Chapter 1348: Deceive When You Must, Fight When You Must

The [Order] follower had, once again, moved further away from [Order]'s throne.

Despite his confusion about Cheng Shi's communication methods, the outcome was obvious. No success.

Li Wufang had missed another chance to obtain the Container.

Truthfully, he wasn't in any particular rush to become a divine being — but compared to how smoothly Zhen Xin had ascended, his own "road to ascension" had been full of complications. Rather like his life before the Faith Game had descended.

Fortunately, back then he had also encountered someone invaluable. Just as he had now.

This was [Fate].

Only — that invaluable person right now looked somewhat displeased.

All of Cheng Shi's calculations, and he had simply not calculated that the Wrath of Abomination didn't have an [Order] Container. How was he supposed to feel good about that?

The only [Order] Envoy left in the world was this one — and even the Container was nowhere to be found. What hope was there of inheriting the [Order] seat?

With no better option, he could only temporarily give it up and first secure the other vacant thrones. The most straightforward of those was naturally Qin Xin's [War] throne.

He planned to go see the Torchbearers.

Since the false Curtain Call, he had not yet visited Qin Xin, nor sought out the Flame of Hope. These two could be called the world's last hope — especially the Flame of Hope, who held the [Fate] Container in its hands...

But that Container was the one Cheng Shi least wanted to claim.

Only when hope was extinguished — when change returned to the proper path — could the Flame of Hope become the [Fate] Container. So to obtain it, the Flame of Hope had to die.

Cheng Shi had no desire to let the Flame of Hope die. He hoped more that [Fate] would, at this era's end, embrace change and stand on the side of the Fear Faction. He hadn't forgotten — in that other world, where the old gods fell and new ones rose, [Fate] had agreed to the other Cheng Shi's plan to save the world.

That meant there existed at least a sliver of possibility that it could let go of the Fixed Destiny it had clung to for an entire era — and that, perhaps, would be the only turning point before the world fully entered [Void].

Before parting, Cheng Shi offered Li Wufang a few words of comfort — though comfort was hardly needed. Li Wufang himself hadn't mentally prepared for godhood. The Destined Ones had pushed him to this point; he'd had very little choice in the matter.

His current bewilderment was like early Cheng Shi's. He understood that he was supposed to climb onto that throne — but what he was supposed to do after, he had no idea whatsoever.

Not that he was alone in that — even the one driving the entire throne-usurpation plan, Cheng Shi himself, wasn't sure what came next. He only knew that if he had the opportunity to gather enough Convention votes and divine throne backing and chose not to take it — whether such an opportunity would come along again was something that truly couldn't be counted on.

Miss the moment, and no moment waits. That much was undeniable truth.

Cheng Shi patted Li Wufang on the shoulder, said farewell to this bewildered Destined One, then reached out directly to the Torchbearers' founder — Qin Xin.

Qin Xin hadn't expected that barely one trial after returning from the Real Universe, Cheng Shi would come looking for him again. This abrupt visit was entirely out of character for the Fate Weaver — and sharp as he was, Qin Xin immediately realized something major must have happened while his back was turned.

Cheng Shi wouldn't hide anything from someone who had been willing to burn himself as kindling to pass fire to him in the universe's final second. He told Qin Xin directly that he was here to see both him and the Flame of Hope. Though puzzled as to why Cheng Shi specifically wanted to see the Flame of Hope, Qin Xin agreed with a grave expression and told Cheng Shi how to properly reach the Torch-Passing Hall.

Coming as a formal visitor — sneaking in through the back door wouldn't look right.

And so, before long, Cheng Shi appeared in the Torch-Passing Hall for the first time through completely conventional means.

Qin Xin hadn't alerted anyone to Cheng Shi's quiet arrival. The Torch-Passing Hall was as usual — a steady flow of people, though not crowded.

Cheng Shi walked the illuminated path toward the hall's depths, hood raised, attracting no suspicion from those around him. But halfway there, someone suddenly called out to him.

The voice was shocked — and guarded.

"You're... Cheng Shi?"

Cheng Shi didn't even break his stride. He let the call pass by him like wind. He had no desire to engage with this old acquaintance — but this old acquaintance apparently wasn't willing to let him go so easily. She called out once more, immediately muffled herself, and without another word grabbed his wrist and tugged him into the shadows at the side of the path.

"How are you here? Why are you here? You're not one of us — what are you doing here?!"

The Torchbearer's voice was low and urgent. She was afraid of being overheard, and equally afraid of being too quiet. She was torn. She knew that with Cheng Shi's character, becoming a fellow Torchbearer was impossible — and yet here this schemer was, deep in the Torchbearers' own stronghold.

He wasn't here to cause trouble — was he?

She wasn't sure. She could only grip his hand tightly, her expression enormously complicated.

"Don't move another step. Answer me. How did you get in here?

Cheng Shi, don't play dumb — I know who you are. Let me tell you, I'm very strong now. If you try to deceive me again..."

As she spoke, the Torchbearer suddenly clapped a hand over her own mouth and nose, her voice muffled.

"I'll... I'll just..."

Was there a threat living somewhere in that unfinished line? Impossible to say.

"Just leave, okay? I'm begging you... I'll pretend I didn't see you. Don't come back after this, and don't tell anyone how to slip into the Torch-Passing Hall. All right?"

"..."

Hearing the voice already verging on tears, Cheng Shi felt something ache quietly inside him.

This girl Nangong was still far too kind. She was willing to let "the intruder" go just to repay a debt of gratitude.

That wasn't rational. But it was very Nangong.

Looking at the hand gripping his wrist — now covered again in vivid, jagged crimson scars — Cheng Shi let out a quiet exhale.

So she truly was one of the vessels the Torchbearers sought for the [Decay] Container.

The God Creation Plan was going smoothly then.

But smoothly as it was going, nothing could be smoother than Qin Xin inheriting everything from [War].

Cheng Shi hadn't the heart to deceive this earnest, guileless girl any further. Gently, he reached up and pulled away his hood — and looked at her with a puzzled frown.

"Nangong, what's wrong?

You said you saw Cheng Shi — where? Why do you look like that? Don't you recognize me?

It's me. Cui Qiushi. My father even tried the [Decay] Container alongside you once...

Hey? Nangong? Blink if you can hear me — you're not having hallucinations, are you?"

Nangong went completely blank.

She couldn't begin to understand how the face burned so indelibly into her mind — the face she'd never mistake — had somehow become Torchbearer Cui Qiushi the moment the hood came off.

She knew Cui Qiushi of course. She could confirm this person was Cui Qiushi — because no one other than the real Cui Qiushi could know so many specifics about the Torchbearers' innermost workings.

Nangong was at a complete loss. For a moment she didn't know how to explain herself. Like a startled rabbit she released his hand, took two steps back, and stumbled through something half-hearted.

"I... sorry, I mistook you — no actually, I didn't mistake you...

I was just... ha, playing a little joke on you. Not funny? Right, no, never mind then. I'll be on my way. And, uh — take care of Old Cui. He hasn't had it easy."

With that, Nangong turned around and ran without a backward glance.

But just as she was about to break out of the shadows, a figure stepped directly into her path and stopped her — looking with mild puzzlement into the shadows behind her, then turning to her with concern.

"Nangong — what's going on? Why are you running?"

"!!??"

Nangong's whole body went rigid. She looked up in disbelief at the Cui Qiushi standing directly in front of her. The pupils of her eyes went through something like an earthquake of impossible scale.

"You... you..."

Cui Qiushi was baffled. "What about me?"

"!!!"

Nangong snapped her head back to look behind her — to find not a single trace of the person who'd been there moments ago.

Cui Qiushi was no newcomer. Nangong's behavior immediately told him something dangerous was lurking in the shadows. His expression darkened and he was already raising his sword and shield to go investigate — but Nangong grabbed him, her face a mask of panic poorly disguised as calm. She shook her head firmly.

"Don't go."

Cui Qiushi's gaze sharpened. He gently freed his arm from her grip and stared hard into the shadows. "Who's there?"

Nangong was quiet for a long moment, her expression layered with things she couldn't name.

"One... one of our own."

"?" Cui Qiushi was unconvinced. "You're sure?"

"Yes. I'm sure." Nangong drew a deep breath. Her face was written over with conflict.

Cui Qiushi frowned, looked into the shadows once more, then glanced at Nangong standing before him — and then, without further questioning, simply let it go. His expression smoothed into a smile. He patted her on the shoulder.

"All right then. You look a little drained — probably the Container's corrupting effect taking its toll. Make sure you rest and take care of yourself."

That said, he actually dropped the matter entirely and walked away.

Watching his retreating form, Nangong's heart clenched. She called out before she could stop herself.

"You... you believe me?"

Cui Qiushi paused, turned back, and smiled.

"Of course. I trust every fellow Torchbearer.

Even when they have things they can't speak openly about — it's always because they're protecting something precious to them."

...

At the same moment, deep in the Torch-Passing Hall.

The upside-down Candle Man listened distantly to the brief exchange between the two — his expression vivid beyond description.

"How could you bear to deceive them?"

From somewhere in the darkness came a sound like a quiet, amused exhale.

"Not deceiving when you can, is the same as not fighting when you should. I've finished the deceiving. Now it's the Torchbearers' turn to fight."