Puppet Notes (Wearing Book) - 138

 

| PN | Old | 138

In the trial ground, which was impenetrably shrouded in darkness, the air was filled with faint rustling sounds from the trees. A few exhausted men were gasping for breath, leaning against a tree.

“Qiao Sheng, drink some water.”

Lu Chen squatted on the ground, handing over the purified lake water to him. Compared to the others, Lu Chen looked much better; aside from some barely noticeable scratches on his face, he had hardly any injuries.

Qiao Sheng propped himself up on the ground, coughing violently a few times. He accepted the water and swallowed a few sips, then said, “Thank you.” 

He had lost a lot of weight compared to before, with stubble covering his chin. His white coat was filthy and had several rips, clearly showing that he had been through tough times. 

Yet, his dejected expression remained the same as before; he still looked like a slacker uncle.

“I’m sorry. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have had to wade through this mess,” Lu Chen said, his lips tightly pressed together, his tone filled with guilt.

If he hadn’t been brought into the trial ground, Qiao Sheng and his brother could have maintained a facade of harmony. Qiao Sheng wouldn’t have to find ways to deal with Shen Yuxi and wouldn’t have provoked him.

“How long has it been? You’re still bringing this up.” Qiao Sheng sighed, feeling quite helpless toward Lu Chen’s personality. 

He scratched his head and said, “Stop thinking about it. Even without you, he would’ve found a way to deal with me sooner or later. With this time, we might as well think about how to handle the next round of those grotesque puppets.”

Currently, Qiao Sheng had figured out the pattern of the grotesque puppets’ appearances. He took out a small notebook from his pocket and, using a piece of graphite he had found by the roadside, drew a circle on the page. His previously dejected expression became much more serious upon seeing the notebook.

Although Qiao Sheng was aware that his junior brother was managing this trial ground and understood that it was as cruel as hell, experiencing it firsthand was vastly different from merely hearing about it.

“The puppets will attack four or five times more often than usual today. While they won’t kill us outright, we won’t have it easy either,” he said.

Shen Yuxi had an almost terrifying control over human psychology; the daily torment was far more painful than a quick death and more likely to drive a person insane.

If it weren’t for Lu Chen being here, Qiao Sheng might have simply hanged himself with a rope to escape. He stood up and patted Lu Chen on the shoulder. “Let’s go. It’s time for the next round of ambush. We need to find a relatively safe place before that.” 

Lu Chen nodded, then turned to gather his companions and prepare to set off.

The clearing was now empty except for Qiao Sheng. He leaned against the tree trunk, gazing toward a corner of the thicket, and spoke in a friendly tone, “Junior Brother, can you have a little mercy on your senior's age?”

“You’re not that young either,” came the response. “You know how it is; the older you get, the harder it is on the waist. Today, when the grotesque puppets attack, can you give the younger trial takers a bit more opportunity and let us rest? After all, young people are strong and can handle it.”

“Look, I didn’t even tell Lu Chen that you’ve been monitoring us. Can you cut us some slack today, can you consider that at least?” 

Qiao Sheng was struggling to walk even a few steps; his legs felt weak, and he could hardly run. He understood that with Shen Yuxi’s suspicious nature, he was likely commanding the puppets to monitor them closely from all angles. 

Every word they said would be crystal clear to him.

Having been beaten so many times, Qiao Sheng genuinely wanted to take a day off. He even resorted to playing the age card, hoping to evoke sympathy from his junior brother. 

Even if it was just for his father’s sake, Shen Yuxi should have shown him a little leniency.

In the pitch-black thicket, there was an eerie silence, with no response whatsoever.

“Qiao Sheng!” Lu Chen called out from a distance.

It seemed there was truly no hope.

Qiao Sheng withdrew his gaze, stowing the notebook back in his pocket. He responded dejectedly, just as he was about to catch up with Lu Chen when suddenly, a faint sound emerged from the bushes.

This sound didn’t resemble the grotesque puppets; it sounded more like human footsteps, and judging by the noise, there was more than one person.

Lu Chen and his teammates exchanged glances, alertly watching the grass, while Qiao Sheng wisely ducked behind Lu Chen.

The footsteps grew louder, and the next moment, four or five bloodied and disheveled figures appeared before them.

This wasn’t surprising, but what was strange was that one of them suddenly exclaimed in delight upon spotting Qiao Sheng and Lu Chen. The others around that person also showed expressions of surprise, as if they had intentionally come to find them.

A flicker of confusion crossed Qiao Sheng's eyes. He stepped forward with a friendly smile and asked, “Did you just finish fighting the grotesque puppets?”

“Yes.” The middle-aged man with a slightly plump figure glanced at the leader beside him, who nodded slightly. 

He wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, “You can call me Old Liu. We just came from a fierce battle. Under normal circumstances, the puppets wouldn’t attack humans for at least half an hour.”

Qiao Sheng’s gaze flicked over the young man next to Old Liu, realizing that he must be their leader. He forced a smile, looking like a slacker uncle, and replied, “That’s really great. We’d like to rest for a while too.”

Just as Old Liu was about to respond, the ground suddenly shook, and a rustling sound filled the air, as if a swarm of crawling creatures was rushing toward them.

This familiar noise was something every trial participant would never forget, and their faces turned pale in an instant.

“Why are they suddenly mobilizing?” Li Ge’s face was drenched in cold sweat. “Run! We can’t stay here!”

As soon as he finished speaking, several other participants started to sprint desperately. The main group wasn’t far behind; as they passed by Qiao Sheng, Lu Chen hoisted him onto his shoulder and took off at a run.

Being carried on his friend’s shoulder made Qiao Sheng feel nauseous, but his mind was racing, trying to make sense of this illogical puppet movement.

The trial ground did not permit killing.

To allow enough time for the injured to recover, the puppets would typically pause for about half an hour after each round of attacks.

This time, it was clearly unreasonable.

Qiao Sheng thought for a long time but couldn't figure out the reason behind this sudden attack. 

He helplessly considered the possibility that he had angered Shen Yuxi. But he hadn’t said anything significant—he had only mentioned age in passing. 

Shen Yuxi was no spring chicken himself, and as a lifelong single hermit, how could he possibly care about age?

Just the thought of that seemingly gentle yet colder than anyone else Shen Yuxi suddenly caring about age sent a chill down Qiao Sheng's spine.

No way, absolutely no way.

While the main group of trial participants and the transmigraters were desperately fleeing, in the basement of a villa, the faint sound of suppressed laughter could be heard from Agu.

“Is it that funny, Agu?” 

Under the dim yellow light, a blonde man sat at his desk, slightly tilting his head. He looked at Agu with gentle curiosity in his eyes and spoke softly, “If it’s funny, you can say it out loud so Father can hear it too, okay?”

Agu immediately straightened his back and removed his sunglasses, swearing, “It’s not funny at all! Agu just remembered that Xiang Yue was snoring all morning today, so I was holding back my laughter!”

It definitely wasn’t about his father’s age.

Agu silently added this thought in his mind, but he didn’t dare to voice it. If he did, not only would his father be upset, but nearby, Ayu and Moss would probably jump in to take a swing at him.

Xiang Yue was the best; no matter what Agu said, he would never get angry.

With a smile, Agu thought to himself, not realizing that when he was carelessly making things up about Xiang Yue, the latter wasn’t even present.

“Is that so?” 

Shen Yuxi’s smile faded slightly. He shot a cold glance at Agu, then looked away and turned to Ayu, saying, “Since the grotesque puppets are moving early today, let them rest a bit longer tomorrow to digest their energy.”

“Understood.” 

Ayu pulled down the brim of her hat, fingers concealing her delicate chin, and her thin lips emitted a faint, complex, and eerie sound.

This was Ayu communicating with the outside world through her monitor.

Shen Yuxi glanced at them, his eyelashes fluttering slightly as his fingers lightly tapped the armrest a few times. Though he said nothing, an inexplicable sense of unease emanated from him.

“Is Father worried about the plot they mentioned?” Moss, clutching a stuffed doll, revealed only one dark eye, his voice hoarse.

Upon hearing this, Ayu dropped her hand and looked back at her father, concern creeping onto her otherwise cool expression.

In contrast, Agu's smile widened, as if he had just heard an amusing joke.

Shen Yuxi's fingers paused momentarily as he continued to tap the armrest. He cast a sidelong glance at Agu before turning to him, chuckling lightly, “In Moss's mind, is your father someone who would worry about the plot they talk about?”

How could that be?

The so-called “plot” spoken of by those “monsters” was something that not only their father but even they themselves didn’t pay much attention to. Although they all knew their ultimate fate would be total annihilation, none of them felt the slightest sense of concern about it.

To Moss, their father would never allow such a so-called plot to unfold in their lives.

He shook his head, his eyes reflecting a hint of confusion.

“Moss just hasn’t figured out what Father is upset about.”

How could he not understand this? 

Agu thought his older brother was a bit slow. It was quite obvious that their father was angry about Qiao Sheng mentioning his age.

Father was currently in a passionate phase with Dad, and when Qiao Sheng suddenly brought that up, Father would undoubtedly be displeased, especially since Dad seemed a few years younger than him.

As if sensing Agu’s thoughts, Shen Yuxi turned his gaze back to Agu, his voice carrying a hint of chill, “What is it, Agu? Did you find something funny again?”

“Agu guesses that Father is worried about how to deal with Qiao Sheng and that group of so-called book travelers, right?” 

Agu quickly composed himself, his emerald eyes curving like a black cat’s, and he spoke earnestly.

Shen Yuxi observed him silently for a few seconds. Just when Agu felt a bit uncomfortable under the scrutiny, Shen Yuxi suddenly smiled. “Yes, Agu, you’re quite clever. In that case, you should go to the trial ground in a few days.”

In fact, Agu was right; Shen Yuxi was indeed contemplating how to deal with Qiao Sheng and the book characters.

However, seeing Agu put on an act, Shen Yuxi knew that wasn’t what he truly thought. Agu’s duplicity reminded him of himself, and it was certainly unpleasant.

Go to the trial ground? 

Agu wanted to stay in the villa and play with Dad and Xiang Yue, but clearly, his mischievous behavior had angered Father. If he continued, he might be forced to leave earlier than planned.

He forced a smile and said, “That sounds wonderful! Agu is so happy!”

Shen Yuxi responded with a soft “mm,” acting like a caring father. “As long as you’re happy.”

After a brief pause, he added, “Since Qiao Sheng and those people have already met, turn off a few of the monitors that Ayu has on them and relocate them to the Mother Tree.”

Right now, the most crucial thing in the trial ground was the Mother Tree.

“Understood, Father.”

Ah Yu nodded. After a moment, she recalled the Chi Yao who had been stationed next to the Mother Tree and reported, “Chi Yao said that the Mother Tree is reviving much faster than before. At this rate, we’ll be able to go to the Association soon.”

The trial ground’s purpose had always been to nourish the Mother Tree, so Shen Yuxi wasn’t surprised at all by its rapid revival.

“That’s wonderful!” 

Agu cheered enthusiastically, “When Agu returns to the trial ground, I’ll definitely go see the Mother Tree!”

Before he could finish his sentence, Moss suddenly pressed Agu’s head down, stopping him from saying more.

Agu’s smile instantly vanished, and the next moment, the door to the basement swung open, revealing Qi Chao, who spoke with a puzzled tone.

“Are you having a self-reflection meeting?” 

In Qi Chao's eyes, the scene in the basement resembled a self-criticism session. Shen Yuxi sat in a chair, flanked by three puppets, and Agu, with his head pressed down by Moss, looked like he was bowing to Shen Yuxi. 

The dim yellow light only added to the seriousness of the scene.

“Yes, indeed.”

After Moss withdrew his hand, Agu straightened up, grinning as he admitted, “Father is criticizing Agu for his mistakes.”

If it were anyone else, this might have been true.

“What did you do that made your father so angry?” Qi Chao stepped closer, patting Agu’s head with a smile. “To the point of even calling down Moss and Ayu.”

Agu sighed, appearing rather helpless as he replied, “Agu didn’t do anything.”

Agu was indeed the most quick-witted puppet, but correspondingly, he was also the one most likely to get into trouble.

Seeing Qi Chao approach, Shen Yuxi stood up and gently said, “You all can head back upstairs. Agu can come to see me later.”

The three puppets nodded and took their leave from the basement.

Now, the once lively basement was left with just Qi Chao and Shen Yuxi.

“What mistake did Agu make?” Qi Chao asked with a smile, clearly curious about what could have provoked Shen Yuxi’s anger.

Shen Yuxi looked up at Qi Chao, not answering directly. Instead, he gently countered, “Am I really that old?” 

Old…? Who? Him, Shen Yuxi?

Qi Chao quickly connected Agu’s mistakes with Shen Yuxi’s comment. If that were the case, Agu certainly deserved a good talking-to.

Shen Yuxi was someone of such caliber that he had long since transcended the bounds of age. 

From his appearance, he looked at most twenty-five, embodying a mature charm that surpassed youthful naivety.

Recalling the embarrassing scenes from last night, Qi Chao felt a warmth spreading through him. He hesitated for a moment before quickly saying, “Not old at all.”

As he spoke, he stepped forward and affectionately hugged Shen Yuxi, pressing a kiss to his brow. “Brother Shen, don’t hold it against the children; they just don’t know better. You’ll always be the youngest and most handsome one.”

Shen Yuxi was well aware that a man’s sweet talk was often unreliable, but he also knew that Qi Chao wouldn’t deceive him.

Leaning against Qi Chao’s shoulder, his eyelashes fluttered slightly.

When Qiao Sheng remarked on his age, Shen Yuxi did feel a twinge of displeasure, but that feeling had dissipated almost entirely by the time he arranged for the puppets to attack Qiao Sheng.

Now, using age as a point of contention was merely Shen Yuxi's way of finding an excuse to discipline Agu. Whether he truly felt wronged was something only he understood.

He really did feel quite a bit of pressure. 

Qi Chao looked at Shen Yuxi in his arms, soothingly running a hand along his back, unable to hide a hint of amusement. Shen Yuxi was a bit adorable when he was anxious about his age.

“What are you doing down here? Weren’t you supposed to be playing with the kids?” Shen Yuxi asked, his voice a bit muffled as he held onto Qi Chao.

He had been careful when calling the puppets into the basement, ensuring that Qi Chao wouldn’t come down.

“Yeah, I just suddenly thought the basement lights were too dim, so I came down to change them for you,” Qi Chao replied.

Qi Chao shook the light bulb in his hand as he spoke to Shen Yuxi. 

Although vision correction surgery was quite advanced on Blue Star, it was best to avoid surgery if possible. In his previous life, his younger brother had severe myopia and lived every day feeling like a blind person.

Shen Yuxi had been using the old lamp as a keepsake from his childhood. Qi Chao knew this and added, “You don’t need to take down the old lamp; you can use both when the time comes.”

Change of Lights?

Shen Yuxi paused, seemingly caught off guard by the realization that something as trivial as a light bulb could influence his plans. His fingertips trembled slightly as he softly replied, “Got it.” 

After that day, the dim basement was illuminated by a bright new lamp, and the one Shen Yuxi used most often became the one Qi Chao had installed himself.

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