The Creatures that We Are

Heavenly Dog descended slowly. With replicated Sensory, Gao Yang quickly found the suspicious target.

“Walled City of Ten Dragons,” Gao Yang said.

“Yeah.” Heavenly Dog sped up.

Twenty seconds later, the three of them safely landed.

The place was now a silent ghost district. The old wilted tree at the heart of the square alone appeared thriving due to the colorful string lights, yet that only made the place more eerily lonesome and tragic.

The tree was nothing but a puppet forced to carry out a duty that wasn’t its own.

Under the tree stood a petite young woman.

“Stay here and keep an eye out,” Gao Yang said before making his way to the wilted tree.

With the flickering neon lights illuminating the scene, he got a clear look at the young woman. She wore a red winter hat, a short down jacket, jeans, and winter boots. Her blank eyes contrasted sharply with her bookish temperament.

Her face was pale and weak, her lips dry and ears covered in blisters. She must have been standing in the cold for a long time.

Gao Yang confirmed that Quiet Book had fallen under Puppeteer's thrall, but her eyes weren't green, meaning she was still alive, only under soft control.

Getting closer, Gao Yang noticed the green web-shaped brand peeking out of her sweater collar. On her ear was a Black Gold earring shaped like Jupiter.

“You’re finally here, Gao Yang.” Quiet Book smiled stiffly. “I’ve been waiting for a long time. I would’ve died if you didn’t come. I’m hungry and cold.”

Gao Yang waited her for to continue, face impassive.

“Qilin wanted me to tell you this: eleven at night, bring all the Rune Circuits and meet him at the Green Lotus Lake in the Green Lotus Park. As long as you give him the Rune Circuits, Vermilion Bird, Zhang Wei, Lovely Lamb, and Wang Weiyan will return to you alive, and the civil war will end. No one else will get injured or die.”

Gao Yang’s heart clenched. Zhong He wasn’t included in the list.

What he thought about first wasn’t Zhong He’s death, but how Hong Xiaoxiao would react when she heard the bad news.

“Okay,” Gao Yang said gravely.

“Good. Thank you, Gao Yang, you saved me.” Quiet Book beamed. “Tonight, Qilin will be waiting for you. Be there or be square.”

Whoosh. Gao Yang cut her sweater and the puppet brand on her collarbone, removing the Jupiter earring from her ear simultaneously.

Quiet Book shook before blacking out.

Heavenly Dog and Gregor remained in the distance. Though worried, they didn't move without Gao Yang's order.

Gao Yang used a double to confirm there were no other dangers or curses on Quiet Book. Then he picked her up and went to Heavenly Dog and Gregor. “She’s alive. Let’s go.”

They sighed in relief.

“Wait, that’s it?” Gregor said with the sudden realization that he hadn’t done anything. He got no experience to level up his Talent from this trip.

“Why don’t you stay here, then?” Gao Yang suggested deliberately. “Perhaps the enemies will return.”

“Let’s not.” Gregor’s mind cleared. He hollered at Heavenly Dog, “What are you waiting for? Let’s head back!”

…

Meanwhile, Northbound Funeral Home, Beiyong District.

In what was once Vermilion Bird's office on the first floor, Lovely Lamb, Wang Weiyan, and Zhang Wei sat on the sofa watching cartoons quietly. An upbeat song came from the television.

“I wake the ocean, wake the mountains, wake the deserts. All are colorful and beautiful. I happily fly ahead…”

The two girls sat hand-in-hand, watching the cartoon with an unchildlike focus. They were under the influence of Qilin's psychic reassurance.

Zhang Wei sat beside them, Black Gold shackles on his hands and feet. He hadn't been hypnotized or put under soft control—Qilin couldn't do it even if he tried. Still, Zhang Wei's expression was numb and dim, like he had given up completely.

It was only an act, of course.

Zhang Wei knew that his prime mission was to live, so he obeyed Qilin completely without challenging the man at all.

As long as Zhang Wei lived, Qilin would have a weakness. He was immune to even level 8 Eidos and Puppeteer.

Gao Yang would come for him, he was sure of it!

In her wheelchair beside the sofa, Vermilion Bird sat quietly, watching the television. Citrus stood behind her, massaging Vermilion Bird's muscles—Qilin had ordered it. He wanted Citrus to take good care of Vermilion Bird like her personal caretaker.

The five of them stayed in the room watching television in peace. The atmosphere was pleasant yet unnatural.

Outside the door, Donxote stood guard in the corridor. Citrus, Jiang Hao, Great Fortune, John Doe, Tofu, and Cold Cicada stayed hidden in the safer basement, charged with guarding Qilin's puppets.

The small room adjacent to the office was Vermilion Bird's dorm room. Qilin stood at the window. He slowly opened his eyes, his left green eye flickering.

“Did Gao Yang find Quiet Book?” Surnamed Li asked, noticing his reaction.

“He did.” Qilin had his back to her. “Eleven tonight, I’ll settle things with Gao Yang.”

“Will he come?”

“He gave his word.”

“There may be a trap.”

“There will surely be a trap, but he will come.”

“The cooldown for Fate Slides has ended. I can use it once more. Let me check your fate.” Surnamed Li had lingering concerns. “Then we’ll see the results of tonight’s fight.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

Surnamed Li didn’t get it. “Why?”

“Isn’t it more fun to leave something to be revealed?” Qilin said with a smile.

“Ha.” Surnamed Li knew that Qilin never fully trusted her. He was worried that some hidden aspect of Prophet would end up harming him.

And well, she didn't really trust Qilin, either. She wouldn't have joined the ambitious man had she had other choices.

To be honest, she wasn't disappointed when Colorless defected with her subordinates to the Nine Scions; she was relieved.

It would be best if Gao Yang showed up on his own tonight and let Qilin kill him, thus ending the civil war and stopping the senseless sacrifices.

Nevertheless, she was worried. Fate wasn't so easily changed.

“What about Zhang Wei?” Surnamed Li asked. “He’s your only weakness.”

Qilin thought for a moment. “Tomorrow, I’ll bring him with me.”

“Are you mad?”

Qilin said simply, “I was going to turn him into a puppet, but I can’t. He’s completely immune to Eidos and Puppeteer. Killing him won’t change that.”

“I don’t endorse killing him, but you can just lock him up and hide him away from everyone. Then you’ll have no weakness.”

Qilin shook his head slightly. “I want to use him in case someone shows up.”

“Who?” The word barely left Surnamed Li's lips before her voice turned cold with realization. “Dragon.”

Qilin nodded. “If the plan works tomorrow, I’ll have all twelve of the Rune Circuits. I don’t believe Dragon will be able to stay asleep then. He’s most likely going to end the hibernation beforehand.”

Surnamed Li urged, “That’s why I need to check your fate. Take away the guesswork.”

Surnamed Li had checked Zhang Wei’s Fate Slides, and she couldn’t do it again in the short term. She couldn’t use Fate Slides on herself. And others wouldn’t be in the eye of the coming storm. Using the skill on them might not reveal much about the final results. Qilin would be the best candidate.

“The end is already decided. Peeking into it may just be an interference.” Qilin wouldn’t be swayed.

Surnamed Li sighed and didn’t push.

After a moment of silence, she said, “You think Zhang Wei is immune to Dragon’s Overlord?”

“Confidence is special.” Qilin didn’t give a direct confirmation, but his meaning was clear: he kept Zhang Wei by his side as insurance against Dragon’s Overlord.

Tomorrow, when Qilin and Gao Yang clashed, Dragon might be hiding nearby to use Overlord quietly.

Gao Yang gave the report on how Dragon killed Zhuang Mei back then. Qilin didn’t actually know the man’s current strength. Zhang Wei would be a lifeline.

If he was immune or even resistant to Overlord, he would prevent Dragon from getting what he wanted.

Surnamed Li understood that much. She posed her last question, “What am I doing tomorrow night?”

“Give me your full support.” Qilin’s gaze was cold and dark. “Create history with me.”

Houseau3's Thoughts

I know it's probably impossible to convince Qilin anything, but that's barely a push back😂

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