The Creatures that We Are

“The Qilin Guild is forcing a merge with the Hundred Rivers Union. If we don’t give in, death will be our only ending.” Chen Ying exaggerated the situation, but she didn’t actually lie. It was only a matter of time.

“What?!” Chestnut jumped.

The others reacted similarly.

“So Madam Li said yes?” Wild Range couldn’t believe it.

Chen Ying nodded.

“Why? We can fight!” Chestnut raged. The humiliating memories of getting trampled over by the Qilin Guild surfaced in her mind.

“We can’t win, Chestnut.” Buzhou sighed with a smile. “The difference between us and the awakeners with the top twelve Talents is that between a bicycle and a motorcycle.”

“Madam Li believes that resistance would be akin to hitting a stone with an egg, so she decided to accept a merger to protect everyone.” Chen Ying scoffed. “I disagree. Coming together with the Qilin Guild will only speed up our doom.”

“Everyone!” Zhang Wei urged in a heated tone. “We all know how Qilin does things. Seven Shadow found him so many Rune Circuits and secured so many wins. Where did that get him? Expendables like us will only fare much worse.”

“Of course!” Zhang Wei said confidently. “The Nine Scions have clashed with the Qilin Guild several times without losing anyone. That means…”

“That means you’re being blind selectively,” Miss interrupted him. “Look at the members of the Nine Scions. Now look at us. Do we even compare?”

Zhang Wei fell silent.

“We’re going to be cannon fodder anyway by joining the NIne Scions. Actually, we may die sooner.” Miss scoffed. “You don’t think that there’s right and wrong between the organizations, do you, Zhang Wei?”

Miss had a firm stance. “No, there’s only differing stances and interests. Don’t talk to me about the pursuit of hope and truth. I don’t believe it. I manage to survive to this day because I don’t believe it.”

“Is survival all there is to it?” Zhang Wei shot back. “How many more days can we live in this Mist World? Rather than clutching on our lives, it’s better to…”

“Zhang Wei.” Chen Ying glanced at him. “We each have our path. There’s no need to force it.”

“Right, right.” Zhang Wei calmed down and stopped arguing.

Chen Ying said in a composed tone, “You may decide if you’re leaving or staying. We all have to make our choice.”

“I’m staying,” said Miss.

“Then you will.” Chen Ying turned to the others. “And you?”

Empty Life seemed at ease without much change to her expression. She said like she was talking about the weather, “I’ve always thought that life is like a river. No matter where it goes, it always flows into the ocean. All paths lead to the same place.”

“I wasn’t going to leave my home today, but here I am. This must be fate. Without me realizing, I’ve already made the decision.”

They understood what she meant. She was joining the Nine Scions.

Jiang Hao, the birthday boy, looked troubled. He never expected things to turn out this way.

After some hesitation, he turned to Chen Ying with guilt in his eyes. “I’ve always trusted you, Sister Ying, but this time…I’m not going with you.”

He scratched his head. “I don’t have a grand ambition. I’m just fond of work I can do with my hands. I chose the Hundred Rivers Union back then because I thought I would be able to lead a calm life, away from conflicts.”

“The Nine Scions is in too much turbulence and danger, good for those meant for greater things like you, but not me. I’d rather have a large tree shielding me from the weather and lead a quiet life, focusing on my handiwork.”

“Okay.” Chen Ying didn’t seem to judge him. In fact, she wasn’t surprised by his answer.

Chestnut sat next to Jiang Hao. Everyone shifted their gaze to her.

With Blacksmith, Chestnut had a greater advantage than Jiang Hao. There was no reason for her to take the risk and join the Nine Scions. Even if she left the organization and stayed unaffiliated, she would lead a safe and free life.

When Chen Ying first dropped the bombshell, Chestnut was shocked. Now, though, she had calmed down and acknowledged the situation.

She lifted her head and smiled. “The Nine Scions sound fun. Count me in.”

Chen Ying was ready for her to say no, but she ended up surprising her. “Chestnut…have you made up your mind?”

“I have. Although I’m reluctant to leave the Union, well, I really don’t like the Qilin Guild.”

She pounded on her chest optimistically. “And I’m the Blacksmith. What do I have to fear? If I get caught, I’ll just surrender and voluntarily go into imprisonment, making equipment for them. I can at least live.”

Buzhou laughed and shook his head. “Chestnut, your perspective in life…”

“Simply awesome.” Herb Snail smirked.

The skinny Donxote was sitting on the sofa, smoking with his head lowered.

He took a deep, slow drag and asked in a low voice, “Team Leader, can we all walk out of this room alive?”

“I promise you that,” Chen Ying said. “Qilin’s the enemy of the Nine Scions. Even though I’m joining the Nine Scions, you’re never my enemies, especially not tonight.”

Donxote shook some ash off the cigarette, still not looking up. “Then I’ll stay. Take care.”

“Okay.” Chen Ying nodded. “But may I ask you why?”

Donxote had always been quiet and broody, his thoughts indiscernible.

He slowly looked up, his face pale and sunken and his blue eyes deep. “The human heart is complicated. I can’t see through it, but only look at the surface.”

“Gao Yang’s the Divine Scion. He’s both a man and a monster. Qilin, on the other hand, is human.”

Chen Ying said after a pause, “I understand.”

That left Wild Range. He noticed their gazes. With a long sigh, he took off his octagonal denim hat and threw it onto the table, stroking his thinning hair. “I’m going to the Nine Scions.”

On the third team, Wild Range had been a parental figure. To him, Zhang Wei, Herb Snail, Chestnut, Buzhou, and Shuang Shuang were all his little brothers and sisters. He wouldn’t rest easy if he left them on their own.

They had all made their decisions.

Jiang Hao, Miss, and Donxote stayed, and the others would leave with Chen Ying.

“Take care, the three of you.”

Chen Ying meant every word, but she was also saying that to distract them.

Ready in the right positions, Zhang Wei, Buzhou, and Herb Snail took out the Medicine D they had prepared and injected the three. Without the time to resist or struggle, Jiang Hao, Miss, and Donxote collapsed without a sound. They would be unconscious for two days at the least.

Zhang Wei and Buzhou laid the three unconscious men on the sofa.

Chen Ying made the orders. “Go pack up immediately, everyone. Leave nothing that can be traced to us. Wait for my signal.”

They all nodded.

Zhang Wei, Little Tian, Buzhou, Shuang Shuang, and Herb Snail had made the preparations already. Their mission was to split into three groups to accompany Empty Life, Wild Range, and Chestnut to pack up and clean up their tracks. They were also meant to keep an eye on the three, of course. While there was little chance that Empty Life, Wild Range, and Chestnut would betray them, it was a necessary precaution.

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