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墨書 Inktalez
The Red-Clothed Woman moved with the grace of a swan, her flowing garments billowing as if she were a celestial being descending to the mortal realm.
Yet her movements were as swift as lightning and as fierce as a whirlwind, vanishing from sight after just a few fleeting motions, leaving behind only a vivid, striking red afterimage that lingered in the air like a burning flame.
At that moment, Xuan Yang felt as though he had been mercilessly crushed by a ferocious beast from ancient times. His internal organs seemed to have been violently displaced, and every part of his body was filled with excruciating pain.
He gritted his teeth, enduring the agony as he struggled to sit up.
“Hiss…” However, even the slightest movement sent waves of piercing pain surging through him, overwhelming him like a flood breaking its dam.
The intensity of the pain was so sudden and fierce that it drew a sharp gasp from him, leaving his face pale as paper.
Just then, Qu Si Yang hurriedly stepped forward, extending her hands to carefully support the swaying Xuan Yang.
Her once-clear eyes were now filled with concern as she anxiously gazed at him, softly asking, “Xuan Yang, what’s wrong? Is your injury serious?” As she spoke, her delicate hand gently brushed against Xuan Yang’s slightly pale face, as if trying to alleviate his suffering with her tender touch.
“I… I’m not dead yet,” Xuan Yang managed to force out a smile that was more grotesque than crying while using his hands to push against the ground to slowly sit up.
His face, already pale as paper, twisted further in agony as he stubbornly endured the waves of pain coursing through him. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, but he clenched his teeth tightly, refusing to let out even a whimper of pain for fear of alarming Qu Si Yang beside him.
“It’s just… I’m a bit exhausted. It’s nothing serious; don’t worry too much!” Though Xuan Yang spoke lightly, he was acutely aware that the injuries he had sustained far exceeded what he could bear. If it weren’t for his sheer willpower keeping him conscious at this moment, he would have likely fainted long ago.
Hearing Xuan Yang’s feigned bravado, Qu Si Yang’s eyes instantly welled up with tears.
How could she not see that Xuan Yang was enduring immense suffering?
Recalling the heart-stopping battle they had just faced, she knew that if it hadn’t been for the mysterious Red-Clothed Woman’s timely intervention, both of them would likely have met their demise by now.
As she thought of this, Qu Si Yang couldn't help but feel a wave of fear wash over her, causing her to tremble slightly.
She hurriedly walked over to Xuan Yang's side, crouched down, and gently supported him. Then, she wrapped her arms tightly around his somewhat frail body, as if doing so could provide him with some strength and comfort.
Feeling the warmth and softness of the embrace from the beautiful woman in his arms, Xuan Yang's heart, which had been tense and anxious, gradually began to calm down.
"I was really scared just now! Thankfully that senior appeared in time; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable!" Qu Si Yang murmured, her voice filled with a sense of relief and gratitude for having survived.
"Yes, who exactly is that senior?" Xuan Yang also felt deeply puzzled by this.
The appearance of the Red-Clothed Woman had been so abrupt that there had been no warning whatsoever.
Moreover, the immense power she displayed was astonishing and hard to believe.
Her fierce techniques and unfathomable cultivation level made one question whether she truly belonged to the mortal realm; she seemed more like a divine warrior descended from the heavens.
"Whoever she is, she saved our lives, and we must repay this kindness no matter what. Once my injuries heal, I will do everything I can to find her and thank her in person!" Xuan Yang thought to himself.
However, at this moment, what was most urgent for them was not to uncover the identity of the Red-Clothed Woman but rather to quickly unveil the secrets hidden behind the Puppet Heart—after all, this was the true purpose of their perilous journey here.
Guided by an ancient and yellowed map, they had endured countless hardships to finally arrive at the legendary and extremely concealed Ruins Entrance.
Before them lay a desolate scene; weeds grew wildly, thickly layered and densely packed, nearly completely obscuring the entire entrance.
The tall wild grasses swayed gently in the breeze, producing a soft rustling sound, as if whispering the long-hidden secrets of this place.
More striking were the thick vines that coiled around the stone walls at the entrance like gigantic serpents. Their sinuous bodies intertwined with the hard rock, creating a bizarre and mysterious scene.
From a distance, the entrance surrounded by weeds and vines resembled a mysterious gateway to another world, exuding an aura that was both intriguing and intimidating.
Xuan Yang extended his hand, carefully brushing aside the obstructing grass, and leaned closer to the entrance, focusing intently on his observations.
His brow gradually furrowed as he murmured, “This place… seems to have existed for quite a long time.” Hearing this, Qu Si Yang hurriedly stepped forward, equally intent on examining the entrance and its surroundings.
After a moment, she couldn’t help but exclaim, “Yes, look at these vine roots; they’re almost as thick as my arm! If they hadn’t grown for decades or even longer, they could never have reached this size.”
The two exchanged glances, each catching a hint of seriousness in the other’s eyes.
Clearly, facing this relic filled with unknown dangers made them both feel somewhat anxious.
However, their strong curiosity ultimately overcame their fear. Xuan Yang took a deep breath to steady himself and resolutely stepped forward into the cave.
Seeing this, Qu Si Yang followed closely behind without hesitation. Together, they cautiously entered the enigmatic ruins, maintaining a heightened sense of alertness as they embarked on a thrilling adventure.
Inside the ruins was pitch black; one could not see their hand in front of their face. The air was thick with a damp, decaying odor that felt oppressive.
Qu Si Yang pulled out a Night Pearl from her pocket; its gentle glow instantly dispelled the darkness and illuminated their surroundings.
They found themselves in a narrow corridor, its walls etched with strange runes. These runes twisted and contorted, resembling some ancient script or mysterious patterns, exuding an aura of age and enigma that sent chills down their spines.
"What... what is this place?" Qu Si Yang's voice trembled as she clutched Night Pearl tightly, as if it could offer her a semblance of safety.
"I don't know, but one thing is certain: this place is anything but ordinary," Xuan Yang replied, his expression grave. He sensed that a monumental secret lay hidden within this relic.
As they proceeded down the corridor, ancient stone statues loomed on either side. Each statue was unique in form; some resembled humans yet were not, others appeared beast-like but were not quite animals. Some had fierce visages while others bore solemn expressions. Under the illumination of Night Pearl, they appeared particularly eerie, as if they might spring to life at any moment.
"These statues... why do they feel like they're watching us?" Qu Si Yang's voice dropped even lower as she pressed closer to Xuan Yang, fearing that the statues might suddenly pounce.
"Don't be afraid; I'm here," Xuan Yang reassured her. Although he felt a twinge of unease himself, he knew he had to remain composed at that moment.
Suddenly, they entered a vast hall that was far larger than they had anticipated. The walls were still adorned with those peculiar runes, and in the center stood a massive stone slab towering over three meters high, densely inscribed with text like a gigantic page from a book.
Qu Si Yang raised Night Pearl to illuminate the writing on the slab.
"Could this... could this be the history of the Puppet Sect?!" Xuan Yang exclaimed as he recognized the characters on the slab. Though ancient, they bore similarities to the texts he had seen in old books back in his village. After deciphering them further, he confirmed his suspicions, and his heart filled with astonishment.
"Puppet Sect? What is that?" Qu Si Yang asked, bewildered; she had never heard of such a name before.
"An ancient and mysterious sect," Xuan Yang explained. "Legend has it that they mastered a secret technique to control Puppet Masters, wielding immense power. It is said that the Puppet Heart is their greatest treasure, possessing incredible abilities."
As they carefully read the inscriptions on the slab, an astonishing secret began to surface.
The slab recorded that the Puppet Sect was established centuries ago to combat the Shadow Force. They possessed powerful abilities to control Puppet Masters—some crafted from metal, others carved from wood or stone, and even those forged from flesh and blood—each one immensely powerful and serving as a crucial force for safeguarding world peace.
However, in a decisive battle with the Shadow Force hundreds of years ago, the Puppet Sect suffered a devastating blow. The sect leader mysteriously vanished, and the Puppet Heart also went missing. From that moment on, the Puppet Sect fell into decline and gradually disappeared from the annals of history.
What shocked Xuan Yang even more was that the tablet recorded that the traitor of the Puppet Sect was none other than Lu Zhiyuan!
"Lu... Lu Zhiyuan... was actually a traitor of the Puppet Sect? He hid it so well?" Xuan Yang murmured in disbelief, his heart filled with shock and confusion, as if countless ants were crawling inside him, making him restless.
He had always thought that the Village Chief was the protector of the village. He was kind and gentle, treating everyone in the village like family. But after everything he had experienced, it became clear how Lu Zhiyuan could be a traitor of the Puppet Sect.
In addition to Lu Zhiyuan's identity, the tablet also recorded how to unlock the power of the Puppet Heart.
"With blood as a guide, with souls as offerings, one must sacrifice what is most important in their heart to obtain the true power of the Puppet Heart." Xuan Yang read this sentence from the tablet word by word, each word striking his heart like a heavy hammer.
"Sacrifice what is most important in one's heart? What does that mean?" Qu Si Yang asked in confusion, her face filled with uncertainty.
"I... I don't know either." Xuan Yang furrowed his brow, filled with doubt and unease. The meaning of those words was all too clear: to gain the true power of the Puppet Heart, one must pay an extremely painful price.
What was most important to him?
Was it his father and mother? Was it Qu Si Yang, who had grown up alongside him?
He dared not think further; the cost was simply too great for him to bear.
"Xuan Yang, what's wrong? Why do you look so pale?" Qu Si Yang noticed something was off with Xuan Yang. Concern filled her clear eyes as she gently held his hand, seemingly wanting to give him some strength.
"Nothing... nothing at all." Xuan Yang shook his head, forcing down his doubts and anxieties. He managed to squeeze out a faint smile. "Let's keep moving forward and see what other secrets lie deep within this ruin."
They left the hall and continued deeper into the ruins.
What secrets awaited them in the depths of the ruins?
"To abandon the most important thing in your heart..." This phrase echoed in Xuan Yang's mind like a spell, persistent and inescapable, leaving him feeling unsettled.
What was the most important thing to him?
He didn't know, and he didn't dare to think about it.
He was afraid—afraid of losing the most important person in his life.
He was afraid—afraid of losing himself.
He was afraid—afraid of becoming someone he no longer recognized, a cold, heartless monster who turned his back on everyone.
"Xuan Yang... Xuan Yang..." Qu Si Yang's voice pulled Xuan Yang from his reverie, tinged with urgency.
"Wha... what is it?" Xuan Yang came back to himself and asked.
"Look over there!" Qu Si Yang pointed ahead, her tone filled with astonishment.
Following Qu Si Yang's gesture, Xuan Yang saw a massive stone door not far ahead. The door stood closed, towering over five zhang high, nearly reaching the top of the passage. It was covered in strange runes that resembled those they had seen earlier in the corridor, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura that instilled fear in those who gazed upon it.
"What... what is this place?" Xuan Yang was also struck by the sight before him; he had never seen such a colossal stone door.
"I don't know, but... I feel that there must be something important hidden behind this door," Qu Si Yang's voice trembled slightly. Her intuition told her that the greatest secret of this ruin might lie just beyond the stone door.
The two exchanged a glance, both seeing the gravity reflected in each other's eyes.
"Let's go take a look," Xuan Yang said, taking a deep breath as he stepped forward toward the stone door.
Qu Si Yang followed closely behind, and together they approached the entrance.
Suddenly, an unexpected change occurred!
The once dim and lifeless runes on the stone door suddenly came to life, bursting forth with dazzling light. A powerful wave of energy surged from within the door, sweeping across the entire ruin with a low humming sound.
Then, to their astonishment, the massive stone door began to slowly open with a thunderous rumble, as if a giant beast that had slept for a thousand years was finally awakening.
What secrets lay hidden within that door?
Xuan Yang and Qu Si Yang exchanged another glance, filled with both curiosity and anticipation, but more importantly, wariness.
They cautiously stepped through the stone door, and in an instant, a tremendous force pulled them inside, as if an invisible hand had dragged them into another world.
Their figures vanished within the door as it slowly closed behind them, plunging the ruin back into silence, as if nothing had ever happened.
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