Puppet Notes (Wearing Book) - 128

 

| PN | Superman | 128

Xiu Mei is a puppet master who has emerged from the slums.

The puppet master she is closest to is not a top-level master from the same association, but rather a tail-throwing puppet master who hasn’t even been able to join the association.

The three puppet masters, two men and one woman, all have high spiritual powers, at least above D-level, which meets the standard for crafting puppets. 

However, due to various coincidences, they have remained at the bottom of the industry until now.

Sitting on the sofa, the three of them appeared anxious and frightened, resembling rabbits trapped in a cage, which made Xiu Mei worry that Qi Chao hadn’t arrived yet and that they might faint from fear before he even got there.

The warlock, Pepper, sat beside his mother, refilling her water.

“Xiu Mei, are you serious? You’re not joking with us?”

The female puppet master, Guo Li, still couldn’t believe it. She looked nervously at Xiu Mei and asked, “Why would a master-level puppet master come to find us?”

Guo Li still hadn’t joined the association, and she didn’t think much of it, but she was also aware that, given her own level, most puppet masters would look down on her.

In this situation, it was somewhat strange for a master-level puppet master to take the initiative to meet them.

“I’m not sure.”

Xiu Mei only knew that Qi Chao had something to discuss with them, but she didn’t know the specifics.

“Don’t worry, even though Qi Chao is a master-level puppet master, he doesn’t have the haughty attitude of those people in the association who look down on others. He’s really nice.”

As she spoke, Xiu Mei joked, “Who knows, he might even think about teaching you some techniques for crafting puppets. You’d really profit from that.”

That was impossible.

Guo Li’s hands trembled nervously. It was perfectly normal for Qi Chao to be nice to Xiu Mei because she was an excellent top-level puppet master, but that didn’t mean he would be the same with them.

Besides, he was a master-level puppet master! 

She had only ever seen such legends of the industry online. If she really got to meet this industry myth in person, Guo Li doubted she would be able to speak at all from nerves.

Next to her, You Zhao and Li Lang were shaking as well, their hands and legs trembling in a state of anxiety similar to Guo Li’s.

Seeing this, Xiu Mei closed her mouth. Given their current behavior, saying anything more was pointless; they would only know what was going on once they met.

The villa fell silent in an instant, and the atmosphere gradually became somewhat oppressive. 

The three puppet masters felt their bodies tense up even more in such an environment, and beads of sweat formed on their foreheads.

It was at this moment that Qi Chao entered.

As soon as the door opened, the puppet masters on the sofa jumped in surprise, immediately standing up, their faces flushed as they nervously adjusted their clothes, afraid of giving Qi Chao a bad impression before he even spoke.

“You all came so early?” Qi Chao arrived at the villa ten minutes early and was somewhat surprised to see a few figures in the room. He instinctively said, “Sorry, I’m late.”

“No, you’re right on time,” Xiu Mei replied.

“That's good.” 

As Qi Chao spoke, his gaze flicked to the shadow beside him. He quickly reached out his hand and grabbed Agu, who was about to dash into the villa, gently patting his head and leaning down to remind him, “Don’t run around.”

Agu, being tugged by his collar, didn’t get angry. Instead, he smiled and greeted the people in the living room, saying, “Hello there!”

His bright green eyes scanned each person, and after confirming that they certainly wouldn’t be able to take him on, Agu’s smile grew wider.

To outsiders, this puppet with a sun-kissed complexion and dazzling green eyes appeared very outgoing and friendly, showing no hint of the terrifying thoughts that lurked in his mind.

As both Qi Chao and the puppet distracted everyone, Guo Li and the others, standing beside the sofa, had their attention drawn to the scene, and their tense bodies unconsciously relaxed.

“Oh, is this your new puppet?” 

Hearing Agu’s words, Xiu Mei was pleasantly surprised. She had never seen a puppet that looked like this; given the intricacy of the puppet, it should only have been something Qi Chao could create.

“No, Agu is the child made by my partner,” Qi Chao casually replied as he led Agu to the sofa to sit down.

Agu had never been taken out by Brother Shen since his birth, so it was normal that these puppet masters didn’t know who Agu’s father was. 

Partner? 

Xiu Mei’s curiosity instantly piqued, but noticing the current situation, she restrained her thoughts and simply praised, “To create a puppet as exquisitely crafted as Agu, Qi Chao’s partner must have exceptional skills.”

From the puppet’s vivid expressions, it was evident that his level was not low; he might even be an S-level puppet, indicating that the puppet master who created him must possess high skill.

“He truly is impressive.” 

Qi Chao didn’t downplay it; he sincerely believed that Brother Shen was remarkable. “Only he could make such an excellent and well-behaved child like Agu.”

Meanwhile, Agu was pondering how he could drain the blood of these people if they tried to attack, so as not to scare his father. 

Hearing Qi Chao’s words, Agu immediately sat up straight and nodded in agreement, his face clearly displaying, Yes, I’m very well-behaved.

Guo Li and the other two puppet masters were instantly captivated when they heard about the puppet, their gazes continually darting toward Agu. They even forgot their nerves, clearly enamored with the puppet.

Qi Chao observed their reactions, a thoughtful look in his eyes.

Last night, Xiu Mei had introduced him to the three puppet masters individually. 

Due to their personal experiences, Guo Li and the others had a deep affection for puppets. 

Unlike most low-level puppet masters, the three of them didn’t rely on crafting subpar puppets for income. Instead, they made a living by sewing puppet clothing, selling energy stones, and so on.

Guo Li and the others grew up in an orphanage. When the orphanage closed and the director ran away, they were found and secretly raised by an A-level puppet.

This was Xiu Mei’s exact wording. 

Because of this, the three of them had always been grateful to that puppet and, upon growing up, had resolutely chosen to become puppet masters.

Guo Li, You Zhao, and Li Lang all had B-level spiritual power, which meant they should be able to awaken the mother stone quickly and successfully create puppets.

However, in reality, they were unsure if it was a technical issue or something else; every time they crafted a puppet body, various cracks would appear, resulting in a low completion rate for the puppets.

A few years ago, Xiu Mei had watched them create puppets firsthand but hadn’t identified where the problems lay.

When she learned yesterday that Qi Chao wanted to befriend puppet masters who respected puppets, Xiu Mei immediately thought of them.

Qi Chao understood Xiu Mei’s intentions, but based solely on her introduction, he found these puppet masters quite likable and had a favorable impression of them.

“Qi, Qi Chao, did you come to find us for something?” Guo Li ventured to ask.

She considered herself a fan of Qi Chao, having supported him during the association's competition. She particularly liked him and Li Bai. Knowing just how outstanding Qi Chao was made her feel anxious when he sought them out.

“It’s nothing; I just want to make friends.” 

This statement was sincere.

Qi Chao knew that becoming a master-level puppet master was just the beginning. To influence the industry’s perception of puppets, he first needed to gather puppet masters who genuinely loved puppets and work together.

His identity was the best tool for this purpose. 

If Guo Li and the others could agree to collaborate, it would be a win-win situation.

Upon hearing Qi Chao mention making friends, Guo Li and the other two were somewhat skeptical. However, would a master-level puppet master seek them out if it weren’t for friendship?

Qi Chao noticed the hesitant expressions on their faces and thought for a moment before saying, “You can just call me Qi Chao; no need to follow Xiu Mei. Xiu Mei is just used to calling me that and won’t change it.”

“Nonsense! That’s my respectful way of addressing you!” 

Xiu Mei also considered Qi Chao a friend, but upon hearing this, she still rebutted him.

Qi Chao smiled and turned to pick up a small bag from the side. “Alright, here you go. This is a bag of energy stones I prepared for Pepper.”

Upon hearing this, Pepper sat up straight.

Although Qi Chao seldom met with her mother, each time they did, Pepper would receive some small gifts.

“Thank you, Uncle,” Pepper said sweetly.

“No need to thank me,” Qi Chao replied with a smile.

The informal way Qi Chao interacted with Xiu Mei, without a hint of arrogance or superiority, made Guo Li and the others relax slightly. They cautiously joined the conversation.

“I heard online that you learned to make puppets in less than three years. Is that true?” You Zhao asked, his curiosity evident.

“No, I had learned some before,” Qi Chao said, referring to his past life.

“Oh, I see.”

Seeing that Qi Chao answered seriously, the few of them felt somewhat pleased and no longer appeared as restrained as before.

The atmosphere in the villa gradually became livelier. When Qi Chao wanted to make friends, he was particularly chatty and good at socializing. 

A few minutes later, under Qi Chao’s guidance, Guo Li and the others became more familiar with him.

“I heard from Xiu Mei that you have some issues when crafting puppet bodies. Do you need my help?” Qi Chao casually mentioned.

!!!

A master-level puppet master had offered to help solve their problems?!

You Zhao, Guo Li, and the others felt it was somewhat unreal. They exchanged glances, all aware that they should refuse at this point, lest Qi Chao think they lacked self-awareness.

However, Guo Li and the others were too eager to create a puppet. For three whole years, every puppet body they crafted was filled with cracks, and not a single one was successful. Such puppets could not be placed on the mother stone.

Puppets born from failure only lived in pain.

They desperately wanted to create a puppet that could laugh and cry, one that was kind and warm, just like the one who secretly brought them fruits when they were children.

“Is it possible?” 

You Zhao’s lips trembled as he looked at Qi Chao with red-rimmed eyes.

“It is possible.” 

Qi Chao wasn’t sure if he could truly help them, but he believed that if these three puppet masters could overcome the obstacles holding them back, his assistance would significantly increase. Even if the chances were slim, Qi Chao would do his best to help them.

“Thank you.”

After Guo Li said those two words, she closed her mouth, worried that if she continued speaking, she wouldn’t be able to hold back her tears.

To understand what problems You Zhao and the others encountered while crafting the puppet bodies, Qi Chao needed to go back with them.

On the aircraft, You Zhao and the others felt extremely anxious. They had many worries, the biggest one being the fear of being looked down upon by Qi Chao.

Their living conditions weren’t great; they could even be described as poor. The house was right next to the only garbage station in the Lingjing District. If Qi Chao looked down on their living situation, it would be very awkward.

When they exited the aircraft and saw the iron warehouse next to the garbage station, Qi Chao remained composed, his expression unchanged, causing the group to breathe a sigh of relief.

“Let’s go.” Qi Chao noticed the three young people’s apprehension but didn’t comment on it. He simply smiled and said, “Since the kids at home are still waiting for me, I’ll have to head back soon. I can only take a quick look today. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll come back again tomorrow.”

“Okay, okay.” 

You Zhao and the others nodded eagerly, their heads almost turning into a blur. The fact that Qi Chao could come here felt like a dream to them; how could they dare to have any further requests?

Seeing this, Qi Chao smiled and reached out to pull the fidgeting Agu closer, making sure he didn’t wander off. Then he followed You Zhao and the others as they walked ahead.

Their concerns were not unfounded. 

Their living conditions were terrible, even worse than the metal warehouse they had rented in Tu Zhuang back in the day. With the garbage station nearby, the smell was far from pleasant. If it were any other puppet master, their attitude would likely have changed.

However, Qi Chao had lived in a similar environment before, so he didn’t harbor any negative feelings about it.

This warehouse served as a studio for the three of them, and unlike the mess outside, the inside was kept very clean. 

Qi Chao could tell that the cleanliness was the result of daily upkeep. 

Each of the three had their own work desk, which held design drawings and scattered tools. They pulled out boxes from under the desks and took out the newly crafted puppet bodies. 

“Our progress is the same; we are all in the process of refining the details,” You Zhao explained.

Qi Chao glanced at the clay model on the desk and noticed that the three of them were quite inexperienced in their crafting techniques. This was normal, considering they had only been learning to make puppets for about five or six years.

“How long did it take you to complete the clay model?” 

Qi Chao put on disposable gloves and gently touched the clay model. Based on its moisture and softness, it seemed they hadn’t taken much time.

“About three weeks,” You Zhao replied.

Qi Chao nodded. From the design drawings, he could see that their puppet was of a juvenile physique. Taking three weeks to complete was somewhat fast but still within a reasonable range.

“From what I see, the clay model doesn’t have any major issues. Why don’t you put on your gloves and refine the puppet for me to take a look?” 

“Okay.” 

With Qi Chao placing such importance on this, You Zhao, Guo Li, and Li Lang couldn’t help but feel nervous as well. They quickly donned their specially designed mental power gloves and used the tools nearby to refine the clay model.

It was at this moment that Qi Chao discovered the problem with the three of them.

The lights on the mental power gloves of the three were too dim. Compared to Qi Chao's, their lights resembled fireflies in a fog—hard to see.

However, he thought that this shouldn’t be the reason their puppet bodies were covered in cracks. With this in mind, Qi Chao decided to observe a bit longer.

Before half an hour had passed, the communicator in his pocket suddenly started vibrating.

The screen displayed that it was his father calling.

Hearing the sound, the others stopped their actions.

“Sorry, I need to step out for a moment. I’ll be back soon,” Qi Chao said, his eyes showing some apology.

You Zhao and the others nodded, and Agu, who had been daydreaming nearby, followed Qi Chao out.

“What’s up, Dad?” 

Once outside the warehouse, Agu looked at Qi Chao with a smile.

“It’s nothing. My dad just asked me to come back tomorrow,” Qi Chao replied, his gaze shifting from the communicator as he speculated about the reason for his father's call.

Was it that the news of him becoming a master-level puppeteer had reached his father’s ears, or was it something else? 

Agu nodded, preparing to follow Qi Chao back, when he suddenly noticed that something was off with Qi Chao's gaze. 

Following Qi Chao's line of sight, he spotted a puppet hidden in the open garbage dump. The puppet was positioned in a very discreet spot; without the higher terrain of the warehouse, it would have been impossible to see.

The puppet seemed to be injured and was struggling to move, clearly terrified of humans. There weren’t many people in the dump, but there were still a few scattered about—three or four in total.

The puppet dragged itself, awkwardly trying to hide. Whenever someone got too close, it would hurriedly change its hiding spot, and somehow, no one had discovered its presence.

Agu narrowed his eyes. He understood that the puppet couldn’t hold on for much longer; perhaps in less than an hour, it would completely run out of energy and fall into a deep sleep.

At that moment, Qi Chao made a move.

Agu tugged at Qi Chao's clothing and cheerfully said, “Dad, are you going to save that puppet? You really shouldn’t; it’s easy to expose your abilities.”

The puppet appeared to be very fearful of people, and it likely wouldn’t follow Qi Chao. 

According to his dad’s nature, he would probably respect the puppet and perform some emergency treatment on the spot. 

Dad was too soft-hearted.

Agu's smile grew wider. Although sometimes it was good that his dad was soft-hearted, exposing his unique ability to repair all puppets just to save one wasn’t worth it.

That puppet clearly looked like it had been harmed by humans. In this situation, Dad's actions might prove to be a fruitless effort.

“It’s fine.” Qi Chao reached out and ruffled Agu's hair. “Dad has a way; you wait here.”

A way?

Agu was puzzled. The next second, he saw Qi Chao pull out a mask from somewhere and put it on his face.

The superhero mask covered most of his face, revealing only his well-defined chin and a faint smile. “This way, Dad won’t expose anything special.”

Qi Chao handed his coat to Agu and patted his head. “Dad will be back soon; you stay here.”

Where did this mask come from?

Agu paused for a moment, watching his dad’s retreating figure, feeling a bit dazed. When he came to his senses, his smile grew wider, and he eventually burst into hearty laughter.

How amusing.

Agu thought, Dad really is the most interesting person in the world.

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