Chapter 93
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Chapter 93: The Art of Puppetry I Cannot Afford to Learn
Like a god gazing down at the world, or a gamer controlling their game from behind a screen.
At that moment, Mu Lin’s spiritual vision felt strangely detached.
This realization made his heart race.
*Is my transcendent talent activating? I’m being influenced!*
As this thought struck him, Mu Lin noticed something odd. When Puppet Master Meng Rui posed her question from the podium, every student around him answered with dreamy expressions.
Their responses varied wildly but revealed their truest thoughts:
“Puppetry’s safe. Let the puppet fight while I stay back…”
“Puppets? Just tools. Servants.”
“Even awakened puppets remain servants. Keep obedient ones, destroy rebels…”
“I’d befriend my puppet…”
“The strongest puppet is the perfect one…”
Within moments, the classroom buzzed with raw honesty. Even the listless boy Mu Lin had noticed earlier spoke bitterly:
“What’s a puppet? Doesn’t matter. If it helps my revenge, it’s perfect.”
Amid this chorus of eager voices, Mu Lin’s silence stood out. Puppet Master Meng Rui tilted her head toward him, intrigued.
“Curious. You resisted my persuasion. No wonder Dongfang Ya and the Chu family’s heir recommended you. Speak—what defines a puppet to you?”
Mu Lin hesitated. He sensed Meng Rui followed the emotional path—one seeking to nurture puppet sentience, treating them as kin. This philosophy wasn’t rare. In his past life, people had loved pets like family. For puppet masters spending years with their creations, such bonds made sense.
But not for him.
Skynet. Rogue AI. Machine uprisings. Stories from his old world warned where sentient constructs led. To Mu Lin, puppets were tools—cheap, efficient, disposable. This clashed directly with Meng Rui’s creed. Speaking honestly might anger her.
Yet lies would crumble eventually. Better truth now than betrayal later.
He straightened and answered.
“Teacher, I believe puppets are tools. My goal isn’t to make them develop feelings… The best puppet is one that’s obedient and efficient.”
“Hmph!”
Before Meng Rui could react, several maids behind her scowled in displeasure.
“Fool! We’re not tools!”
Their outburst made Mu Lin realize these weren’t human maids but puppets – and their anger proved they possessed emotions.
‘So she walks the path of emotional puppetry.’
Mu Lin knew he’d be sidelined from now on, but he didn’t regret his choice.
…
“Treating puppets as mere tools shows you lack vision,” said Meng Rui, the puppet master. “Still, your honesty deserves praise.”
After a pause, she added, “You may become my registered disciple.”
She then turned to other youths who’d spoken. Most had called puppets “servants,” faring worse than Mu Lin. While he gained registered status, they couldn’t even claim that title.
Yet Meng Rui didn’t dismiss them entirely. They could still learn her art of puppetry – for a hefty sum of Spirit Stones.
Mu Lin noticed most chose to stay despite the cost.
Some earned Meng Rui’s favor. A girl wanting puppet friendship became a registered disciple. A boy and girl matching Mu Lin’s answer were accepted due to personal connections.
The shock came when the brooding youth – who saw puppets as revenge tools – was named Meng Rui’s only inner disciple. She even gifted him an emotional puppet guard.
All eyes turned to speculate about this favored youth. Even Mu Lin wondered, though he quickly stifled his curiosity.
…
Lessons would start tomorrow. Today was free time.
Mu Lin meant to return to the Taoist Palace for cultivation, but Luo Shan stopped him. The other registered disciple proposed a group meal.
“We’re all Master Meng Rui’s students now – that’s fate! Let me treat everyone today.”
He specifically told Mu Lin and Miss Qiao: “Don’t argue – this meal’s on me.”
Hearing this, Qiao Huihui snorted coldly. "I’m not interested in playing house with you."
With that, she left immediately.
Mu Lin rolled his eyes at Luo Shan’s words and said bluntly:
"Can’t compete. I’m too poor to afford such things."
"Haha, Brother Mu jokes. Being accepted as Master Meng Rui’s registered disciple isn’t simple…"
Seeing the misunderstanding, Mu Lin clarified:
"Don’t mistake this. Master Meng Rui made an exception because of Teacher Dongfang Ya’s debt, not mine. That single favor’s already spent."
Learning Mu Lin wasn’t an aristocratic child like himself, Luo Shan’s attitude shifted slightly though he hid it well. He kept eagerly inviting everyone to feast.
The sole inner disciple Qin Yuan and puppet-enthusiast Weng Ya received special attention. Unfortunately, the resentment-filled Qin Yuan refused outright. When he left, Mu Lin made excuses and departed too.
After nighttime cultivation, Mu Lin arrived early next morning at Master Meng Rui’s small courtyard for lessons. To his disappointment, initial instruction came not from the master but her Twin Sisters.
These puppets resembled twelve-year-old girls, though their true power couldn’t be judged by appearance. The twin dolls treated Mu Lin’s group poorly, clearly frustrated at being seen as tools.
Despite their attitude, the Puppet Twin Sisters taught thoroughly, answering all questions. Through them, Mu Lin gained real knowledge.
"Fools! Remember – puppets have four parts: Energy Core, Thought Crystal, body frame, and external talisman formations. The Core and Crystal matter most – our heart and brain equivalents…"
After three days of learning, Mu Lin decided to abandon puppetry. The path proved too harsh. While Puppet Masters created stronger constructs with better materials and formations than paper figures, and used less energy thanks to embedded Spirit Stones, one fatal flaw remained – extreme cost.
Powerful puppets demanded rare materials. Operating them drained Spirit Stones constantly. Post-battle repairs demanded more coins. Puppet Masters essentially traded Spirit Stones for combat power directly.
"No wonder Master Meng Rui tolerates those rich kids – she needs their Spirit Stones too!"
This realization made Mu Lin appreciate paper folding’s advantages. "Paper figures might be weaker, but they’re cheap! One sheet summons instant combat power. When destroyed, I just make replacements."
"Did our ancestors choose paper for Vitality of the Living vessels just because it’s cheap? Surely not… right?"
