I'm Not Here to Help the Poor

Cheng Shi frowned as he pieced together the clues he had heard. After pondering for a moment, he ruled out the possibility that the killer was a Decay believer.

Decay and Prosperity were opposing faiths, but if one of its believers killed someone in a place protected by Prosperity, the corpse would certainly bear traces of having "decayed."

Only then would it count as a provocation against the faith and allow them to flaunt their Lord's might.

But the corpses were completely uninjured. Clearly, the killer was trying to create an atmosphere of terror.

The killer's faith was probably Filth and Decay—or perhaps death itself.

The reason he had to consider the killer's faith was not for any other purpose, but simply to solve the puzzle.

One had to know that death and Prosperity both belonged to the Life Path. Although the wills they advocated diverged somewhat, they were not opposed.

That much could be seen from Bloom Awaits Withering.

It protected only living individuals within the span of a normal lifespan, and when an individual reached the end of their life, it would allow them to die.

After all, Prosperity sought the greatest possible flourishing for each individual, not immortality.

In the Life Path, death was ultimately the finale.

With that in mind, Cheng Shi could not help but start thinking.

The Trial of Death ultimately required offering some sacrifice to it.

So this time, was he supposed to sacrifice a Filth and Decay believer who had deliberately created a slaughter but twisted the residents' original manner of death, or follow the methods of a Death believer and kill a target that might be of great interest to it?

One choice meant catching the killer; the other meant helping the killer murder someone.

The two choices could be said to be worlds apart.

If he chose incorrectly, he might well fall into a place of eternal ruin.

Just as Cheng Shi was frowning deeply and thinking it over, another player not far away was also standing there with his head lowered in thought.

Wei Guan clearly knew that the clue to solving the puzzle lay in the Law Enforcement Bureau. He had arrived even earlier than Cheng Shi and had already been waiting there for some time.

When he saw teammates arriving one after another, he gave a cold snort and left disdainfully.

Seeing Wei Guan leave, Cheng Shi laughed helplessly.

Folly's believers considered themselves above others and never liked going along with the crowd. Whether he had figured something out or simply disliked investigating the case with others, no one could say.

After obtaining the relevant information, Cheng Shi left the Law Enforcement Bureau and wandered casually around town for a while.

Only when the sun had set, the streets had grown emptier, and the residents' faces had become increasingly panicked did he stroll back to the inn.

By then, the inn's first floor was packed with people. His other four teammates had already taken their seats beside a wooden table and were waiting for him to return.

Cheng Shi greeted everyone and sat down among them.

His gaze inadvertently swept over the bend in the staircase. He saw the ascetic monk standing in the shadows, staring straight at them. Their eyes happened to meet.

Cheng Shi froze, then smiled and nodded in greeting.

The other man's face showed neither joy nor sorrow, and his gaze did not shift.

What kind of person is this? Doesn't he get tired of standing there all day?

Seeing that everyone had returned, Fang Jue began presiding over the discussion.

"Let's share our intelligence. I'll first summarize what I saw and thought today, and everyone else can fill in the gaps."

The Law Giver truly was the most organized class. All the basic intelligence concerning every aspect of Everbloom Town was shared in perfect order under his meticulous analysis.

The details were so thorough that it hardly seemed like something one person could have gathered in a single afternoon. It was more like a report compiled after a large team had conducted a month-long background investigation!

Cheng Shi was astonished inwardly and wondered if Fang Jue's abilities were a little too impressive.

If some fund-company managers had been this capable, he would not have lost so badly before the descent of the gods.

They were all a bunch of bastards who took money without doing any work!

After Fang Jue finished speaking at length, everyone else nodded. Only Wei Guan gave a cold snort and said disdainfully:

"Excessively redundant."

Fang Jue did not mind in the slightest. He spread his hands, signaling that it was their turn.

Du Xiguang stood up for him instead and said:

"Then why don't you share your lofty opinion?"

Wei Guan glanced sideways at Du Xiguang and sneered:

"So eager to reap without sowing? A brain that never thinks will only grow more foolish. If you want an answer from me, prove your worth first."

"Pfft."

Cheng Shi really could not hold it in and burst out laughing.

His laughter drew everyone's attention.

Seeing everyone looking at him, especially the disdain in Wei Guan's eyes, Cheng Shi hurriedly waved his hands and said:

"Sorry, I couldn't help it. It's my first time seeing someone speak so righteously about freeloading. I've certainly broadened my horizons."

His words were clearly mocking Wei Guan, but Wei Guan showed no reaction. Instead, everyone else looked at Cheng Shi much more amicably.

As expected, people bond through idiots.

As long as everyone stays away from the idiot, they can all get along harmoniously.

Du Xiguang smiled as well. Whether he genuinely wanted to prove himself or simply did not want to wait any longer for Wei Guan's response, he went straight ahead and shared his thoughts.

They were the same as Cheng Shi's: nothing more than choosing between two possible lines.

It was a very ordinary way to solve the puzzle, but also the safest.

Cheng Shi kept nodding in agreement. The two exchanged a glance and immediately felt a sense of mutual affinity.

This is hilarious. Who would have thought that one day I'd end up standing on the same side as a Memory believer?

Yun Ni did not add any other details. She merely shared what she had seen when she went to examine the corpses.

"The Law Enforcement Bureau doesn't have anything like a morgue. The bodies of the four dead were placed in the archives. I examined them from head to toe, and indeed found no injuries whatsoever.

"Compared to murder, this seemed more like the imposition of a curse."

"A curse from underground?" Cheng Shi asked in surprise.

Yun Ni shot him a sideways glance and nodded irritably.

"Yes. This method of killing usually comes from underground. Filth and Decay is probably spreading fear. Creating fear and drawing out terror is also a form of Sinking into desire."

Yun Ni's speculation was decisive, but it had some basis.

Yet every player had their own judgment, and this overly subjective speculation was difficult for everyone to accept as a matter of mutual recognition.

When it was Cheng Shi's turn, he did not hold anything back. He briefly described the discoveries that the others had not mentioned, then savored the clues from each route, pondering where the key to breaking the deadlock lay.

Fang Jue gave Cheng Shi a thoughtful look and teased:

"You really don't seem like its believer."

Cheng Shi knew what he meant. His behavior had seemed overly "orderly."

However, Cheng Shi suddenly laughed and replied meaningfully:

"Don't you think that drawing close to Order is also a form of chaos for me?"

Fang Jue found that amusing, but beneath his hidden smile, his gaze had clearly grown solemn.

Indeed.

Making a Chaos believer no longer chaotic was itself a form of chaos—and the most profound kind at that.

At first, Fang Jue had felt that Cheng Shi did not seem worth paying too much attention to.

But now, faint killing intent had actually risen in his heart.

Discovering an opposing believer with such high divine comprehension was not good news.

Cheng Shi had no idea what Fang Jue was thinking. After finishing his own views, he passed the conversation to Wei Guan.

This Folly believer, whose face seemed to say, I'm not targeting anyone; I'm saying that everyone here is trash, had listened for the entire evening and still had not offered a single lofty opinion.

It was truly irritating.

"Enough. The foolish players have contributed their ideas. Now it's time for the intelligent player to comment."

Wei Guan let out a cold laugh and turned to leave.

As he walked, he loudly sneered:

"Your thoughts are worthless. You're not worthy of knowing the answer."

Even mild-tempered Fang Jue grew angry at those words. He slammed the table and rose, saying sternly:

"Leaving means you're giving up on cooperating with us."

Fang Jue's voice unconsciously carried some of the Singer's skill effect, making it highly intimidating.

Many people in the inn heard him and turned to look.

But Wei Guan did not slow down at all. He was not heading for the rooms on the second floor, but for the inn's entrance.

"'Cooperation' is too grand a word for what you are to me. My time is limited. I'm not here to help the poor."

With that, he pushed open the inn's door.

Just then, the inn page grabbed him by the hem of his clothes and reminded him in alarm:

"Esteemed guest, even if you've had an argument with your companions, I still have to warn you:

"The night is not safe right now.

"The Law Enforcement Bureau has already issued a recommendation for a curfew.

"Staying inside the inn is the best choice. Please reconsider!"

Wei Guan gave a cold laugh and sneered:

"Cowardice and stupidity have always made a good pair.

"I already know the answer, so naturally I'm not afraid of any so-called murderer.

"Besides, in my eyes, his methods are just as idiotic."

With that, he swept the page's hand away and walked straight out.

The moment the door slammed shut, a remarkably unified chorus of curses erupted from the players' table.

"Asshole."