Chapter 987: Mi Lao Zhang, You

Mi Lao Zhang, you’re this devout—does Lezi Shen know?

After intense worship, Cheng Shi finally received a brief respite.

He rested for a day in the rest zone, but he didn’t idle—he systematically organized his knowledge, growing ever more certain that passive waiting held no hope; the only way to gain breathing room on this terrifying predetermined path was to strike first.

Even if he couldn't reverse the grand tide, he at least wanted to be awake before the true Void arrived—so that when the era collapsed, he would still know what precautions and fallbacks to make.

As for whether these things would even help...

Do your part, leave the rest to fate.

After another night of thought, Cheng Shi finally decided to find himself a few allies.

His first targets? The followers of Lezi Shen—the assorted clowns.

Cheng Shi knew that in matters concerning Them, Da Mao had superior strength and status compared to the clowns, but the one thing she lacked? She believed in fate.

Those destined believe in fate—but 【Fate】 has veered off the path of 【Deception】. Even if Cheng Shi considered himself favored by 【Fate】, he dared not plot rebellion loudly under Its very gaze.

So he chose the clowns instead—not out of trust, but out of faith.

The promised Clown Gathering had yet to convene, and now, counting them up, the clowns had grown “quite substantial.” He might as well use this gathering as the spark to ignite the hidden currents beneath the calm.

After making his decision, Cheng Shi immediately sought out Zhang Jizu.

Don’t forget—this “shoddy organization” had two founders. Others might not know, but both parties knew full well.

Cheng Shi thought the gathering location had already been secured from Da Mao, but he couldn’t have a bunch of people standing in empty void to hold a meeting—that’d be too awkward.

So he used the key Zhang Jizu had given him to reopen the bone door, and slipped effortlessly into the chaotic graveyard beside the tomb garden.

Clearly, the 【Death】 Chosen One hadn’t set any special privileges for his friend. Seeing the familiar tombstones and the long slope, Cheng Shi sighed and pressed the “doorbell.”

“Hey hey hey, Mi Lao Zhang, you home? You home?”

A loud shout echoed beside the graveyard. Soon, a head poked out from the slope.

Seeing the host, Cheng Shi scolded: “Can your hospitality be a little more sincere?”

Zhang Jizu squinted and smiled:

“How sincere?

Like Zhen Xin’s Zhen? Cheng Shi’s Cheng?

Compared to those two, I think my hospitality is already sincere enough.”

“?”

You’ve got issues!

Cheng Shi was about to tease him further when Zhang Jizu snapped his fingers—and Cheng Shi vanished from the slope, reappearing inside the true tomb garden.

He hopped, spinning his skull-body quickly—only to see Zhang Jizu walking slowly toward him from behind, from the direction of the slope, saying:

“I upgraded the ‘access control’ system, but due to the array’s limitations, I still haven’t found a good scent-recognition tool.

Still, I think this works fine—if someone impersonates, a rigid device won’t tell me whether the visitor is friend or foe.

A semi-manual identification process remains a necessary step in this defense protocol.”

“...”

Zhang Jianwen remained as steady as ever—though that “jian” in “steady” seems to be slowly shifting toward “jian” in “cheap”...

Wonder who he picked that up from.

Cheng Shi rolled his eyes—failed, but right now, he wasn’t interested in what Zhang Jizu was saying.

After all, to truly understand a person, you must watch what they do.

Staring at the rows of tombstones before him, each engraved with the names of Their divinities, Cheng Shi finally perked up.

“Tsk. Even slow work yields fine results—but Mi Lao Zhang, isn’t your efficiency a bit too slow? Is this really the pragmatic, efficient 【Death】 Chosen One I know?

Are the inscriptions burning your hands?

Otherwise, how do you explain none of these tombstones bear the names of Their Chosen Ones?

Got delayed?

Fine, fine, save your excuses for Them. I’m definitely filing a complaint against you...”

Before he finished, Zhang Jizu squinted at the little bone on the ground, plucked it up, and placed it atop the 【Order】 tombstone. Then, from nowhere, he pulled out a camera. Under the stunned gaze of the tiny skull, he snapped—“click”—taking Cheng Shi’s first photo in this game.

“?”

Cheng Shi’s hollow eyes turned toward Mi Lao Zhang, who calmly said:

“This is my explanation: a player pretending to be a 【Death】 follower keeps forcing me to do this and that, leaving me no energy to continue carving and maintenance.

I can’t beat him, so I have no choice but to let him have his way.

How’s that explanation?”

“???”

Cheng Shi was stunned.

Dude, did you crack your skull open?

If your brain wasn’t leaking air, how could you come up with a brain-dead excuse like this?

This almost rivals me setting up a stool in front of you and pretending to be That One...

Are you still Mi Lao Zhang?

Dammit, are you some cursed thing with the surname Zhen?!

The tiny skull’s eye sockets wrinkled as he scrutinized Mi Lao Zhang. As a follower of 【Deception】, Zhang Jizu clearly guessed what Cheng Shi was thinking.

Indeed, if only he could let out a “Xi~” right now, it’d be the perfect kill.

Too bad—even squinting his eyes shut, Zhang Jizu couldn’t squeeze out a single “Xi...”

It was too hard. Not everyone could play Zhen Yi without a single misstep. Just thinking of that fellow Chosen One made Zhang Jizu feel cursed.

Seeing Mi Lao Zhang’s neck veins bulging but still no “Xi,” Cheng Shi sighed in relief, then relaxed his expression—and suddenly grinned wide, letting out:

“Xi~”

“...”

Zhang Jizu’s face darkened. He waved his hand, knocking the little skull off, and stormed toward his dwelling.

How’s that for reclaiming the upper hand?

Cheng Shi hopped after Mi Lao Zhang, clucking his tongue.

“Say, Mi Lao Zhang, if you really want to bury Them, waiting won’t get you anywhere—you’ve got to do something.”

“...”

Zhang Jizu paused, then continued walking:

“I’ve always said I don’t intend to bury the gods—only that I haven’t had time to carve Their Chosen Ones’ names yet.”

The tiny skull snorted, hopping twice.

“Fine, fine, fool me if you want, but don’t fool yourself.

I’ve seen tombstones carved halfway—but never seen every single one carved halfway.

But come to think of it—do you dare do this because carving a tombstone for That One counts as an offering to Him?

Are you using your devotion to one of Them to offset your desecration of fifteen?

Mi Lao Zhang, you’re this devout—does Lezi Shen know?”

As they bickered, they reached the dwelling. Zhang Jizu pushed open the door and let Cheng Shi hop over the threshold. Cheng Shi leapt inside—and immediately noticed a mirror placed just across from the entrance.

And inside the mirror reflected an exact copy of himself.

?

Who the hell puts a mirror right by their front door?