Fall In Love With A Substitute – The Puppet’s Little Master, Chapter 155
Within the maze, the Tianfeng Meeting disciples who were still in the game received orders via the Tianliao Token to search for Yu Yi, the Peak Master of the Daiyuan Peak of the Lingyun Sect.
The Tianliao Order did not offer rewards, but everyone knew Yu Yi’s status. If they found her, forming a good relationship with her would bring endless benefits.
Shijue Academy had gathered five hundred coiling pearls. As the team leader, Sun Han intended to play it safe, heading towards the point where they had dispersed—also the endpoint of the Tianfeng Meeting—and along the way, if they encountered other teams, they would engage in a snatch.
But the matter of Yu Yi was like a sudden bonus to this competition. After hesitating, Sun Han decided to scatter the disciples in pairs and explore around.
Before others could say anything, Zhao Ge, who had been silent like a clam, said, “Senior Brother Sun, the maze is so vast. Our hope of finding Yu Yi is too slim. It’s better to head towards the endpoint now. If we get into trouble or get surrounded by other teams, it would be a pity.”
“You’re a pessimist.” Sun Han scolded him first. Seeing Zhao Ge, who seemed to avoid the limelight, wrapped in a gray cloak, he felt even more annoyed, but Sun Han’s rationality remained. He patiently thought it over and collected all the coiling pearls from everyone.
“You two follow me, we’ll set up the Lieyun Entrapment Formation.” Sun Han first pointed to the two disciples with the highest cultivation level, and then addressed the rest, especially Zhao Ge, “As for you, go in pairs and look for people.”
“You don’t have any coiling pearls on you, so even if you encounter others, they won’t be too harsh. If you find Yu Yi, come back here to find me, and I’ll call the others back.”
Sun Han’s decision was made, and Zhao Ge—or rather, Han Lin, who was wearing a disguise—was extremely helpless. He hadn’t even had time to avoid Yu Yi, and now he had to actively search for her?
Han Lin wished he could run away on the spot or find a place to hide, waiting for Sun Han to not find anyone and call everyone back to the endpoint. But Sun Han’s intention to have them search in pairs was clear. Under the gaze of his companions, Han Lin had no choice but to follow Sun Han and head northwest.
It wouldn’t be so unlucky, would it? In such a vast maze, encountering Yu Yi… Han Lin comforted himself.
But life is unpredictable, and sometimes, the more you don’t want something to happen, the more likely it is to happen.
“Zhao Ge! Look over there, is that a lone female cultivator?” his companion suddenly said.
Han Lin’s heart trembled violently, his lips moved a few times but failed to produce a smile. He followed his companion’s line of sight and indeed saw a slender and petite female cultivator in the distance. Her figure was still unclear, but the demonic beast in her arms made Han Lin inhale sharply.
What kind of fate is this? In the vast maze, he just came out casually to search, and unexpectedly encountered Yu Yi!
“It’s Fairy Yu Yi, right? Look at the beast in her arms—ugh, it’s a Wind Thunder Leopard, it must be her.” Excitedly, the companion moved swiftly towards Yu Yi, calling out, “Let’s go, Zhao Ge.”
“…”, Han Lin was helpless. He pulled down his hood, hiding himself tightly, and put on a mask that covered the lower half of his face, then slowly followed.
By the time Han Lin arrived, his companion was already enthusiastically speaking to Yu Yi:
“Fairy Yu Yi, we are disciples of Shijue Academy. We are looking for you in the maze under the Tianliao Order. The elders and others are anxious to find you. Please come back with us.”
At first, Yu Yi was a bit cautious, seeming unsure of who the person in front of her was. But after hearing the explanation from the academy disciples, she immediately relaxed, her eyes bright, as if a sheltered young lady who had lost her way in the world had met an acquaintance. She smoothed her brows and replied softly:
“I have been walking in this place for many days without seeing anyone else. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t know where to go. Thank you.”
The academy disciple’s face suddenly turned red, whether it was from the imminent benefits or the thanks from the beauty, his protective instinct surged:
“Fairy, you must be tired. With me and Junior Brother Zhao here, you can rest assured and come with us.”
Yu Yi nodded, releasing the demon beast in her arms to roam freely on the ground, showing a hesitant expression:
“Is it just the two of you? I can’t control artifacts for a long time. If you carry me, and the journey is far, I’m afraid it will tire you out.”
Han Lin, who had been trying to minimize his presence, heard a glimmer of hope to avoid Yu Yi. He immediately lowered his voice and said:
“Senior Brother, Senior Brother Sun has a Lingfeng Jade Carriage, which is suitable for Fairy’s use. I’ll go find Senior Brother Sun to come and pick up Fairy.”
If Sun Han came with about ten disciples, he could easily keep his distance from Yu Yi, or even slip away halfway, which was better than now.
With his plan set, his companion also readily agreed, and as he felt a surge of joy, he heard his companion say:
“My Wood Release technique is better than yours. I’ll go find Senior Brother, and you wait here.”
Han Lin hurriedly protested, “Hey—”
But his companion had already disregarded his wishes. Seeing no objection from Yu Yi, he used his technique to depart. Before leaving, to prevent other teams from claiming credit, he sent out a signal with the Tianliao Order indicating “Yu Yi found.”
Han Lin watched helplessly as his companion turned into a green blur and vanished into the distance, feeling completely numb.
A soft voice came from behind him:
“It seems like you’re not willing to be alone with me.”
“Fairy, you think too much.”
Han Lin absentmindedly replied, his mind still pondering how to escape. Waiting for Sun Han? That could work. But with no one around now, if he decided not to return to the academy, he could easily leave Yu Yi behind and run far away. Yu Yi, without any cultivation, couldn’t stop him—
Yes, Yu Yi had no cultivation. Han Lin suddenly realized that since encountering Yu Yi, he had been frantically trying to escape, but he hadn’t thought about the opportunity to eliminate Yu Yi once and for all, never having to hide again.
Before, he had no chance, but now it seemed like a heaven-sent opportunity. Even if the substitute puppet was powerful, it was currently thousands of miles away, out of reach.
Han Lin clenched his fists, and a silent smile crept onto his lips beneath the mask—
“Despite being old acquaintances, not even a greeting from you really hurts me, Han Lin.”
Han Lin’s smile froze on his face.
Why did Yu Yi call out his real name? When did he expose himself? Was it during the lineup? Han Lin thought quickly. Even if she recognized him, what did it matter? As long as Yu Yi died, everything would be resolved!
Han Lin drew his main weapon, Thorn Stinger, his eyes filled with venom.
He turned around, raised his arm high, ready to pierce Yu Yi’s heart and end her life with a single blow—
In the next moment, Han Lin’s body froze, unable to move.
His eyes widened in terror, his pupils dilated.
The girl in front of him still had the familiar face, but her expression was extremely unfamiliar. She stared at him expressionlessly, as if he were nothing but an ant.
“Han… Lin.”
Yu Yi pronounced each word deliberately.
Fear flashed across Han Lin’s face, but he forced himself to remain calm. “You… you don’t have any cultivation? How is this possible! Did you use a weapon?”
If it was a weapon, as long as he could hold on until Yu Yi couldn’t control it, he could escape.
It must be a weapon, right? Everyone knew that Yu Yi was now useless.
“A weapon?” The girl in front of him tilted her head slightly, as if realizing something, “Well, it’s possible. There are weapons that can imprison a cultivator’s spirit.”
Her thick black eyelashes pressed down, her lips pursed into a line, her voice mysteriously low:
“But have you… seen such a weapon?”
As Yu Yi uttered the words, she reached out her hand, palm facing upward, and made a vague gesture.
Han Lin suddenly twisted and contorted in mid-air, his entire body being broken inch by inch by an invisible force. His bones shattered, blood and organs burst, turning him into a bloody mess in an instant.
Given Han Lin’s current appearance, he should have already collapsed, but his scapula protruded abnormally, even piercing through his cloak, revealing two pale bone spurs covered in flesh fragments. The force lifted him into the air, using his scapula as a fulcrum.
“Ah—” Han Lin let out a sharp scream, but his voice disappeared as soon as it left his mouth. He didn’t even have the right to speak.
At this moment, Han Lin had lost all thoughts. His rationality was submerged in bone-deep pain, his eyeballs immersed in sticky blood, everything before him turning crimson.
Yu Yi looked at the two bloody holes on his face and smiled:
“Don’t be afraid, you won’t die.”
Yu Yi’s voice was soft, like a gentle breeze brushing over mountain flowers, but Han Lin felt as if he heard the whispers of a demon, and he spasmed suddenly.
Yu Yi’s laughter became even more crisp and pleasant.
“Why don’t you believe you can survive?”
She gently flicked her finger, and Han Lin’s body quickly returned to its original state, his scapula retracting into his body, blood obediently returning to its original position, as if nothing had happened, except for his slightly pale complexion.
Han Lin trembled his lips, “You, you actually…”
“Are you surprised that I spared you? Or didn’t expect that I could even do this?” Yu Yi said, then looked puzzled, “I spared you, aren’t you going to run away?”
Han Lin instinctively took a step back, fear and vigilance in his eyes, clearly not believing Yu Yi’s words. But seeing Yu Yi smiling and not making any further moves, Han Lin gritted his teeth, seized the opportunity, and used all his abilities to escape outward.
At the cost of burning his essence blood, he fled thirty miles in an instant. He dared not slack off, and he was about to burn his second drop of essence blood—
Plip-plop.
A thick dewdrop fell from above, splashing onto his face.
Han Lin looked up.
Yu Yi sat on the sturdy branches of a spruce tree, her skirt hanging down, holding a pale yellow flower with morning dew still on it, playing with it.
She was originally looking at the flower, but when Han Lin looked up, she raised her eyelids and looked at Han Lin sharply.
Han Lin’s legs went weak, and he fell to the ground, his knees hitting heavily, kneeling down, crying bitterly.
“I was wrong, I know I was wrong, please spare my life, Fairy Yu Yi, your grace—”
Yu Yi smiled gently.
She clenched her hand, crushing the beautiful and delicate flower in her palm, along with Han Lin.
The wind blew gently, and the spruce tree rustled along with other trees.
On the tree, Yu Yi’s long hair and skirt fluttered together, and the little cat squatted beside her, its pupils icy gold.
Under the tree, Han Lin let out a silent scream of pain, blood splattered, the smell of blood filled the air, and bone spurs pierced.
Yu Yi looked down at him from above, her eyes devoid of smiles.
She released her hand, and the crushed flower fell from her palm, covering Han Lin’s body, which was like a pool of flesh and blood. The mushy flesh wriggled and reassembled into a living person again.
“It was like this back then, wasn’t it?” Yu Yi seemed to be speaking to herself, “You were just a Nascent Soul then, and you could kill two Core Formation cultivators with just a spirit fire. You looked so pleased with yourself at the time.”
That distorted face, twisted by malicious joy, appeared in Yu Yi’s mind again. She couldn’t forget Han Lin’s eyes full of venom, that hateful face, and the immense malice from the one she had saved, who had inexplicably targeted her family.
“Now, being tortured by me, who you didn’t care about, is it karma?”
“Please… please kill me!” Han Lin begged as soon as he opened his mouth, his voice trembling uncontrollably, “I took advantage of the situation, but it was Qu Hang who made me do it. He arranged everything, including the collapse of the cave and the violent sea afterwards. He even planned to kill me to silence me. He’s heartless and despicable—Fairy, Fairy, you can easily avenge yourself on him now. Just raise your hand and kill me. I deserve it. I’m not asking you to spare me, just kill me.”
Han Lin groveled on the ground, pleading for mercy, begging for death.
Yu Yi raised an eyebrow and said slowly, “You’re right, you deserve to die. But… not yet.”
“We can play a little longer.”
Han Lin’s eyes filled with despair. Without Yu Yi’s consent, he couldn’t even self-destruct.
A dandelion flew to the kitten’s nose, almost making it sneeze. Yu Yi picked the dandelion and gently blew it away.
Under the tree, Han Lin was torn apart again, rotten to the ground.
…
“Where’s Zhao Ge?” Sun Han looked at the open space in the forest.
“He should be here. I instructed him to watch over Fairy Yu Yi, but now neither of them are here?”
Sun Han questioned the disciple who reported finding Yu Yi but received no answer. Without turning around, he could feel Elder Song’s gaze on him, making his scalp tingle with fear.
When the disciple found him and asked him to bring Yu Yi back, Elder Song and Elder Qin arrived just in time. It showed how important this matter was and how beneficial it would be to handle it properly.
But the promised Yu Yi was missing—how could she disappear?
Sun Han panicked, turned around, and reported, “Elder Song, Elder, I know Junior Brother well. He would never lie. This…”
After he finished speaking, he waited for a response, but there was none. He dared to glance around.
Only then did he notice that both elders had closed their eyes, apparently using their spiritual senses to search for someone.
The maze severely restricted spiritual senses. Elder Qin soon opened his eyes and shook his head.
Sun Han became even more flustered.
Within an hour, how could someone disappear? What if something went wrong? Elder Song’s anger…
The more he thought about it, the more scared he became. His legs trembled, and he saw Elder Song suddenly open his eyes, disappear, leaving only his graceful figure in red robes, and a sentence left behind:
“Thirty miles northeast, in the spruce forest.”
Sun Han was startled. Had they found her?
Before Sun Han could react, Elder Qin from his own sect showed a disdainful look at their slow pace, picking them up and chasing after them together.
Elder Qin, aside from other skills, was unparalleled in speed, just managing to keep up with Elder Song’s graceful figure.
The golden-red lotus flower hovered in the air for a moment before finally settling in one place.
Sun Han was thrown to the ground with a slap, quickly stabilizing himself and standing firm. His Junior Brother, who was not skilled, fell on his butt.
But Sun Han didn’t have time to mock his Junior Brother at this moment. What did he see?
A young girl in a greenish-blue dress, with her belt flowing like water, was sitting on a horizontal ancient tree branch. The misty light sprinkled from the tall spruce trees, falling on her body, creating an illusion of a woodland spirit, full of springtime.
Below the tree, Elder Song, in her vibrant red robes, looked up at this Fairy Yu Yi, slightly opening her arms.
The girl jumped from the tree top without hesitation, like a falling leaf, and landed in Elder Song’s arms.
With a gentle breeze, light blue and bright red intertwined, and the garments fluttered.
“Pianxian.”
“Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”
The slender figure of the girl was hidden under the puppet’s robe, pulling the puppet’s clothes corner, softly responding, like a whimpering little beast.
Elder Song gently patted her head.
Yu Yi gently lowered her eyelids, affectionately rubbing against Elder Song.
Then she turned her head, quietly curling her lips at Han Lin lying in the mud, his palm-sized face pale, but his lips as red as blood.
“…”
Han Lin almost couldn’t breathe.
Puppet, can you see clearly who’s being bullied here?!
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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Ruu
