Chapter 966

The deal can continue, but I have a condition.

Cheng Shi agreed, but hadn’t spoken yet.

It wasn’t because he was still hesitating—it was because the situation had changed. After Yu Xi said, “It’s [Deception],” Yuge pulled back.

This [Decayed] Envoy didn’t trust his own mind; he feared this was a trick from [Nothingness]. He simply couldn’t understand: if [Deception] had set up this scheme to lure him here, why would Yu Xi, the [Deception] Envoy himself, expose it all at the last moment, right before his eyes?

Where was the opponent’s devotion?

Or was it... a scheme within a scheme?

His small eyes fixed on Cheng Shi with intense scrutiny. At this moment, he finally looked like what the Big Cat had described—if any sudden movement occurred, Cheng Shi had no doubt this fleeing emperor would vanish instantly.

Thus, what should have been an easy deal became a crisis requiring Cheng Shi to rebuild Yuge’s trust.

But for a [Deception] Envoy skilled in performance and sophistry, this was trivial—like eating a breadstick and drinking snot.

So Cheng Shi began his act.

He snapped his fingers, clearing the confusion in Yuge’s mind and calming him, then gestured with his hand toward the vessel in Yuge’s grasp, smiling brightly:

“As one party to this deal, I’ve fulfilled my duty to inform you.

Though I am a liar, I never use another’s lies in a transaction—even if that person is my patron, [Deception].

If I want to deceive, I do it myself. So don’t worry—what I said earlier was just a warning: you’ve been deceived.

It wasn’t [Fate] that brought you here—it was [Deception].

But you weren’t truly deceived, because [Deception] never enjoys tormenting the weak like [Drowning] does.

No matter what you prayed for, He merely played a small joke on you as payment for granting it. You know: in this universe, only He could do such a thing.”

“......”

Yuge froze completely. His mind, rotted by courtiers, could no longer process such convoluted reasoning. He strained to interpret Master Yu Xi’s riddles and translate them into terms he could grasp:

[Deception] had toyed with him, but the deal might still proceed.

Why it might proceed—he didn’t understand. So he hesitated, no longer willing to accept the deal as he had at first.

Clearly, Yuge trusted [Fate] more than [Deception].

Seeing this, Cheng Shi’s eyes flickered and he spoke again:

“You seem uneasy about this deal... Then let me tell you something you didn’t know: I’m also a believer of [Fate].”

“!?”

Yuge’s small eyes widened sharply. “Is this another trick?”

“No, no, no,” Cheng Shi laughed heartily. “You know I’m playing the role of a player named Cheng Shi.

And Cheng Shi is precisely a believer of [Fate]. So I, too, have some insight into [Fate].

He... doesn’t pity mortals. He only favors what is ordained.

So if you’re one of the ordained, you needn’t fear your end when the [Nothingness] era concludes. But from my observation, you don’t seem to be.

That means you’re one of the ‘mortals.’

And if you’re a mortal—ha, sorry—but no matter how outstanding or exceptional you are, the Lord of [Nothingness] won’t even glance your way, let alone guide you.

[Fate] reveres the ordained. Change exists only within [Deception].

I don’t know if you can understand what I’m saying, but this is what I mean: the only Lord of [Nothingness] who offers guidance to mortals is [Deception].

Because He needs to challenge the ordained to create entertainment for Himself.

So only He could have sent you here.

Do you understand? He won’t harm you—he’s just collected a little entertainment tax from you.”

“......”

Seeing the moment was right, Cheng Shi decisively cut off further explanation.

If this deal turned into a philosophical debate, the more urgently he spoke, the more cautious and resistant the [Decayed] Envoy would become—and that would backfire.

Everything requires space. Let the other fill in the blanks. After all, he didn’t even know why this Envoy-Emperor had come here.

As expected, Yuge began to fill in the gaps.

But his mental capacity was severely limited. After much thought, he reached only one conclusion: if Master Yu Xi, with such power, had spent so long talking without attacking him, he must have no interest in him at all.

The reason the other was willing to complete this deal was likely out of respect for [Deception].

With this realization, Yuge finally regained his “confidence.”

He turned his small eyes toward Cheng Shi, paused thoughtfully, then stepped forward with a pleasant expression, placing the vessel into Cheng Shi’s palm, and said solemnly:

“Then I entrust it all to Master Yu Xi.”

“......”

How did this perfectly good clown circus turn into Liu Bei entrusting his son?

I’m no Zhuge Liang. Besides, your size and demeanor—this isn’t Liu Bei. This is Liu Shan!

Cheng Shi’s vision blurred for a moment—he seemed to see that fat boy trembling as he shoved the imperial seal into his hands, screaming desperately:

“Master, save me!”

“......”

Look what they’ve done to the poor kid...

Holding the [Decayed] vessel, Cheng Shi felt a flood of emotion.

Who could have imagined this “divine drip tool,” unknown even to ordinary players, would come so easily? He’d always thought he moved fastest along the path of [Chaos], but now it seemed [Decay] was overtaking him—after all, he still wielded the authority of [Decay], while his usurper patron, [Chaos], had granted him no power at all.

But he was ultimately a [Nothingness] Traveler. No matter how many authorities he held or how true his identity, only the Entertainment God could protect him.

May this vessel bring not a curse, but the true will of the Entertainment God.

Cheng Shi calmed himself, and before the vessel’s rightful owner, quietly stowed it away.

He looked at Yuge before him and thought: one thing at a time. The deal was done, but if I don’t bring up your sneaky attack on the [Prosperity] believer, won’t that betray Big Cat’s friendship?

But I just took your “gift”—how do I switch expressions without showing it?

Ah—Yuge still needs to fade!

No wonder Yuge’s forehead kept sweating—he must have worried again during my pause.

But fading alone won’t soothe Big Cat’s resentment. Hmm... I need to think of a way to squeeze this fleeing emperor who’s practically handing himself to me.

Cheng Shi’s eyes flickered, mischief surged—and within seconds, he had a brilliant idea.

Got it!

“Emperor Yuge, the deal can continue, but I have a condition.”

“?” Yuge’s expression changed instantly. He stared at Cheng Shi in panic. “But Master, you already have the vessel! How can you change the terms halfway through?”

“Why not?” Cheng Shi curled his lips into a sly smile. “I never said what my terms were, did I?

Whether depositing the vessel or paying the cost of fading faith—that’s your side of the bargain. I merely moved part of the deal’s disclosure to before presenting the terms. I don’t think that disrupts a sincere transaction. Don’t you agree?”

“......”

I don’t agree!!

Yuge forced a stiff laugh, feeling he’d been tricked twice by [Nothingness].

Damn it, [Deception] is truly evil!