Chapter 1385: Audience Meeting — Guidance |
"..."
A mortal saving a deity; this sounded like a great achievement.
But Cheng Shi didn't feel the slightest sense of achievement. In his heart, he only confirmed one thing: that [Deceit] had once become a Despair Faction member and was pulled back by his own unyieldingness. Therefore, the current [Deceit] was undoubtedly a Fear Faction member.
That also meant that no matter how despairing the past was, or how confusing the road ahead is, he would definitely have the Fun God's support behind him.
This was enough.
Every Fear Faction member has difficult times, and now, we have endured through them together!
Thinking to this point, Cheng Shi wiped the corners of his eyes dry, patted his cheeks, forcefully squeezed out an arc at the corner of his mouth, and reached his hand out toward that pair of eyes, saying:
"Reward!"
This word was spoken powerfully and sonorously. It fundamentally didn't sound like he was begging for a reward, but more like he was demanding compensation!
But the Fun God was still the Fun God. Even if His fun was an outer garment wrapping the tearing pain of [Void], this outer garment was still joyful enough. Thus He immediately 'took up the act' and said:
"What reward?"
"The reward for saving a deity!" Cheng Shi gave a cold snort, advancing his palm forward another three inches.
"Oh?
It is only natural and right for a follower to respectfully offer everything to their Benefactor. When did devotion become an excuse to demand a divine gift?"
Cheng Shi had long anticipated that [Deceit] would say this. He also knew that both sides were attempting to restore the harmonious disguise from before the showdown. Although this was self-deception, sometimes people needed to give themselves and give others an excuse, especially when it was mutually willing.
Cheng Shi 'got into character'. He seemingly changed back into that Clown who used sophistry as a weapon, and the opposite side also cooperated to become that deity who loved to tease the Clown.
It was just that this time, the Clown no longer had worries about his life, so naturally he no longer feared the so-called deity.
Thus he counted on his fingers and refuted:
"First, I am the fixed destiny, completely unpolluted by any faith. Naturally, I have no faith, so I don't have devotion.
Second, You are not a deity either. True deities are omniscient and omnipotent; they wouldn't be saved by a mortal. Therefore, the theory of a divine gift does not hold up either.
Right now, it is merely one living creature helping another living creature out of a predicament. And out of moral agreement between living creatures, You need to give me a reward for lending a helping hand."
"Interesting."
[Deceit] smiled. He finally displayed a smiling face again. "But you forgot one thing. If I didn't say it, you would never know that you lent a helping hand, so your goodwill was passive.
I can consider that the Clown didn't have the intention to save a deity. He was just looking out for himself, and incidentally made some contributions for his Benefactor."
"?" Cheng Shi was almost so angry he laughed. "Isn't doing it incidentally still saving? The fixed destiny has already become a fact; You cannot deny my merit."
"That's right. I cannot deny you, but I can deny myself."
"What does that mean?" Cheng Shi's brow twitched. He kept feeling that he had fallen into a pit again.
The corners of [Deceit]'s eyes tilted up slightly, and the spirals spun rapidly as He said:
"Even if I am a living creature, I am a living creature without morals. Without morals, there is no agreement."
"???"
It could even be like this?
Are you shameless?
But isn't having no morals precisely being shameless!?
"..."
Cheng Shi's expression collapsed, his face fully written with speechlessness. But the corners of his mouth clearly hooked up unstoppably, and in a short while expanded into complex laughter as he said:
"I still prefer this kind of Benefactor. Can I... still call you the Fun God?"
When the outer garment of joy was stuffed full of bitterness and pain, Cheng Shi became cautious even with this title.
However, [Deceit] didn't mind these things. He smiled and nodded:
"Although nicknames are blasphemy to a deity, I have always been a tolerant Benefactor. I'll simply pardon you of your guilt this time.
Self-deception is the background color of [Deceit]. If one can't even deceive oneself, how can one speak of deceiving all living beings?
On this point, the Clown did a good job.
I had originally prepared several methods to comfort the Clown. But looking at it now, hmm, the Clown truly is a Priest; his self-healing ability is quite strong."
"..."
No, actually, Cheng Shi's self-healing ability was not strong at all. His self-deception ability, however, was extremely formidable, just as [Deceit] said.
If there was anything that could describe the current Cheng Shi, then a sieve net was absolutely the most apt one.
He was like a sieve net full of holes, fragile and covered in cuts and bruises all over. But he knew he couldn't stop moving forward, because even if he was full of holes, he was still the only barrier protecting the friends behind him.
At this point, aside from going forward, he had no path to retreat.
[Deceit] saw through Cheng Shi's inner heart. He smiled in appreciation and didn't speak.
Compared to a sieve net, He felt Cheng Shi was more like a spider web.
More fragile, and also stronger.
He stuck to everything in the world, living bearing heavy burdens, and walking staggeringly.
This was also the reason why the Clown's image in Mockery and Jeering was always a spider web.
Cheng Shi fell silent for a good while. He pondered a lot and recalled a lot. It wasn't until he completely cleared up his thoughts that he raised his head again to look at his Benefactor, asking in a firm tone:
"Lord Benefactor, I know You must definitely have a solution. Otherwise, You wouldn't have laid bare Your inner heart before the era's curtain call, using such despair to strike at the Clown's beliefs.
I also know that I cannot find the answer from Your mouth. The fixed destiny's will cannot be polluted.
But as a mortal, I completely cannot imagine how that plan is supposed to deceive [Origin] and replace [His] gaze.
Therefore, I am confused, I am at a loss, and I am fearful. But today I have also seen Your confusion, loss, and fear...
I am not like some deity who refuses to make a promise, always unwilling to light a lamp and making people grope forward in the dark. Since I trust the Fear Faction, then I am willing to make a promise for this.
I cannot promise too much, but at the very least I can guarantee: no matter how huge a price is required to resist [Origin], even if it is death, I will absolutely never retreat half a step."
"For friendship?"
"Yes, for friendship." Cheng Shi nodded heavily, "And also for resistance!
They are the ones who let me know that in this world, besides Old Jia, I still have attachments.
They have already sacrificed themselves for me once. This time, I won't let the tragedy happen again."
"But what if it's still a tragedy?"
Cheng Shi gave a light chuckle. He looked toward the endless void, saying with relief, "If it's still a tragedy, then pass on the script of this tragedy to eliminate a wrong choice for the other worlds in the Real Universe.
I believe that when all choices have been eliminated, there will eventually be one me who can find the answer, and there will also eventually be one You who can get what You wish for.
This, is passing the fire!
It is what You, and also the Torchbearers, taught me during the False Curtain Call."
"..."
The void boiled!
Psychedelic multicolored brilliance splattered out from the endless pitch black. Within the dense illusions, the corners of countless eye shadows tilted high, as if inviting all the [Deceit]s in the Real Universe right to the front.
And among these starry eyes, the brightest pair undoubtedly belonged to the truly existing eyes of [Deceit].
Even if there was no longer any dazzling starlight in those eyes, leaving only faintly spinning spirals, at this moment, Cheng Shi nevertheless felt that those eyes growing with glorious colors were the most beautiful pair he had seen since seeking an audience with gods.
[Deceit] lightly blinked His eyes, and finally at this moment, found that living creature whose will resonated at exactly the same frequency as His.
"Very good.
The Clown should indeed receive his reward.
No, I should say the deity is about to fulfill His promise.
I remember the Clown once said he did not want to become a god, yet he wanted to deceive gods..."
"!!!"
Cheng Shi abruptly jolted. His eyes filled with excitement as he said in disbelief:
"Authority!?
But I didn't become rank one on the Ladder of Ascent..."
"Hee~
It does not matter, I never said you had to become the top of the Ladder of Ascent either.
What I said at that time was: when you become my [Chosen One]...
Chosen One, Chosen One. Only the deity's choice naturally counts as the Chosen One.
And now, the deity has chosen you."
...