[{"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-403":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},579374,829,"Chapter 403: Calling Old Friends — An Exchange of Memories","foolish-game-of-the-gods-chapter-403",403,"\u003Cp>Cheng Shi still hadn't moved. He'd been standing in place for quite some time now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not because he was being controlled — but because he was waiting!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Waiting for the next audience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordinarily, Cheng Shi never expected audiences with deities. But today was different. The last trial's rhythm had been far too strange — strange enough that he was convinced it all had to be Their orchestration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They likely wanted to tell him something through that deliberately distorted trial. The problem was, he hadn't figured out what. So he was waiting for a more straightforward \"explanation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How arrogant — a mere player, standing there waiting for the gods to explain themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Cheng Shi simply felt this wasn't over. Even the reunion with Aph Ros had to have some meaning behind it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because clearly, Aph Ros was trapped — and with very high probability, imprisoned by Time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if an entity imprisoned by a true god could still summon him, then another true god's power had to be involved. And that was the god Cheng Shi was waiting for!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the first light of dawn until the sun stood at its zenith, not a single deity summoned him. Not even the two of Void.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet this very anomaly only proved the trial had hidden issues!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing no audience forthcoming, Cheng Shi had to try another approach. He was too curious. He wanted to understand what lay beneath this trial and what Aph Ros's \"eras\" meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he pulled out his dice, preparing to pray to the Fun God.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just as he was about to recite Deceit's prayer, he put the dice away again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No — before seeking an audience, there are other ways to learn about these so-called 'eras'... and about Aph Ros.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi muttered under his breath, then retrieved the Standard Phone from his warehouse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He quietly spoke a name. The call connected before long. The voice on the other end was steady and authoritative as ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi smiled at the familiar voice, then quickly lowered his pitch:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know it's you. I want to ask about someone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other person clearly paused, then chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi blanked. He frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could tell this wasn't a bluff — \"Dragon King\" genuinely seemed to know who he was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes — the person on the other end was none other than the current Chosen One of Deceit: Li Jingming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even as a former Memory follower, he shouldn't have known Cheng Shi's identity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What's going on — did Big Cat let something slip?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not wanting to waste time and confirm his identity, Cheng Shi immediately rasped back:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's not.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mm, then it is.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I only like exchanging memories face-to-face. I've never done a phone trade. But for you, I'll make an exception.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi blinked again. Keeping his voice low: \"Why?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I hear you tricked Zhen Yi?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'...Damn.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'He really does know!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Who the hell's been gossiping behind my back?!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Is my identity that easy to guess? It's only been a few days, and everything's leaked?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi's face darkened, but he maintained his disguised voice: \"How'd you guess?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jingming chuckled: \"You don't know?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi's heart lurched. Instinct told him something had gone wrong again: \"What should I know?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You really don't know. This is a... fascinating memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhen Yi called everyone. She told them her boyfriend also got Tu Tou's phone, and asked them to 'check in on him often' and 'call him to keep him company.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she conspicuously skipped Tu Tou. So when everyone phoned Tu Tou to ask about it, the good-natured Tu Tou was still trying to cover for you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That's when everyone figured out the truth — Zhen Yi's Fate Weaver boyfriend named Cheng Shi did indeed have Tu Tou's phone. And what's more, Tu Tou's relationship with him seemed... pretty good?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>???\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Shit!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I'm offline for two days and this happens?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi was speechless, gripping the phone in frustrated silence. Then Li Jingming spoke again:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don't have much time — I've got a trial to run. Consider that memory a welcome gift for a new friend. Now tell me — what memory do you want to exchange, Cheng Shi?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Exchange memories — that's his condition?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'As expected, even under the banner of Deceit, he's still practicing Memory's will.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'How does the Fun God even feel about you?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'A Memory Oathbreaker bearing the title of Deceit Chosen while doing Memory's bidding — sure, that's entertaining, but from any angle it's the Fun God who loses out.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Unless He's watching for His own entertainment?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'You really are something, Lord. You don't even spare yourself.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the jig was up, Cheng Shi laid his cards on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll trade my own memories for information about someone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your memories?\" Li Jingming savored this for a moment, then suddenly laughed. \"Interesting. Accepted. So — whose story do you want?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words were even more brazen than Cheng Shi's god-waiting stance — as if no matter whose name emerged from Cheng Shi's lips, he could narrate their tale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi's eyes darted. He deliberated briefly, then tested the waters: \"An Envoy of Corruption.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jingming clearly hadn't expected Cheng Shi to inquire about not a player, but a deity. He wasn't particularly shocked, though. After a brief pause, he replied with measured authority:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Certainly. Which one?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\" 'Brother, you really do know a lot.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi didn't answer. Instead, he lobbed back a question that struck Li Jingming as utterly baffling:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you don't tell me who they all are, how am I supposed to know which one?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time Li Jingming truly fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last time a phone call had left him this speechless was when Zhen Yi had impersonated Zhen Xin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Void really is Void. Whether it's Deceit's followers or Fate's, in certain respects they all share that quintessentially Void quality.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that thought, Li Jingming shook his head and laughed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fair enough — my oversight. Then whose story do you want?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drasilco, Aph Ros, or Tria?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Aph Ros!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing that name, Cheng Shi's pupils contracted sharply. His breath caught.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'He truly is one of Them!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Aph Ros is an Envoy of Corruption!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Not only that — Corruption has three Envoys?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Or does Li Jingming only know of three?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he only knew three, that was already extraordinary. Cheng Shi hadn't known of a single one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He'd only just now confirmed Aph Ros's identity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Good. Now that the intel's secured, next step is...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi cleared his throat lightly and pulled the receiver away:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ahem, actually — never mind. I don't want to know anymore. Let's talk next time. Thanks for the company, Dragon King. Until we meet again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without waiting for a response, he hung up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Beep... beep... beep...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listening to the dial tone, the smile froze on Li Jingming's face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But soon enough, he laughed again — roaring with mirth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hahaha! Fascinating. Absolutely fascinating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I just got swindled by a Fate Weaver. Hmm, come to think of it, the rumor about him tricking Zhen Yi probably isn't a rumor after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Fate Weaver doesn't seem to understand Memory very well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A person's thoughts, actions, movements — every trace of life is memory. The moment you asked that question and hung up my call, Cheng Shi, your story was already committed to my memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So — let me guess. Which of those three...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>did you recently encounter?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>",1252,"2026-05-30T16:17:59.408Z","2026-06-01T04:31:40.442Z",1,"novelbin.me","0a7bfce72666eb5d1e3928761962b8bd3f5c91df95129983eee34d56861a0f92","foolish-game-of-the-gods-chapter-404","foolish-game-of-the-gods-chapter-402",1463,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Ffoolish-game-of-the-gods-cover.jpg"]