Second Time

Chapter 71 - Puppet

The pavilion staff ended up securing all of the requested materials a few weeks earlier than the original estimate. A servant girl knocked on Cai Fei's door and informed them of such.

The girl was a different servant from the one that had previously notified them. The previous servant, after having fortunately heard Liezhu's lecture first-hand, had immediately been promoted to a core disciple. The sect wouldn't ignore her improved chance at reaching the Emperor Realm.

Cai Fei had been asleep. Even though she didn't need to sleep, she sometimes simply wanted to. She sat up and yawned, then shook Liezhu, who was sleeping beside her. "The stuff's here."

Liezhu grumbled and pushed herself up, rubbing at her eyes. The blanket fell around her, revealing her bare, pale skin. Cai Fei quickly averted her eyes to avoid the temptation.

They dressed themselves and headed out, examining the gathered materials and ensuring their quality.

Cai Fei split off one percent of her soul and placed it into the petrified piece of Weeping Soulwood. It looked like any piece of petrified wood, except the grain formed many tormented faces. She examined it carefully but couldn't see any indications of the soul fragment dissipating. She pulled it out and nodded in satisfaction.

The Weeping Soulwood was about as big as her forearm, while the Phoenix Willow resembled a meter-long section of a tree trunk. She placed her hands on it, the temperature only slightly higher than her body's.

"I'm good. How do yours look, Liezhu?"

"Everything's here, more or less in the quality I expected."

"Good."

Cai Fei finalized the transaction and sent the visitors on their way.

"So, how strong will those let you become?"

"It will be a qualitative improvement, not quantitative," Liezhu explained. "It would be like your Spirit's grade improving. I might get some new abilities, too."

"Interesting."

"Though, I'll wait until we're back at the peak so you can cook them for me before I eat them."

"Not even asking, huh? Well, I don't mind."

Cai Fei had already scouted out all of the puppeteers and knew which one she wanted to commission. She set out towards the store, Liezhu following behind, bored.

The shop specialized in human-like puppets, which naturally fit Cai Fei's plans. Several puppets between one and two feet tall sat on the shelves dressed in fancy clothes. A feminine puppet the size of an average human greeted them with a bow as they entered, its face expressionless. It poured two cups of tea.

Cai Fei had seen it before, but the craftsmanship still impressed her. Every joint was accounted for, down to the individual knuckles on its fingers. It even had eyelids, blinking occasionally.

The puppeteer came out after a few minutes, a wizened old man, balding with a long gray beard. Cai Fei cupped her fists and bowed slightly.

"This is the second time you've come here. Will you be purchasing a puppet this time?"

"I'd like to commission a somewhat special one," Cai Fei replied, taking out the two types of wood. "I'd like it made from this Phoenix Willow, with this piece of Weeping Soulwood hidden inside."

She then took out a spool of string that Peng Fuyi had made from Liezhu's silk. "I think this thread would also be ideal, but I'll leave that to your evaluation."

He picked it up and unwound a bit, examining it closely. "What is this?"

"It's made from silk gathered from a spider monster beast," Cai Fei explained, as if said spider wasn't right next to her. "It's highly durable and a good conductor of divine sense."