Chapter 132: Puppet!

Suddenly, a rustling sound came from ahead, breaking the silence.

The four instantly tensed, their gazes all turning toward the source of the sound.

In the darkness, a figure slowly appeared, steps staggering, like a walking corpse.

"It... it's a puppet!"

Xia Yurou's voice trembled, with a hint of fear.

She raised her gun, aiming at that figure.

"Don't shoot!"

Jiangnan stopped her.

His gaze was solemn, fixed intently on that figure.

He was a middle-aged man, his clothes tattered, his face gaunt, his eyes empty and lifeless.

He walked forward mechanically, oblivious to the four.

"He... he seems not aggressive..."

Xia Yurou's voice carried a hint of doubt.

"Be careful!"

Jiangnan's voice was low, his gaze still wary.

The four held their breath, watching the puppet man walk past them and disappear into the darkness.

"Hah..."

Xia Yurou let out a long breath, her tense nerves slightly relaxing.

"These puppets... what on earth is going on?"

Her voice carried a hint of doubt as she looked at Jiangnan.

Jiangnan did not answer, his gaze deep, looking toward the depths of the town.

There, the darkness was thicker, as if hiding a great secret.

"Go!"

His voice was low, with a hint of resolve.

The four continued forward, their steps heavy.

As they went deeper into the town, the surrounding atmosphere grew even more eerie.

From the roadside houses, strange sounds occasionally came, like beasts growling and ghosts wailing.

The air's rot and bloody stench grew stronger, suffocating.

The four's nerves were taut, like a bowstring pulled to its limit, ready to snap at any moment.

Suddenly, a hurried footstep sound came from ahead, breaking the silence.

The four's faces changed, and they quickly hid behind a roadside house.

They held their breath, peering out through a crack in the window.

All they saw was a group of puppets running swiftly along the street, like a zombie siege.

Their faces were ferocious, eyes blood-red, mouths emitting hoarse roars, chilling to the bone.

"This... so many..."

Xia Yurou's face turned pale, her voice trembling.

"We... we're surrounded..."

Zhou Hexuan's voice trembled with tears, his eyes full of despair.

"Don't panic!"

Jiangnan's voice was low, his gaze calm.

He quickly surveyed the surroundings, looking for a way to escape.

"Follow me!"

He whispered, leading the three along the back alley of the houses, running swiftly.

The puppet horde crashed through the streets, yet failed to notice the four's trail.

The four ran down the alley, sprinting all the way, finally reaching the town's edge.

Ahead lay a wilderness, weeds overgrown, strange rocks jutting out.

"We... we got out?"

Xia Yurou panted, her voice tinged with surprise.

Jiangnan said nothing, his gaze solemn, looking at a dilapidated old building nearby.

This old building still retained the style of a hundred years ago, clashing sharply with the surrounding modern structures.

Jiangnan's gaze swept over the old building, then he suddenly gave a cold shout:

"You've already been discovered by me; why not show yourselves?"

"Hiding your heads and showing your tails—what's the point!"

Upon hearing this, everyone, including Xia Yurou, turned pale.

Night fell, the wilderness silent.

The dilapidated old building stood still, like a sleeping beast.

"Who... who are you talking to?" Xia Yurou clung to Jiangnan's sleeve, her voice trembling.

Zhou Hexuan and Li Ming also looked terrified, glancing around, but saw no one.

Jiangnan's gaze locked onto the old building, the corner of his mouth curling into a cold smile.

"All the puppets in this town come from this building."

The sound was not loud, yet it entered each person's ears clearly.

Xia Yurou and the other two's faces changed suddenly, their terrified gazes turning toward the old building.

A gust of cold wind swept by, and the old building's wooden door let out a creak.

It was as if an invisible giant hand slowly pushed the door open.

In the darkness, a hunched figure slowly stepped out.

Xia Yurou and the other two inhaled a sharp breath of cold, their bodies unable to stop trembling.

It was an Old Woman, white hair covering her head, her face withered.

She wore a tattered long robe and leaned on a cane.

Her steps were unsteady, as if she could collapse at any moment.

"Hehe…" A hoarse laugh came from the Old Woman's mouth, like an owl's cry at night.

"Young ones, your eyes are sharp."

The Old Woman lifted her head, her cloudy eyes looking at Jiangnan.

"Since you've discovered me, I, this old hag, will no longer hide."

Xia Yurou clutched Jiangnan's arm tightly, her nails digging into his flesh.

"She… she is the one who controls the puppets?"

Her voice trembled slightly, a hint of disbelief.

Jiangnan gently patted the back of Xia Yurou's hand, signaling her to stay calm.

"These puppets, you made them all?"

Jiangnan's voice was low, his gaze like torches.

The Old Woman nodded, a strange smile appearing on her face.

"That's right, I made them all."

"These townsfolk all deserve death!"

"They all deserve death!"

The Old Woman's voice suddenly rose, a flash of madness in her eyes.

Xia Yurou and the other two retreated repeatedly, frightened by the Old Woman's appearance.

"You… why did you do this?"

Xia Yurou's voice trembled, carrying a hint of fear.

The Old Woman's gaze swept over the four, finally settling on Xia Yurou.

"Why?"

"Haha… why?"

The Old Woman threw her head back and laughed, her voice chilling.

Her eyes were filled with resentment, as if she wanted to devour the whole world.

"I, this old hag, was once just an ordinary person."

"Just an ordinary person who wanted a peaceful life."

The Old Woman's voice was low, tinged with sorrow.

"But this small town, these people, they destroyed everything of mine!"

"They forced my daughter to jump into a well!"

"They stole all my property!"

"They drove me out of my home!"

"They made me live like a dog!"

The Old Woman's voice grew more agitated, her body shaking violently.

"I hate them!"

"I wish I could tear them to pieces!"

"But I have no power; I'm just an old hag without a single ounce of strength."

"Until one day, I met a mysterious person."

"He taught me how to make puppets, giving me the power of revenge."

"Haha… now, I can finally take revenge!"

"I will make everyone in this town pay the price!"

The Old Woman's face broke into a mad grin, bloodthirsty light flashing in her eyes.

After hearing the Old Woman's tale, Xia Yurou and the others felt a swirl of emotions.

There was sympathy for the Old Woman's plight, and fear of her actions.

"So, you turned them all into puppets?"

Jiangnan's voice was low, his gaze complex.

"Exactly!"

The Old Woman answered without hesitation.

"I will make them wish death over life!"

"I will make them live forever in suffering!"

"This is the punishment they deserve!"

"Old hag, why do you go to such lengths."

Jiangnan sighed.

"When will the endless cycle of revenge ever end? Doing this will only plunge you into deeper suffering."

"Pain?"

The Old Woman sneered.

"I've suffered for decades; what pain could still frighten me?"

"My only wish now is that everyone in this small town be buried as a sacrifice for my daughter!"

The Old Woman's eyes flashed with a mad light, sending a chill down one's spine.