The Creatures that We Are

Liu Qingying’s heart clenched like it had been seized by an intangible force. Although the voice was gentle and amicable, to her—and most members of the Ocean River Union—nothing elicited greater terror than the voice.

But Liu Qingying was experienced. The panic in her eyes was fleeting, and she turned around naturally.

Qilin stood with a Black Gold cane. He pushed a wheelchaired Surnamed Li toward the elevator slowly.

Liu Qingying didn’t mask her surprise. “Guildmaster Qilin, Deputy Guildmaster Li.”

“Guildmaster Qilin! Deputy Guildmaster Li!” Crimson Bee and Bumblebee called out at the same time, straightening their backs and focusing. They didn’t want to seem disrespectful.

“It’s late, Miss Liu. Are you going out on a mission?” Qilin asked.

“Yes, I reported to Elder Liao Liao beforehand,” Liu Qingying lied without batting an eye.

Qilin nodded before looking down at Surnamed Li. “I’ve said before. Miss Liu’s joining the intelligence department of the Ocean River Union would be akin to granting a tiger a pair of wings.”

“Yes.” Surnamed Li smiled. “She’s a woman of action.”

“Haha, you flattered me,” Liu Qingying said while holding her head up high. “You could praise me after I locate the Nine Scions and the Godbearer Cult.”

“Then we’ll wait for your good news,” Surnamed Li said.

“Are you going to the ground level at this time?” Liu Qingying asked.

“We are.” Qilin waved a hand gently, indicating that they should move the conversation into the elevator.

Liu Qingying turned to walk into the elevator. Qilin followed with Surnamed Li.

The elevator door closed. Liu Qingying composed herself, not even letting her heart beat a little faster. She said easily with polite curiosity, “You are the leaders of the Ocean River Union. It’s too dangerous for you to go out on your own. The Nine Scions may be lying in wait. They are a cunning bunch.”

“Thank you for the concern.” Surnamed Li smiled. “It’s exactly because Qilin and I are your leaders that we cannot stay in hiding every day while you risk your lives.”

Liu Qingying nodded slightly and fell silent.

“Madam Li and I will be staying in the Sea View Tower to take care of something.” Qilin talked about their arrangement openly. “Since you’re here, please tell everyone to not bother us.” Ȓᴀ₦ỒВËs̈

“Understood.” Liu Qingying hesitated before asking, “Won’t it be dangerous? Why don’t we assign some people…”

“No need,” Qilin said. “I’ve made the arrangements.”

“Of course.”

Liu Qingying stopped asking. She knew that Qilin was exposing himself to danger and announcing his plan on purpose, even hoping that she, the former information broker, would leak the news to the other factions. That was to maximize Surnamed Li’s ability to see the near future with Prophet.

“Have you acquired any new Talent recently, Miss Liu?” Qilin suddenly said as the elevator rose.

“Not yet.” Liu Qingying maintained a poker face despite the skip of her heart. “Why do you ask?”

“Nothing.” Qilin smiled faintly. “Many are beginning to comprehend new Talents, and more and more people now have three Talents. I remember that you already had two ten years ago.”

“More or less,” Liu Qingying said.

“It’s been so long. It’ll make sense for you to acquire a new Talent.” Qilin looked sideways at her.

Liu Qingying chuckled. “I look forward to that, too.”

…

Ding.

A minute later, the elevator door opened to the parking lot on the underground first floor—the Heavenly Way had mostly restored the surface of the base, and the Union rebuilt upon the foundation.

Qilin pushed Surnamed Li out of the elevator. Liu Qingying trailed after them.

Qilin walked to his parking spot. After taking a few steps, he stopped to ask, “Need a ride, Miss Liu?”

“I’m good,” Liu Qingying explained unhurriedly. “I’m heading to the harbor. It’s not on the way to the Sea View Tower.”

“Then be careful.” Qilin went up to a black car without another word.

Liu Qingying slowed her steps before getting into her car. Only after she made sure that Qilin and Surnamed Li had driven out of the basement did she sigh in relief, her palms sweating as she gripped the driving wheel tightly.

It had felt like a grim reaper’s scythe was pressed to her neck since the moment Qilin and Surnamed Li showed up. Every word Qilin said seemed like a quiet test, and she had thought she would never step out of the elevator alive. The minute felt as long as a century.

But in the end, nothing happened.

Concern lingered. Liu Qingying took deep breaths and stayed in the car for a few minutes. Then she took a bottle of Illusion Breaking Spray out of her bag and sprayed her face a few times, inhaling the mist as best she could.

Then she waited longer. Finally, she was certain that she hadn’t been put under Qilin’s illusion—an illusion could not replicate the Illusion Breaking Spray. Even if it did, it would break the target out of the illusion as a result.

She started the car and stepped on the accelerator.

…

Let Life be Beautiful like Summer Flowers, Sunbound Road, Daxu District, late at night.

The plaque hung on the glass door was flipped to “closed”. Inside the bright, warm flower shop, Songstress had just wrapped up the flowers that would be delivered tomorrow morning. Then she stretched and started cleaning up.

She first swept the branches and leaves on the ground. Then she moved some of the flowers outside into the shop. It was time to close down.

It was another busy and productive day. Outside of eating, Songstress hadn’t had any break.

She had thought about it. She was going to take a bath and rewatch La La City on the sofa upstairs before falling asleep.

The first time Songstress watched the musical, Ghost Horse had invited her to the cinema.

Ghost Horse’s only hobby was jazz, and under his recommendation, Songstress had come to love jazz too. Since the movie happened to be about jazz, Ghost Horse invited her.

Before, Ghost Horse had never asked Songstress out. They always met at the flower shop or the base.

Ghost Horse didn’t realize that it was a date, but Songstress thought differently. Filled with anticipation, she dressed up with great effort.

However, Ghost Horse was fully focused on the movie throughout and didn’t say anything. Songstress was disappointed. She shifted her attention to focus on the movie instead, and to her surprise, she ended up crying.

It was a good story. The male lead loved jazz, while the female lead always wanted to be an actor. They met when they were both down on their luck and encouraged and supported each other, but ended up going down different paths and growing distant. Many years later, they met at a bar by chance under different circumstances. One of them was playing on the stage, while the other watched and listened off the stage. They recognized each other, and memories swarmed up to them. At the end of it, they exchanged a teary smile.

Was it that all good stories must end in regret?

Late at night, they walked out of the cinema and stayed silent as they walked, both still lost in the movie.

Songstress breathed in the cool air of the night, her thoughts running from her.

Ghost Horse has been in different organizations. Will the Twelve Zodiac Signs have been his last stop? If one day he resigns, will we part ways just like the leads in the movie, and after many years… No, we won’t even have the romantic bittersweet moment. After all, we aren’t anything.

“Is this a date?” Songstress blurted out and surprised herself.

Houseau3's Thoughts

Yeah...I don't trust it...

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