Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 48: Human Skin Puppet (Part 45)
Damn, I can't hold this position for much longer. Standing like this feels so awkward; my neck is sore, and my legs are starting to go numb from the uneven pressure. Just as I was about to shift my stance, I heard footsteps and voices approaching from behind me.
I froze, relying on the dense cluster of plants beside me for cover. If I moved even slightly, it would not only alert the approaching individuals but also disturb those inside the house.
The newcomers were walking toward me, seemingly discussing something.
"Do you think this outfit looks good?" A familiar female voice—wasn't that Chi Xinrong? I couldn't help but feel an urge to rush out and tell her to stop being here; none of this is real, you’re all under hypnosis.
Just as that thought crossed my mind, another voice in my head warned, "Don't act rashly."
The man with Chi Xinrong replied, "It's pretty nice, better than the one you wore before." Could that be Qin Jian? Or was it someone else? I couldn't see them clearly and dared not move until they entered the room.
I peered through the gap in the window again, trying to catch a glimpse of the man with his back to me. How many of the people inside were real, and how many were fake?
It seemed like the people inside were waiting for someone. After Qin Jian and Chi Xinrong entered, they exchanged pleasantries but kept glancing toward the door.
"The special guest might be delayed a bit; you all continue chatting and enjoy yourselves," said a ghostly figure who stood up. This time, whether intentional or not, he glanced in my direction.
The special guest wasn’t Qin Jian or Chi Xinrong, nor was it the couple who had entered earlier. So who could it be?
As I pondered this, I heard a car horn honking outside, followed by the ghost loudly announcing to those inside, "They've finally arrived."
I couldn't help but wonder who "they" were. Instead of looking at what was happening inside, I crouched down and hid behind the plants, peering through them toward the source of the honking.
Wow, that was a luxury car that only wealthy people in the real world could afford. I didn't know its model or make, but it was undoubtedly worth a fortune—truly a pleasure to drive. The sleek body glided forward like a breath of fresh air.
Even while hiding behind the plants, I felt a deep sense of jealousy and envy. Who could possibly drive such an extravagant car?
As the vehicle approached the ghost, he stood with his hands behind his back, wearing a respectful expression mixed with a smile. The person sitting in that car must be someone important.
To my surprise, when the car stopped and the door opened, first came a pair of shiny pointed shoes followed by high-end trousers. Then came the upper body and finally a face that came into my view. Just one glance at that face made me gasp; the driver was Gousi.
I rubbed my eyes, and at the moment I opened them, I must have thought I was seeing things. Gousi was dead, his soul gone; how could he possibly be standing right in front of me? The soul—there had to be something wrong with the soul. Suddenly enlightened, I adjusted my mindset, warning myself to stay alert and not let the sight before me disturb my thoughts.
I slightly closed my eyes and silently recited the Calmness Mantra to prevent Evil Energy from invading.
After all, this was not the real world; everything was being manipulated by wild spirits. All those who had perished in the 917 incident were gathered here, except for one person—Xie Ke. As I thought of Xie Ke, a flash of realization struck me as I remembered the man who had been facing away from me.
Could he be Xie Ke?
No way!
I watched as Gousi got out of the car with Sister Zhu and Brother Ma, heading straight for that large house under the guidance of the wild spirits. I quickly suppressed my presence and adjusted my posture, preparing to confirm my earlier suspicion.
Gousi's arrival caused quite a stir, much like ordinary people in the real world would react upon seeing our country's richest man. The surprise and delight were palpable. It seemed that Gousi was quite a popular guest in this illusory space.
However, in the real world, Gousi was generous and imposing, exuding an air of nobility. This was why I initially found it hard to believe he was a Tomb Raider; in everyone's mind, tomb raiders were typically seen as disheveled old men with a scruffy appearance or shifty-eyed individuals who couldn't be trusted.
Yet there was none of that in Gousi. He possessed charisma, determination, and an aura that set him apart from ordinary people.
Now I saw Brother Ma and Sister Zhu closely following Gousi. If this weren't an illusory space, I would have already stepped out to greet him and express how much I missed him.
Curiosity, impulsiveness, and restlessness were ultimately overcome by reason. Calmly, I directed my gaze back through the window's gap; the man who had been facing away from me had now changed his seat. No matter how I looked at him now, I could see his face clearly.
It was indeed Xie Ke.
Seeing Xie Ke confirmed my thoughts.
The deceased from the 917 incident shared a bizarre commonality—they lacked souls and could not sense what had transpired before or after their deaths. This was the true root of the deadlock that Qin Jian and I found ourselves in.
The people inside this house, who were friends of mine in reality, were merely empty shells; their appearances might have been artificially created human skins—what one might call Human Skin Puppets. The wild spirits were cunning indeed, setting up such an illusory space while secretly working to create Human Skin Puppets. The Human Skin Puppets sent out returned directly after Qin Jian and Chi Xinrong were deceived.
Among the two women conversing inside the house, one was Jia Yu, and the other was Wang Liu—the same body I had seen walking in water at Jiang'an Family Bridgehead Hotpot Restaurant near Branching Stream.
The wild ghost was lurking deep enough that if I hadn't seen the fresh tire tracks on the road, I might not have been able to uncover its true identity. My main goal now was to find Ling Juan, Qin Jian, and Chi Xinrong, so the people in this house were not very important to me. I felt as if there was a factory in this illusory space specifically manufacturing Human Skin Puppets.
If that were the case, it would be terrifying.
You see, the wild ghost's current cultivation level was frightening enough to hypnotize traffic police and passersby at will. If its Human Skin Puppet factory produced a large number of Human Skin Puppets, wouldn't that mean the human world was facing its doom?
Just as I was about to leave, I heard the fake Gousi say something to the wild ghost.
Gousi: "That fool is still sad in the real world. The space you and I have created will play a crucial role in the future human world. One day, we will become idols worshipped by billions."
Upon hearing this, I was stunned as if struck by lightning.
Comment 0 Comment Count