Puppet Notes (Wearing Book) - 184

 

| PN | Helper | 184

When Elliton received the message from Qi Chao, he was sitting at his desk, wiping a crystal with a white soft cloth.

Five red crystals the size of mother stones were scattered messily on the desk, their dull color making them appear almost like cheap trinkets.

Elliton had once personally crafted five S-rank puppets, each possessing special abilities. Later, they were all taken away, leaving only the five dull crystals behind. 

Even now, whenever he thought of those five puppets—Bu Yi, Lu Gu, Li Ya, Sha Yi, Bai Ka—their images, voices, and smiles would still clearly appear in his mind.

The puppets were so considerate. They knew he was afraid of the dark, so every day they would turn on the lights early, then rush over to him, seeking praise.

They were innocent and carefree, revolving around him from the moment they were created, treating him as the center of their world. 

For Elliton, who had grown up in a world full of scheming and intrigue, they were more precious than anything else. The puppets gave him not only affection but also redemption from the darkness.

Elliton coughed weakly, his face pale. They had loved him so much, yet, because of his ties to the royal family, he could only watch helplessly as the puppets disappeared from his life.

He let out a bitter laugh, his chest feeling heavy.

Ever since the puppets left, he had developed an illness. Regret and guilt burned through his heart day after day, making each day feel unbearable.

If he hadn’t believed the emperor’s hypocritical nonsense back then, perhaps now, the puppets in his home would still be around, pestering him to rest more and not work so hard.

Qi Chao: [Are you busy right now?]

A soft ding from the comm system pulled Elliton’s attention back.

This was the first message Qi Chao had sent on his own initiative.

However, because Elliton had a favorable impression of Qi Chao, upon seeing the message, he put down the crystal and cloth and focused on replying.

To Elliton, Qi Chao was a very intriguing person. Just from the video he had sent, where he scolded the puppets like children, Elliton could vaguely sense this.

Thinking about that video, Elliton pursed his lips. 

The puppets were very close to Qi Chao; in fact, they were a bit spoiled. Even Elliton himself hadn’t realized that, deep down, he secretly envied Qi Chao. 

He envied that Qi Chao still had the chance to discipline the puppets he had created.

[I’m not busy. Is something going on?] 

Elliton quickly replied.

[It’s nothing, I just wanted to talk to you about the puppets and the association. If you’re free, we can find a place to meet.]

On the screen, both "puppets" and "association" appeared, and Elliton’s finger paused, a guess forming in his mind.

 It was clear that Qi Chao wanted to discuss the puppets’ abilities.

[Alright.]

Elliton understood. Both the association and the royal family were powerful.

Although they wouldn't fall out with the Qi family over matters related to the puppets, it was normal for Qi Chao to worry, which was why he reached out to Elliton.

He left his villa and went to the location indicated on his comm. When he saw Qi Chao in the private room, Elliton nodded politely, mentally preparing to comfort him.

However, the next moment, Elliton was stunned, his mind going blank from Qi Chao’s words.

“You what? You have a way to make the mother stone, from which the abilities were extracted, come back to life?”

Elliton’s voice trembled.

“It’s not me, it’s Superman.”

Qi Chao paused for a moment, then asked tentatively, “You should know about the Superman from Ganfen District, right?”

The children from the junkyard had spread his reputation far and wide, and even now, topics related to #Superman# were still trending on the forum’s front page. So, Elliton should know, right?

“I know.”

Elliton’s voice hitched with excitement, his face, pale and sunken, flushed red. Trembling, he added, “His ability to repair puppets made by other puppet masters caused quite a stir online. He can repair the mother stone too? Can you contact him?”

“Mm, we were friends in the past.”

Qi Chao casually lied.

Elliton didn’t doubt him. In fact, after Qi Chao mentioned that Superman could awaken the dull mother stone, 

Elliton’s breath quickened, and the light in his eyes was so intense that it seemed like he might leap onto the table to grab Qi Chao’s hand, begging him to tell him about Superman’s location.

It was true that Superman might be able to awaken the dull mother stone.

Elliton knew that the so-called ability converter device actually relied on some unnatural thing. 

He suspected that Superman also had something like that in his possession, otherwise it would be impossible to explain how he could repair the puppets.

“C-can he awaken my puppets? I’m willing to pay, no matter how much it costs.”

Elliton’s voice was desperate, afraid that Qi Chao might refuse him. He choked up from the nervousness, “I really want my puppets back. I didn’t give them to the emperor on purpose. They tied me down, and with just the words 'royal bloodline,' they made me watch as my puppets disappeared right in front of me.” 

“If it’s possible, I’m willing to leave here with the puppets once they’re revived. I’ll never let those people hurt them again.”

Elliton was still unaware that the converter device had been destroyed.

However, even if the converter device was gone, his puppets were still not safe. They might still become a means for the president to study the disappearance of abilities.

Qi Chao looked into Elliton’s eyes, his intuition telling him that this was Elliton’s true desire.

“Superman told me he can reawaken the mother stone, but it requires a puppet master to make bodies for the puppets, and you have to be prepared if the puppets’ memories are blurred.”

As he said this, Qi Chao’s face remained unchanged, as if Superman were truly just a friend of his.

“I understand.”

The fact that the mother stone could be reawakened was already a stroke of good luck. How could Elliton dare to ask for more? 

His lips trembled as he continued, “Thank you for telling me this. What do you need me to do?”

Elliton wasn’t a fool. He knew that Qi Chao and he had only known each other for less than two days, so it was impossible for Qi Chao to casually reveal such important information. 

The fact that Qi Chao was sharing it now only meant one thing: there was something Elliton could offer in return.

Moreover, it was clear that Qi Chao had no intention of hiding anything.

Elliton looked at Qi Chao, and the next moment, he heard Qi Chao speak first: “I need your help to sow discord between the president and the emperor.”

As a member of the royal family and a master-level puppet master, Elliton was the only one with close ties to both of the major factions, making him the least likely person to raise suspicion. 

Qi Chao couldn’t afford to frequently visit the association, so in this case, he needed someone who would not be doubted as his helper.

Sow discord between the president and the emperor?

Elliton was taken aback. After a brief hesitation, he immediately nodded.

He wouldn’t pass up this hard-won opportunity. Perhaps this was the only chance he had to bring his puppets back to life. Elliton spoke up: “I can do it. I’ll complete the task.”

Elliton’s cheeks were sunken, but his eyes seemed to be shining as he looked at Qi Chao, as though he were gazing at a lifeline.

Qi Chao paused for a moment before explaining to Elliton that after the disappearance of the ability user powers, the emperor had grown dissatisfied with the president, and the president, in turn, had developed resentment due to the emperor's dissatisfaction.

Since Elliton had agreed to help, he naturally wouldn’t back out. He kept the key points that Qi Chao mentioned in mind. 

As Qi Chao was about to leave, Elliton looked a bit anxious and asked, "After I complete my task, Superman will help me awaken the mother stones, right?"

"Of course."

 Qi Chao smiled slightly. "I won’t lie to you."

The mother tree and the mother stone were part of a cycle. The souls of the sleeping puppets returned to the embrace of the mother tree, and the mother tree could bring them back into the world. 

Before becoming the incarnation of the mother tree, Qi Chao had already awakened Xuan Jian and Shuang Jian. Now, with his greater proficiency in manipulating abilities, he had even less difficulty.

After returning home, Qi Chao shared the details of what had transpired in the private room with Shen Yuxi.

Hearing that Qi Chao and Elliton had reached an agreement, Shen Yuxi raised an eyebrow, though he wasn’t surprised.

Qi Chao was different from him.

He hadn’t considered using Elliton’s resentment toward the emperor and the association to achieve his goals. Instead, he had opted for a mutually beneficial approach to seal the deal.

Shen Yuxi chuckled lightly—it was indeed Qi Chao's style.

"This matter is truly tempting for him. He’ll likely put everything he has into fulfilling your request."

 "Let’s hope so."

Qi Chao, having spent the entire day outside, didn’t let go of Shen Yuxi’s waist as he embraced him from behind. Resting his head on his shoulder, he inhaled the familiar scent, and his fatigue seemed to dissipate a little.

He wasn’t expecting Elliton to truly turn the president and emperor against each other. What he hoped for was that, in his absence, Elliton would stir the pot a little, causing trouble for both of them and making sure neither of them could rest easy.

"Are you tired?"

 Shen Yuxi gently placed his hand on Qi Chao's, his brow furrowed slightly, his gaze growing darker.

The progress on Bugu and the others' side was too slow; they couldn’t help Qi Chao at the moment. He needed to come up with another plan to assist Qi Chao, or it would take much longer for Qi Chao to fully put his mind at ease.

"I’m not tired." 

Qi Chao wasn’t sure what his partner was thinking, but he kissed the corner of Shen Yuxi’s eye and then, feeling a little drowsy, added, "I just missed you so much."

Shen Yuxi smiled but didn’t think too much about it.

 "I missed you too."

 Even though they had only been apart for five hours.

They lay down together in bed. Shen Yuxi listened to the steady, powerful sound of Qi Chao’s breathing, his eyelashes fluttering slightly. Even if it was just to prolong this moment, he would think of other ways to make it last.

The next morning, Shen Yuxi called Ayu to the study, instructing her to report on the recent surveillance of the association. 

When he heard that the president had specifically requested a list and ultimately chose Qiao Sheng, Shen Yuxi chuckled, a hint of sarcasm in his eyes.

When Ayu was about to continue her report, Shen Yuxi shook his head. It wasn’t clear whether he was unwilling to hear more or if he had already formed a plan, but he spoke softly, “That’ll be enough for now.”

Ayu nodded in acknowledgment.

“What is your Dad doing?”

Shen Yuxi looked at her, Ayu gaze was partially hidden behind the navy cap. He paused for a moment before casually asking.

It was rare for Shen Yuxi to mention these three words, and Ayu was momentarily stunned. After a brief pause, she regained her composure and answered, “Xing Yu and Agu are fighting again. Dad is working on getting them to calm down.”

Shen Yuxi’s smile faded slightly at her words.

These two puppets really needed to be dealt with. If they dared to make Qi Chao busy again, Shen Yuxi wouldn’t hesitate to throw them on the side of the road, letting them fend for themselves.

Since the matter with the association had been handed over to Elliton, Qi Chao’s visits to the association had drastically decreased. He might go once a week to "connect" with the president.

After two or three weeks, Qi Chao and Shen Yuxi heard that Elliton had become the president’s most trusted master-level puppet master, and he was often praised for his work.

Later, Shen Yuxi received a video call request from Qiao Sheng. At the time, Qi Chao was in the garden with the children, tending to the plants, while Shen Yuxi was preparing afternoon tea.

When he saw who the caller was, Shen Yuxi wasn’t surprised. After a brief moment of thought, he accepted the call.

On the other side, when Qiao Sheng saw the call had been answered, his usually disheveled expression became a bit more serious. He pointed at his head and said, "You erased my memory. You owe me a favor for it."

It was obviously funny. However, Shen Yuxi didn’t smile.

“What’s the matter?”

When he erased the memories of the trial participants in the trial grounds, Shen Yuxi had been certain that with Qiao Sheng’s abilities, he would likely figure it out. 

It seemed he was right.

Qiao Sheng didn’t know why his memory had been erased by Shen Yuxi. It was probably related to a few insignificant matters. He glanced at his second daughter, and his expression darkened noticeably.

His daughter had been brought to him the day after he returned to the hospital. Apparently, she had been kept by Shen Yuxi in some abandoned hospital, under the supervision of Shen Yuxi’s friends. 

Since she was in no immediate danger, Qiao Sheng didn’t have the chance to get back Shen Yuxi.

What truly bothered him now, though, was something else.

His eldest daughter had been taken by the research institute.

For Qiao Sheng, no puppet mattered—whether they lived or died, it had nothing to do with him. 

But that didn’t apply to his two daughters.

"What's the matter? Do you want me to help you?" Shen Yuxi asked with a smile, his lips curving up.

Qiao Sheng remained silent.

The truth was, asking Lu Chen for help would be the fastest way, but since it involved the empire, Qiao Sheng didn’t want to put Lu Chen in a difficult position.

From the kitchen, the sounds of laughter and chatter from outside the villa could be faintly heard. 

Shen Yuxi chuckled lightly, subtly hinting, "It seems the relationship between His Majesty and the president isn’t too good lately. I’ve heard that the president often complains to Elliton, who has royal blood, about the emperor."

It was a hint for himself.

Qiao Sheng adjusted his glasses, which were almost falling off, and after a few seconds of silence, as if he had made up his mind, he ended the call.

Shen Yuxi watched the light screen go dark, his expression somewhat inscrutable. He hadn’t done anything and just casually mentioned this information. 

Whatever Qiao Sheng decided to do next was entirely up to him—it had nothing to do with Shen Yuxi.

When Qi Chao returned, Shen Yuxi casually mentioned that Qiao Sheng had called him, only mentioning the deteriorating relationship between the emperor and the president, without revealing any further details.

Qi Chao looked at Shen Yuxi’s gentle expression and thought for a moment. “I understand,” he said.

He could tell that Shen Yuxi had intentions of using Qiao Sheng, but Qiao Sheng wasn’t a good person, so even if he was being used, Qi Chao didn’t feel guilty about it.

“I’ll have Elliton keep an eye on his movements these next few days,” Qi Chao added with a faint smile.

Seeing that Qi Chao's attitude toward him hadn't changed, Shen Yuxi relaxed a little. He watched Qi Chao’s retreating figure and, after hesitating for a second, he found Qiao Sheng’s contact and sent over a picture of the tragic fate of the puppets from the research institute long ago, making sure to send it in a way that seemed unintentional.

Feeling a bit guilty, he deleted the chat history and waited until he was certain Qi Chao hadn’t seen his actions. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.

It was just sharing “hot news,” Shen Yuxi told himself. He wasn’t doing anything wrong.

A few days later, a piece of news spread like wildfire.

The emperor suddenly died of a heart attack, and when he passed away, only the president’s loyal subordinate was by his side.

Qi Chao and Shen Yuxi exchanged a glance.

Just then, Qi Chao's light brain vibrated. It was a message from Elliton, short and to the point, it only containing five words:

[The president killed the emperor.]

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TL: I don’t know why but when I was translating Elliton’s puppets and part of his past, I started to tear up a bit. Who’s cutting onions here?  ╥﹏╥