Lu Li's head snapped up, his eyes wide and filled with intensity as a sinister presence emanated from the surroundings. The ruined temple had inexplicably disappeared, leaving only the towering firewood blaze. The old man had settled his head on the small wooden crate and fallen asleep, but to Lu Li, he seemed ethereal, almost like a specter rather than a living being.
"Is this... red snow?" Without the obstruction of the ruined temple, the snowflakes drifted gently. Lu Li reached out and caught a few, only to discover that they were a deep crimson. As the blood-red snowflakes fell onto the blazing firewood, they sizzled and emitted an unsettling sound, casting an eerie glow over the flames.
The area illuminated by the firewood was now the only visible space for Lu Li. Beyond that, darkness loomed, with faint movements and writhing shapes barely discernible. Lu Li could even sense the malicious gazes hiding within that darkness, fixated on him.
"What about that puppet?" Lu Li quickly scanned his surroundings and noticed the absence of the puppet the old man had been holding. He vividly remembered seeing it blink before he lost consciousness.
At that moment, a pained and pitiful cry echoed from the darkness. Lu Li immediately turned his gaze in that direction and witnessed a fierce battle taking place. A figure was thrown back and hurtled towards the nearest point to the firewood—the Corpse Demon!
A large stone flew from the darkness and struck the Corpse Demon's body, causing its chest to sink. If an ordinary person sustained such an injury, it would surely prove fatal, but the Corpse Demon's chest rapidly recovered, and even the bloodstains seemed to crawl and merge back together within seconds.
Just as the Corpse Demon prepared to retaliate, another stone struck its head, forcing it back. Before the Corpse Demon could recover, the figure from the darkness rushed forward, stomping on its chest and pushing it closer to the firewood. The flames consumed the Corpse Demon, causing its skin to melt and diminish its physical resilience. The figure seemed to have a connection with the firewood, as if bound by an invisible force, and dragged the suffering Corpse Demon into the flames. The demon emitted a wailing cry of agony until it eventually dissolved into liquid and evaporated.
As the figure revealed its appearance, it turned out to be the puppet from the old man's grasp. The joints on the puppet's body were barely noticeable, and its face displayed distinct expressions—a furrowed brow and a smile filled with character. She retracted the silk threads that controlled her movements and gracefully approached Lu Li, offering a slight bow. Surprisingly, she spoke in a human-like voice, saying, "This servant greets the young master. Good evening, sir."
In the corner of Lu Li's vision, a prompt appeared upon the puppet's arrival:
[Monster Discovered. Updating Data]
[Silk Puppet]
[Physical Evaluation: 2.17; Vitality: 0.0 (Crafted from precious wood, meticulously crafted for exceptional durability)]
[Soul Evaluation: 2.37; Spiritual Energy: 1.38 (The origin of her soul remains a mystery, perhaps a miracle?)]
[Category: Spiritual Attachment Type]
[Spawn Method: A spirit derived from the puppet, born from a master's deep devotion, creating this miracle!]
[Special Abilities:
(1) Silk Thread Control: Can control silk threads emanating from her body.
(2) Silken Tears: Tears that are both beautiful and unsettling, captivating and draining spiritual energy, attracting others!]
[Weakness: Being a puppet, she cannot stray
too far from her master.]
[Monster Appraisal: With her, you'll have lifelong luck!]
"Eh! Can you please tell me what's happening? Where are we?" Lu Li glanced at the still-sleeping old man, who should have awakened from the intense battle between the puppet and the Corpse Demon.
Ordinarily, the noise would have roused a person from sleep, but the old man remained undisturbed. Something was amiss. "Please enlighten me," Lu Li implored the puppet. Its voice resounded like a melodious jade bead, capturing Lu Li's attention. He couldn't help but focus on her words. She appeared deeply concerned about the slumbering old man and spoke with a hint of sorrow, "This place is the intersection of reality and dreams, filled with countless malevolent creatures that crave the lives of humans. When ordinary people fall into slumber, they appear here, but they remain oblivious to their surroundings. The evil spirits in this place are exceptionally fierce, and I can only offer slight resistance. Fortunately, the blazing firewood restrains them."
"I can enter here because of my connection to my master," the puppet continued, her delicate fingers clutching the blood-red snowflakes. She looked at them, her gaze filled with despair. She knelt down before Lu Li and offered a profound bow. "Young master, your presence here indicates exceptional skills and remarkable luck. I beseech you to save my master. I do not seek reward, even in my next life. I will gratefully serve as a beast of burden to repay your great kindness."
"Why such a grand gesture, Miss?" Lu Li hurriedly responded, holding the puppet gently. "I had a delightful conversation with the old gentleman, who kindly shared food and clothing with me. I cannot stand idly by while someone is in peril." Lu Li sighed and continued, "But my abilities are limited, and I pale in comparison to you. I am afraid I may be unable to fulfill your request."
"Furthermore, we should consider the state of the old gentleman. He seems more troubled than I," Lu Li said, shaking his head. "He desires death and has likely spent quite some time in this ruined temple. The accumulation of ashes around the firewood indicates that he has remained here, but he has not gathered firewood from outside. Considering the proximity of the small mountain ridge, it is impossible that he is unaware of the shortage of firewood. His actions and demeanor suggest a desire for both internal and external demise."
Perhaps the old man's plan was to exhaust his food supply, then depart with the fading firewood, succumbing to the bitter cold of the winter night. However, Lu Li's arrival disrupted this plan.
"Indeed... the master has already embraced thoughts of death, and my presence has merely prolonged his suffering, wasting away the remainder of his life here," the puppet lamented, her wooden finger gently rearranging the grayish-white hair of the old man. Her tone dripped with self-reproach and guilt.
The puppet's memories flashed back to several decades ago, when the 30-year-old man exhausted his savings, ignoring the pleas of his family, to personally craft the puppet. She remembered the joy in his eyes as he watched her come to life, the ink of his last written poem that he kissed, and the tear that glistened in the corner of his eye. It was perhaps during those moments that she felt his genuine heart and true soul...