Beneath the shroud of the night, Puppeteer's elevated platform was concealed behind a long, deep red curtain that cascaded all the way to the ground. Even when the wind blew, it failed to stir the slightest ripple or sound.
Peering ahead, Lin Sanjiu remained positioned dozens of steps away from the fence. Half of her face seed slightly blurred, peeking out from the edge of the profound abyss created by the dark mountain forest. Upon noticing Bohemia's gaze, the pale countenance, bleached by the night, extended again, this ti much clearer. Indeed, it was Lin Sanjiu. Bohemia observed her pointing in the direction of Puppeteer and gesturing for Bohemia to remain silent by placing her index finger against her lips.
Did she an for Bohemia not to alert Puppeteer?
Bohemia stood rooted in place, torn between rushing toward Lin Sanjiu and slipping away beneath Puppeteer's platform. She yearned to ask questions but couldn't bring herself to speak. As her nerves settled, she cast another glance at the pale figure—no, it was evident now that it was a person, just a touch pale and blurry, with disheveled hair even in the dead of night. Once her heart resettled within her chest, she breathed a sigh of relief, feeling the chill of the night wind that had caused cold sweat to form on her body.
So... Lin Sanjiu was still alive?
As her tense expression relaxed, the ethereal man also appeared relieved, and his shoulders sagged. He made a series of gestures, inviting Bohemia to follow him into the woods, then signaled in the direction of Puppeteer's sleeping spot. She had to admit that this man possessed an uncanny skill in controlling sound; it was as though he didn't exist. If Bohemia hadn't seen him, she might have believed there was no one else around.
She cast another glance at Lin Sanjiu.
From this distance, it was impossible to discern every detail clearly. Still, after spending so much ti together, they were familiar enough with each other that Bohemia could recognize her at a glance. It was indeed her—unless it was so form of hologram or illusion, but how many possessed such abilities?
Bohemia deliberated for a mont and nodded at the long-haired apparition, gesturing with her lips, "I'll co over."
The long-haired figure silently cheered, raising both fists into the air, and then dashed joyfully toward the fence—his movents seed almost weightless, his footsteps making no sound.
Bohemia placed her hands on her hips, cleared her throat, and exclaid, "Sir!"
The long-haired figure nearly stumbled.
Bohemia hadn't raised her voice too high, but to an ordinary person, it likely sounded like she was afraid of disturbing soone. "Lin Sanjiu has returned!"
The long-haired figure turned his head in bewildernt, gazing at her with confusion, his eyes flickering with disbelief, looking as if he felt betrayed.
After ensuring her safety, Bohemia watched as the long-haired ghost pivoted and dashed over the fence. Hesitatingly, she took a few tentative steps forward to follow him. She opted to adopt a wait-and-see approach, unwilling to cross the fence until she was certain it was Lin Sanjiu in the woods. After all, Lin Sanjiu had been absent for quite so ti.
"Stop," Puppeteer's voice softly murmured in Bohemia's ear when she was just a few steps from the fence.
It was akin to the mont when soone taps you on the shoulder and says, "Let handle this," and no one can be certain of the consequences, whether it will save or doom the entire human race. Bohemia suddenly felt her body relax entirely, as if it had turned to mush from the sudden release of tension. She swiftly took two steps backward and gestured toward Lin Sanjiu in the distance. "Sir, take a look."
As she indicated, Bohemia noticed that Lin Sanjiu remained in the sa spot, her expression unchanged. Even when she saw Puppeteer awaken and erge, Lin Sanjiu stood in the deep shadows of the trees, gazing directly at the camp.
Bohemia slowly straightened up, feeling her heart sinking deep into her chest.
"I understand," Puppeteer said, not even glancing at her as he walked away. The leather creaked as he passed by her and halted in front of the fence. The night wind appeared to struggle for breath in his presence, growing still.
At this mont, the long-haired ghost finally reached Lin Sanjiu. He cast a quick look back and couldn't help but whisper sothing to her urgently. Lin Sanjiu's face remained impassive, and after a mont, she sighed, her reaction slightly delayed, and retreated behind a tree, exposing only half of her face.
Puppeteer chuckled lowly. "I should go back to sleep."
But what about Lin Sanjiu?
Bohemia bit her lip, uncertain of what to say. Suddenly, she witnessed a dark figure leap forward. Startled, she blurted out, "Sir, there might be—"
She choked on the latter part of her sentence. Puppeteer hadn't actually leaped over the fence; he stepped onto the narrow railing and balanced there as if perched on a mountain, maintaining his equilibrium in the pitch-black night. Only the feathers on his shoulders trembled slightly.
"Retrieve your Glowfish," he instructed.
After a few days of basking in the sunlight during the day and bathing in moonlight at night, the Glowfish finally emitted light once more. Bohemia fumbled to retrieve one and tossed it in the direction Puppeteer indicated. The Glowfish swayed its tail gently, crossed the fence, and swam toward the trees. With its radiant glow, the layers of branches and leaves swayed as if stirred by the wind. Lin Sanjiu's hair, face, and shoulders were illuminated, and Bohemia observed her legs and boots without detecting anything unusual.
Until the Glowfish returned safely, Puppeteer remained silent. Bohemia couldn't be certain, and she dared not say anything. However, she sensed that even Puppeteer harbored uncertainty regarding Lin Sanjiu's current condition.
He turned gradually, walking along the narrow fence, his shoulders hunched against the sudden night breeze that cascaded over him and dissipated into the seemingly endless road in the distance. In the dark recesses of the forest, Lin Sanjiu's silent countenance swiveled left and right in sync with Puppeteer's steps, always lagging a few beats behind.
"Are you the new piece of trash she's taken under her wing?" he asked, his voice light yet resonant, unmistakable.
The long-haired ghost trembled as if he hadn't expected Puppeteer to address him. Standing behind Lin Sanjiu, he cautiously revealed half of his face. "We... We began traveling together a few days ago. She's really kind. She wanted to journey with ... But I think 'new piece of trash' sounds disrespectful. My na is Yuan Xiangxi."
'This guy would be better off dead,' Bohemia mused silently.
"How long have you been in the forest?" Puppeteer inquired, paying him no heed to him.
"Let think," Yuan Xiangxi said, extending a hand as pale as paper. "Um, since about three or four days ago. We were ambushed by a woman nad Bonnie Bunny and left the road... Then we discovered that we could navigate through the forest."
Puppeteer emitted a faint snort. "Bonnie Bunny is here too?"
Yuan Xiangxi nodded. "She's in Lava."
"You traversed through the forest?" Bohemia interjected. "Isn't the forest a pocket dinsion?"
"It's not a pocket dinsion," Yuan Xiangxi replied, beaming. "Xiao Jiu ntioned that walking on the road made us too exposed and that the forest might be safer. While crossing the mountains, I gathered quite a few pinecones."
'Such a bother,' Bohemia thought to herself.
Lin Sanjiu abruptly turned her head and whispered sothing to Yuan Xiangxi. After a mont's hesitation, he relayed, "She wishes to share information regarding the traces she's found in this forest... Well, why don't you co inside first? It's not particularly perilous here."
"Traces?" Puppeteer chuckled softly. "Let her speak. Why does she want us to enter and observe?"
Lin Sanjiu stood in the shadows, stiffly silent for a couple of seconds.
"Sobody is hiding within this forest, constantly observing us," she finally said, her voice as parched and rigid as two branches grating against each other. "I've discovered their tracks... Don't you wish to co inside and take a look?"
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