Audience Assembly · The past

The Land of Depravity?

Cheng Shi frowned and began searching through his Memory.

His only trip to the Land of Depravity was during the Trials of [Filth and Decay], where, through a resonance with the history of Kainlaur, he witnessed the truth of the [Order] being torn apart, and at the same time obtained the Vessel of [Filth and Decay] and [Prosperity].

But Cheng Shi clearly remembered that at the Land of Depravity, apart from Kainlaur, Lidyaala, and the dying Lele'er, there was no one else present.

How could the Bailing have ever seen itself?

Was she hiding somewhere back then?

Cheng Shi looked at Bailing again, his questioning gaze lingering on her face. But when he casually glanced at the longbow behind her, a flash of inspiration struck him, and his eyes widened in surprise.

Bailing probably didn't hide at all; she met him openly and honestly!

At the time, he didn't realize she had been there because he still thought of Bailing as a Sensory Hunter, not some kind of Faith [Deception] Beast Tamer!

If I had known earlier that the other person had changed their Faith, perhaps I would have noticed some clues!

That sparrow!

Do you remember the sparrow that once perched on the Fear Mother Tree beside the Sea of Desire?

At the time, Cheng Shi thought he was hallucinating due to the desires of the Sea of Desire. He even asked Mouth Brother for confirmation, but the damned Mouth Brother Zui scolded him, and the matter was dropped.

Looking back now, that sparrow was probably the Beast Tamer's animal!

Seeing the Change in Cheng Shi's expression, Bailing knew that the clever Fate Weaver had guessed everything. She nodded and admitted:

Yes, that's me.

Is that you?

Cheng Shi was taken aback. "Isn't that your tamed beast?"

Bailing shook her head, finally managing a smile. "No, that was me. Although my Lord of Grace repeatedly instructed me not to go in person to avoid being exposed, I couldn't help myself."

At that time, I had only recently become Beast Tamer, and my animal training skills were limited. I was afraid that if something went wrong, I wouldn't be able to handle it in time, so I risked going myself..."

As she spoke, the Bailing transformed into the familiar bird before Cheng Shi.

Cheng Shi's gaze narrowed slightly:

"Is this the sparrow? You have the ability to transform?"

"..."

Bailing instantly transformed back into human form, looked at Cheng Shi with a strange expression, and said in a low voice:

"Yes, I can transform into my own tamed beast."

But... this isn't a sparrow, it's Bailing!

I was so worried for so long, afraid you'd recognize me and disobey my Lord of Grace's orders. Turns out you don't even know what Bailing looks like...

"???"

Cheng Shi choked up.

Ah... this is Bailing?

Of course I recognize him, he just looks like a sparrow.

Cheng Shi's lips twitched slightly, a slight salute [Silence].

Having said all that, Cheng Shi understood Bailing's thoughts. Back in the Land of Depravity, this little Bailing neither wanted her to be recognized nor wanted her to be recognized. Otherwise, given the Beast Tamer's ability to transform, she would never have transformed into a Bailing that could expose her identity.

However, Cheng Shi didn't know the Bailing at all, and their chance encounter was missed in such a confused way.

Cheng Shi, Cheng Shi still frowned as he listened, very concerned about what Bailing Ling's instructions were.

Bailing knew that the key to this conversation lay in the information, so she quickly explained in detail how she had converted to [Deception] and what task the God of Merriment had given her.

My task is...

As the Fear Mother Tree dies, I bring you the [Filth and Decay] Vessel.

But I can't tell you any of this.

"!!!!!"

Cheng Shi's expression turned serious in an instant. Sure enough, God of Merriment was the mastermind behind this matter.

Cheng Shi already knew too much, wasn't shocked. After all, he had already obtained many Vessel. He was just curious about where the [Filth and Decay] Vessel in Bailing's hands came from. After all, that was Tria's Vessel.

Bailing pursed her lips and said with her head down:

"Tria, He's always been with me."

"?" Cheng Shi was stunned. "What do you mean by 'on you'?"

Bailing gave a bitter laugh, her tone extremely complex:

"From the moment the Divine Descent and the [Faith Game] began, I encountered Him at the Starting Point of Life Path."

I didn't know that the Token of the gods couldn't speak. I thought everyone was the same and would receive guidance from the gods, which is why I approached Him.

At that time, I didn't know who He was. It wasn't until later, when I met the Lord of Grace... that I realized the reason I was able to meet Tria at the Path of Fate's Beginning was because the [Compassionate Lord] was fleeing for his life.

In his panic, he found a similar aura and stumbled upon the Path of Fate's Beginning.

"?"

Cheng Shi was truly shocked this Cheng Shi. A Subgod, fleeing for his life when the Divine Descent —who was he hiding from?

Could it be...?

Cheng Shi's eyelids twitched, and he looked at Bailing, who nodded. "That's right, He is fleeing from His Lord of Grace's pursuit."

He truly is God of Merriment!

Cheng Shi's expression became incredibly interesting. "Why is the God of Merriment hunting down Tria?"

As soon as he asked the question, Cheng Shi shut up, because he realized he had asked a pointless question; the answer was obvious.

For [Filth and Decay]!

The fact that Drachirko was "imprisoned" in the My Nightmare, Your Dream shows that the God of Merriment is sparing no effort in using [Filth and Decay] to Emissary explore the Sea of Desire, and He is very interested in [Filth and Decay].

It's not really God of Merriment's fault. After learning enough about the Universe Truth, Cheng Shi wasn't very interested in [Filth and Decay] either!

He knew that [Filth and Decay] was the secret of the Cosmos, and even considered using his divine power to let them explore the Sea of Desire. This idea was exactly the same as that of the God of Merriment.

"So before the [Faith Game] descended, the God of Merriment had already set his sights on the Sea of Desire."

At that time Afros was imprisoned in Dolgo D by [Time], Drachirko had also been 'captured,' leaving only Tria outside, so He wanted to bring back this [Compassionate Lord]?"

"Yes." Bailing nodded, confirming Cheng Shi's guess.

Cheng Shi. While thinking and organizing his thoughts, he asked, "Since Tria escaped from the Path of Fate's Beginning, how was she captured?"

Because you converted to the God of Merriment?

Tria was fleeing for her life, would never want to get close to the God of Merriment, so why did you choose to approach Him?

You..."

Cheng Shi seemed to have guessed something. He looked at Bailing in front of him with a complicated expression and sighed, "You regained your Memory and saw me during the Trials, so you went to ask the God of Merriment for help, right?"

"..."

Bailing trembled, raised her head, met that complicated gaze, and suddenly broke into a bright smile.

She nodded firmly, finally extinguishing the anxiety and turmoil that had been buried in her heart for so long.

This is why she has never dared to look Cheng Shi in the eye. In that Trials concerning the bitter consequences of Destiny, Cheng Shi the gift of [Memory] to make the Fire Keeper forget him, but Bailing regained her Memory through the manipulation of the Hope's Flame.

This terrified her. She feared she couldn't keep this Memory safe, and that if someone searched for it, Cheng Shi's existence would be exposed. So, after much struggle, she prayed to [Deception] to discard this Memory.

[Deception] Successfully summoned her, and naturally found the Tria within her.

Bailing would never forget the scene of her audience with the god. Those Starry Eyes with upturned corners looked at her with joy and asked her what she needed, promising to grant her whatever she asked.

When Bailing said she wanted to forget that Memory again, [Deception] laughed out loud.

He said:

"It seems that the Predestination has returned to the right path, even attracting [Filth and Decay] Believer."

But simply running away isn't the solution. Since you're afraid you can't hold on, then I'll give you the strength to hold on.

As she spoke, under the influence of [Deception], the helpless Bailing immediately broke her oath and threw herself into [Deception]'s arms, becoming a Beast Tamer.

And Tria...

"How is Tria?" Cheng Shi's gaze narrowed slightly. He was eager to know what progress God of Merriment had made in his exploration of the Sea of Sea of Desire after finding Tria.

However, Bailing told him a story about Subgod ending he had never imagined.

"My Lord of Grace killed Him on the spot, right before my eyes."

"!!!"