The Creatures that We Are

“Alright.” Xia Li smiled, her eyes curved. “But not for free. I want a ghost story in return.”

“Deal. Keep it on the tab.”

He would deal with it when it came up. Who knew how much longer he could live? It was best to take one step at a time.

Hm, have I learned to be glib at some point?

Gao Yang took out his phone and called up the picture of the detonated body’s face from his album. He showed it to Xia Li.

“This is the body that almost killed me.”

Gnawing on the straw, Xia Li averted her gaze, disgusted. “I’m drinking milk tea. Azure Dragon showed me the picture earlier. I don’t need to see it again.”

“Is it one of the stolen bodies?”

“Yes, number 21.” Xia Li took a sip of milk tea and calmly added, “I don’t remember the names, only the numbers.”

Xia Li saved him the trouble. “I know what you want to know, so I’ll just say it. Number 21 died during the Crimson Tide eight years ago. His Talent was Self-Detonate.”

Self-Detonate, serial number 112, Element-type.

He could detonate himself like a bomb. Although it was destructive, the Talent could only be used once, as the last resort, which was probably why the Talent was low on the list.

“You know about the Talent, right? Number 21 has never used it when he was alive. Who knew that he would use it after his death?” Xia Li sounded bemused.

Gao Yang couldn’t quite control his expression. He said in a lowered tone, “Number 21 didn’t seem resurrected to me.”

“And he couldn’t have been resurrected,” Xia Li said confidently, arching an eyebrow. “I told you, only I can resurrect someone more than 24 hours after their death.”

“Why could he use his Talent then?” Gao Yang had a thought. “Is there a Talent that controls bodies?”

“Of course there is.” Xia Li nodded. “It isn’t difficult to control corpses, but simply reanimated, the corpses would be nothing but mindless puppets, unable to use their Talents while they were alive. What you ran into was much more than that.”

Gao Yang waited for her to continue.

“The enemy has not only controlled the corpse, but also had the corpse activate his Talent at the right time in the right scenario. All to assassinate you.”

Xia Li spread her hands. “I’ve never heard of a Talent like that.”

A Talent that not even Elder Vermilion Bird had encountered?

Who could they be dealing with?

Gao Yang’s face darkened. He looked at Xia Li. “Whoever it is still has eleven corpses at their disposal. Does it mean that the corpses can all be utilized to attack people like Number 21?”

“I’m afraid so.” Xia Li’s expression grew serious. “But I wonder if they are only able to control one corpse at a time, or all eleven at once.”

Gao Yang’s throat tightened. “Is there an awakener with high-ranking Talent among the stolen bodies?”

Xia Li’s eyes glinted coldly. “Body number 4, the one with Talent: Phantom.”

Phantom, serial number 13, Element-type. The Talent allowed the user to fight with their shadow.

While it wasn’t the Talent with the greatest damage output among Element-type Talents, it was top tier for close and medium ranged battles as well as assassination.

“How did number 4 die?” Gao Yang was curious about how the strong awakeners met their ends.

“He was killed during the last Crimson Tide too. His body was cut into seven pieces. We did our best to sew him back together and repair the body.”

Gao Yang hid his surprise. Crimson Tide again!

“As for his exact cause of death, it’s anyone’s guess.” Xia Li shrugged. “Perhaps it was the Spectres’ doing. Or he could’ve run into a shadowstalker, a type of pride monster.”

Gao Yang didn’t respond. He didn’t know what else he could say.

He felt helpless.

“I’d suggest you lay low for a few days. It’s best if you stay in the Guild. White Tiger even suggested we declare a state of war.” Xia Li smiled. “He’s our Chief of Security, so he’s more sensitive to such matters.”

“I’m six days away from the entrance exams.” Gao Yang smiled wryly.

“Ah.” Xia Li didn’t seem to care. “Then pray for good luck, I guess.”

Gao Yang fell silent with a heavy heart.

When he looked up, Xia Li was staring straight at him with a half smile.

Discomfited, Gao Yang asked, “What is it?”

“Do you know, Seven Shadow, that things have changed since you joined the Qilin Guild?”

“Hm?” Gao Yang played innocent. “That so?”

“Before you joined, the Guild was like a stagnant pond. Although skirmishes did occur, no additional Rune Circuit was found, and nothing major ever happened. It was boring, and I felt like I was wasting my life.” Xia Li yawned.

“Wasn’t it a good thing that nothing happened?” Gao Yang said on purpose.

“Stop playing dumb!” Xia Li hit him in the shoulder. “Don’t you want something to happen? Don’t you want to find answers to the mysteries of the world?”

“Since we’ve awakened, we can’t just lead a life in ignorant bliss, can we? Or our time in the world would be in vain.”

Gao Yang stopped pretending and nodded with a smile. “I agree.”

“Awakeners who have a goal and the ability to back it up will naturally become leaders.” Xia Li’s eyes glinted. “The Guild has recruited the right person. Whether you intended for it to happen or not, you have stirred the stagnant pond the Guild was. You found Rune Circuits, the spy, the Godbearer Cult. Then there is the corpse theft. I have a feeling that the chain of events will lead to many revelations, and they are all connected.”

Her delicate face broke into a smile full of anticipation.

The last time Gao Yang saw the expression on her face, she was listening to his ghost story with a pillow in her arms.

She patted Gao Yang on the shoulder, seemingly in a good mood. “Keep doing what you’re doing, shit-stirrer! Keep stirring up shit!”

Seriously, shit-stirrer? That's way too vulgar! If I am the shit-stirrer, wouldn’t that make the Qilin Guild…

Anyway, can you not come up with a better name? The fixer, or…the wallbreaker?

Those would be much cooler!

“Ah, there’s another thing I’ve been wondering about.” Gao Yang suddenly remembered something.

“Go on.” Xia Li leaned on the armrest, propping her head up with a hand.

“I asked Elder Black Tortoise why the Guild wanted me when he recruited me, and he said that I was recommended. When I asked him who the recommender was, he said he couldn’t tell me until I joined and earned the Guild’s trust.”

He held Xia Li’s gaze. “Sister Xia Li, have I earned the Guild’s trust?”

“Well, in terms of contribution, you have more than earned your spot.” Xia Li pulled the corners of her lips down. “In terms of seniority, however, you’re still green. You’ve joined for less than a month.”

Gao Yang nodded. True, he had been impatient.

“Still.” Xia Li paused for dramatic effect. “That isn’t exactly confidential information. I can tell you about it.”

“Really?”

That was unexpected.

“The one who recommended you was Doctor Su.” Xia Li smiled, her eyes glinting with unspoken words.

“Guildmaster?!”

That was a possibility Gao Yang had never considered.

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