The Creatures that We Are

Wing—

A sacred, gentle, and strange white energy rippled from Gao Yang’s chest, quickly washing over Azure Dragon’s body.

What?!

Azure Dragon hadn’t in his wildest dream foreseen that move from Gao Yang. Silenced, Azure Dragon sensed the energy gathered in his fist recede in a moment. He couldn’t unleash another shockwave, but he could still throw a punch.

Bam!

Azure Dragon’s fist slammed into Gao Yang’s chest, and Gao Yang’s fist hit Azure Dragon’s chest with little energy.

Level 7 Weak Point activated!

Times 49!

Azure Dragon’s back arched suddenly, and violent golden energy shot through. Like a doll full of golden gas getting pierced, currents poured out nonstop.

Azure Dragon possessed great static energy in his body, which had been accumulated from the many life-and-death battles Azure Dragon had gone through. The energy remained dormant in Azure Dragon and made him effectively a man of steel who could repel all weapons.

Even with a punch enhanced by 49 times, Gao Yang would need to first drain the static energy Azure Dragon possessed before he could even attempt to kill Azure Dragon.

Luckily, Azure Dragon was on the verge of death, and it would take less than a punch enhanced by 49 times to deprive him of his energy. While Gao Yang’s punch didn’t put a hole into Azure Dragon’s chest or destroy his heart completely, his heart still got damaged.

It all happened so quickly.

They hit each other in the chest, and time seemed to stand still for half a second.

Then enormous energy rippled out. They both flew off their feet.

Bam! Gao Yang slammed into the rock wall behind him and got buried in broken pieces of stone.

Azure Dragon flew thirty meters away, too, and like a flattened ball, he bounced before rolling and lying prone on the ground.

He bled from all orifices, breathing heavily.

“Ugh…ah…”

Azure Dragon propped himself up with both hands and tried to stand up despite feeling frail. He knew he was going to die, yet his iron will forced him to hold fast—he must kill the Divine Scion and pave the way for Qilin before his death…

“Let’s go.”

Qing Ling’s voice came from a few dozen meters from him.

During the short fifteen seconds, Qing Ling and Can had been watching the fight with Invisibility on, looking for a chance to intervene while dodging the aftershocks resulting from Gao Yang and Azure Dragon’s clashes. ṞÄΝó₿Ɛs̈

They believed that Gao Yang would win. They had been through many a fight to the death, and no matter how great the loss, Gao Yang always came out winning.

Finally, a chance presented itself.

They could kill Azure Dragon and finish everything.

Swoosh, swoosh.

Azure Dragon remained on one knee. He didn’t even get to stand up properly before Can and Qing Ling flanked him from his ten and three.

Can raised her hands and conjured more than thirty air blades. Qing Ling wielded two weapons with level 6 God of Blades’ cyan aura shrouding her Tang Dao and level 6 Lightning’s purple currents crackling around her Xiu Dao.

Azure Dragon’s eyes dimmed.

Ha, I’ve been so focused that I forgot them.

I’m going to lose. I’m sorry, Qilin. I cannot witness the bright future with you…

“Ice Blood—”

It was Six Rime’s voice, accompanied by beaded curtains consisting of countless droplets of blood.

The dying Six Rime had taken flight at some point, hovering above Azure Dragon. Her hair was a mess, and her face was so pale it seemed see-through. There were injuries on both her hands, feet, and chest area, from which blood gushed out nonstop. That was the blood that had formed the omnipresent beaded curtains surrounding Azure Dragon, Qing Ling, and Can.

The ring on her right ring finger with the medicine to double her power was rotated—it would be suicide to use the medicine in this state, but no matter. She would die sooner or later. Her death was only delayed for half a minute with the Medicine C administered.

Only when Azure Dragon got into danger did she realize that this was why she had lived half a minute longer. She was glad to have obeyed the order and made it to this moment.

Sensing the strange energy coming from the red beads all around them, Qing Ling whirled around and ran, shouting at Can with an ashen face, “Run!”

They wouldn’t be quick enough.

“—Lotus Burial!”

Clink!

Countless crimson lotuses of ice bloomed along the red beads, so quickly that it seemed instantaneous. Although thousands of flowers had bloomed, the sound blended into a single clink.

Qing Ling and Can weren’t able to make it out. The sharp, resilient petals of the lotuses cut and restrained them.

“Agh!!”

They screamed at the same time.

Two seconds later, Qing Ling’s mind recovered from the pain; she struggled to break free but failed.

The same thing happened to Can. The ice lotuses of blood and energy were unusually sturdy, and they were buried in such a dense sea of flowers that it would be difficult to break free through regular means.

Qing Ling took a deep breath and curled her fingers with difficulty, manipulating the two Black Gold darts amid the three-dimensional maze of crimson flowers in an attempt to break the petal in her side.

Clink, clink, clink.

The petals cracked and shattered, but Qing Ling would have to break the other dozen or so petals that had penetrated other parts of her body before she could move.

Shit! This is too slow!

Hurry! A little faster!

With the medicine to double her power, Six Rime made a suicide move and exhausted the last of her blood and energy. Like a doll drained of life, she slammed down into the ground and lay prone by Azure Dragon’s side.

Face covered in blood, Azure Dragon reached out to lift Six Rime’s head with trembling hands. “Six Rime…”

“Elder, I haven’t…disappointed you…have I…?”

She didn’t get to hear his response before her widened eyes quickly dimmed in her quiet death.

“You’ve never once disappointed me. It’s me who disappointed you.”

Azure Dragon’s hands stopped midair before touching Six Rime. He slowly pulled back and gave the dead girl his response in a serious tone.

He slowly stood up. Even he couldn’t believe that he still had the strength to stand up.

A great wave of energy suddenly came down to him from above and entered him through the head, spreading to the other parts of his body and the appendages.

The energy shook him for a moment. His consciousness scattered and moved against the flow of time like flying particles.

…

“Is it crooked, Old Liu?” Xia Li asked.

Azure Dragon widened his eyes to find himself sitting on a sofa in the treatment room of the Blue House Psychiatric Clinic. Before he was Elder Azure Dragon, he had been Old Liu.

With long brown curls, Xia Li stood on a chair in a navy blue t-shirt and denim dress, having taken off her canvas shoes. She was putting a painting with the style of a children’s book on the wall.

“The left is lower,” he said.

Xia Li made an adjustment. “And now?”

“It’s good now.”

Having hung the painting, Xia Li jumped off the chair and put her shoes back on, dusting her hands in satisfaction. “Done. I’ll buy some potted pothos later, and it’ll be perfect.”

“Haha, thank you for the hard work.”

Dr. Su emerged from the storage with a cane and a wet rag in each hand, wearing his long white coat and black-rimmed glasses.

It was the opening day of his private practice, the Blue House Psychiatric Clinic. Xia Li and Old Liu had come to offer blessings and help with the cleanup.

“We’ve worked hard.” Xia Li plopped herself down on the sofa, having put on her shoes. “Whew…I’m beat. We’re finally done.”

Then she suddenly thought of something. “Ah, what’s the name of our guild anyway?”

Old Liu paused, taking a wrinkled list from his pants pocket. It was a list of dozens of names for the guild.

They had established the guild for more than six months, but it still didn’t have an official name. Today, the three founding members gathered not only to move for Dr. Su, but also to discuss the matter.

“I’ve checked the names you suggested, Xia Li,” Old Liu said honestly. “I don’t think any of them works.”

“Then I’ve got no idea, nada.” Xia Li stretched her arms and slumped on the sofa. “I’ve done my best. I’m not literate enough for this.”

“I have an idea.” Old Liu turned to Dr. Su. “Why don’t we call ourselves the Qilin Guild?”

“So you’ve had an idea already. Did you keep quiet just to waste my time?” Xia Li punched him in the shoulder in complaint.

Old Liu smiled apologetically. “I only came up with it the past few days.”

“Why the name?” Dr. Su seemed intrigued. He smiled gently at Old Liu.

“I remember you telling us that your surname was Mu rather than Su, and you’ve changed your surname but not your first name.”

“Yes, I was named Mu Xing.”

“I remember right.” Old Liu stroked his stubbled chin. “I looked it up. There’s a saying, ‘The scattered Jupiter gave birth to Qilin.’ Jupiter, that’s Mu Xing.”

“A little chuuni, but viable.” Xia Li voiced her agreement.

Old Liu nodded and continued, “Why don’t we name ourselves, the Elders, after the four divine beasts? They are said to be the guardians of the world. It’s a nice connotation.”

“Then I call dibs!” Xia Li immediately chimed in. “I’m Vermilion Bird!”

“Nice. You’re informed.” Old Liu was a little surprised. “Vermilion Bird corresponds to the li trigram in bagua, which corresponds to fire in the five elements, the old yang in four symbols, and the summer in the four seasons. That’s a perfect fit for your real name, Xia Li.”

“Huh?” Xia Li paused and smiled in embarrassment. “I didn’t know all that, but Vermilion Bird’s a phoenix, right? It’s more feminine. Azure Dragon, White Tiger, and Black Tortoise sound masculine, like names for men.”

“Right.” Old Liu snorted. Although Vermilion Bird wasn’t technically a phoenix, he didn’t explain it further. It was fine as long as Xia Li liked the name.

“Your zodiac sign is dragon, right, Old Liu?” Dr. Su chuckled. “Then you’ll be Azure Dragon.”

“I was going to say that.” Old Liu nodded. “We only need two more Elders to fill the empty spots.”

“Do you have any good candidates?” Dr. Su asked.

“Yeah. The funeral home I worked at is close to a soccer field, and an older guy comes to play soccer with random groups every day. I’ve known him for close to a year. He’s an awakener. I think his Talent’s quite strong.”

“What kind of person is he?” Dr. Su asked.

“I’ll have to observe him longer.” Xia Li wasn’t certain yet.

“Okay. No rush. Quality over quantity.” Dr. Su stood up with his cane. “So, we’ve settled on the Qilin Guild?”

“Good for me.” Xia Li stood up with a smile. “Then we’ll be calling you Guildmaster Qilin from now on.”

Dr. Su chuckled. “Elder Azure Dragon, Elder Vermilion Bird, why don’t we have a drink tonight to celebrate?”

“Alcohol’s bad for you,” said Old Liu.

“Old Liu…Azure Dragon, really?!” Xia Li frowned dramatically. “You never fail to rain on our parade.”

“Yes, this is a special occasion,” Dr. Su chimed in. “My clinic’s open. The Guild now has a name and is officially a go. Double the joy. Are you really not joining us?”

“Then I’ll…make an exception tonight.” Old Liu stood up as well.

“Haha, go, go, go!” Xia Li tied up her canvas shoes and zipped the bag on the sofa. “Give me a minute to touch up my makeup. Perhaps I’ll run into a cute guy on our way to the bar.”

Xia Li hummed a lilting tune as she opened the door to the bathroom and went in.

Old Liu and Dr. Su exchanged glances and shook their heads with resigned smiles.

“Qilin Guild,” Dr. Su muttered before looking up at Old Liu.

The setting sun streamed through the window, lighting Dr. Su from the back. With a gentle smile, he extended a hand to Old Liu, speaking in a genuine and respectful tone, “Azure Dragon, the path ahead is long and difficult. I’ll be counting on you.”

Old Liu reached out to take Dr. Su’s hand in a firm handshake.

Houseau3's Thoughts

Yeah...should've made sure Six Rime was dead first...

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