Strange Tales

Chapter 16

Could it be… she had no idea she did it? Icefin and I exchanged a glance, then I asked疑惑地问道, “Don’t you think this spider is a bit strange? Like its patterns or something?” Sister Musky shook her head vigorously, retreating step by step towards the outside. Could it be that she dealt with those two vicious creatures without even realizing it? Those were huge guys that Icefin and I could never handle! Of course, I wasn’t going to give up: “Sister Musky, you’ve lived here for so long, haven’t you really encountered any strange people or things? You’ve been telling me to follow this and that, isn’t it because you saw something scary?”

Musk Sister, looking utterly exasperated, hurriedly fled into the courtyard: "Rules are rules! Everyone says so, of course we have to follow them! What strange people, strange things, terrifying things! Nothing is more terrifying than dead bugs!" Could it be that she has always been like this, unintentionally becoming a monster terminator?

Watching Musk Sister's graceful figure disappear under the moonlight, Icefin looked on with longing: "She's so strong... and she has no idea how powerful she is!" Looking at his expression, I almost doubted that we had encountered a spider today, but a mitten spider.

I suppressed a laugh and put on a serious expression: "Forget about it—Sister Muskyakuni said she has absolutely no interest in children!"

"What did you say, Firewing?!" Even in the dim moonlight, I could see Icefin's face was almost red to the roots of its ears. It seems my words, "I'll never come to this godforsaken place again," were meaningless. Even if I didn't come, Icefin would still long for this wondrous water town...

The Strange Tales of the Honeymoon Hotel (End)

Scarlet Phantom

Summer seemed to arrive in an instant. When the gloomy plum rains unexpectedly cleared up, the sky suddenly became crystal clear, and the brilliant, strong light intertwined with the melancholy shadows of decline after the peak of prosperity—the midday sun was like a tyrant obsessed with conquest.

Icefin hadn't been feeling well since waking up, and after spending several hours in the sun on the playground during the school dismissal ceremony, he could barely walk. Although I'm only a month older than him, as his cousin, I felt I should take care of him. I supported Icefin, inching his way home along the shadows of the alleyway wall, but he couldn't go on after only going halfway. I had no choice but to let him sit on the smooth white stone threshold of a house, leaning against the cool stone drum.

“We can’t linger here…” I whispered worriedly in Icefin’s ear, watching his face grow paler and paler. This wasn’t me being unreasonable; three people had already said this since the beginning—“Is he dead? Can I have half his flesh?” Every single one of them had said the same thing to me. Just how many strange “guys” like this lived in the ancient alleys of this old city?!

Icefin and I inherited the extra abilities of our grandfather, who passed away long ago. We would always inadvertently glimpse shadows from the other side. "I don't even have enough to eat by myself! There's none for you!" To scare away these greedy creatures, I shouted fiercely. Just then, the tightly closed black lacquered door behind Icefin creaked and slowly opened.

Sitting so rudely at someone's doorway and shouting like that was incredibly impolite. I quickly helped Icefin up and apologized profusely to the person inside. However, the person who opened the door didn't sound reproachful at all; instead, her voice was unusually gentle, tinged with concern: "He looks like he's had heatstroke..." I looked up, about to say "yes," but my face flushed instantly—I hadn't seen such a classically beautiful woman in a long time! She must have been somewhere between "older sister" and "auntie," her appearance not as flamboyant and striking as the beauties commonly seen today, but the kind that you never tire of looking at; standing before her serene demeanor, I suddenly felt my every move flustered and abrupt.

But...something's strange! Even if, as the ancients described, she possessed "skin as smooth as ice and bones as jade, naturally cool and sweatless," her attire in this weather was far too meticulous: a thin silk robe in shades of light and dark heart-patterned, the overlapping front gathered all the way to her chin. A few strands of hair, held up with a tortoiseshell comb, fell across her smooth neck, the jet-black strands making her skin there appear an opaque, creamy white, as white as an elegant doll! Or rather, her entire appearance resembled that of a limited-edition, high-end doll!

"He looks exhausted! Why don't you come to my house and rest for a while until you've recovered?" The elegant woman stroked Icefin's forehead, speaking calmly as if we were the ones helping her, not the other way around.

"It's alright!" Although her attitude was reassuring, I still had to be vigilant. "Icefin will be fine soon!" Icefin and I often encountered strange people and strange things since we were little. In order to protect us, our grandfather gave us nicknames that were powerful mythical beasts, symbolizing power and intimidation, such as Firewing and Icefin.

"Icefin? Could it be that your name is Firewing?" The elegant woman covered her mouth with her slender fingertips, expressing her surprise. "So, you're children of the Teostraceta Blooming House?" Her words caught me off guard, because it was Icefin's and my grandmother who made Teostraceta Blooming Houses; she had absolutely no connection to those people from the other world. Moreover, referring to others by their craft instead of their surname was a custom of the "Blue Yagayachi Society," a folk art troupe in Kagawa Castle that my grandmother participated in.

Seeing that I was still puzzled, the beautiful woman with the ancient style smiled and continued to explain: "My mother was once a member of the Green Willow Society. I am Tsubaki from the Panling family."

"Panling's family..." I subconsciously repeated this nonsensical phrase—our family was far less refined than the other families in Qingliu Village. Apart from learning to make pith flowers as a game, my grandmother hadn't specifically taught me or Bingqi anything, so I was completely clueless about the customs and traditions of these families with ancient crafts. However, I did manage to figure out that this "Xiaochun" was a distant acquaintance. Looking at Bingqi's half-dead state, I could only bow slightly to Xiaochun: "Then I'm truly sorry to bother you for now."

No wonder Xiaochun could dress so formally in this sweltering heat—as soon as I entered Panling's house, a cool, slightly musty smell enveloped me. The overlapping grapevines clinging to the tall magnolia trees blocked the intense sunlight, even the annoying cicada chirping was kept outside the courtyard. Holding onto Bingqi, I curiously looked around. Panling's house was about the same size as mine, but it was a completely separate courtyard, without a main hall or anything like that; the front and back yards were quite large, but the main house wasn't deep. Like a stage, it had many tall windows with very low sills, most of which were open now, as there was no need to block the sunlight. The bamboo blinds hanging in the windows were also rolled up high, vaguely revealing the lush greenery of the backyard, making it feel very cool. I followed Xiaochun along the white pebble path into the house, which was filled with a cool, fragrant aroma.

Xiaochun settled Bingqi and me in the most well-ventilated side room. Gusts of cool breeze rustled the high-hanging bamboo curtains, tapping softly against the windowpanes. As if echoing the rhythm of nature, faint voices drifted from the other end of the main room. I couldn't make out what they were singing, but the singer's voice seemed to contain a refreshing coolness, like a piece of ice. I couldn't help but wonder, "Who's singing?"

Xiao Chun raised her ivory-like fingers and lightly brushed the strands of hair that fell to her cheek. A hint of disgust flashed across the corner of her handsome eyes: "It's Xiao Xuan again... I'm sorry to have made you laugh!" She completely misunderstood! But before I could explain, Xiao Chun had already walked out of the room without looking back.

I couldn't exactly chase after the owner in their hallway. Watching Xiaochun's retreating figure, I sighed helplessly. With such strict rules, no wonder this family was so "quiet"—although their house was as old as ours, there wasn't a single little spirit in sight, unlike our house, where strange creatures always roamed freely, as if they were in their own home!

Just as I was marveling at this, the ethereal, cool singing abruptly stopped. It seemed Xiao Chun had already reminded the singer named "Xiao Xuan." Xiao Chun and Xiao Xuan were probably sisters, a name chosen to evoke the phrase "a flourishing family." Curious, I leaned out the window, wanting to see what was happening outside. The main house was bathed in the dim green shadows of the front yard, and the spacious rooms were dappled with pale golden sunlight. In the indistinct light, several dancers were slowly waving their colorful sleeves. The gold threads on the heavy brocade fabric reflected a strangely cold and serene light. I roughly understood what the "Panling Family" did; it was probably related to singing, dancing, and traditional arts. However, to practice without any accompaniment—an ancient art form was indeed beyond my comprehension.

I was admiring the dancer's elegant movements as she swayed her sleeves when Icefin behind me suddenly rustled and moved its body on the bamboo mat, groaning softly, "I feel like throwing up..." I finally snapped out of it. What a spoilsport!

It was too late to find Xiaochun now. "You can't vomit here!" I frantically tried to help Bingqi, but he struggled to sit up from the bed and stepped out of the window leading to the backyard without even looking where he was going.

The windowsills at Panling's house are all quite low; the dazed Icefin probably mistook them for a high threshold! I couldn't stop it in time, and watched as Icefin stumbled and ran into the lush green courtyard. Panling's family kindly took us in; how could we possibly make a mess of their yard! Without thinking, I chased after Icefin and jumped over the windowsill.

No one knows how Icefin got there; his figure flickered in the swirling green shadows and vanished as if melting away! He's always been terrible with directions, not only unable to tell which way is which, but also prone to getting lost in strange places! But... could there be a path to the other world in the backyard of such a meticulously planned family?

Confused, I turned past two white oleander bushes past their peak bloom, but my steps faltered for a moment. It was a beautiful sight, yet why did it send chills down my spine—like bloodstains splattered on a lush green fabric, a patch of unrestrained crimson in varying shades blocked my view. It was—hollyhocks!

I never knew that the blooming of vast fields of hollyhocks could be so devastating! Their stubborn, sword-like branches stretch straight towards the blue sky, unfurling enormous flowers ranging from pale pink to deep crimson. The seemingly delicate petals always carry a dry, unforgiving quality, like thin, paper, irresistibly reminding me of the bloodstains on a blade. Being among them is like being in a magnificent cage beneath the blue sky!

In the sunlight filtered through the branches, I instinctively looked up at the sky—high summer was like a vast, gilded lacquer box, its extravagant luxury revealing signs of decay. The tireless chirping of cicadas peeled away the gold paint and carvings from this box; it wasn't clamor, but a sound more deathly still than death itself. In the blinding sunlight, I could always see heavy shadows of unknown origin. At midday, what reaches its zenith is more than just the power of life!

The withered petals of the hollyhocks piled up on the parched earth, making a soft, grinding sound when stepped on. I slowly walked through the desolate, deserted flowerbed. I tentatively whispered, "Ice Fin..." Just then, the steaming vapor of water was carried by a weak breeze, like an unknowable invitation.

Before me was... a giant hollyhock...

It was just a fleeting illusion. The vibrant crimson hem must be Panling's performance costume, five or six layers overlapping from dark to light, like a flower in full bloom; at the edge of the hem, long, soft black hair cascaded down, so black that it seemed somewhat heavy, winding its way into the deep, dark pond, about to mingle with the jade moss at the bottom. Hollyhock petals, scattered across the surface, mingled with the gentle ripples...

I know this person, this person lying on the fallen flowers by the pond, she is definitely not asleep; because a peaceful sleeper could not possibly possess such a captivating and ominous beauty, not to mention that there is a short knife with a black background and a gold-lacquered handle stuck in her chest.

Her eyelashes cast shadows in her half-closed eyes, which gazed at the clear sky. A butterfly, stunned by the blazing sun, fluttered its black and blue wings, searching for its reflection in those empty, mirror-like eyes, before landing listlessly near her rouged lips. I had seen her before; I recognized her face, though it was a dignified demeanor completely different from her alluring appearance now—this person was Xiao Chun!

I saw... something I shouldn't have seen...

Every step felt like walking on clouds; I couldn't control my feet, inching closer and closer to that alluring corpse. Just as my fingers were about to touch that cold skin, someone grabbed my wrist and dragged me up.

"Don't touch her!" That was... Icefin's voice!

I turned back and grabbed Icefin's sleeve, my words choked with emotion: "Icefin... Chun... Chun is dead..."

The cicadas cried out desperately in the dense shade. Icefin's face was even paler than before, and the scene before him seemed to have given him quite a shock. Already feeling unwell, he pressed his chest and slowly slumped down.

"Help...help me!" I was completely panicked; I couldn't think of any other way but to call for help. But under this sky, it seemed that there was no other life besides me and Icefin!

"Please don't make such a fuss!" After a long while, a slightly aged yet dignified voice responded to my call from behind the hollyhock canopy. In the dizzying heat of midsummer, a hazy, deep purple figure, dappled with sunlight through the green leaves, slowly walked towards me.

If it weren't for the wrinkles on her face and the weariness between her brows, I would almost have mistaken her for Xiao Chun! Standing before me was a middle-aged woman with an imposing presence. Her presence was so strong that I hadn't even noticed the handsome young man with an extraordinary air accompanying her at first. The woman in purple gazed intently at me, and emphasized again in a calm tone, "This kind of thing is nothing to be surprised about!"

"You are..." I asked tremblingly, my icy fins quivering. But the imposing woman in purple ignored me, slowly approaching Xiaochun's corpse. She bent down, so tenderly, so tenderly stroking Xiaochun's long, dark hair and her lifeless face, as if trying to memorize every detail of her features. But the next second, she decisively swung her arm, pulling the dagger from Xiaochun's chest. With a cold splash, ripples spread across the pool, and Xiaochun's body, like a fallen flower, billowed in the water, her robes flowing gracefully, then swayed, plunging into the bottomless abyss...

The woman in purple, having completed all this expressionlessly, suddenly turned and put her arm around the shoulder of the young man beside her. Only then did I notice how strikingly similar their appearances were; perhaps they were blood relatives. This stern-looking middle-aged woman wearily rested her forehead on the shoulder of the ethereal young man: "As the mistress of the Panling family… I have wronged her… Only in this way can that child be free…"

Could it be that this woman killed Xiaochun? She is the head of the Panling family, Xiaochun's mother! What could possibly drive a mother to kill her own daughter?

—Icefin and I had unknowingly gotten caught up in such a terrible thing...

Just as I was at a loss, the purple-clad patriarch of the Panling family stood up, regaining her imposing aura. She resolutely flicked her sleeves: "You've all witnessed this farce. Once you step out of this door, please forget all of this immediately!"

I don't remember how I helped Icefin leave Panling's house. After such a fright, Icefin started to have a low-grade fever as soon as he got home. After handing him over to my aunt, I walked dejectedly through the eaves to the front yard.

"Isn't that Firewing!" I turned around blankly when I heard someone call my name in a melodious but insincere voice. Under the dense shade of the wisteria trellis, Uncle Chonghua, who was unusually energetic and never took a nap, was drinking tea and enjoying the cool air with someone. It was that guest who had called me.

"It's Dr. Chongya..." It took me a while to recognize the person in front of me as my uncle's colleague, Ping Chongya. I've never liked this guy who's decked out in high-end designer labels from head to toe, like a mannequin in a boutique window. I heard he's already a chief surgeon before he's even thirty, and the nurses at the hospital all say he's very handsome, the number one choice in some kind of "best marriage partner" poll. I don't see it that way: every time I bump into him with Bingqi, he's with a different woman. I really don't understand how Uncle Chonghua could become such a close friend with someone like that.

"Come over here and congratulate me! Uncle Ping is getting married!" Uncle Chonghua waved a red wedding invitation at me. That's just his personality; even though it was Ping Chongya getting married, he seemed happier than the groom-to-be. Thinking to myself, "I wonder whose daughter is going to suffer," I reluctantly walked over. Dr. Chongya habitually reached out to touch my hair, but then suddenly stopped, as if remembering something: "Oh, right… I… killed someone today…"

"Nonsense!" Uncle Chonghua slammed his hand on Dr. Chongya's shoulder. "How come I didn't know you were in surgery today?" I couldn't stand it; only doctors would have such a nonsensical conversation! Annoyed by what had just happened, I turned to leave, but Uncle Chonghua stopped me: "Why are you back so late? Where have you been?"

Where did he go...? A deadly shadow flashed before my eyes amidst the alluring hollyhocks, and before I could even react, I blurted out, "Pan... Panling's family..."

"The Panling family! What a coincidence!" Uncle Chonghua chuckled enigmatically, winking at Dr. Chongya. "Little Firewing's gotten quite something, actually knowing about the Panling family! Did you encounter anything strange at that house?"

Uncle Chonghua's question sent chills down my spine. Trying to decipher his meaning, I shook my head frantically. Uncle Chonghua, however, gave me a mysterious look: "That old house of hers is notorious for being haunted! There must be some strange people or strange noises there!"

So that's what Uncle Chonghua meant! Our family has no right to talk about others! I breathed a sigh of relief, but said with dissatisfaction, "That family is practicing very diligently!"

"A lot of people? That's a bit strange! Wasn't it said that old fogey only had one heir? Even the old acquaintances of the Green Willow Society have been offended by that stern lady!" Uncle Chonghua smiled and winked at Dr. Chongya. At that moment, I saw that Dr. Chongya's smile was a little forced. Uncle Chonghua then turned to me and asked, "Firewing, do you know what the Panling family is?"

“Panling’s family…is it a singing and dancing or opera performance…” I recalled the elegant dancing sleeves, but what I remembered even more vividly was Xiaoxuan’s icy singing voice.

"You could say that..." Uncle Chonghua touched the tip of his nose, "Actually, the Panling family is..."

"Is anyone home?" The sudden, gentle voice made me freeze for a moment. I reflexively took a step back, only to bump heavily onto the tea table, spilling tea all over it, but I stared blankly at the doorway.

"I'm coming in!" That gentle voice rang out again—Tsubaki! There was no mistake, this voice and attitude should belong to Tsubaki, who had been sleeping at the bottom of the pond! Wasn't she...dead? Was the person before me a living soul or a spirit of the dead?

Surprisingly, it wasn't just me who could see her—Uncle Chonghua and Dr. Chongya immediately stood up, almost vying to speak: "Isn't this Xiaoping's wife? Our apologies for not welcoming you sooner!" "Xiaochun! What brings you here?" Could it be... that Dr. Chongya's fiancé is Xiaochun from the Panling family!

Xiao Chun was still wearing her heart-patterned robe, the color of withered leaves, but carrying a very mismatched schoolbag. I immediately remembered that in my haste, I had left Bingqi's schoolbag at Panling's house! Although a look of surprise and shyness flashed across Xiao Chun's face upon seeing Dr. Chongya, she was completely devoid of the alluring beauty she displayed by the pond amidst the fallen flowers. At this moment, she remained the same as when we first met, as serene and gentle as the moon shining through the eaves. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Uncle Chonghua, she handed over the schoolbag: "...I brought it over on my way. I didn't expect Chongya to be here too. So he's always bothering us at our residence." Although she spoke politely, her underlying barb and reproachful tone for Dr. Chongya's absence made it clear she wasn't treating him like an outsider. Despite some reluctance, Dr. Chongya still managed his signature smile.

Xiaochun's attitude was definitely not that of an unnatural being harboring obsessions! I couldn't connect the person in front of me with the hollyhock-like corpse that had sunk to the bottom of the pool—this was not a subtle difference in temperament caused by combing or letting hair down. It could be said that the only thing Xiaochun and the dead person by the pool had in common was their appearance; they were completely two different people!

I hesitantly took the schoolbag. The sunlight cast the shadow of Xiaochun's fingers onto my palm, and the schoolbag strap still held the warmth of her fingertips. It was certain—Xiaochun was definitely alive; a corpse couldn't have body temperature! So…did someone really die? Who…died?

My chaotic thoughts prevented me from paying attention to the adults' conversation. When I came to my senses, Dr. Chongya had already said goodbye to Uncle Chonghua and was walking towards the gate with Xiaochun. A thought suddenly flashed through my mind. I hurried across the courtyard and grabbed Xiaochun's sleeve: "Sister Xiaochun, do you have a twin sister?"

A subtle, complex expression flashed across the faces of the engaged couple in front of me, making me immediately regret my abrupt question—"Twin sisters..." Xiaochun lowered her head, her calm smile returning, "You've met...Xiaoxuan?"

Xiao Xuan, I know that name! She's a singer who never met us, singing clear and melodious songs!

"Xiao Chun!" The usually leisurely Dr. Chongya suddenly interrupted his fiancée with a hint of impatience, but Xiao Chun gave him a meaningful look, her tone still gentle: "This is terrible. In everyone's eyes, Xiao Xuan is the cutest..."

Xiaochun does indeed have a twin sister, so... the one who died was not Xiaochun, but her twin sister Xiaoxuan!

"No...it wasn't just Xiaoxuan!" I hurriedly explained, "I also saw Xiaochun's mother, she's so young and beautiful! And your brother, he looks like an immortal..."

“I don’t have any brothers.” A subtle glint flashed in Xiaochun’s eyes. “The one you saw was my mother’s brother.”

"Ah! Little Chun's maternal uncle is so young!" I blurted out. It's too strange—two generations of twins, and even the youngest head of the Panling family looks like a middle-aged man. How could twins look so different in age!

At this moment, Xiaochun turned her head to the side, a distant wariness written between her brows: "Is there something wrong?"

"I'm just so envious...of having a little sister who looks exactly like me..." As if caught lying, I stammered, desperately trying to control my expression, but it was just a child's cunning attempt to test an adult's inadequacy. However, Tsubaki quietly reached out, as if to stroke my hair, but hesitated and stopped just before touching me: "A little sister who looks exactly like you...sometimes can be so troublesome that you think—if only she weren't here..."

"Don't joke around with children!" Dr. Chongya, who was usually not very serious, suddenly pulled Xiaochun along and walked out of my house.

Am I just imagining things? Why do I feel that Xiaochun's tone contains the most cruel and resolute determination?

—It's my fault for letting her down…

"Only in this way can that child be freed..." The words of the Panling family head echoed in my ears, and an even more terrifying conjecture took shape in my mind—perhaps Xiaochun killed her twin sister, and the Panling family head's actions were only to protect his only surviving daughter!

Regardless, I'm becoming increasingly engrossed in this bizarre murder! I unconsciously raised my hand to wipe the cold sweat from my forehead: "Police..." Summer makes it hard to think straight—only now did I remember who to turn to for help in this situation!

I turned and ran towards Icefin's room, determined to take this witness with me. But a loud crash, like something heavy falling, came from the room under the eaves I was passing! That was my grandfather's study, and it's always been locked...

"Who's there!" I flung open the door, the brass lock clattering to the floor before slowly rolling to a shapeless white figure beside the bookshelf. The figure's hoarse voice interrupted my scream: "Firewing, it's me!"

"Icefin... what are you doing here?" At this moment, my anger outweighed my confusion. I stormed into the old study, which was dimly lit even in daylight. I saw Icefin leaning weakly against the bookshelf on the floor, with yellowed books and manuscripts scattered all over the place. I was even angrier: "You still have the mood to cause trouble here! I'll drag you up!"

"Don't touch me!" Icefin frantically backed away from my touch, knocking more books off the shelf in the process. In the rising dust, I noticed Icefin's posture was so strange…

"What's wrong? Haven't you recovered from heatstroke yet?"

The short distance seemed to have exhausted all of Icefin's strength. He panted and pointed to the book lying at my feet: "Look at this..."

"What are you looking at! Do you know what happened? [The perpetrator]..."

"What are you looking at! Do you know what happened? A murder!!" I shouted in protest. "It's fratricide! Get up and come with me to find the police!"

"Who do you think you are, Kindaichi or Conan?!" Though weak, Icefin's mouth was still as venomous as ever. "Just look!" I had no choice but to bend down and pick up the book, casually dusting off the dust on the cover. It was my grandfather's notes, written during his lifetime when he studied folklore, and it seemed to be related to the folk art of Kagawa. I grumbled as I flipped through the pages, when suddenly a few lines of small print caught my eye—the Panling family!

"...The ancient puppetry family, in order to distinguish themselves from the folk puppetry of Kagawa, took the old story of Du You, the military governor of Huainan, watching the Panling puppet show in the market, and called themselves the Panling Family."

"...The Panling family is a rod puppet school, performed for the court nobility in ancient times. Its style is elegant and graceful... The puppets are about 1.2 meters tall and are extremely difficult to manipulate, so they can also perform plays such as the 'Whirling Wind Palm Dance' that cannot be performed by ordinary puppet shows..."

"...According to ancient traditions, the Panling family believes that once a puppet receives the soul of its manipulator, its performance will be incredibly lifelike. Therefore, the man and the puppet are inseparable, raised as twins. Legend has it that the Panling puppets possess a phantom form that resembles the manipulator, and the more people who can see it, the more excellent the puppet is...After the patriarch's death, his puppets were also regarded as dead and kept as offerings. Legend has it that these puppets can move freely in their phantom forms..."

—The Panling family are puppeteers, puppeteers! So generation after generation, they are twins, existing like light and shadow!

Because the puppets are viewed as human beings, their bodies become vessels for the manipulator's soul; because they have acquired a share of the soul, the puppets possess a phantom form similar to the manipulator. The puppets never age, so even when the manipulator grows old, they still possess an ethereal, otherworldly beauty.

No wonder Panling's house was so clean, yet it had the infamous reputation of being haunted: because there were "forms" calling out to those wandering demons and monsters, and the desire of those "forms" to move again was so strong, so strong that it was almost an obsession—the dancers I saw waving their sleeves were not disciples, but ancient puppets kept in the house, dreaming of returning to the stage!

"Don't you understand...? No one died." Icefin smiled wearily. "Those who were killed were probably Tsubaki's dolls!"

"Xiao Chun's doll—Xiao Xuan is Xiao Chun's doll!" I could barely hold the book.

“That’s why I won’t let you touch me…” Icefin struggled to unbutton his clothes with his right hand, and his white summer shirt immediately slipped down, revealing a scarlet diagonal line over his heart, like a crack in ice. Thin, bright red lines extended from it, covering Icefin’s left chest, neck, and arm, and were slowly encroaching on his right side. What… strange wounds!

"How could this be... how could this happen..." I felt like I couldn't breathe, because in addition to the wounds, Icefin's left shoulder and elbow had turned into a stiff, round mechanism—that was the puppet's joint!