Applause.
Qing Chen looked toward the source of the applause. To his surprise, the Puppet Master's true body, Zong Cheng, was walking down from the mountain ridge. "Congratulations. You achieved the final victory. Even as a bystander, I was moved by how difficult it was for all of you."
Dressed in a black suit, Zong Cheng did not look like a loser at all. Instead, he looked like a guest attending a celebration banquet.
The Parent's Association members were on guard, while Qing Chen calmly replied, "You don't seem depressed like a loser."
Zong Cheng smiled as he explained, "When you fail too many times in life, sometimes failure stops feeling like much of anything. You just get used to it."
Zong Cheng continued, "If we're talking about original intentions, both you and I wanted to destroy the corporations. What you've done is certainly better than what I did, so naturally, I should be happy. While you were fighting the final battle, I had a pleasant conversation with the old man at Ginkgo Mountain. I told him what I was thinking then."
Qing Chen seemed thoughtful. "I think you've simply found yourself another escape route, one that satisfies you even more."
Zong Cheng smiled bitterly. "Don't always be so wary of me. If time could start over, maybe I'd choose to honestly live as an ordinary person. Experiencing family, friendship, and love would be nice too. Don't always imagine me as so evil."
Qing Chen smiled. "No matter what you say, I'll clear out all your puppets as soon as possible."
"Then I'll wait," Zong Cheng said with a smile as he took a step back. Blood suddenly poured from the seven orifices of that young puppet, and it collapsed dead.
Qing Chen looked at the giant prophet. "How many