No strange things are allowed to evolve!

He was returned to his home again, still with the white-bearded doll.

“This palace does not exist in the real world; we call it the Inner World. People from the outside cannot enter, but you don’t need to worry about not being able to pass the message to me. I have been going out to check the situation every day these past few days. After you have completed the task she assigned, I will pass it on.”

After delivering Jiang Shu to the empty truck, the white-bearded doll gave him instructions.

Jiang Shu first indicated that she understood, then corrected her, "Watch your wording. It wasn't that she instructed me, but that she asked me to do it."

"Alright, alright." The white-bearded doll was speechless. "I beg, I beg, okay? If there's nothing else, get in the car. After I close the door, you'll go back to your original world."

"Wait a minute, something really has come up." Jiang Shu didn't move. "I have a few questions for you."

The white-bearded doll seemed a little impatient, but still nodded reluctantly: "Go ahead and ask."

Jiang Shu ignored his undisguised annoyance and asked seriously, "Your sister said that you were by her side when she woke up, right? You've been with her all these years."

"Yes, so what?"

What do you think makes you special?

"What do you mean by 'special'?" the white-bearded doll asked, puzzled.

“What I mean is…” Jiang Shu changed his question: “Why were you the only one by her side? She was the only one who went into the fire, you weren’t by her side, and she made more than one doll by hand, so why were you the only one by her side? Is it just because you are her younger brother?”

The white-bearded doll sneered: "Isn't that reason enough?"

“Hmm…” Jiang Shu thought about it seriously for a moment: “It’s not impossible. Siblings are of one mind, so it makes sense.”

"If there's nothing else, then..."

"Next question."

"Don't push your luck..."

“I’ve been here for about an hour, while the journey from the lab to the creative workshop is only about half an hour.”

Jiang Shu paused:

"Even if I only disappeared for a few minutes, the people around me should have noticed, right? How am I supposed to explain to them that I disappeared for so long without any explanation when I get back?"

The white-bearded doll frowned, about to speak, but was interrupted by Jiang Shu.

"Of course, you could say that my body is still in the same place, but my soul has escaped from the doll, and this is actually the spiritual realm. But you and the creative craftsman are physical entities. I have personally verified this. After all, she will bleed when she is pricked by a needle. So I don't believe this explanation. And even so, when we arrived, my companions found me motionless. Wouldn't they find it strange?"

The white-bearded doll shut its mouth upon hearing this, its expression subtle.

But in an instant, he composed himself and laughed, “You have a vivid imagination. I didn’t mean to say that. In fact, the flow of time here is different from that outside. Although you have been here for a long time, it is only a moment outside.”

"Oh, I see." Jiang Shu suddenly realized.

"Now you should..."

"But this is different from what the creative craftsmen said."

"what?"

Jiang Shu looked at the white-bearded doll's surprised expression and explained, "The creative craftsman told me that the time you occasionally leave the palace and disappear is about the same as the time you spend outside. If what you're saying is true, every time you go out and come back, even if it's not for long, it still feels like she hasn't seen you for a long time, right?"

"How come she knows everything..." The white-bearded doll hesitated, as if to say something but then stopped.

Seeing his frustrated expression, Jiang Shu continued, "Then I won't ask you why you can come and go freely, nor will I ask you why you were able to pull me here without my knowledge or attracting the attention of the others around me. In short, you are different from the other dolls, and you are hiding something from the Creative Craftsman, right?"

Given that the creative craftswoman had a favorable impression of Jiang Shu, she was unlikely to be wary of Jiang Shu's seemingly casual conversations.

How long does he usually stay out? What does he do? How long do you usually wait at home? Aren't you bored by yourself?

She wouldn't lie to him about something so trivial that it wouldn't matter to her.

Since the two people's accounts differ, one of them is naturally lying.

With "dedication" as a guarantee, the creative craftsmen wouldn't lie to Jiang Shu, so who is telling the truth?

If what the creative craftsman said is true, then it proves that the white-bearded doll was just lying to itself.

But he had no reason to do so, because the truth would be revealed the moment he returned to the real world.

But if what the white-bearded doll said is true, then that would be very interesting. It would mean that the creative craftswoman's perception has always been wrong, and since she cannot leave the palace, and this perception came from the white-bearded doll, it would prove that the white-bearded doll has been lying to her all along and has been hiding something from her.

As someone who relies on creative artisans for survival, and is essentially part of the same family, why would he do this?

Besides, Jiang Shu already knew quite a bit about the dolls, whether they were craftsman dolls or big-headed dolls. The black stuffing could indeed give them extraordinary power or different characteristics, such as taking things out of the inside like big-headed dolls, or the craftsmen's tenacious energy, vitality, and the guards' powerful strength.

However, none of these abilities deviated from the realm of common sense. At most, they simply amplified what could be done by human effort in a certain aspect. They did not deviate from the realm of physics, so Newton could still rest in peace after seeing them.

But what about the white-bearded doll? What he can do is beyond the realm of common sense. He can control space and time at will, and separate Jiang Shu and the truck from spacetime. This ability is simply incomprehensible; physics doesn't even exist for him.

"What do you call this?" Jiang Shu smiled. "Magic? Or supernatural power?"

The white-bearded doll remained silent.

Jiang Shu glanced at the truck and urged, "Don't waste time. You don't think that if I keep quiet, I'll say something like, 'If you don't want to talk, then forget it,' do you? I don't even spoil my girlfriend like that, do you?"

Hearing Jiang Shu's dismissive urging, the white-bearded doll suddenly laughed.

"You really have a big mouth." He shook his head with a wry smile: "So how exactly do you manage to keep a cold face while saying all sorts of nonsensical things in a serious tone?"

"Because I have a cool and cute face."

"Okay, okay..."

The white-bearded doll suddenly transformed into a different person. Jiang Shu could no longer see the arrogant, sister-obsessed younger brother who had previously annoyed him.

Some looked as if they were possessed by something dirty, while others looked as if they had... removed their disguise.

"So... there were so many flaws I hadn't noticed?" he said self-deprecatingly. "I thought it was flawless, a sad story about love and regret, but in the end, this beautiful facade was shattered, revealing its cruel and morbid nature. What a pity."

Jiang Shu narrowed his eyes.

What are you saying in your gibberish?

Although the white-bearded doll said it was a pity, his eyes were full of joy, just like a game creator who had finally discovered an Easter egg that had been hidden for many years, feeling a great sense of accomplishment.

"So, are you interested in seeing the real script? As the first person to come up to me and unexpectedly discover the flaws in my plan, I grant you that right."

His voice was seductive.

Like a cunning and shrewd businessman.

"The real script?" Jiang Shu became interested. "So, I need to do other things, or rather, cancel the creative craftsman's request?"

"No, no, no." The white-bearded doll waved his hand: "No need for such trouble. Everything will remain the same. I am still his brother, and you will continue to help her seek death and fulfill her wish. However, I will allow you to know the real script, written by me."

He had assumed Jiang Shu would readily agree out of curiosity, but to his surprise...

“Then I don’t need to know your script.” Jiang Shu shook his head firmly: “Since everything is the same as before, and the things I need to do haven’t changed, I don’t want to cause any trouble. That’s fine then, goodbye.”

As she spoke, Jiang Shu tried to get into the car.

"Wait a minute!" This time it was the white-bearded doll that stopped him.

He seemed quite surprised by Jiang Shu's reaction, his face full of disbelief: "Aren't you even a little curious? This is my most prized work."

“But…” Jiang Shu blinked in confusion: “What does your proudest work have to do with me? If you share it, you’ll be the one who’s happy, right? What obligation do I have to make you happy? Or rather, what do I get out of making you happy?”

The white-bearded doll was speechless for a moment.

"If there's nothing else..."

"A reward! I'll give you a reward!" the white-bearded doll said in a deep voice, "I'll give you an item that can freeze time for one second without restricting you. In a critical moment, you can use it to save your life or turn the tide of battle!"

In the blink of an eye.

It was so fast that even the white-bearded doll didn't have time to react.

Jiang Shu obediently sat cross-legged in front of him, politely extending her hand, looking like she was all ears.

"Please tell your story."

"When..." The white-bearded doll paused, "I don't remember giving you the props yet, right?"

Jiang Shu remained silent, only offering a slight smile.

The best way to deal with a cunning and calculating businessman is to remain unmoved by his influence, then retreat strategically and utter that phrase imbued with the power of law—

Can you make it cheaper? No, I'll check other stores then...

Yes, it works just as well in another world.

Chapter Thirty-Three: We've Been Set Up!

"Her brother died long ago and has never come back to life, as have the other dolls."

The white-bearded doll's opening statement was a royal flush.

He didn't seem to have any intention of keeping people in suspense; instead, he was eager to reveal the final conclusion.

Perhaps they were worried that if they dragged it out too long, Jiang Shu would stop listening.

This information did indeed surprise Jiang Shu somewhat.

"So what's inside those dolls?"

“Aren’t you the current head of the workshop? As someone who can detect the flaws in my plan, I don’t believe you haven’t had any doubts about this.” The white-bearded doll said expectantly, “Guess what it is.”

Upon hearing the prompt, Jiang Shu didn't think much of it: "They are no different in essence from fairy tale dolls. Fairy tale dolls don't have their own souls; everything is a program they input. But in reality, they are the same?"

“That’s right! That’s right! You’re really smart!” The white-bearded puppet nodded excitedly and frantically: “They are just puppets with the characteristics and personalities of the dead. Most of the time they think they are human, but in reality, they are not at all.”

Jiang Shu suddenly understood the hammer doll.

Why did he say that since becoming a craftsman doll, he felt that work was the happiest thing for him, and that he no longer needed even the most basic human physiological desires and emotions?

So, just like fairy tale dolls, everything is pre-programmed?

Seeing Jiang Shu's thoughtful expression, the white-bearded doll scoffed, "When a person dies, they're dead. Who can bring someone back to life except a true god? Only a fool would believe that."

"So it wasn't a deity who taught her how to make dolls, but you?" Jiang Shu asked. "Why?"

"This is an experiment on humanity."

The white-bearded doll's understated yet authentic description:

"I will give her the treasure containing forbidden power to prove its power before she can use it freely. Then I will see if she will heed the warnings, and if not, to what extent she will act recklessly, and what choice she will make when disaster finally strikes."

What I need to do is observe her life and record her emotional journey and changes.

But now I'm tired of it, and it's time for everything to end. It's perfect for you to help me finish it off.

"Hmph, a regretful and remorseful writer, and a fan of Tomato novels at that." Jiang Shu made a sarcastic remark, then changed the subject: "Then I guess you weren't just observing, were you? Perhaps she didn't initially intend to disobey the warning, but under your influence, she eventually took that step."

"You're a genius!" the white-bearded doll exclaimed sincerely. "I'm almost ready to be your friend."

"What a twisted sense of humor." Jiang Shu shook his head. "So, who exactly are you?"

"I can't tell you that, but..."

The white-bearded doll carefully examined Jiang Shu, and then said something that made the latter suddenly lose his composure.

"Just when I suddenly developed feelings for you, I had a strange feeling that made me want to be good to you unconditionally."

He smiled mysteriously, a malicious grin spreading across his face.

“‘Dedication,’ is that it? Then I think we are probably the same kind.”

Jiang Shu suddenly felt goosebumps and a chill ran down his spine.

This is absolutely...

It's definitely not just a simple hatchery NPC!

This eerie and terrifying feeling is like the protagonist of a movie you're watching suddenly saying something to the screen that only moviegoers can understand.

Just as Jiang Shu's brain was racing, trying to figure out what was wrong, he suddenly felt his consciousness go haywire. All his thoughts became incredibly chaotic. He had many ideas, but he couldn't grasp the important one. He even almost forgot why he came here in the first place.

In that instant, he seemed to lose all reason and composure; he would have wanted to kick even a passing dog.

Fortunately, this feeling came quickly and went quickly.

Having regained his senses, Jiang Shu took a deep breath. If he were in human form now, he was certain his back would be soaked in cold sweat.

This feeling of losing control over oneself is truly unpleasant...

Looking at the white-bearded doll again, Jiang Shu's eyes were filled with unprecedented vigilance and apprehension.

Seeing this, the white-bearded doll pointed to its head proudly and said boastfully, "'Confusion' makes people lose their minds as soon as they start thinking. The faster they think, the easier it is for them to become an idiot. I also call it the 'IQ-lowering Aura'."

Rubbing his throbbing head, Jiang Shu temporarily abandoned the idea of ​​investigating the other party's identity, and just muttered, "What a disgusting ability."

However, this disgusting ability suits you perfectly... Jiang Shu thought to herself, but didn't say it aloud.