After my edgy brooding. Yinlin led me down to a sketchy path, almost unnervingly creepy.
Yinlin slowed her pace, her dark eyes scanning the dim surroundings like she was retracing old memories. Then, as if something tugged at her, she stopped.
"I just remembered," she said, her voice measured, though I caught the faintest hesitation in it. "There's another place we need to visit. Come with me."
I raised an eyebrow. "And what exactly is waiting there?"
She gave me the kind of smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Relax. Nothing's going to happen to you… Not yet, at least."
That wasn't comforting in the slightest, but before I could press her, a voice barked from ahead.
"You there! You're not one of us. How did you sneak in here?!"
The owner of the voice stumbled into view a man in armor dented and bloodied, his breathing ragged. His hand hovered near the hilt of a blade, but his legs shook with every step.
"Quxiu?" Yinlin's tone softened, almost startled. "You're injured?"
The man's hardened features cracked at the sight of her. His lips trembled before he rasped, "Miss Yinlin!? You're back!"
He nearly collapsed, but steadied himself against the wall. Yinlin rushed forward, placing a hand on his arm. "Easy there. You need to rest."
He shook his head, stubbornness flashing in his eyes. "It is my duty to protect our people. I'll be fine."
I glanced at the blood seeping through his armor, the way his knuckles whitened as he tried to stay upright. "Those are no small wounds," I said quietly.
"I'm fine," he growled, only to wince and clutch his side. "…Ugh."
Yinlin's expression darkened. "No more duties if you die from them. We don't need you to protect this place anymore, remember?"
Quxiu's eyes darted, confusion flickering across his face. "But Master Dollmaker… he told me to guard this place at all cost."
Her voice hardened. "That won't be necessary. Master Dollmaker's not coming back. I'll be getting rid of everything here."
His jaw slackened. "What?"
"His ultimate goal is near. He won't need them anymore." Her eyes briefly clouded, her tone quieter the second time. "…Neither will I."
Quxiu's lips parted as if to argue, but Yinlin cut him off with a sharp, "Enough. You heard me. Stay put. I'll fetch some first aid."
And just like that, she swept past us, her cloak brushing the floor, leaving only the faint echo of her footsteps.
The silence that followed was heavy. Quxiu sank against the post, one hand pressed against his bleeding side. His face twisted, equal parts pain and frustration.
"Urgh… damn those monsters…" he muttered.
I crouched near him, scanning the torn edges of his armor. "Tacet Discords did this?"
He gave a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "We've fought off more than I can count. I just got careless, that's all." His hand trembled where it pressed against the wound.
"Do they come here often?" I asked.
"Some say the puppets attract them," he said through clenched teeth. "I don't believe it. Doesn't matter either way. I'll defend this place. Always."
"Why?" I asked, meeting his gaze. "Why keep guarding ruins for a man who's abandoned them?"
His eyes flickered. For the first time, doubt slipped through the cracks of his devotion. "…I don't know. This place mattered to Master Dollmaker. He told me to protect it with my life."
His hand loosened from the wound, falling limply to his lap. His eyes lowered, voice breaking softer. "But… It's true. He hasn't been here in a long time. Maybe Miss Yinlin's right…"
He let out a shaky breath, then firmed his jaw again. "Still. I'll protect them. These puppets—Miss Yinlin says she'll destroy them, but I can't believe she truly means it. Not after everything. I think they still matter to her. To him."
I watched him closely. His face, pale from blood loss, was lit by the faint glow of the campfire outside. A soldier, clinging to orders that no longer had meaning. His eyes were the kind of eyes I'd seen before haunted, and desperate to believe that their sacrifice wasn't wasted.
The room smelled of old paper and dust, faintly damp like it hadn't been opened in years. The shelves sagged under the weight of notebooks, diaries, and records carefully stacked but long forgotten. I dragged my fingers along the papers, the rough texture catching against my skin, until one loose book slipped free.
The Carefully Kept Notebook
Its cover was worn but intact, the edges softened by years of handling.
Master Dollmaker,
Do you remember this notebook? You said it was a gift from my parents when you became a Patroller. It contained their wisdom and advice, and it was your most treasured possession. It was my greatest inspiration, too.
I've completed my training today. I am now a qualified Patroller. I've decided to become an undercover agent, following in my parents' footsteps. While this may deviate from your expectations of me advancing in the Public Security Bureau, I feel drawn to this path. I may not come back here very often from now on.
Lately, I've been hearing worrying rumors from the Séance Society. I understand you're facing challenges in your research, but if you've resorted to working with criminals, then you'll be no better than them.
If you stumble upon this message in our camp, please destroy it after reading. I don't know if you'll ever find it, but I hope you do.
I miss our talks, Master Dollmaker. I've been thinking about my parents, and there is something I have to tell you. Please, let's talk again.
I lingered on that last line, tracing the indent of the pen. Whoever wrote this had wanted desperately to be heard.
I shut the notebook slowly, exhaling through my nose.
"She wanted to tell him something," I muttered, voice low. "Guess I'll never know what it was."
The message was still here, untouched, like it had never reached its mark. My lips curved into a bitter half-smile. "Left waiting…and forgotten. Some things never change."
The Slightly Aged Diary
The next book was smaller, the cover frayed and corners chewed. The handwriting inside was clumsy, and uneven a child's voice echoing across the years.
Today, Master Dollmaker told me stories about Mommy and Daddy again. He said they were brave Patrollers who were betrayed by some really bad people.
Master Dollmaker only seems to get happy when he talks about this. He promised me that he'd bring them back to me, and when that happens, they'll get their revenge.
I do miss Mommy and Daddy, but I don't remember much about them. Do they want to become puppets? And get revenge? I don't know. But if they came back, we'd be happy every day. Right?
The words blurred for a moment, not from age but from me staring too long. A folded paper slipped from between the pages. I unfolded it — a crude drawing of two smiling figures, stick-armed and wide-eyed, with the word Mommy scrawled under one, Daddy under the other.
I swallowed. "A kid's diary…" The words felt heavy in my throat.
The drawing trembled in my hands. "This must be Yinlin's … a memory of an adult holding onto scraps of a childhood that she never got."
I set it down carefully,
The Action Planner
The third book was cleaner. Whoever wrote this had been a professional.
Sparrow here. Day 14 of our undercover investigation. Canady and I managed to get hold of the date and location of the transaction, but we've yet to find any key evidence.
Based on various intel, we suspect that Cuckoo has already planted a mole inside the nest. Meaning our cover could be blown at any given time.
With our hatchling barely out of its shell, I had instructed Canary to abort the mission and return to the nest for the sake of safety, to which she refused… She suggested that nowhere is safe if the mole has already planted a target on our backs. Rather, our optimal plan of action is to stick together and seek out the evidence and the mole as quickly as possible.
We have already entrusted the hatchling to the care of a junior with whom we place our complete trust. We now have no worries. We can and must bring evil to justice.
I leaned against the shelf, my brows furrowed. "This reads like Patroller work," I murmured. "Undercover investigation…"
I flipped a few more pages, the codename Sparrow appearing over and over again. My gut tightened. "This must've been Yinlin's. But why is it here? This girl must be planning to do a double cross on his ass." I paused, the thought souring in my chest.
The Research Records of the Dollmaker
The last journal was different. Ink smeared across the pages in uneven strokes, sentences cut short then repeated. Desperation bled through every line.
Close… So close… Almost there. Almost.
My own memories failed me, and Yinling is no longer an option.
I've spent over a decade on these two puppets. I live for finishing this project.
I'll do whatever it takes, even teaming up with those I once despised.
Sacrifices will be made. I will see it through, no matter what.
The handwriting pressed so hard it tore through the page in places. I brushed a thumb across the gouged lines.
A chill ran through me. "What a pity," I whispered.
I shut the book, my reflection caught faintly in its darkened cover. "A shell of a man chasing shadows… If I hadn't learned to let go, I'd have ended up just like him. Still fuck that guy."
The fire outside crackled faintly, muffled through the walls. I stacked the notebooks back where I'd found them.
Jeff lingered near the doorway, arms crossed, boots tapping lightly against the dusty floorboards. His eyes kept drifting toward Quxiu, who was pale and slouched against the wall, one hand clutching his side.
The silence broke with the soft patter of footsteps. Yinlin returned, her hair slightly disheveled from rushing, strands clinging to her damp forehead. She dropped a small satchel onto the ground and crouched down beside Quxiu. Her hands, quick yet careful, rifled through bandages and herbs.
"This should do it." Her voice was calm, but there was a thin thread of tension beneath it. She pressed a roll of gauze against Quxiu's wound, her brows knitting together. "If it still hurts, go see Dr. Wu Sheng for a detailed checkup."
Quxiu tried to wave her off, forcing a small smile. "Thank you, Miss Yinlin! It's just a scratch… nothing to worry about." His tone was light, but his jaw tightened as the pressure made him wince.
Yinlin exhaled sharply, standing up and dusting off her knees. "Alright. Then go find somewhere safe to rest. You're relieved of your duties."
"But Miss Yinlin—"
"No." Her eyes hardened, a storm brewing in their depths. She raised her hand, crackling sparks dancing between her fingers. "We're burning it all. Stand back. I'll use my thunder to start the fire. No trace will be left."
Jeff stepped forward, frowning. The faint glow of her electricity painted the angles of her face, making her look almost otherworldly. "You sure you want to do this? I think… you may regret it. No I'm sure you'll absolutely regret it."
Her gaze snapped to him, sharp and searching. "Oh? So you've read what's written inside?"
Jeff held her stare, saying nothing at first. Then, evenly: "Yes. I have."
For a moment, her lips quirked, not quite a smile. "You seem to enjoy meddling in other people's business…"
The sparks fizzled out. Yinlin lowered her hand, her expression softening just enough to betray a flicker of weariness. "On second thought, the past can't be erased anyway. Burning these makes no difference. And the flames could attract Tacet Discords."
She turned back to Quxiu, her voice quieter now. "Still, you should leave this place. We don't need you to guard shadows of the past."
Quxiu clenched his fists, struggling to stay upright. "What if those monsters come again? Who'll stop them if I'm not here?"
"Your safety matters more than these objects." Yinlin's tone cracked gentle, almost sisterly. "If you're okay, then you can help those who aren't."
Quxiu finally nodded, shoulders slumping. "…Understood."
Jeff watched him stagger off, then shifted his gaze back to Yinlin. Her posture was rigid, but her eyes lingered on the remnants around them as if the ghosts of the past still clung to her.
"You've talked with everyone, I see." She tilted her head toward him, strands of hair swaying. "Are you joining us now?"
"They're not bad people. But…" He trailed off.
Her lips pressed into a thin line. "…They're just poor souls, longing to see their loved ones again. Master Dollmaker saves them—lets them make amends for their regrets. A noble cause, is it not?"
His chest tightened. "Is that why you betrayed me?"
The corner of her mouth lifted, humorless. "Betrayal? Heh. How is it betrayal when we were never a team?" She folded her arms, studying him with cool detachment. "Having a cop on our side makes things easier for the Séance Society. Don't you agree?"
Her voice softened as she looked away, eyes clouding with memory. "I was just a young orphan. Never knew my parents. Master Dollmaker took me in. He taught me combat, puppetry, temperance… he gave me a place in this world. I owe him everything."
Jeff's voice dropped, low and steady. "But he's after more than just helping people."
"Yes." She looked back at him, unflinching. "His eyes are set on another goal. We're all his test subjects, and we all know it. Still, we chose to stay."
Jeff's brows furrowed. "What kind of puppet is he trying to make?"
Her lips curved into a cryptic smile, one hand brushing a loose strand behind her ear. "That's not for your ears. Members only, you see?"
But then, almost reluctantly, her tone softened. "You're… not like the others. You rescued Lirong, and you showed respect to the puppets. They weren't just objects to you. I saw it."
Jeff swallowed hard, his voice rough. "I couldn't just stand by and watch."
"Look at you." She gave a small, breathless laugh, though her eyes glimmered with something more fragile. "Ever so righteous. Maybe you're better suited to be a Patroller than I ever was."
He tilted his head, searching her face. "You were kind to them too. To the people. To their puppets."
Her smile faltered, the storm in her eyes breaking for just a second. "…Kindness. Hmph. Or maybe I couldn't stand by, either."
A silence stretched between them. The air carried the faint scent of blood, ink, and dust.
Finally, Jeff asked, voice quiet but firm, "Can I trust your words this time?"
Yinlin's gaze lingered on him, unreadable. She spoke slowly, as though weighing every syllable. "That's up to you. Trust is delicate. You follow your instincts, decide how much you're willing to give."
Then, with a sharp inhale, she turned away. "Enough chatter. I'll take you to Master Dollmaker's pl—"
A distant scream tore through the air.
"HELP! HELP!PATROLLERS!"
Both of them froze. Jeff's hand instinctively went to his weapon, while Yinlin's eyes narrowed, electricity sparking once more at her fingertips.
The fragile calming atmosphere had shattered.
Author's note:
Hello everyone, feel free to leave your collections, powers, reviews, and comments as you see fit. I've been grinding my WuWa account while on my clinical duties for reference for this fic. I'm freaking excited for the 2.7 update, I gotta play it and read the story first so I can adjust this fanfic accordingly. I used my break and my remaining free time to write. I feel like dying from overwork and I'll be literally cooked if I'm caught. That's all; thank you for reading this fanfic, and I hope you have a good day.