The Heartless Puppet

Li Tianming cautioned them, “I’m merely reminding you not to hastily rule out the possibility of the enemy possessing a unique physique.”

He cast a deep, discerning glance at Xie Shenhong, whose expression remained utterly devoid of emotion.

“After all,” he continued, “we have similar beings among our own ranks.”

“Are you referring to Master Ziyang and Master Ziyue, fellow members of the Seven Prodigies?” Wendy asked excitedly.

“Are they truly a twin body?”

“Precisely.”

Li Tianming nodded.

Xie Shenhong had also heard whispers of this matter.

The Seven Prodigies of the Eastern Expedition comprised eight individuals in total, yet this was no mere jest.

Rather, two of them possessed the ability to merge into a single entity during combat, significantly enhancing their fighting prowess.

Furthermore, these twin bodies boasted an additional ability: remote sensing.

However, unlike sealed bodies, they were fundamentally two distinct individuals, akin to fraternal twins.

Lacking any inherent talent bonuses, they were instead hampered by their unique state, becoming the only two among the Seven Prodigies yet to break through to the Martial Lord rank.

“Wow, the rumors are actually true!” Wendy exclaimed.

“Are they male or female after merging?

Their strength must surely reach the Martial Lord rank then, right?

And what do they look like when merged…?”

“We can discuss those details later,” Li Tianming interjected.

He handed each of them a small plastic bird, no larger than a palm.

“This is an emergency communication device,” he explained.

“It can be activated either by mental energy or by pressing a hidden switch.

Now, let’s go over our current action plan and objectives…”

Soon, they understood why students were recruited for the team.

The intention was for them to happily engage in activities that celebrated youth and enjoyed peaceful lives after school or on weekends, thereby provoking discontent among the Sakura Nation remnants.

“For ease of communication and to protect Shenhong, Wendy, you will temporarily enroll as an exchange student at Sifang Academy,” Li Tianming stated.

“Yay!” Wendy cheered, raising both hands.

“Occasionally, I will also visit Sifang Academy for formal exchange activities,” Li Tianming continued.

“However, on regular days, I will operate alone, acting as the primary bait on the streets.

Marco, meanwhile, will remain on standby, ready to provide us with support at any moment.”

“No problem,” Marco responded without objection.

He had originally been ineligible to join this decoy squad.

Yet, his unwavering determination to find the culprit had so exasperated the higher echelons of the Knights that he finally secured a spot on Team 99.

“As for Lyte,” Li Tianming addressed him, “given that you regularly patrol the city on weekdays, suddenly stopping to play every day would be rather conspicuous.

Therefore, your mission is to operate as usual.

Should a situation arise, you are to fully utilize your speed, prioritizing the pursuit and apprehension of the enemy.

Do you have any objections?”

Lyte did, in fact, have objections.

He glanced worriedly at Xie Shenhong, but seeing the latter shake his head, Lyte reluctantly agreed.

“No problem.”

Seeing that the action plan had been largely approved, Li Tianming nodded.

“I understand that our mission may appear inefficient and highly passive,” he conceded.

“However, rest assured, the higher-ups attach great importance to this matter and have already made a series of arrangements.

We simply need to carry out our part of the work diligently.”

“Yes, sir!” the four replied in unison.

“Very well, dismissed…”

“Wait, wait a moment!” Wendy exclaimed, bouncing in front of Li Tianming.

“It’s rare for us to be brought together into a team like this; let’s at least exchange contact information.”

“I don’t use communication apps; I only have a phone number.”

Perhaps fearing further entanglement and wasted time from Wendy, Marco promptly pulled out his phone.

Xie Shenhong hesitated for a moment, but slowly retrieved his phone as well.

As expected, the moment Wendy saw his phone, her eyes immediately sparkled.

“Wow, Sister Shenhong, your phone is the same model as Master Hai Zhu’s!” she exclaimed.

“Where did you buy it?”

“Sister Yun gave it to me,” Xie Shenhong replied, no longer caring if he’d be accused of relying on connections.

“Also, I’m not a ‘sister’.”

He decisively brought up Duanmu Yun as an excuse.

“What? The Commander issued it? I’m so envious! Can I touch it?”

Fortunately, while Wendy was quite mischievous, her imagination hadn’t yet stretched far enough to connect Xie Shenhong with the Saintess.

After collecting everyone’s contact information and sending a barrage of messages to those willing to reply, Team 99’s first assembly finally concluded.

“Lyte, you go ahead,” Xie Shenhong said.

“I need to speak with the captain.”

“Alright, I’ll wait for you outside.”

Once the other three had departed, Li Tianming walked purposefully to the doorway, cast a soundproofing barrier, and then turned to kneel on one knee before Xie Shenhong.

“Please forgive my earlier disrespect, my lord.”

‘As expected, this fellow knows.’

Xie Shenhong couldn’t help but sigh, then said, “Rise.

The one standing before you now is not Hai Zhu.”

“As you command, Master Shenhong.”

For some inexplicable reason, from the moment he first met Li Tianming, Xie Shenhong had felt an intense displeasure, which encompassed every one of Li Tianming’s words and actions.

Yet, upon hearing this particular phrase, he found himself devoid of that uncomfortable sensation.

‘What is happening?

Could it be that my subconscious yearns for others to treat my current self with reverence?’

Xie Shenhong couldn’t help but find his true thoughts both pathetic and absurd.

What he desired had never been this kind of sycophantic worship and flattery, akin to a fox borrowing the tiger’s might!

Nevertheless, it was precisely this realization that brought Xie Shenhong to a complete awakening.

He was no Saintess Hai Zhu; he was merely a power bank for a divine artifact!

Others might revere him and value him for this, but he absolutely could not lose himself because of it!

He must never silently accept everything that originally belonged to the Saintess!

“Everything you said during the meeting just now, those were all lies, weren’t they?”

Such nonsense about students enjoying themselves provoking the Sakura Nation remnants…

Of the four people present, probably only Wendy would have believed it.

“Yes, Master, your insight is truly sharp, and your discernment profound…”

“Your objective is to protect me?”

“Precisely so.”

“I do not require such measures.

If you believe I would hinder your efforts—”

“My lord, I would never harbor such a thought,” Li Tianming interjected, placing his right hand over his heart and bowing slightly.

“Master Shenhong’s strength is beyond question.

However, such minor matters are hardly worth troubling you to act upon, and our duty is precisely to alleviate your worries.”

Theoretically speaking, Li Tianming’s words carried a similar meaning to Lyte’s constant mantra, “This is the kingdom of every one of us.”

Yet, when expressed by Li Tianming in such a manner, Xie Shenhong felt nothing but displeasure.

Fortunately, Xie Shenhong was not one to let his emotions dictate his actions.

“Alright then, please ensure your safety,” Xie Shenhong conceded.

“If things become truly dire, contact me immediately.”

He took out the communication bird from earlier.

“When you encounter special circumstances, Wendy and I won’t receive your signals, will we?”

“Master Shenhong, are you certain you wish to involve yourself in this matter?” Li Tianming asked, his gaze fixed intently on him, his eyes holding a complex expression.

“I am.”

Li Tianming could only silently replace his communication bird with a different one.

At this moment, Xie Shenhong retrieved the Crimson Twin Pistols.

“Master Shenhong, I no longer require this weapon,” Li Tianming stated.

“Only in your hands can it truly fulfill its purpose.”

“I see.

Thank you.”

“It is merely my duty, Master.”

Li Tianming respectfully offered the standard communication bird with both hands.

Xie Shenhong accepted it with a faint smile, then departed.

He began to understand why he had disliked Li Tianming from their very first encounter.

Unlike Dongfang Qinglong or Duanmu Yun.

Whether he was Xie Hai Zhu or Xie Shenhong.

Li Tianming never truly saw him.

‘Do not jump to conclusions,’ Xie Shenhong cautioned himself mentally.

He tried to reassure himself, but it was in vain.

This was something he had long forgotten, yet it was also a fear that had plagued him ever since he transmigrated to this world.

Until—

“Shenhong, are you alright?”

Gazin at the blond youth who approached him with a face full of concern, Xie Shenhong’s mood finally lifted considerably.

Yet, simultaneously, a new worry began to gnaw at him.

If his suspicions were correct, there was a certain connection between the blond youth’s expectations of him and the way Li Tianming looked at him.

When the blond youth learned the truth…

Would he still treat him with such care then?

The mere thought filled him with an overwhelming dread.

Fortunately—

“I’m fine.”

Xie Shenhong offered a faint smile.

He never prioritized his own feelings.