Strongest Scammer: Scamming The World, One Death At A Time-Chapter 579: Zombies

What Han Yu saw was a Jiangshi, but of a different model than the ones that guarded the halls. This one was broader, wearing a band of metal plates across its shoulders, and carried a large crate of ores with unnatural ease. Its movements were stiff, but controlled, and the faint smell of old blood lingered in the air around it.

Han Yu's attention sharpened. The puppet arts used here were directly tied to zombie refinement techniques. To understand the Mind Modifying Doll Seal, he needed a deep grasp of puppetry and cursed structure.

Zombies were one of the key steps. After all with how Xuan Qing behaved, she might as well be a zombie.

He turned back to the clerk. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"What is required to learn the method of making a zombie?" he asked in a steady voice.

The clerk paused mid adjustment. Slowly he lifted his eyes, stared at Han Yu, and then snorted.

"Oh, that. Forget everything I said earlier about it being easy. Making a zombie is on another level entirely. Only Intermediate Puppet Artisans and above are even allowed to try. The reasons are many. Let me tell you the friendly version."

He leaned forward a little.

"If you are lucky, the corpse explodes before it animates. A nice clean burst. You get covered in some blood and maybe lose some hair. That is the best case."

Han Yu raised a brow slightly.

"If you are unlucky..." the clerk continued with a shrug, "the failed zombie comes alive with half its mind twisted and decides that you look delicious. And since failed zombies are unpredictable, sometimes they are faster than you think. We lost three disciples last month because they thought they could skip ranks."

Han Yu felt his jaw tighten. He remained silent.

The clerk tapped the chariot toy. "Intermediate Rank is considered the Bare Minimum needed to start zombie work because that is the level where you learn to make stabilizing cores. A zombie needs a stabilizing core. Without it, you get a corpse that flails, screams, or tries to attack anything that moves."

Han Yu mentally filed away the information.

He asked, "Do I need curse mastery to work with zombies as well"

The clerk raised three fingers. "Yes and no. At the Intermediate level you do not need to actively cast curses. Most curse energy comes from the materials you embed into the zombie.

The corpse is refined with cursed hides, cursed fangs, cursed essence, things like that.

You just need to understand how cursed energy interacts with the puppet core so that the corpse does not eat you. The actual curse weaving only becomes necessary when you want to create zombies with independent thoughts or strategic instincts. That is Master Rank and above."

Han Yu took this in.

The Mind Modifying Doll Seal required both puppet knowledge and curse theory. Zombies were the bridge between these two disciplines. He needed to master this path eventually.

The clerk stretched his arms and groaned. "If you really want to learn zombies, take your time. Do not jump ahead. You look like the type who thinks he can do everything quickly. That is how corpses explode in your face."

Han Yu nodded, though the clerk's warning only strengthened his resolve. He needed puppet knowledge. He needed curse knowledge. He needed blood arts eventually too. Every step brought him closer to unlocking the seal that held Xuan Qing's mind prisoner.

For now, he forced himself to remain calm.

The Puppet Path had begun.

And he would follow it to the end, no matter the cost.

Han Yu hurried back to the Fifth Rib Peak under the cover of night. The sect was still lively even after sunset.

Disciples walked about, some carrying lanterns, some carrying chained beasts, and some simply wandering with bloodshot eyes, likely practicing some violent skill that needed moonlight. The red moon above gave everything a hellish glow and for a moment Han Yu wondered if he had become too used to it.

As he reached his own cave, the faint feeling of anxiety that he had been suppressing since afternoon finally surfaced again.

He had left Xuan Qing alone for the very first time. Even though he had given her exact instructions, he did not know if the Mind Modifying Doll Seal had quirks, or if she might remain motionless until she starved, or walk out if the seal misinterpreted something.

He unlocked the door and stepped inside.

Xuan Qing was sitting in the exact same place he had left her. Not even a shift in posture. She sat with her back straight, hands set on her lap, eyes staring forward at nothing. Her expression was cold and empty, and only her eyelids moved a little, blinking once every long interval.

Too slow. Too unnatural. Too unnerving.

'Ugh... Need to correct that.' Han Yu felt his chest tighten.

This was the same Senior Sister Xuan Qing who used to hit him on the head for being reckless, who used to scold him for making chaps, who used to laugh brightly when teasing him. Seeing her like this was a torment.

The moment he stepped closer, she stood up smoothly and bowed without emotion. Her voice was calm and utterly lifeless.

"Awaiting new orders."

Han Yu swallowed. He forced his voice to stay steady.

"Your blinking should be more normal."

She blinked once in response.

"What is normal blinking?" she asked tonelessly.

Han Yu stared at her, suddenly realizing she needed exact parameters for everything. He counted his own blinking for a short moment and said,

"Blink about fifteen times per minute. That should look normal enough."

"Understood."

She blinked again, and half a second later her blinking pattern changed to match the rhythm he had given.

"Crazy..." Han Yu exhaled softly.

It was terrifying how literal the Doll Seal was. The idea that her entire existence could be controlled as easily as adjusting a puppet's movements filled him with deep anger again, but he forced that down.