Chapter 1455: The Day of Faith's Farewell, the Hour Will Gathers as One (III) |
Civilization ignites. Order endures.
Perhaps Civilization held great expectations for Order — yet Order could hardly be called "enduring."
Seeing that familiar leather jacket appear in his vision once more, Cheng Shi smiled and clapped Li Wufang on the shoulder.
Li Wufang was overjoyed. "Boss, you're finally willing to smile! We can win, right?"
"I hope so. At the very least, we have to try. Wufang — it's time for the Destined Ones to prove themselves again."
Li Wufang immediately understood. He grinned.
"The courage of a desperate throw again?"
Cheng Shi nodded firmly. "Yes. The courage of a desperate throw."
"Simple enough. First time a stranger, second time a friend. But boss — can you tell me where I'll see you the next time I open my eyes?"
Cheng Shi fell silent for a moment, then answered. "Many times, many places. You'll definitely see me again..."
The Destined Ones needed no lengthy words. If they would meet again, there was no need for goodbye.
Li Wufang threw himself into the blueprint with a resounding laugh. The chord of Order cut to a sudden stop in the Void, and majestic holy light coursed ceaselessly through the throne.
Civilization passed its midpoint, giving birth to Truth.
The Doctor's face was still alight with fervor. Even after he had seen through the world's truth, his devotion to Yu Xi remained unshaken.
To the Jokers, Cheng Shi couldn't say much. These tricksters would guess what he planned to do. He didn't want to be talked out of it, and he didn't want to give up.
The Doctor clearly understood him. He didn't press Cheng Shi, choosing instead to speak casually.
"Granted, the Faith Interval was defined by Time as 221. But this has no direct causal connection to 0221's emergence.
0221 was born of my own negligence. If we must find a connection between the two, I'd say it's more likely a reflection of the Time Knot within the current truth. To be blunter — someone deliberately left it for me. Or perhaps for you. Or perhaps as a reminder for this world.
Just like the 220 in Memory's Collection Hall.
I'm not certain who this person is. But what I want to say is: since they left clues, it means there's still a chance for change.
Do you remember the graveyard of time within Time's eyes?
Perhaps burial isn't the end. If you believe in all of this — then do it.
No matter what the future holds, truth will always exist in this world. I will always draw closer to you. Praise Yu Xi."
The Doctor's farewell was clean, without a trace of hesitation. He gave Cheng Shi no chance to speak, simply embracing the throne — as though the throne, not Cheng Shi, was the Yu Xi in his heart.
For a long while, Cheng Shi had nothing to say. Because he remembered how Truth, too, had used every means to draw closer to the Origin... Every conflict of this age was truly a reflection of faith.
Deceit had chosen this path. Was that His way of telling him that in that future without Them, without them — They and they would accompany him in this very form...?
Shortly after the Doctor departed, Qin Xin arrived.
Not the War Qin Xin — but the frail one. Like A Dream.
Cheng Shi looked at that familiar face, at that thin body, and sorrow finally surfaced on his features.
"He still chose to leave?"
Like A Dream nodded, explaining softly:
"The future is right in front of us. Since the flame has been passed, he no longer needs to suppress himself. Let an honest man lose his temper once in a while. He's been silent for too long.
He's like me. All he wants is for the world to be better. Whether we're part of that better world doesn't matter."
'But he had already lost his temper once...'
Cheng Shi recalled their battle. Memories of the past flashed before him — that towering silhouette appearing as if alive.
He looked at Like A Dream and said with some regret: "What about you? Fate saved you. You could have had a future."
Like A Dream smiled.
"Fate Weaver — is that question meant for me, or for yourself?"
"..."
Cheng Shi had no words. After a long silence: "Leaving is fine too. Liberation at last."
With that, Cheng Shi crowned War once more.
Feeling a surge of power he had never known, the frail Qin Xin's frame became towering and mighty once again. Yet tragically, that battle-forged strength had nowhere to be unleashed — it could only become the force that assembled the throne.
He looked at the throne, then at Cheng Shi, and smiled his farewell.
"A spark may fade, but the fire never dies.
Goodbye, my friend. I have escaped suffering and had my wish fulfilled.
May the new world we dreamed of truly come to pass."
He moved to fill the throne's gap — but Cheng Shi suddenly seized his arm, expression conflicted, and asked one question:
"What if the new world in your dream... doesn't come to pass?"
Qin Xin's smile didn't fade. He shook his head.
"You and I — together, we are 'us.'
If the new world in my dream doesn't arrive, then the new world in your dream is still a future.
Don't hesitate. Don't give up. Torchbearer — be yourself!"
"BOOM—"
Blazing white fire scorched the throne, forging a brand-new piece of the puzzle. The blueprint advanced yet again, and the throne began taking true shape.
'The new world in my dream?'
'But no matter what I choose, none of them are the new world I dream of...'
Cheng Shi stared blankly at the throne, lost in thought. After a long while, a "hehe~" shattered his reverie.
He looked up — but it wasn't Zhen Xin who had come. It was Zhen Yi.
Deceit had skipped past Chaos and run ahead. It had to be said — that was very Deceit. And very Zhen Yi.
"I thought you sisters would come together..."
Zhen Yi pranced merrily up to Cheng Shi. Not a hint of sorrow, not a shred of fear of death. She grinned:
"They're all so dumb.
I used Qin Xin's illusion to fool them. They still think the Doctor hasn't finished yet, so I snuck in.
How about it, little Shi Shi? Feeling sad? If you are, go ahead and cry for a bit. I'll lend you my shoulder. And I promise to keep it a secret."
Cheng Shi certainly wouldn't cry — at least not in front of Zhen Yi. But the thought that the person standing before him was Deceit made his eyes redden all the same.
Seeing this, Zhen Yi — far from offering her shoulder — clutched her sides laughing.
"No way, you actually believed me? You're not really about to cry, are you?
Hahaha, little Shi Shi, you're hilarious...
Ugh, fine. Considering how hard you've had it, I won't make fun of you.
I know what parting feels like. And I know even better that crying can't actually comfort anyone. So you should learn from me — just smile.
As the saying goes, a smile takes ten years off your age. Smile enough times, and you'll go right back to that past you love so much.
That's how my sister came about.
Alright, stop crying. I know what you're thinking. I also know you definitely won't play by the rules. Whatever bullshit future they're talking about isn't what you actually want.
When everyone praised me and said I'd have a bright future when I grew up, all I wanted was for my sister to come back.
So — I understand you best.
Hehe~
Touched?"
"..."
"Even if you're too frozen to move, that's fine. I only ran ahead of my sister for one reason — to make a request. Promise me, and I won't tell anyone about the crying."
Faced with Zhen Yi's fearless candor and her carefree spirit, Cheng Shi didn't even know what expression to make.
"What request?"
"This time, I want to be the big sister!"
"!!!"
Cheng Shi froze where he stood. Recalling everything from the past, he nodded, smiling through tears.
"Alright. I promise."
"Hehe~
It's a deal! You can't trick me!"
Zhen Yi was beside herself with joy. "I'm off now. Don't miss me. Well, if you do, that's fine too — just come find me. I know you can find me. I'll be waiting at the usual place~"
And with that, Miss Bad Luck — bouncing and skipping — dissolved into a sky-wide peal of laughter that rained down into the throne that would never laugh again.
...