Chapter 33: Everything is a Choice of [Fate]

Everything is a choice of [Fate].

“What’s wrong?”

Cheng Shi rolled his eyes, his disdain obvious.

Fang Shiqing hadn’t expected Xu Nuo to react so strongly; she asked in surprise:

“How can you be sure it’s fake, Xu Nuo? You saw Cheng Shi’s entire reasoning process—any doubts can be voiced directly; no need for this.”

“I...”

Seeing Xu Nuo hesitate, Fang Shiqing knew she was hiding something, so she gently urged:

“Speak up—we still have time.”

Xu Nuo glanced at the time, clenched her teeth, and declared firmly:

“My Lord has given me a new decree:

【Do not let the follower of [Time] deceive you.】”

“!?!”

Both Fang Shiqing and Cheng Shi were startled.

Cheng Shi was shocked because his Lord’s decree seemed too vague.

He was not truly a [Time] follower.

Fang Shiqing was startled because she wondered if Xu Nuo’s words might be true.

“You...”

“Sister Fang, I know you look down on me, think I’m foolish, weak, a burden.

But I can see you’re protecting me.

So I’m telling you this:

Cheng Shi is a great liar—he wants to kill everyone.

He killed A Ming and Huang Bo, then killed Bai Ling, and now it’s your turn!

Sister Fang, come with me, please—don’t believe him!

Everything he says is a lie!”

Fang Shiqing turned to look at Cheng Shi, only to see him suddenly look relieved.

“Oh, so the [Fate] prophecy is here? Big leg, now it’s your turn to choose.

Hahaha, believe her or believe me—pick one.”

With that, Cheng Shi walked to the edge of the Final Gate and silently waited.

“Even you...”

Fang Shiqing gripped her book tightly, her gaze shifting.

“Cheng Shi, what was His decree to you?”

Cheng Shi paused, then smiled:

“Figured it out?

I did get a decree—when we entered the third act, [Time] gave me instructions.

He said: 【Kill the follower of [Fate].】”

“...”

“It’s you! I knew it!

Sister Fang, I wasn’t wrong—he wants to kill me!

But he’s lying—he wants to kill everyone!

He’s already done it—only the two of us remain.

Sister Fang, I’m saving you! I’m saving you! Believe me, please—he wants to kill you!

Why won’t you come over!?

Fang Shiqing, do you think you’re so great?

Do you think every choice you make is right?

You idiot, you’re a follower of Truth, yet you still can’t see he’s harming you—only I’m saving you!

You!!!

Fang Shiqing, what are you doing!?

Come back!

He wants to kill you! Come back!”

Seeing Fang Shiqing choose Cheng Shi, Xu Nuo completely broke down. She glared at the approaching pair, then turned and ran.

“Die, all of you! Die, you idiots!”

Cheng Shi watched Fang Shiqing approach with interest and chuckled:

“Big leg, why not pick the little sidekick?”

Fang Shiqing sighed helplessly:

“Using Xu Nuo’s words—if you wanted to kill her, you wouldn’t need all this trouble.”

Cheng Shi burst into laughter.

“Not going to save her?”

Fang Shiqing glanced back, then shook her head:

“The Firebearer carries the flame of continuity—someone like this...

Forget the urge to help. Respect others’ fate.”

Cheng Shi smirked: “Yes, respect others’ fate.”

He stressed the words “fate.”

Fang Shiqing understood his meaning and no longer mentioned inviting him; instead, she extended her hand toward Cheng Shi.

Cheng Shi froze, bewildered; for some reason, he placed his hand in hers.

Two warm hands clasped tightly.

Of course, not interlocked fingers—just a handshake.

Fang Shiqing’s flat palm was forcibly turned into a handshake by him.

“...”

Fang Shiqing’s face flushed with rare embarrassment, then quickly returned to calm as she smiled and reminded him:

“My compensation?”

Cheng Shi suddenly remembered she was asking for the “Eternal Prison” page as payment.

Damn, so awkward, his toes curled.

“Ahahaha, I remember, I remember.”

Cheng Shi quickly pulled his hand back and pulled out from his personal space a...

Mask of the Multitude.

It was a golden mask with a radiant smile, heavy in weight.

The moment Fang Shiqing took it, her mind displayed its description:

Mask of Joy (S): When worn, your emotion is forcibly changed to joy; when consumed to cast a summoning spell, your summoned entity becomes the individual who gave you this mask.

“?”

Fang Shiqing blinked, took a long time to process what “becomes the individual who gave you this mask” meant.

That was Cheng Shi.

She looked at him and saw his awkward expression.

Indeed, giving a lady such a gift was hardly commendable.

But it was useful.

It meant Fang Shiqing had one chance to summon a Forgotten Healer—though she didn’t know if the summoned Cheng Shi would possess such a bizarre ability to break through deadlocks.

She gently stroked the mask, smiling happily.

“Thank you. I accept.”

Cheng Shi awkwardly withdrew his hand, unsure what to say.

I just wanted you to check what this thing does...

I actually meant to imprint a healing spell with the effect of Shared Divine Grace...

But you just kept holding it, then grabbed it and rubbed it hard at the end...

Big leg, can I get it back?

“...”

Ah, forget it.

After all, she’s his savior. This mask, with no description or clear use, could pass as a parting gift.

“This... is an extra gift. I’ll imprint a healing spell for you—remember it.”

“More?”

“Huh?”

“Oh, okay.” Fang Shiqing smiled, opened her book, and began imprinting Cheng Shi’s skill.

When everything was done, she closed her book and stepped cleanly into the Final Gate.

“Cheng Shi, goodbye.”

Cheng Shi watched Fang Shiqing vanish, and smiled as he shook his head.

When would there ever be a chance to meet again?

Once Fang Shiqing had completely disappeared into the gate, Cheng Shi’s gaze sharpened once more; he turned toward the direction Xu Lu had fled and strode after her.

“You think you can run after swallowing my sedative? What are you thinking, freak?”

Xu Lu hadn’t run far—she collapsed in a small garden near the banquet center while running.

The sedative had been applied by Cheng Shi when he pulled her away from the first Final Gate.

Even in that emergency moment of “saving” her, he hadn’t forgotten to smear some drug on his hand before grabbing her.

Of course, this wasn’t some premeditated plan against Xu Lu.

It was just a casual move, a precautionary step.

Never expected to use it so soon.

Cheng Shi had lied to Fang Shiqing when he said “Time had given him orders”—he wasn’t even a follower of Time.

But after Fang Shiqing left the trial, Cheng Shi truly received an order from the Divine.

Yet this Divine wasn’t Time—it was Deception, the one he worshipped.

“Kill the follower of Fate.”

Identical wording.

As if Deception had watched his performance just now and repeated his own words.

“?”

Aren’t you and Fate gods of the same Path?

What does this mean?

“......”

Cheng Shi was speechless.

When he reached the spot, Xu Lu was still lying unconscious on the ground.

He grabbed her collar and dragged her toward the Final Gate.

Along the way, many servants glanced and gathered to watch, but none dared intervene under his piercing gaze.

Cheng Shi walked, and Xu Lu bumped along.

At the Final Gate, Xu Lu groaned awake from the sharp pain in her back.

When she saw Cheng Shi’s face, she screamed and curled up in terror.

“Don’t come near me!! Ah!!!”

“Don’t kill me!!”

“Please, I’m sorry, don’t kill me!!”

Cheng Shi looked at her with cold eyes and sneered:

“You? You’re not even worth it.”

He seized her throat, lifted her off the ground, and grinned:

“I’ve killed many, and seen countless deaths.

But I still think sometimes, death is too direct.

Lacks elegance.

Seeress, don’t you agree?”

Without waiting for her reaction, he pressed her head down and threw her into the Memory Gate.

After finishing this, he pulled out the die in his hand and grinned:

“Killing a follower of Fate is dull. Twisting her fate might be more entertaining.”

Cheng Shi looked at the die with hopeful eyes.

But the die remained motionless, unresponsive.

“Tch. Boring.”

Cheng Shi tucked the die away and strode out of the trial.

【Special Trial (Eternal Night’s Labyrinth 【Memory】) — Challenge Success】

【Scoring and reward calculation in progress...】

【Player: Cheng Shi, Performance Rating: S】

【Obtained Item: Mask of Hope (S) ×1】

【Obtained Item: Mask of Regret (A) ×1】

【Obtained Item: Mask of Disgust (B) ×1】

【Obtained Item: Mask of Relief (A) ×1】

【Path to Divinity +9】

【Ladder to Audience +3】

【Current Path to Divinity Score: 2125, Global Rank: 464024】

【Current Ladder to Audience Score: 161, Path Rank: 64】

【Trial Completed, Exiting Soon】