Chapter 25: Fang Shiqing's Invitation: [We]!
It was a cramped utility closet. The space was tiny, stuffed full of various cleaning tools.
The standing room available was barely half a meter wide.
Within that cramped half-meter, Cheng Shi and Fang Shiqing stood face to face.
Fang Shiqing wore a smile. Cheng Shi wore a surprise.
"So this so-called fog of war was actually to kidnap me?"
Cheng Shi scanned his surroundings with a peculiar expression, thinking that this tiny space was indeed a good hiding spot.
"'Kidnap' isn't the right word for it."
Fang Shiqing smiled, placing both hands on Cheng Shi's arms to maintain some distance between them, and explained earnestly:
"The cutesy girl was following me closely. This was the only way I could shake her off for a while."
"Huh? You call her cutesy girl too?"
Cheng Shi's eyes lit up, instantly feeling he'd found a comrade-in-arms.
"Why wouldn't I? Enough chitchat, we don't have much time. Cheng Shi, I have something to say to you."
"I like men, thanks." Cheng Shi's mouth was faster than light.
"…"
Fang Shiqing froze for a moment, then laughed in spite of herself:
"It's not what you think. No need to rush to refuse."
Hearing this, Cheng Shi breathed a huge sigh of relief:
"Good, good. Then I still like women."
"You… do I really have no appeal at all?"
"If the appeal you're talking about is the Bailing kind, then no, not at all."
"…I'm done trading barbs with you." Fang Shiqing wasn't the least bit annoyed. She fixed her eyes on Cheng Shi, her expression turning quite solemn as she said:
"Cheng Shi, I know you falsified your Ladder score, and I know you're very capable. But I won't dig into why you're hiding things. I simply want to invite you to join us."
"Us?"
Cheng Shi's smile gradually faded, his brow furrowing slightly as though something had occurred to him.
"You're from the Reason Association?"
The Reason Association was an organization formed by a group of players gathered under the leadership of [Truth] followers. Its guiding philosophy was to pursue cosmic truth and explore the essence of the gods.
Under the influence of [Truth] and the "Tower of Reason" from trial backgrounds, they harbored a fanatical thirst for knowledge regarding the origin of all things and the laws of the universe.
These people had become exceedingly unhinged in their quest to acquire the knowledge to [Understand Divine Power] and [Become Gods], to the point of being thoroughly irrational.
In truth, there were many player organizations like the Reason Association: the "Order Alliance," the "Natural Sect," the "Historical School," and so on and so forth.
The fundamental reason these organizations existed was because humans forced to become [Players] had an instinctive craving for survival and power.
So they voluntarily banded together, tirelessly cooperating to improve themselves.
Fang Shiqing was a follower of [Truth], so naturally Cheng Shi thought of the Reason Association first.
However, Fang Shiqing shook her head and sighed:
"The Reason Association has already abandoned reason. They'll stop at nothing to become gods. Rather than followers of [Truth], they're more like followers of [Defilement], devotees of [Ignorance]. They unleash their ambition and expand their desires, having long departed the realm of normal people and transformed into incomprehensible lunatics…
But we are not such people.
Cheng Shi, do you remember your own home?"
Fang Shiqing's sudden earnestness left Cheng Shi somewhat at a loss.
How to put this? If you counted the utility closet at the orphanage as a home, then yes, he remembered.
After all, the setting was triggering memories. This cramped little space was quite similar to where he'd lived as a child.
Seeing no reaction from Cheng Shi, Fang Shiqing continued:
"Everyone had a warm family, and family members who loved them.
But after They descended, everyone lost the beautiful life they once had.
The [Faith Game] shattered the world and pushed billions of our fellow countrymen to the edge of the cliff."
Her tone grew somber, and the hand gripping Cheng Shi's sleeve tightened.
"Cheng Shi, not everyone is like you and me, able to win trial after trial.
Able to reach 2000 points.
Able to obtain S-Rank talents.
Able to fight hard to stay alive.
Many people… one wrong step sends them plunging into the abyss, and far more have already fallen below it.
But did they do anything wrong?
They're just innocent people, struggling to survive, swallowing their pride, and when they die, they even get slapped with the label of 'Godforsaken.'
And among these people are your family, my family, people who love you, and people who love me."
Fang Shiqing smiled bitterly, then rallied her spirits and pressed on:
"Is there truly no way to prevent all of this?
Must everything we love and wish to protect inevitably be lost before the gods?
No!
Anyone with flesh and blood, bone and spirit, would never allow this to happen!
And so, we came to be!
We gather together, leveraging every force that can be leveraged, uniting every friend who can be united, protecting every beauty that needs protecting!
We bow our heads to accept Their blessings, and we raise our heads to challenge Their authority;
We turn and entrust our backs to one another, and we vow to defend our friends' trust to the death;
We forge blades and guns to build new ramparts, and we plunge into darkness to carry the fire of hope.
This is us!
For the people behind us we wish to protect, we must stand up!
Cheng Shi, do you… understand?
This is… us.
A band of fighters attempting to defy [Divine Majesty], a pack of lunatics who still yearn for 'beauty.'
To achieve all of this, we crawl through the darkness, never easily showing ourselves before others.
But you, Cheng Shi, I think you're worth the risk I'm taking.
Now, I formally invite you to join us. Will you…?"
Cheng Shi listened in silence to Fang Shiqing's words, his face merging into shadow, noncommittal.
Fang Shiqing desperately wanted to read some emotional fluctuation on his face, but clearly, she failed.
Cheng Shi was quiet for a long moment, then slightly curled his lips and asked teasingly:
"·You've said so much. Tell me, Lady Firelight Bearer, could you reveal whether you're a Defender or a Builder?"[1]
"!!??"
Fang Shiqing's eyes flew wide open. She stared at Cheng Shi in disbelief, fighting to suppress her shock as she gasped in a strained whisper:
"You know about us? You…"
Then something dawned on her, and the shock and hope in her eyes dissipated together, instantly replaced by deep regret. She pursed her lips and smiled bitterly:
"It seems you've already rejected us…"
Cheng Shi's expression was highly unnatural. He shook his head slightly:
"No. No one has ever invited me. You're the first."
Fang Shiqing's face grew even more shocked. She lifted her head and exclaimed:
"Impossible! A player who hasn't been contacted by a Firelight Bearer couldn't possibly know about us! Where did you learn this?"
"Where did I learn it?"
Cheng Shi's gaze suddenly turned deep and distant. His line of sight drifted past Fang Shiqing's hair to the darkness behind her, as though recalling some scene from his memories. His tone was utterly desolate as he mused:
"Yes, where did I learn it?
Probably from the mouth of a fool.
Tell me, why would anyone risk their own life for a stranger?"
"Why wouldn't they?" Fang Shiqing's eyes suddenly turned resolute. She said with gravity:
"Firelight Bearers will pay any price for what they wish to protect, let alone themselves."
"Strangers count as the beauty you speak of?"
"Perhaps not mine, but certainly his, the Firelight Bearer you met… the beauty in his eyes…"
Fang Shiqing's tone brimmed with a romanticism that knew no regret, to the point that even the perpetually flippant Cheng Shi was slightly moved.
"Is that so…"
He shook his head, the smile finally returning to his face. He looked up into Fang Shiqing's eyes, into those eyes brimming with the light of hope, and found them so… bright.
Even within the fog, even inside a gloomy utility closet, still so bright.
"I remember you now, Lady Defender."
Fang Shiqing blinked, not expecting that he'd fished for information and seen through her identity. But she didn't mind that at all.
"So this time, what is your answer?"
"Before that, I'd rather ask: why did you choose me? I've never considered myself a good person." Cheng Shi spread his hands.
Fang Shiqing smiled gently: "The word 'good person' is far too heavy for the world we live in now. We never delude ourselves into hoping to meet a good person. We only hope that our companion is not a bad person."
"How do you know I'm not a bad person?"
Fang Shiqing released her left hand that had been gripping Cheng Shi's sleeve, and pointed to her own ear.
"S-Rank Bard Class Talent, 'Moving Heartstrings.' I can hear the symphony that each person's innermost thoughts compose. I'm all too familiar with the melodies of wicked people. You are not one of them."
"?"
Cheng Shi raised an eyebrow and asked with genuine curiosity: "Then which kind am I?"
"Mm… very strange, very erratic, very low and heavy, but not dark."
Cheng Shi silently reflected on this for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing.
"What are you laughing at?"
"Sorry. I'm laughing because you heard wrong."
The moment those words fell, a knife-hand chop struck the neck of Fang Shiqing before she could react.
"Bang!"
"You…"
Fang Shiqing's eyes widened for a split second, then her eyelids fluttered shut as she slumped unconscious.
Cheng Shi rubbed his hand and looked at Fang Shiqing collapsed against him, his tone inexplicable:
"People standing in the light should be even less quick to trust people in the dark. What's more, those standing in the dark are usually not people at all."
"But still… thank you."
He gave a self-deprecating smile, scooped her up in his arms, pushed open the utility closet door, and walked out.
…
[1]: The Chinese term translated as "Firelight Bearer" (传火者, lit. "fire-passer") echoes the imagery of passing the torch. "Defender" (戍城者) and "Builder" (筑城者) are specific organizational roles within the resistance group, the former guarding existing strongholds and the latter constructing new ones.
Sign up to join the discussion...
Already have an account? Log in
No comments yet. Be the first to discuss this chapter.