Chapter 43: I

I’m not here to do charity work.

Cheng Shi frowned as he organized the clues he’d heard; after a moment of thought, he eliminated the possibility that the killer was a follower of [Decay].

[Decay] and [Flourishing] are opposing beliefs, but if a follower of [Decay] commits murder within [Flourishing]’s protected land, the corpse would inevitably bear traces of “decay.”

Only then would it count as a challenge to the faith, a way to glorify their patron.

But the corpses showed no wounds at all—clearly, the killer was crafting an atmosphere of terror.

The kind of effect achieved here suggests the killer likely follows [Corruption] or [Death] itself.

The reason for considering the killer’s faith isn’t for any other purpose—it’s solely to crack the case.

[Death] and [Flourishing] both lie on the Path of [Life]; though their endorsed wills diverge slightly, they are not opposed.

This is evident from the phrase “Bloom awaits only withering.”

It protects only life forms within their normal lifespan, and at the moment of natural death, it permits them to die.

Because [Flourishing] seeks maximum flourishing for the individual, not immortality.

After all, on the Path of [Life], [Death] is the final chapter.

Based on this, Cheng Shi began to ponder.

[Death]’s trial ultimately requires offering a sacrifice to It.

So this time, is the killer a follower of [Corruption] who deliberately created murder but twisted the victims’ natural deaths—or a follower of [Death] continuing Its own method by killing someone It might find interesting?

One is catching the killer; the other is helping the killer murder.

These two choices are utterly opposite.

Choose wrong, and you could easily fall into irrevocable ruin.

Just as Cheng Shi furrowed his brow in deep thought, another player nearby was also lost in contemplation.

Wei Guan clearly knew the key clues lay within the Law Enforcement Bureau, so he had arrived here even earlier than Cheng Shi and had already been lingering for a while.

When he saw teammates arriving one after another, he snorted dismissively and left.

Seeing Wei Guan depart, Cheng Shi couldn’t help but chuckle.

Followers of [Folly] consider themselves superior and never like to mingle with others; his departure now—was it because he saw something, or simply because he disliked sharing a case with others?

After obtaining the relevant information, Cheng Shi left the Law Enforcement Bureau and wandered casually through the town.

Only when the sun set, the streets grew emptier, and the townsfolk’s faces grew increasingly anxious, did he slowly return to the inn.

At this moment, the first floor of the inn was packed with people; the other four teammates had already seated themselves at a wooden table, waiting for him.

Cheng Shi greeted everyone and took a seat among them.

His gaze casually swept past the staircase corner and noticed the ascetic standing in the shadows, staring directly at them—his eyes met Cheng Shi’s exactly.

Cheng Shi paused, then smiled and nodded in greeting.

The man’s face showed neither joy nor sorrow; his gaze never moved.

What kind of person is this? Doesn’t he get tired standing there all day?

Fang Jue, seeing everyone seated, began to take charge.

“Let’s share our information—I’ll summarize what I’ve seen and thought today; you all fill in the gaps.”

The Lawkeeper was, as expected, the most methodical profession; every detail of basic information about Yongzhan Town was methodically shared, meticulously organized.

The depth of his report was unlike anything one person could gather in an afternoon—it resembled a full-month investigation compiled by a large team!

Cheng Shi was astonished; he wondered if Fang Jue’s abilities were too strong.

If any fund manager had this level of competence, he wouldn’t have lost so badly before the [Gods] descended.

All of them were just money-grubbing bastards who did nothing!

After Fang Jue finished speaking, everyone nodded; only Wei Guan snorted in disdain and said:

“Excessively redundant.”

Fang Jue paid it no mind, shrugged, and gestured for the others to speak.

Du Qiyu, however, spoke up in his defense:

“Then why don’t you share your insights?”

Wei Guan glanced sideways at Du Qiyu and sneered:

“So eager for something for nothing? A mind that never thinks grows only more foolish. If you want answers from me, first prove your worth.”

“Pfft.”

Cheng Shi couldn’t hold back—he laughed out loud.

His laugh drew everyone’s attention.

Seeing all eyes on him, Wei Guan’s gaze filled with contempt, Cheng Shi quickly waved his hands:

“Sorry, couldn’t help it—first time I’ve heard someone justify freeloading so confidently. Learned something new.”

His remark clearly mocked Wei Guan, but Wei Guan showed no reaction; instead, the others’ gazes toward Cheng Shi grew noticeably friendlier.

Indeed, harmony among people depends on the idiot.

As long as you stay away from the idiot, everyone can get along peacefully.

Du Qiyu smiled too—whether he genuinely wanted to prove himself or simply grew tired of waiting for Wei Guan’s reply, he spoke his thoughts outright.

His ideas matched Cheng Shi’s: two paths, choose one.

A common method to crack the case—but also the most reliable.

Cheng Shi kept nodding in agreement; their eyes met, and they instantly felt a bond.

Hilarious—never thought I’d side with a follower of [Memory].

Yun Ni added no further details; she only shared her observations from the autopsies.

“The Law Enforcement Bureau has no morgue; the four corpses were kept in the archives. I examined every inch of them—no wounds whatsoever.

This feels less like murder and more like a curse.”

“A curse from underground?” Cheng Shi asked, startled.

Yun Ni shot him a sidelong glance and nodded irritably:

“Yes. This method of killing usually originates underground—likely [Corruption] spreading fear. Creating fear and feeding on terror is one form of desire’s descent.”

Yun Ni’s guess was decisive—and had merit.

But every player held their own judgment; such subjective speculation was hard to gain universal agreement on.

Next came Cheng Shi’s turn. He didn’t withhold anything—he briefly mentioned the parts of his findings others hadn’t brought up, then carefully weighed all clues, pondering the key to breaking the case.

Fang Jue glanced at Cheng Shi thoughtfully and teased:

“You really don’t seem like one of His followers.”

Cheng Shi understood—he meant Cheng Shi behaved too “orderly.”

Yet Cheng Shi suddenly laughed and replied playfully:

“Don’t you think that becoming unchaotic is, for me, a kind of [Chaos]?”

Fang Jue smiled faintly, but beneath his smile, his eyes grew distinctly serious.

Indeed.

Making a [Chaos] follower cease being chaotic is, in essence, a deeper form of chaos.

Originally, Fang Jue had thought Cheng Shi wasn’t worth much attention.

Now, a faint thread of killing intent rose within him.

Discovering a highly insightful opponent from an opposing faith is not good news.

Cheng Shi didn’t know what Fang Jue was thinking—he finished his remarks and turned the floor to Wei Guan.

This follower of [Folly], who wore the expression “I’m not targeting anyone—I’m saying all of you are trash,” had sat silently all evening without uttering a single insight.

It was genuinely irritating.

“Alright, the foolish players have offered their ideas. Now it’s time for the wise ones to comment.”

Wei Guan sneered and turned to leave.

As he walked away, he shouted mockingly:

“Your thinking is worthless—you’re not worthy to know the answer.”

Even the mild-mannered Fang Jue grew angry; he slammed his fist on the table and stood up sternly:

“Leaving here means you abandon cooperation with us.”

Fang Jue’s voice subtly infused a Singer’s skill effect, powerfully commanding attention.

Many in the inn heard it and turned to stare.

But Wei Guan didn’t slow his pace; he headed not for the second floor, but for the inn’s front door.

“You don’t even merit the word ‘cooperation.’ My time is limited—I’m not here to do charity work.”

With that, he pushed open the inn’s front door.

At that moment, the inn’s doorman grabbed his sleeve, terrified:

“Esteemed guest, even if you’ve quarreled with your companions, I must warn you:

The night is not safe.

The Law Enforcement Bureau has issued a curfew recommendation.

Staying inside the inn is the best choice—please reconsider!”

Wei Guan sneered:

“Cowardice and stupidity always go hand in hand.

I already know the answer—I have no fear of any so-called murderer.”

Moreover, his methods are equally foolish in my eyes.

With that, he swept away the door attendant’s hand and walked out directly.

The moment the door slammed shut, a unified chorus of curses rose from the players’ table.

“Asshole.”