The Oath of the Heart-to-Heart Game, and the Prisoner Speaks!

"..."

"..."

"..."

Silence always arrives when people need it most.

Ignoring the shocked looks on everyone's faces, Ji Yue continued:

"I am Scholar seeks the essence, Believer in the Truth who seeks the laws, and this has never changed, whether before or after the arrival of the Faith Game."

My research began when I discovered that bearing the weight of a battlefield allowed me to understand Him better.

But Scholar need composure, and research requires calmness. I cannot go any further without eliminating His influence on me.

So I came.

Because I've found a way to eliminate the effects!

She looked intently at Cheng Shi and said seriously and frankly:

"That is the Conjugate Whisper Whispering Flower Petal on the Conjugate Whispering Tree that has never withered."

The Conjugate Whisper possesses the power of symbiosis between the real and the virtual, and its petals are a condensation of this power.

I only need to make a 'Twin Potion' from a single petal and drink it to split my soul and regenerate another version of myself...

In this way, while I am afflicted by the effects of war, she can peacefully dedicate herself to researching war!

"..."

It's gone mad, the whole world has gone mad.

Cheng Shi was speechless.

This Scholar is also a madwoman. She is so mad that she splits herself not to alleviate her pain, but to let the split soul do the research she loves most!

What's the difference between this and learning how to Avatar so that the Avatar can play games while you go to class?

Ah?

You're being too generous, sister!

But Ji Yue's Experiment plan is not yet finished!

She seemed to have entered academic mode, immersed in the illusory excitement of her upcoming research, and continued passionately:

"The self that can coexist is invisible and cannot do any substantial research work."

Then, I had another idea!

After countless Experiment, I discovered a unique way to use the Necromancer talent to infuse souls!

In this way, all I need to do is prepare a sufficiently intelligent human corpse, then extract the soul of another version of myself born from the Void and merge it into it!

So...

There will be a second me in this world.

The second Scholar in the Void Energy Department, Ji Yue.

And that's why I didn't trust you before.

Because, the Soul Salvation Society...

I created this system precisely to find this method!

Cheng Shi wanted to laugh, but he just couldn't manage to force a smile.

Fang Shiqing and the other two felt like crying, but they couldn't make a sound.

I'm just a fake meeting the real deal; you guys are even better—three cobblers pretending to be Zhuge Liang right under Zhuge Liang nose.

Okay, that's great, this is really fun.

What else can I say?

Cheng Shi remained silent and politely took a step back.

Hello.

My mom won't let me talk to crazy people.

Oh, I don't think I have a mom. Never mind then.

Cheng Shi sighed, his expression turning extremely strange.

He knew that from the moment Ji Yue finished her Experiment design, it was his turn to begin his own story.

This Erudite Scholar, who never uttered a lie throughout the entire process, was not only sharing her Experiment, but also building a bridge of trust among her teammates.

She used this unreserved attitude to pave the way for future teamwork, all in order to overcome all difficulties, stop being wary of those behind her back, and focus all her efforts on seizing that opportunity that was almost synonymous with her Experiment future...

Whispering Flower Petal.

To fulfill this contract of absolute trust with her, Cheng Shi, or rather, the Fire Keeper, must be completely honest with each other.

The problem is that what the Fire Keeper did, while not such a crazy Experiment, was even Experiment.

Do they dare to say it?

I wouldn't dare!

Nobody dares!

Even Fang Shiqing, who was Fire Seeker, could only back down in the face of such frankness.

Because they had already experienced betrayal, if they hadn't happened to encounter the "Hope's Flame," the Fire Keeper would have long since Annihilation in the rolling tides of history, just like the players eliminated from the game.

Now that this Erudite Scholar, who was about to reach 2600 points, was so powerful, how could they dare to expose the Fire Keeper again in front of her?

Then, the three who Passing the Flame fell silent.

But just because they dare not doesn't mean Cheng Shi dares not.

Seeing that Ji Yue's enthusiastic gaze grew colder as the silence deepened, Cheng Shi hesitated for a long time before slowly stepping forward.

He coughed twice to draw all attention to himself, and then began his candid and heartfelt performance.

"[Deception] Behold, all that follows is true, without a doubt..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

The silence was deafening.

The scene suddenly transformed into a pilgrimage site for the prisoners, and even he, who never expressed himself, couldn't help but smile.

Seeing the various strange expressions on everyone's faces, Cheng Shi chuckled dryly twice.

"Ahem, just kidding, to lighten the mood."

However, Scholar and prisoners, I need you to swear an oath that even if this collaboration does not yield results, and even if we have disagreements afterward, you will not share everything I have said today with others.

Otherwise, we will never be able to walk the same path.

Here, in the Void, is where we part ways.

Seeing Cheng Shi's serious and solemn expression, Ji Yue raised an eyebrow. The prisoner... just watched.

"You're a smart man, Cheng Shi. You know that such oaths have no binding force."

"No, it is binding."

As he spoke, Cheng Shi took out a... from his personal storage space.

A golden Mask.

"It is obvious that this is His gift."

You two swear an oath before this Mask: if you break this oath, for all the years to come, you will never be able to distinguish a lie from a truth, nor will you ever be able to trust a single word of truth.

Ji Yue's gaze sharpened, her eyes revealing surprise and doubt.

"Is this His gift? Impossible, I've never heard of Mask with such an effect."

Cheng Shi, you must know that I am Scholar of the Void Energetics, and my understanding of the Void is vast..."

Cheng Shi chuckled and interrupted her.

"He is not Void."

"The Void is merely His toy."

"..."

That cannot be refuted.

Not only the Void, but even the entire reality is His toy.

"I need to take a look..."

"No!" Cheng Shi interrupted Ji Yue's request again, fiercely protecting the Mask in his hand with an overbearing attitude that demanded obedience to know the big news.

Ji Yue's gaze darkened, sweeping over Fang Shiqing and the others, lingering particularly long on Cui Qiushi's face.

She had noticed before that this Order Knight was the most honest one; he almost never lied.

But this time, she couldn't detect anything amiss on his face.

Cui Qiushi also noticed Ji Yue's gaze, but he felt completely at ease.

I don't know if it's true or not, and I don't know Cheng Shi is going to do next, so what use am I to you?

It was in this self-confidence that Cui Qiushi endured Ji Yue's scrutiny.

Fang Shiqing maintained a smile and appeared unusually calm, but inwardly she was wondering if the Mask in Cheng Shi's hand was real.

If so, he is very likely to reveal the existence of the Fire Keeper.

But what to do after being exposed? Can the safety of the Fire Keeper be tied to a Mask of oath? These are all questions she needs to consider.

If not... then Fang Shiqing only needs to worry about whether he will lead the situation to an uncontrollable collapse again.

At least the collapse of the situation is much easier to accept than the collapse of the Fire Keeper organization.

Bailing, on the other hand, wasn't thinking about anything else but how to become Cheng Shi's "real one-day girlfriend".

The sense of "Filth and Decay" became even stronger in the Cheng Shi's mysterious image.

Cheng Shi thought Ji Yue would hesitate, but he was wrong.

After observing everyone's expressions, the Erudite Scholar made a vow to the Mask without hesitation.

"With this Truth; with this trust, we deliver Deception."

I, Ji Yue, Scholar of the Void Energetics, hereby swear an oath.

If what I have heard today were to leak out, I would never again be able to see the Truth or see through lies for the rest of my life.

Cheng Shi was quite impressed by how fast he spoke.

They are indeed Scholar of "Truth," their confidence and decisiveness are exactly the same as "Folly."

Watching Ji Yue complete her vow, Cheng Shi's gaze slowly turned to the prisoner.

"..."

"Brother, take it easy. You probably have no other choice."

The prisoner gripped his shackles tightly and hung his head for a long time before finally succumbing to the intense gazes of the crowd and throwing away the chains.

With a crash, the chains fell to the ground.

He compromised.

The thin player moved his chin with his hand, and then, from his long-silent throat, he squeezed out a hoarse voice.

"Chen Shu...

Prisoner...

1842...

I've had enough of... the lonely beating around...

So I... pray... to find...

A partner who can walk alongside you...

Cheng Shi raised an eyebrow and looked at Fang Shiqing.

The moment the prisoner spoke, her eyes were full of smiles as she looked at Chen Shu.

I heard you clearly.

What this prisoner composed in his heart was a melody of hope, a song of order.