Chapter 58 058 It turns out that the puppetry has been completed...
Ah Huai woke up earlier than Zhuang Rong'er.
In other words, he did not fall into a state of pure unconsciousness from the beginning.
In the snow, at the foot of the dead tree, in the arms of the giant python, he can sense everything.
He simply couldn't move, as if the power in his body, while sweeping away everything, also imprisoned him. He didn't even regain control until after being brought back to the Destroying Valley by the little snake. And to this day, the state of control and being restrained is still intermittent and intertwined.
Sometimes he successfully controlled his body and was able to take action, taking the unconscious Zhuang Rong'er back to her room to recuperate.
Sometimes he would suddenly break off control - for example, when he was halfway through feeding Zhuang Rong'er medicine, he would collapse beside her, and she would mistake him for a dead body that had already gone cold.
“…”
Ah Huai blinked silently.
He knew very well that he was no longer a normal "living person". He didn't even have a breath or pulse that could be detected by Zhuang Rong'er.
But he was not like Li Ruohui, whose bones could not decay, nor was he one of those living dead infected with corpse poison at Hanzhou's feet.
What is he now?
Is it a monster?
Is it an existence more twisted than the evil zombie that transcends the five elements?
Ah Huai felt that he should leave.
He couldn't control himself and ended up hurting Zhuang Rong'er, causing her five senses to be shut down. If he continued to stay here, it would cause her more trouble.
But on the other hand, he couldn't seem to leave yet.
He vaguely knew that his disappearance would cause Zhuang Rong'er to collapse.
To be precise, it was the disappearance of this body like "Jing Huai" that would cause her collapse.
Only when he truly becomes a puppet, will Zhuang Rong'er find peace and liberation.
Ah Huai stared at the ceiling silently, feeling a chill seeping into his body that was numbed by the pain. In this definitely not pleasant experience, he gradually resumed the clenching of his fingers, but did not choose to sit up from the couch.
A few small paper figures hurried in from outside the unlocked door, diligently carrying objects that were several times larger than themselves.
As dead objects controlled by puppet worms, they only know how to obey and execute, and do not know how to question and explore.
They didn't care about his awake state, and followed Zhuang Rong'er's instructions to prepare the prerequisite medicines needed for puppetry.
The round jade bead was probably used for preservation. When this thing was stuffed into Ah Huai's mouth, he just lay there as if he was being slaughtered, without any resistance.
He couldn't deny that he had the idea of giving up.
Zhuang Rong'er was too decisive and straightforward in the face of his murderous intent, with a kind of stubbornness that could not be changed no matter how hard one tried.
...Just try to be made into a puppet. If successful, it will prove that this is his fate. He owes Zhuang Rong'er his life. The extra time he survives should be considered a gift. He can't just leave - if that's the case, how will Zhuang Rong'er survive?
Ah Huai was sure that she lived for a certain obsession.
And he seemed willing to oblige.
The jade exuded a spreading coolness in her mouth, reaching his internal organs that were in constant pain, but this did not have a temporary or calming effect. Instead, it seemed to cause a rejection of the power in his body, causing an even hotter fire to ignite.
But he closed his eyes.
He acquiesced and approved of everything that happened thereafter.
…
Zhuang Rong'er went to the attic, where the space formation leading to the ancient battlefield of Hunxu was set up, but she chose not to step into it.
Things have developed to this point, and she is afraid that she no longer has the courage to face the Jing Huai stone statue.
She came to prepare for the performance of puppetry.
Being blind was a real hindrance, causing her to identify medicines much slower than before, forcing her to smell or even taste them to ensure the exact dosage.
Sometimes she would have vague thoughts, wondering if Jing Huai had felt the same way as she did before?
He has been affected by eye disease all year round. Even if he told her that he "can see", his vision must be different from that of ordinary people. Otherwise, why would he blindfold himself?
...Is it because my eye color is different from others?
Every time she thought of this, her hands would suddenly tremble, she would become upset, forget the ratio of the medicine powder, and would be unable to calm down for a long time.
Later, she forced herself not to think about it, and for this she even recalled in her mind the forgotten fragments of her contact with Jing Huai that she had never wanted to recall.
Think about their first encounter in the Thousand-Eyed Forest, the red silk that rolled out of the river, the sword tassel beside the pillow, the blood-stained Qiansihong and his handkerchief, and the mechanical bird that fell into her palm at the full moon night banquet and was eventually lost?
Hadn't the mechanical bird flown clumsily towards her in a corridor bathed in morning light?
At that time, he was still standing by the window in the backlight and looking at her.
...Is that him?
Who is that...?
“Snap—”
The prepared medicine powder in his hand fell completely, and the porcelain bottle broke with a crisp sound.
The fragments exploded at Zhuang Rong'er's feet, and her tightly pursed lips were finally forced to open as if she couldn't breathe, absorbing oxygen.
Her eyes were fixed in mid-air with an empty look, her fingers clasped tightly on the edge of the table to support her body which suddenly could not stand.
"Valley Master..."
The disciples waiting outside the door exchanged glances and looked at the closed door anxiously.
Two days ago, Shui Jue hurriedly came to Cuihuan Valley and scolded the few lazy servants and stupid disciples in the valley, making them realize that the valley master had already returned and needed care, and then hurried away.
The disciples who had been criticized all knew that the Valley Master was now unable to move around easily, but she had always been cold-hearted and didn't like to get close to her, so they had no chance to serve her at all. Even at this moment, after hearing the noise, they still didn't dare to break into the room.
Zhuang Rong'er suddenly rushed out from inside and flew in another direction with empty hands.
Only after the figure had gone far away did the gatekeeper disciple murmur, "What happened to the Valley Master?"
"Maybe there was a mistake in refining the medicine." Another person answered ignorantly.
None of them dared to look back at the scene inside the open door.
He also didn't know about the porcelain fragments and medicine powder scattered on the ground, and the insect corpses scattered everywhere - the crystals that Zhuang Rong'er had carefully ground for several days.
Ruined, because she no longer needs it?
…
Ah Huai has been lying in the ice coffin for two days.
During this period, Zhuang Rong'er never came once.
He guessed that her next appearance would probably be the day when the puppetry was performed.
By then, I don’t know whether her eyes had recovered to normal, and I don’t know whether the injuries she suffered at the foot of Wanjian Mountain had fully healed.
It would be better for him to wait for the magic to ferment in his body like a real corpse. Regardless of whether it works or not, he will stay by her side like a puppet until the moment she no longer needs him.
So, when he felt Zhuang Rong'er coming, he remained motionless, waiting for certain changes to occur in his body, or prepared to disguise those changes that failed to take effect - not to make Zhuang Rong'er sad.
He could feel her gaze on him, but it was difficult to tell what she was feeling at the moment.
The long period of silence even made him fall into a chaos of memories.
There were very few things he could recall, and Zhuang Rong'er was involved in every scene.
…It would be better to bury all these thoughts and cut off consciousness by myself.
Ah Huai was completely empty-headed until he heard a broken syllable that sounded not very nice, like a sob or a whimper... Was Zhuang Rong'er crying?
Before he could judge what was happening, his wrist was suddenly grabbed.
At this moment, Ah Huai was even glad that he was trapped in this strange monster state, which would not expose his body's sudden stiffness, nor would there be disordered breathing and violent heartbeats to reveal his "aliveness".
Zhuang Rong'er's hand was tightly clasped on his wrist. Unlike the strength she used to check his pulse, she almost wanted to crush something. However, he did not feel any pain, but was just overwhelmed by a feeling of helplessness and unbearableness.
"Get up." He heard Zhuang Rong'er say.
Her voice was hoarse, and he still couldn't tell whether she had cried or not. He just slowly recognized her words and thought that the puppetry had been completed.
He did not feel any physical or mental suppression or constraints, and he was indeed not affected by the magic.
This will probably disappoint Zhuang Rong'er.
"stand up."
Another hoarse voice sounded in his ears, and the emotion contained in it was like a begging. Accompanied by a faint pulling force on his wrist, Ah Huai subconsciously opened his eyes and half-sat up obediently.
His eyes automatically locked onto Zhuang Rong'er, and he pretended to be expressionless - as a puppet should be, but in fact he was anxious to check her condition.
What's wrong with her?
She couldn't understand Zhuang Rong'er's emotions.
There was no trace of relief on her face, she just stared in his direction, her eyes still covered with mist seemed to be filled with water broken by the wind, filled with a kind of water light that made him dare not look directly at it.
He had never seen Zhuang Rong'er with such an expression before. Even when they first met in the golden cage of Changbao Pavilion, she had never shown such an indescribable emotion.
He simply stood up and leaned against the ice coffin. During the process, Zhuang Rong'er seemed to be frozen, and he noticed that her breathing stopped for more than a moment.
The next second, she suddenly threw herself into his arms.
The unexpected warmth hit his chest, and Ah Huai's body shook, but he didn't know where to put his hands hanging by his sides.
She put her arms around his waist, like a survivor escaping from a quagmire, clinging to the driftwood that saved her life without asking for anything else, and pressed her whole body against him.
Ah Huai's throat tightened and he stood there like a piece of wood.
Until he heard her muffled instructions again, her hot breath pressing against his chest:
"Hold me."
The voice was so soft that it was almost inaudible, but it struck him harder than any spell, making it impossible for him to disobey.
Ah Huai slowly raised his hand, his movement still as stiff as he imagined a puppet should be, but in the end it uncontrollably turned into the arc of a hug.
He hugged her.
Gently, as if afraid of waking up a dream.
Then she gradually tightened her grip, fearing that he would never have another chance to get so close.
He has always had a good learning ability and can easily comprehend physical skills and sword techniques and imitate the moves of his opponents in battle. However, at this moment, imitating the puppet's actions became extremely clumsy.
The pain in my body had eased in recent days, and now it felt more like it had completely subsided.
He also greedily thought, if this hug could last just one more second...
However, a third, decisive command rang out: "Kiss me."
“……?”
Ah Huai was slightly startled, and the head in his arms also raised up. When the distance between them widened, he felt lost for a moment, but just pretended to be indifferent.
The two seconds of silence were like a brief confrontation. Ah Huai stared at Zhuang Rong'er's lips, and his fingertips curled slightly - this was the biggest flaw in the whole scene, but it was not discovered. He clearly felt that his brain was blank, and he could only bend down as if nothing had happened.
Zhuang Rong'er came forward faster than him, her lips were so recklessly aggressive that he was sure he had lost all his strength the moment they touched his.
Even those disobedient spiritual powers were paralyzed and surrendered.
If the heartbeat and breathing were still there, they would undoubtedly give him away completely.
Zhuang Rong'er's kiss was a little intense. He didn't struggle, nor did he respond gently. He was silent and still, never showing any unnecessary personal will - and this was already his best effort.
He felt a slight sourness in his heart, probably because while she was kissing him, Zhuang Rong'er's tears kept falling like broken strings, and he could taste the bitterness and saltiness flowing through her lips and tongue.
Why did she keep crying? Even when his hand gently brushed the tears from her cheek, she couldn't stop crying...
Wait... brush past?
He... couldn't help but raise his hand to wipe her tears, but this didn't seem to be her order.
Ah Huai's hand slowly withdrew to his side, and his body froze. This kiss, which could not be called a kiss, ended because Zhuang Rong'er pushed him away - did she notice?
Tears slid down her eyelashes and fell on his chest. The atmosphere froze for a moment, like a boat floating on the water after a storm, swaying but not sinking.
suddenly--
Several hurried footsteps were heard outside, followed by a hesitant call: "Valley Master...someone from the Great Freedom Hall has arrived outside the valley, requesting to see you."
The visitor's voice was windy and anxious, but he did not rush in rashly. He only reported through the stone gate.
Zhuang Rong'er gently pushed Ah Huai away and took half a step back.
She raised her hand and wiped her cheek to hide the redness of her nose and eyes, and said calmly: "I know."
His tone returned to its usual cool and crisp tone, but with a strong nasal tone.
Then she looked up at Ah Huai.
To be precise, it was tilting its head in his direction.
Ah Huai was still leaning against the ice coffin, his eyelashes drooping without saying a word. He looked less like a human being and more like a puppet without strings tied to it.
He was sure that Zhuang Rong'er was still blind, but she seemed to have seen through his disguise and burst into laughter.
There was a hint of tiredness in his smile, but also a sense of relief that he had finally found a way out of the dead end.
"Puppet, stay here for now."
She whispered, then turned and walked out.
“…”
Ah Huai slowly raised his head and looked at the stone door that had been closed again. Finally, a hint of unsuppressible surprise and excitement appeared in his eyes.
After the sound of Zhuang Rong'er's footsteps completely disappeared, he raised his hand to cover the collar of her shirt where she had just rested her head on her chest.
Hot and humid.
He seemed to understand something too.
My heart was hit softly.
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