[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-gods-foolish-game":3,"chapter-the-gods-foolish-game-the-gods-foolish-game-chapter-30":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Gods' Foolish Game",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2361158,4617,"Chapter 30: Detective Cheng Shi","the-gods-foolish-game-chapter-30",30,"\u003Cp>Detective Cheng Shi\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time rolled backward into the wardrobe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Cheng Shi silently said, “Don’t panic, take him down!” then patted Bai Ling on the shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Bai Ling thought this was a disguised form of comfort, a small vial of potion slipped from Cheng Shi’s fingertips and landed squarely on her chest, wedged in the middle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Ling froze, looking down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, clearly written on the outside of the vial, were a few small characters:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Potion Name: The Scorn of the Dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once consumed, the user will not truly die during the duration of its effect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Ling looked up in shock—only to see Cheng Shi already counting down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasted no time; in the instant before rushing out, she drank the potion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The outcome of the battle was known to all: she truly died.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet now, she truly came back to life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was no trick to lure her into charging—Cheng Shi had not betrayed her trust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for why Bai Ling trusted Cheng Shi so completely:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Asking herself, she might struggle to answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps because he had never harbored any improper thoughts toward her, the one who was “easy to get along with.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Bai Ling tremble as she rose from the ground, Cheng Shi finally let out the last knot of tension in his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gratitude to his former teammates, far away yet still granting credibility to “The Scorn of the Dead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi’s faith talent, “Offerings to the Void,” could not store fabricated items—only use them on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this talent required a prerequisite: widespread recognition by others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Widespread” was interesting; after multiple trials, Cheng Shi found that as long as five others besides himself recognized it, the condition was met.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Conveniently, that matched the number of participants in the trial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the wardrobe, Cheng Shi had no way to gain others’ recognition, so he couldn’t fabricate a new item. Helplessly, he secretly marked a “stale” vial of “The Scorn of the Dead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though this was a high-stakes gamble—betting his teammates hadn’t noticed the vial’s oddity—he wasn’t without confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least in his estimation, three or four people wouldn’t dig into such details.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Add Bai Ling present at the scene, and it was enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The facts proved Cheng Shi had won again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though his dice rolls always came up ones, his luck at gambling was decent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shiqing, seeing both unharmed, relaxed slightly. She turned to Cheng Shi, face serious, demanding an explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi’s expression darkened as he looked toward the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shiqing immediately understood, recalling his note: “Three people together—be cautious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given the fog’s conditions at that moment, besides herself and Cheng Shi, the only “outsider” in that timeframe was...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ming!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ming has a problem?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi curled his lips, silently saying:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ming may not be the problem—but whether Ming is truly Ming... that’s another question.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What!!??”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shiqing and Bai Ling both paled, shaking their heads in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shiqing frowned: “His heartstring tone hasn’t changed. Are you certain?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Ling echoed, puzzled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boss, his attitude toward me hasn’t changed at all...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, Bai Ling trusted Cheng Shi’s judgment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If someone was compromised, first secure internal stability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi shook his head, said nothing, only signaled everyone to prepare and move to apprehend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether Ming was Ming or not, as a nimble “assassin,” capturing him without alerting him would be difficult!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi and Bai Ling alone might struggle—but with Fang Shiqing added...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It became far easier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi sidled up to Fang Shiqing like a beggar clinging to a leg. She glared at him for a long moment, sighed heavily, then tore off a golden page from her book.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>S-rank talent: Eternal Prison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing it, Cheng Shi’s face lit up—he felt the surging [Time] power within the page.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A skill left behind by a Time Walker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shiqing, visibly pained, walked toward the door with the page, then turned back, lips moving silently:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Compensate me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi nodded solemnly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his agreement, Fang Shiqing swiftly opened the door and slapped the page onto Ming’s shoulder—while the two outside were utterly unprepared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boom—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A surge of Time power exploded; Ming had no time to react before he was frozen in place by temporal chains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He widened his eyes in shock and fear:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister Fang! You...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Lu was also startled. She stepped back two paces, a small dagger suddenly in hand, her gaze terrified as she stared at her own thigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister Fang, what’s going on?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Fang Shiqing could answer, something even more insane happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi and Bai Ling—who had just died in the room—walked out, perfectly unharmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not perfectly unharmed—their clothes were wrinkled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You...!!??”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Lu was utterly stunned. Her mind spiraled through wild conspiracy theories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most absurd? She began to suspect Fang Shiqing had agreed to some demand from Cheng Shi and planned to team up with this detestable [Time] believer to kill her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Xu Lu so terrified, Fang Shiqing shook her head apologetically, then gestured for her to listen to Cheng Shi explain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Cheng Shi stepped out of the room, he jammed a Desire Arrow—taken from Bai Ling—into Ming’s shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hiss!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Cheng!? You’re not dead? What are you doing? Niao Niao, you’re not dead either? What the hell happened?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ming stared at them in utter shock, his eyes darting wildly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his reaction, Cheng Shi smiled meaningfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Apologies, but I’m not dead—probably quite disappointing for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ming froze, then his face darkened:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Cheng, what are you implying? Of course I don’t wish harm on teammates—but are you suggesting I killed you? I avenged you—I killed that guard!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, you avenged me, huh? Clap clap clap.” Cheng Shi nodded, clapping, smiling. “True, you arrived a step late—you could’ve saved us both.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly! There must be some misunderstanding, Sister Fang, please release me—we’re running out of time!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shiqing acted as if she heard nothing, silently on guard, watching for anyone approaching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi shook his head, no longer willing to waste time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re not Ming, are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ming froze, then burst into loud laughter:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Cheng, what are you talking about? Who else would I be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t you remember? I came with you through the Mist Room, followed Sister Fang’s orders to split up and scout, then came back here to... avenge you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did you lose your memory?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I haven’t lost my memory. And you don’t need to pretend anymore, Uncle Huang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“!!??”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who? Huang Bo?” Fang Shiqing blurted out in shock, then immediately activated a talent to probe Ming’s identity—but the result was unsurprising: he was Ming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cheng Shi, are you certain? He’s Huang Bo?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ming laughed bitterly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Cheng, what are you saying? Huang Bo hasn’t arrived yet—he’s still back there. The Memory Gate is still open. How could I be Huang Bo?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi smiled and continued:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How do you know he hasn’t arrived?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...” Ming’s face changed. He hurriedly explained: “I mean, when we reached the Duke’s estate, he hadn’t arrived yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Correct. If I’m not mistaken, the Memory Gate is still open—someone lagged behind and hasn’t arrived yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the one lagging behind isn’t Huang Bo—it’s Ming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The real Huang Bo is right in front of me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ming, seemingly enraged by endless suspicion, snarled fiercely:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi, if you have something to say, say it outright! I've saved you multiple times—why do you suspect me?! Call me Huang Bo—prove it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the hysterical Ming, Fang Shiqing’s expression wavered. She turned to Cheng Shi—only to see him pull out a small vial, twist open the cap, and say:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There is actually plenty of evidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, an assassin claimed he could not withdraw once inside the mist;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>for instance, the dwarf who died in the servants’ quarters was not killed by a single hand, but by mutual slaughter—this does not resemble the judgment of [Order], but rather the work of [Chaos];\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>for instance, someone murdered the duke, yet that person was neither the lover among the guards nor me or Bai Ling, yet the killer has never been found;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and for instance, someone clearly possessed the faster talent of ‘Finger Key,’ yet chose at the last moment to kick down the door instead, wasting precious time...」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With every sentence Cheng Shi spoke, A Ming’s face darkened further, and the surrounding teammates’ mouths widened in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time he twisted open the vial, Cheng Shi’s grin had spread across his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But it doesn’t matter. This vial I hold is called ‘Truth of Confession,’ a remedy used by executioners of the Grand Inquisition Court to interrogate criminals. Whoever drinks even a single drop will answer every question. As a [Order] assassin, you should know what this is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, Cheng Shi lifted the vial and poured its contents over A Ming’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before the liquid could leave the bottle, A Ming burst into mad laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh... hehe...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hahaha!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Excellent!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’re very skilled.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That smile was identical to Huang Bo’s when they first met.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exactly the same.\u003C\u002Fp>",1507,"2026-06-21T06:05:06.137Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","88822aa4c94c8b68ce283cfc39f8c30bc53408212fdafcf86f7711e63cc7c114","the-gods-foolish-game-chapter-31","the-gods-foolish-game-chapter-29",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-gods-foolish-game-cover.jpg"]