Foolish Game of the Gods - Chapter 182

“What are you doing here?”

Bai Fei’s voice remained as icy as ever, but her attitude was no longer filled with the same disdain she showed towards Cheng Shi earlier.

Clearly, in her eyes, Zhen Yi was someone worthy of sitting at the same table.

Cheng Shi didn’t answer directly. Instead, he turned the question back at her:

“Shouldn’t I be the one asking that, Little White String? What’s your business here?

Don’t tell me… you’re also here for the Blind One’s prophecy?”

Bai Fei stared at Cheng Shi for a long moment. She wanted to respond with a random excuse, following Zhen Yi’s usual tricks, but she knew that if she lied, she would be exposed—ruthlessly exposed.

So, she admitted it, begrudgingly and honestly.

“Yes.”

No lies!

Damn, so she really is here for that prophecy too.

But what kind of prophecy could this be? What could possibly drive all these powerhouses, making them willing to lose points just to glimpse it?

A flash of confusion crossed Cheng Shi’s eyes, and Bai Fei, being sharp, immediately caught it.

For a moment, her thoughts began to churn.

Everyone knew that the prophecy originated from the lips of the person standing before her, the favored child of [Deceit]. Zhen Yi should know this prophecy better than anyone, yet why had a flicker of doubt crossed her eyes?

Could it be…

Was there more to the prophecy?

But what hidden truth could even Zhen Yi be unsure of?

Bai Fei quickly pieced together everything she knew about Zhen Yi, linking it to what she had heard about the prophecy. Before long, a startling and revolting thought emerged in her mind!

Could it be…

Zhen Yi had lied!

Of course, she’s a liar—that much was well-known.

But Bai Fei never expected that so many [Chosen Ones] had been deceived this time.

Zhen Yi must have altered the Blind One’s prophecy, leading everyone astray. Yet Hu Wei, who had brought Bai Fei here, was somehow closer to the original prophecy.

Only this explanation could account for why this vile, deceitful trickster seemed confused—confused as to why she herself had ended up in this trial.

Because Zhen Yi’s true wish was to find the answer to the prophecy she herself had twisted!

It seemed that the real prophecy was indeed connected to the Void Experimental Site!

And not just that—it was tied to this very site!

It appeared Hu Wei had already deduced the true meaning and guessed the clue leading to the answer, which meant his earlier comment, “We came to the wrong place,” was probably a lie as well.

He was likely already off on his own, searching for the truth.

It all made sense now.

Returning to her usual aloof demeanor, Bai Fei snorted coldly at Cheng Shi/Zhen Yi:

“Surprised?

When you saw me, you should have known what my wish was.

So, aren’t you going to give me an explanation?”

“Hehe~

What explanation are you looking for?”

“The prophecy!” Bai Fei’s voice was as cold as ice. “The prophecy you spoke of!”

“Oh, that? I forgot.”

Cheng Shi feigned ignorance, but Bai Fei knew how to communicate with Zhen Yi, and so she continued pressing:

“‘When the sun and moon interlace, above reality and void, the future… has arrived…’”

Wait, what?

How do you know that?

Are you spying on me?

Did you read my memories too?

Isn’t that the script Zhen Yi prepared for me?

How did it become the prophecy you’re talking about?

Logically, the prophecy should have existed before I even met Zhen Yi, so why is it the same?

Could it be… that the previous trial was actually the prophecy?

Zhen Yi didn’t lie to them—she told the truth?

How bizarre.

But what does ‘future’ mean?

Whose future?

In the last trial, only she impersonated my future!

Could this so-called prophecy just be some farce?

Hmm…

Not impossible.

Maybe that [Fate] follower caught a glimpse of this farce and shared it with Zhen Yi as a prophecy, and Zhen Yi, following that prophecy, ended up recreating the farce here…

Fate, after all, works that way.

So, was Hu Wei actually looking for me?

What!?

No way!

That won’t do!

Cheng Shi quickly snapped out of his thoughts, flashing a mischievous grin as he said:

“Hehe~

You didn’t actually believe that, did you?

Alright, alright, I’ll tell you. But it’s not free, you know!

Are you sure you want to hear it?”

Bai Fei froze for a moment, conflicted.

Of course, she wanted to know the true meaning behind the prophecy that had fooled everyone. But knowing Zhen Yi’s history of outrageous demands, she hesitated.

With anyone else, she could have pretended to agree to the deal and then go back on her word later, at worst making another enemy. Next time, it would just be a fight to the death.

But Zhen Yi was different. If you crossed her…

No one ever escaped unscathed.

Anyone who dared to provoke that liar ended up living the rest of their days in constant fear, always on edge.

Because you’d never know when, or how, or in what form, she’d show up to mess with you again.

And then… she’d toy with you, and you’d be powerless to stop her.

In the end, you’d break down, helpless in the face of your own incompetence, while she laughed endlessly at your misery.

She was a lunatic that everyone avoided, and a trickster who disgusted everyone.

“Heh, it looks like you’re not interested.

Alright then, I’ll go find someone else to trade with.”

Cheng Shi tilted his head, smirking as he turned to leave.

But before he could take a step, Bai Fei’s cold voice called out:

“What do you want in return?”

Cheng Shi didn’t even turn around, only laughing as he replied:

“Haha!

Anything at all?”

“……” Bai Fei’s gaze grew even colder.

“Alright, alright, no need to tease you.

I do have something fun I need your help with.

I… borrowed something. Hehe, well, it wasn’t exactly stealing.

I just got to it before its owner did, took it, and slipped it into my pocket.

But the owner is quite scary!

I’m afraid that once he finds out, he’ll have… issues with me. So I’ve decided…

To kill him!

Haha!

That’ll solve everything. What do you think?”

Cheng Shi spun back around, grabbing Bai Fei’s hand and grinning mischievously as he continued:

“Let’s prepare a fireworks display for him, shall we?

How about it?

Right here, right in the river of history.

I know hunters are good at setting traps, so why don’t you help me rig one, using that Silent Arrow of yours?

Hmm, let me think… we’ll set it… over there!”

Cheng Shi pointed toward the highest laboratory, gleeful:

“Little White String, just imagine.

Hundreds of years from now, when that grand scholar steps into the room, ready to pluck the fruit from the World Tree…

‘Boom—’

Fireworks explode!

But they’re silent fireworks!

The entire lab blows up, and all the scholars in the experimental site, watching the room that was supposed to yield the only result, will be left in tears!

Haha, it would be brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!

We’d be creating a grand prank that spans centuries!

Don’t you think [Oblivion] would be impressed by you erasing a piece of history?

This would be… absolutely delightful!

I can’t wait already!”

Bai Fei’s eyes narrowed as she listened.

What was Zhen Yi talking about?

Did she steal the fruit from centuries in the future?

Here?

Had she taken the future’s fruit… today, over 200 years in the past?

Shock filled Bai Fei’s heart, but she dared not ask more.

Because the moment you tried to engage Zhen Yi in a battle of wits, you’d find yourself at a disadvantage, caught in a web of unequal information, left vulnerable to her mockery.

What she needed now was a companion like Yan Chun, someone eager for knowledge and shameless enough to ask the questions for her.

It was too difficult. Why not just destroy everything?

Bai Fei shook off her jumbled thoughts, coldly glancing at Cheng Shi before pulling her hand away and saying flatly:

“I don’t have the power of [Existence]. I can’t help you with a fireworks display that spans centuries. Pick something else.”

“Hehe~ Maybe you don’t, but I do!”

As soon as Cheng Shi said this, Bai Fei’s brow twitched.

She remembered Hu Wei’s words:

The summoning… had already begun!

The [God] who summoned the players wasn’t necessarily their own Patron—other [Gods] could summon them, even those of opposing faiths.

It made sense now. If [Chaos] could bless Hu Wei, then surely [Memory] could be generous with Zhen Yi.

After all, [Deceit] had already taken Li Jingming.

Everything fit together now.

She really was Zhen Yi.

“Deal. Now, tell me.”

Cheng Shi’s eyes twinkled as he leaned in close to Bai Fei’s ear and cheerfully whispered:

“Of course the prophecy is fake.

The real prophecy is:

‘Where the sun and moon cease to shine, between reality and void, the future… has arrived…’

So, congratulations! Today is your lucky day—the prophesied place is right here.

But too bad… I’ve already claimed the gift of the future for myself.”

As he finished speaking, Cheng Shi reached into his pocket and pulled out the fruit, shimmering with dark light, and the petal, glowing with radiant white light!