Chapter 431: Since You're Cheng Shi, Then I Can Only Be Zhen Yi |
Cheng Shi had been cut down— a single blade cleaving through his body.
The searing breath of flame still raged inside him, so violently that the blood spraying in every direction was instantly burned to ash. Cheng Shi himself had been reduced to a charred... husk.
He wasn't dead. In the instant of impact, he'd wedged the Tongue of Eating Lies against the side of his neck to prevent decapitation, then let [War]'s fury tear through his entire body and slam him into the ground.
Though he hadn't died thanks to the protection of his "Vitality" authority, not dying didn't mean not hurting.
That blow had been savage. Cheng Shi had no idea what fraction of the Grand Marshal's true strength it represented, but he could tell from the temperature of those flames alone that Zhen Yi had genuinely shattered the man's composure.
Especially since she'd done it in the exact same way— twice.
Somehow, he'd inexplicably become Zhen Yi again.
The only difference was that last time it had been deliberate. This time, it was involuntary.
But to Hu Wei, whether it was deliberate or not didn't matter. What mattered was that Zhen Yi needed to be taught a lesson she wouldn't forget.
From his own visceral experience, he distilled a single truth: stay away from Zhen Yi, or fate itself will turn unfortunate.
Hu Wei wasn't entirely certain which Cheng Shi was actually Zhen Yi, but to him it made no difference. Whether one was real, neither was real— he didn't care. What he cared about was that the Mediocre Person Society's chaos had to end here and now, and the "danger" lurking in the shadows had to be dragged into the open.
Only then could he ensure his reputation wouldn't be turned into a joke by this pack of liars.
So this strike carried more symbolic weight than practical damage. It was a deterrent aimed at everyone present, and a declaration directed at the still-hidden Zhen Yi.
His message was unmistakable: the past can be forgiven, but tonight— don't provoke me.
The Grand Marshal's resolve was absolute, and the others' loathing for Zhen Yi was genuine, so Cheng Shi's injuries were predictably the worst.
Honestly, if not for possessing "Vitality" at this moment, that single blow might have truly sent him to meet the lord seated upon the Bone Throne.
So why not offer praise to [Prosperity]!
It was Big Cat's protection of her friend that had allowed Cheng Shi to survive this ordeal.
Of course, Cheng Shi also knew he absolutely could not dodge that strike, because dodging would have meant losing.
He needed to take the blow without resistance to earn himself a chance— a chance for a desperate comeback!
Because Zhen Yi's false accusation had left him with nowhere to turn. Tonight, he was destined to become a clown.
But he refused to accept being toyed with to death by a single sentence from Zhen Yi, so his mind raced until he hit upon a plan for a desperate reversal:
Become Zhen Yi!
Yes— under Zhen Yi's "identification," fully become Zhen Yi!
The moment Zhen Yi had disguised herself as "Cheng Shi" and opened her mouth, the real Cheng Shi had already fallen into an impossible trap of self-verification.
No one would believe him. Especially not this group of peak players who despised Zhen Yi.
Because even if they believed both Cheng Shis were fakes, they probably wouldn't bother wasting brainpower figuring out which was real.
So from that moment on, Cheng Shi had already lost the ability to prove himself.
'Since I can't be me, then I'll become you!'
Only this way— only by swapping identities with Zhen Yi— would these furious Chosen Ones show any wariness toward him, and he'd no longer be mired in the quicksand of self-proof, caught between two impossible positions.
Moreover, based on Cheng Shi's understanding of Zhen Yi, the moment he became her, she would gladly welcome the spectacle and gleefully, "tacitly," play the part of him!
Because that was simply who she was— a person who wished she could toy with everyone every waking moment.
And right now was the perfect opportunity for her to continue playing everyone even after her identity had been exposed.
And the one giving her that opportunity was none other than tonight's clown— the very one she'd crafted with her own hands.
Only now, this clown refused to stay backstage any longer. He was about to take the stage!
The thick smoke cleared. The flames still burned. Cheng Shi lay in the crater carved by the greatsword that had pierced through him, coughing blood while casting a gleefully mischievous gaze at everyone watching. He called out:
"Oh my, caught again!
"But... hee~
"This one doesn't count, because someone cheated!"
"..."
"..."
"..."
The silence fell so suddenly that even the Prisoner went quiet.
He'd never imagined he'd meet someone today who was on his exact wavelength, and even less that this interesting Fate Weaver he'd admired was actually Zhen Yi in disguise.
So what did that mean?
Zhen Yi was his kindred spirit?
"..." 'Revolting!'
So what was the real Cheng Shi actually like?
He whipped his head around to look at the other side of the venue, only to see the "real Cheng Shi" heave a helpless sigh, shaking his head with a rueful smile:
"My apologies, everyone. It's not that I didn't want to warn you sooner, but I was outmaneuvered. She beat me again, and I was trapped inside that insufferable Void Memory Pocket.
"Fortunately, some outside force shattered the pocket, and I managed to break free.
"But I should make one thing clear— you've probably guessed already— I have absolutely nothing to do with this Master of Trickery...
"I'm just a victim of public opinion, that's all."
!!!
She'd taken up her role in this play without missing a beat, and hadn't exposed him!
What's more, her delivery was impeccable— her tone suffused with self-deprecation yet never veering into self-pity. It immediately improved everyone's impression of "Cheng Shi" considerably.
Even Hu Wei's gaze as he looked at "him" carried a hint of nostalgic recognition. Clearly, this "Cheng Shi" before him closely matched the Cheng Shi in his memories.
But that wasn't the reason he could accept "Cheng Shi's" identity. The more important reason was that "Zhen Yi" had appeared!
She'd already been smashed into the ground by the Grand Marshal!
Everyone studied "Cheng Shi" for a moment, then turned in unison toward "Zhen Yi" lying in the rubble.
"Zhen Yi's" face wore a gleeful grin, but inside, his heart plummeted into an abyss!
'This Zhen Yi is absolutely terrifying!'
Her impersonation was so flawless that Cheng Shi couldn't help thinking— even if he'd truly been standing in that position, what he would have said would have been more or less exactly the same.
She'd even voluntarily admitted to the truth of her false accusation against him, and fabricated a perfectly plausible reason for "his" arrival at the scene.
After all, what other reason could two people who didn't get along possibly have for showing up together? Obviously, one of them had been kidnapped.
'This Zhen Yi— her insight into people and her powers of observation are absolutely terrifying.'
Cheng Shi even wondered: if he let her keep playing this role a few more times, would anyone ever realize she wasn't the real Cheng Shi?
"Cheng Shi" seemed to sense "Zhen Yi's" gaze. He looked toward her with resigned exasperation and sighed:
"Zhen Yi, enough. Give it up. This place is surrounded by Chosen Ones.
"If you apologize now and return what you stole from me, I can try to put in a good word with Brother Hu on your behalf.
"As for the others...
"That's beyond my ability. You're on your own."
"..."
'Oh, so that's how it is!'
'You want to snatch some spoils from me too, is that it?!'
Cheng Shi was gnashing his teeth internally, but outwardly he mimicked Zhen Yi's signature feigned ignorance and asked:
"Stuff?
"Hee~
"What stuff of yours ended up with me?"
"Cheng Shi" rubbed his forehead in weary exasperation, as if "Zhen Yi playing dumb" had made him laugh despite his frustration.
"The whistle. The whistle Hu Xuan gave me. Can I have it back?"
Cheng Shi's heart lurched, and he sneered inwardly.
'What a smooth little pickpocket!'
What did she want the Night Curtain Spring Whistle for? Did she want to see Hu Xuan?
No— it probably wasn't Hu Xuan the person she wanted to see, but rather the identity Hu Xuan carried: the Eternal Sun!
So she'd noticed his arrival and set up this entire scheme in advance?
No, that was impossible.
His decision to impersonate her had been nothing more than a flash of inspiration born from his identity crisis, so her move must have been improvised too.
A spur-of-the-moment attempt to skim something off him before walking away?
But the question was— was she aiming at Hu Xuan, or at what stood behind Hu Xuan...
[Birth]?
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