"What?" Ji Feiyang, upon hearing Ye Bufan's analysis, became furious, his entire body burning with rage.
"Meaning, quite a few people from our Jiuzhou land likely died at their hands?" Ji Feiyang clenched his fists tightly. "These pampered Sakura Island people, didn't anyone die on their own Sakura Island? They still specifically come to our Jiuzhou land, it's infuriating. I must report this matter when I get back."
Song Mingqin placed a hand gently on Ji Feiyang's shoulder and comforted him, "Brother Ji, don't rush. We still have very little information, and we need to understand more before speaking."
Upon hearing this, Ji Feiyang nodded.
Ye Bufan spoke, "Currently, the Sakura Island people among us are creating this ghost army. We still need to figure out their motives. Besides dealing with the chaos after the so-called bottleneck breakthrough, I fear they might have other uses."
Ji Feiyang and Song Mingqin looked at Ye Bufan in confusion.
Ye Qingcheng stepped forward at this moment and said to the two, "You don't understand this, do you? Puppets are actually divided into two types. One is relatively simple, without any sentience, and is controlled solely by the cultivator who refined it. This is called a dead puppet. The other type has sentience. This type allows a person's soul to enter the puppet and control the corpse. This is called a living puppet. However, a drawback of living puppets is that the corpse doesn't preserve well and emits a rotten stench."
"So, Ye Bufan means that besides dead puppets, they have also refined living puppets?" Ji Feiyang pondered for a moment and slapped his thigh heavily.
"And if the corpse hasn't started to rot yet, and the opponent stands before us, we would have no idea if they are a living person or a corpse being controlled by someone else!" Ji Feiyang exclaimed. "If that's the case, if they infiltrate the higher-ups, wouldn't all sorts of secrets be revealed?"
"Brother Ye, is there any way to distinguish them?" Ji Feiyang asked.
"Hey! I told you this, why are you asking me and instead asking Ye Bufan?" Ye Qingcheng's temper flared when Ji Feiyang asked Ye Bufan instead of her.
"It's just that I don't know you well. Ye Bufan and I call each other brothers, so naturally, we are closer," Ji Feiyang calmly explained to Ye Qingcheng.
"I grudgingly accept what you said," Ye Qingcheng replied. "Let me tell you. To identify a living puppet, it's actually quite simple. To maximally delay the decomposition of the corpse, they apply special spices to it. Besides delaying decomposition, these spices also prevent flies and insects."
"Therefore, they should all have a peculiar smell. It depends on what kind of medicine the other party uses. It might be accompanied by a burst of fragrance, or it might be accompanied by a traditional Chinese medicine scent," Ye Qingcheng said.
Ye Bufan couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing this.
"What are you laughing at?" Ye Qingcheng turned and glared at Ye Bufan.
"Nothing, your method is still too troublesome. I have a simpler method here. Combined with your method, it might be easier to find them," Ye Bufan said.
Ye Qingcheng looked at Ye Bufan with some disbelief.
"Everything I've seen is from ancient texts. Is the method you're talking about not made up?" Ye Qingcheng chuckled.
"What's recorded in ancient texts isn't always complete," Ye Bufan also smiled, then continued, "Actually, this kind of living puppet is a bit like what is called possession. However, in possession, a malevolent spirit possesses a living person's body. For a living puppet, it's through some means that a soul can control a corpse. But they have one common point: their walking posture is very strange."
"When a living person is possessed, they tiptoe, and their walk appears light and airy. But living puppets are different; they appear heavy, as if they are marionettes," Ye Bufan said.
"So that's how it is." Ye Qingcheng finally understood.
Regarding puppets, Lin Xiaoyao had once introduced them to Ye Bufan. In his world, there was a sect called the Yin Corpse Sect, and every cultivator of the Yin Corpse Sect would have a living puppet and a dead puppet as their natal puppets. He hadn't expected that the strange tales he heard from Lin Xiaoyao about the outer myriad worlds would be useful today.
"I'll go tell the higher-ups immediately and have them conduct a thorough investigation," Ji Feiyang said and then rushed out of the courtyard.
Song Mingqin bowed to Ye Bufan and said, "Having someone like you among the younger generation is a blessing for our Jiuzhou land. Ye Bufan, I respected you before because you were Senior Lin Xiaoyao's disciple. But today, I truly admire you."
"Senior Song is too kind. It is my honor to be able to do something for Jiuzhou land," Ye Bufan replied.
"No! Your insight and your strength are enough to awe many cultivators of the younger generation today," Song Mingqin stated. "After not seeing you for just a few days, your cultivation has advanced considerably. This is also what surprises me."
"Alright, alright. You two, stop dawdling. Two grown men being so effeminate, just like us girls," Ye Qingcheng couldn't stand it any longer and interrupted.
Song Mingqin felt a bit embarrassed by Ye Qingcheng's remark.
"Alright, I've brought the person. There's nothing else for me to do now. Sister Chu, continue telling me about foreign affairs," Ye Qingcheng said, pulling Chu Mengyao away. Chu Mengyao cast a reluctant glance at Ye Bufan, but given Ye Qingcheng's overwhelming enthusiasm, she could only agree.
"I'll come find you later," Ye Bufan transmitted his voice to Chu Mengyao. Chu Mengyao's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and she left with Ye Qingcheng.
"Senior Song, is there anything else?" Ye Bufan asked Song Mingqin.
Song Mingqin nodded, chuckled foolishly for a while, and seemed hesitant to speak.
"Senior, please speak freely," Ye Bufan said.
Song Mingqin scratched his head and said, "When we dealt with the Eight-Headed Serpent last time, I saw you comprehended the Sword Domain. I've always wanted to find a time to spar with you. I've dedicated my life to studying the sword. To comprehend the Sword Domain at the Foundation Establishment stage is something I've never seen in my life. I'm just itching for a fight."
Ye Bufan understood Song Mingqin's intention, which was to fight him and experience the Sword Domain.
"Alright," Ye Bufan readily agreed. Song Mingqin had received guidance in swordsmanship from Lin Xiaoyao. Fighting him might lead to many insights in swordsmanship, so why not?
Thus, the two of them proceeded to the training platform of the City Lord's mansion.