Puppet Master (Bonus Chapter for Penguin Golden Alliance)

The next moment, just as Cao Wei had already assumed that the boy would continue to dodge his dagger's trajectory and then retaliate with his own blade.

But instead of retreating, the other side advanced.

In this Forbidden Zone of darkness, only a very sparse amount of moonlight shines down.

As Cao Wei watched the boy's cold gaze draw closer, he instinctively reached for his right hand to the lower left, intending to use the dagger to slit Qing Chen's throat.

But Qing Chen suddenly accelerated and approached, switching the dagger to his left hand while using his right hand to press down on Cao Wei's wrist and the dagger as he tried to slit Cao Wei's throat.

At the same time, the dagger in the boy's left hand was driven into the enemy's spleen.

Cao Wei was stunned. He knew where the dagger was stuck in his chest and abdomen, and he knew he was going to die, but he didn't want to be the only one to die.

Suddenly, Cao Wei used his last bit of strength to try to break free of his restrained right hand.

Before he could break free, the boy fiercely opened his mouth and bit his wrist, restraining it once again.

Qing Chen charged forward against the enemy, his expression contorted with rage as he bit his wrist.

With a loud crash, Cao Wei's entire body was slammed into the large tree behind him.

The federal soldier stared helplessly at the pair of eyes so close to his face, those fierce, beast-like eyes fixed on him, so very close.

Then that gaze gradually calmed down.

Blood seeped from the wound on Cao Wei's arm, staining the boy's face.

A dozen seconds later, Qing Chen slowly released his hand, letting Cao Wei fall to the ground.

Cao Wei looked up at him with difficulty, then glanced into the depths of the Forbidden Zone.

Qing Chen then explained, "I came to kill you first because I was afraid you would escape. Before I have the ability to help my teacher, my identity as a knight cannot be made public."

Cao Wei nodded with difficulty, indicating that he understood. After a long silence, he asked with his last bit of strength, "Is the scenery at the top of the Green Mountain Cliff beautiful?"

Qing Chen thought for a moment and replied, "It looks good."

"Thank you," Cao Wei said, closing his eyes.

Only at this moment did Qing Chen finally breathe a sigh of relief after holding his breath for more than ten hours.

Killing C-Class enemy this time was incredibly difficult.

First, he made the opponent withstand an anti-personnel mine, and then the opponent lost the will to fight after witnessing the knight's challenge. In the end, Qing Chen had to spend more than ten hours to wear the opponent down completely.

The most crucial element was the anti-personnel mine. Without it inflicting serious injury on Cao Wei, Qing Chen wouldn't have been able to outlast the opponent, no matter how long he tried.

Qing Chen was puzzled as to why Cao Wei would choose to withstand that landmine head-on.

His original plan was simply to have the other side request reinforcements, thus slowing down their pursuit.

At this moment, Qing Chen killed someone, but he did not trigger the rules of the Forbidden Zone.

In fact, the moment he stepped onto the cliff, he realized that this was the knight's home turf, and the knight could do whatever he wanted.

Therefore, the reason why his teacher could introduce the rules without restraint was because of the other party's status as a knight.

Li Shutong once said that there is a second rule for all Forbidden Zone.

The other party did not explain what the rule was at the time.

But now Qing Chen has guessed it: when you meet the containment conditions of a Forbidden Zone, that Forbidden Zone will become your home ground.

Even if you are just an outsider.

However, this is so difficult to do that no one has ever tried to "contain" a Forbidden Zone.

Qing Chen slowly sat down next to Cao Wei. This chase, which lasted for more than ten hours, was not easy for him either.

Countdown.

"Teacher, are you nearby?" Qing Chen asked wearily, looking around. "I have some questions to ask."

"Ahem, I'm here," Li Shutong, emerging from the woods on the west side of the cliff, looking somewhat embarrassed.

He clearly said he would only accompany Qing Chen for a short while, but he still secretly went to the nearby grove and quietly watched his disciple.

He wasn't as calm as he seemed!

If Azure Falcon knew about this, he would definitely despise him.

Li Shutong looked at Qing Chen: "What do you want to ask?"

"I want to ask, after the Gene Lock is unlocked, will my DNA still be the same as before?" Qing Chen asked curiously.

"Of course they're different," Li Shutong shook his head. "Every knight's DNA undergoes significant changes when unlocking each layer of their Gene Lock."

"Does it still belong to the category of human beings?" Qing Chen pondered.

"Of course, you are only evolving towards a more perfect gene right now, and you are still human," Li Shutong explained. "After unlocking the first layer of the Gene Lock, the hidden benefits are a longer lifespan and the repair of genes for hereditary pathologies in your family. For example, if your elders have the gene for baldness, then that will not happen to you. There are actually many similar genes."

"It sounds pretty down-to-earth and practical," Qing Chen remarked, at least he no longer has to worry about going bald.

Li Shutong continued, "You've only unlocked the first layer of your Gene Lock, so only your muscles will be strengthened. As you unlock more layers, the bones, skin, and internal organs will be strengthened in sequence, until the fifth time you unlock your Gene Lock, at which point your qi will appear..."

At this moment, the teacher realized that something was wrong, because Qing Chen was already angry before he unlocked the Gene Lock. So, could the teacher still judge the unlocking order of the other party according to common sense?

Qing Chen looked at his teacher and said, "Teacher, I can clearly feel that my bones, skin, and internal organs are different from before, and my qi has also become much stronger... As you can see, I can now pluck leaves and fly flowers, but I can only use it a few times, and the force is not as fierce."

Li Shutong carefully examined Qing Chen, then reached out and pinched the boy's wrist, feeling the bones in his skin. "How strange! Why are you so unconventional?"

The teacher's tone held a hint of surprise, and even a touch of resentment...

To be honest, Li Shutong was already considered extremely talented in the Knight Organization. After all, each knight's strength would be different after unlocking their Gene Lock, and he had always been among the strongest.

But now, Qing Chen is showing much greater potential than him.

He had never heard of any senior being able to use the Autumn Leaf Blade at the first level of Gene Lock before!

Since Qin Sheng created his Breathing Technique, there has never been such an exception!

Just as Li Shutong was pondering, he heard heavy yet swift footsteps coming from the depths of the Forbidden Zone.

The sound was as loud as a drumbeat, growing ever closer.

Qing Chen looked at Li Shutong and noticed a hint of surprise on the other's face, but no hostility.

The sound came from the heart of the Forbidden Zone. Could it be that some giant beast had broken out?

The next moment, a strong man over four meters tall pushed aside the tree canopy and came to the two of them. He had disheveled hair and an exceptionally honest face.

However, Qing Chen discovered that each of the giant's two eye sockets actually had two pupils.

Dual Pupils!

But then Li Shutong asked the giant curiously, "Ding Dong? What are you doing here?"

Qing Chen was surprised that this imposing and burly giant had such a delicate and playful name!

The honest Ding Dong didn't say anything. He slowly squatted down in front of Qing Chen and stretched out his palm, which was as big as a chair, in front of the boy.

There was nothing in my palm.

Qing Chen asked in confusion, "Teacher, what does this mean?"

But Li Shutong didn't answer him. Instead, his expression changed, and he questioned the darkness deep within the Forbidden Zone: "What do you mean by this? I didn't give him the Forbidden Item because it wasn't the right time yet. What are you in such a hurry to give him? Look at how you're showing off! Having a few Forbidden Item doesn't make you any special. I have some too! I've already said that grandparents spoiling their grandchildren can easily lead to them being spoiled. Don't you understand?"

Qing Chen stared wide-eyed at his teacher, wondering why the usually gentle and kind person had suddenly lost such a temper.

And there was nothing in that giant's palm!

Ding Dong smiled at Qing Chen and gestured for him to open his palm as well.

Then, the giant carefully poured a ball of transparent silk thread from his palm into Qing Chen's hand.

"Teacher, what is this?" Qing Chen asked.

Li Shutong said irritably, "The Forbidden Item ACE-019, Puppet Master!"

Chapter 11, I feel like the ending is a bit off!

I'm begging for your minimum monthly votes!

:.: