Chapter 503: Cheng Shi's Plan |
The scene shifts back to the present.
Three standing in the wind. One on the ground.
Gongyang Jiao and the Chameleon were both waiting for Cheng Shi's next move. But just then, Cheng Shi produced the Lush Horn Crown behind his back and cast another healing spell on the fallen Poison.
'Only a priest with a screw loose would resurrect an enemy.'
Cheng Shi's screw had come loose once. This was the second time.
Two negatives make a positive. So his brain was fine now.
Though the bone-deep cold had already frozen the wound on Poison's neck rigid, when the resurrection aura flowed into her, that stiff gash slowly softened, sealed, and healed.
Poison had never imagined being resurrected by someone else. She'd finally found a direct lead on the Gift of Sores — she'd never abandon her dream dagger over a little headwind.
She didn't fear death. She even craved it. Not just because she'd set up failsafes at the very start of the trial — but because nothing short of death could break the desire-pull of Dance With Desire!
In this trial, the [Corruption] Chosen had at least two resurrections available, each carefully engineered. The timing was calibrated to be neither so fast that she'd still be in danger, nor so slow that she'd miss her window. Her body wouldn't even revive at the corpse's location — a precaution against someone disposing of remains in unsavory spaces. Like... Mr. Ram's stomach.
If she still couldn't obtain the dagger after two resurrections, then the trial had become too dangerous to continue.
These two chances were Poison's bottom line in the fight for the dagger.
Her so-called "fight to the death" was merely trading one guaranteed death for one of Gongyang Jiao's lives.
Unfortunately, the plan fell through.
She hadn't killed Gongyang Jiao. She'd died in the little priest's arms.
What she never expected was that the very priest who'd killed her had resurrected her on the spot!
When consciousness returned, Poison assumed her own failsafe had triggered. She stretched languidly: "The little priest really has changed—"
Halfway through, both her words and her movement froze.
Her eyes snapped open. She was still under that blizzard-swept Kannar city wall. Cheng Shi stood before her, watching with an amused gaze, as though studying... an idiot.
The Chameleon stood expressionless nearby, but his posture clearly said he was enjoying the show.
Gongyang Jiao's face was the sourest of the three spectators. He'd assumed Cheng Shi had burned one of Poison's lives. He never expected her to be pulled right back.
'What exactly did this Envoy want?'
'Was he leveraging Poison's combat power? Or testing his own loyalty through Poison's life?'
He couldn't figure it out, didn't dare ask, and could only stand there stone-faced, eyes flickering with inscrutable thoughts.
And the lady of the hour — Poison — went completely blank.
Her scrambled thoughts couldn't immediately parse what Cheng Shi was doing. But she recovered quickly, sprang up, and lunged at Cheng Shi with a grin.
Cheng Shi raised another scalpel to her throat: "Want to die again?"
Poison nodded frantically, then immediately shook her head. Licking her lips, she said with lingering relish:
"Don't want to die. But I do want you to save me again.
"Little priest, you really are a good person. This is the second time you've saved me!"
"You call the man who killed you a good person?" Cheng Shi arched a brow.
"How I died doesn't matter. What matters is you saved me."
"..."
In that moment, Cheng Shi felt a tiny pang of regret.
But to take down the even more insufferable Jiang Chi, he endured.
Seeing Cheng Shi's expression shift several times, Poison chuckled softly — then instantly turned serious:
"I can help you kill someone. You know me well enough to know this isn't empty talk, and to know when you can trust me.
"But I can't give up that dagger.
"Little priest, if you also want that dagger, I'd suggest you kill me one more time. That would be better for both of us."
Cheng Shi's expression shifted.
He didn't fear Poison when she was joking around. It was when she got serious that she was dangerous.
He knew she wasn't lying — not because of Master of Deception, but because the [Corruption] Chosen before him had re-entered that "selling" state. She was selling her trust!
Cheng Shi understood: right now, he could fully trust Poison. If she said she'd help him kill, she'd see it through to the end. Her trust might not be genuine, but it was more reliable than countless people's sincerity.
Still, she'd also been candid about the dagger. This [Corruption] Chosen's obsession with the Gift of Sores ran deep.
Fortunately, their conflict of interest no longer existed. The dagger had already vanished.
Cheng Shi hadn't resurrected Poison for her combat prowess, or for a trustworthy partner to watch his back. He wanted to ask about the Pointer Knight, Jiang Chi.
Know your enemy and yourself — a hundred battles, a hundred victories.
Killing a [Time] follower required thorough preparation.
But if he'd always needed Poison's help, why had he killed her first?
The reasons were many. Including but not limited to: satisfying new employee Mr. Ram's wish, taking the Chosen down a peg, refusing to let Poison's rhythm dictate the partnership, intimidating the Chameleon, recognizing that she was actively seeking death...
But none of these were decisive. The single defining reason was...
Cheng Shi had wanted to do this for a very long time.
'Killing a Chosen One — the feeling was absolutely magnificent!'
Seeing Poison suddenly pledge "loyalty," Gongyang Jiao spat viciously nearby. He didn't dare mouth off in Lord Yu Xi's presence, but a small display of displeasure was within limits.
Poison heard the disdainful noise and whipped around with interest, beaming at Gongyang Jiao:
"Well, well, if it isn't Mr. Ram! What's the matter — rabies cured? Starting to enjoy being someone's dog?"
"?"
The remark stunned Cheng Shi.
'Even if he was the one holding the leash, why did that sound so grating?'
He'd expected Gongyang Jiao to blow up. But the volatile Screaming Earl actually held it in.
"Heh. If you, Poison, can be someone's dog — why can't I?"
"???"
'Wait — were these two [Corruption] followers taking shots at him?'
Cheng Shi's eye twitched. He was tempted to stab Poison again just to shut her up. But then he heard her say with a smile:
"I'm voluntary. Are you?" She even threw in a defiant little "woof" at Cheng Shi.
"..."
That single "woof" silenced everyone.
Whether Gongyang Jiao had been wounded internally by rage, or simply found this pointless unwinnable bickering beneath him, he shot Poison a murderous glare and spat again furiously.
Watching this exchange, Cheng Shi smiled on the surface while understanding Poison's true message.
She was reminding him that Gongyang Jiao wasn't trustworthy. But the problem was, sister — you didn't know why he was so obedient. If you did, you'd be obedient too.
And that, precisely, was why Cheng Shi didn't want to reveal his "other identity" in front of Poison. Not because he feared disobedience, but because he feared... excessive obedience.
He couldn't handle that.
With the situation stabilized, Cheng Shi pushed Poison away and finally got down to business.
He looked at Poison — who was busy sizing up the other two — and spoke just five words:
"Tell me about the Knight."
Those five words told Poison everything: Cheng Shi's true target was the Pointer Knight who'd pushed him out of the team at the crucial moment. Jiang Chi!
"I'm curious — Da Yi orchestrated that hunt. Why are you so fixated on Jiang Chi—"
"Stand here and tell me what you know, or lie on the ground and stay quiet. Pick one."
"..." Poison's gaze turned plaintive. She murmured a soft "so fierce," then folded her arms and, rubbing her own skin for warmth, began to speak.
"The first time I met him was also in a trial where I'd prayed for the Gift of Sores. But that trial ended abruptly — wrapped up inexplicably not long after it started.
"Back then, I only knew he was a [Time] follower. I had no idea he was a Pointer Knight.
"Then I ran into him a second time. We fought side by side for a full trial. Our coordination was decent. His combat power was average, but he was careful and sharp. His ability to seize opportunities was strong — though only in small-scale engagements.
"He likes working with clever people. Especially the kind who know their history and carry themselves with elegance.
"So I can tell you with absolute confidence, little priest: the moment you took me out of the picture, he and Da Yi...
"Will never get along.
"Congratulations. Your prey is already alone."
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