Audience Assembly · Bailing

The one who's confused is the Clown still dealing with other swindlers up there, not the Fool's Game currently standing in front of Du Qiyu.

Cheng Shi looked at the old friend in front of him with complicated emotions, and he already remembered who the other person was.

That familiar, tactful tone and slightly playful, complaining look could only appear in one person at the same time, and coincidentally, that person was also a Hunter.

However, the person Cheng Shi knew was not the [Deception] Hunter Beast Tamer, but the [Filth and Decay] Hunter Sensory Hunter!

Indeed, Cheng Shi recognized him. The person in front of him, playing Du Qiyu, was none other than the broken little bird he had once saved, the Bailing!

For a moment, Cheng Shi's thoughts were drawn back to the Trials of the past.

When I first met Bailing, she was a low-scoring weakling, and I was just a carefree liar; when we met for the second time, she had joined the Fire Keeper, had her own beliefs, and I had already pushed open the door called Predestination and embarked on the path back to [Destiny].

This is the third time.

She actually became Believer in [Deception], even breaking into the top ten and arriving at the Audience Assembly, while I... have become the focus of the world, the core of the Fear Faction, and the Lord Foolish Play in the eyes of all the liars.

Why wear Mask in front of old friends?

Cheng Shi chuckled self-deprecatingly, raised his hand to remove the mask from his face, shed his Chaos Acting Method, and revealed his true self to his friends.

This wasn't a deliberate attempt to expose Fool's Game's identity; rather, Cheng Shi knew that if he wanted to learn something from Bailing, the identity of the Fate Weaver was far more useful than Fool's Game or the Hope's Flame!

Just as expected!

When the Fool's Game shed its disguise and revealed Cheng Shi's Cheng Shi face, Du Qiyu, who had just been trying to get close to the Hope's Flame, suddenly widened her eyes. Countless emotions flashed through her pupils, which had shrunk to pinpoints: joy, excitement, shock, confusion, and even a hint of fear.

He clearly wanted to say something, but after that moment of fear Du Qiyu covered his mouth and turned to run away.

He seemed very afraid to see Cheng Shi.

Seeing this, Cheng Shi became even more certain that Bailing's [Deception] identity was definitely not simple, but he did not stop her, but only said quietly:

"Stop."

Those two words, like a spell, froze a Beast Tamer who could fight the eighth-ranked Master of Trickery to a standstill.

Du Qiyu froze, his whole body trembling, not daring to turn around or move again.

Looking at that stiff figure, Cheng Shi sighed:

Is this how you greet an old friend?

Who taught you to wear Mask in public?

"..."

The figure trembled again, but remained silent.

Seeing this, Cheng Shi had no choice but to lift his leg slightly, making the sound of clothes rubbing together.

Upon hearing what sounded like someone approaching, the figure trembled even more violently. No longer caring about concealing his voice, he pleaded in that familiar, clear tone, "Don't come any closer!"

It really was her!

Cheng Shi smiled:

"Okay, I won't go over there, then you come over here."

I remember that Sensory Hunter love to pursue what others covet, so why are they now starting to distance themselves from others?

Was it because of breaking the oath?

"..."

The figure gradually stopped trembling. Perhaps realizing that he could not escape the grasp of the Fate Weaver, he resigned himself to his fate and turned around.

As he turned around, Little Seven's appearance faded away like silk threads, revealing a resolute and weathered pretty face to Cheng Shi.

She was no longer wearing that alluring silk dress, but a stylish tactical outfit, with a longbow slung across her back, both the bowstring and the bow itself stained with blood.

Her flowing long hair was no longer loose, but instead stood up in a high ponytail at the back of her head, looking free and easy.

Cheng Shi looked at his friend in surprise, feeling that the Bailing no longer seemed like Bailing, but rather like an eagle soaring into the sky.

"You..."

He wanted to say something to compliment the other person's Change, but the words stuck in his throat.

The determination on her face is Bailing's badge of honor; she has already proven herself and needs no praise from others.

There is no reason to belittle her past or present. Regardless of whose choice or helplessness she made, she is a good person, and that has always been true.

That's enough.

Cheng Shi then laughed, looking at Bailing with a broad smile, "The Bailing I know isn't like this. What, just because I lied to you just now, does that mean I'm not worthy of being Beast Tamer's friend?"

Bailing pursed her lips, stared straight at Cheng Shi, and shook her head with a complicated expression, saying, "I'm not worthy."

Speak like a human being.

"..." Bailing's expression was very conflicted. Clearly, it wasn't that she didn't want to speak human language, but rather that "someone" was preventing her from speaking human language.

Noticing this, Cheng Shi frowned slightly. He seemed to have thought of something, raised an eyebrow, and tentatively asked, "God of Merriment?"

Bailing's face turned pale instantly. She pursed her lips tightly and refused to utter a sound.

Seeing this, Cheng Shi understood, his eyes darted around, and he beckoned to Bailing, saying:

"I know you must have been through a lot and have some reservations, but now that you have come this far and come to the Audience Assembly the God of Merriment, you cannot only approach Him in piety, but also advance with Him in will."

Imagine, if He truly didn't want me to know what you know, why would He let me meet you here?

This is His Audience Assembly; if I could change the Void, even if I knew you were here, I could not possibly reach you.

So whatever gag order He gave you before, it's all in the past now.

Tell me what you know, Bailing; these things might be very useful to me right now.

I am facing a crisis and cannot afford to overlook any clues or information.

Bailing is no longer the Bailing of the past. She is no longer that low-scoring weakling, that Niao Niao who had to rely on others to pass the Trials. She is now a top-tier con artist, a top ten [Deception] who can enter the Audience Assembly.

She immediately realized that Cheng Shi's words were all lies and fallacies, his purpose being to "trick" her into revealing what she knew.

But these were things the gods themselves forbade her to speak of, so how could she dare to divulge them?

But today... she still spoke.

It wasn't because she believed Cheng Shi's nonsense, but because the Fate Weaver said he was facing a crisis and this information could help him.

Therefore, the Bailing spoke without reservation.

"I... lied to you."

"?" Cheng Shi was taken aback. "What?"

Bailing lowered her head guiltily, "I said I lied to you."

"When? Just now Du Qiyu?"

No, even earlier.

In that Land of Depravity beside the sea of Sea of Desire, I... saw you.