Under One Person: The Puppet Immortal in the Tang Sect

The elders reacted differently, their expressions varied.

An elder with white hair and a stern face spoke first, his voice tinged with dissatisfaction.

"Sect Leader! Our Tang Clan has stood firm in the martial world for hundreds of years, relying on stealth and assassination for a living. These are skills passed down from our ancestors! Now, why are we going to make some kind of prosthetic limbs to save lives?"

"Why get entangled with those high-ranking officials and the military? Isn't that putting the cart before the horse? You've forgotten the very foundation of the Tang Clan!"

He adhered to tradition, believing that assassins should remain hidden in the shadows, not step into the limelight.

However, another elder with a scar on his face held a different view.

"Fifth Elder, you are mistaken! Times have changed! Firearms are becoming increasingly powerful. Although we superhumans are powerful, how many rounds of gunfire can we withstand?"

"If there really is a way to make money without constantly risking your life, and it can enhance the reputation of my Tang Clan and also help us gain powerful allies like the military, what's wrong with that?"

"Must we wait until all our disciples are killed or injured, or until we are eliminated by the times, before we regret it?"

This scarred elder was more pragmatic and saw the opportunities for survival and development within the situation.

An elder, who was in charge of external affairs and often dealt with secular matters, stroked his beard, his eyes gleaming.

"I think this matter has great potential! If we can build a good relationship with the military, many things will be much easier in the future. At least those short-sighted warlords and their stragglers won't dare to provoke us easily."

"And the connections of those high-ranking officials and dignitaries can play a crucial role at critical moments. It's a highly profitable business with low risk and high returns. Cui Ming, you have a sharp eye!"

After weighing the pros and cons, most elders tended to support it.

After all, the prospects described by Cui Ming were too tempting, and it was clear from his words that they were not just castles in the air. In addition, the things that had happened to Cui Ming within the sect recently could not be faked!

Low cost, mass production, and crucially, there is indeed such a large market demand.

The Tang Clan's daily expenses are never small; every expenditure is in real money.

Now that they have a way like Cui Ming's that can make money, avoid danger, and gain prestige all at once, how could these elders not be tempted!

However, in the end, it was up to Tang Bingwen to make this decision.

After surveying the crowd with his single eye, Tang Bingwen spoke in a deep voice.

"I understand what the elders mean. The foundation and skills passed down from our ancestors must not be lost! When the Tang Clan makes a move, it will be a fight to the death! This will never change."

But then he changed the subject.

"However, the tide of the times is rolling forward, and our Tang Clan cannot follow the example of the Qing Dynasty and remain stagnant."

"The path proposed by Cui Ming is indeed an unprecedented way out, and it is more beneficial than harmful to the long-term development of the sect."

"Since he has the will and the ability, the sect should naturally provide support."

"But this is the first time for our Tang Clan, and we cannot risk the entire sect's strength on it."

"To be on the safe side, let Cui Ming try it out first. Resources can be allocated appropriately. Everything will be discussed later, focusing on investment, after he produces tangible results and proves that this approach is indeed feasible."

This compromise, which appeased the feelings of the conservatives while also giving the reformers a chance, was approved by most of the elders present.

Soon, Cui Ming received the news from one of his disciples.

He immediately took action, first targeting the disciples within the sect who had been injured or disabled due to various tasks and accidents.

This is both the starting point of the plan and the best example and demonstration of its results.

Chapter 37 Mechanical Prosthetics

After obtaining the list of injured members and permission from the sect leader, Cui Ming's workshop resumed operation day and night.

This time, he did not create combat puppets, but rather mechanical prosthetics with relatively simple structures, yet strong and flexible enough.

With a wooden or ordinary metal frame, it is engraved with many runes, allowing the user to control it directly through their mind, achieving a level of control that is as easy as wielding an arm.

However, if used frequently and intensively, the runes will wear down, and then it will truly become just an inanimate object.

Cui Ming personally measured, adjusted, and installed equipment for each of his injured fellow disciples.

When the first disciple, fitted with a prosthetic limb, trembled as he grasped the water cup with his cold "fingers," the tears welling in his tiger-like eyes moved all the onlookers.

There was no weeping, no shouting.

The disciple simply stood up silently, bowed deeply to Cui Ming, and then stepped aside.

The second was a disciple who, after having his legs fitted with mechanical ones, stood up steadily again. His choked "Thank you, Senior Brother Cui" was so moving that it brought tears to the eyes of all who heard it.

The third one...

The fourth one...

During this process, Cui Ming's understanding of human skeletal structure, muscle exertion, and nerve coordination became increasingly profound and sophisticated.

Combined with his powerful soul control and the precise operation assisted by the mechanical arm, he was able to create and install prosthetics at an increasingly faster speed and with increasingly higher adaptability.

Initially, it took most of the day to repeatedly debug, but later it became possible to complete the entire process of measurement, manufacturing, installation, and debugging within a few hours.

After adjusting the prosthetics for his fellow disciples, Cui Ming repeatedly emphasized that the prosthetics provided to his disciples were only for restoring daily life and had no combat capabilities.

Furthermore, we should avoid high-intensity actions as much as possible, while also reassuring them that high-intensity combat prosthetics will definitely be manufactured in the future, so they can adapt to it with peace of mind first.

In just one week, Cui Ming miraculously managed to equip all the registered disabled members of the sect with custom-made mechanical prosthetics.

Looking at those disciples who were once gloomy and silent because of their disabilities, now able to walk freely, pick up objects again, and even participate in some simple logistical work.

The atmosphere within the entire Tang Clan was subtly changing.

Expressions of gratitude and admiration filled the air, and at this moment, Cui Ming's reputation within the Tang Clan reached an unprecedented height.

However, Cui Ming was not intoxicated by this empty fame.

Because he knew this was just the beginning.

At present, it is completely impossible to rely on oneself alone.

An individual's strength is ultimately limited. To carry out the plan, it is necessary to cultivate enough people to assist you.

Without much hesitation, Cui Ming approached the sect leader Tang Bingwen again and directly stated his request.

"Sect Master, the manufacture and maintenance of the mechanical prosthetics, as well as the development of even more complex mechanisms in the future, are beyond the capabilities of this disciple alone."

"I humbly request that the sect leader allow Senior Brother Liang Wu to cooperate with me. In addition, I would also like to trouble the sect leader to allow a group of disciples who are willing to devote themselves to studying the art of mechanical puppets to become apprentices. I will certainly teach them everything I know."

Tang Bingwen was extremely supportive of this and readily released the news.

However, to the surprise of both Cui Ming and Tang Bingwen, a large group of dozens of people appeared outside Cui Ming's workshop the next morning.

Without exception, they all did so within the past week.

The disabled disciple was fitted with a prosthetic limb by Cui Ming and returned to a normal life.

And the ones leading the way were the disciples who had been the first to have their prosthetic limbs installed on the first day.

Their eyes were firm, and their movements might have been a little awkward because they were not yet familiar with their prosthetics, but their backs were straight.

Upon seeing Cui Ming emerge, everyone bowed in unison, their movements perfectly synchronized. The subtle sounds of metal rubbing against wooden components coalesced into a silent yet awe-inspiring power.

"Senior Brother Cui!"

The man leading the group was the first to receive a prosthetic arm; his voice was loud and reverent.

"We have heard that you wish to take on apprentices, so we have come here! We earnestly request that you accept us as your apprentices!"

Looking at the group of fellow disciples in front of him, who were of different ages, both young and old, male and female, Cui Ming noticed that they all shared the same expression in their eyes.

He was deeply moved and spoke.

"Why...why do you do this? The art of mechanisms is tedious and complicated, requiring a great deal of mental effort, and..."

"Senior brother!"

The man interrupted him, his tone agitated.

"It is precisely because we have personally experienced those dark and hopeless days that we understand even more how precious the 'ordinary' you have bestowed upon us is!"

We know better than anyone what a pair of legs that allow us to stand up again, a pair of hands that allow us to grasp things again, means to people like us!

He glanced around at his companions, his voice growing increasingly firm.

"We also know that having this intention is not enough; we need tangible benefits to pass on this hope!"

But with us as living examples, isn't it easier to persuade others and help more people like us?

"We owe our lives, this right to face life anew, to you, our senior! Now, we want to use it to do something more meaningful!"

"Please accept us, Senior Brother Cui!"

The crowd behind him echoed in unison, their voices not in unison, but carrying an unwavering determination.

Cui Ming looked at these faces, each etched with hardship and longing, and fell silent.

He saw in their eyes the burning flame that had been rekindled from the ashes and dust after all the suffering.

They understand the value of this job better than anyone else, and they have the motivation to pass it on more than anyone else.

After a long silence, Cui Ming finally nodded slowly.

"Okay, I promise you. But this path isn't as glamorous as you imagine."

"A small difference can lead to a huge error; patience, meticulousness, and perseverance are required."

"It's tedious, repetitive, and failures are commonplace; you might even get injured from improper handling of materials. Even so, would you still be willing to endure it?"

"willing!"

His answer came in unison without any hesitation.

They had already been tempered by physical disabilities and mental torment, and worldly suffering was no longer a threat to them.

It is precisely because they have experienced the torment of darkness that they yearn even more to personally ignite the flame of hope for others, even if the process requires a hundred times more hardship.

Thus, Cui Ming's first batch of apprentices were acquired in this unexpected yet reasonable way.

It is foreseeable that this group of apprentices not only has a special status, but their determination is also unwavering.

With the addition of this group of energetic and goal-oriented apprentices, Cui Ming's plans progressed at a rapid pace.

Upon seeing this, Tang Bingwen immediately made a decision to set aside a relatively secluded area on the back mountain and establish a new branch – Qiaogongtang.

Chapter 38 Qiaogongtang