Demon Sect, Puppet Sect.
The new servant disciples stood in a line, on the verge of tears, waiting for roll call, among them was Song Yan.
The recruitment of the Demon Sect, which occurs once every five years, is mostly done through abductions, especially for servants.
Song Yan was also taken by force.
However, this was not important.
Because after the abduction, the original owner seemed to have died during transportation, and he happened to transmigrate here, without any memories, without anything, which was actually the best case for him.
A fierce man in black armor held a roster, calling names one by one for assignment.
The assignments were random, as no one would specifically choose slots for servant disciples. Although "recruitment" happens once every five years, the attrition rate of servant disciples in the Demon Sect is relatively high. So, as soon as servants are lacking, the Demon Sect continues to capture more.
Before his transmigration, Song Yan was just a corporate drone, now he listened intently to the black-armored fierce man announce the names of places.
Tannery, Mortuary, Skin Making Room, Washing Room, Kitchen, Spirit Plant Garden, Messenger Room, Procurement Room, Test Chamber...
There were many types of servant roles, but to the newly arrived servants, some places, even by name, were not clear as to their functions.
However, there were, after all, some who had heard the notorious name of the Puppet Sect.
"Ma Lao Zuo."
"Present."
"Report to the Mortuary, assist the Official Disciples."
The named person, a middle-aged man who seemed honest, shivered upon hearing the words, and suddenly fell to his knees with a thud, pleading with tears and snot: "Sir, please assign me somewhere else, I'm willing to be a pig or a dog, as long as you don't send me to the Paperman Peak, Mortuary, or Tannery! Sir, I beg you!"
The black-armored fierce man nodded and asked, "Have you thought it through?"
The middle-aged man was overjoyed, exclaiming repeatedly, "Thank you, thank you!"
The black-armored fierce man flicked his sleeve, and a white shadow swiftly swept out, growing with the wind, landing behind Ma Lao Zuo. It was a beautiful woman in flowing white clothes, extending her delicate hands up and down onto Ma Lao Zuo's head.
Crunch!
With a twist of her small hand, Ma Lao Zuo's head spun around.
Thud!
The corpse fell to the ground, lifeless in an instant.
The black-armored fierce man retrieved his hand, the woman in white transformed into a paperman and flew back into his sleeve. He clapped his hands, soon some old servants came from outside, swiftly carried the corpse away to an unknown place.
Seeing the new servants in front of him, dumbfounded and filled with fear, the black-armored fierce man finally said, "You all heard him, he himself said he wanted to be a pig or a dog. Killing a pig or a dog, isn't that too much?"
After saying so, the black-armored fierce man continued calling names.
The rest were trembling with fear, not daring to speak more. Those who were named trembled, wishing to turn around and flee, yet not daring to do so.
"Song Yan."
"Present."
A plain-looking young man stepped forward.
"You go to the Tannery, assist the Official Disciples."
Song Yan was stunned for a moment, remembering what Ma Lao Zuo had said earlier.
Ma Lao Zuo had stated that as long as he wasn't sent to Paperman Peak, Mortuary, or Tannery, he'd be content.
Clearly, these three places held great danger for servants.
But when faced with the situation, Song Yan had no other choice, and only replied with a trembling voice, "Yes."
...
Soon, Song Yan was assigned to a plaque. The body of the plaque was made of Black Wood, and on it were inscribed the words "Song Yan," "Servant," and "Shadow Puppet 527" in either blood or cinnabar, indicating his identity and number.
An old servant led the way in front, taking him across the enormous mountain of the Puppet Sect, finally stopping at a lonely cliff.
Song Yan walked two steps forward, seeing a row of stone chambers perched on the cliff, while beyond the cliff, mist roiled.
Suddenly, Song Yan's pupils contracted, because he saw transparent floating coffins like teeth growing on the steep cliff.
Looking closer, inside those coffins, there were beds, tables, and chairs, starkly resembling houses.
"Just ahead."
The old servant, who hadn't spoken or responded the whole way, didn't care about Song Yan's confusion and fear, merely pointing ahead before turning and leaving.
Song Yan, holding the token, steeled himself and walked forward.
In the stone chamber, many servants immediately looked up, seeing he was male, many lowered their heads.
However, the female servants continued to look up, scrutinizing him.
Upon seeing his unremarkable appearance, more than half lowered their heads, while a big-eyed woman stepped forward, showing her plaque.
The plaque read: Wang Susu, Servant, Shadow Puppet 675.
Song Yan looked at the number, quite curious why his number was higher than the servant before him. Nonetheless, he raised his token and called out, "Sister Wang."
The woman named Wang Susu wore slippery white silk pants, still possessing some grace. She looked at the young boy and said, "Here, servants lead other servants, it's up to whom one wishes to follow. You should follow me."
Song Yan had no choice, so he nodded and said, "Thank you, Sister Wang."
Seemingly pleased with his politeness, Wang Susu led the way, introducing as they walked.
"The Puppet Sect has five peaks: Paperman Peak, Shadow Puppet Peak, Blood Corpse Peak, Mechanical Peak, and Bizarre Poison Peak.
There are many servants at each peak. Our tannery belongs to the Shadow Puppet Peak.
The demands made by the Official Disciples of Shadow Puppet Peak must be met.
Besides this, many task lists are sent over monthly. If the tasks aren't completed, the one who has made the least shadow puppets will be executed."
"As for shadow puppetry, it involves eight processes. One, selecting skin; two, cleansing skin; three, drafting sketches; four, transferring sketches; five, carving; six, coloring; seven, drying; eight, sewing and binding.
Can you draw?"
Before Song Yan could reply, Wang Susu continued, "If you can't, learn quickly. Tasks will accompany the original artwork, mostly involving livestock.
Once inside the room, watch me perform once."
Song Yan contemplated and asked, "Sister Wang, do we have a chance to become Official Disciples?"
Wang Susu smiled slightly and said, "There's a chance, and there isn't."
"Why?"
"Most of us were abducted here; those with good potential have been selected, and those of us here are the less talented.
However, the Puppet Sect knows sometimes the Talent Testing Device might not be entirely accurate. To prevent missing out on talent, they send a disciple every week to teach the Entry Guidance Method.
If someone can meet their requirements within the specified time, they'll undergo a second test to become an Official Disciple."
"I see..."
Song Yan nodded and looked towards the transparent houses on the cliff.
This time, before he could ask, Wang Susu directly said, "Those are our dwellings.
Here, if you want to live long, remember one thing: before dark, you must be inside, and don't come out until dawn."