Every Person Has Their Own Path

"I think this invitation from the 'future' wasn't something you passed on to me through the Blind Man's mouth. Her prophecy wasn't perfect, so the 'future' doesn't necessarily have to come."

But in Zhen Yi's Memory, I discovered that she seemed to have sensed the presence of someone in the Void, but just like me now, she couldn't find that person's figure.

She gave up because she had no patience, but I think that the 'future' that could get her attention must be something that the 'future' deliberately created.

You are probably Cheng Shi from the future...?

I'm not sure which "time" you come from, nor am I sure which specific "existence" you come from, but based on my understanding of Cheng Shi —well, based on Zhen Yi's Memory of Cheng Shi —his future might not be so simple.

So if you really wanted to hide yourself back then, my carefree sister would never have noticed anything amiss.

Therefore, Zhen Yi's suspicion was your invitation, wasn't it? You deliberately revealed a flaw but didn't let her find you, probably just to invite me here?

It seems we'll cross paths in the future. You know my unreliable sister is untrustworthy, right?

"Well, that's enough. My time is limited. If you don't show up by then, I'll assume you've given up on this meeting, and the invitation will be void."

Despite Zhen Xin's reasonable arguments, the Void remained An Jing, its stillness unsettling.

Zhen Xin frowned, her heart skipped a beat, and she suddenly realized that she might have been deceived, deceived by a "future".

It seems that "his" purpose is not himself, and he himself may just be part of the invitation. He used his curiosity to attract him just to complete another invitation of "his". And who the recipient of this invitation is is actually quite easy to guess.

Of the four people who experienced this incident in this house, three can be immediately ruled out: herself, Aunt Jing, and Hong Lin, so...

This so-called "future" of Cheng Shi is an invitation to Cheng Shi in the present!

He cast out a bait and waited for it to bite, and he was the foolish fish who stupidly took the bait and became part of the invitation!

Good! Good! Good!

He really is a fraud!

Zhen Xin. She wasn't willing to be fooled so easily, so she decided to do something in the Void that would ruin the entire secret invitation plan—that was...

Attract the attention of Deception!

She chuckled softly and began to recite a prayer casually:

"Do not distinguish between truth and falsehood, nor discuss the reality and the illusion!"

But as the prayer was finished, the Void remained motionless and unresponsive!

Zhen Xin's smile suddenly froze on her face, and her heart sank.

What does it mean that the Void has no response?

This means that Cheng Shi's "future," or "the future Cheng Shi," already has the ability to shield himself from [Deception] in the Void!

He's definitely not simple!

This also proves that he is here, and the person he is waiting for is not himself!

It's no use being unwilling now.

Fish on a cutting board are at best spared from being slaughtered...

Thinking of this, Zhen Xin pursed her lips in embarrassment and annoyance, then transformed into smoke and left the Void.

Just after she left, a faint chuckle echoed in the Void, as if someone was secretly laughing, but upon closer listening, it sounded like Zhen Xin's own laughter reverberating from the depths of the Void.

The perspective returns to the present, back to the Sighing Forest where Zhen Xin and the Mature Sister Puppet stand side by side.

When Zhen Xin said, "He may not be now, but he definitely will be in the future," the Mature Sister Puppet's expression showed slight surprise.

"You seem to know him very well?"

"Not really. I didn't go through his Memory carefully, I only looked at the parts I wanted to know. Zhen Yi, on the other hand, looked at quite a lot without any hesitation. She should have told you about it, Aunt Jing, right?"

What kind of person do you think he is?

The Mature Sister Puppet recalled for a moment, and a hint of pity suddenly flashed in her eyes.

"Cheng Shi, he is a lonely person just like you."

Zhen Xin was taken aback for a moment, then smiled.

"I'm not lonely at all. I have Aunt Jing, and Mingyu..."

The Mature Sister Puppet shook her head, interrupting Zhen Xin: "We're not always by your side."

"Well... at least I still have Zhen Yi."

"It's because of Yiyi that I feel you are just as lonely as Cheng Shi."

Sigh, have you ever thought about it...?

"No!" Zhen Xin suddenly said firmly, "Although she always causes me trouble, I think it's fine this way."

"Okay, I'm glad you like it this way." She smiled An Jing and gently, then said nothing more.

"Let's not talk about these pointless things. Let's talk about something else. I'm very curious, is Cheng Shi a Master of Deception? Just now..."

I was able to fool him because I borrowed Zhen Yi's Master of Deception. How did Aunt Jing manage to fool him?

Surely Little Caiwei couldn't have Master of Deception too, could she?

Zhen Xin smiled and winked, then touched the little girl in the Mature Sister Puppet's arms before looking at Aunt Jing with a puzzled expression.

"You mean the Worship God Society?"

"Um."

The Mature Sister Puppet smiled calmly, "I didn't lie to him."

"?"

Zhen Xin's expression changed, and her eyes widened as if she had thought of something.

The Mature Sister Puppet didn't let Zhen Xin ask any more questions, but instead confessed herself.

"I did join the Worship God Society, and I did want to go deep into the Sighing Forest."

"Aunt Jing, you..."

Zhen Xin's pupils contracted, and she pursed her lips.

She never imagined that what they said in the chieftain's house was actually true. Her Aunt Jing really wanted to go to the Blood Rot Tomb. It was a dangerous place, and no one could say for sure what would happen there. How could she possibly want to go there...?

"Aunt Jing, you're lying to me."

The Mature Sister Puppet smiled and patted Zhen Xin's hair, "You know I can't lie to you. Just like you said, you are one of the best liars in the world, while I am just an ordinary [Silent] Traveler. How could I possibly lie to you?"

"And you..."

"Shh, listen to me. Since Caiwei died, I have no other attachments except for you and Mingyu."

As she spoke, the Mature Sister Puppet touched the little girl in her arms. The little girl closed her eyes and seemed to enjoy the touch. However, upon closer inspection, it could be observed that her expression was not as lively as the Mature Sister Puppet's.

"But now you and Mingyu have already surpassed me, so I really have nothing to worry about regarding you two."

As for myself...

I've been silent long enough, long enough that I'm starting to feel like I'm being detached from this world, becoming just a passerby in this game. This isn't good; it's making me lose my sense of humanity. But most importantly, it's causing Caiwei to lose her mother.

So it's time to change myself, or I will truly fall into eternal silence until I die.

I'm not afraid of death, but I want to see you all go higher and further, and see if there will be another chance to become Aunt Jing again, the one who can continue to take care of you.

"..."