Chapter 714: Qin Xin Died — at An Mingyu's Hands

The results partly matched Cheng Shi's expectations. Except for Ger Si, all three confirmed that the Abyssal Volcano had always erupted downward!

This gave Cheng Shi an even bolder hypothesis about the Time discrepancies affecting the NPCs.

If his theory about Shi Lolin crossing Eras was correct, then she was someone from the "future" in Epoch terms yet from the "past" in Era terms. Setting aside A Rad's "present" status — applying this same logic in reverse to Ger Si meant the stowaway should be someone from the "past" in Epoch terms yet from the "future" in Era terms.

And his earlier deduction had confirmed the current period must be either the Existence Era or the Void Era. That meant Ger Si's Era could only be Void — no other possibility.

Which further confirmed: the present was the Existence Era!

So in terms of the Civilization Epoch alone: in the Void Era, the Abyssal Volcano erupted upward; in the Existence Era, it erupted downward!

This might be the Abyssal Volcano's greatest secret!

Then which Era did Shi Lolin come from?

Life and Descent were ruled out — neither contained a Civilization Epoch.

As for Ad Ric — nothing unusual stood out. No further associations could be drawn. He was simply an ordinary discrepancy from a parallel world.

Having deduced all this, Cheng Shi pondered at length and made a bold decision.

He would use this trial's answer to verify whether his reasoning was correct. But a decision this massive couldn't be made alone in a team game. So he headed back to consult his teammates — especially the two Torchbearers, to see if they'd back him.

"You've all been... very helpful. If everything checks out, you'll eventually earn your freedom.

Oh — and A Rad, your freedom isn't in my hands but Shi Lolin's. If she—"

"There's no 'if,' my lord. Your commission isn't finished yet!"

Shi Lolin turned her head away as she said it. Cheng Shi nodded with a flat expression and sent a thrown blade straight through A Rad's throat.

"Commission complete. Everyone behave. I hope the next time I come back, you haven't caused any trouble."

Though it was a warning, he didn't give them the chance to misbehave. He knocked each one out, pressed powerful sedative-soaked cloths against their noses and mouths, and rigged the entire room with alarm traps before finally returning to the warehouse with peace of mind.

But the instant he stepped through the warehouse door, his pupils violently contracted.

Because what met his eyes wasn't two NPCs and three players — it was four living people and one corpse.

Qin Xin was dead. Stabbed to death by An Mingyu with a dagger, right there in the warehouse.

"???"

For a split second, Cheng Shi felt he'd dropped his mask too soon. But in the next, he raised an eyebrow and sneered:

"What — couldn't win the argument, so you resorted to violence?

I didn't realize the prophet lady had the strength to kill... a Mirror Person."

Could the Blind One kill Qin Xin?

Yes — but only if she were Zhen Yi. Only then would she have both the motive and the combat ability.

If she was merely the Blind One, she absolutely could not kill Qin Xin. Cheng Shi was rock-solid certain. Absolutely impossible!

Unless Qin Xin had killed himself — merely using the Blind One's hand.

So once Cheng Shi confirmed this Time trial contained only different-timeline Blind Ones and no... unsavory entities, he concluded that Qin Xin's death was no accident.

What on earth had these two Torchbearers discussed? How had they talked someone to death?

Cheng Shi couldn't guess, so he threw out a taunt to probe. But the Blind One didn't take the bait.

She turned to face him, dropped the dagger, and offered a small nod:

"We cross-checked our respective knowledge several times and confirmed that death can, to a degree, let you 'skip class.' No matter which world you die in, as long as vision is 'passively closed,' you'll no longer participate in Time's discrepancy shifts.

In other words: no matter which timeline's world this becomes, as long as you can revive him, Qin Xin will still be the original Qin Xin.

So Qin Xin chose death to lighten our burden — same purpose as when you killed the Investigator."

Cheng Shi pursed his lips: "Obviously I know that. But why him?"

"That's a foolish question, Fate Weaver.

The Doctor can't die — the Torchbearers still need the experiment's contents and Divinity.

You can't die — because you'd never agree to cooperate through death.

I can't die — because I'm not the An Mingyu from your timeline.

So only Qin Xin could die.

He understands me. He understands you even better. So he chose to trust you.

Fate Weaver... don't let him down."

"Heh. Then why not let me be the one to kill him?"

"Does it matter who killed him? What matters is — the hour mark is almost here.

Fate Weaver, watch the Doctor. I'm leaving. Is there... anything you want to say to me?"

"?"

Cheng Shi felt this other-timeline Blind One's tone was strangely loaded.

'What's going on — we've known each other for an hour at most. Where's all this bittersweet farewell coming from?'

He studied her for a long while, then shook his head with a sigh: "May you all... walk further than anyone. I think you know what I mean."

The Blind One finally smiled. Though colder than her counterpart, her smile was also more beautiful.

"I hope that's the most sincere blessing. And I hope it's the guidance Destiny has given me.

Fate Weaver — next time you see Xin Xin, pass her a message for me."

"?" Cheng Shi frowned again. "What — you're interested in another world's Zhen Xin? She's probably the same con artist as me, no different."

"No. Very different. Consider this my request — a greeting from another world.

Just tell her: 'I'm fine. Really fine.'"

With that, the Blind One pulled a strip of coarse black cloth from her pocket, expertly retied it over her eyes, and strode resolutely out of the warehouse, brushing past Cheng Shi.

Cheng Shi didn't understand her meaning. He grabbed her shoulder, but she swiftly removed his hand.

She bent close and whispered beside his ear:

"Trust in the fire-carrying. Trust me. The Torchbearers will never betray a friend."

And then she was gone.

Cheng Shi's expression was grave. He sensed these two Torchbearers had done something behind his back. But the hour mark was imminent, and despite his suspicions, he could only prioritize protecting himself and the Doctor — otherwise this trial would fail at the last hurdle.

So the clown rushed to stand in front of the Doctor, forcing the man to look at him. And at that very second — the hour mark struck. Time's discrepancy played out once more. Only this time, the Blind One who pushed the door open wore a face full of smiles.

"We meet again, Cheng Shi."

Right!?

This time — right!

Somehow — perhaps Destiny's guidance had truly arrived — Cheng Shi felt a surge of inspiration. He beamed at the Blind One in the doorway:

"Welcome home, Chosen One."

...

Trial ends tomorrow. Over.