Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

Inside the room.

After much effort, Sun Lingtong finally managed to calm the two-year-old Ning Zhuo, feeling completely drained.

Taking advantage of Ning Zhuo leaving the room, his Adam's apple moved as he regurgitated the potion he had just drunk, storing it in his storage bag.

His tongue tasted the potion's flavor, discerning some of the ingredients.

"Twenty-year-old vigorous ginseng, angelica, gelatin, astragalus, white atractylodes…"

"Indeed, all are ingredients for replenishing blood and qi."

However, Sun Lingtong still stored the potion in his storage bag without drinking it.

He thought to himself that his alchemy skills were not good enough, and he knew that sometimes over-nourishment could be poisonous, and that mixing certain ingredients could create a deadly concoction.

Sun Lingtong had thrown himself into the unorthodox sect, No-Void Sect, following his master on travels throughout the land, gaining far more experience than his youthful appearance suggested.

"This Ning Zhuo is only two years old, so why is he so clever?"

He couldn't help but think of himself—he looked three years old but was actually already thirteen.

"When I was severely injured, covered in blood with ghastly wounds, he saved me and brought me home. Was he not afraid of causing trouble?"

"Isn't his proficiency in brewing medicine too practiced?"

Sun Lingtong was somewhat suspicious that this was all a setup.

However, on second thought, "I'm only in the mid-stage of Qi Refining; what could there be to plot against?"

"Although I'm from the No-Void Sect, I practice child cultivation skills, not the orthodox techniques of the sect. What could anyone possibly scheme from me?"

Lacking sufficient information, Sun Lingtong couldn't make an accurate judgment and decided to observe for the time being.

After several days of recuperation, his mana had returned to its peak, and he gradually discerned Ning Zhuo's genuine intentions.

That day, Sun Lingtong lay on the bed when his ears suddenly twitched, revealing a hint of alertness.

Soon, Ning Zhuo pushed the door open, running in hurriedly, breathlessly saying, "Someone from my family has arrived! Quickly, little brother, I'll help you to my mother's bedroom. There's a secret underground chamber there where you can hide."

Sun Lingtong, having anticipated this, smiled faintly and said, "No need to rush; I have a way. Watch this!"

With that, he vanished from the bed.

Ning Zhuo was stunned, immediately running to the bedside, feeling the empty bedding, looking around in shock.

Sun Lingtong's voice transmitted, "Quickly go handle your family members."

Ning Zhuo responded with an "Oh" and, with a look of amazement, ran to the small courtyard and saw Wang Lan.

"Hello, Aunt." The two-year-old Ning Zhuo greeted her.

Wang Lan squeezed out a smile, nodded, and then waved her hand, signaling the servants behind her to enter the house.

"Little Zhuo, I'm here to help you move some things."

"It's not suitable for you to live alone here; you should move to your uncle's house."

Ning Zhuo exclaimed in surprise, his face full of disbelief.

After Wang Lan explained, she paid no further attention to him, and after entering the house, began directing people.

"Move this table and chair back."

"Hmm, the vase looks nice, take it too."

"This talisman-crafting table is valuable. Be careful not to damage the formation patterns on its surface while moving it."

…

Very quickly, Wang Lan had almost emptied Ning Zhuo's home.

Before leaving, she said to Ning Zhuo, "We'll keep these things for you first."

"You're just a small child; it's too easy for you to be robbed."

"Once the clan hall affairs are sorted out, we'll bring you over."

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Ning Zhuo, with wide eyes, shook his head repeatedly, urgently saying, "I-I won't move!"

"Mother lives here…"

"But your mother is already dead!" Wang Lan immediately shook her head, firmly refusing, "This is not a negotiation. You're too young to protect yourself."

Wang Lan pulled Ning Zhuo into a corner, leaned in close, and stared into his face, lowering her voice, "By the way."

"Little Zhuo, before your mother passed away, did she give you anything special to keep?"

"These things might be very important. If a child like you can't keep them safe, it'll be a big problem if they're lost."

"Be good, take them out and let Auntie keep them safe for you! When you're grown and the time is right, Auntie will return them to you."

Ning Zhuo shook his head quickly, denying adamantly, "No, there's nothing like that."

"Really nothing?" Wang Lan asked suspiciously.

Ning Zhuo continued to shake his head, "Really nothing!"

"Alright." Wang Lan, seeing the servants moving items, didn't press further for now. "Once the clan hall updates your registry, we'll come and get you."

Before leaving, Wang Lan whispered into Ning Zhuo's ear, "Little Zhuo, if you're scared and want to move in earlier, that's fine too!"

"Remember to keep anything your mother gave you safely with you, don't leave it here for others to steal!"

Ning Zhuo replied, "Don't worry, Auntie, I have Major General and Little General protecting me."

Wang Lan sneered, "Those two mechanical puppets are at most mid-stage Qi Refining level. For ordinary home protection, they still cost spirit stones."

After the group left, Ning Zhuo stood blankly in the main hall.

Many of the furniture and items had been taken away, and the two-year-old child looked so small in the now empty house.

Sun Lingtong, having witnessed the entire process, looked at Ning Zhuo and couldn't help but feel a ripple in his heart.

At that moment, he realized why he had been saved—

"He sees me as another child, so he came to help."

"He treated my wounds, brewed medicine, because he's done the same for his mother. To him, it's something very familiar."

"He must see himself in me."

"Similarly alone and without support, naturally feeling a closeness."

"His mother passed away less than half a month ago; he's just trying to find a companion, a support, in this suddenly larger, colder, and unfamiliar world."

Thinking of this, Sun Lingtong deliberately circled behind Ning Zhuo and lightly tapped his shoulder.

Ning Zhuo jumped in fright.

Sun Lingtong revealed himself, laughing, "Don't be scared, it's just me!"

The sadness on Ning Zhuo's face disappeared, replaced by surprise and anticipation, "Little brother, are you a cultivator?"

"You're so young, yet so powerful!"

"Did you just use an invisibility technique?"

Sun Lingtong proudly raised his head, "This is not an ordinary invisibility technique. Wait, don't call me little brother; I'm much older and bigger than you."

"You should call me big brother!"

At this point, Sun Lingtong finally revealed his true identity to Ning Zhuo and began correcting Ning Zhuo's way of addressing him.

Ning Zhuo retorted, "But my mother told me that some kids are just big-boned; they might not be older than me. We even have someone like that in our family…"

Sun Lingtong waved his hand, "Alright, alright. From now on, just call me big brother."

"By the way, were you pretending to be clueless just now?"

"Before your mother passed away, she must have given you something very important!"

Ning Zhuo let out a sound of surprise, his eyes shifting to the wall, not daring to look at Sun Lingtong, "I don't know what you're talking about!"

Sun Lingtong chuckled, "I'm just telling you, your act doesn't seem genuine at all."

"The next time your aunt asks you, just say you don't know. Don't deny it so firmly."

"The more resolutely you deny, the more it confirms that your mother left you some keepsakes."

Ning Zhuo let out another sound of surprise, unable to help but ask, "Why?"

Sun Lingtong's gaze seemed to pierce through to Ning Zhuo's heart, "You're talented, aren't you?"

Ning Zhuo let out yet another surprised sound, showing a panicked expression, taking a step back, and shaking his head repeatedly, "N-no, definitely not!"

"Whatever you're talking about, I don't understand at all."

"I don't know, I really don't know!"

He denied it vehemently, but his small face turned red, and his expression full of guilt and panic said it all.

Sun Lingtong found it amusing and laughed heartily, patting Ning Zhuo's shoulder, "Little guy, you may be talented and smarter than your age,"

"But you're still too green!"

"Really obvious acting."

"However, you're lucky to have met me!"

"There's no one better than me at playing the role of a normal child."

"I'll teach you how to disguise yourself as a two-year-old!"

What Sun Lingtong said was not just boasting.

Though outwardly only three years old, his soul was that of a thirteen-year-old youth.

He joined the No-Void Sect, specifically trained in all sorts of trickery and deceit. His master had adopted him at a young age, imparted knowledge, took him on journeys, and taught him to observe others and navigate the world.

Often, Sun Lingtong would play roles according to his appearance, fully exploiting his youthful look to deceive.

Under his guidance, the two-year-old Ning Zhuo made rapid progress.

"Hey, what exactly is your talent? This

level of intelligence isn't normal."

"Didn't your mother tell you?" Sun Lingtong asked curiously.

Ning Zhuo glanced aside, then quickly turned his gaze back, looking directly at Sun Lingtong with a natural expression, "Brother Sun, my mother never told me anything."

Sun Lingtong chuckled, giving a thumbs up, "Good job. Your lying has improved a lot compared to before."

"But there's still a small eye-shifting habit."

"Remember, you need to change that!"

Ning Zhuo felt a bit ashamed, "Brother Sun, aren't you upset that I kept it from you?"

Sun Lingtong shrugged, casually saying, "What's there to be upset about? Everyone should have their own secrets, and it's only right to allow others their own secrets too."

"I'm just thinking, maybe you should show your talent to your family? It could greatly improve your living conditions."

Ning Zhuo shook his head quickly, his face turning serious, "Before she died, my mother told me to hide and keep my abilities concealed."

"She said the family is unreliable, and even Uncle can't be trusted."

"She told me the deeper I hide, the better protected I'll be!"

"Mhm, your mother was surely thinking of your best interests." Sun Lingtong said dismissively.

Sun Lingtong had stayed with Ning Zhuo for over half a month, and although his injuries were already healed, now that Ning Zhuo could convincingly pretend to be a normal two-year-old, Sun Lingtong's desire to leave grew stronger.

But how should he arrange for Ning Zhuo?

Although Wang Lan had previously said she would take Ning Zhuo to stay with her, she never followed through; instead, every few days she sent servants to check on him, bringing daily necessities.

Sun Lingtong had made several night explorations of the Ning family grounds.

Although only mid-stage Qi Refining, No-Void Sect's excellent techniques allowed him to infiltrate smoothly.

He gradually grasped the Ning family's situation, understanding the main branch's suppression of the collateral branches, and investigated Ning Xiaoren's reputation.

One day, he overheard Ning Ze and Wang Lan discussing.

Ning Ze urged Wang Lan to have Ning Zhuo move in.

Wang Lan said, "Husband, the clan hall people are deliberately holding things up, asking me for a bribe of two hundred spirit stones!"

"Do they expect us to pay two hundred spirit stones just to raise a child? What kind of logic is that!?"

Ning Ze stroked his beard, "The clan system has its reasons. It must go through the clan elders' review to ensure that taking in close relatives' orphans isn't done with bad intentions. Only after this approval can we officially adopt."

"Before this system, there were indeed chaotic incidents and many human tragedies."

"Little Zhuo has been living alone for so many days; it's not right. If word gets out, how will I, as his uncle, keep my face?"

Wang Lan complained, "But those two hundred spirit stones aren't a small amount either!"

Ning Ze sighed, "Sigh, alright, my brother once saved the young clan leader's life. Tomorrow, I'll go see the young clan leader and ask him to intervene."

Sun Lingtong also explored the clan hall, finding the Ning family elder who was holding up Ning Zhuo's registry.

One night, he heard the elder discussing secretly with a visitor.

The visitor said, "The deed to Ning Zhong's house hasn't been found by Ning Ze yet. I'll offer four hundred spirit stones; here's one hundred and eighty as a deposit. Please, Elder, make it convenient."

The Ning family elder laughed, "That's easy. That Ning Ze doesn't know the rules; he won't even pay the two hundred spirit stones, so he deserves a lesson."

"Just don't cause a stir."

"After all, Ning Zhong gave his life to save the young clan leader."

The visitor said, "Don't worry, Elder. Both Ning Zhong and his wife have passed, and the only child left is two years old. A little coaxing, and he will sign the contract."

"This matter is as easy as turning one's hand!"

Upon hearing this, Sun Lingtong couldn't help but roll his eyes, inwardly mocking the Ning family.

Returning to Ning Zhuo's place, he found the young Ning Zhuo sleeping soundly.

Sun Lingtong watched for a while, thinking, "This little guy may be smart and can now pretend, but he's only learned the basics."

"He lacks experience, doesn't know the dangers of the world, and without true support, he could easily be devoured by those around him."

Sun Lingtong shook his head in secret, feeling that he couldn't just leave Ning Zhuo behind.

"He needs to learn how to see through people's deceitful hearts."

…

Sun Lingtong's residence.

Han Ming and the others were quickly repairing the courtyard, clearing away the traces of the recent fierce battle.

Inside the main house.

The Judge of Inspections directed his spiritual gaze, enveloping Sun Lingtong's soul.

Sun Lingtong's soul shut its eyes tightly, his face contorted with pain, his body trembling violently, yet he stubbornly refused to cry out.

"A tough nut!" Judge Qi Bai remarked in genuine admiration upon witnessing this.

He muttered something under his breath, activating a spell to review the results of the soul search.

A blank slate!

"Hmm?" Qi Bai was surprised, "The Empty Seal?"

He recognized this information.

One of No-Void Sect's foundational treasures, the Empty Seal, could imprint a mark on the heart, providing protection to sect members.

The Empty Seal was known to prevent soul searches, safeguarding the sect's secrets and texts from falling into enemy hands.

"The Empty Seal usually guards the sect's vital secrets. I only sought information on the young puppet master, yet it was still protected?"

"Isn't Sun Lingtong just an outer disciple? The Empty Seal guards him this comprehensively?"

At that moment, Han Ming entered the room, "Master Qi, have you found any information about the young puppet master?"

Qi Bai snorted coldly, "This is troublesome. No wonder Sun Lingtong was fearless earlier, unafraid of the soul search."

"But against ordinary peers, this would be problematic."

"Meeting me, Judge of the Blind, it's his bad luck!"

"Give me another day, and I'll have your answer."

Qi Bai waved dismissively, displeased.

Han Ming quickly bowed, sensibly retreating and respectfully closing the door behind him.