Chapter 619: Mi Laozhang, Don't Make Me Roast You When I'm in Such a Good Mood |
There really was one!
When Zhang Jizu brought him to a tombstone engraved with the word "Deceit," Cheng Shi went completely catatonic.
"Laozhang... you can't just assume you're safe because Death protects you. They could still sentence you for blasphemy.
You've got your priorities completely backwards!
Painstakingly cautious in the small things—and straight-up suicidal when it comes to the big picture?
Your talent for trash-talking behind people's backs far outstrips certain others who commit blasphemy to their faces."
Zhang Jizu smiled without dwelling on who this notorious face-to-face blasphemer might be. He continued toward the cemetery's security station, explaining as he walked:
"This is something I recently came to understand."
"?" Cheng Shi looked at him quizzically. "Understand what?"
Take those sixteen tombstones carved with divine names—they aren't for the gods. They're for their Chosen Ones.
I simply haven't finished carving. So you saw half-completed works.
But you still misunderstood. And I think—that is Deceit."
"..."
'Oh no. The honest man isn't honest anymore.'
Cheng Shi gazed at Zhang Jizu with a complicated expression. He mulled it over for a long time before managing a single sentence: "I still think the honest, squinty-eyed version of you was easier on the eyes."
Zhang Jizu grinned happily, eyes squeezed into slits: "Don't forget—you're the one who led me down this path. I'm simply making the best use of what I've been given, keeping the faith from gathering dust. While you, my friend—you're the real con artist."
"Sigh. My friends are all developing brains. It doesn't feel great. But I like what you said—I'll take it as a compliment."
"...Did you really make this trip just to hear that compliment? Or are you generously helping me test my formation?"
"Can you go back to being the old squinty-eyes?"
"I can put you back where I found you."
"..."
By the time they finished their exchange, they'd arrived at Zhang Jizu's quarters. Compared to the grand cemetery, the living space was rather spartan—though anything was better than a windblown, sun-scorched rooftop.
Zhang Jizu didn't bother opening the door. Instead, he leaped straight onto the roof, set Cheng Shi on the ridge, and spoke again: "So—what do you need help with?"
"You're that certain I'm here to ask a favor?"
"Yes. Otherwise I can't think of a reason you'd come in person instead of just calling.
Besides, you've been unusually well-behaved all evening. I know a skull body can't actually stop your mischief—so the fact that you haven't been pranking me means you need something.
Out with it. If the risk isn't too high, I'll consider it."
Cheng Shi bounced twice on the rooftop and said meaningfully: "And if the risk is high?"
Zhang Jizu's brow twitched at that. His eyes narrowed to a slit: "Related to... the gods?"
'Listen to that!'
'For Mi Laozhang, the only things that qualify as "high risk" involve the gods!'
'As for ordinary trials? Heh—just a question bank for the Chosen of Steady to grind more Steady Points.'
Cheng Shi smiled. No beating around the bush—he went straight to the point: "Not exactly the gods. Just one god. It involves a single deity."
"Which one?" Zhang Jizu's eyes cracked open a fraction wider—clearly intrigued.
"Yu Xi. Deceit's Envoy. A Servant God of Void."
'Yu Xi?'
Zhang Jizu searched his memory and found nothing about this Deceit Envoy. He looked at Cheng Shi with mild surprise: "Deceit has an Envoy?"
"What's that tone? You have a bias against the Fun God?"
"..." Zhang Jizu had no comeback.
"Of course it has an Envoy. And quite an interesting one at that. It was Yu Xi who inspired me—who gave rise to my alternate persona."
"!!!" Zhang Jizu's eyes flew open, their gaze burning into Cheng Shi. His shock was palpable: "You've seen it."
"Obviously. I haven't just seen it—I was tricked by it."
Cheng Shi then recited the same cover story to Squinty. With this, his identity concealment plan was fully closed-loop. Every person who knew about his dual faith had now been corralled into the same information fence. If anyone leaked his faith details later, the insiders would simply smile knowingly—and silently reassure themselves with the "truth" they already believed.
Of course, one other person knew his identity but wasn't part of Cheng Shi's calculations: Zhen Xin.
But based on his current read on Zhen Xin, she was a steady, cooperation-oriented con artist who generally didn't run her mouth. Her sister, on the other hand...
'Even if she talks, who believes a liar?'
With the identity issue squared away, Cheng Shi relayed everything Li Jingming had told him and expressed his hope that Mi Laozhang would accompany him to San Dales. In return, he'd offer equivalent assistance.
Zhang Jizu listened with eyes narrowed to hairline-thin slits, pondering for quite some time. Then he suddenly asked: "You're saying Li Jingming agreed to join the Jokers?"
"?"
Cheng Shi froze. 'Laozhang, you don't care about San Dales or Yu Xi—but the Jokers and Li Jingming?'
"Yes. The Dragon King's intelligence value is immeasurable. Bringing him in was the right call. And I'm a good judge of character—after spending time with him, I can tell he's far more reliable than the rumors suggest.
But we should stay cautious. After all, he's like you—a follower of Deceit. These con artists are never honest!
You're one of the Jokers' founding members, so naturally I'm informing you."
"Founding member... So hearing an organization's name in passing and waiting two days automatically makes someone a 'founding member'?"
Cheng Shi's face darkened: "...Mi Laozhang, don't make me roast you when I'm in such a good mood."
Zhang Jizu shook his head with a chuckle:
"I'm fine with it. But Cheng Shi, I have to ask—what's the actual purpose of this so-called Joker organization?
You're not planning to drag me into a scam and make me take the fall, are you?"
'?'
Cheng Shi's face crumbled.
'How could you think that about me?!'
'Even if I did briefly consider it, you still shouldn't think that about me!'
'What about friendship? Friends who can't even take the fall for each other—what kind of friendship is that?!'
He bounced on the rooftop twice, fixing empty eye sockets squarely on Squinty:
"Laozhang, let's have a real talk. You live so steadily—but what for?"
"To tend graves."
"...?" Cheng Shi was so annoyed he laughed. "Drop the fake piety act. Death isn't watching this place. I'm baring my heart here—can't you be honest for once?"
Zhang Jizu's lips twitched. His narrowed eyes nodded: "Fine. I'll be honest."
"So what for?"
"To tend graves."
"..."
"Don't rush—I'm serious.
I don't think every person is born with a purpose. I've never known what the meaning of life is. I simply don't want to die.
This world is extraordinary. There's still so much I haven't seen. Once you're dead, you never get to see it."
Cheng Shi felt something off about the phrasing. He studied Squinty with faint suspicion:
"But you don't seem like those people who fanatically pray for trials to explore the unknown.
Exploration and caution have always been antonyms.
Isn't that a contradiction?"
"Not at all. See what you can, when you can. The outside world is risky. Compared to seeing more—staying alive comes first.
As long as you live long enough, the sights will come naturally."
"..."
'Well—can't argue with that...'
Now Cheng Shi truly understood. Mi Laozhang was a simple man at heart. His purpose for living was... to keep living.
'Tsk—how fascinating, though. A person who purely wants to stay alive... has become the Chosen of Death.'
'This kind of absurdity could probably only happen in an era governed by Void.'