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墨書 Inktalez
The woman in red moved with a grace as light as a swallow, her flowing garments giving her an ethereal appearance, as if she were a celestial being descended to the mortal realm.
Yet her movements were as swift as lightning and as fierce as a whirlwind. Like a ghost, she darted before the crowd, vanishing in an instant, leaving behind only a vivid and striking red afterimage that lingered in the air like a burning flame.
At that moment, Xuan Yang felt as if he had been mercilessly crushed by a ferocious beast from ancient times. His internal organs seemed to have been violently displaced, and every part of his body was engulfed in excruciating pain.
He gritted his teeth, struggling to sit up despite the agony.
"Hiss..." However, even the slightest movement sent a wave of piercing pain crashing over him, overwhelming him like a flood breaking through a dam.
The intensity of the pain was so sudden and fierce that it caused him to involuntarily gasp for breath, his face turning pale as paper.
Just then, Qu Si Yang hurriedly stepped forward, extending her hands to carefully support the swaying Xuan Yang.
Her once-clear eyes were now filled with worry as she gazed anxiously at him, softly asking, "Xuan Yang, what’s wrong? Is your injury serious?" As she spoke, her delicate hand gently brushed against Xuan Yang's slightly pale face, as if trying to alleviate his suffering with her tender touch.
"I'm... I'm not dead yet," Xuan Yang managed to force out a smile that was far more grotesque than tears while using his hands to push against the ground and slowly sit up.
His face, already pale as paper, twisted further in agony as he endured the waves of pain coursing through him. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, but he clenched his teeth tightly, refusing to let out even a whimper of pain for fear of causing Qu Si Yang further worry and panic.
"It's just... just a bit weak. It's nothing serious; you don’t need to worry too much!" Although Xuan Yang spoke lightly, he knew deep down that the injuries he had sustained far exceeded what he could bear. If it weren't for his sheer willpower keeping him conscious at this moment, he would have likely fainted by now.
Hearing Xuan Yang's forced bravado, Qu Si Yang's eyes instantly welled up with tears.
How could she not see that Xuan Yang was enduring tremendous pain?
Recalling the heart-stopping battle they had just faced, she realized that if it hadn't been for that mysterious woman in red intervening at a critical moment, both of them might have already met their demise.
As she thought of this, Qu Si Yang couldn't help but feel a wave of fear wash over her, causing her body to tremble involuntarily.
She hurriedly walked over to Xuan Yang's side, crouched down, and gently supported him. Then, she extended her arms and tightly embraced his somewhat frail figure, as if this act could provide him with some strength and comfort.
Feeling the warmth and softness of the beautiful woman in his arms, Xuan Yang's heart, which had been tense and anxious, gradually began to calm down.
"That was really terrifying! I’m so glad that senior appeared just in time; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable!" Qu Si Yang murmured to herself, her voice filled with a sense of relief and reflection on their narrow escape.
"Yes, who exactly is that senior?" Xuan Yang also felt deeply puzzled by this.
The sudden appearance of the woman in red was far too abrupt, with no prior warning whatsoever.
Moreover, the immense power she displayed was astonishing and hard to believe.
Her fierce techniques and unfathomable cultivation level made one question whether she truly belonged to the mortal realm; she seemed more like a divine warrior descended from the heavens.
"Whoever she is, she saved our lives, and we must repay this kindness no matter what. Once my injuries heal, I will do everything I can to find her and express my gratitude in person!" Xuan Yang silently pondered.
However, at this moment, what was most urgent for them was not to uncover the identity of the woman in red but rather to quickly unveil the secrets hidden behind the "Puppet Master's Heart"—after all, this was the true purpose of their perilous journey here.
Guided by an ancient, yellowed map, they had endured numerous hardships and finally arrived at the entrance of the legendary hidden ruins.
At the entrance lay a desolate scene; weeds grew wildly, thickly layered and densely packed, nearly completely obscuring the entire cave opening.
The tall wild grasses swayed gently in the breeze, producing a soft rustling sound, as if whispering the hidden secrets of the past that lingered in this place.
What drew even more attention were the thick vines that coiled around the entrance like enormous serpents, tightly wrapping themselves around the stone walls.
Their sinuous bodies intertwined with the hard rock, creating a strange and mysterious tableau.
From a distance, the entrance surrounded by weeds and vines resembled a mystical gateway to another world, exuding an aura that was both intriguing and intimidating.
Xuan Yang reached out, carefully pushing aside the obstructing grasses to get a better view of the entrance. He leaned in closer, concentrating intently on his observations.
His brow gradually furrowed as he murmured, “This place… seems to have existed for quite a long time.” Qu Si Yang, standing nearby, overheard him and hurriedly moved closer, equally intent on examining the entrance and its surroundings.
After a moment, she couldn't help but exclaim, “Yes, look at these vine roots; they’re almost as thick as my arm! If they hadn’t been growing for decades or even longer, they could never have reached this size.”
The two exchanged glances, each catching a hint of seriousness in the other's eyes.
Clearly, facing this relic filled with unknown dangers made them both feel somewhat anxious.
However, their strong curiosity ultimately triumphed over their inner fears. Xuan Yang took a deep breath to steady himself and resolutely stepped forward into the cave.
Seeing this, Qu Si Yang followed closely behind without hesitation. The two of them maintained high alertness as they cautiously entered this enigmatic relic, embarking on a thrilling adventure.
Inside the relic was pitch black; one could not see their hand in front of their face. The air was thick with a damp, decaying odor that felt oppressive.
Qu Si Yang pulled out a luminous pearl from her pocket. Its gentle glow instantly dispelled the darkness and illuminated their surroundings.
They found themselves in a narrow passage, its walls etched with strange runes. These runes twisted and warped, resembling some ancient script or mysterious patterns, exuding an aura of age and enigma that sent chills down their spines.
"What... what is this place?" Qu Si Yang's voice trembled as she clutched the luminous pearl tightly, as if it could offer her a semblance of safety.
"I don't know, but one thing is certain: this place is anything but ordinary," Xuan Yang replied, his expression grave. He sensed that this relic concealed a monumental secret.
As they proceeded down the passage, ancient stone statues loomed on either side. Each statue was unique in form; some resembled humans yet were not, others appeared beast-like but were not quite beasts. Some had grotesque faces while others bore solemn expressions. Under the glow of the luminous pearl, they looked particularly eerie, as if they might spring to life at any moment.
"These statues... why do they feel like they're watching us?" Qu Si Yang's voice dropped lower as she pressed closer to Xuan Yang, fearing that the statues might suddenly leap forward.
"Don't be afraid; I'm here," Xuan Yang reassured her. Though he felt a shiver run down his spine as well, he knew he had to remain composed.
Suddenly, they entered a vast hall that was much larger than they had anticipated. The walls were still covered in those peculiar runes. In the center of the hall stood a massive stone slab, towering over three meters high, densely inscribed with text that resembled a gigantic page from a book.
Qu Si Yang raised the luminous pearl to illuminate the writing on the slab.
"Could this... could this be the history of the Puppet Sect?!" Xuan Yang recognized the characters immediately. Although ancient, they bore similarities to those he had seen in old texts back in his village. After deciphering them further, he confirmed his suspicion, his heart racing with astonishment.
"Puppet Sect? What is that?" Qu Si Yang asked, her face filled with confusion; she had never heard of such a name.
"An ancient and mysterious sect," Xuan Yang explained. "Legend has it that they mastered a secret technique for controlling Puppet Masters and wielded immense power. It is said that the Heart of the Puppet Master is their greatest treasure, possessing incredible strength."
As they carefully studied the inscriptions on the stone slab, an astonishing secret began to unfold.
The slab recorded that the Puppet Sect was established hundreds of years ago to combat shadowy forces. They possessed formidable abilities to control Puppet Masters—some crafted from metal, others carved from wood or stone, and even some forged from flesh and blood—each one immensely powerful and serving as a vital force in safeguarding world peace.
However, during a decisive battle with the forces of darkness hundreds of years ago, the Puppet Sect suffered a devastating blow. The sect leader mysteriously vanished, and the Heart of the Puppet Master also went missing. From that point on, the Puppet Sect fell into decline and gradually disappeared from the annals of history.
What shocked Xuan Yang even more was that the tablet recorded that the traitor of the Puppet Sect was none other than Lu Zhiyuan!
“Lu… Lu Zhiyuan… was actually a traitor of the Puppet Sect? He hid it so well?” Xuan Yang muttered in disbelief, his heart filled with shock and confusion, as if countless ants were crawling inside him, making him restless.
He had always thought that the Village Chief was the protector of the village. He was kind and gentle, treating everyone in the village like family. But after everything he had experienced, it became clear how Lu Zhiyuan could be a traitor of the Puppet Sect.
In addition to Lu Zhiyuan's identity, the tablet also detailed how to unlock the power of the Heart of the Puppet Master.
“Using blood as a guide, using souls as offerings, sacrificing what is most important in one’s heart is necessary to obtain the true power of the Heart of the Puppet Master.” Xuan Yang read this sentence from the tablet slowly, each word striking his heart like a heavy hammer.
“Sacrificing what is most important in one’s heart? What does that mean?” Qu Si Yang asked in confusion, her face filled with uncertainty.
“I… I don’t know either.” Xuan Yang furrowed his brow, filled with doubt and unease. The meaning of those words was all too clear: to gain the true power of the Heart of the Puppet Master would require an extremely painful price.
What was most important to him?
Was it his father and mother? Was it Qu Si Yang, who had grown up alongside him?
He dared not think further; that price was far too great for him to bear.
“Xuan Yang, what’s wrong? Why do you look so pale?” Qu Si Yang noticed something was off with Xuan Yang. Concern filled her clear eyes as she gently held his hand, seemingly wanting to give him strength.
“It’s… nothing.” Xuan Yang shook his head, forcing down his doubts and anxieties. He managed to squeeze out a faint smile. “Let’s keep moving forward and see what other secrets this ruin holds.”
They left the hall and continued deeper into the ruins.
What secrets awaited them in the depths of the ruins?
"To abandon the most important thing in your heart..." This phrase echoed in Xuan Yang's mind like a spell, persistent and inescapable, leaving him feeling unsettled.
What was the most important thing to him?
He didn't know, and he didn't dare to think about it.
He was afraid—afraid of losing the most important person in his life.
He was afraid—afraid of losing himself.
He was afraid—afraid of becoming someone he no longer recognized, a cold, heartless monster who turned his back on everyone.
"Xuan Yang... Xuan Yang..." Qu Si Yang's voice pulled Xuan Yang from his reverie, tinged with urgency.
"Wha... what is it?" Xuan Yang came back to himself and asked.
"Look over there!" Qu Si Yang pointed ahead, her tone filled with astonishment.
Following Qu Si Yang's gesture, Xuan Yang saw a massive stone door not far ahead. The door stood closed, towering over five zhang high, nearly reaching the top of the passage. It was covered in strange runes that resembled those they had seen earlier in the corridor, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura that instilled fear in those who gazed upon it.
"What... what is this place?" Xuan Yang was also struck by the sight before him; he had never seen such a colossal stone door.
"I don't know, but... I feel that there must be something important hidden behind this door," Qu Si Yang's voice trembled slightly. Her intuition told her that the greatest secret of this ruin might lie just beyond the stone door.
The two exchanged a glance, both seeing the gravity reflected in each other's eyes.
"Let's go take a look," Xuan Yang said, taking a deep breath as he stepped forward toward the stone door.
Qu Si Yang followed closely behind, and together they approached the entrance.
Suddenly, an unexpected change occurred!
The once dim and lifeless runes on the stone door suddenly came to life, bursting forth with dazzling light. A powerful wave of energy surged from within the door, sweeping across the entire ruin with a low humming sound.
Then, to their astonishment, the massive stone door began to slowly open with a thunderous rumble, as if a giant beast that had slept for a thousand years was finally awakening.
What secrets lay hidden within that door?
Xuan Yang and Qu Si Yang exchanged another glance, filled with both curiosity and anticipation, but more importantly, wariness.
They cautiously stepped through the stone door, and in an instant, a tremendous force pulled them inside, as if an invisible hand had dragged them into another world.
Their figures vanished within the door as it slowly closed behind them, plunging the ruin back into silence, as if nothing had ever happened.
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