“Oh, I’ve been found out~”
Meng Xuan’s voice vanished, replaced by a warm, playful male voice. The tone was light and upbeat, as if a meticulously prepared prank had been exposed—he wasn't annoyed; rather, he seemed to be enjoying it.
Immediately after, the humanoid silhouette of grey-white light began to glow with vibrant colors from within.
Tender sprouts, pale yellow flower buds, dark brown branches, deep green leaves...
Countless forms and colors belonging to the plant kingdom bloomed from within the grey-white silhouette.
The process wasn't violent; instead, it possessed a vibrant, living beauty. The grey-white light representing Meng Xuan was replaced from the inside by plants.
The silhouette rapidly collapsed and dissipated, leaving behind only a humanoid outline sketched by vines, exotic flowers, and leaves. At first, the outline was somewhat blurred, constantly adjusting its form like a walking shrubbery.
But soon, the plant matter retracted inward, transforming into muscle, clothing, and hair. Colors settled, and lines became clear.
A man appeared before Yue Shi.
He looked to be in his early twenties, tall and slender. His facial features and body proportions underwent subtle adjustments in those first few seconds, like control points being dragged in 3D modeling software.
The height of the nose bridge, the curve of the brow bone, the line of the chin, the ratio of shoulder width to waist... finally, all these adjustments froze.
It was a face Yue Shi was intimately familiar with, one he saw every day.
Long straight black hair, pale skin, perfect symmetry—it was as exquisite as a 3D model. Even the height and shoulder-to-waist ratio were identical to Yue Shi's own.
The only slight difference was the temperament.
That face, which belonged to Yue Shi, currently wore a look of scrutiny and amusement, his expression peaceful and gentle.
The real Yue Shi would never make such an expression. He was always cold, biting, and radiated a ghostly aura. Even when resting, his face carried a hint of the sinister.
The Tree of Truth was male today, and this time, he had directly used Yue Shi's face.
The moment Yue Shi saw the other’s final form, his expression darkened abruptly, like storm clouds before a tempest.
“You... you really have a sick sense of humor!”
His voice was squeezed through his teeth, bone-chillingly cold.
The Tree of Truth, wearing Yue Shi’s face, tilted his head slightly. When performed by that face, the movement was incredibly beautiful.
He spread his hands and made a helpless expression.
“It couldn't be helped.”
“You’re too paranoid and defensive; it's impossible to communicate normally with you.”
“Fortunately, you’re narcissistic enough.”
The Tree of Truth spoke in Yue Shi’s voice, his tone relaxed and lazy. He took a small step forward, wearing an expression that could be called pure and innocent.
“Dialoguing with you using this face, you shouldn't randomly generate malice and start a fight at the drop of a hat like you do with others, right?”
“After all, it takes some mental preparation to kill your own face.”
“Don't use my face to make that kind of expression,” Yue Shi said, his tone turning even colder as the surrounding air seemed to crystallize into frost.
He stared at that face of his. He could never make such a pretentious expression; it only made him feel a strong sense of physical discomfort.
Ugh, how disgusting!
The Tree of Truth, however, seemed to have found a new toy. He pouted slightly, reached out to twirl a strand of long hair draped over his shoulder around his fingertip, and gave a flirtatious glance.
“I won't~”
“Does this face have a copyright that says others can't use it?”
“On me, this face is suave and dashing, brimming with sexual tension.”
“On you, it’s a psychotic killer, a pure inhuman pseudo-human.”
The Tree of Truth mimicked a coquettish tone before returning to a gentle and placid one.
Yue Shi clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking as the veins on the back of his hands bulged. He took a deep breath and slowly relaxed his grip.
Don't get angry; don't argue with idiots.
The Tree of Truth was right about one thing. Yue Shi truly couldn't generate much malice toward his own face. It wasn't out of soft-heartedness or agreement, but because of an extreme form of self-cherishing rooted deep in his soul.
Even knowing the person opposite him was a fake, he didn't want to see 'himself' being harmed or destroyed. It was like humans not wanting to see their own faces deep-faked into X-rated films. Knowing it was fake didn't stop the deep-seated resistance.
Furthermore, that high-level member at the Bureau had secretly influenced Yue Shi, making him love himself beyond measure.
This realization made Yue Shi even more irritable. He closed his eyes, refusing to look at that pretentious and punchable face. The thought that he might occasionally make such an expression made him feel nauseous and irritated.
“I thought Meng Xuan really managed to resurrect successfully. I didn't expect it was you in disguise.”
Yue Shi forced himself to change the subject, his voice returning to its usual calm.
The Tree of Truth also set aside his playful demeanor and nodded, his tone objective.
“He did have some skill, leaving behind so many contingencies.”
“The authority over ghosts allowed him to continue existing in a post-death state.”
“The authority over memes allowed him to linger and hide within the collective consciousness as information.”
“He was even present in dreams and strange tales. It truly was difficult to kill him completely.”
“However,” the Tree of Truth’s tone shifted, “I haven't been twiddling my thumbs while continuously eroding and infiltrating him all these years.”
“Swallowing him was only a matter of time and a suitable catalyst.”
Yue Shi’s gaze was like a blade. “You clearly replaced him completely, yet you just pretended to be him and spoke to me in his tone. You're insane!”
The Tree of Truth held up a finger and said seriously, “I must clarify one thing.”
“The one who spoke to you just now truly was the real Meng Xuan. It was his final bit of sane consciousness that had broken free from madness, and he believed he had successfully returned to reality.”
“But the moment you sensed something was wrong—the moment you realized he had been replaced by me and exposed that cruel truth...”
“My erosion reached one hundred percent, causing that last bit of his self-awareness to dissipate completely. He is dead.”
The Tree of Truth wore a look of regret and lightly clapped his hands.
“So, in a way, you should be thanked for your sharpness in bringing about Meng Xuan's total end.”
“It was you who pointed at Meng Xuan and said, ‘You are the Tree of Truth’.”
“The words spoken by the Sovereign of Absolute Evil truly possess extraordinary power.”
“Hahahaha.”
His laughter was clear and genuine—the pure joy that naturally surfaces after achieving a goal.
Yue Shi listened expressionlessly.
Whether it was Meng Xuan or the Tree of Truth, it essentially didn't matter to him. He trusted no one and hated everyone equally. They were all things that needed to be eliminated; only the order differed.
“What exactly are you trying to do?”
“Going to all this trouble to approach me as Meng Xuan and tell me all this... it can't just be for a simple chat, can it?”
Yue Shi asked directly, his gaze locked onto the other's face.
The Tree of Truth didn't answer immediately. He turned slightly, casting his gaze toward the chaotic battle in the plaza below. The Flying Pie God was gradually showing signs of fatigue.
After watching for a few seconds, the Tree of Truth turned back. Instead of answering Yue Shi's question, he posed a seemingly unrelated one.
“Yue Shi, imagine this.”
“What if every move you made, every moment you showered or changed clothes, even the private things you did under the covers at night, were being monitored and observed without exception by some higher life form—like a human observing ants in a glass box or bacteria in a petri dish?”
“How would you feel?”
“Huh?” Yue Shi raised an eyebrow, his face showing unmasked disdain. “If a so-called ‘higher life form’ is interested in every move someone like me makes, then just how ‘advanced’ can it really be?”
This answer was clearly beyond the Tree of Truth's expectations. He was stunned for a moment, then laughed and shook his head. Those eyes, identical to Yue Shi's, flashed with a hint of surprised admiration.
“You really are open-minded.”
The Tree of Truth’s gaze returned to the battlefield below. Reality was being wantonly smeared, and more and more innocent lives were being forcibly dragged into the fray.
He spoke again, his voice very soft as he repeated, “This world... is fake.”
After a pause, as if weighing his words, the Tree of Truth pointed to the various factions fighting below.
“They are all walking the same path. There is only one road, and only one destination.”
Yue Shi’s brow furrowed. He didn't like riddles. The Tree of Truth's words sounded like some mystifying philosophical speculation. Yet, he instinctively felt that what the other was trying to express was perhaps something much more cruel.
“I don't understand what you're talking about. I hate riddlers,” Yue Shi said coldly.
The Tree of Truth turned back to look at Yue Shi and suddenly asked an even more out-of-left-field question. “Do you know about creation myths?”
“Different civilizations have their own versions of creator gods.”
“Pangu who created heaven and earth, God who created the world in seven days, Azathoth who only dreams...”
“In creation myths, gods created the world and humanity.”
“But these creation myths themselves were all created by humans!”
“Humanity is the original, the true Creator!”
“They used their imagination, their fear and longing for the unknown, and the projection of their collective unconscious to create gods and creation stories, thereby granting themselves meaning and an origin.”
“Then, humans themselves devoutly believed in those gods.”
“Humans are experts at creating gods. The meaning of a god's existence is to provide humans with power, a spiritual pillar, emotional sustenance, and various forms of emotional value.”
“Do you understand what I mean?”
The Tree of Truth stopped and watched Yue Shi quietly, waiting for him to digest these words.
Yue Shi fell silent.
He was no fool; he understood perfectly. The lofty theory that 'the world is fake, and the world is a story created by humans' was a direct challenge to the very foundation of the world. Setting aside the sense of absurdity, Yue Shi considered the possibility: could these words be true?
If the so-called gods, authorities, laws, and even the reality of the world didn't originate from some objective existence, then what were they? Were those chasing authority and attempting to become gods or transcendents climbing a real peak, or were they dancing on a predetermined rope of nothingness?
Yue Shi nodded slowly.
“I think I understand what you mean.”
“It's good that you understand,” the Tree of Truth said.
“Since you understand, I'll go straight to the conclusion.”
“Assuming everything I've said is true, then a portion of the gods—for example, Guanyin or God—are entities born from human civilization. Once humanity vanishes, they will perish along with it.”
“So, I believe these gods are essentially walking the same path. They were born from human civilization, and their destination should be to become a Master of Civilization.”
“The difference is that each god symbolizes a different region, a different race, and a different cultural system.”
“To reach the top and rule human civilization, it depends on whether the humans and the cultural system corresponding to that god can hold an absolute advantage in this world.”
Yue Shi scratched his head. “What does this have to do with me?”
The Tree of Truth thought for a moment and explained, “██████”
Yue Shi looked confused. “What are you saying?”
The Tree of Truth froze, opened his mouth, and continued, “██████.”
Yue Shi’s brow furrowed deeply. He couldn't hear a word the Tree of Truth was saying; he could only see the Tree of Truth's mouth moving.
The Tree of Truth also realized something—the words he was speaking couldn't be transmitted to Yue Shi.
The previously gentle and calm Tree of Truth suddenly became extremely agitated. He tore at his hair violently, his eyes widening to the point of tearing.
Yue Shi’s scalp tingled as he watched. He didn't quite understand why the Tree of Truth had suddenly become hysterical. But seriously, could he stop doing that with that face!
It seems the Tree of Truth really is insane; that earlier calm was just a facade, Yue Shi muttered to himself.
The Tree of Truth panted heavily and spoke, but what came out was still “██████.”
He had many things he wanted to say to Yue Shi.
In the past, it was difficult for him and Yue Shi to cross paths; no matter how he tried, the two sides always missed each other through some cosmic fluke. Even if they met briefly, they couldn't communicate due to their personalities.
Once, the Tree of Truth had indeed wanted to capture Yue Shi, and Yue Shi had indeed run fast. But things were different now; the Tree of Truth had seen more of the truth.
But ever since seeing more of the truth, he seemed to have been banned, targeted by an invisible force.
Now, he had gone to great lengths to finally create an opportunity to speak with Yue Shi face-to-face, only to find he couldn't even get the words out!
The Tree of Truth finally understood why those masters of divination in TV dramas always acted like riddlers, saying vague and ambiguous things. It wasn't that they were being deliberately mystifying, but because they simply couldn't say it plainly; direct speech would be struck by heaven's wrath!
The Tree of Truth naturally wouldn't be struck by divine retribution, but he could be silenced!
The Tree of Truth was forced to play the riddler before Yue Shi. What he wanted to say today was already circuitous enough, yet the moment he touched upon the key parts, he was directly ██.
Yue Shi said, “Alright, I don't know why I can't hear what you're saying.”
“But since I can't hear it, don't force it.”
“I’ve always been open-minded and easygoing.”
This was pure nonsense, and the Tree of Truth didn't believe a word of it. But at this moment, there truly was no other way.
Rate on N.U.
