasm. "Fine — I'll admit I had competitive intentions. I wanted to take the Secret Peeping Ear from right under your nose as a..."
He stopped mid-sentence, side-eying the overly curious Long Jing, and smiled as he closed his mouth.
Cheng Shi glanced at Dragon King, then at Long Jing, maintaining Silence throughout. At this critical juncture, he wouldn't allow himself a single mistake.
And so — the clown's mont had finally arrived. No more deflection. He extended one ring-bearing hand toward the body at his feet, lightly clenched, and a dense torrent of healing light cascaded downward.
That power, surging with vitality, made the countless dead fragnts sprout anew. Flesh-buds writhed and wove together, slowly re-forming the full body —
But only forming it.
No matter how strong the recovery, it couldn't seem to awaken this dead clown.
Seeing this, Cheng Shi's brow furrowed tight. The other two looked equally grave. This ant their gamble was wrong — the Secret Peeping Ear might not be a reward for Crown's resurrection. It was likely still hidden sowhere in this theater they'd never properly explored.
"It looks like—"
Long Jing hadn't finished his sentence when a sharp crack echoed from beyond the audience seats. All three jolted, looked up — and saw two figures clash and separate, then bolt simultaneously toward a side door. Sothing extraordinary seed to be behind it.
The leading figure even waved at the stage, leaving behind a laughing "Hee~"
That single syllable electrified all three.
Zhen Yi!
She'd co after all!
Bold as ever — completely unconcerned about giving away her position.
But aside from narrowing pupils and darkening faces, the three on stage didn't react to her greeting.
After all, nobody here was a fool. "Lure the tiger from the mountain" was useless against liars at this level.
The only problem was: she wasn't alone. Soone else was chasing her toward that door — and that soone was none other than...
Death's Chosen, Zhang Jizu!
Zhang Jizu, eyes slitted, was in dead pursuit. Seeing Zhen Yi about to plunge through the side door, he had no choice but to shout at the stage:
"Cheng Shi — the item is behind the door! Help!"
That single line sent a spark through Cheng Shi's eyes. He vanished from the stage instantly, diving after Zhen Yi and Mi Laozhang through the side door.
With things spiraling this way, Long Jing bit his teeth and charged after them. Li Jingming frowned, glanced at the body on the floor, listened carefully for any lurking presence, confird no oriole waited behind the mantis, hastily covered Crown's reassembled body with other remains — and then grimly gave chase.
Zhen Yi was in the lead again.
But just as everyone poured out and the theater fell silent — a smiling figure slowly solidified on the stage, right where Cheng Shi had "vanished."
Cheng Shi hadn't left. Or rather — he'd co back.
Right now, there was room in the clown's eyes for nothing but the body at his feet. He remained certain that Crown was the true answer.
After all, no one understood a clown like another clown.
And the previous revival hadn't failed because Crown couldn't be revived. The clown casting the spell had done it on purpose.
Nobody knew how many secrets Yu Xi carried. Cheng Shi only knew that secrets were called secrets because very few people knew them.
So now he could have those secrets all to himself.
Cheng Shi's lips curved. He extended his hand once more and, smiling, resud the interrupted resurrection.
His thod proved effective. Bathed in holy light, Crown's body gradually filled with substance. Color returned. Vitality surged. Until, at last, his eyes slowly opened.
And the instant the clown on the ground opened his eyes — he shot out a hand and grabbed the wrist that was casting the healing spell above him.
Two clowns' gazes collided. The standing one raised a surprised eyebrow. The lying one grinned with dazzling brilliance.
He smirked:
"Caught you...
Zhen. Xin!"
...
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