When Cheng Shi opened his eyes again, he stood awkwardly in the void, not daring to make a sound.
Good news — he'd escaped the Fun God, so at least he didn't have to worry about being double-tead.
Bad news — his other Benefactor was still here, and those eyes were growing colder by the second. He'd probably be slapped with another pile of blasphemy charges.
Why had He beco so frigid? Could it be related to the container Cheng Shi had just obtained — the one tainted with the colors of Deceit?
Cheng Shi lowered his gaze, trembling.
The last trial had undeniably tipped the scales of his Void faith slightly toward Deceit, so until he figured out how to package his covetousness for that container, he didn't dare break the silence first — lest he hand soone ammunition against him.
But standing at attention under the Benefactor's scrutinizing gaze was terrifying in its own right, so Cheng Shi decided to butter Him up first.
Flattery never hurt anyone — surely a simple greeting couldn't go wrong.
"Praise be to You, great—"
"You want to beco a god?"
Before Cheng Shi could finish, those cold eyes spoke up and cut him off with that question.
Cheng Shi froze in place, blinking in bewildernt.
"...?"
He had a nagging feeling that the Benefactor's words carried a hidden aning — it sounded like an open sche.
If he said yes — he didn't actually want that. The Clown rely wanted enough power to protect himself under the gods' watch. Of course, if he could deceive Them, that kind of power could also be "cashed in" for "special tricks" — like the kind the Fun God had promised him.
But if he said no... 'Benefactor, if I say no, You won't confiscate the container I found, will You?'
Absolutely not!
Cheng Shi tightened his collar, terrified that the Benefactor might reach directly into his coat. He pondered for a mont, eyes darting, and suddenly had an idea.
"Benefactor, I believe You've misunderstood.
I didn't obtain it out of greed, nor to beco anything. I simply couldn't bear to see sothing connected to You — ahem — connected to Void left abandoned out there, suffering in loneliness. That's why I retrieved it and am temporarily holding it in safekeeping.
I know You two are both very busy, so I'm honored to serve in the role of custodian.
Of course, if You also have sothing similar that's been misplaced sowhere..."
Cheng Shi swallowed hard. Seeing no displeasure in those eyes before him, he carefully continued.
"I will retrieve it for You at the first opportunity and keep it safe.
Rest assured — as long as it's with , no one will ever take it.
I swear on my devotion to You!"
"..."
Fate's expression turned peculiar at this speech. The ice in His gaze thawed slightly, though beneath it lingered an essential coldness. He studied the follower He had chosen, then asked in a low, asured voice:
"You want the container of Fate as well?"
"May I?" Cheng Shi's eyes went wide, but he imdiately shrank back and said, "No, no, no — Benefactor, what I an is, would I have the honor of recovering Your lost relic for You?"
"Hmph. You reek of Him. Far too strongly." Those eyes let out a cold snort, their tone returning to its emotionless calm. "You need not search for it — you've already found it."
Already found it?
When?
Where?
Cheng Shi was baffled. He combed through every mory, sifting for anything remotely connected to Fate, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't recall a single item that bore even a passing resemblance to a container. He raised his head blankly, confused.
"Benefactor, please forgive my ignorance. After all, I am far removed from mory and not particularly skilled at recollection. So if I may humbly ask — when exactly did I, Your most devoted follower, find the container of Fate?"
Those eyes gazed coldly down at Cheng Shi, unmoved by his honeyed words, and offered no direct answer. Instead, He posed a new question.
A lethal question.
"You so often proclaim your devotion. Very well — prove it to .
Cheng. Shi. Would you keep the container of Deceit, or possess the container of Fate?"
"???"
Cheng Shi blurted out without thinking: "Can't I just have bo—"
But he quickly swallowed the rest of the sentence, then pivoted mid-thought.
"Benefactor, what I an is — I feel I'm capable of safeguarding two containers. So please, rest easy. Besides, we're all family under Void. As a walker of Void, it's only right that I contribute what I can."
The words ca out with absolute conviction — even Cheng Shi himself had never felt so devout.
But his sophistry earned him not Fate's approval, only an endless, frosty stare.
"Greed has never belonged to Void."
"It does now, Benefactor. It does now." Cheng Shi dropped the hint with everything he had. "Corruption never refuses anything, so in the era of Void, greed can belong to Void."
"..."
The remark silenced Fate entirely — a silence more profound than even Silence itself could impose.
Within those eyes, the unmistakable iridescence of Void had already blood, impossible to conceal. Yet He still replied with cold detachnt:
"Even if greed does belong to Void, it is not for you to decide.
You... never mind."
He let out a soft sigh, and His gaze finally softened.
"A mortal cannot hold different containers. I know your mind, but you may choose only one.
Fixed Destiny, or Change? Cheng. Shi. Answer with your devotion."
With that, those eyes fixed on Cheng Shi and spoke no more.
Under that gaze, heavy as a mountain, the Clown felt the pressure crash over him.
'It's over — this really is a death question.'
Cold sweat poured from Cheng Shi. Under the Benefactor's stare, his mind spun frantically. He knew that right now, he absolutely could not choose from the options given — because "blaspheming" either of Them would be a grave sin.
But there were only two choices. Even if he refused to pick, what then?
The answer was simple: stall.
Whether by playing dumb, feigning ignorance, or deflecting with tangents — as long as he could grind this fatal loyalty question down into a re attitude problem, he'd have a shot at weathering the current crisis.
Cheng Shi didn't know what had happened to his Benefactor, but he could sense that Fate had changed — beco different from before.
What had triggered his transformation? The civil war within Void? Or had He already parted ways with the Fun God entirely over the question of Origin?
Cheng Shi might not be able to play dumb before a deity who perceived the very essence of the universe, but he could still ask questions. He had so many doubts swirling in his mind — surely it was reasonable to clear them up before making such a pivotal choice?
As long as he could stall past this window, he refused to believe that the leader of the Fear Faction would ignore the plight of its sole remaining mber.
So after a brief brainstorm, Cheng Shi forcibly set aside Fate's question, steeled his courage, and looked up.
"Benefactor, before I choose, I have a few questions..."
"Speak."
Cheng Shi's heart clenched. He kept reassuring Brother Mouth — yes, reassuring Brother Mouth — because his next question was directly related to Brother Mouth. No, more precisely, it was related to Yu Xi.
'Brother Mouth, buddy... I'm at death's door here. As my brother, you don't mind taking a hit for , right?'
In any case, the Fool's Lips couldn't openly contradict Cheng Shi here. So when Cheng Shi saw its silent acquiescence, he tested the waters.
"Benefactor, do You... know about Yu Xi?"
...
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