Oathbreaker or Betrayer?

When a Pastry Chef stops making pastries and turns to studying philosophy, you should be wary that he may have come up with some new way to Annihilation you.

Cheng Shi never expected that before he could even cause trouble for Mo Shu, Mo Shu would instead stick his head out to him.

If I didn't give you a good whack, I'd be doing a disservice to all the pastries I've eaten before.

But what was the purpose of this Cleaner's invitation to meet him?

Surely it can't be that they're seeking revenge for [Annihilation]?

Don't be ridiculous. Even if he knew [Annihilation] was dead, [Annihilation] perished on its own. It clearly found a path close to [Origin] and faced death with equanimity. What does that have to do with me?

Besides, Herobas didn't blame me, so how could it be that a [Annihilation] Chosen of God one, now without the protection of Lord of Grace, is supposed to uphold justice for [Annihilation]?

Or was Mo Shu's approach orchestrated by Jie Shu? Could it be that they are preparing to make their move?

Cheng Shi was very wary. He did not believe Mo Shu's invitation. He tore the paper airplane to shreds and burned it, continuing his plan to meet [Time].

But after a while, a second paper airplane arrived, this time with slightly more information on it:

"I meant no harm; I just wanted to know what [Annihilation] is."

Cheng Shi remained unresponsive.

But then, a third, a fourth, a fifth... and more and more appeared, it just wouldn't end.

The silent paper airplane is like the incessant chatter of a bald man; no matter how much you ignore it, it's there, occasionally flying past your line of sight to attract your attention.

Paper airplanes filled the sky and danced in the wind, almost turning the rooftop into a spectacular sight.

This eye-catching scene attracted the curiosity of the neighbors. Xie Yang stood on the edge of his rooftop, looked in this direction, and shouted:

"Hey buddy, what's going on? This paper airplane rain is kind of romantic. Have you found your own A Mian yet?"

"..."

Hearing this, Cheng Shi was speechless, thinking to himself that he hadn't found any A Mian or anything, but today he had discovered two clones that seemed to Chen Shu.

He glanced at Xie Yang and said irritably:

"So free, you've already finished passing the torch?"

"!!??"

These words startled Xie Yang, who was standing on the edge of the roof, so much so that he almost fell. His pupils shrank as he stared intently at Cheng Shi, his face ashen. He kept wondering whether the other party knew something or was just saying it casually.

But if it's just something said offhand, how can it accurately capture the essence of "Passing the Flame"?

He asked tentatively, with feigned surprise, "Who told you that? Is someone recruiting you?"

Cheng Shi chuckled but didn't reply. He was prepared to let this loose-tongued neighbor live in fear for a few days.

Amid Xie Yang's anxious shouts, Cheng Shi picked up a paper airplane and went into the warehouse.

There weren't many words on the paper airplane, but this time there was something that Cheng Shi was finally interested in.

"Equivalent exchange, you tell me what [Annihilation] is, and I'll tell you the plan of Jie Shu."

In short, Cheng Shi felt that this was probably not a conspiracy by Jie Shu, but rather Mo Shu's own idea.

Of course, given the Cleaner's personality, he wouldn't have been able to do something like this "equivalent exchange" in the past. But considering the recent changes in the [Annihilation] faction, it's not hard to see that some people seem to have broken down.

It's normal. Even the Blind Man felt lost when abandoned by Destiny. So the more devout Chosen of God, the more helpless they will feel when forced to stop or even turn back on the path of Faith.

After all, not everyone can blaspheme them indiscriminately.

After much deliberation, Cheng Shi decided to meet this old friend who had broken down in his defenses. Of course, to be on the safe side, he would not go in person, but would instead have the Shadow Cheng Shi of the [Destiny] Faith, Cheng Shi, go on his behalf.

When Shadow Cheng Shi arrived at the meeting point in the Void according to the method left by the other party, Mo Shu was still mechanically "manufacturing" paper airplanes for sending messages on a long table.

He looked up at the noise, his eyes no longer holding their usual firmness and ruthlessness, but instead a vacant and bewildered look as he asked:

What is [Annihilation]?

Shadow Cheng Shi frowned, shook his head, and sneered:

I'm not here to answer your questions; I'm here to hear about things that interest me.

Mo Shu, your so-called equivalent exchange is completely invalid. I have already taken the initiative by agreeing to come, so before I answer your question, you need to put the scales of inequality back in their proper places, and only then can we have a second round of equivalent exchange.

Although Cheng Shi appeared relaxed and casual, and didn't even look directly at the other person, he had actually already prepared to snap his fingers in his sleeve. As soon as the Cleaner made any unusual move, he would immediately snap his fingers and return to the Rest Area.

This is certainly not out of cowardice, but rather because there's no need to waste energy before venturing into the True Universe.

To reiterate, without the protection of [Annihilation], Mo Shu is like a stray dog on the roadside, not worth my effort. I only need to warn Herobas to keep an eye on the Believer of [Annihilation], and this [Annihilation] messenger, who has neither obtained the Divine Throne nor lost his Vessel, will Emissary likely take action on my behalf and purge these Believer have caused me trouble.

Things are different now. Before the usurpation plan was launched, Herobas could temporarily protect the Believer of [Annihilation] by virtue of his identity. But now, having nothing left, he has no choice but to do everything possible to avoid splitting with [Nothingness].

Therefore, this meeting was inherently unfair, with Cheng Shi having the upper hand and Mo Shu having no Chip.

Seeing that the Fate Weaver was so adamant, Mo Shu did not dwell on it. He seemed to have lost all his spirit and gave a brief account of his meeting with the Jie Shu.

When Zhao Xishi heard that the stranger Zhao Xishi had mentioned who traveled with Jie Shu was actually a Master of Trickery surnamed Su, Cheng Shi scalp tingled instantly, and he blurted out:

"Who?"

Mo Shu was just discouraged, not stupid. He could tell that Cheng Shi knew this Master of Trickery, but at this moment he had lost interest in the fighting between Peak Player. He just wanted to know what the meaning of his Faith was, and whether his past piety was a joke.

But Cheng Shi cares, he cares a lot!

It's no wonder he overthinks things. Players with the surname Su are common, and there are quite a few Master of Trickery, but when these two identities are combined, it feels like he knows an old friend.

Cheng Shi could never forget that it was this very person who had unveiled the treacherous curtain behind the [Faith Game] for him, but wasn't that person already dead?

According to God of Merriment himself, both of him are dead, whether in the future or the past.

If this Master of Trickery surnamed Su is indeed Su Yida, then from which world does he come?

Considering Ji Yue's words that Jie Shu also suddenly rose to fame a few months after the game's release, could it be... that these two, like Jiang Chi, come from another world!?

Long before I even realized something was wrong with this world, players had already crossed the Spacetime Barrier to arrive here?

That makes sense; it also aligns with the Jie Shu that he has broken through even higher barriers.

But how did they come into this world?

Cheng Shi frowned, then suddenly remembered something and asked, "Does that Master of Trickery possess any other Divine Power?"

Mo Shu hadn't expected Cheng Shi to ask such a question. He gave a wry smile and shook his head.

"Is this considered a second equivalent exchange, Fate Weaver?"

"..."

You're a bit out of touch, making pastries.

I thought this was a reminder of when I couldn't beat you before.

Cheng Shi laughed in exasperation. Just as he was about to make a Yin-Yang remark, he heard Mo Shu say:

"I know you're impatient. I don't ask for anything else, just tell me what [Annihilation] is, and I'll tell you everything you want to know."

How can you be so sure I understand [Annihilation]?

Mo Shu's expression grew increasingly strange. He stared intently at Cheng Shi, as if he had lost his soul, and said:

"Stop acting, Lord Herobas already told me."

He said, "Inspired by you, the Lord of Grace has already Annihilation himself and found the true meaning of Annihilation."

"If you can enlighten a True God, how could you not know what Annihilation is?"

"?"

No, buddy?

Cheng Shi was dumbfounded. He never expected that Herobas would even reveal this matter. But how could he explain his role in this "Annihilation" by telling the [Annihilation] Believer?

Mo Shu continues:

"But I don't understand, if in the end, the true meaning of [Annihilation] is the Annihilation of the self, then what was the point of everything I did before?"

For a fleeting moment, Cheng Shi suddenly felt a pang of pity for this Pastry Chef.

He looked at Mo Shu, who was slumped in Void, and sneered:

"It has no meaning to begin with, nothing has any meaning."

This is an age of Nothingness; meaninglessness is the greatest meaning.