Speak up, Mute!

Back on the rooftop Cheng Shi even more lost.

He couldn't understand the guidance of [Time] at all.

The [Existence] hesitant words clearly told him that in order to find a way out of this Experiment, he had to get close to the [Origin] will and resonate with the will of the Creator.

Are you kidding me?

All along my journey, I have feared [the Origin], resisted [the Origin], and distanced myself from [the Origin], yet you have led me closer to [the Origin]?

Wouldn't that be accepting one's fate and resigning oneself to Predestination?

But in the end [Time] said to focus on walking your own path...

Isn't this contradictory?

How can something that is far from the [Origin] and something that is close to the [Origin] possibly be in harmony?

God of Merriment, operating behind the scenes, orchestrated such a grand scheme, even going so far as to use the power of the [Origin] to demonstrate the Despair of the Cosmos's annihilation. Going to such lengths couldn't possibly be just to push me towards the [Origin] realm!?

There is no logical point to prove that God of Merriment agrees with the [Time] concept.

Cheng Shi couldn't convince himself and could only remain lost.

He asked Mouth Brother, he asked Ear, he asked everyone he could on the rooftop, and he even asked Xie Yang next door, but apart from getting the response, "Are you heartbroken?", no one could give him an answer.

[Time] never lies. Any sentient being can feel its steadfastness and love for this world. Cheng Shi can understand that the other party does not want to be corrupted by the will of [Time], but he cannot understand how the other party intends to get closer.

Fortunately, it wasn't entirely without gains; at least understanding [the Origin] is an absolute prerequisite for finding that path.

Cheng Shi pondering for a long time, Cheng Shi decided to continue.

The worship of God must never cease.

He had a feeling that something big would happen at the assembly of gods a few days later, and he didn't want to be manipulated anymore, at least not without reason. So he steeled himself and tried for the first time to meet Him, whom he had never met before.

[Silence]!

There is a widely accepted belief among players that Believer of [Silence] know many secrets, whether actively or passively; in short, their silence allows many secrets to flow to them.

As the Lord of Grace of these "secrets," does He know even more secrets?

Or even God of Merriment's scheme?

After confirming [Silence]'s identity as a member of the Fear Faction from [Death]' s boss, Cheng Shi really wanted to ask this "ally" for a secret.

But he was still uneasy, because the last time he met this third god of [Chaos], he almost became Little Puppet in front of that Leaky World Silent Puppet.

Furthermore, Cheng Shi hadn't forgotten that a "corpse" of a Leaky World Silent Puppet, feigning death, still lingered in the True Universe.

What is that [Silence] doing there?

This could be a very useful icebreaker topic.

So Cheng Shi sat cross-legged on the rooftop and recited the prayer of [Silence]. The next second, his vision went black, and he was pulled directly into the Void.

The enormous and terrifying Leaky World Silent Puppet appeared in Cheng Shi's field of vision. It was still so mechanical and emotionless, like a real black hole, absorbing everything under this Void.

Cheng Shi glanced at Him and found himself speechless. He had countless questions in his mind, but at this moment, his mouth opened and closed but he couldn't utter a single word.

The scene fell into a deep silence.

Fortunately, [Silence] was indeed an "ally." This time, He did not "attack" Himself. Even though the huge Leaky World Silent Puppet was close at hand, He was not assimilated, and His limbs remained free.

Cheng Shi smiled.

It doesn't matter if you can't speak; as long as you can move your body, you can always express what you want to say.

He began to fidget with his arms, using his frantic, unlearned, and barely passable sign language gestures to silently question [Silence].

However, the next second, all his efforts were completely negated!

It was not the deity before him that denied him, but his own words.

"You have Parkinson's disease?"

So says the Lips of Foolish Play.

"???"

Cheng Shi was stunned.

He never imagined that he could hear the sound of his own lips moving in this Void, in front of [Silence]!

He was stunned, unable to believe it.

No, Mouth Brother, how can you still talk?

Lips of Foolish Play chuckled and answered Cheng Shi's question again.

"I am just a mouth, and my only ability is to speak."

Just like some people are Clown, whose only ability is to make the audience laugh.

"..." Cheng Shi blinked frantically, thinking to himself, "I have a mouth too, why can't I speak?"

"Perhaps a silent Clown is funnier than a noisy Clown."

"What do you want to ask? I can ask for you."

"!!!"

At that moment, Cheng Shi was deeply moved.

He was even somewhat grateful for the end of that fake era. If it weren't for God of Merriment's script breaking down Mouth Brother's defenses, how could Mouth Brother have been so considerate!

Even though it still has a sharp tongue, its soft heart and tofu-like nature are simply undeniable!

Long live Mouth Brother!

Cheng Shi's expression turned serious, and he immediately thought to himself: Mouth Brother, Mouth Brother Zui, tell [Silence] everything that happened in that Trials, and ask Him if He knows the truth.

"..." Lips of Foolish Play curled his lip and said, "It's too long, let's rephrase the question."

"?"

Cheng Shi was taken aback, then thought it made sense. After all, it wasn't him talking, so it was understandable that Mouth Brother felt tired. So he compromised and said, "Then give a brief overview and ask [Silence] for his opinion on this 'Change'."

The Lips of Foolish Play understood and immediately relayed the message:

"Hey, you mute, [Deception] Destiny, playing the role of Outer God, killed you once. Do you hate Him?"

"!!??"

No!?

By the Cheng Shi realized what "Lips of Foolish Play" was saying, it was too late. "Mouth Brother" spoke faster than a machine gun. By the time Cheng Shi covered his mouth, a complete story—no, a complete accident—was already laid out before him.

Although Mouth Brother was indeed "relaying" according to his instructions, but!!!

I didn't ask you to paraphrase it like that!

You have such a sharp tongue! I thought you'd become a nice person!

So you haven't changed at all; you still have those Lips of Foolish Play that can scare people to death with just a few words!

Ha, just like me, I haven't changed either; I'm still that Clown who blindly believed those foul mouths.

Sure enough, what Mouth Brother said was right; a silent Clown is indeed funnier than a noisy Clown...

Destroy it!

The light in Cheng Shi's eyes faded. He let his hands fall limply, no longer resisting, intending to face the impending "Storm" with an attitude of repentance.

He felt like he was going to become Puppet again, and he just didn't know who would come to save him this time.

However, things did not go as Cheng Shi had expected. The Clown, who had lost all his strength, waited and waited but did not receive the punishment he deserved. He suddenly paused and looked up at the Leaky World Silent Puppet, only to see that the Silent Puppets had remained silent from beginning to end, without any change.

He did not express, assimilate, or respond; He remained eternally silent and still.

Seeing this, Cheng Shi blinked and asked in confusion:

If He is unwilling to express Himself through [Silence], then why would He respond to His audience?

Just then, the substitute went to work again.

"Speak up, you mute! What kind of mute are you if you don't speak?"

"..."

Cheng Shi's face stiffened, and he looked at the eyes of the Leaky World Silent Puppet with a slight tremor. When he saw those eyes waver slightly because of the questioning of the Lips of Foolish Play, he went numb.

I might as well die.

That solves everything.