Chapter 984: Everything Is Folly

Everything is folly.

Silence is the majority of the void.

【Silence】 rarely appears, yet is everywhere; It manifests to the world mostly as the colossal 【Void-Mute Puppet】, yet ironically, those who have witnessed this form are often assimilated into Its secret puppets, silenced forever, never again given the chance to speak of Their Master’s grandeur.

So one might say It has never descended, at least leaving few traces in the memories of the living.

Of course, there are exceptions—such as a lucky soul blessed by 【Fate】, who remembered what the colossal Mute Puppet looked like, though even this lucky soul preferred not to recall it often.

And within this silent realm, scarce in sound, those chaotic white eyes opened again.

【Folly】 never shares, 【Silence】 never expresses; when these two meet, they ought to pass without notice, ignoring each other entirely.

Yet in this cosmos, few can escape 【Folly】’s question, and so that same question echoed once more through this silent land.

“Do you think your folly has an answer?”

“......”

“Why is the cosmos foolish?”

“Why does 【Void】 fear?”

“Where has My authority been hidden?”

“What promises has 【Deception】 made you?”

“You don’t think I can’t find answers to these questions on you just because you stay silent, do you?”

【Silence】, don’t think a feigned assimilation can sever your ties—I know you’re in league with 【Deception】.

It seems 【Void】’s secrets are too many, and have stirred even your fear.”

Those chaotic white eyes fixed themselves on the Mute Puppet before it, but the colossal Puppet remained utterly still, like a shell devoid of soul, showing not the faintest reaction.

【Folly】 frowned slightly, glancing at the other with disdain.

“You scorn humanity’s stupidity, so refuse to speak and enlighten.”

I know your ambition far surpasses mine, so what could possibly make even the Final 【Chaos】 fear...

【*He】 has already descended, hasn’t He?”

“......”

“Foolish without knowing it.”

Seeing the Puppet still motionless, those white eyes cast one last look of contempt and departed again.

No sooner had 【Folly】 left than 【Deception】 arrived.

When those familiar starlike eyes opened in this silent realm, the previously motionless 【Void-Mute Puppet】 slowly retreated half a step—“in token of respect.”

It was not fear, merely a desire to leave.

The saying goes, out of sight, out of mind; 【Folly】 may be annoying, but 【Silence】 too is of 【Chaos】, and understands 【Folly】—as long as It ignores, the other will eventually go.

But this thing before me...

“Hee~

Why do you reek of 【Folly】?”

“Did He come?”

“What did He ask you?”

“Never mind, what did you say?”

“You didn’t spill our little secrets, did you, mute?”

“......”

“What, trying to run?”

“Move one more step, and I’ll reveal what you know of 【Void】’s secrets. Try me.”

“......?”

Who is really keeping whose secret?

Whose loss would be greater if you spoke of this?

Go ahead, say it... ah, never mind...

The colossal Puppet froze, retracting the half-step it had just taken.

It was not fulfilling its own will to offer reverence to the Supreme—it was synchronizing with 【Deception】’s fear, to bolster its own resolve.

Indeed, 【Silence】 is a faction of fear.

As 【Folly】 suspected, It knew too many secrets—so many that fear constantly sprouted in its heart.

【Deception】 also knew this longtime companion on the path of fear could never turn back, so It spoke freely of its discoveries, without concern that outsiders might hear.

For this was 【Silence】’s domain, and It would silence every voice not meant for outsiders.

But It had not anticipated that the other’s first words would plunge It into silence once more.

“I think 【Corruption】 may have a problem—a big one...”

The Void, Hall of the Eternal Flame.

Today, silence permeated the cosmos; even the Flamebearers were affected. The three within the hall exchanged no words, their expressions varied.

Fang Shiqing, who had just arrived, stared in shock from Qin Xin seated behind the table to the nervous figure standing before it, blinked several times, and finally found her voice.

“What are you talking about? Quit? Why quit?”

She turned to the figure, frowning:

“Flamebearers never abandon any comrade, under any circumstance. If you’re in crisis, speak up—even if Qin Xin can’t solve it, can’t the Flame of Hope?”

“......”

The figure bowed its head, enduring the reprimand without a word.

Fang Shiqing’s expression hardened, and she turned to Qin Xin:

“One silent one is enough—have you turned mute too?”

“What on earth forced someone to quit?”

“Qin Xin, since the Flamebearers were founded, there has never been a quit mechanism. Are you certain your words today are serious?”

“......”

Qin Xin, clad in heavy armor, leaned back in his chair, knuckles tapping the table. After a long while, he sighed: “I didn’t say it.”

Fang Shiqing froze, then grew even more grave. She turned to the figure and said sternly: “Then it’s you. Why quit?”

The figure tried to smile, but seeing Fang Shiqing’s stern face, clenched its lips: “I’m not suited to be a Wallguard.”

“Whether you’re suited or not, everyone sees it—you can’t decide by self-denial.”

Fang Shiqing crossed her arms, standing like a headmaster scolding a student. She knew she shouldn’t treat a comrade this way, but this matter enraged her—and even stirred a flicker of fear within her.

They had survived their most fragile moments—why, now that the Flamebearers were growing “better,” did division arise?

Must the path of flamebearing always be paved with hardship?

Yet giving up was not Fang Shiqing’s nature. She pressed on:

“Even if you’re not suited to be a Wallguard, what about a Wallbuilder? You could easily switch.”

“But I disagree with Wallbuilders’ ideals.”

“?”

Fang Shiqing’s breath caught, her eyebrows nearly bristling. She rolled up her sleeves, ready to strike—when the figure stepped back, lips pressed tight, refusing to “apologize”:

“It’s true! Wallbuilders dare to pioneer—I lack that courage.”

“Then why aren’t you suited to Wallguards, who stand firm?”

“I’m not suited to Wallguards...” the figure corrected her, then muttered softly, “Everyone holds fast to beauty, but I think holding fast to beauty alone isn’t enough... in short, evil thoughts and corrupt desires never yield to beauty—pure defense alone cannot save this world!”

Fang Shiqing laughed bitterly, staring at the familiar yet alien figure before her, frowning:

“Then what do you want?”

The figure clenched its fist, eyes hardening: “I want to purge these things that aren’t beautiful—sweep them all into the trash. They don’t deserve beauty, and they don’t deserve to live in its shadow.”

“You intend to judge others in the name of flamebearing?!”

The figure lifted its head, resolute: “I won’t sully the name of Flamebearers—so I’ve decided to quit.”

“Denied. When you sought my opinion, your decision lost its effect.”

Qin Xin tapped the table, snapping Fang Shiqing out of her daze and sealing the matter.

“I’m a heartless boss, and right now I’m short-staffed—I won’t let you go.”

“Wallguards defend goodness, Wallbuilders seek novelty. Since you don’t want to defend goodness or seek novelty, call yourself a Wallbreaker instead.”

“The world is ever-changing—Flamebearers can’t fall behind.”

“If you want to lancing the sores of this world, then go ahead—try breaking down the crumbling old walls that weigh it down.”

“Flamebearers’ hands aren’t unstained by blood—they’re unstained by needless blood.”

“But remember: never again let desire control you, and never let the arrow named ‘Goodness’ in your hand carve the name ‘Evil’ upon you.”

“This meeting is over. Go about your duties.”

“I’ll find a new Seeker of Flame for the Wallbreakers—but until one arrives, you must not recruit any new Wallbreakers.”

“But there’s one...”

“I said—you must not recruit any new Wallbreakers.”

“If he truly wants to join us, let him consider becoming a Wallguard or Wallbuilder instead.”

Qin Xin’s figure vanished from the hall. The two remaining exchanged a glance, sinking once more into silence.

“Sister Qing, I...”

“No matter what, you remain one of the beauties I’ve witnessed with my own eyes. I believe in you—and I believe in the Wallbreakers.”