The Creatures that We Are

Azure Dragon pondered a moment and nodded. “Then it all makes sense. Luqi died, and the man we see now is a host to another overtaker prime. However, Luqi’s Talent remains, and perhaps even his memory.”

Vermilion Bird continued, “The two overtaker primes listen to the Godbearer Cult, and their current mission is to kill the Divine Scion. It seems that they are quite urgent about it.”

She turned to Azure Dragon. “Why do you think that is?”

Azure Dragon stroked his bearded chin and speculated, “The Cult claims to have tickets for those who’d like to escape doom, but that may be a lie. Perhaps the Cult only knows something about the way to escape, and they create false hope by mixing the truth and lies to lure in pawns. The Divine Scion’s emergence undoubtedly undermined and threatened the Cult’s plan.”

“Go on.” Vermilion Bird waited for Azure Dragon to speak his mind with a smile on her face.

Azure Dragon thought for a moment, his gaze sharpening. “There are two possibilities. First, Seven Shadow is the Divine Scion. He may be the biggest obstacle to the Godbearer Cult getting the boat ticket, so he has to die.”

“Second, the Cult never intends to get the tickets but is up to something else. The existence of the Divine Scion may be the key to acquiring the tickets, and if others learn of the truth, the Cult will no longer be able to attract followers to serve them.”

“Which is more likely, in your opinion?” Vermilion Bird asked.

Azure Dragon said without hesitation, “I believe the latter is more likely.”

“If the Cult is trying to escape the doomsday by having their followers board a boat, and the Divine Scion is trying to destroy the tickets or the boat, it would make sense for the Cult to go after the Divine Scion.”

“But Seven Shadow doesn’t want to destroy the boat,” said Vermilion Bird.

“Yes. Seven Shadow may be an enemy to us, but his goal is to escape the Mist World, too. Survival is a shared goal for us. So why would the Cult, looking to board the boat, be so fixated on killing the Divine Scion, who also wants to board the boat? It’s inconsistent.”

—Well said, Azure Dragon!

“I believe so, too.” Vermilion Bird lit a cigarette and took a deep drag, forgetting about common etiquettes. “If Dr. Jia’s analogy of a chess board is valid, I believe the Godbearar Cult is on the side of the Mist, opposite of humans and the Heavenly Way.”

“They pretend to be the savior to attract and recruit useful pawns, not differentiating between awakeners, monsters, half-humans, or Spectres. In truth, they have their own goal. It can be to destroy the world, win the war for the Mist, or something else altogether.”

“Now that the Divine Scion and the Malediction prophesied by life monsters are here, and the Malediction died, that left only the Divine Scion. Why did the Cult immediately send someone to kill the Divine Scion? Why now?”

“Because the Divine Scion is the boat ticket, or at least the key to boarding the boat. In our words, the Divine Scion may be the key to opening the Gates of Closure, or at least a key part of it.”

Azure Dragon’s pupils contracted. For a moment, he couldn’t accept the theory, but then it made sense to him. Seven Shadow was too special. He was no less special than Guildmaster Qilin…perhaps even more so.

“Elder Yan Liang.” Vermilion Bird stared at the old man’s mask with flickering eyes, putting out the cigarette in the ashtray. “If Seven Shadow is one of the keys to opening the Gates, we cannot kill him. We have to work with him.”

The silence that followed was oddly tense.

Then Yan Liang spoke in a low voice, “Our primary goal is to collect all twelve Rune Circuits. Killing the Divine Scion comes second. Qilin has told you that.”

“Yes,” Vermilion Bird said. “But we can’t ignore the Divine Scion’s role. What if he really is…”

“He isn’t,” Yan Liang said with certainty. “Seven Shadow isn’t the key to open the Gates, and he isn’t the savior of humanity. It’s only your wishful speculation.”

“Aren’t we all speculating before we find out the truth, Elder Yan Liang?” Vermilion Bird couldn’t let it go.

Yan Liang chuckled. “Then I’ll tell you something else.”

Azure Dragon and Vermilion Bird both turned to the old man.

“The one who found the Miracle Rune Circuit and the Gates of Closure,” Yan Liang paused, “Was me.”

Azure Dragon and Vermilion Bird were both surprised.

It took a long time for Vermilion Bird to speak up in question, “...You?”

“If you don’t believe me, ask Qilin after a few days,” Yan Liang said calmly. “I wasn’t a hundred percent sure before, but as more and more is revealed, I can tell you for certain that humanity only has two paths.”

“First, collect the twelve Rune Circuits and have Qilin open the Gates. Humanity wins.”

“Second, do things any other way. Humanity loses.”

Silence stretched.

“Don’t worry. Azure Dragon can prove that Qilin has blacked out.” Yan Liang put everything on the table. “Given what the two of you are capable of, I won’t be able to stop you if you want to leave.”

“This is your last chance to make a choice, Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird. You may leave and join the Twelve Zodiac Signs, the Hundred Rivers Union, the Nine Scions, or even the Godbearer Cult.”

“But remember, if you choose to stay now, you will not waver or doubt Qilin, or he will not let you off the hook easily.”

Azure Dragon remained upright and unfazed, ignoring Yan Liang’s words. He had never for a second doubted Qilin, let alone wavered.

He knew the warning was meant for Vermilion Bird.

Vermilion Bird didn’t stand up. She clenched her fists and looked up after thirty seconds, meeting the old but fierce eyes under the mask. “I stay.”

“Good.” Yan Liang seemed genuinely pleased. He slowly stood up. “The tentative moves over the table end here. It’s time to get serious with our weapons under the table.”

“Please do your best, Elders. Without you, Qilin and I can’t win, and neither will humanity.”

Yan Liang put his hands behind his back and went up to the window wall. Outside, the sun was bright, cutting a thin and frail silhouette. He bore no resemblance to Qilin in appearance.

At that moment, however, Azure Dragon felt a familiar grand vision from him.

“From now on,” Yan Liang declared in a cool voice. “The Qilin Guild goes into total war.”

Azure Dragon stood up and pressed his right hand to the qilin brooch on his chest solemnly. “For survival!”

Three seconds later, Vermilion Bird stood up and saluted Yan Liang in the same way. “For survival.”

Houseau3's Thoughts

I really wonder what Yan Liang and Qilin's actual plan is...

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