The Creatures that We Are

“What a coincidence.” Gao Yang didn’t appear too surprised.

“The man was Luqi. He was Qilin’s friend, and he died.”

“How did he die?”

“Suicide is what the rumor says.” Liu Qingying’s beautiful eyes glinted. “I can’t guarantee that it’s the truth, though. Qilin may be the only one who knows the answer.”

“What’s his Talent?” Gao Yang asked.

“Judge, serial number 100, Miracle-type. I don’t know how it works exactly, but it’s said to have something to do with fairness. You may keep an eye out for that.”

Gao Yang’s heart sank. He awakened with a Miracle-type Talent, and he knew how difficult to deal with a Miracle-type Talent could be. The man would remain a great threat so long as he was after him.

[Access granted.]

—Luqi died. How did he come back to life?

—No, that doesn’t make sense. The Qilin Guild doesn’t have a reason to kill me yet. Qilin still needs me to go down the abyss for the Guard Rune Circuit.

—Wait, the body! Black Tortoise had gotten Ghost Horse to steal twelve bodies. Including the one with Self-Detonate, I’ve only encountered eleven bodies. Could Luqi be the one left?

—Did the Godbearer Cult resurrect Luqi and send him to kill me? But didn’t they seek out Fresh Snow for help because they didn’t have anyone with resurrection ability? And Fresh Snow could only bring those who have died within 24 hours back. Luqi died years ago.

[Access ends.]

“How did Luqi come back alive?” Gao Yang asked.

“That I don’t know,” Liu Qingying responded. “I’m curious about that too. If you learn the truth, you may tell me. It’ll be an A+ intel.”

Gao Yang nodded. “What I’m going to ask for next is an A+ intel, but if you’re willing to tell me the truth, I’ll consider it a S- one.”

“Sure. Tell me first.” Liu Qingying was patient.

“I asked War Tiger about Dead Pig’s ex-wife. She was Ba Qiuchi. She divorced Dead Pig 11 years ago, joined the Hundred Rivers Union 10 years ago, and died of an unknown cause 9 years ago.”

“Yes.” Liu Qingying was still smiling, but her gaze sharpened.

“I suspect that Ba Qiuchi was killed by Dust,” Gao Yang concluded.

Liu Qingying paused, narrowing her eyes.

“Dust is a master of dealing spiritual damage. She goes after the soul and leaves no physical wounds. Even now, there are only a handful of awakeners who can deal spiritual damage, let alone back then. If I hadn’t seen Green Tea’s soul explode with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have been able to figure out his cause of death based on his body alone. Nine years ago, Ba Qiuchi’s strange death might have been caused by damage to her soul.”

“That is a possibility,” said Liu Qingying.

“I’ll be frank with you, Miss Liu.” Gao Yang didn’t beat around the bush. “What’s your relationship with Ba Qiuchi? Did she join the Hundred Rivers Union back then to look into Dust? Was that the information you were looking for?”

Liu Qingying looked up slightly, her eyes accentuated with light gray-blue makeup. A hint of aggressive want glinted in her gaze. “You’re a smart one, Elder Seven Shadow…and it’s quite attractive.”

Unfazed, Gao Yang said, “I’ll consider that a compliment.”

“Yes,” Liu Qingying admitted easily. “Ba Qiuchi was my high school classmate and best friend. She joined the Hundred Rivers Union to find out something, but she didn’t know about the Godbearer Cult back then, I don’t think. I, of course, knew nothing of the Cult.”

“I’ve always wanted to find the culprit who killed Ba Qiuchi and avenged her. Once I see a client as being capable and consistent enough, I ask them to look into Ba Qiuchi’s death. You are not the first I ask.”

“I appreciate the honesty.”

“You’ve been so generous with me tonight.” Liu Qingying chuckled. “How can I possibly humor you?”

“Good. That’s S-,” Gao Yang said. “You still owe me an S-class intel.”

“It seems there are other things you’re curious about.” Liu Qingying could guess it.

“Yes.” Gao Yang eyed her icily. “Who is Ba Qiuchi and your benefactor? I don’t believe you could’ve survived to this day as an unaffiliated awakener.”

“Elder Seven Shadow, that’s two questions.” Liu Qingying batted her eyes shrewdly. “First, do Ba Qiuchi and I belong to the same group? Second, if so, who’s our support?”

Gao Yang smiled. “Two questions they are, then. I’ll say one’s A+ and the other’s S. How about it? If you give me an answer, I’ll pay you for the A+ intel.”

Liu Qingying curled her lips into a half smile. “What a bad boy you are, Elder Seven Shadow. I’ve never tried to find out about your greatest secret, yet you keep trying to look into mine.”

“Can’t help it. I’m really curious if you’re a friend or a foe.”

“Friends or foes, right or wrong. It’s all relative, isn’t it?” Liu Qingying laughed delicately. “How about this? If you may place your trust in me, I’ll owe you an S-class intel.”

Gao Yang knew he wouldn’t get an answer from her. He thought for a moment. “If necessary, can I have a favor instead?”

“Of course. However, there’s a limit to what I can do. Please don’t expect me to be of much help.”

Well, it’s never a bad thing to have one more friend and one less enemy.

“That’s it for today.”

Liu Qingying lay back down with a hand propping her head up, her posture displaying her figure in the most alluring way, and her dress was moments away from revealing the curves of her breasts. “The night is long. Perhaps…”

“I appreciate the thoughts, but I’ll wake up soon with the alarm I set.” Gao Yang excused himself.

…

An hour later, Gao Yang woke to his phone’s vibration. He opened his eyes. The living room was quiet, and Hong Xiaoxiao and Can had fallen asleep squeezing onto a sofa on the side, each holding a pillow.

Six Rime sat on the high back chair across from Gao Yang with her eyes closed in rest. Her breathing was light, which made it clear that she hadn’t fallen asleep, but was instead keeping watch on Gao Yang.

Gao Yang turned off his alarm and closed his eyes.

He woke up again at eight in the morning. Since his sleep was light, he slept for a longer time.

The living room was filled with a faint layer of mist, which was especially dense around Gao Yang. As soon as he moved, the mist gently dispersed.

Six Rime immediately opened her eyes, waking up from a light sleep. She stared at him with her large blue eyes that were a little dry, fulfilling her duty to track Gao Yang’s every move.

Then she waved her hand and sent the mist in the living room out of the window. It disappeared.

What a tough job, Gao Yang thought.

“I’m going to wash up. You?” Gao Yang rose to his feet.

Six Rime nodded and stood up from the chair. She was going to follow Gao Yang to the bathroom when she suddenly said, “Wait.”

Gao Yang turned around. “Yeah?”

“Give me ten seconds.” Six Rime remained expressionless. “My legs are numb.”

Gao Yang choked. So she wasn’t actually a robot.

…

Came morning, Can went out to get breakfast. This time, it was Can who put on Hong Xiaoxiao’s marked hairpin and tested the food for everyone.

After breakfast, Lithe Snake and Nine Frost were going to stand watch outside. Lithe Snake was just about to jump out the window when Gao Yang stopped him.

“A moment, Lithe Snake.”

Lithe Snake turned to him. “What is it?”

Gao Yang thought for a moment. “Is it okay for you to go without rest?”

“My record is going 16 days without sleep.”

Gao Yang nodded and waved him over, patting the sofa beside him. “Have a seat, Lithe Snake.”

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