Chapter 701: Wait — What Did You Just Say?

"Stop spacing out. We're facing a very serious problem."

Qin Xin walked over and patted Cheng Shi on the shoulder. Even though he wasn't the Qin Xin Cheng Shi knew, he seemed virtually identical to the real one.

"I never imagined the Torchbearers' will could transcend time to foster trust between us. Since we all share the same goal, let's skip the unnecessary formalities and get straight to business.

Honestly — the Torchbearers, at least those in my timeline, desperately need Mo Rabic's Divinity-extraction experiment. It's one of the few methods that could help the Torchbearers achieve a certain objective.

So whether or not I can return to my original timeline before the trial ends, the Folly experiment must be secured. That way, even if I can't go home, at least this world will have one more spark to preserve.

Ming Yu — we need to do this."

"..."

This Qin Xin's thinking clearly differed from the "fire-carrying is hard" Qin Xin's. The beauty he wanted to protect wasn't confined to a single world.

Yet the current An Mingyu obviously thought differently. Her convictions aligned more closely with the other Qin Xin's.

As for Cheng Shi — he had no objections at all.

He'd come looking for clues in the first place. Since his first theory had been wrong, everything needed to be rebuilt from scratch. And the foundation of any new theory required understanding who had changed this time — only then could he identify the root cause hidden within Time's variations.

So he also wanted to return to the mine and check whether the Li Wufang with incorrect prophecy knowledge had undergone a third change.

The three exchanged glances, nodded simultaneously, and began walking toward the mine — maintaining a distance that was neither intimate nor cold. But after only a few steps, all three froze in place.

Not because they'd sensed a new threat. One of the two players still on the mountain had appeared right before them!

Li Wufang!

The Investigator had abandoned the Truth believer, ditched his surveillance responsibilities, and was strolling down the mountain without a care in the world!

Wasn't he worried about Wang Mou causing problems during the experiment?!

The three below obviously didn't look pleased. Cheng Shi especially — his heart pounded. His gaze locked onto Li Wufang, searching for some covert response. But...

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Li Wufang acted like an ordinary teammate. He showed zero reaction to Cheng Shi's "expectations." His sharp eyes swept across the three of them, then past them to the slightly distorted space behind. After a moment, he clicked his tongue:

"So the Oblivion believer was quite a handful. All three of you teamed up to deal with her?"

"..."

With that, Cheng Shi finally confirmed: Li Wufang had changed. He was no longer the "Destined One" Li Wufang, but a "stranger" — just an ordinary Investigator.

But this "stranger" was awfully cavalier. If he'd come down, then the Doctor was—

Li Wufang seemed to read their concern. He laughed: "Relax — trust in an Investigator's judgment. I'm an excellent read of people. In this trial, anyone might sabotage the experiment — but never the Doctor!

He values this experiment more than any of you. Before I came down, I asked him. He said all his life's luck was spent on encountering this experiment. So he'd absolutely never let anything go wrong.

Don't worry — your little skeleton puppet is up there watching. The experiment's security is well assured.

I was just curious who won. That's why I came down to check."

The moment Li Wufang finished, Cheng Shi's heart lurched. He suddenly realized something else was wrong in this trial — it wasn't just Li Wufang. The Truth believer seemed to have changed too.

Because he distinctly remembered: before heading downhill, Wang Mou had said: "Luck — an uncontrollable variable — can never be important!"

So how could a player who scoffed at luck possibly claim his life's luck had been spent on encountering a Folly experiment?!

The realization darkened Cheng Shi's expression. Time's third discrepancy seemed to have erupted.

Though the timing...

While Cheng Shi was frowning in contemplation, the Blind One suddenly raised her head to "look" toward the mine, pressing her lips together with evident concern — clearly disagreeing with Li Wufang's assessment.

Li Wufang's keen perception caught her reaction instantly. His smile faltered: "You don't trust my judgment, Chosen One?"

"It's not you I distrust — it's Time.

Even if the Doctor was normal before you left, how can you be certain he'll remain normal going forward?

And as for Wang Weijin as a player...

Sigh. He's not truly a player. He's 0221's slice."

"!!??"

Everyone present was speechless.

"He's a slice — you're sure?"

"Yes. I'm sure. I didn't figure it out — he told us himself.

In my world, the Doctor realized his own identity long ago. But he didn't seek revenge, nor did he complain. He simply lived quietly, mechanically completing trials — neither wanting to die nor harboring any ambitions.

He said Truth never brought truth — only endless illusions. Yet he depended on Truth's gifted power and couldn't bring himself to abandon his faith. So he drifted through life, and began worshiping every truth that wasn't Truth.

So I'll say this, Investigator: you're far too slow in registering Time's changes. If the Doctor was swapped during your absence for the version from my world... he won't care about any Divinity-extraction experiment.

We might even need to start praying — praying he doesn't infect the Folly believer with his apathy, convincing them both to 'relax and stop wasting effort'..."

"..."

Li Wufang's face instantly darkened. He turned to glance back at the mine, about to mount some defense — but caught Cheng Shi, who'd somehow emerged from his thoughts, seizing the gap to deliver a cutting jab:

"Tsk — the Investigator's legendary eye isn't all it's cracked up to be. First you missed the Extinguisher, now you've misread the Doctor. Your Order faith... running out of steam?"

Li Wufang couldn't hear the true meaning behind Cheng Shi's last line. Still, with a stiff, embarrassed expression, he tried to defend himself:

"The current Doctor is extremely dedicated to the experiment. As for Wu Cun...

I wouldn't call it a miss. At least while she was in my sight, she wasn't that unhinged!

I—"

"Wait — what did you just say?!" Cheng Shi's expression snapped taut. He whipped his head up to lock eyes with Li Wufang, a gleam of insight flashing through his gaze. Word by word, with deadly gravity, he asked:

"What did you just say?"