Chapter 851: Too Many Lice to Feel the Itch? |
Back to the present.
When Cheng Shi punctured Zhen Xin's disguise with that peculiar tone, "Cheng Shi" blinked. Features gradually receded, revealing a young woman in a purple scarf and casual blazer...
Zhen Xin!
The Deceit Chosen One finally appeared before Cheng Shi in her true form for the first time.
Her expression was serene, even indifferent. No frustration at being outmaneuvered. She didn't seem to think she'd lost.
She shook her head with a light smile. "Not at all. I was simply studying a colleague's craft. And now... well, it's been quite rewarding."
But the instant her words faded, Cheng Shi's mouth moved on its own.
"Yes — I lied..."
???
'Brother Mouth, you...'
'Wait — no! Brother Mouth isn't speaking for me. He's... speaking for the ear?'
'Huh?'
'So this is what "all spoils go to me" meant?'
'But how did the ear link up with Brother Mouth from inside spatial storage? Will every secret I hear from now on be filtered through the Lips?'
'Can that still be called a secret?'
'That's just a riddle game.'
Setting that aside...
Cheng Shi ignored Zhen Xin's stunned expression. His brow sank. His face darkened.
If the altered play had ended and Brother Mouth and the others were still on his body... then everything he and Mi Laozhang had quietly schemed...
Was for nothing?
So nothing changed. Their reunion wasn't so easy after all.
Cheng Shi clicked his tongue and gazed toward where Zhang Jizu was hiding.
What kind of unexpected event could even Mi Laozhang fail to prevent?
Had the interference come from Them?
Was it Deceit? Or... Memory?
Zhen Xin's expression was equally strange. She tilted her head slightly, studying the clown she'd observed countless times through memory, and asked with curiosity:
"You didn't use the Tongue of Eating Lies to verify my words, yet you were certain I lied.
Hmm — so you've already acquired it.
The Secret Peeping Ear is already in your hands, isn't it?
And the way you phrased it was strange — very unlike your usual self. It reminds me of when you exposed Zhen Yi. I've always wondered how someone with zero top-tier experience at the time could identify and unmask her, especially when you'd nearly believed her.
Now I understand. Cheng Shi — you must have another tool similar to the Secret Peeping Ear, one that can eavesdrop on people's inner secrets. That's how you saw through Zhen Yi."
"..."
That deduction sent a jolt through Cheng Shi. The sharpest liar was indeed perceptive. But he kept his composure, changing the subject.
"Keep guessing if you like. I need to go — I've got things to do. No time for riddles with you."
He brushed dust off himself and headed offstage.
In truth, exposing Zhen Xin hadn't served any special purpose. He'd simply identified her and wanted a "win" to rebalance their unequal history.
Zhen Yi had fooled Cheng Shi once. Even though he'd eventually caught on, being duped was being duped.
Between liars, competition was about craft. If you were fooled, you were outclassed. Only by leveling the score here could Cheng Shi hold his head high in future meetings with the Zhen family.
Moreover, he'd already established a link with Zhen Xin through the Blind One. So regardless of the calculus, he wouldn't burn bridges over a disguise — especially one where he'd come out the winner.
Cheng Shi walked away. Zhen Xin didn't stop him. She quietly followed, continuing her reasoning.
"Your non-answer confirms my guess.
The History School spent a long time gathering intelligence before confirming the Secret Peeping Ear's existence. And with only a tongue in hand, it's hard to believe you'd go looking for another similar artifact on a hunch. So...
That tool I mentioned probably isn't a tool at all. It's most likely another facial feature on par with the tongue and ears, isn't it?
You already have three similar Deceit creations?"
"..."
Cheng Shi laughed in exasperation — marveling at her acuity and annoyed by her chattiness.
He'd assumed the former Deceit Chosen would have a steadier temperament than her pest of a sister. Steadier? Sure. But in the annoyance department, she gave Zhen Yi a run for her money.
'I thought Mi Laozhang was the reincarnation of the nagging monk. Turns out you're the same age.'
Cheng Shi snorted, turning to Zhen Xin. "You think you're clever?"
"Not at all," Zhen Xin shook her head with a gentle smile, unfazed by his sarcasm. "Logic and deduction are simply my tools for understanding the world. Nothing more."
Cheng Shi stopped. A thought struck him — he was suddenly in no hurry to find Mi Laozhang. Since the outcome was settled, why not use this chance to learn more about the former Deceit Chosen?
Zhen Xin's purpose here wasn't hard to guess. She'd never been his "enemy." She'd probably come because of that casual "show me something real" he'd said on the phone.
So her bond with the Blind One was truly deep — willing to risk everything over a throwaway remark, coming here to find something as precious as the Secret Peeping Ear as payment.
That heavy "gratitude" carried genuine thanks, but what Cheng Shi saw even more was the depth of their friendship.
Too bad she'd picked the wrong "gift." Good thing he'd gotten to it first — otherwise he'd have lost twice over.
Cheng Shi smiled, studying Zhen Xin's curious eyes. His tone turned playful.
"So — what kind of world have you come to know?
Or do you think you've already seen the world clearly?"
The subtext was obvious. Zhen Xin wasn't stupid — she caught his meaning, raised an eyebrow, and with a casual wave conjured two figures in the empty theater.
One was the resurrected Crown. The other...
Was her sister, Zhen Yi!
The phantom Zhen Yi stuffed Crown into a small bag, then dashed out of the theater laughing, vanishing — leaving behind countless "visible" traces.
After this played out, Zhen Xin produced a slender stylus and drew in the air. Moments later, those traces materialized throughout the theater for real.
Now anyone who entered would see the evidence and conclude they'd been played by Zhen Yi — she'd already taken Crown. Any secrets in this theater had been claimed by that number-one pest.
Watching this, Cheng Shi blinked in surprise.
He understood: this was Zhen Xin's show of sincerity. This cleanup had been his job, but now she'd saved him all the work of fabricating cover stories. He could pin everything on Zhen Yi.
But... wasn't Zhen Yi her sister?
No — wasn't Zhen Yi her?!
'Girl, are you so covered in lice you've stopped feeling the bites? Or do you just not care about bringing trouble on yourself?'
...