Chapter 1092: So This Is [Folly]! |
When Cheng Shi had first lifted the veil on the Torchbearers for Sun Miao, he'd definitely had an ulterior motive.
He wanted Sun Miao to watch the Torchbearers for him — gaining a channel of information beyond Zhen Xin and the Blind One to silently monitor the group's movements.
At the time, he'd assumed someone of Sun Miao's identity could never be formally inducted into the Torchbearers.
But he'd miscalculated one thing: circumstances change. Back then, the Torchbearers he'd known didn't include a blazingly fierce [War] Fire Seeker.
He'd also failed to predict that his planted chess piece would report back so quickly.
He received a signed letter — the History School's official communication method. Via prayer, a letter was delivered to the intended recipient, and anything written on it would appear in real time.
Compared to phones or video, this method was decidedly old-fashioned — befitting the History School's focus on documented legacy.
When Cheng Shi saw the sender was Sun Miao, he first wondered whether An Mingyu's feedback had tipped off Zhen Xin, prompting her to send a familiar face to probe.
But when Sun Miao drew two hands exchanging a torch on the letter, Cheng Shi froze.
This Vice President Sun wanted to discuss the Torchbearers with him!
It was impossible to discuss something this sensitive on paper, so he arranged a meeting in the Void.
It was hard to describe how strange Sun Miao's expression was when they met again. Cheng Shi couldn't determine the man's true attitude toward him either. Though [Folly]'s arrogance hung on his face as usual, something complex lurked beneath — as if he'd glimpsed some profound truth.
After brief consideration, Cheng Shi concluded the oddity was related to Yu Xi. Otherwise, a [Folly] follower who ranked among the very top of peak players would never behave this way.
Sure enough, Sun Miao's first words weren't about the Torchbearers — they were about Yu Xi.
He said:
"The History School voted unanimously to investigate Yu Xi. We deployed virtually every resource at our disposal to study this [Void] Envoy, and we've arrived at some very interesting conclusions. Would you...
like to hear them?"
Cheng Shi raised an eyebrow and smiled:
"If you're planning to use this as a bargaining chip in your intel exchange, I'll pass.
If it's free, then sure — why not."
"..."
'As expected of him.'
Sun Miao's face darkened, but he carried on regardless:
"We did find traces of [Void]'s influence on reality throughout history. However, those fragments only demonstrate that [Void]'s power appeared at various points — they can't be directly linked to Yu Xi.
When that path hit a dead end, we changed approaches and began tracing the origins of intelligence about Yu Xi's emergence. This time, we finally had results.
Guess what we found?"
Watching Sun Miao's increasingly complex expression, Cheng Shi's heart lurched. He suddenly felt he may have underestimated the true power of the History School as an intelligence juggernaut.
But he couldn't be sure the man wasn't bluffing, so he merely smiled: "Spill it or don't."
"We found that the sources of this intelligence are, in one way or another, all connected to you.
In other words, in every traceable origin story involving Yu Xi's information, your figure appears.
Don't ask me how — the History School paid dearly for this in classified intel. Information exchange is always an equal trade.
So, Cheng Shi — do you know what this means?
According to the History School's Historical Definition Method, an overreliance on a single source turns history into mere story. We don't have enough evidence to prove Yu Xi truly exists. In fact, His existence may very well be nothing more than a lie you fabricated!
Care to explain?"
At this, Cheng Shi's heart clenched. He hadn't expected the History School to actually have substance — to trace an information chain all the way back to him among such cautious, brilliant peak players.
How much resources and manpower had they burned just to investigate Yu Xi?
And how many people knew these conclusions?
Did Zhen Xin know?
Was Sun Miao here on his own initiative, or had Zhen Xin sent him to probe?
Cheng Shi's mind kicked into overdrive, analyzing every angle of his current predicament.
He traced through every breadcrumb and hint he'd ever left, and concluded the situation was still savable. At the very least, Crown's mask genuinely existed. Worst case, he could do what Li Jingming had once proposed — push the final truth onto that mask.
Besides, as long as he didn't crack, as long as he maintained that he'd seen Yu Xi in person, the History School couldn't produce evidence to disprove a divine audience.
After all, whom a god chose to summon wasn't the History School's call.
So as long as he kept up the clever argument, there might still be a way out.
Outwardly, Cheng Shi beamed. Inwardly, he was already composing his defense.
But the very next second, Sun Miao's follow-up dropped his heart right back down.
"Nothing to say, huh?
Are you about to admit it was all a self-directed performance — a lie to fool the world!?
Ha — you think I'd believe that?
If there truly were an Envoy of [Deceit] in this world, He would never use such a clumsy lie to hide His identity. He would deceive the vast majority of fools, guiding the stupid masses into believing that no such thing as Yu Xi ever existed.
But He underestimated this world — and its mortals!
Someone will always see through the illusion, pierce the lie, and find the truth hidden behind it.
And that truth is this: Cheng Shi is nothing but a mortal disguise for your little game. You are the very [Deceit] Envoy, the [Void] Servant God we've been searching for!
Am I wrong... Lord Yu Xi?"
"..."
Cheng Shi's mind went blank.
He realized that [Folly] followers' brains did work fast — but in a direction he hadn't predicted. He'd been agonizing over how to subtly lead a smart Wise Man into believing Yu Xi existed, only for the other party to skip the guide entirely and slap Yu Xi's identity directly onto him!
'If that's how you want to play it, bro — don't blame me for rolling with it.'
Indeed — as the Envoy of [Deceit], why would His lies be so transparent?
When everyone else was on the first level, He should be on the second!
And Vice President Sun here? Straight to the third level!
[Folly] follower — massive points scored.
Since the man had already said it, for Cheng Shi not to play along would feel downright rude.
So he instantly activated Chaos Acting, transforming into the tall, lean figure of Yu Xi. For good measure, he pulled out his [Deceit] container, caressing it as he spoke with an eerie smile:
"Interesting. Few can discern my identity. Several of those who have are followers of [Folly].
Like Wei Mu, you have a fine brain. But unfortunately, guessing right earns no reward.
Forget all of this. Even if you've uncovered my true identity, I will not offer you any aid or guidance.
[Void] is meaningless. All of this is nothing but a game."
Light flickered rapidly in Sun Miao's eyes. He remained unmoved, his tone unwavering:
"If it were truly meaningless, why would You have directed me toward the Torchbearers?
Whether City Defenders, City Builders, or City Breakers — they all hold to beauty and rebel against the gods. If Your will weren't behind them, there's no way they'd remain hidden from divine sight.
So You shielded them — correct?
And the so-called Flame of Hope is just another one of Your aliases — isn't it?
And the reason You do all this... forgive my presumption in seeing the whole through a glimpse... is probably because You share the same desire as the Torchbearers — to rebel upward?
You're rebelling against [Deceit]? Or perhaps... against all the gods?"
"..."
Cheng Shi's brain short-circuited.
'Bro — how did you manage to get everything wrong in your reasoning and yet arrive at entirely correct conclusions?'
'So this is [Folly]?'
...