Chapter 437: The Grand Marshal's Gambit

The Grand Marshal's Gambit

In yesterday's chapter, I noticed quite a few readers asking how Long Jing discovered that "Cheng Shi" wasn't the real Cheng Shi. I had actually written that part, but later felt it was too wordy, so I deleted it.

Before we start the main text today, let me explain Long Jing's train of thought:

The logic here first requires looking at this scam from "Long Jing's perspective":

Recap: "Cheng Shi" claimed he had an audience with 【Fate】, and this statement was true. Afterward, Long Jing saw through "Cheng Shi's" identity, knowing he wasn't the real Cheng Shi.

From Long Jing's perspective, the information revealed by this statement leads to the following possibilities:

1. The statement was true from the start, so the Master of Deception would also call it true. This implies that someone who is not a 【Fate】 Chosen had an audience with 【Fate】. In Long Jing's understanding, this is highly unlikely, though not entirely impossible.

2. The statement was false from the start, but the Master of Deception called it true. Then, without a doubt, the other party is a liar who has the Master of Deception. However, "Cheng Shi" has told lies before, which means the other party is either Zhen Xin or possesses a Master of Deception card. Since Zhen Yi is right across from him, it is highly probable that this is a player with a Master of Deception card.

3. The statement needs to be parsed separately: the audience with the Benefactor is true, and the word 【Fate】 standing alone at the end is also true. This undoubtedly indicates that this person is Zhen Yi, because even Long Jing has never had an audience with a god. As the number two on the 【Deception】 leaderboard, the possibility of a liar beneath him is even lower. Thus, it is more likely that "Cheng Shi" is Zhen Yi. But the real "Zhen Yi" is right across from him, so we return to situation 2. Additionally, Long Jing believes the anchor for "Zhen Yi" being real is the Tongue of Lying.

Thinking back to the attitude of the secret confrontation between "Cheng Shi" and "Zhen Yi," "Cheng Shi" is not on the same side as "Zhen Yi." He deliberately told a lie to himself, clearly to drag him into the game to oppose "Zhen Yi," because if "Cheng Shi" had the advantage in this confrontation of liars, there would be no need to do this.

Therefore, "Cheng Shi" is a liar in a disadvantaged position who needs external force to muddy the waters. Since he dares to invite a liar, he must have some aspect that "resonates" with the liar; otherwise, he couldn't gain Long Jing's trust to make him willingly enter the game. And the most common and reasonable "resonance" that can be sparked between two people who know nothing of each other's identities is... both being 【Deception】 believers who share a mutual hatred for Zhen Yi.

Only when these two points exist simultaneously would Long Jing feel the other party has a reason to expose a flaw to him, because the other party wants his help. Here, the "flaw" refers to the lie "Cheng Shi" told earlier.

(Zhen Xin also utilized this point; she used Long Jing's hatred for her sister to drag him into the game, but the real sister has already been blasted away by her!)

In summary, Long Jing judges that "Cheng Shi" is also likely a liar, which excludes situation 1 (the option where the audience with 【Fate】 is true), thus leaning more toward situation 2.

And in his understanding, a liar cannot be Cheng Shi.

Therefore, he is certain this person is a liar, not the real Cheng Shi.

(This section doesn't count toward the main text word count. Today's word count is met, it's not filler.)

Main text ↓

Cheng Shi and "Cheng Shi" were both shocked simultaneously. Of course, Cheng Shi was genuinely shocked, while "Cheng Shi" was faking it.

No wonder Zhen Xin would utter the words 【Convention】; it turns out she was trying to draw this matter out!

【Fate】 not even summoning "His own Chosen," yet summoning an "obscure" Fate Weaver—the shock of this event might not compare to the fall of a god, but compared to mysterious affairs, it is closer to the players and much more entertaining.

So, is she trying to make him famous among the peak players to create even greater amusement?

No, she is not Zhen Yi, so one cannot judge her based on Zhen Yi's personality.

Cheng Shi hasn't had much contact with Zhen Xin; the few words about her were learned from Da Mao. He can only confirm that Zhen Xin is slightly more reliable than Zhen Yi, but he cannot confirm just how reliable she is.

So what exactly does she want to do?

Transfer the pressure of 【Fate】 onto himself, thereby freeing up the attention on the Blind One?

Or is she simply retaliating against him for sabotaging her sister?

Fine, fine, fine. Whatever you want to do, I'm afraid you won't be keeping that Tongue of Lying for much longer.

Things having reached this point, Cheng Shi isn't actually too worried about Zhen Xin pinning halos on him, because the halos she's pinning are actually true, so even if he restores his identity, he can handle them.

Moreover, in Long Jing's eyes, "Cheng Shi" is definitely not the real Cheng Shi. If he can wait until he makes this matter public, then he can consider himself to have "shed his skin like a cicada," shaking off all this pressure.

But to be fair, for the current Cheng Shi, this pressure of having had an audience with a god is better kept than shed.

After this "battle," he knows he likely won't be able to remain anonymous in the circle of peak players anymore. He will definitely become one of the hottest "news" items, then be watched, approached, and studied by hundreds of peak players.

And at this time, the more halos he wears, the more mysterious his persona will be, which will also make other peak players more wary.

But wariness is often accompanied by covetousness; this is the core ecology of the peak game, where one pursues ultimate power and attempts to gain Their gaze. Cheng Shi cannot avoid this either.

When you have a little mystery, others will notice you and keep their distance.

But when you have ten points of mystery, under the temptation of extreme curiosity, others might not be so willing to keep their distance; they will only want to catch you and strip your mysterious outer garment clean.

So what Cheng Shi needs to do now is make Zhen Xin stop while she's ahead, and not pin any more backgrounds on him that are unexplainable or require a massive amount of lies to cover up!

So he hurriedly put on the "Zhen Yi" outer garment and interrupted everyone's conversation with her flighty personality:

"Hee~

Little Cheng Shi, what does 【Fate】 look like?"

"Cheng Shi" gave Cheng Shi a strange look and said gloomily:

"【Fate】, She...

Why should I tell you?"

"?"

"......"

A strange atmosphere spread through the venue. To others, it didn't look like two people who didn't want to communicate; instead, it looked a bit like flirting.

Even Hu Wei's posture as he was about to speak stiffened; he opened his mouth but couldn't continue the conversation.

Instead, a sharp glint flashed in Chen Shu's eyes, and he praised "Cheng Shi" with gratification:

"Brother-in-law, you truly have great enlightenment!

Even if 【Fate】 has summoned you, I still feel that 【Silence】 is more suitable for you. What do you think?"

"......"

The topic had drifted. Clearly, everyone was becoming as curious about Cheng Shi's audience with 【Fate】 as they were about the fall of 【Prosperity】.

Seeing the situation was wrong, Grand Marshal Hu Wei stepped out again. He smiled, patted "Cheng Shi" on the shoulder, and laughed:

"Good lad, that's enough on that.

Hmph, no one's intelligence comes for free. If you want to keep listening, bring out some sincerity to trade with my brother."

As he spoke, he shifted half a step to the side. The implication was clear: after verifying the information he knew, he believed "Cheng Shi's" statement and accepted "Cheng Shi's" identity.

The Grand Marshal's generosity and loyalty were once again highlighted after satisfying his personal curiosity.

"Cheng Shi" also suddenly transformed from a target of public criticism into an important resource protected by a Chosen.

Seeing Hu Wei act this way, the expressions of the crowd changed, though not significantly. Clearly, everyone understood this Grand Marshal's personality. Chen Shu, however, couldn't stand it and muttered softly:

"Cheng Shi is only a brother you recognized, but he is my brother-in-law. Even if he's a former brother-in-law, he clearly has a closer relationship with me. Old Hu, how is this any different from being a mistress?"

"......"

"......"

"......"

No one could follow Chen Shu's train of thought. The crowd's faces looked constipated, and "Cheng Shi" was speechless. Only "Zhen Yi" giggled as usual. "She" looked at "Cheng Shi," blinked, and then suddenly said to Hu Wei inexplicably:

"You're in such a rush to take Little Cheng Shi away, don't tell me you want to be my mistress?"

"Boom—"

As soon as the words fell, a second arc of blood and fire instantly slashed toward the place where "Zhen Yi" was!

Seeing the opportunity to escape, Cheng Shi immediately switched his faith using the shadow of the firelight, then teleported away with a die, arriving at the edge of the venue.

The other players around him panicked and retreated when they saw this "menace" approach. The two Fire-Keepers also retreated cautiously, but their gazes never left Cheng Shi's body.

Hu Wei wasn't surprised that the strike missed. He just spat in frustration and then said to the others around him:

"I have a big business deal to do. I wonder if you all are interested?

Although I can't guarantee everyone will have gains, at least, my brother Cheng Shi will be going with me."

As he spoke, he even wrapped his arm around "Cheng Shi's" shoulder, leaving "him" no way to escape.

"Even if there is no harvest, you all can use the information in your hands to trade with my brother for some interesting intelligence to listen to."

But I must say first, there are two things in that place that I must get my hands on. One is a promise to my brother, and the other is my target. Apart from these two items, everything else is for those who are fated to have them.

How about it, Mo Li, Long Jing, are you interested?"

As soon as Hu Wei finished speaking, Chen Shu raised his hand unwillingly:

"What about me, what about me!?"

Hu Wei gave him a look but didn't respond, instead staring straight at Mo Li and Long Jing, waiting for their response.

Mo Li pondered for a moment, raised his eyebrows, and nodded.

Long Jing, however, rolled his eyes for a long time, looked at the giant sword in Hu Wei's hand, and then glanced imperceptibly at "Cheng Shi" behind Hu Wei.

If Zhen Xin wanted to tread the Grand Marshal's game alone, she naturally had to be prepared.

But the scene didn't give her any extra opportunity to prepare. Everyone present was not a good partner for cooperation, only Long Jing...

Only this number two on the leaderboard, who was also a 【Deception】 believer, could barely be considered a qualified teammate who could keep up with the rhythm.

That's why she chose to use a lie at that juncture to expose her identity, making Cheng Shi uncomfortable while also making Long Jing participate out of curiosity.

And she also subtly revealed her faction relationship, letting Long Jing know that she was a liar, and a liar who was at odds with "Zhen Yi," all to make Long Jing, who had just been sabotaged by her sister, inclined to cooperate with her.

Zhen Xin's thoughts were not un-ingenious, but she miscalculated one point: Long Jing stopped following halfway through.

This "Chairman Gong" watched the amusement with inner joy, but on the surface, he smiled and rejected the proposal.

Not only that, he deliberately retreated half a step, as if drawing a line between himself and the liars in the venue.

Yes, I didn't expose you, but I also... won't help you anymore.

Although Zhen Yi is annoying, her perspective on watching amusement is truly brilliant. Since she can watch the amusement of her peers, why can't I?

So Long Jing retreated while he was ahead, and when he saw a trace of astonishment in "Cheng Shi's" eyes, he was even happier.

Go ahead and lie, go ahead and lie. If you can fool the Grand Marshal, that's your ability. If you can't, then you can only use your own neck to test whether the Grand Marshal's blade is sharp or not.

Also, Grand Marshal, oh Grand Marshal, when you discover your good brother is a liar, I hope you can still be as happy as you are now.

As for me, forget it. I don't want to be buried with a liar whose identity I can't even see. ===== CHAPTER 438 =====