Chapter 278

Are you all playing me?

Right, you're damn right, brother. As long as you're willing to say it, it must be right.

No wonder these Mushroom-Foot people didn't think about going back when they saw Zuo Qiu holding their lamp. So this lamp resets?

Cheng Shi nodded with gratification, showing a praising smile to the old patriarch, affirming his "dedication."

Seeing the Divine Messenger smile, the old patriarch's hanging heart finally returned to his stomach. It seems the Mushroom-Foot people have indeed received His forgiveness; otherwise, Lord Baldy would have refuted him.

Hearing this, the players basically understood the full picture of the trial. Regardless of whether 【Prosperity】 truly forgave these Mushroom-Foot people, at least for this trial, the players' target might also be that Epuska that keeps killing the Mushroom-Foot people!

Cheng Shi tilted his head and glanced at Xiang Honglin behind him, exchanging a look with her for a moment.

Xiang Honglin understood Cheng Shi's idea and nodded silently.

So Cheng Shi ended today's meeting with an extremely official tone and had the old patriarch arrange accommodation—ah no, a place for them to stand.

Under the enthusiastic gaze of the entire Mushroom-Foot tribe, several players were left in the old patriarch's largest house, while the old patriarch followed a group of young people to stay in another house.

They could see that the Divine Messenger had things to discuss, and this matter was likely related to the tribe's future, so they didn't dare to disturb, nor could they disturb, so they left quietly.

The entire tribe suddenly became unusually quiet for a period of time, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The Puppeteer also silently shielded the sound inside the main house, preventing the players' conversation from spreading.

And it was at this moment that Xiang Honglin finally found her chance. She kicked Cheng Shi flying, then her eyelid twitched slightly:

"This kick is what you asked for, but this one kick doesn't make up for you reporting my ID.

Tell me, our Divine Messenger, what exactly are you thinking?

If you can't convince me, then someone is going to suffer today."

Before Xiang Honglin could finish speaking, Cheng Shi lay on the ground and asked with a smile:

"Have you ever been desperate?"

"?"

"I'm asking you, have you ever been desperate?"

Xiang Honglin frowned, her eyes warning: "Don't change the subject."

"I'm not changing the subject. When you have truly been desperate, you will know what kind of emotion self-abandonment is.

In a tiny space surrounded by 【Decay】, holding a tool that produces 【Decay】 power, and constantly being hunted by 【Decay】 monsters—if you lose hope on top of that, then how do you know they won't abandon 【Prosperity】 and embrace 【Decay】?"

"They are Mushroom-Foot people, natural dependents of 【Prosperity】. How could they embrace 【Decay】?"

"What's impossible about it? Everyone is just trying to live. Whoever can let them live, they naturally believe in whoever. It's a simple truth, isn't it?"

"You are blaspheming faith!"

"Do you firmly believe in your faith?"

"......" Xiang Honglin stalled, unable to speak. It was true; she herself was not a person who believed firmly in faith, otherwise, she wouldn't have reservations about the Chosen and the Divine Messenger.

"Besides, they are already blaspheming faith!" Cheng Shi laughed loudly, pointing to the lamp that the Mushroom-Foot people hadn't taken away. "A faith converter that turns 【Prosperity】 into 【Decay】—even if this is a grace bestowed by 【Prosperity】, isn't using 【Decay】 to protect oneself a blasphemy against 【Prosperity】 in itself?

If the Mushroom-Foot people were truly firm in their faith, they shouldn't be using this thing."

"But that is His gift!"

"Yes, it is precisely because it is His gift that I am confused. Not to mention how He stole the authority of 【Decay】, and not to mention why He would flaunt this stolen power in this Sighing Forest, I only want to know one thing, and that is:

Why would He use this stolen power of 【Decay】 to protect a group of exiles He Himself had sentenced?

This isn't Yuanmu Town......

Hmm, I've thought of a possibility. You guys say... 【Prosperity】 wouldn't be a conflicted weirdo, would He?"

"......"

Hearing this sarcastic mockery, even the silent Puppeteer's expression began to look strange. She thought to herself, it's a good thing she shielded the sound, otherwise, just from this sentence, the Mushroom-Foot people would probably rush in and fight this blasphemous Divine Messenger to the death.

Xiang Honglin laughed in anger. This person really dared to say anything outrageous. Wasn't he afraid of being sanctioned for such blasphemy?

She stood up and pulled Cheng Shi up, then sighed and asked:

"If they wanted to abandon their faith, it's been hundreds of years, why wait until today?"

Cheng Shi smiled.

He didn't answer, just looked at Xiang Honglin silently. He didn't believe this Chosen of 【Prosperity】 couldn't think of why; she was just angry that he had said her name, leaving her mark in this secret history.

Sure enough, when she saw Cheng Shi's playful eyes, Xiang Honglin's pupils shrank.

Of course she knew why, because...... the players had arrived.

People living in darkness can accept the lack of sunlight, but once you let them see a glimmer of light and then take it away, then for these poor people, the darkness will no longer just be darkness, but a grave that never sees the light of day.

They will die suffocating in despair until the next ray of sunlight illuminates their corpses.

"Looks like you've figured it out. I didn't dare let their hope be cut off precisely because I had this worry.

Because I'm not sure if the prairie fire in this trial is the hope the Mushroom-Foot people hold onto in their hearts, or if it's just prosperity limited to the biological dimension.

I don't dare to gamble."

Xiang Honglin looked at him with a complex expression: "Don't you like gambling?"

"Yes, I like to gamble, but there are only two kinds of gambles I'll place a bet on:

One, there is no way back.

Two, I have a trick up my sleeve.

Other than that, I never gamble.

Obviously, the current situation is not within the scope of my bets, so I choose to be a bit safer.

First, fool them into stupidity, and then find an opportunity to place a bet.

You know, we 【Fate】 are the best at fooling people."

Indeed, but compared to Fate's fooling, you are more like a......

Con artist!

For some reason, this word appeared in Xiang Honglin's mind. She felt this was her impression of Cheng Shi—like Zhen Yi, a con artist full of nonsense.

"It's my fault that time was tight and I didn't have time to consult with everyone, but now we have time to discuss it.

If anyone has any brilliant ideas, feel free to share them, otherwise we can only keep our heads down and walk to the end of this road of pretending to be Divine Messengers."

Everyone looked at each other, but no one spoke.

Obviously, they felt Cheng Shi was right and were willing to follow Cheng Shi's script.

But this scene made Cheng Shi feel a bit dazed.

Oh no, something doesn't seem right.

I'm clearly the one with the lowest score in this trial, so how did I end up in command while playing?

Huh?

Are you all playing me?

So your high scores are all reflected in who can slack off better?

Cheng Shi's suspicious eyes scanned everyone. He saw Xiang Honglin frowning in silence, the Hunter closing his eyes with a cold face, the Assassin saying nothing, and the Scribe...... very supportive.

He put away his history book and grinned at Cheng Shi. That face full of comforting fake smiles was clearly praising Cheng Shi's hard work.

This familiar smile couldn't help but remind Cheng Shi of his own boss. Once upon a time, the boss who wasn't 【Memory】 yet stood in front of his workstation, patted him on the shoulder, and said:

"Work hard, I'll give you a raise and make you a team leader next year."

Cheng Shi was slightly excited because of this, but then...... there was no then.

Because before the second year arrived, 【Faith Game】 descended.

Two updates tomorrow...... the two-day warrior trial card has expired......

By the way, I'd like to remind everyone to be wary of 【Fraud】 believer scams in the book circle. Anything that says 【View Image】 is fake, because images are displayed directly as thumbnails and won't show text.

Don't ask me how I know!

First of all, I haven't been scammed, and second, I have a Master of Deception.