The Creatures that We Are

Blue House Psychiatric Clinic, two o’clock in the morning.

In the counseling room, Azure Dragon and Vermilion Bird took the double sofa, while an old man sat across from them, dressed in worn black clothes with a red and blue mask with lopsided features. He was Elder Yan Liang, newly appointed.

Azure Dragon and Vermilion Bird had heard Qilin mention an Uncle Yan a few times before, but it was their first time meeting the man in person.

The atmosphere in the room was a little awkward.

Vermilion Bird bore with it by using her phone, while Azure Dragon sat upright with a serious expression.

“Here.”

A few minutes later, Qilin returned with a hand holding his cane and the other hand holding a tray, on top of which were three cups of hand-ground coffee and a cup of pu’er tea.

“Thank you.”

“Thank you.”

Qilin went up and bent down to offer Yan Liang the tea.

Yan Liang took the cup like it was the most natural thing in the world, holding the lid and the saucer while taking a sip.

Vermilion Bird’s eyes widened. Yan Liang hadn’t taken off his mask, and his mouth was still covered, yet somehow, he was drinking.

Not only had there been the sounds of sipping, but when he lowered the teacup, the tea had noticeably decreased in volume. It was like magic.

Yan Liang looked up to meet her surprised gaze. Realizing that she had been rudely staring, she quickly lowered her head and drank the coffee.

“It’s your first time meeting. I’ll introduce you.” Qilin sat down on a single sofa. “This is Uncle Yan, a new Elder of the Guild, Yan Liang.”

“These are Vermilion Bird and Azure Dragon.”

The three politely exchanged pleasantries.

Qilin held his hands together and leaned forward. “You must know why I hold the emergency meeting.”

“We’ve all gotten the message from the Nine Scions,” Azure Dragon said seriously.

“To be honest, it is quite provocative.” Vermilion Bird smiled wryly.

“True.” Qilin agreed. Then he frowned. “But why would Seven Shadow be able to send a message to all awakeners from an unknown number? I don’t think he’s capable of cracking Dr. Jia’s encoded communication system.”

“Must be Dr. Jia’s doing.” Azure Dragon made a reasonable conclusion. “He was taken by Seven Shadow and then released. He may have reached an agreement with Seven Shadow and agreed to offer help in secret.”

“Very likely.” Vermilion Bird nodded.

“Guildmaster,” Azure Dragon suggested. “Why don’t you interrogate him with Eidos?”

Qilin didn’t respond.

Yan Liang laughed, still holding his cup of tea.

Azure Dragon turned to him. “Do you think differently, Elder Yan Liang?”

“Allegiance, loyalty, and faith mean nothing to Dr. Jia. All he has is the urge to seek knowledge.” Yan Liang spoke in an old but steady voice. “What’s done is done. Interrogating and punishing him isn’t going to do anything but push him away from us. We take him into our fold to make use of his ability, not to gain a loyal member.”

Azure Dragon thought for a moment before nodding. “You’re right.”

“Leave him to me, Qilin.” Yan Liang smiled. “It’s time for him to work for us.”

Qilin nodded. “Okay.”

“However.” Yan Liang turned to Vermilion Bird with his masked face. “I’d like to ask Elder Vermilion Bird for some vital energy and a man of hers.”

“I’ll give you my energy, but who are you asking for?”

“Xiao Xin.”

Vermilion Bird was surprised. She had thought Yan Liang would ask for a good fighter, but he wanted Xiao Xin, who had neither power nor courage.

“Alright. For how long?”

“Depends on how long Dr. Jia would need.”

“Alright then.” Vermilion Bird didn’t have another question.

Yan Liang chuckled and took another drink of his tea in his mysterious way.

“Vermilion Bird.” Qilin started allocating work. “Negotiate with the Twelve Zodiac Signs and the Hundred Rivers Union. Remind them to not take Seven Shadow at his word.”

“Got it.”

“Azure Dragon.” Qilin turned around. “Continue to look for the Nine Scions. Once you find them, you may contact any member of the Guild for help, including me.”

Azure Dragon nodded. “Leave it to me.”

“Remember. Our primary goal is the Guard Rune Circuit, and our secondary goal is Seven Shadow’s life. The Nine Scions comes third.”

“Understood,” Azure Dragon and Vermilion Bird answered at the same time.

Then they hashed out the details of their work for half an hour, including what to do with Ke Yo, the death monsters, and clues on the Godbearer Cult.

After the meeting, Vermilion Bird gave Yan Liang her energy and drove him to the Walled City of Ten Dragons.

They were silent for a long while during the drive, the mood odd.

It took quite some time for Vermilion Bird to start a conversation. She turned down the radio and spoke in an even tone, “Uncle Yan, given your age, you must be from the era of the Elusive Sect.”

Yan Liang laughed hoarsely. “I never joined the Elusive Sect.”

So he had exchanges with them.

Vermilion Bird glanced at the side mirror and made a slow turn. “Uncle Yan and Guildmaster go way back, right?”

“Quite.”

“Even before the founding of the Guild?”

“Way before that.”

“Could it be…”

“Vermilion Bird,” Yan Liang interrupted her. “What are you asking?”

Vermilion Bird was still smiling. “Nothing. Just making small talk. We’re going to be colleagues after all.”

“I noticed it during the meeting.” Yan Liang was surprisingly straightforward. “You hesitated. Are you swayed?”

“Did I?” Vermilion Bird hid her surprise.

“Why did you follow Qilin back then?” Yan Liang took over the conversation.

“There were many reasons. The most important being his promise to lead humanity from the Mist World to our real home.”

Vermilion Bird smiled. “I don’t remember how he put it exactly, but I was shaken when he said that. I was quite pessimistic and cynical back then. I didn’t think humans could resist the terrible world, but he made me feel like we stood a chance.”

“Qilin didn’t lie,” Yan Liang said. “He can do it, and he’s been working hard for it.”

“Yeah.”

“So why did you sway?” Yan Liang pressed. “Did your goal change?”

“No.” Vermilion Bird sighed softly. “I’m just…a little worried. Perhaps there is a better way.”

“I understand now.” Yan Liang sighed too. “The path to survival is paved with blood, child. It may not seem perfect, but it’s the only way in our reality. A rosy path only exists in hymns. It’s fragile, and leads to nowhere but greater failure and tragedy.”

Vermilion Bird fell into deep thought.

“If we do survive to see the Gates open, we’ll thank Qilin,” Yan Liang said in a firm voice.

Vermilion Bird smiled slightly. “I’ve learned a lot.”

“Drop me here. I’ll walk the rest of the way.”

“Of course.”

Vermilion Bird parked the car. Yan Liang took his leave.

She looked to the side at him as his sickly and frail figure stuck out like a sore thumb against the backdrop, and then he slowly blended into the colorful and boisterous scene of bars and the carnal desires they housed. Soon, he disappeared into the overwhelming streams of pedestrians.

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