Secret World: I Became a God Through Lies

Chapter 399 No Winners in the Gamble

"At the table of fate, there are never any true winners."
Because of the so-called win or lose
This is just the prelude to an even bigger scam.

When you think you've won everything
Perhaps it was just a trivial victory bestowed upon you by fate.

—Excerpt from "The Gambler's Chronicle: The Deceptive Victory"

The back room, a gambling table of fate.

The air seemed to freeze like cold amber, and the tense atmosphere felt like invisible ropes wrapped around the necks of everyone in the room, making it almost suffocating.

Si Ming's gaze was as sharp as a drawn blade, staring undisguisedly at the gambler of fate opposite him.

He could clearly see that the face that was once full of pretense and cunning now finally revealed a trace of barely perceptible panic and hesitation.

"What's wrong? You're actually scared? You're actually hesitating?"

Si Ming's lips curled into a cold, mocking smile—the triumphant smile of a hunter finally catching its prey.

"Weren't you just teaching me that fear is the real enemy at the gambling table? But now, the one gripped by fear is you?"

The gambler of fate remained silent, his face shadowed in the dim light, his eyes gleaming with a complex light.

He still couldn't understand why the young man he had just pushed to the edge of a cliff...

In a mere instant, he could become so composed and confident, even arrogant to the point of being chilling.

Si Ming easily sat back down in his chair, his slender fingers tapping lightly on the gambling table casually.

The rhythm was like the prelude to death, each beat seemingly striking the heart of the other person with pinpoint accuracy.

He smiled, a smile that carried both certainty and mockery:
"Actually, you got the most crucial thing wrong from the very beginning."

The God of Fate raised his eyes, his gaze as bright and deep as the stars, yet carrying an irresistible pressure that pierced straight into the depths of the gambler's soul:

"You are the gambler, and I have never been."

The sound wasn't loud, but it shook the gambler's heart like a thunderclap.
His previously composed face suddenly stiffened, almost losing all color.

“That’s right, we are both good at playing cards, and we are both named Siming, but there has always been a fundamental difference between us.”

Si Ming leaned forward slightly, her voice soft yet icy cold.

"To me, this gambling table is just a tool for manipulating people's minds. And in games of manipulating people's minds, there is never a winner or loser."

The gambler's expression grew increasingly grim, and fine, cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

She didn't even dare to meet Si Ming's sharp, razor-sharp gaze anymore.

The God of Fate, however, continued to press on relentlessly, a cruel pleasure lurking in his voice:
"Come on, show your cards... if you really have the courage."

He leaned slightly forward, his gaze intense and unwavering, locked onto his opponent like a burning flame.
"I'm ready—to lose everything, or to win everything."

"what about you?"

The gambler's hands began to tremble slightly uncontrollably as he pressed down hard on the two hole cards in front of him.

It felt as if it took all the courage in one's body to face the ultimate truth.

The shadows completely obscured his face, making it impossible for Si Ming to see his true expression.

The lights on the table began to flicker and dim subtly, as if the world itself was holding its breath, awaiting the final verdict.

Finally, the gambler of fate revealed his hand—

The first one, plum blossom two;
The second card is the three of hearts.

The God of Fate's gaze swept across the cards, his pupils suddenly contracted, and then he burst into a maniacal and uncontrollable laugh.

The laughter was loud and unrestrained, filled with an almost frenzied sense of relief and joy.

Because he finally saw clearly the terrible hand he was dealt, one that offered no chance of winning.

In a way that was almost laughable, he was only slightly taller than his opponent.

Just one small factor can determine the outcome of the entire high-stakes gamble.

Si Ming stood up unsteadily, trying to steady his trembling body.

He stared at the gambler of fate, whose face was filled with shock and disbelief, a mocking and cold-blooded smirk playing on his lips:
"What a... interesting card game."

Before the gamble of fate, a miracle that even fate itself could not have foreseen has come to an end.

The gambler's face was paler than ever before, his eyes revealing deep unease and complex emotions.

His gaze turned eerie and dangerous, as if he might make a final, frantic struggle at any moment.

Si Ming keenly sensed the dangerous and frenzied atmosphere in the air. He cautiously and slowly reached into his pocket.

Fingertips touched the cold edge of the Thousand-Faced Mysterious Card, ready to face this final, frenzied counterattack.

Unexpectedly, however, the gambler of fate simply waved his hand dismissively.

A faint, weary smile reappeared at the corners of his lips, his tone soft yet carrying a strange sense of relief:
"No need to be so nervous, Si Ming. You won this round, I admit it."

His voice drifted like a whisper from an ancient abyss, slowly dissipating in the shadows of the gambling table, leaving behind an indescribable lingering charm and mystery.

He slowly stood up, as if he had finally unloaded the heavy chains he had been carrying for so long.

The gambler of fate gazed into the vast, dark void above, and murmured in a low, gentle voice:
"Jormungandr, wake up... You are free; and you too, Lord in Yellow..."

Upon hearing this, Si Ming's expression changed abruptly, a vague and inexplicable premonition creeping into his heart, but before he could ask further,
Then a deep, violent rumbling sound suddenly erupted from the depths of space, and the entire room began to tremble violently, twisting and deforming.
It was as if they were inside the belly of some unknown behemoth, being slowly squeezed and pushed out by a tremendous force.

Si Ming hurriedly grabbed the chair, but the scene that suddenly appeared before him shocked him beyond measure—

The space they were in had suddenly transformed into a crystal-clear glass sphere, gently held in the mouth of a vast, boundless serpent.

This serpentine monster was so enormous that it almost blotted out the entire void, its cold eyes like two pale, round moons hanging above an abyss.

Looking down at them from above, it exuded an ancient and primal indifference and ruthlessness.

The God of Destiny's gaze extended outwards, and as far as the eye could see was a vast and boundless cosmic void, with countless stars flickering in the dark eternity.

The place where they stood was like a cage built of endless mysteries and madness, its outer layer of pale blue membrane trembling slightly.

It exudes a faint, eerie atmosphere—this is the legendary prison space, known as the [Back Room].

The gambler of fate leaned wearily against the back of his chair, a hint of relief and acceptance in his eyes, his voice low yet unusually calm:

"This is the true secret of the back chamber—it is essentially a prison built by the Lord of the Gate to completely trap me."

I exhausted countless years and strength, only to be devoured by Jormungandr in the end, never truly able to leave.

He slowly raised his head, his eyes filled with an indescribable desolation and longing, and said softly:

“But you are different… The inner chamber can only imprison a failure with no future, but you, Si Ming, still have a future.”

At that moment, a faint, illusory figure dressed in a strange yellow robe slowly emerged from the depths of the shadows.

He was like an absurd and tragic playwright, clutching a blank and distorted script, his face hidden behind a veil woven from gray nightmares.

He seemed to be crying, yet also smiling mockingly; his face, veiled by delusion, sent chills down one's spine.

The gambler of fate turned to look at the God of Destiny, his tone calm and gentle:
"The King in Yellow, whose joys and sorrows are all in vain, controls the script of fate. It is also a supreme card, belonging to the fate system."

Now, it belongs to you too... if you feel you still need its power.

His voice was so low and solemn, like some kind of dying words.

The next second, the space on one side of the room slowly tore open, and the figure of the Dream Weaver of Fate strolled out, a gentle yet fleeting smile on her face:
"Has it all already been handed over to him?"

The gambler of fate nodded slightly, his voice soft and calm: "Yes, it's all in his hands."

The Dream Weaver sighed softly, then turned to look at the Fate Master, her gaze like that of a wise sage who saw through everything, her voice carrying infinite depth and vicissitude:

"Unfortunately, I am but a broken fragment. But this fragment is yours too, for we are both Fate Masters."

Before the words were finished, the Dream Weaver's body suddenly exploded, turning into countless glittering star fragments that flew through the void. The most dazzling and bright fragment slowly drifted towards the Fate Master, exuding the allure of destiny and a silent sigh.

The gambler of fate nodded slightly to Si Ming, indicating that he should take the fragment, his eyes revealing a kind of indescribable expectation and entrustment:
"This is all we can give you. The past me, and countless future me, have failed billions of times."

The Land of the End is both the path to godhood and the abyss of destruction. And you, Fate Master, may be our last attempt…

His gaze was distant and profound, and he asked in a low voice:

"Can you tell me, this time, how will you step into that place?"

Si Ming nodded without hesitation, his eyes gleaming with resolute light, his voice unwavering:

"A liar—that is my choice."

Upon hearing this, the gambler of fate smiled with relief and understanding, his expression even revealing an indescribable sense of satisfaction and anticipation.
"Lies weavers... very good, that belongs to the sequence of false gods."

May you truly reach that level and reverse all this fate.

The next instant, the colossal serpent Jormungandr, coiled in the void, suddenly opened its vast, boundless maw, its body stretching across the endless galaxy.

It was as if the boundaries of the world were slowly closing, brutally crushing the entire back room space.

The vast universe trembled instantly, stars fell one after another, and an endless dark vortex emerged from the depths of the universe, devouring all existence and memory.

Si Ming stood at the center of this intertwining destruction and rebirth, his expression calm and composed.

He knew exactly what he had to do, and slowly raised his arm. Countless transparent and delicate threads of fate rapidly extended from his fingertips.
It weaves a dazzling web of stars in the void.

He smiled and turned his head, softly speaking to the fading gambler of fate:
"Thank you, goodbye to my past self."

The moment the words left his mouth, Siming's figure vanished into the all-consuming darkness of Jormungandr.
As he departed, the endless threads of fate slowly dissipated into the boundless stars.

At that moment, the inner chamber vanished completely, and Si Ming finally embarked on her own path.
They disappeared into that endless abyss where destruction and rebirth intertwined.

In Dunhuang City, an abandoned hospital stands amidst desolate ruins.

The midday sun shone through the cracks in the dilapidated walls, shattering the shadows into fragments.

Suddenly, a dazzling yet eerie light appeared in the air without warning.
Immediately, seven or eight male and female students, like pawns abandoned by fate, fell from the ball of light and landed haphazardly on the dusty and gravelly floor.

Their faces were pale, their eyes were closed, and their brows were furrowed, as if they were trapped in a nightmare that was consuming their reason and they could not extricate themselves.

One of them was Xiao Jie.

In the shadows of the corner, Si Ming stood leisurely, watching with a half-smile as Selian and Lynn beside him, their faces filled with anger and grievance.

The tone was clearly mocking:
"What's wrong? Didn't you sleep well? Why do you all have such a miserable look on your face?"

Selene slapped Siming's shoulder hard with a resentful look, as if her pent-up anger had finally found an outlet:

"Damn it, it's all your fault! No...aren't you the Dream Weaver too? In the end, you're the real culprit, making me sleep with a stiff neck!"

Lynn smiled wryly and gently twisted her aching neck, her voice filled with obvious helplessness: "Siming, Dream Cocoon really isn't suitable for sleeping."

Just as Si Ming was about to make a few more jokes, he suddenly noticed that the students who were lying down were groaning softly and gradually waking up.

Fear and confusion still lingered on their faces, clearly indicating that the absurd and twisted dream was still deeply imprinted in their hearts.

Si Ming sighed helplessly, casually waved his hand, and a nameless notebook suddenly appeared in his palm—'The Handwriting of the Nameless One'.

Immediately afterwards, an invisible quill pen, as if driven by an invisible hand, began to write rapidly on the paper.

As the handwriting spread, the fear on the faces of the still-shaken students gradually faded, and their expressions calmed down.

It was as if that memory was nothing more than a bizarre and absurd dream.

Seeing that they gradually regained their composure, Si Ming nodded in satisfaction.
He then signaled to Lynn and Selene to leave the scene quickly before the police arrived.

Lynn looked at him with a hint of doubt and asked in a low voice, "What lie have you made up for them this time?"

Si Ming shrugged and smiled calmly, "Nothing special, it just made them forget all memories related to the harem."
Instead, it becomes a hilariously absurd haunted house adventure.

……

A few days later, in a brightly lit bar.

Si Ming sat alone at the bar, dressed casually and disheveled. His worn-out, wrinkled shirt stood out starkly against the cheerful, decadent atmosphere around him.

He looked exhausted, his eyes unfocused, like a gambler who had just lost his life savings and his soul.

Even the most curious female students or pleasure-seeking rich kids had no interest in this strange man with his desolate aura.

As Lin Wanqing pushed open the door and entered, her figure, bathed in the dim and hazy lights of the bar, resembled a pure white lotus flower blooming gracefully, instantly attracting many curious and admiring glances.

However, when they saw the elegant and beautiful woman walk straight towards the dejected gambler, they all showed expressions of surprise and disappointment.

Lin Wanqing ignored the stares around her, simply smiled calmly at the bartender, and quietly ordered a cocktail.
Turning his head, he gazed quietly at the tipsy Siming beside him, his tone gentle and sincere:
"Si Ming, thank you."

Si Ming gently shook his head, a bitter and self-deprecating smile appearing on his lips:

"Why thank me? It's all trouble I caused myself."

Lin Wanqing shook her head slightly, her eyes revealing an indescribable determination: "No matter what, I still want to thank you."

Si Ming remained silent for a moment, his expression gradually darkening, and asked in a low voice, "Will there be any further trouble?"

Lin Wanqing smiled gently and answered calmly:

"That's all. The students who were rescued only remember participating in an absurd haunted house adventure. As for those who didn't return, they can only be treated as missing persons."

Si Ming's face grew increasingly gloomy, a faint trace of guilt flashing in his eyes: "I...I'm sorry."

Lin Wanqing sighed softly, her tone tinged with a hint of pity and helplessness:

"It's not your fault. Humans are always fooled by their own uncontrollable curiosity and ultimately pay the price."

The God of Fate stared intently at the swirling liquid in his glass, his expression seemingly reflecting a vortex of destiny through the glass, and whispered:
"Curiosity, the search for destiny, the peering into the abyss, the confrontation with the indescribable... and our ultimate destiny is nothing more than choosing between madness and annihilation between whispers and babbling."

He raised his head, looking at Lin Wanqing with hesitation and complex emotions, his voice low and uncertain:

"Do you think I should continue to gamble everything for that one in a billion chance?"

Lin Wanqing gently raised the dazzling cocktail, a soft and serene smile appearing on her lips:

"Siming, didn't you already make your decision? Even if I say no, how can I stop you from risking everything?"

Si Ming was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then suddenly burst into a maniacal and unrestrained laugh.

The laughter, tinged with undisguised madness, drew the attention of everyone in the bar.

However, he didn't care at all about other people's opinions, just like a giant whale doesn't care about the fish swimming in the deep sea.

He downed the remaining liquor in his glass, tossed a few banknotes aside, and slowly walked toward the door.

As he was about to step out of the bar, his voice was low and resolute, as if he were making a final declaration to fate:

Goodbye. I hope that when we meet again, I will still be the same 'me'.

Immediately, his figure vanished completely into the brightly lit night, silently swallowed by the deep and eerie darkness.

Life is like a gamble.

Every bet is a choice.

In the end, we are merely pawns in the game of fate.

We constantly win and lose, constantly lose and gain.
But in the end, it was discovered that...

There is no seat for victory on the table of fate.

Only an endless game of strategy, and a truth swallowed by lies.

—Excerpt from "Notes on the False God: The Final Chapter of the Gamble of Fate"

(End of this chapter)