Audience Assembly · The plan

"The Lord of Grace says:"

Let me dissect your compassion and see if the goodwill within is truly what I believe.

Then he personally killed the silent and unyielding Tria...

That was also the first time I learned of the existence of the Faith Vessel; that dazzling [Filth and Decay] Vessel simply landed in front of me.

My Lord of Grace gave me the opportunity to take it and told me to deliver this Vessel to you at the appropriate time.

Then came the story of the Land of Depravity.

"..."

Cheng Shi was dumbfounded.

Just kill him like that?

Although Cheng Shi guessed that Tria's death was related to God of Merriment the moment he heard about Tria on Bailing's body, he never expected that God of Merriment would take action directly.

Good news! My good friend Afros's request is complete; he has found the murderer.

Bad news: the murderer was his own boss. This case is likely going to become a miscarriage of justice...

Cheng Shi frowned, extremely puzzled. "He only said that one sentence, and didn't say anything else?"

Bailing shook her head:

"No, unless Lord of Grace has erased my Memory, I have not missed anything."

But I feel that since He made me remember this sentence, there's no need to erase anything else; otherwise, just dismissing me and having me do those things would be the same.

I have never understood why He would kill Tria in front of me, even though Tria was indeed a subordinate of [Filth and Decay], she had never done evil and rarely showed herself.

For a long time afterward, I felt that it was Lord of Grace's way of reminding me to maintain my Faith, until I saw you again here...

I then realized that these words weren't meant for me at all.

I understand now, you're right, boss. The fact that you were able to find me here means His gag order has been lifted.

"..."

Cheng Shi knew, of course, that these words were what God of Merriment had Bailing bring to him, but the problem was that knowing these trivial matters did not help his current situation at all; in fact, it only made his mind more confused.

What does Tria's death truly represent?

This must be very important, otherwise it wouldn't have been worthwhile for God of Merriment to spend half a year laying out this plan, leaving this clue until Audience Assembly.

Cheng Shi's expression shifted, his brows furrowed, but he couldn't come up with an answer.

Seeing Cheng Shi's serious expression, Bailing asked hesitantly, "Will these things... be of any help?"

Cheng Shi smoothed his brow, smiled, and nodded, saying, "Yes, that's a great help."

The Bailing beamed with joy and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"That's good, that's good. Is there anything else I can do?"

"Boss, I'm really strong now, I can help you. My Beast Tamed Beasts are strong too, they..."

"Wait, wait, wait." Cheng Shi interrupted Bailing with a smile, asking curiously, "Let's put aside the matter of helping out for now, tell me about your identity Beast Tamer. Why are you pretending to be Little Seven?"

Little Seven is Du Qiyu. He's related to me, but don't be nervous, we're not friends.

I can roughly guess what happened. Xie Yang... you should know him, right?

Bailing never dreamed she would hear the name "Xie Yang" from Cheng Shi's mouth!

Of course she recognized him, for it was the very person she had drawn into the Fire Keeper Xi Guang Tie Ci!

"You know Xie Yang?"

Cheng Shi couldn't help but laugh. "Yes, he's my neighbor."

"..." Bailing was taken aback, then blinked and said, "What a small world."

"Yes, it's a small world. So why did you play Little Seven?"

When Du Qiyu was mentioned, Bailing's eyes immediately turned Indifference and fierce, like a beast waiting to be hunted.

"Fishing!

I'm fishing!

Perhaps I was too weak before, and I didn't feel much of the suffocating and Despair malice in this world. But as I've become able to see through other people's lies, I've realized that some people don't even deserve to be called human.

They walk the world in Human Skin, like man-eating demons, using the talents bestowed by the gods to not only reap the lives of innocent players, but also crush the dignity of ordinary people.

They are either insane or mad, claiming they are embracing the game and enjoying the Apocalypse, but little do they know they are merely indulging their bestial desires. They are not Filth and Decay, but they are even more corrupt than Filth and Decay!

The Fire Keeper is determined to save the world and reshape a completely new world. But whenever I think about how many wicked people there are in this world, I feel that they are not worthy of going to that new world, or even the path to that new world!

Passing the Flame means upholding what is good, but blindly upholding it is useless. The rotting winds of darkness will continuously erode the flame. I don't want to be a wall to block the winds; I only want to be a scalpel to heal the wounds and restore peace to the new world!

Bailing spoke with a firm and powerful voice; the determination in her eyes and her clenched fists spoke volumes about her experience.

Cheng Shi nodded, understanding.

"So you played an extremely evil role, even claiming to be the opposite of the linking of the Passing the Flame, to attract like-minded people, and then eliminate them?"

"Yes!

Having been Believer [Filth and Decay], I understand the convergence of desires best, and naturally know how to find these scoundrels.

The City Breaker used this method to punish many evildoers, who deserved their fate.

But I don't think this is any merit. Compared to Sister Qing and the others' perseverance, I'm just a person who indulges in pleasure.

Even so, Bailing smiled happily, a genuine smile that clearly showed her deep pride in this "job".

Cheng Shi looked at the seemingly glowing little bird in front of him, smiled and nodded:

"Everyone has desires. It's quite good that you can satisfy those desires while also protecting the light within your heart, but..."

Never mind, I won't say anything more. Just be yourself.

Bailing was taken aback, then understood Cheng Shi's meaning, and said with unwavering determination:

"The bigwigs I know will never use that arrow called 'good' to Fire Keeper with the name of 'evil.'"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Shi raised an eyebrow. "Not bad, who taught you that, Fang Shiqing?"

"It's President Qin."

Qin Xin?

That makes sense, because Qin Xin herself is that kind of person.

How fortunate is a world when the flames of [War] do not ignite the flames of battle, but rather the flames of upholding goodness!

"I see."

Cheng Shi said with a serious expression, "The Fire-Keeping Path is long and fraught with difficulties."

I am not the Fire Keeper, so I have no right to demand anything of you. Therefore, I'll say it again: be yourself!

This is a lesson I've learned from so much suffering.

You probably can't help me with what's going on here, and helping only one person isn't the point of Passing the Flame.

Go back, keep walking in the direction you believe is right, keep walking until you see the light on the other side.

But remember, it wasn't you who found the light, but rather you, covered in wounds, who carried that ray of light to the other side.

Cheng Shi's tone was deep and wistful. Bailing thought her experiences were rich enough, but after hearing these words, the heavy feeling that struck her heart was as if someone was carrying the burden of the whole world.

She had many questions, but she didn't ask them because the big boss told her to go back.

So she wants to go back.

But before leaving, she couldn't help but ask a small question.

"Da... Cheng Shi, are you truly Hope's Flame?"

Cheng Shi was taken aback, then smiled brightly:

"Yes.

The same to you.

Each and every one of us is Hope's Flame for this world.