The burly man and the tall, thin cultivator had never expected anyone to dare snatch a treasure in this market.
Spiritual light flashed wildly around them as they swiftly surrounded the newcomer.
Whatever his intentions were, even if he wanted to buy the puppet too, they had spotted it first. Steal it from them? Not a chance!
After her initial fright, Ming Ling recognized the newcomer. Delight immediately lit her face, and she stepped forward to greet him respectfully.
The newcomer was Shuang Chongshan, who had just returned. While he was still some distance from the shop, the keen perception he had developed through years of immersion in puppet mechanisms alerted him to a fairly high-grade puppet inside.
Then, after sweeping it with his divine sense, his expression changed dramatically. With no time to think, he hurried inside and put away the "Crystal Snow Jade Spider" in one swift motion.
He did not need to think to know that his son had crafted it. After all, he had personally gathered the raw materials and given them to his son to practice with.
The burly man and the tall, thin cultivator were about to rebuke him when they heard the shopkeeper address the newcomer as "Father-in-law!"
Naturally, they now knew who he was, but displeasure still showed in their eyes as they regarded him with hostile expressions.
Meanwhile, although Shuang Chongshan had not yet worked out what was happening, he swiftly sent Ming Ling a secret voice transmission, telling her to stop talking immediately and leave everything to him.
Then, with an apologetic smile, Shuang Chongshan explained to the burly man and the tall, thin cultivator.
"I bought this yesterday for my son to use as his bonded magical treasure. It got mixed in with the other puppets meant for sale,