Everything is Destiny's Choice

"What's wrong with you?"

Cheng Shi rolled his eyes, his disdain evident.

Fang Shiqing hadn't expected Xu Lu to react so strongly. She asked in surprise:

"How did you determine it's fake, Xu Lu? You saw Cheng Shi's entire reasoning process. If you have any doubts, you can voice them. There's no need for this."

"I..."

Seeing Xu Lu hesitate, Fang Shiqing knew she was hiding something. She gently persuaded her:

"Just say it. We still have enough time."

Xu Lu glanced at the time, gritted her teeth, and said firmly:

"My Lord previously gave me a new decree. He said:

[Do not let the followers of [Time] deceive you.]"

"!?!"

Both Fang Shiqing and Cheng Shi were startled.

Cheng Shi was surprised that Xu Lu's benefactor seemed to have some cognitive issues. He wasn't actually a follower of [Time].

Fang Shiqing, on the other hand, was shocked. Could what Xu Lu said possibly be true?

"You..."

"Sister Fang, I know you look down on me, that you think I'm stupid, weak, and a burden.

But I can see that you want to protect me.

That's why I'm telling you this:

Cheng Shi is a big liar. He wants to kill everyone.

He killed A'ming and Huang Bo, then he killed Bailing, and now it's your turn!

Sister Fang, come with me, won't you? Don't believe him!

Everything he says is false!"

Fang Shiqing turned to look at Cheng Shi, only to see him suddenly look relieved.

"Oh, so this is where [Destiny]'s prophecy comes in. Big sis, it's your time to choose now.

Hahaha, believe her or believe me, it's one or the other."

After saying that, Cheng Shi smiled and walked to the side of the Final Gate, silently beginning to wait.

"Even you..."

Fang Shiqing tightened her grip on the book in her hand, her gaze shifting.

"Cheng Shi, what was His decree to you?"

Cheng Shi blinked, then chuckled, "You figured it out?

I did receive a decree. Just as we entered the third act, [Time] gave me instructions.

He said: [Kill that follower of [Destiny].]"

"..."

"It's you! I knew it!

Sister Fang, didn't I tell you! He wants to kill me!

But he's lying. He wants to kill everyone!

He's already doing it! It's just the two of us left.

Sister Fang, I'm saving you! I'm saving you! Please believe me, he wants to kill you!

Why aren't you coming over!?

Fang Shiqing! Do you think you're so great?

Do you think every choice you make is the right one?

You idiot! For someone who's a follower of Truth, you still can't see he's harming you. Only I am saving you!

You!!!

Fang Shiqing, what are you doing!

Come back!

He wants to kill you! Come back!"

Seeing that Fang Shiqing had chosen Cheng Shi, Xu Lu completely broke down. She looked at the two figures getting closer with gritted teeth, turned, and ran.

"May you all die! May you all die! All you idiots, die!"

Cheng Shi watched Fang Shiqing approach with great interest, chuckling, "Why didn't you choose your little follower as your leg?"

Fang Shiqing sighed helplessly, "To borrow Xu Lu's words, if you want to kill her, you don't need to be so troublesome."

Cheng Shi was amused beyond measure.

"Aren't you going to save her?"

Fang Shiqing glanced back, then shook her head, "The Fire Keeper passes on the flame of continuation. People like that...

Never mind, let go of the desire to help and respect others' destinies."

Cheng Shi pouted, "Yeah, respect others' destinies."

He emphasized the word "destiny."

Fang Shiqing knew what he meant and no longer mentioned the invitation. Instead, she extended her hand and looked at Cheng Shi.

Cheng Shi blinked, stunned. Without thinking, he placed his hand forward.

Their two warm hands clasped tightly.

Of course, it wasn't a finger lock, but the posture of a handshake.

Fang Shiqing had placed her hand flat, but he had turned it into a handshake.

"..."

Fang Shiqing's face showed a rare moment of embarrassment before she quickly regained her composure and reminded him with a smile, "Where's my compensation?"

Cheng Shi finally remembered that she was asking for the reward for the "Eternal Prison" page.

Damn, this is so awkward, my toes are cramping.

"Ahahaha, I remember, I remember."

Cheng Shi quickly withdrew his hand and took out a... from his personal space.

Mask of All Beings.

It was a golden mask with a brilliant smile, and it felt substantial.

As soon as Fang Shiqing took it, its description popped into her mind:

Mask of Mirth (S): When you wear this mask, your mood will be forcibly turned to mirth; when you consume this mask for summoning magic, your summoned creature will be replaced by the individual who gave you this mask.

"?"

Fang Shiqing blinked, taking a long time to digest what "replaced by the individual who gave you this mask" meant.

Wouldn't that be Cheng Shi?

She looked at Cheng Shi and saw his embarrassed expression.

Indeed, giving a lady such an item wasn't exactly a commendable act.

But it was very useful.

This was equivalent to Fang Shiqing having one chance to summon a Doctor of Forgetfulness, though she didn't know if the summoned Cheng Shi would have such monstrous problem-solving abilities.

She gently stroked the mask, smiling happily.

"Thank you, I accept it."

Cheng Shi awkwardly withdrew his hand, unsure of what to say.

Uh, I just wanted you to help me see what this thing was useful for...

Actually, I wanted to imprint a healing spell with the Shared Divine Grace effect for you...

But you kept holding onto it, and then you even pulled it over and touched it so hard...

Leg, can I get it back?

"..."

Ah, forget it.

After all, she's a lifesaver. This mask, which has no description and no practical use, can be considered a parting gift.

"This... consider it an extra gift. I'll imprint a healing spell for you, so take note."

"There's more?"

"Huh?"

"Oh, okay." Fang Shiqing smiled, took out her book, and began imprinting Cheng Shi's skill.

Once everything was settled, she closed her book and cleanly stepped into the Final Gate.

"Cheng Shi, goodbye."

Cheng Shi watched Fang Shiqing disappear and shook his head with a smile.

When would they ever meet again?

Once Fang Shiqing had completely vanished through the gate, Cheng Shi's gaze sharpened again. He looked in the direction Xu Lu had left and strode after her.

"You think you can escape after taking my knockout drug? What are you thinking, you freak!"

Xu Lu hadn't actually gotten far. As she ran, she fainted in a small garden near the banquet hall.

Cheng Shi had administered the drug when he pulled her away from the first Final Gate.

Even in that urgent moment of "rescuing" her, he hadn't forgotten to apply some potion to his hand before grabbing her.

Of course, this wasn't a premeditated act against Xu Lu.

It was just a precaution, a step taken to be prepared.

He hadn't expected it to be useful so soon.

Initially, Cheng Shi's claim that "Destiny had given him a decree" was pure fabrication, as he wasn't a follower of Time at all.

But unexpectedly, after Fang Shiqing left the trial, Cheng Shi actually received a decree from a Deity.

However, this Deity wasn't Time, but rather Deception, whom he believed in.

Kill that follower of Destiny.

The decree was identical.

It was as if Deception had watched his performance and was now repeating his words.

"?"

The problem was, aren't you and Destiny gods of the same Life Path?

What was the meaning of this?

"..."

Cheng Shi was speechless.

When he caught up, Xu Lu was still lying on the ground, unconscious.

He grabbed Xu Lu by her collar and dragged her towards the Final Gate.

Along the way, many servants glanced at them curiously, but under his sharp gaze, no one dared to intervene.

Cheng Shi walked, and Xu Lu bumped along the ground.

Upon reaching the Final Gate, Xu Lu slowly regained consciousness due to the sharp pain in her back.

When she saw Cheng Shi's face, she shrieked and curled into a ball.

"Don't come near me!! Ah!!!

Don't kill me!!

Please, I was wrong, don't kill me!!"

Cheng Shi looked at her with cold eyes and sneered:

"You? You think you're worthy?"

He grabbed Xu Lu by the neck, lifting her entirely, and then chuckled:

"I have killed many people, and I have witnessed countless deaths.

But I still feel that sometimes, death is too direct.

It lacks a certain aesthetic.

Don't you agree, Miss Prophet?"

Without waiting for Xu Lu's reaction, he shoved her headfirst into the Memory Gate.

After finishing, he took out the dice in his hand and said with a grin:

"Rather than killing a follower of Destiny, perhaps disrupting her Life Path would be more amusing."

Cheng Shi looked hopefully at the dice.

Unfortunately, the dice remained motionless, showing no reaction.

"Tch, boring."

Cheng Shi put away the dice and strode out of the trial.

[Special Trial (Eternal Night Maze [Memory]) Challenge Successful]

[Rating and reward settlement in progress...]

[Player: Cheng Shi, Performance Rating: S]

[Obtained Item: Mask of Hope (S) x1]

[Obtained Item: Mask of Regret (A) x1]

[Obtained Item: Mask of Disdain (B) x1]

[Obtained Item: Mask of Relief (A) x1]

[Path to Godhood +9]

[Ladder of Audience +3]

[Current Path to Godhood Score: 2125, Global Rank:]

[Current Ladder of Audience Score: 161, Life Path Rank: 64]

[Trial Cleared, Exiting Soon]