Changing Hearts

"The upper echelons of this world have completely monopolized knowledge. Books are things the lower classes can barely touch; only a handful of the powerful and wealthy have the opportunity to access them."

He Ping had also realized one thing: this situation of blocking the circulation of educational knowledge was only aimed at the lower classes. Wealthy families with vast fortunes like his, as well as official clans, were not really restricted.

After all, the imperial court needed talent to manage the world. Blocking the common rabble from reading was one thing, but the officials selected to serve could not be illiterate.

There was a hidden library within the He family mansion, provided for the clansmen to borrow texts.

In the past, He Ping had read a story from a collection of strange tales compiled by scholars of a previous dynasty.

In that story, a man went away to serve as an official for many years. One day, he returned home to visit his family, only to find that his parents, wife, and children had become extremely strange.

It was an indescribable eeriness. His family seemed unchanged, yet he felt a bizarre, unspeakable quality about them all.

The man returned to his room to rest, and in a half-dreaming, half-waking state, he heard his parents, wife, and children outside discussing when to kill him, debating whether to use poison, cudgels, or a blade.

Terrified, the man woke up instantly, drew a sharp knife, rushed out the door, and slaughtered his entire family.

Yet, after being struck by the blade, these people did not bleed; they simply toppled over stiffly. The man was shocked and, upon closer inspection, discovered that his entire family were wooden puppets.

Filled with fear and horror, he rushed out to report it to the authorities. When the bailiffs returned home with him, what they saw was a scene of utter carnage, with the blood-soaked corpses of his entire family strewn across the floor...

He Ping furrowed his brows tightly.

Replacing living people, turning them into puppets—this truly sounds like a "Forbidden Method." Could it be that Wu Yousheng passed the secret technique to me just to turn me into a puppet, and then use the puppetry methods in the Formless Secret Treasury to control me, the young master of the He family?!

If the other party's sinister plot succeeded, he would likely be swapped out, becoming a puppet in Wu Yousheng's hands wearing the identity of "He Ping," never to be free again.

But why would the other party do this? To scheme for the He family's fortune?

No, that was completely unnecessary.

The puppet techniques recorded in the Formless Secret Treasury were so profound; what did mere worldly wealth matter? Why would Wu Yousheng of the Immortal Puppet Sect go through such a convoluted, troublesome scheme to lure him in?

Unless Wu Yousheng wanted to complete his goal secretly without causing any stir.

After obtaining the Formless Secret Treasury, he had been practicing in secret, without attracting anyone's attention, which was exactly what the other party wanted.

He Ping realized this, and his heart turned icy cold.

With the abilities of Wu Yousheng from the Immortal Puppet Sect, he probably wasn't afraid of him knowing about the problem with this "corpse." Even if he knew the truth, he wouldn't dare to speak out. Instead, because his lifespan was running low, he would be forced to practice the forbidden method and refine himself into a living puppet.

"...What a calculation!"

He Ping let out a long breath. His thoughts turned several times, and his mind grew calm.

"Admittedly, I am now beyond my own control. The forbidden chapter recorded in the Formless Secret Treasury may be the final method to extend my life. If I want to survive, I must refine myself into a living puppet."

Of course, replacing one's entire body would take time. According to the records in the Formless Secret Treasury, replacing all the flesh and blood would take at least ten or twenty years. This process would consume a lot of time, and he likely couldn't wait that long.

"Therefore, for me, the first step is to replace my heart. My vital essence and blood energy are severely depleted, and my heart is failing. I need to replace it... Yes, replace it with the heart of a demon."

The first step of the "Living Puppet" refining technique in the Formless Secret Treasury was the heart-replacement method, and it required killing a demon to use its heart, refining it with secret arts.

In the end, one would cut open their chest, dig out their own heart, and replace it with the demon's heart.

"Demons are powerful creatures. Their lifespans are longer than humans, and their blood energy is a hundred times stronger than a mortal's. There seems to be a Mountain Demon in the Four Peaks Mountain outside Suian City that often descends to harm the people below. It would be perfect to slaughter this demon and refine its heart for my use."

He Ping had been preparing for this for over a year. Even now, knowing the Immortal Puppet Sect's conspiracy, he did not intend to change his original plan, because he had few other options.

Of course, there was a risk in doing this: "replacing the heart" might be the prerequisite to activating Wu Yousheng's backup plan.

"If I don't replace my heart and refine myself into a living puppet, I cannot extend my life; if I succeed in replacing my heart, I might be refined into a puppet by Wu Yousheng..."

He Ping gave a bitter laugh.

This was a true dilemma.

Whether moving forward or retreating, he was in danger of falling into an abyss.

"Let's go."

He Ping reached his severed arm back into the coffin.

"Young Master, what about this coffin?"

He Fusheng leaned in, asking with confusion.

"Burn the coffin. Wrap this corpse in cloth and bring it back to the mansion for me. Also, give some silver to the temple keeper of the Mountain God Temple and the nearby villagers. Tell them to keep their mouths shut and not say anything to outsiders..."

He Ping waved his hand, gave the order to his steward He Fusheng, and rose to leave the deep pit.

Several days later, the He family was making a grand display, with the mansion decorated in lanterns and streamers, hosting a banquet.

The He family's young master was celebrating his birthday, setting up tables and inviting many guests. The mansion was lively, with the sound of gongs and drums never ceasing.

The He family was one of the most prominent wealthy families in Suian City, having lived in the North for generations. Besides the rice trade, they also operated pawnshops, medicinal herbs, timber, and tea businesses. With vast financial resources, they were considered a great fortune.

Naturally, the He family's banquet was extremely extravagant. Even though night had fallen, Changle Street, where the He mansion was located, remained brightly lit, with carriages and horses crowding the entrance.

He Ping's father had passed away many years ago, but while he was alive, he was adept at social maneuvering, maintaining good relations with the government and the city's official families, while privately associating with gangs and martial artists. This allowed He Ping to inherit the family business smoothly.

As the only son of the He family and its current head, the guests he invited to the banquet were not simple. Half of them were famous noble heroes from North Prefecture, desert blade-wielders, gang leaders, or prominent figures from the underworld.

He Ping also had a small reputation in the martial world. He enjoyed keeping guests in his mansion. Even if they were common ruffians, as long as they had some talent and were willing to enter the He mansion, he would open his doors to them.

Occasionally, con artists or local loafers would pose as high-minded scholars to seek an audience, and He Ping would not refuse them. His loyal servants often advised him to be more selective, but he would only say that he would not let a few petty people ruin his reputation for treating guests with sincerity.

As time passed, He Ping's reputation grew, and many in North Prefecture knew him as "righteous and generous," "hospitable to scholars," and "charitable."