The Creatures that We Are

They all shot to their feet in alert. A few seconds later, Herb Snail’s head popped out of the ceiling. “Team Leader, a figure’s approaching the auditorium.”

“Hide.” Chen Ying stood up. “I’ll go out. If anything seems wrong, run.”

Zhang Wei said with anticipation, “Sister Ying, I’ll go with…”

“Stay,” Chen Ying ordered.

Zhang Wei shut his mouth.

Chen Ying walked out of the small room to the auditorium. With the grayish-blue moonlight streaming through the large windows on one side, the place looked a little like a church.

Chen Ying’s heart pounded, but she maintained a poker face and waited.

Then a figure flashed into existence before her. It was Gao Yang.

He had a black trench coat on him, and his hair had gotten long from a lack of trimming, covering half of his face. While he still looked youthful, the lines of his face had become harder, making his eyes seem deeper. His black eyes gave off a mysterious impression.

Gao Yang stayed silent.

Chen Ying was surprised when a hand suddenly touched her shoulder from behind. She turned around to see the real Gao Yang there, carrying a heavy duffel bag with his other hand.

Gao Yang had confirmed her identity with Replicate. He pulled back and said, “I’ve been in the area.”

In other words, Gao Yang had been wary of any possible trackers. While Little Tian had Sensory, it was better safe than sorry.

Chen Ying nodded. “My people are in the back room. Where are we going now?”

“Nowhere,” Gao Yang said. “Wait here.”

“Here?” Chen Ying frowned.

Gao Yang dropped the duffel bag. It zipped open seemingly on its own, and a fist-sized person emerged, jumping out and increasing in size.

It was a purple-haired girl in a sailor uniform, Nainai.

“This Empress has arrived! Why aren’t you greeting me?” Nainai struck a dramatic posture.

Chen Ying relaxed when she saw that Nainai was still as chuuni as ever. It meant that the girl had been doing well in the Nine Scions. She was also indirect proof that the work culture in Nine Scions was indeed quite nice.

“There are clothes inside. Put them on.” Gao Yang yanked Nainai behind him so that she wasn’t blocking his sight. “Go back with Nainai and have the men come to me. The women will stay with you inside.”

“For what?”

“Body search.”

Chen Ying nodded after a pause and followed Nainai into the back room. Soon, the men emerged.

Inside the cramped room, Chen Ying, Chestnut, Sha Ye, Empty Life, Shuang Shuang, and Wang Weiyan extended their arms and waited for Nainai to search them. Nainai shook her head, dissatisfied.

Sha Ye was the first to realize it. “Are we…supposed to strip?”

“Yep!” Nainai put her hands on her hip.

“The jacket?” Chen Ying asked.

“No!” Nainai swung her arm. “Strip down to your state at birth and await this Empress’ sacred baptism!”

“Huh?!”

“What?!”

“Nani?!”

…

The mood in the auditorium wasn’t that much better.

“Take off all our clothes?!” Zhang Wei shouted.

Gao Yang had already put on latex gloves. “Yes. I need to check your bodies.”

“Hahaha, it’s way too awkward!” Herb Snail was beside himself with amusement, as if he wasn’t one of the bodies that needed to be searched.

“Is this really necessary?” Buzhou was exasperated.

“I think it’s a good thing.” Wild Range was already taking off his jacket. As a hunter adept at setting up traps, he was cautious and understood Gao Yang’s concern.

In case they wouldn’t cooperate, Gao Yang explained, “I have to make sure there’s no tracker planted in you. I’ve replicated Nainai’s Shapeshifter, so my hands are now familiar with the human body. If there’s any foreign objects in you, I’ll know with a touch.”

“As expected of the Nine Scions! You’re cautious!” Zhang Wei was convinced. No wonder the Nine Scions had been staying off the radar for so long. It was the attention to detail that determined their success.

The others stopped doubting Gao Yang, too, and they started stripping.

Gao Yang conjured a double again to search them, ensuring there were no hidden threats.

Afterward, they all changed into the new clothes Gao Yang had brought, leaving no loose ends.

Gao Yang burned the clothes they came in.

Not long after, the door to the back room opened. Nainai came out, followed by the other women. They had all gotten changed, and they looked a little awkward.

“So?” Gao Yang asked.

“Nothing detected!” Nainai threw the bundle of clothes at Gao Yang’s feet. “Under this Empress’ baptism, their bodies and souls were cleansed!”

Gao Yang nodded, and with a snap of his fingers, the clothes burned.

The firelight danced on their faces as they each dwelled in their thoughts.

Gao Yang said, “Stay here and don’t contact anyone. Don’t leave the auditorium, either. We’ll prepare food and water for you.”

“For how long?” Chen Ying asked.

“I’m not sure. It can be a few days. Or it can be weeks.”

“What?” Zhang Wei gaped. “That’s…that’s gonna be boring. How are we going to stay here?”

“You’re free to turn back now,” Gao Yang said bluntly.

Zhang Wei shut his mouth. He wasn’t going to turn back. He had already decided to join the Nine Scions and be part of something greater.

The others didn’t argue. The more cautious Gao Yang was, the more assured they felt. It meant that they would be safer after joining the Nine Scions.

“And.” Gao Yang turned to Chen Ying and said calmly, “Give me the Rune Circuits now.”

“Wait, that’s not fair.”

Buzhou shot back at that. He was fine with everything else, but the Rune Circuits were their bargaining chips. Without them, they would have nothing to act on.

“Yeah.” Even Chestnut, who was usually the insensitive one, felt wronged, too. “What if you just run with the Rune Circuit and leave us to rot here?”

Gao Yang repeated coldly, “You’re free to turn back now.”

Turn back my ass! Chen Ying shot Surnamed Li for the Rune Circuits already! If we go back, we’ll be dead!

Buzhou swallowed the outburst. He must not let Gao Yang know what happened, or they would be at a greater disadvantage.

Wild Range patted him on the shoulder. “Drop it. We’re asking for their shelter. We have to make concessions.”

“Gao Yang.” Sha Ye turned to Gao Yang with imploring eyes. “Please take Yanyan with you at least. If Qilin’s people find her here…”

“No!” Wang Weiyan threw her arms around Sha Ye. “I wanna stay with Mom.”

“Be good!” Sha Ye knelt and cupped her face. “Go with Big Brother first. Then Mom will be right there…”

“I can’t take her with me,” Gao Yang said.

“Why?” Sha Ye didn’t understand. “She’s just a kid!”

“It’s the rules.”

The auditorium fell silent.

They could all sense the Nine Scions’ matter-of-fact attitude and determination. They had little choice here. They turned to Chen Ying at the same time.

Finally, Chen Ying made the decision. “I’ll give you the Rune Circuits. We’ll stay here.”

“Sister Ying!” Buzhou was shocked. He didn’t expect Chen Ying to say yes so easily. “Have you thought it through?”

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