Audience Assembly: Behind the Scenes

Everyone has their own path, Cheng Shi did not assign Bailing any tasks.

After seeing off the little bird that kept turning back, he returned to the background and shifted the focus back to that absurd Audience Assembly.

But by this time, Long Jing had already completed the entire performance of the Fool's Game, extracting the most touching memories from each of the swindlers' hearts.

Logically speaking, one should not get angry if one has doubts about completing the task as requested by the Emissary during the Audience Assembly.

But when Cheng Shi turned his gaze back to the venue, he saw the swindlers staring at the figure on the first platform with indignation and distorted expressions!

Even Cheng Shi's face twitched violently when he followed their gaze.

Because the one standing there now was no longer the slender, eerie, and mysterious Lord Foolish Play, but had become...

Own!

It wasn't Long Jing himself, but Cheng Shi; the Fool's Game became Cheng Shi!

"!!??"

Seeing this, Cheng Shi knew perfectly well that the damned Long Jing had staged a blame-shifting act, revealing his "true" identity during the final Fool's Game call of the farce and putting himself in the spotlight.

That wasn't all; he even provocatively addressed the few remaining people below:

"Thank you all for the secrets, see you next time."

As he spoke, "Cheng Shi" gracefully exited the stage, raising both arms horizontally and leaning backward at the edge of the platform, falling into the bottomless Void beneath his feet.

"****!"

"*********!"

"*****!"

The scammers weren't about to give up!

This isn't a Trials; it's Audience Assembly, a gathering place for the most cunning swindlers. To be so easily fooled by a loser—if word gets out, who among those present would still have the face to call themselves a [Deception] Believer?

Now I'm really becoming Believer in [Destiny]!

Especially the Naked Mask Fourth Brother, who wavered between Long Jing and Fool's Game for the entire "testing" session, only to be told that the other party was neither of them, but Cheng Shi, the Fate Weaver of Fate who had been rumored to have a relationship with Zhen Yi!

Alright, alright, no wonder you had a rumored relationship with Zhen Yi!

Yeah, right!

What bad luck!

The Fourth Brother couldn't stand it any longer. He dove down, determined to catch the Fate Weaver who had tricked him!

The others followed closely behind, all chasing after the direction in which "Cheng Shi" had fallen.

This wasn't just driven by anger. Don't forget, even the most swindlers are shrewd. They were terrified that this Fate Weaver had tricked everyone, would find a real opportunity to meet them and use a grand exit to escape to see his Lord of Grace. So, none of them dared to be careless and they decisively followed him.

What they didn't expect was that, once the Audience Grounds was completely cleared out, a figure silently climbed up from the shadows of the first platform, bowed to the empty space, and smiled as he took his leave.

Cheng Shi looked closely and realized that this person was none other than Long Jing!

What an Acrobat!

In just a few minutes, she not only completely fooled all the con artists, but also tricked them all off the Stage, leaving only herself in the spotlight.

President Gong is indeed the Uncrowned King, ranked second. When Zhen Xin is not around, he is the biggest star on the [Deception] Stage!

Seeing this, Cheng Shi didn't want to pursue the matter of Long Jing shifting the blame onto him anymore. After all, the Fate Weaver didn't have much of a good reputation to begin with, and if all else failed, he could just shift the blame onto Zhen Yi later.

He shook his head and chuckled, thinking to himself that if someone behind the scenes were to appear and present an award for President Gong's brilliant performance, it would be a wonderful story and a classic moment.

Unfortunately, the identity of Fool's Game won't work.

Long Jing knew the inside story of the Fool's Game, and if he went out at this moment, it would only make Long Jing feel that he hadn't been blamed for nothing.

It would be great if the God of Merriment could join in the fun...

But this is just wishful thinking, after Cheng Shi, God of Merriment still doesn't understand what Le Zishen's intention was in sending him behind the scenes.

Just then, a strange change occurred in the meeting room in front of the Curtain.

The perspective shifts back to Long Jing.

Long Jing never imagined that there would be anyone else in the venue. After acting for so long without his Lord of Grace making a move, he even thought that the so-called Audience Assembly just a hoax.

Of course, this wouldn't be a scam for other Faith, but for the God of Merriment...

If the year-long pilgrimage that the con artists have been anticipating is nothing but a pipe dream, isn't that a perfect demonstration of their Deception intent?

Therefore, Long Jing has convinced himself and accepted this fact; this encore is just a ceremonial way for him to conclude his performance.

Regardless, it must have been very satisfying to fool a bunch of swindlers on the Stage of the Audience Assembly; no wonder Zhen Yi always wanted to pull off something big!

The big ones are definitely more exciting.

No wonder Cheng Shi always likes to play the Fool's Game —oh wait, he doesn't just play the fool, he really does Fool's Game...

Long Jing's lips twitched as he prepared to leave, but just then, a pair of eyes suddenly opened in the empty hall!

Those dim, spiraling Starry Eyes suddenly opened, furrowed slightly, blinked again, and cast a gaze toward the Long Jing on the first platform, speaking softly:

"Long Jing, as the victor of the Audience Assembly... what reward do you desire?"

"!!!"

Long Jing stopped abruptly, his whole body trembled, and he raised his head in disbelief.

So, the Audience Assembly was really a competition?

The Acrobat was stunned. He blinked frantically, trying to process what was happening before him, and thought he was hallucinating.

He rubbed his eyes, looked up at the pair of eyes above his head again, and when he confirmed that the upturned corners of those eyes were indeed God of Merriment, he said with a mixture of surprise and delight:

"Praise be to the great [Deception] god, your favor is the greatest reward for me, and your devout Believer dare not have any other thoughts."

Long Jing, being a clever little devil, seized the opportunity and delivered a big, satisfying slap.

He thought to himself, "With my piety, the reward I receive for this pilgrimage will surely scare me to death!"

However, the God of Merriment was not one to be easily fooled by false piety with just a few words. He chuckled and nodded, saying:

"Very well, you may leave now."

"?????"

Long Jing's face fell instantly.

This isn't right, my Lord of Grace! The victor's script isn't written this way, nor is the pious one's script!

Why did you step down?

Shouldn't you be moved by my piety and bestow something upon me?

Your bluntness and decisiveness make me look like Clown!

Long Jing grew anxious. He didn't move, but lowered his head slightly and raised his eyes to ask, "Um... my Lord of Grace, Audience Assembly really over just like that?"

The Starry Eyes blinked twice. "Otherwise what?"

"But there are still people who haven't arrived yet: the Magician, the Clown —they are all your Believer, yet they haven't stepped onto this Stage."

"You're thinking of them?" His eyes held a half-smile.

"Uh... no." Sensing the odd tone in his Lord of Grace's voice, Long Jing quickly changed his tune, "I'm thinking about how to help you punish these blasphemers. Audience Assembly; it's clear they've strayed far from piety."

Starry Eyes chuckled twice, her eyes gleaming, and said, "So, are you belittling their piety, or praising your own?"

Long Jing didn't want to bring himself along, but he was afraid that God of Merriment would take the opportunity to dismiss him, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and say:

"Yes, they all are."

"Alright, I understand. When they next come to see me, I will punish them and tell them that you are the true example of piety."

"???"

No, what is that?

God of Merriment, you want me dead!

The people of Long Jing were stunned. If those two swindlers knew, how could they not guess what had happened?

It's hard enough to survive among the Clown, my Lord of Grace, please have mercy and go find the real Clown!

Long Jing's face twitched, she lowered her head, and remained silent without leaving the scene, clearly waiting for her "reward".

Those Starry Eyes hung high in the sky, staring at Long Jing, neither speaking nor leaving, clearly indicating that there was no reward.

The man and the god remained locked in a stalemate, like a pair of Clown.

Meanwhile, the other Clown who orchestrated this scene was hiding backstage, desperately trying to suppress his laughter.

No wonder the God of Merriment always likes to tease Clown; Clown really are funny.