The Creatures that We Are

“What’s with the sudden apology?” Nine Frost asked.

“I took you into our fold on the condition that we would erase the Godbearer Cult.” Gao Yang sighed. “Yet we make the Qilin Guild an enemy first.”

“It’s just one more thing on our to-do list.” Nine Frost had faith in Gao Yang. “I believe you won’t give up on getting revenge.”

“Yes, we will eliminate the Cult. it’s not just for you, but also myself.” Gao Yang’s eyes glinted. “For that, I have a thought.”

“Go on.”

“I want to contact the Hundred Rivers Union in secret.”

Nine Frost caught on quickly. “Dust?”

“Yes, I want to identify Dust for the Union. It’ll help us track down the Cult and show our goodwill to the Union.”

“The Union’s strength lies in their number. They stand a higher chance of acquiring strong Talents and will thus become a great power one day. Even if we can’t stand together, I don’t want them to see us as enemies.”

“Good. That’s killing two birds with one stone.” Nine Frost agreed. “Leave it to me. Once my Telepathy reaches level 4, I’ll contact them in secret. Do you have a target in mind?”

Gao Yang did. “Chen Ying.”

“Got it.” Nine Frost nodded. Then he thought of something. “Have you read the ultimatum the Qilin Guild issued about us?”

“I have,” Gao Yang said calmly.

Nine Frost scoffed, seething. “I didn’t expect Qilin to stoop so low. The Nine Scions can’t just allow him to slander us, Captain. We have to make a counter move.”

“I know,” Gao Yang said. “But don’t be impatient. The other organizations aren’t foolish enough to just take Qilin’s words for it. The Nine Scions will only be playing into Qilin’s palm if we make a stand now. We can’t win an open war with them.”

Nine Frost nodded. “What are you planning?”

“It’s a poaching game.” Gao Yang had a clear outlook. “We recruit new awakeners and unaffiliated ones.”

Nine Frost said, “I heard from Lithe Snake that someone had freshly awakened with Pestilence, and the three major organizations are all trying to get him. The awakener hasn’t made a decision.”

“Have Lithe Snake keep an eye on him.”

“As for unaffiliated awakeners, I have a candidate in mind.” Nine Frost’s eyes lit up. “Dr. Jia in Spice Nation.”

Gao Yang smiled a little. “I’ve already made arrangements for that. However, Qilin would’ve thought of him, too.”

He rose to his feet and walked up to the window. The sky outside was blue, and the city was beautiful from a distance.

Gao Yang looked down at the Twin Bracelet on his left wrist, the reflection shifting under the light.

He muttered to himself, May the odds be with you, Team Qing Ling.

…

City center of Spice Nation, one o’clock in the morning.

On top of a modern four-story mansion in the rich neighborhood stood five figures, Nine Scions’ Qing Ling, Wang Zikai, Gray Bear, Nainai, and Hong Xiaoxiao.

They were all dressed like tourists with their faces put under disguise, and their hair was turned black or brown to avoid standing out. Each of them was wearing a red crystal necklace to make them seem like wanderers.

Leaving the airport, the five of them had easily found their way to the rich neighborhood, but they didn’t approach Dr. Jia’s house recklessly. Instead, they found a taller mansion about five hundred meters away, claiming it and heading to the rooftop to keep an eye on Dr. Jia’s mansion through binoculars.

Five hours went by without any movement.

“Someone’s coming out.” Gray Bear held up his binoculars with both hands, stepping on the metal railing. “A man and a woman. I know the man. The woman looks familiar, but I can’t remember the name…”

“Hong Xiaoxiao,” Qing Ling called out.

Hong Xiaoxiao immediately went up to take the binoculars from Gray Bear.

Through the lens, she saw two people walking across the front yard of the mansion and reaching the curb.

The man was about 1.75 meters tall with a lithe build, wearing a brown jacket and black pants. His facial features were on the round side, his hair already thinning at the top. He gave off a peaceful and dependable impression.

The woman wore a blue jacket with horn buttons, gray knit pants, and white running shoes. She had a cute round face and large eyes with pronounced double lids, her hair tied into a bun with a soft swath of bang coming down in a curve. The volume of her hair was worthy of envy.

“I know them.” Hong Xiaoxiao had read the dossiers on all members of the Qilin Guild and recognized everyone’s face. “They belong to Team Azure Dragon. The man is Flower Turtle, an Elite, and the woman is Veggie, a Member.”

Qing Ling had memorized the intel Lithe Snake collected, and after a moment of thinking, she said, “Flower Turtle, Talent: Three Heads Six Arms. Veggie, Talent: Magic Hair.”

“Yeah.” Hong Xiaoxiao added dutifully, “Three Heads Six Arms, serial number 38, Guard-type. Magic Hair, serial number 75, Buff-type.”

“Two small fries.” Wang Zikai had been eager to move. And he rolled up his sleeves, about to jump off the building. “Leave it to me! Just wait and see.”

“Wait.” Qing Ling stopped him. Before heading out, Gao Yang had named Qing Ling the leader of the operation and warned her to be as cautious as possible.

“What are we waiting for?” Wang Zikai was feeling impatient. “Just watch me do my thing!”

“That’s not right.” Qing Ling’s delicate brows furrowed. Being around Gao Yang for so long had instilled in her the habit of thinking three moves ahead. “When you rescued Gao Xinxin, Wang Zikai, you faced off Forest Crane. He knew there was someone powerful around Gao Yang and must have reported to Azure Dragon.”

“That’s right!” Hong Xiaoxiao lowered the binoculars. “El…Azure Dragon couldn’t have sent only these two to keep an eye on Dr. Jia. They are far from enough for us.”

“Hmph!” Naiani stood on the railing, bracing the night wind with her arms folded before her chest. “This Empress has personally made a move. Even with Six Rime added into the mix, they will be mantis trying to stop a cart with its little arms.”

“Ho, now you’re incorporating proverbs in your dramatics,” Gray Bear teased.

“Insolent! How dare you…” Nainai cut herself off, muted by Qing Ling’s glance.

“Nainai’s right,” Qing Ling said calmly. “Six Rime isn’t our match, either. I suspect that Azure Dragon is here, too, and he’s waiting for us to step into the trap.”

The air stilled.

Azure Dragon’s name alone exerted great pressure.

“What?” Wang Zikai, though, didn’t care. “Is he strong?”

“Not even War Tiger is confident in defeating him.”

Wang Zikai remained unfazed. “And War Tiger’s strong?”

Qing Ling suddenly remembered that Wang Zikai was an idiot, and she gave up on explaining.

“So? Do we still do this?” Gray Bear’s tone turned serious. “If Azure Dragon’s here, the entire team must be with him.”

“That’s…that’s too dangerous.” Hong Xiaoxiao was the first to be intimidated. “Captain said that we should retreat if things are too dangerous. Why…why don’t we pull back?”

“Xiao Xiaohong! Do you have a death wish?” Wang Zikai could never get their names right. “This is Gao Yang’s first mission for me. If I return empty-handed, my brother’s gonna laugh at me!”

Hong Xiaoxiao took cover behind Qing Ling, shutting up.

“Yeah.” Gray Bear was reluctant to give up, too. “If we just retreat, I won’t be able to keep my head high before Lithe Snake and Nine Frost.”

They all turned to Qing Ling for her decision.

Houseau3's Thoughts

Wang Zikai's now an actual member. Cool, cool.

I wonder if he's special because he's a different brand of monster, or because he hangs around Gao Yang so much.

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