Xie Zhe and Ru Yuejun are still trapped in the dark warehouse, keeping company with those puppets that can't speak or move. Of course, at this moment, they didn't know that the door had been quietly blocked by a spell. What's even more dangerous is the wall behind them. The room was larger than it looked from the outside, and they didn't bother to check the area where it connected to the locust tree. In the darkness, something poked out from it, moving slowly and lightly, like a ghost walking through the wall.
"Besides these, is there anything else that can be determined?" Xie Zhe asked Ruyue Jun, "For example, the composition of clay?"
"But it's a bit difficult. I think I still have to get rid of one. Or break a section first, maybe you can see something."
"this……"
The puppets are so lifelike. Their quiet eyebrows and eyes are clearly defined, and each one looks exactly the same, but if you look closely, there seem to be differences. I wonder if it is an illusion caused by different hair texture and eyes. Some of the dolls are made up, with rosy complexions and natural lip color. They were so vivid that Xie Zhe didn't dare to take off someone's arm or break someone's wrist so easily. It was as if if he did this, the "victimized" puppet would scream out in pain.
"Hey, I've seen this person before. No, not completely."
Kisaragi-kun was talking about the puppet next to him. Xie Zhe put the lamp close and could see the appearance of a man with a simple face. It could be a rough one, as usually only people who do rough work frequently would have their hair cut so short. Its eyes were an ordinary brown, nothing more ordinary. Lord Ruyue pointed at it and said:
"I know, I have seen these eyes, a pair of women's eyes. She was attacked by a living corpse at that time and could not live long. I should have killed her, but she asked me for help and wanted to escape to the mountains. Go, because everyone in the village is chasing her. The mountainous area is very big, and it is also very dangerous. A weak woman can only go there without returning... So I showed her the way and covered her escape. "
"...You are really..."
"I can't help it. No matter what, this is better than her being beaten to death by the villagers, or biting others in a hurry. I remember clearly, her eyes at that time... and this eyeball. Look, This one here, there is an inconspicuous black line on the white of the eye, that's where it is. Thinking about it, she should be dead by now."
"But it's a male puppet—probably."
"The hair comes from someone else."
They looked the puppet up and down. No matter who the parts on it came from, it is now so safe and peaceful, just like a monk who is far away from the world and practicing alone. For some unknown reason, Lord Ruyue wanted to remove the eyeball from the doll. She felt in her heart that it did not belong to this inanimate thing. And just when she stretched out her hand, a voice interrupted her.
"After spring comes, the mice in the barn really become active."
This sound suddenly fell into the ears of the two of them. They were startled at the same time and immediately turned around alertly. Xie Zhe's hand had already been placed on the hilt of the sword, and Lord Ruyue also made a move to fight. This counterattack instinct almost engraved in their bones had saved their lives in countless dangers.
...Is it okay this time too?
In the panic just now, they didn't know who had knocked over the candle lamp. The lamp oil was scattered all over the floor, and the flame spread. Han Shang said that the fire would not be extinguished easily, and there were no flammable objects around. This fire was burning quietly here. More darkness in the space was dispersed, and countless puppets were neatly arranged along the wall, layer upon layer. Just what they could see within the firelight range were more than forty puppets. For some reason, their eyes all looked this way. Are they staring at Xie Zhe and Ru Yuejun, or this visitor who comes from nowhere?
This visitor has only one eye. His left eye was wrapped in clean white gauze, glowing warmly under the firelight. But his other eye was cold, from the expression to the color. It was a cold deep blue, like the deep sea, the deep sky, and the deep night. From that only eye, Xie Zhe read a little boredom and a little contempt. The ends of his medium-black hair hang down on his shoulders, and his slim-fitting clothes look solemn. But a coat hung loosely on his body and would slide off the next moment, making it look relatively casual.
"Who are you?!" Xie Zhe said in a shocked voice.
"Interesting, that's what I should have said. It's good to turn the tables."
Lord Ruyue said: "He must be from the Wuyong family."
No need for Lord Ruyue to explain, from his calmness and the content of his words, Xie Zhe could make a guess. His hand had already grasped the hilt of the sword, ready to draw it at any moment. The man just looked at them indifferently. He was not tall, even a little lower than Xie Zhe, but he lowered his head deliberately, and his gaze from bottom to top shone coldly like a slightly unsheathed dagger. Is he human? Or a monster? Xie Zhe couldn't make an accurate judgment for a while, he just felt horrified.
"When the moon is dark and the wind is high, is it the right time for the Six Paths of Impermanence to break into a house?"
"Really? I came in openly."
Lord Ruyue's attitude was quite relaxed, but Xie Zhe felt like he was breaking out in a cold sweat. He glanced at the door. Unexpectedly, the door had been closed. Naturally, he saw the new talisman that did not exist before. The door was locked, so that's probably not where he came in. Xie Zhe looked to the other side, where the edge of the firelight touched, and he could barely see a vertical, uneven outline on the wall, which might be the part where the locust tree was embedded. There, there was a huge opening, big enough for at least one person to lean out. Xie Zhe suddenly understood that there was a spiritual vein there, and this person came from there, not the door.
Kisaragi-kun is quite courageous. Before the man could reply, she continued:
"Each doll has items from the living. I have only heard that the Wuyong family is cruel to monsters, and even their own shikigami are only used as tools. Unexpectedly, they also insult human corpses in every way. It's really bad."
"We don't seem to have any laws about protecting monsters." The man raised his eyebrows slightly and took a step forward. "Don't talk about monsters, not even domestic animals. If a dog is stabbed to death for guarding the house, it is a given. Destiny: If a cat is injured and can no longer catch mice, it can be replaced. Does it mean that what you raise will be what you need to support until the end of your life? "
"You people from the Wuyong family have always been like this! You regard life as nothing, treat monsters as some despicable race, and regard yourself as noble just because of your human status. Sooner or later, you will climb on top of everyone else. I think Ah, I'm afraid you will have to compete with the current emperor."
If you say this, you will be beheaded. Lord Ruyue said it so straightforwardly, but it did not shock the other party at all. The man still looked calm and calm. He shrugged, actually raised the corners of his mouth, and smiled briefly... although it was a little perfunctory.
"'Monster's Nightmare'...many people have said this, but it doesn't matter. However, you seem to have made a mistake. We have never been proud of our status as humans. We can only enslave monsters by relying on human talent and Wisdom. The strong are respected, the weak are humbled. No matter what the origin, ability is the benchmark that determines everything. As for the so-called sense of superiority over monsters, it is just the older generation... relying on the joint efforts of the family as their self-righteous capital That’s it. Wu Yongshi needs to change.”
He should be a reformist within the Wuyong clan. Xie Zhe glanced at Ruyuejun, who nodded slightly, she understood the meaning. He walked past the burning lamp oil and was very close to the two of them. It seemed that he did not intend to let them go easily. As for Lord Kisaragi, he was even more unprepared to leave just like that. She probably still had many questions to ask him.
"Where did these puppets come from?"
"If you haven't spent a penny on this, you'd better have fewer questions."
"Who did it? Why are there things from living people? Tell me!" Lord Ruyue glared at him, "Otherwise, don't blame me for being rude."
The man sighed.
"How rude."
Xie Zhe couldn't stand it anymore. He asked in a stern tone: "Politeness? Why do I need to be polite with you heretics? Instruments made from human body parts have a lot of evil. You think you can control it, you are really arrogant."
"You must have the capital to be proud." The man said, "Since you want to know, then see clearly for yourself."
After that, he snapped his fingers, suddenly stepped back, and gradually stepped aside. But at this moment, all the puppets seemed to "come alive". They had just woken up, and their eyes suddenly moved flexibly, and finally fell on the two of them. Each puppet took trembling steps, and a layer of blue shimmer appeared on their bodies. They felt that the air around them seemed to be colder.
"...How did it move? Spiritual power?"
Xie Zhe was still thinking quickly, but Ru Yuejun raised his arms and bravely took two steps forward.
"If you want to know this, you can only take them apart on the spot and find out what's going on."
