[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-foolish-game-of-the-gods":3,"chapter-foolish-game-of-the-gods-foolish-game-of-the-gods-chapter-32":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Foolish Game of the Gods",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},579353,829,"Chapter 32","foolish-game-of-the-gods-chapter-32",32,"\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Ling, startled, jumped slightly at Cheng Shi’s sudden outburst.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi, his excitement rising, explained quickly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bai Ling, he mentioned a broker!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, isn’t it possible that the guard didn’t know who the dwarves were? Maybe he only recognized the ring?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Ling wasn’t slow on the uptake and quickly understood Cheng Shi’s point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the guard had hired the dwarves through a broker, then he wouldn’t necessarily know who they were or what they looked like, at least not in detail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dwarves in the servant’s quarters hadn’t shown any logical inconsistencies. They even knew to kill the invading players to cover their tracks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Ling’s eyes widened in disbelief. “But… but we already found the answer! The trial’s solution is right there!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cheng Shi, the memory labyrinth has never had a second answer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heh,Cheng Shi thought to himself.Forbidden techniques never showed up in the [War] trials either, but we encountered one last time, didn’t we?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I remember the prophet girl’sDivine Willroll was… a 5, right?” Cheng Shi asked pointedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Lu’s face flushed with anger when Cheng Shi referred to her as “prophet girl,” but she didn’t dare speak up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shiqing, deep in thought, nodded. “Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, isn’t there a possibility that this prophecy is telling us that we still have another 50% choice to make?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi locked eyes with Xu Lu and spoke slowly and deliberately:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She’s at 1600 points. Her dice has 10 sides. Rolling a 5… that’s exactly half.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone was stunned, but no one could argue with Cheng Shi’s logic. His explanation made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with [Fate]’s prophecies, no one could say for sure what they meant until the very end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But we don’t have any other clues or evidence to find a second answer,” Fang Shiqing said with a frown. “Cheng Shi, the manor is full of people—too many. And too many have died. We’re in a very passive position.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But we at least have time, don’t we?” Cheng Shi flashed a grin and started walking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can think of someone who might be one of the answers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who?” Bai Ling quickly followed him, while Fang Shiqing hesitated for a moment but eventually dragged along a reluctant Xu Lu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Lu clearly didn’t want to go, but Fang Shiqing held her tightly, preventing her from running off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was obvious that Fang Shiqing still believed in Cheng Shi and didn’t want Xu Lu running off to her death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that wasn’t how Xu Lu saw things. She glared at Fang Shiqing with a mix of anger and mockery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In her mind, the once-reliable “big sister” had lost her reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The [Time] follower was corrupting her!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi led the group away from the second floor, quickly navigating the manor as they searched for their answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guests at the banquet hadn’t left; they were still chatting and laughing as if the duke’s lateness was a common occurrence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi ignored the clueless nobles and led his group away from the main hall, back toward the servant’s quarters where everything had started.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as everyone was starting to wonder why they had returned, Cheng Shi smiled, staring down at the ground by the doorway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shiqing followed his gaze, noticing a faint layer of sandy soil at the threshold, with a shallow footprint pressed into it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi pointed at the ground and chuckled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“See the dirt from the courtyard?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I figured that whoever hired the dwarves, for whatever reason, would come to check on them when they didn’t show up at the right place and time. So, I scattered some fine sand by the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now, as you can see, there’s the footprint of a noblewoman’s high-heeled shoe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Ling, finally catching on, asked—perhaps playing dumb on purpose—”So, what does this mean? Uh, that the duchess was here? That she’s connected to the broker?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi gave her a look as if she were an idiot, but before he could respond, Fang Shiqing spoke up, her face thoughtful:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It means the duchess isn’t as simple as we thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi mentioned that her reaction to the duke’s death was extreme, but if the dwarves were hired to assassinate the duke, she shouldn’t have been here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only explanation is that she knew the dwarves were coming.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly!” Cheng Shi nodded. “As the duchess, she’s recently taken an unusual interest in the dwarven circus. That says it all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What does it say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have a theory, but I won’t make any definite claims until we find the duchess.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shiqing nodded sharply. “Let’s split up and search!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hurriedly dragged a resentful Xu Lu along with her, while Bai Ling sidled over to Cheng Shi, whispering:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big shot, you’re not hiding anything this time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi clicked his tongue and scoffed. “Can’t hide things anymore—if I rely on you, we’re doomed!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Ling giggled awkwardly. “Sorry, big shot. I’m too weak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That phrase… it sounded familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi froze for a moment, looking at Bai Ling’s slightly apologetic face. His gaze softened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s fine. A big shot can carry you to victory.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he strode out of the room, searching for the duchess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Ling hurried after him, lifting the hem of her dress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It took them about half an hour, but eventually, they found the duchess “on her way out” along a narrow path in the back of the manor’s gardens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her about to leave in a hurry, the players quickly dealt with the guards around her, stopping her escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The duchess, glaring at the group of strangers, angrily demanded:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who are you? What do you want?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You dare attack the duchess of Brookes on Brookes land, near the duke’s manor? Have you lost your minds?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi strolled up to her with an easy smile and asked in return:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you really the duchess?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dillar’s expression faltered, but she quickly masked it with fury as she spat:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ll pay for your foolishness!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi ignored her anger and continued conversationally:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Apologies, my lady. I’d like to tell you a story. Once I’m done, you can go freely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I promise, my companions won’t harm a hair on your head.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dillar hesitated. “Really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really. But in return, you won’t be able to seek retribution for this encounter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You… you came here just to tell me a story?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, esteemed lady, shall I begin?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dillar, though reluctant, realized she had no choice but to agree. “Then speak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi bowed slightly and, in a slow, deliberate tone, said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The story I want to tell is about a group of dwarves, corrupted by an underground faith, who tried to seize control of a small town by pretending to be something they weren’t.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the words left his mouth, Dillar bolted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shiqing’s eyes widened, immediately pulling out a page from her book and casting it in the duchess’s path. Vines sprouted from the ground, tangling around Dillar’s legs and sending her crashing to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Ling, quick on her feet, dashed over to tie her up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as she tightened the ropes, she felt them tear through the duchess’s waist, ripping her skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And beneath the torn skin was… a pair of oversized feet and a bald head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“???”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wha…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A dwarf!?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone stared at Cheng Shi in disbelief, and he let out a long breath, smiling as he said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You see? That’s the story I wanted to tell.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shiqing stood there, still in shock. She asked, her voice trembling slightly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When did you figure it out?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi thought for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Probably when I remembered that conversation in the tavern, hearing how they impersonated so many people.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shiqing couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret that Cheng Shi had turned down the Torchbearer invitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi was clearly a high-caliber [Player], someone adept at keen observation and reading people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More importantly, throughout everything, his heartstrings had never turned dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not even when he killed Huang Bo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big sis, why are you staring at me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shiqing sighed. “You know what I’m thinking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come on, I’m not a mind reader,” Cheng Shi replied with a grin as he walked over to the “duchess” and pulled out the two dwarves hidden beneath the human skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ugly dwarves, now exposed, covered their faces and wailed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It was all Sombos’ idea! He made us impersonate the duke and duchess to seize control of the town. We were just following orders! Please don’t kill us!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not interested in killing you. I just want to know… who’s trapped in the memory?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Cheng Shi cast two quick hypnosis spells on the dwarves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, neither Xu Lu nor Fang Shiqing intervened, leaving Cheng Shi to handle it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief interrogation, the dwarf who had been playing the duchess’s lower half exploded in a burst of light, re-forming into another gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The secondFinal Gate!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This… there’s really a second one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“!!??”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shiqing stared at the second gate, her expression a mix of conflicting emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cheng Shi… will you really not reconsider what I said?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Lu and Bai Ling exchanged glances, watching the interaction between the two of them. Cheng Shi simply smiled lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he bowed slightly and, with a hint of amusement, said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The show is over. Please exit the performance in an orderly fashion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was meant to be a lighthearted comment to ease the mood fell flat—no one moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the awkward silence, Cheng Shi sighed and prepared to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that’s when Bai Ling acted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a mischievous grin, she hugged Cheng Shi’s arm, leaned in, and planted a kiss on his cheek before darting toward the Final Gate like a swallow returning to its nest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as she was about to step through, Cheng Shi called out:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why did you choose Him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Ling froze, turning back to flash a seductive grin at Cheng Shi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t it because I like Him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, she disappeared through the gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her response was phrased as a question, but it was also an affirmation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi blinked, then broke into a laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t laughing at Bai Ling’s brazenness—he was laughing because she had lied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a companion he had met by chance and gone through life-and-death battles with, he never pried too much into others’ choices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But knowing that Bai Ling had lied was already something worth smiling over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Living in this world was hard enough. There was no reason to judge others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, she hadn’t harmed anyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching her disappear through the gate, Cheng Shi’s smile grew brighter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Fang Shiqing, standing nearby, wasn’t as pleased. She wanted to invite him once more but knew it would be futile—Cheng Shi’s answer wasn’t going to change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a heavy heart, she started walking toward the Final Gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before stepping through, she gently pushed Xu Lu forward—clearly not wanting to leave her alone with Cheng Shi at the end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just as Xu Lu was about to step through the gate, something unexpected happened:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She suddenly began to struggle violently, pulling away and running several meters back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Staring at the stunned Fang Shiqing and the confused Cheng Shi, Xu Lu screamed, her voice filled with hysteria:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s fake! It’s all fake! He’s lying!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sister Fang, he’s lying!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This whole thing is a trick!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t trust him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This gate is a trap! We’ll all die if we go through!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Title: A Story and the Second Final Gate\u003C\u002Fp>",1923,"2026-05-30T16:17:59.091Z","2026-06-01T04:31:40.442Z",1,"novelbin.me","2615c31bafd1f64d7bc86b0810aad1202d8e41438026ba03e14015f2a6b5ea0e","foolish-game-of-the-gods-chapter-33","foolish-game-of-the-gods-chapter-31",1463,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Ffoolish-game-of-the-gods-cover.jpg"]