Chapter 64

Chapter 63 Puppet on Strings 11

Behind the Auspicious Cloud Hall, on the stone-paved path, Shi Zong slowly walked toward the Flowing Cloud Pavilion, holding He Zhen—whose eyes were blindfolded—by a clothing sash.

Hearing Zuo Sanqiu’s words, Shi Zong glanced at him with curiosity. “Oh? Why?”

Zuo Sanqiu immediately said, “Because my secret was already exposed, I wanted to see how my father would deal with me. If I used the Mirage Pearl, I could create an illusion. Then my father’s actions in it wouldn’t count…

“But as the user of the Mirage Pearl, I could see how he intended to handle me and then, after the illusion ends, make appropriate evasive moves.

“Actually, this is similar to my father’s initial reason for using the Mirage Pearl.

“Also… I wanted to test him a little before I truly rebel.

“I really wanted to see—does he value me, his son, or Ji Rongrong more? Would he kill me for Ji Rongrong? I would make my final decision based on his choice.”

He paused, then added, “Yes, I had long prepared to go all out against my father. But the Xuanming Soldiers need some time to revive everyone and be under my command.

“Also, during the first-stage investigation, I saw Wu Yunxi go to my father’s Flowing Cloud Pavilion. I suspected he might be unreliable and might tell my father my plan. So I…”

Shi Zong looked at him skeptically. “Something’s wrong.”

“What’s wrong?”

“The logic doesn’t add up.”

“How so?”

Shi Zong said, “The Mirage Pearl creates an illusion, and people in it don’t realize they’re in one. That’s the basic setup for the user to test others.

“But for the test to work, the others can’t know the Mirage Pearl’s effect.

“Take me as an example. When the Mirage Pearl appeared above the Auspicious Cloud Hall, that was already the second time I saw it. I should then know I’m in an illusion, so nothing I do counts.

“I might do nothing at all or deliberately act against my intentions to confuse the user.

“Your father knows the Mirage Pearl even better. How could he really act against you in the illusion so you could predict it in the real world?”

“Yes, your logic isn’t wrong, but that’s because you haven’t seen the other part of the Mirage Pearl instructions.”

Zuo Sanqiu explained, “Let me be specific. Didn’t you ask me to gather all the servants, maids, and guards at the Auspicious Cloud Hall?

“At that time, I took the opportunity to follow my own separate timeline.

“I went to my father’s study, found the Mirage Pearl he had temporarily placed there, and discovered the remaining page of the Mirage Pearl’s instructions.

“It said that if the illusion starts and people keep looking at the Mirage Pearl, they retain memory of it. That’s why we collectively entered the illusion and lost memory the first time.

“But if the Mirage Pearl disappears the moment the illusion starts, people lose the memory of having seen it in the real world.

“Let’s take you as an example. The second time the Mirage Pearl appeared above the Auspicious Cloud Hall, if you didn’t see it at the moment the illusion began, you wouldn’t have any memory of seeing it afterward.

“You’d only remember hearing a sound like an explosion and looking up to see a mushroom cloud. You still wouldn’t know you were in an illusion.”

Shi Zong nodded in understanding.

Zuo Sanqiu continued, “So, when I found the Mirage Pearl and the instructions in the study, I had an idea. I arranged for two servants to get what looked like explosives—well, they were actually fireworks for New Year, unfinished—but I set the time for detonation.

“In front of the Auspicious Cloud Hall, while everyone’s eyes were on the mushroom cloud, I secretly used my object-manipulation technique to send the Mirage Pearl into the air.

“Everyone then saw it and entered the illusion. The illusion truly started with a slight delay from when they saw the Pearl. I intended to withdraw the Pearl during that delay, but it disappeared first, so I had no control…”

“The earlier instructions said, ‘The user of the Mirage Pearl doesn’t lose memory,’ but that’s incomplete. Another page clarifies: for the memory to persist, the user must still hold the Pearl at the end of the illusion.

“The Pearl can create an illusion lasting three hours. After that, the user can read all the actions of affected people. Nine hours later, all affected people are summoned back to where they saw it, but the user is unaffected.

“Since I didn’t hold the Pearl, though I started the illusion, I have no memory of the past 24 hours, just like everyone else.”

It seemed the first-stage case had two purposes:

First, to warm up, letting everyone know the Pearl exists and its effects.

Second, to identify which participants are players and which are NPCs.

The second-stage case is harder.

The culprit might have taken the Pearl before Zhongli Wen, never lost memory, knows they are the culprit, and must escape.

Or, the culprit could be among the amnesiac people, needing to determine if they are the culprit and whether to escape.

And then there’s the hidden death trap.

Cang Hai was killed by the heads of the Four Great Families.

Wu Yunxi, as his friend, likely plotted revenge. Understanding Wu Yunxi’s intentions is critical to survival.

Thinking of this, Shi Zong looked at Li Fu, trailing not far behind Zuo Sanqiu, and asked, “Did you perform the resurrection yourself?”

“Yes, just like Zhao Liuer and Zhai Yuntian today,” Zuo Sanqiu said.

Shi Zong asked, “How did you learn it?”

Zuo Sanqiu said, “Three months ago, at the Dao Inquiry Conference, I heard someone could do it. They even demonstrated reviving a dead person, amazing everyone.

“I eventually, through friends, met that person and asked them to teach me.”

Shi Zong asked, “Was that Wu Yunxi?”

“Yes,” Zuo Sanqiu recalled carefully. “Before the Conference, no one in the Jianghu knew of him. He became known then.”

The Dao Inquiry Conference is an annual cultivation event. Various sessions involve trading strange techniques, auctioning spiritual tools, young disciples sparring, meeting potential partners, sharing cultivation methods, and gaining fame.

Many young talents rose to prominence through it. Wu Yunxi was among them.

At the three-month Conference, he displayed resurrection techniques and secretly taught many people. Now, many in the Four Great Families can successfully perform it.

—What does Wu Yunxi want?

Shi Zong asked Zuo Sanqiu, “You’re the young master of Zhongli Manor. Though your actions are… peculiar, you’re not a fool.

Zuo Sanqiu rolled his eyes. “Your choice of words… fine, I’ll take it as a compliment.”

Shi Zong: “Before using Wu Yunxi to deal with your father, how much did you investigate him? Did he mention anything special when teaching you the resurrection?”

“I don’t know much… I trust him because he saved my friend and helped save many citizens,” Zuo Sanqiu said.

His friend, a doctor, was once severely injured by a fox spirit, saved by Wu Yunxi. They later cured a plague in Yunshui Town together and went to the Dao Inquiry Conference.

“My friend invited Wu Yunxi to the Conference,” Zuo Sanqiu said. “I see him as compassionate, like my friend. He risked himself to save so many, so I trust him. He’s from the southern border and likely has no relation to Late Star Valley. How he met Cang Hai, I don’t know.”

After a pause, Zuo Sanqiu sped up his words, recalling an important detail.

“Regarding resurrection, I asked Wu Yunxi carefully before learning it. He said it was taught by a very important friend. His words were quite poignant.”

Zuo Sanqiu recalled Wu Yunxi saying:

“He was born with talent, controlling animals, understanding birds and insects. But cursed, never leaving his homeland.

“He can revive dead beasts, birds, even humans. People say he is neither mortal nor immortal, but I think he’s a descendant of ancient gods. His grace surpasses even the immortals.

“Sadly… he revived so many, but not himself.

“Though he patiently taught me, I only learned a bit. I can revive your mother, many people… but not the one I care about most.

“Because their body was completely destroyed.”

Zuo Sanqiu spoke faster: “So… it fits! This very important person is Cang Hai!

“Cang Hai truly was burned to death. Also, his resurrection technique was taught by Cang Hai. Furthermore, according to Wu Yunxi, the Late Star Clan was born with divine power but guarded Late Star Valley for generations, never entering Central Plains, cursed to never leave that land.”

“Mm,” Shi Zong nodded. “This also proves that Ji Rongrong in the Central Plains is not Cang Hai. She shouldn’t even be Late Star Clan. Her intersex trait must have another cause.”

A hundred years ago, in the immortal-demon war, Zhao Liuer, Zhai Yuntian, Zhongli Zhenhai, and Xuanyuan He sought the Water

Cang Hai, born with divine power and the ability to bring the dead back to life, once taught the resurrection technique to Wu Yunxi.

However, Wu Yunxi only learned the basics, able to manipulate strings to control corpses of the living, but incapable of truly reviving the dead.

He couldn’t bring back Cang Hai, whose body had been burned, nor could he even make him into a puppet.

A hundred years later, Wu Yunxi suddenly appeared, seemingly to avenge his friend Cang Hai, using the Dao Inquiry Conference to spread fame and secretly teaching the resurrection technique, making corpse after corpse come back to life in the hands of cultivators.

This is roughly the outline of the story.

Shi Zong still had two unresolved questions—

First, who exactly is Ji Rongrong?

Second, within the Late Star Clan, since everyone has divine power, how could Zhao Liuer and the others have exterminated the entire clan?

Regarding the second question, Shi Zong quickly found the answer in Zhongli Zhenhai’s room.

He discovered a notebook of Zhongli Zhenhai, which recorded the uses of the Water Light Pearl and secrets about the Late Star Clan.

【The Water Light Pearl can summon water and wind. The Late Star Clan relies on it to survive and continue their lineage.】

【Rumor says the Late Star Clan offended heaven and should have been destroyed long ago. They were punished to live forever in Late Star Valley because the gods prophesied a great black storm that would take every Late Star Clan member’s life.】

【With the Water Light Pearl, the black storm was delayed, allowing the Late Star Clan to survive until now…】

So… it seems the Four Great Families did not directly destroy the Late Star Clan.

Rather, after deceiving Cang Hai into giving them the Water Light Pearl, the black storm descended on Late Star Valley.

The Late Star Clan couldn’t leave that land; leaving meant death. So they all perished in the desert storm.

Shi Zong thought, now he only had one question left unanswered—

Where had Ji Rongrong gone?

As Shi Zong was about to investigate the Flowing Cloud Pavilion in detail with Zuo Sanqiu and He Zhen, he suddenly heard a voice.

“Not good! Not good! Oh my god! Is anyone there! Is anyone!!”

It was Zhao Liuer’s voice.

Shi Zong and Zuo Sanqiu exchanged a glance and quickly left the pavilion, following the voice.

Of course, before leaving, he finally untied the sash covering He Zhen’s eyes.

He Zhen couldn’t help but think of that dream—or rather, their past lives.

Back then, as Emperor Song, he had seemingly tied Mingyue’s eyes, which seemed quite bullying. So Shi Zong, with a strong sense of revenge, decided to retaliate.

Out of Zuo Sanqiu’s view, He Zhen silently put away the sash and, pretending to be stiff as a puppet, quickly followed Shi Zong.

The three soon arrived at a pavilion by the lake.

There, to their surprise, was a third corpse.

It was Zhai Yuntian, collapsed in a kneeling position in a pool of blood.

His knees touched the ground, his head hanging heavily downward, a dagger in his chest, hands naturally down, blood in the palm of his right hand, suggesting suicide.

In front of him lay a note, seemingly written by him:

“Once the Water Light Pearl was stolen from the Late Star Clan, the black storm would descend on Late Star Valley, and the clan could never escape, only perish in it…

“But if I hadn’t taken the Water Light Pearl, countless civilians would die at the hands of the demon clan. I only did it to save my people. How could I be wrong?

“Yet, looking back a hundred years later, the more I think, the more I realize that our looting of the Late Star Clan’s spiritual artifact is no different from the demon clan invading humans.

“The demons plunder for their own benefit, we for the human benefit—essentially, the same nature.

“So, was I really not wrong?

“When the black storm struck Late Star Valley, I watched from afar. For over a hundred years, I’ve dreamt of that night, feeling the cold of the sand, seeing Late Star Clan after Late Star Clan buried alive in the sand…

“The thought fills me with guilt and fear.

“Now, with Brother Xuanyuan and Brother Zhongli gone, perhaps this is retribution.

“I’ve decided to end this life myself, accompanying my two brothers to the underworld and atoning to the Late Star Clan!”

Shi Zong and Zuo Sanqiu finished reading the note and quickly examined the corpse.

During this, Shi Zong noticed Zhao Liuer’s legs weakened, and she stumbled to her knees near Zhai Yuntian’s body, face pale, shoulders trembling.

“Three of the Four Great Families… already dead. Next… will it be me…”

Zhao Liuer’s eyes widened. “I never expected that the danger would start this early, right as the investigation begins. Do we… we… have time? We…

“I beg you, let’s just press the red button now, okay? It doesn’t matter if we vote for the wrong culprit; we need to start the vote and end the game quickly…”

“Calm down.”

Shi Zong looked at her expressionlessly, without a trace of sympathy.

“I don’t know what kind of scenario you’re playing, but in the last one I played, voting for the correct culprit could trigger mass killings among players.

“So starting the vote, while quickly pushing the instance to the end, doesn’t guarantee a good outcome.

“To survive in the game, tears and pleading won’t help. Don’t rely on others’ sympathy.

“Wipe your tears. Stand up and find the truth.

“Think carefully about what happened a hundred years ago. Any discoveries, tell me immediately.

“You’re the only one left who experienced the Water Light Pearl and visited Late Star Valley. If you miss something and more players die, those lives will be on your conscience.”

Zhao Liuer turned even paler.

Seeing this, Zuo Sanqiu clicked his tongue twice at Shi Zong.

Shi Zong glanced at him coldly. “Do you have a problem with that?”

“No!” Zuo Sanqiu quickly said. “I just think… you’re so handsome, yet single. Now I understand why—you’re too harsh with girls. You don’t understand charm at all.”

“Enough nonsense.”

Shi Zong’s gaze remained cold. “If your sympathy is overflowing and you want to save her, go gather the others for follow-up action.

“The murderer who killed Zhongli Zhenhai and Ji Rongrong is uncertain, but Zhai Yuntian’s death is likely tied to Wu Yunxi.

“Soon after this investigation started, he disappeared. He might be picking off isolated players, posing the risk of death—or at least one of them.”

Zuo Sanqiu immediately became serious. “I understand. I’ll go now. You continue here; we’ll meet at Auspicious Cloud Hall later?”

“Mm.” Shi Zong didn’t speak further, continuing to examine Zhai Yuntian’s body.

After a while, a calmer Zhao Liuer glanced at Shi Zong a few more times, likely finding it terrifying to stay close, and decisively got up to follow Zuo Sanqiu.

“Tsk, even San San gets chased by girls one day,”

Shi Zong remarked. “Looks like I make a good foil.”

He then looked at He Zhen with a faint smile and asked, “Fourth Sister, tell me, am I really that clueless about charm?”

He Zhen paused, then asked, “Why don’t you tell me first—what do you mean by ‘charm’?”

Shi Zong: “…………”

Ignoring the wooden puppet, Shi Zong tore open Zhai Yuntian’s chest and carefully examined the stab wound.

Then he thought of something and lifted Zhai Yuntian’s head for closer inspection.

No one was around, and He Zhen’s movements were slightly larger than usual.

He walked around the lakeside pavilion and said to Shi Zong, “Did you notice? The resurrected Ji Rongrong is gone. She—”

“She’s suspicious,” Shi Zong said.

Hearing this, He Zhen entered the pavilion and almost collided with Shi Zong holding Zhai Yuntian’s head close.

From He Zhen’s perspective, they almost kissed.

“You—” He Zhen quickly stepped forward, just as Shi Zong released Zhai Yuntian.

“Did you… find something?”

He quickly changed the subject, seemingly hiding something, and coughed twice while clenching his fists.

Shi Zong looked at him suspiciously and said, “There’s a red mark on Zhai Yuntian’s mouth. I remembered Ji Rongrong’s lips—she wore that color.

“Also, I just carefully observed the angle of the stab… help Zhai Yuntian stand up.”

Zhai Yuntian had just died, rigor mortis hadn’t set, and He Zhen, being taller, could support him upright.

Once He Zhen held him, Shi Zong squatted slightly to appear at the same height as Ji Rongrong.

Then he gestured with his fist at Zhai Yuntian. “If Ji Rongrong held a dagger, she could make this wound.”

He Z