Chapter 1294

Cheng Shi's backup plan

When 【Time】 carved for Cheng Shi that hollow gap leading to laughter and mockery before 【Fate】, Cheng Shi had handed Zhang Zhang Jizu a scalpel.

It was just an ordinary scalpel, and his meaning was unmistakable:

Should the path ahead falter and 【Fate】 fail to protect him in this conspiracy, Zhang Zhang Jizu must find a way to kill him and bury him within this starry expanse.

As an offering, he might never get a chance to take his own life.

Though Zhang Zhang Jizu refused to accept such pessimism, he still took the scalpel.

After Cheng Shi departed, he invited Long Jing to join his salvation plan—but... Long Jing refused.

Not because Long Jing didn't want to, but because Chairman Gong had no 【Time】.

At that time, Cheng Shi had also given Long Jing three scalpels, jokingly telling him to deliver them to the Long Wang and the Doctor, so they too, like Zhang Zhang Jizu, could carve a blade into themselves when no turning back remained.

On the surface he was begging for death, but behind the scenes... the three scalpels Cheng Shi gave Long Jing each concealed hidden mechanisms.

On their backs were engraved tiny characters, secretly carved by Shadow Cheng Shi while everyone's attention was diverted; rather than three scalpels meant for suicide, they were in truth three silk pouches of strategy!

And when handing those three scalpels to Long Jing, Cheng Shi deliberately adjusted the angle, facing the engraved side toward the palm, revealing not a single flaw to Zhang Zhang Jizu.

He did not distrust Old Squint Zhang—he simply kept a reserve against the 【Deception】 behind Old Squint Zhang, the same 【Deception】 that had once deceived the Gravekeeper; he feared entrusting Zhang Zhang Jizu with these tasks might lead to interception by 【Deception】, so he chose the "most inconspicuous" one present: Long Jing.

When Long Jing received the three scalpels and felt the engraved characters, his expression did not change—he perfectly played along with the jester's performance.

But Chairman Gong had not anticipated that the Gravekeeper had his own plan, instantly throwing him into a tight spot.

How could he refuse Old Zhang without arousing suspicion?

Unbeknownst to him, when you seek to avoid suspicion, you have already drawn suspicion.

Jesters never lack the clever; as soon as Zhang Zhang Jizu noticed Long Jing's hesitation, his gaze flickered to the three scalpels in the other's hand—he seemed to sense something, yet said nothing, nodded, and walked away without a word.

Long Jing watched Zhang Zhang Jizu turn and leave, his expression complex, clenched his fist, and immediately moved as "Envoy Envoy Yu Xi My Lord" had instructed, turning his eyes to the three names inscribed on the scalpels.

And this—this was the lifeline Cheng Shi had been gritting his teeth to wait for, the backup plan left behind beyond 【Fate】!

The three scalpels bore no more than a few characters each:

"Long Wang—【Memory】"

"Doctor—【Decay】"

"Chen Shu—【Flame of Hope】"

The first two were easy to understand: simply instructing the jester to summon deities. But the last one...

At this point, what joke is this? How could Chen Shu be the Flame of Hope!?

I'm more like the Flame of Hope than he is!

Chairman Gong could not comprehend it, but he knew he must obey—he gave his utmost effort, stepped onto the void, and found these three.

First, the Long Wang.

At this moment, it was a special trial period; players were scattered across various trials, their whereabouts hard to trace.

Moreover, none of the top players were reliable—whether they were even in a trial was uncertain, making the search extremely difficult.

Fortunately, aside from being a jester among jesters, Chairman Gong was among the very top players in this game; unable to gather any news about the Long Wang through his connections, he began impersonating the Long Wang, pondering his thoughts, guessing his whereabouts, and finally found him in That Dream, My Nightmare!

Yes, That Dream, My Nightmare had been seized by the Jester's Asset Manager, but the manager had not taken it away—it still remained in the Jesters' gathering place.

From the moment Long Jing began searching to standing before the Long Wang, less than half an hour had passed.

When he found him, Li Li Jingming stood at the edge of that land where memories had been abandoned, preparing to risk himself and see what secrets he could unearth from this junkyard of memories.

Long Jing's arrival interrupted the Long Wang's exploration; to clearly explain everything he had endured in the 【Deception】 trial and Cheng Shi's deductions and confessions, he directly opened his own memories.

This act shocked Li Li Jingming profoundly—he dared not delay, and as a Traveler of Memories, swiftly "traveled" through the trial; upon seeing Cheng Shi's return, he was first startled, then shaken again upon grasping the trial's meaning, and finally, when he saw his own name inscribed on the scalpel, Li Li Jingming withdrew from the memory and nodded solemnly:

"I understand.

To stop 【Deception】, 【Memory】 is the best choice besides 【Fate】, for they were born as natural adversaries.

Cheng Shi wants me to persuade my benefactor to join forces with him against the foreign god."

After speaking, the Long Wang remained immersed in shock—for the fact that 【Deception】 was a foreign god was too absurd; no one could believe it at once.

He immediately recalled the memories in the 【Memory】 Archive concerning 【Memory】's loss—could that memory truly be tied to a foreign god?

Or had 【Deception】 brought this world the truth, and 【Memory】, unable to accept such truth, sealed away its own memories?

Did it wish to ensure the order of this starry realm's memories, refusing to let foreign memories pollute it?

A flash of insight passed through Li Li Jingming's eyes—regardless, on the stance of preserving the world, 【Memory】 ought to be an ally.

His face turned solemn:

"I shall go to pay homage at once—perhaps the memories in the Archive must see the light again."

"But—is Cheng Shi Envoy Envoy Yu Xi?"

"Then what of the stage of Sandres?"

"..."

Originally, Long Jing had worn a solemn expression, but as soon as this topic arose, both jesters cracked.

Fortunately, what pleased Li Li Jingming was that he had now remembered another fascinating memory—and it seemed he might remember yet another.

He gave Long Jing a strange look and suddenly asked: "And the guidance given by Envoy Envoy Yu Xi—the never-before-heard Hour Hand...?"

"..."

Long Jing swept his sleeve and left—he could no longer waste time with this detestable Long Wang.

His time was precious.

But he had not taken two steps before he turned back, face dark, and extended his hand toward the Long Wang.

Li Li Jingming understood, condensed the memories he had witnessed into a relic, and handed it to Long Jing.

Without a word, Long Jing turned and walked away; Li Li Jingming watched his retreating figure, smiled knowingly, then swiftly suppressed his smile and solemnly recited the 【Memory】 prayer.

Perhaps because the junkyard of memories easily triggered resonance with 【Memory】's power, before he finished the prayer, a surging tide of 【Memory】 crashed upon Li Li Jingming, sweeping him into the Sea of Memories and thrusting him toward 【Memory】's hall.

The 【Memory】 Archive.

When Li Jing opened his eyes again, he found his Benefactor hovering above his head, gazing toward a corner of the Archive, where that indistinct painting was located.

Seeing the believer awake, those eyes filled with vicissitudes and history spoke softly:

"I never realized that within the Archive I built with my own hands, there remained a memory I had lost.

The Deceiver is likely 【Deceit】; only He could deceive my eyes.

Yet why, after deceiving until now, has He suddenly withdrawn this power, allowing me to feel the existence of this memory once more?

I sensed the fluctuation of 【Void】, perceived the violent change in the void, yet could not see clearly what occurred within, just as now, I cannot see clearly what past that memory describes.

You have come here to pay homage; is this related to that matter?"

Li Jing stood unyielding yet respectful within the Archive, bowing devoutly and saying:

"Yes."

He did not rush to seek the help of 【Memory】, but instead presented the trial memory witnessed from Long Jing to the Benefactor before him.

Those vicissitude-filled eyes looked down; a flash of azure light vanished within them, the scale of history grew heavy once more, and He already knew the believer's intent.

"Outer Gods...

So His arrival has taught 【Existence】 to deceive itself.

No wonder 【Time】 has no more time; He is protecting this starry sky, protecting this 【Existence】 that 【Origin】 never cared about.

I understand. You may withdraw."

"!!!"

Li Jing's expression finally changed; having not expected such a reaction from his Benefactor, and seeing that 【Memory】 did not seem to have the violent reaction to the "invasion" of the Outer Gods as anticipated, he spoke urgently:

"Should you not join hands with 【Time】, reforging the glory of 【Existence】, and together with the gods, drive the Outer Gods out?"

"The glory of 【Existence】?" Those vicissitude-filled eyes narrowed, speaking with a touch of self-mockery, "As long as 【Existence】 still exists, that is the glory of 【Existence】.

【Time】 will not do useless things; His attitude... is my attitude."

"But you are 【Memory】!"

"I am merely the manifestation of 【Existence】; 【Time】 is the essence of 【Existence】.

Since He has sent the clown before the eyes of 【Fate】, the matter of 【Void】 shall naturally be resolved by 【Void】.

【Deceit】... has fallen. You may return to the right path of 【Memory】."

As he spoke, 【Memory】 dissipated above the Archive.

Watching his Benefactor depart, Li Jing's heart suddenly tightened.

Three blades; one has already been severed.