[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-ring-of-fate":3,"chapter-the-ring-of-fate-the-ring-of-fate-chapter-994":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Ring of Fate",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2298963,4496,"Chapter 994: The Questioner Has No Heart (Thank You, Tang Seng, for the Silver Alliance Donation from a Little Monkey)","the-ring-of-fate-chapter-994",994,"\u003Cp>Rosan sat in a café near the police station, using a white pigeon she had temporarily modified to monitor Luo Fu and Jianna’s movements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had drawn her own markings on the pigeon, along with hidden micro-cameras; as long as she wore sunglasses embedded with a receiver, she could receive the signal, and through the “Painter’s” connection to her drawings, she could activate the markings to command the pigeon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this required her to remain within a certain distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she saw Luo Fu and Jianna exit Star Dream Grocery, Rosan immediately sent the white pigeon after them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she followed, she noticed the two targets heading toward the police station area—right where she was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rosan’s heart leapt into her throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, her tension didn’t last long; Luo Fu and Jianna only reached this street and never actually approached the café’s entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She exhaled… then saw Luo Fu and Jianna, already five or six steps away from the café, vanish into thin air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This… Rosan’s pupils dilated instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next second, two people sat down across from her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One was Luo Fu; the other was Jianna.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rosan froze, as if turned to stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you monitoring us?” Jianna asked, her tone friendly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Franca placed two mirrors on the café table, creating a “Mirror Maze.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I—I just wanted to see what you were really doing, whether you were lying to me, whether you were bad people,” Rosan’s voice rose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was still the aftereffect of that dream… Would the “Mirror Maze” hide her from the “Journalist’s” ability to probe truth? Probably not… How could she guard against such surveillance in the future? Communicate important matters via phone, then delete chat logs with the “Information Shredder”? No—except for me, Lu Mi’an, Jianna, Anthony, and Ludwig don’t speak Chinese; phone communication relies on voice-to-text, which would still be overheard… The “Vial of Fiction” probably couldn’t block it either, unless it was the “Secret Realm”… Could she only communicate far from the “Journalist”? Franca instantly thought of many possibilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, an idea struck her. She looked at Rosan and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you want to follow, follow openly. If you want to watch, watch from nearby. But some things are dangerous—we might not even protect ourselves. If we’re going to face such things, we’ll tell you ahead of time. You decide whether to come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rosan hadn’t expected Luo Fu and the others to be this honest—she was left speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Franca continued:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re going to a place next to confirm whether certain people have become more false. Do you want to come?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Confirm whether they’ve become more false? Rosan suddenly felt fear—but she didn’t want to deceive herself forever, to avoid uncovering the answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a few seconds of hesitation, she said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Franca smiled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Perfect—you have the ability to probe truth. You can directly help us confirm, without us having to devise dangerous plans.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She still didn’t know whether Lu Mi’an’s “Eye of Disaster” could detect problems with Huang Jiajia, Aina, and others, so she planned to rely on the “Journalist’s” ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This way, she might even discover exactly where the fakes were flawed, gathering key evidence to report to the police.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also, Jianna had previously told Franca that since Rosan already knew this world was a dream, and was in a state of unwillingness to believe, full of doubt but unable to fully deceive herself, they shouldn’t delay—otherwise she might do something foolish or suffer mental deterioration, exploited by the Xieshen  of the Fantasy Society.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jianna believed that, having already chosen honesty and truth, they should continue this approach: stabilizing Rosan’s mental and emotional state through psychological therapy, while gradually guiding her to confront the truth under their control, confirming facts, and preventing her from indulging in wild imaginings, reckless experiments, or dangerous actions—those could bring greater disaster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, once a problem had emerged and couldn’t be avoided, it was better to bring it under controlled, prepared release than to let it develop unchecked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, though they could have used the “Secret-Viewing Glasses,” they chose to ask Rosan for “help.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside Star Tutoring Center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Franca and Jianna brought Rosan into a white sedan with no locks and no driver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Anthony, having received Franca’s WeChat message, was already on standby nearby, ready to treat Rosan if she suffered a mental breakdown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s this?” Rosan hadn’t expected a car to be waiting for them by the roadside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our companion drove it over—convenient for observation,” Franca explained simply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rosan understood and asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lu Mianna, the one we play cards with?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s how Franca and the others had introduced her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sort of,” Jianna said, having no intention of letting the “Audience” step onto the stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a while, they saw Huang Jiajia walk out of the Star Tutoring Center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s her,” Franca quickly reminded Rosan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rosan pressed her right hand against the window, pinching the sides of her eye sockets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, she saw the target overlapping with windows, street trees, and cars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She also saw countless invisible threads rising from the target, stretching into the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These threads were tied to her joints, to her organs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the invisible threads pulled, the target moved accordingly—walking toward the nearest bus stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just like a puppet on strings… Rosan’s body hairs stood on end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she had probed truth before, she hadn’t noticed similar patterns in those around her—or if she had, they were too faint to register.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With time still left, Rosan observed passersby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She saw the same countless invisible threads rising from them—but these threads were slack, lacking the taut tension that moved the human body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…” Rosan’s body tensed, then collapsed, slumping against the rear seatback.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She ended her probing, murmuring as if in a dream:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They really have become more false…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are the specific details?” Jianna tried to ease Rosan’s emotional shock by treating it like a factual discussion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Franca sent a message to Anthony:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Closely monitor the target’s state.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rosan’s voice drifted as she described everything she’d seen—the target versus normal people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During this, Anthony, disguised as a middle-aged man smoking by the roadside, drew closer and quietly activated “Soothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking, Rosan fell completely silent, saying nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jianna and Franca watched her with pity, holding off on introducing new topics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They waited for Anthony’s signal—only when he said it was safe would they speak; only when he suggested a topic would they craft appropriate responses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I—I want to go to the North City Cemetery,” Rosan finally spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright,” Franca immediately agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, she received a message from Anthony, who had turned his back and used voice input:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The target’s emotional state has stabilized preliminarily, but residual negativity, pessimism, and despair remain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t bring up any topics. Any remark, even a casual one, might trigger her. Only answer if she asks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Franca forwarded the message to Jianna, then started the car and drove onto the main road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the car, silence returned, broken only by the faint hum of the engine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the car reached the North City Overpass, Rosan, like a wooden statue, whispered to herself:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is… out there, in the outside world, another version of me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes,” Jianna answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She strictly followed the “psychologist’s” instructions: answering only Rosan’s questions, adding nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rosan fell silent again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, the car arrived at the North City Cemetery and stopped in the parking lot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rosan gripped the door handle, paused for several seconds, then said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll go in alone. You don’t need to follow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright,” Jianna and Franca replied in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rosan opened the door and extended one foot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, half-turning her body, she asked with dark eyes:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you here to awaken Zhou Mingrui?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm,” Jianna didn’t hide it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On this topic, she felt it necessary to say more, so she added:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If we don’t awaken Zhou Mingrui, when the apocalypse comes, everything will be destroyed—including this dream.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And the apocalypse is only a few years away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rosan stared blankly at the front seat cover, as if seeking confirmation:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why did Zhou Mingrui fall asleep?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To fight a malevolent force,” Franca replied succinctly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This matched the core of the story she’d previously fabricated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rosan kept her posture, asking unconsciously:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have you already defeated that malevolent force? Can we awaken Zhou Mingrui now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This… Hearing the question, Franca and Jianna were both startled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They looked at each other, unable to answer Rosan’s question:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Heavenly Sovereign’s consciousness had already been defeated, then the Fool himself could awaken—yet if he hadn’t been defeated, forcibly awakening him would be no different from his pre-sleep state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or does “awakening” itself symbolize the defeat of the Heavenly Sovereign’s consciousness?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Fool awakens while the Heavenly Sovereign remains asleep, their power balance will shift—will victory tilt toward the Fool?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this guess is right, fine—but if it’s wrong, does that mean our entire direction is wrong?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Major Arcana cards have always emphasized “awakening,” but perhaps we should have weakened the Heavenly Sovereign first?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We are still in the stage of confirming the situation; it is unclear whether that evil force has been defeated,\" Franca answered honestly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rose bit her lip and did not ask further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She fully exited the vehicle and entered the flower shop attached to the cemetery, buying two bouquets of white chrysanthemums.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She walked slowly forward, her figure gradually vanishing among the tombstones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Thank you Tang Seng Has a Little Monkey for the Silver Alliance reward~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1574,"2026-06-20T06:22:37.987Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","72057a0acd4f02d08f7d8124b8b6005deb818e0d3336cbc56ec3a8d360e3570c","the-ring-of-fate-chapter-995","the-ring-of-fate-chapter-993",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-ring-of-fate-cover.jpg"]