Setting out: the Morning Cheer Circus

The chaotic aftershocks of the explosion are still lingering.

The entire Circus was in an uproar after someone discovered that the Royal Family Investigator had been knocked unconscious, stripped naked, and thrown into the woods.

Who was the person who stayed in the office with the regimental commander?

They panicked and rushed to look for the office, only to find it empty when they opened the door. The actors felt their world crumble.

Where did the commander go?

Fortunately, not long after, Ringmaster Fait was found lying unconscious in a supply tent. Although everyone was still shaken, they breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that Dusk Play was also a victim and would not be held accountable by the Royal Family.

But they couldn't understand why, if someone with ulterior motives was impersonating another person and stirring up trouble, they would meet in the Dusk Play's office disguised as Investigator and the group leader.

As accomplices, wouldn't they be able to bump into each other anywhere even if they didn't do these things?

No one could give the performers of the Dusk Drama Circus an answer.

Fewer and fewer tourists, more and more soldiers; everyone is keeping quiet, fearing they might be drawn into this major incident rife with conspiracy.

Meanwhile, the three swindlers who left behind a mess had already left the west side of the city and set foot on Morning Cheer's "land".

The style of Morning Cheer Circus is distinctly different from that of Dusk Play. There are more young tourists here, and the shows are more open—literally open.

As soon as Cheng Shi arrived, he smelled a familiar scent.

"[Filth and Decay]?"

Zhen Xin was slightly taken aback; she too had sensed that faint aura of [Filth and Decay].

Long Jing wasn't with them; instead, he disguised himself as Su Yida and hid in the shadows. Just as he said, to deceive Jie Shu, Su Yida's identity couldn't be lost; he needed to "leave a trace" in this Trials.

Although most of the people in this Trials are acquaintances, there is still Hu Wei, who is not the Clown, and another teammate whose identity is still unknown, so it is always better to be cautious.

The two walked towards the interior of the Circus. Cheng Shi's gaze swept over the tourists and performers around him, and he asked in a low voice with a hint of doubt:

"The History School has no record of Morning Cheer, but has anyone recorded what influence [Filth and Decay] had on Kanliwal?"

Zhen Xin shook her head:

There are no specific records, but desires spread and reside freely in people's hearts.

Wherever there are people, there will inevitably be Filth and Decay. Besides, no one can guarantee that this Filth and Decay comes from history; perhaps we brought it with us?

Don't forget, there's still one teammate who hasn't shown up yet.

Cheng Shi nodded, agreeing with this statement.

However, he wasn't worried. With the current lineup, the Believer of [Filth and Decay] couldn't cause any trouble, and even Poison wouldn't work.

If time weren't a constraint, Cheng Shi thought it wouldn't be bad to wander around and collect clues himself. However, the thought that the chaos at Dusk Play would soon be brought to Morning Cheer by the Royal Family Investigator told him that he had to race against time. At least before Mrs. Flord was questioned by the authorities, he needed to personally interrogate this rising star of the Circus and ask her what role she played in Lake's disappearance.

"Old Zhang should have made some progress, let's go find him." Cheng Shi said, but stopped in his tracks.

This pause allowed Zhen Xin to walk ahead of him. Zhen Xin turned back in confusion, only to see Cheng Shi blink at her and say:

"Lead the way."

"?"

Zhen Xin raised an eyebrow and said sarcastically, "Given your tacit understanding, shouldn't you be the one leading the way?"

Cheng Shi curled his lip:

"I don't have as many props as you, so I can't locate him. Hurry up, why not use the props instead of saving them?"

"The wealthy should contribute more, otherwise how can the poor rise up?"

"... You have absolutely nothing to do with poor people."

Zhen Xin gave him a disdainful look, but still took out a prop: a small branch with leaves, the single leaf trembling lightly in her palm.

"Speaking of which, this is a little trinket I got from Hong Lin."

The Shared Prosperity Leaf, if you capture even a small fragment of its Faith essence, can guide you to the most 'prosperous' place of Faith nearby.

It is said that this branch was taken from the ancestral tree of the Rainforest Tribe. The Singer of "[Prosperity]" Myriad Voices in Harmony," and the talent of gathering and sharing the "[Prosperity]" of everyone is of the same origin.

Coincidentally, the aura of Faith captured last time was [Death]...

I think that on this land, probably no one has a stronger Faith [Death] than the Gravekeeper.

As she spoke, Zhen Xin slowly rotated the branch in her hand, eventually causing it to tremble violently in the direction it was pointing towards Cheng Shi.

She raised an eyebrow, pushed Cheng Shi aside, and walked in that direction. Cheng Shi followed closely behind, his eyes sweeping over the branch more than once, finding it quite pleasing to the eye.

But he couldn't very well be shameless and ask for it directly, so he could only say something to distract himself and suppress his Greed impulse.

Who did you use it to see last time?

Are there any other players worth noting in the [Death] faction?

"It's not the player, it's Him!"

Cheng Shi was taken aback and asked in surprise, "You went to see that the Great One?"

Zhen Xin nodded, her expression calm:

"That's right. You said the Bone Clock is that the Great One's greatest support for us, so naturally I have to go and see the 'boss' who protects me."

You had just left, Giggle and Mock had vanished. So I asked Old Zhang to introduce me to an audience at the Fishbone Hall.

The audience with the emperor did not go smoothly.

The Great One neither answered my question nor offered any guidance; he simply stared at me for a moment before sending me back.

I didn't want to trouble the Gravekeeper every time, so I secretly intercepted a piece of His aura in the Fishbone Hall, thinking that I would have the chance to see Him again through the Void.

So today's task is a waste of your talents; you're getting off easy."

"?" Cheng Shi was displeased. "How can you say I got off easy? Everyone is looking for clues. I'm just benefiting from your help, no, from that the Great One."

Praise [Death].

These words reminded Zhen Xin of the "disgraceful behavior" of swindlers during their audiences, and her gaze towards Cheng Shi instantly became extremely strange. "Are you always going to fawn over me like this?"

"You don't understand, this is piety."

"Ha, so the 'simp' never disappeared, they just changed from love to Faith."

"???"

Where was it changed?

Xie Yang's licking technique was very traditional!

Cheng Shi grabbed Zhen Xin and corrected her statement with utmost seriousness.

"It's Bone-Licking; that the Great One likes skulls."

"..."

Zhen Xin couldn't hold back any longer; her eyelids twitched, and she desperately wanted to ask Cheng Shi, " Are you serious?"

But then the leaves on the branch in her palm Change; they shook slower and slower, and then slowly rotated, pointing backward.

Zhen Xin paused, her brows furrowing slightly. She glanced back and asked, puzzled:

"Wait a minute, Old Zhang is nearby?"

She turned to look at the crowd, carefully distinguishing between the tourists and the actors.

Cheng Shi also paused, following the other person's gaze, and after a moment shook his head, saying, "Impossible. If he were dealing with the Grand Marshal, he would never transform into anyone else. He's not here, I'm certain."

"Then why did the direction of the leaf change again? I clearly saw it..."

Um?"

Zhen Xin was still wondering what the leaf was pointing when she saw the leaf in her hand slowly turn slightly, pointing directly at Cheng Shi in front of her.

Ordinary people might not notice these small details at all, and would only think that the target is moving. But Zhen Xin is too perceptive. Recalling that the initial direction was where Cheng Shi was, she immediately realized that the leaf was pointing directly at Cheng Shi.

Her eyes widened, blinking rapidly. "How is this possible? You've merged with [Death]?"

Cheng Shi was stunned again.

I have never actually fused with it, but the lack of fusion is better than fusion itself; my devotion to the [Death] boss is as clear as day.

"This thing of yours... could it be a compass for devout Faith?"

"Tsk, so it seems Old Zhang's devotion to that the Great One was only so-so, not even as high as mine."

"... No, this tool may be small, but I've used it for so long and it's never made a mistake."

"You really didn't fuse [Death]?"

Cheng Shi was numb.

Am I really that untrustworthy?

He explained helplessly:

"No, I am devout to that the Great One, but I have never followed his path."

If I had to say, I've probably come close to death more times than I've come close to Him...

Before he could finish speaking, Cheng Shi's expression changed, and he asked with suspicion, "Zhen Xin, is that thing in your hand some kind of prophetic artifact?"

"..."

Zhen Xin put away the props with a hint of annoyance. "Perhaps their aura cannot be marked. Never mind, we can find Old Zhang without these."

On my way here, I overheard Morning Cheer performing a play about 'death,' and I guess he might be interested.

Let's go there and look for it.

Cheng Shi curled his lip. "Old Zhang doesn't seem like the type to enjoy watching plays to pass the time."

Zhen Xin smiled mysteriously, "That depends on the content of the play. That play is about a strong young man who becomes completely independent after learning of his parents' death."

I guess he's very interested.

"?" Cheng Shi's gaze turned suspicious. "Do you know something? The History School even investigates players' backgrounds?"

The History School doesn't know.

But I know quite a bit.

Zhen Xin narrowed her eyes and smiled like a fox.