Chapter 7 The Madman.
To open one's heart completely—there's probably no one in the world who can do that.
Shi Mi's words were merely a deliberate attempt to make things difficult and intimidate the Grand Tutor. Although she admired his pride, she also disliked his arrogance. She was confident that this tactic would defeat him, at least letting him know his strength, but in the end, he did not follow any of the rules.
He declined her offer, saying, "I wouldn't dare trouble you, young lady."
Shimi thought he had misheard. "Don't you dare trouble yourself? Does that mean you don't need my help?"
He looked away without answering.
Now I have to admit I'm impressed. She clicked her tongue and said, "It hurts a lot to have your heart removed, especially when it's still raw. Have you ever had one removed before? Do you know that when the knife tip pierces your body, the excruciating pain and blood loss will follow, and you'll lose consciousness very quickly? Also, you have to saw through your sternum, cut open your pericardium, and then carefully remove the heart intact... Oh dear, it's really difficult. Are you sure you don't need my help?"
The description was so terrifying; at least make him back down. But he remained stubborn, saying casually, "I endure excruciating pain every day, even feeling like my flesh is being ripped out and my heart is being torn out. But that can't compare to the pain I've suffered over the years. The resilience of people is beyond imagination. I'd also like to try and see just how far I can consciously go."
Shimi realized that arguing with him was just asking for trouble, so she gave him a disapproving look and said, "I think you're just bragging."
He raised his chin slightly and straightened his spine. "Whether it's boasting or not, we'll soon find out. My ribs are almost completely corroded; there's no need to saw them, they'll break easily. But the bleeding is indeed uncontrollable. Please have the lady bring a basin to catch it and take it to water the flowers."
Shi Mi finally couldn't hold back, gritted his teeth and cursed "madman," then turned and walked away.
The man in the armchair laughed silently. He had a verbal battle with the woman before he died, and he hadn't lost. It was truly unexpected.
After a while, the Puppeteer still hadn't shown up, presumably because the preparations were almost complete. Sure enough, the young woman reappeared every now and then, her face stern, and delivered the message: "Puppeteer invites the Grand Tutor inside."
Lu Min stood up, supporting himself on the handrail, and followed her into the deepest part of the hall. It was a small room with a dozen candles burning inside. Behind each candle was a bronze mirror, reflecting the light back and forth, making the room as bright as day.
As if it were their first meeting, the puppeteer stood behind a screen and instructed the young woman, "It's about time."
She knew the truth, so she lifted the shroud. The lifeless puppet lay there, its chest exposed, looking up at the sky. On a nearby table was a tray with a knife and a bowl of medicine. She picked up the bowl and handed it to him, saying, "Here, drink it."
Lu Min didn't answer. "Mafeisan or sleeping potion?"
Shimi frowned deeply. "You're not really planning to dissect me alive, are you? You'll be scared to death, if not in pain."
But he remained unmoved, saying, "This is a rare opportunity, so let me give it a try."
This is the spirit of "Under One Person"—they even intend to do things personally.
Ran Dian and Yan Dian, who were standing by, fell silent, staring blankly at Shi Mi. Shi Mi had no choice but to turn around and ask Yan Shi for permission. After receiving approval, he gave Ran Dian a wink, "Give him the knife."
A halberd, devoid of elaborate decorations, with a blade as thin as a cicada's wing, its edge polished to a gleaming shine. Lu Min took it, and in the cold light, his own face was reflected—pale and thin, almost unrecognizable.
Shimi was still observing, not believing that anyone truly attached to the mortal world would dare to plunge a knife into their own heart. But what was happening before her eyes made her strongly doubt her own perception. She watched as he opened his shirt and elegantly slashed open his chest with the knife. Blood seeped out along the path of the blade, dripping down, but he seemed oblivious, not even blinking.
Perhaps due to excessive arrogance, or perhaps due to a lack of trust in anyone, he actually endured the excruciating pain and placed his bleeding heart into the empty chest of the cyborg. Shimi grimaced and frowned at the sight, and before he collapsed, he had Ali Dao catch him.
Yan Dian stammered in fright: "My God, compared to him, he, he, he... he's the monster!"
Time was of the essence, and Shimi, no longer in shock, gestured for them to move the corpse out so that they could make room to carry out their business.
Before leaving, Ran Dian quickly wiped away the bloodstains on the edge of the table, asking, "What should we do with this body? Bury it?"
Shi Mi reached out and took the prepared sternum, covering the pounding heart. "Keep it for now, the puppeteer might still need it."
Everyone nodded, picked up the empty shell that the Grand Tutor had shed, and went out.
After everything was tidied up, the three sat side by side on the dark steps. Ali Dao asked, "Is the new bride Xiao Wu, or Grand Tutor Lu Min?"
Ran Dian said, "It depends on the situation. The one who is honest and obedient is Xiao Wu, while the one who is fierce is the Grand Tutor."
Yan Dian propped her chin on her hand and said, "What do we need to say? The Grand Tutor has already moved in! Otherwise, when he wakes up, we can send him a broom to sweep the floor, and we'll see."
Then Ran Dian and Yan Dian looked at Ali Dao together. The eyes of the Yan Ren were made of water-polished mirrors, which glowed with a faint blue light in the darkness.
Ali Dao was terrified and asked in alarm, "Why are you looking at me like that? You can give me the gift if you want, I don't care."
Ran Dian said, "Didn't you aspire to be a genuine person? Go and explore the truth; it will benefit your future."
Ali's thoughts changed quickly: "Suddenly, I don't want a future anymore."
Ran Dian and Yan Dian immediately looked down on him. Ran Dian said, "Forget it, I'll deliver it then. We're much more senior than him. What's there to be afraid of in a mere junior like him!"
After making some grand pronouncements, only melancholy remained. The three fell silent. Who wouldn't wish for a heart? With a heart, one could become incredibly intelligent, unlike ordinary puppeteers who needed to prolong their lives every two or three days. A half-puppet's body had blood and energy circulating, enough to sustain them for at least ten days. With time and gradual integration, they might even be able to maintain it for a month or two. Like Ami, it was rare to hear of her losing consciousness; every time they were resurrected, she was alive. She was the puppeteer's messenger and had now become his deputy, demonstrating her superior innate foundation—truly, she received preferential treatment.
The three of them sat there until midnight. After what seemed like an eternity, the sky slowly began to lighten, but the person in the dark room still hadn't come out.
Following Shimi's instructions, Ran Dian and Yan Dian prepared a quiet room for Lu Min to recuperate. The room needed little furnishing, with handrails everywhere for support. Once he regained his senses and strength, he would have to learn to use his new body and control his mind and limbs.
Everyone was confident that they would not fail, and after 7 a.m., Ah Mi finally stepped out of the hall.
Ali Dao stepped forward and asked, "Is your heart still beating?"
Shi Mi said, "Of course, Xiao Wu's face has regained its color... but we can't call him Xiao Wu anymore, he has a new name, he's a stranger now."
Another new person, brand new. Everyone was eager to visit, but fearing that too many people would cause a commotion, they lined up and took turns entering.
Lu Min lay motionless on the bed. Ali Dao touched his hand and said, "You're getting warmer."
Even before the master had officially blessed him, he was already able to raise his body temperature on his own, which shows that his future is limitless.
Yan Dian came in eagerly, "I want to see if his crotch looks like Xiao Wu's or if it's been modified to resemble the Grand Tutor's."
Shi Mi helplessly grabbed her restless hand, "He's a stranger now, you can't look at him like that."
Yan Dian asked, puzzled, "Why? Didn't you say that the puppeteer can't see through things hidden under clothes? What if he wakes up and finds that he looks different?"
Shi Mi was surprised by her profoundness. "Yan Dian, are you about to grow a brain? I asked the Puppeteer about this too. The Puppeteer said that the heart governs blood and qi, and blood and qi govern hair and muscle texture. As long as you can unite your mind and body, you will soon grow into the Grand Tutor."
Yan Dian was heartbroken after hearing this, "Xiao Wu has been replaced just like that, and he no longer exists."
Shimi said, "Not really. After all, they were transformed from Yanren, so they will always retain some Yanren habits. It will take some time for them to be completely transformed."
After Yan Dian left, Ran Dian came in. She stood to the side, observing him, and clicked her tongue, saying, "I feel like he's changed a bit... I can't quite put my finger on it, but he's just different." She paused, then asked Shi Mi, "He's going home in ten days. Will you go with him?"
Shimi said yes, "I've been busy all night just to marry him. I don't mind that he's a cripple, and I hope he won't be ungrateful and pick on me."
All that's left is to wait for him to wake up. He doesn't need much care; for the past few days he hasn't eaten, drunk, or used the toilet, just lying stiffly in bed, practically like a dead man.
Shi Mi understood this feeling; his body was like a huge black box, tightly locking him inside. His soul wanted to break free, feeling around the walls trying to find an exit, but there was no exit. The time hadn't come yet, so he could only wander around in circles like a trapped beast.
Waiting is always tedious, but luckily this room has a low, large window with a thick, wide frame. Sitting by the window, you can see the mountains and the sunset, as well as the sacred site called "Soaring East".
The circular sacred altar circled almost halfway through the air, supported by giant statues on both sides, with figures occasionally passing by. She had been back in Chong'an City for two years and had always wanted to visit that place, but unfortunately, she never had the chance. Now that her first goal had been achieved, she could rest a bit. When she had some free time, she would definitely climb up the upper covered walkway and stand higher; she wondered if she could see the Never-Night Sky a hundred miles away.
A sudden, muffled cough interrupted her reverie. She turned her head and saw that the person on the bed was showing signs of waking up, struggling to lift their eyelids.
She didn't move, not wanting to disturb him. After waiting for about half an incense stick's time, he finally opened his eyes. Only then did she slowly walk over, looking down at him. "Can you see my face clearly?"
Lu Min felt as if a giant boulder was pressing down on his body, his limbs weighing a ton, rendering him immobile. Fortunately, his eyes came back to life, allowing him to see clearly and hear his own breathing. Unable to make a sound, he simply blinked heavily in response.
Shimi said it well: "When a person awakens from chaos, they must go through the six senses. Your eye and ear senses have already been opened. Next are nose sense, tongue sense, body sense, and mind sense. When everything is fully restored, you will be a new you, able to run, jump, and sleep on your side."
These words flowed into Lu Min's ears, and even though it was just a routine notification, it made his throat tighten and his heart filled with mixed feelings.
Having endured unimaginable pain, he was prepared that he might never wake up again when his life came to an end. But when he suddenly felt the light, heard the wind outside the window, and gathered his scattered thoughts, he knew he had won the gamble.
The person by the bed observed for a while, then turned away, sat back on the windowsill, and muttered, "I thought it would take at least five or six days, but I didn't expect to wake up in three days. You're really an amazing person. Are you in a hurry? Why didn't you sleep for a couple more days? You woke up so early, I have to take care of your food and drink. Although I'm going to marry you sooner or later, I feel like I'm losing out by having to go through so much hardship so quickly."
The person lying in bed could neither move nor speak, perhaps feeling a sense of resentment like a tiger fallen into the plains, which could be seen in his eyes.
Shi Mi grinned, "What, are you angry? You got a great deal, what's there to be angry about? But I admire you, you managed to hold out until the very end, unlike me, one bowl of medicine and I knew nothing more." He paused, then added fuel to the fire, "By the way, your old body is still in the backyard. The bones were really brittle; when Ali Dao and the others moved it, they accidentally broke your arms and legs. Luckily, it was useless, so don't worry about it. What do you plan to do with it? Put it in a coffin and put up a tombstone, or bury it in the garden to use as fertilizer?"
A note from the author:
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200 small red envelopes~
The data from the new article makes me a little uneasy. Is it because I've been resting for too long, or is it because people aren't interested in this topic?
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