Puppet Notes (Wearing Book) - 164

 

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This was their first time bringing their father to the trial ground.


Along the way, including Moss, the puppets couldn't help but steal glances at Qi Chao.


From the conversations between their father and Qi Chao in the room, they could feel that their dad did not dislike them and had no intention of abandoning them. 


However, deep down, the puppets still felt some unease.


The reason for going to the trial ground this time was to send the trial ground people away. 


Originally, Shen Yuxi was supposed to go with them, but Qi Chao had rejected that idea. Not only that, Qi Chao also did not bring Li Bai and Xiang Yue along.


"Dad, is it really okay not to bring Father and Xiang Yue with us?" Agu asked with a smile.


"Mm, your father is still unwell, so it’s best for him to stay home and rest. As for Xiang Yue and the others..." Qi Chao paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Having just you five is enough, don't you think?"


Ayu, Chi Yao, Moss, Lan Luo, and Agu—these five puppets who had previously been to the trial grounds—were the most suitable to handle this matter.


Upon hearing their father’s words, the five puppets immediately nodded.


"Lan Luo will definitely complete today’s task." Lan Luo smiled brightly, and after saying this, it seemed like he remembered something, hastily adding, "Lan Luo is very obedient, I won’t hurt those humans."


Dad already knew about the trial grounds.


But Lan Luo still wanted to maintain his obedient image in front of his dad.


Of course, more importantly, Lan Luo wasn't sure about his dad's attitude right now.


He didn’t know what kind of image he and his father had in Qi Chao's mind, and he wasn’t sure how to treat him or what attitude to adopt.


At that moment, Qi Chao and the few puppets had already crossed through the spatial vortex and arrived at the trial ground. The dark forest, impenetrable to humans, was quite comfortable for them.


Upon hearing Lan Luo's words, Qi Chao seemed to have guessed what he was thinking deep down. He reached out and gently ruffled Lan Luo’s hair.


"I know, Lan Luo is very obedient. You should stay close to your brothers and protect your two sisters, okay?"


Both his tone and his gaze were as gentle as before, as if Lan Luo were still the obedient child he had met for the first time.


Lan Luo looked up at Qi Chao, his lips trembling slightly. In the end, he simply nodded and whispered, "I understand."


That said, after uttering those three words, he seemed to gather a bit more courage. He tugged at Qi Chao’s sleeve and looked up, asking, "Dad, do you really still like us?"


His voice was shaky, and his fingers trembled. His slightly curled golden hair and water-filled eyes would make anyone’s heart ache.


"We’re not as obedient as you think. We’ve also been bullying the humans in the trial grounds. Do you really still like us?"


The puppets, including Agu, hadn’t expected Lan Luo to ask such a direct question. 


But it was something they had all been wanting to know. They all felt a bit nervous. 


Moss, in particular, hugged the plush doll in his arms tightly, and his only black eye was fixed intently on Qi Chao.


Qi Chao looked down at Lan Luo, then his gaze swept over the other children . Noticing their tense reactions, he paused for a moment before answering, "At first, I was indeed a little angry."


But it wasn’t exactly anger—more like a complicated feeling. To see such a seemingly obedient and cute child, only to discover that behind that facade was a ruthless and savage demon in the trial ground—it would be hard for anyone to accept. 


In fact, when he first learned that Brother Shen was a villain, he felt the same way.


The five puppets felt a sudden pang in their hearts. Even Agu, who had been smiling since they entered the trial ground, had a significant decrease in the smile on his face.


"Dad..."


Lan Luo felt a little panicked. He wanted to explain something, but the existence of the trial ground was a fact, and no matter how he tried to argue, it wouldn’t change anything.


Qi Chao gently patted Lan Luo’s forehead. Seeing this, Lan Luo, who had been a little anxious, gradually relaxed.


"I know you all did it for the Mother Tree and for your father."


"But the trial ground itself is wrong. Those humans should never have to suffer like that."


In essence, the trial ground was a fair existence. Some of the trial participants within it, when hurting the puppets—who possessed emotions and the ability to feel pain—had never once considered stopping.


Qi Chao didn’t agree with using evil to counter evil. And even if they had to punish the humans, he didn’t believe their hands should be sullied in the process.


But since he benefited from the situation, what he could do wasn’t to scold these children, but to find a way to remedy it as soon as possible.


"Deliberately hurting others is wrong. I hope you all remember this. After the trial ground matter is over, I will personally teach each of you."


Qi Chao was criticizing the puppets, but after hearing these words, Lan Luo and the others seemed to have been reassured, their mood lightening considerably. 


They all understood that these words meant that in Qi Chao’s heart, they were still his cherished children.


Standing to the side, Chi Yao and Ayu, one with her head lowered and the other pulling her hat brim down, though their expressions were hidden, it was clear that both girls were deeply moved.


"Chi Yao, Ayu, thank you for your hard work."


After a few minutes, seeing that time was getting late, Qi Chao nodded at the two girls. Just as they were about to leave, he called out to them, "If you encounter danger, leave immediately. Do not linger, understand?"


"Understood, Dad." Chi Yao and Ayu spoke in unison.


"Don’t worry, Dad. We’ll be right there to assist. They won’t be harmed."


Agu shrugged and followed after Lan Luo.


Qi Chao chuckled softly, "Take care of them."


The four puppets’ figures disappeared into the forest. Qi Chao withdrew his gaze from their departing direction and turned to Moss, saying, "Let’s go."


Moss gave a quiet "Mm."


He followed closely behind Qi Chao, step by step. Before they left, their father had specifically emphasized that Moss should ensure Qi Chao’s safety, and Moss had kept that task firmly in mind.


He looked at Qi Chao's back, hugging the plush doll tightly. According to their father, Qi Chao was the incarnation of the Mother Tree, which was why his appearance had changed. 


But Moss still hadn’t figured out how a human like Qi Chao was connected to the Mother Tree.


Still, it was clear that Qi Chao easily won the affection of the puppets. Moss watched his back and, in a hoarse voice, asked, "Dad, where are we going now?"


"To find the Mother Tree."


Qi Chao stopped walking and waited for Moss to catch up before explaining, "Those people are after the core. Before we let them enter the trial ground, we need to first cut off their intentions."


Of course, Qi Chao had another reason for seeking the Mother Tree. The Mother Tree was connected to the entire trial ground, and by being near it, he could quickly sense the status of the trial ground and assist his children more easily.


Although due to incomplete memories, there were many things Qi Chao only half-understood, including why he was the incarnation of the Mother Tree, there were some actions that felt like they were instinctively etched into his very bones.


 He didn’t need to think about them to know what to do.


Meanwhile, the four puppets were moving through the trial ground.


In this forest, thick with the Mother Tree’s spiritual energy, the puppets' abilities were amplified to their maximum potential. This was also why the deformed puppets without any special powers were not afraid of humans.


As S-level puppets with a fearsome reputation, just one of them was enough to make the trial participants tremble in fear. And with four devilish puppets appearing at once, even those trial participants, who had long since grown numb in this hellish place, would now be shaking in their legs, wide-eyed, filled with terror.


"Why are there four of them?!"


The saying "the more beautiful something is, the more dangerous it is" rang especially true when applied to the puppets.


A frail trial participant, upon seeing the four puppets standing in the trees, immediately realized that there was no escape for him today. His heart filled with regret and fear about what was about to happen.


If only he hadn't applied to implant a puppet's abilities all those years ago—how much better it would have been. He had been so proud of himself back then, but now all he felt was regret.


"Chi Yao, do your best, don’t let Dad down, and quickly deal with them."


The next moment, the trial participant heard the red-haired puppet say, "Got it."


A sense of ominous dread surged through him instantly, but before he had time to escape, Chi Yao had already appeared in front of him, pressing her hand against his head.


Decompose. Synthesize.


Chi Yao withdrew her hand and looked toward the other three puppets in the trees. Without a word, the four puppets swiftly and silently disappeared from their positions, moving to find their next target.


Only one man remained, standing dazed with his hand on his head.


He remembered coming to the Ganfen District for a trip, but why had he lost so much weight in just a few months? 


The man was confused, feeling like he must have gotten lost. 


How frustrating. The expression on his face suddenly shifted. After all this time, were the guards eating rice for nothing? 


Why hadn’t they come to find him yet?!


The same thing soon happened in every corner of the trial ground.


Standing before the Mother Tree, Qi Chao sensed everything that was occurring. He temporarily put his worries aside and turned his attention to the shadow on the tree branches. The shadow was indistinct, but it was faintly possible to make out the outline of a puppet.


This enormous tree was one of the incarnations of the Mother Tree. Before, Brother Shen had always mistaken it for the Mother Tree, but that was somewhat incorrect. 


The true Mother Tree was hidden within the shadow space.


The shadow gazed down at Qi Chao from above, its gaze fixated on him. Unlike the usual clamor and screams, this time, everything was eerily quiet. 


When they looked at Qi Chao, there was a faint sense of affection in their eyes, as though they were coquettishly seeking attention.


Under Qi Chao’s gaze, the shadow leapt down and enveloped his entire body.


Moss tightened his grip on the plush doll in his hands.


Even though Qi Chao had warned him about this beforehand, seeing it happen in person made Moss feel an overwhelming urge to tear apart the shadows.


Qi Chao didn’t pay attention to Moss. Once he entered the shadow space, he found himself face-to-face with the Mother Tree once again. This time, the tree seemed stronger than before, its leaves even more delicate and vibrant.


It must be because the core has been returned, Qi Chao thought to himself.


The green light orbs surged toward him as soon as he appeared, clearly a sign that the Mother Tree was welcoming him.


Qi Chao smiled as he gazed at the Mother Tree. He informed it about the upcoming arrival of a special abilities team to the trial ground.


Though the Mother Tree couldn't speak, Qi Chao understood. The leaves, which swayed without any wind, and the green light orbs surrounding him were clear signs of the Mother Tree's response.


After ensuring that the core was safely hidden, Qi Chao left the shadow space and joined Moss in guarding the Mother Tree.


"Dad, only Qiao Sheng and Lu Chen are left without having their memories erased," Moss said in a hoarse voice, looking at the eyeball left behind by Ayu.


"Understood."


Qi Chao closed his eyes. Through the Mother Tree behind him, he could sense several aircrafts hovering outside its barrier.


At the same time, he could see a few of his children engaging in a battle with Lu Chen. Judging by the situation, they would win soon.


Once Chi Yao removed her hand from Lu Chen and Qiao Sheng’s heads, Qi Chao instructed the Mother Tree to open the barrier.


In Qi Chao’s plan, after the special abilities team failed to locate the core of the Mother Tree, they would retreat and focus on rescuing the missing humans instead.


And, indeed, that was what happened.


However, what Qi Chao hadn’t anticipated was that the first unexpected twist would happen to him. As the special abilities team entered the Mother Tree's barrier, countless scenes flooded into his mind.


These were the memories of the puppets that had been destroyed by the converter.


Their bodies, skin, and hearts were slowly crushed and dissipated, their powers, once coursing through their veins, were stripped away and transferred into the bodies of humans. 


They were in so much pain.


The last traces of consciousness that remained in their bodies screamed with hatred and fear toward the world.


Qi Chao's hand pressed against the trunk of the tree, his breath becoming rapid. The memories that hadn’t been fully processed in his mind began to flood back to him once again.


"Dad, what’s wrong?"


Moss sounded worried as he supported Qi Chao, his voice raspy. Even the plush doll had fallen to the ground, forgotten.


Qi Chao closed his eyes, sweat pouring down his face. The horrific images of the puppets' suffering continued to flash in his mind. 


But as soon as Moss’s voice reached him, the images shifted instantly.


The unfamiliar puppets in the converter was replaced by Moss.


Moss, who was always reserved, sitting on the couch each day to style the hair of his plush doll, vanished inside the converter, leaving behind a heart that was more fragile and dirty than the soil itself.


Seeing this scene, Qi Chao couldn’t help but vomit. For the first time, he felt a surge of negative emotions rising within him.


There was a small problem in the trial ground, and at the same time, a slight disruption occurred in the villa.


"Hello, could you please repeat who you are?"


Shen Yuxi gazed gently at the person standing outside the door, his tone soft and polite.


The young man, wearing black boots, had slightly curly black hair, giving him a somewhat delicate appearance. He shyly said, "My surname is Qi. I’ve come to find my brother. Uncle, have you seen him?"


Shen Yuxi’s pale face wore a smile that grew wider as he continued to talk, as if becoming even more tender.


He really disliked this person. 


Shen Yuxi thought to himself.



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TL: So I'm sure some of you guys noticed that I posted the wrong chapter yesterday, sorry about that! (>﹏<)


Haha Shen Yuxi met your brother-in-law lol



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2 Comments

  1. hope little brother remains polite to his brother in law or he'll get a spanking

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ooooh, trouble! Thank you for the chapter!

    ReplyDelete

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