The Creatures that We Are

Gao Yang called his family and told them that he would be spending the night at Wang Zikai’s island villa. His family agreed.

He and Wang Zikai played games with Fresh Snow until two o’clock in the morning. Then he forced the two kids having too much fun to go to bed like a strict parent.

Once they were asleep, Gao Yang snuck away to the Falling Star Island on his jet ski.

It was a famous landmark of Naldives that consisted of three Islands, linked by piers. From a bird's eye view, the islands looked like a star falling across the sky with a burning tail, hence the name.

As soon as he came ashore, he locked the jet ski and headed to the largest hotel on the main island, telling the receptionist that he was here to meet up with his friend, Mr. Wu.

The receptionist made a call for confirmation before leading the way.

Late at night, Gao Yang went across a tropical forest in a shuttle and made it through a long narrow road, arriving at a private water villa.

The private island was almost ten thousand square meters big, enough for 24 people to live together. Even during off season, it would cost hundreds of thousands per night.

Gao Yang didn’t even have to think to figure out that it took the richest man in Li City, Mr. Wu, to go for such an expensive place.

Soon, Gao Yang arrived at the rectangular modern architecture located on the milk-white sandy beach. It was brightly lit with an extravagant and dignified design, but it was quiet, seemingly unoccupied.

Right ahead was a blue swimming pool, above which was the large balcony protruding from the second floor of the villa, installed with a diving platform.

There were also two loungers on the balcony, one of them claimed by a topless man in beach shorts. His face was covered by a magazine with erotic pictures. He seemed to have fallen asleep.

Gao Yang smiled and didn’t raise his voice. “Mr. Wu.”

“Ah—”

Wu Dahai sprang up dramatically. The magazine covering his face fell into the swimming pool below and disturbed the calm water.

He wiped the drool off the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. “Dark…Seven Shadow, we’ve been waiting for you!”

He stood up and swept his staticky hands through his floppy hair. His broom head returned with full aplomb.

“Come up here. Everyone else has arrived.”

Gao Yang turned to make sure that the car driving him here had departed.

With a light jump, he got onto the diving platform, walking to the balcony on the second floor and following Wu Dahai to the living room.

Wu Dahai picked up a remote from the tea table and made a click.

All the heavy curtains draping down the floor-to-ceiling windows closed slowly. Wu Dahai turned on the brightest light in the living room. Now with a clear view, Gao Yang could see that indeed, everyone was here.

On the main sofa nearest to Gao Yang sat four people: Vermilion Bird, Can, Ronnie, and a thin, effeminate man.

He appeared to be twenty-five or so with short grayish blue hair. He had fine, light makeup on, accentuating his slanted eyes. His nails were long, and his skin was fairer and more youthful than that of an average woman.

Scarlet Fox, sixth team leader and a Protector. He was Vermilion Bird’s right-hand man.

Gao Yang had met him once, and the man’s androgynous gender expression left a lasting impression.

Vermilion had told him that Scarlet Fox was 100% a straight man though, only one who took care of himself and had a more sensitive disposition.

Gao Yang had guessed that Vermilion Bird would bring Scarlet Fox with her, but he didn’t expect Can and Ronnie.

“What are the two of you doing here?”

Can smiled at him. “Hehe, Captain, the fifth team is worried about you, but everyone outside of me and Ronnie are busy with something else. Uncle Bear let us come in their stead.”

Gao Yang was a little moved, but he still shot them a glare with feigned anger. “Who told you that you could make the decision yourself? Go back.”

“Alright, they’re here already,” Vermilion Bird cut in. “Let them stay with us.”

Chen Ying piped up from the side. “Don’t worry, Joker has given all of us the impression of a wanderer. We’ll be fine.”

Gao Yang turned to see the other long sofa occupied by the three members of the Hundred Rivers Union: Chen Ying, Green Tea, and Joker.

Joker had disguised himself as a middle-aged man with brown curled hair and tanned skin—the masseur who had worked on Gao Yang earlier.

He grinned. “How will you rate my service during the day, Elder Seven Shadow?”

Earlier in the afternoon, Joker had disguised himself as Gao Yang’s masseur and wrote on his back to tell him the key information. That was why Gao Yang had found his way here.

Gao Yang smiled wryly. “There’s room for improvement.”

Then Gao Yang turned to the dining table away from him. There were two cups of coffee and some desserts on the table, where White Rabbit and Qing Ling sat.

They glanced at Gao Yang in lieu of a greeting.

Although they both had an impassive look on their faces, the emotions they conveyed were different.

Gao Yang was a little surprised.

It didn’t surprise him that White Rabbit would take Wu Dahai to Naldives. The man was rich, and it made perfect sense for someone like him to come here on a vacation.

But Qing Ling?

Given her personality, shouldn’t she be training day and night in preparation for the Crimson Tide?

Oh, I almost forgot. War Tiger has gone to the Snow Nation for a mission. She wouldn’t have a teacher around even if she stayed to get stronger.

As for the other members, Songstress would still be reeling from the pain of losing Ghost Horse, and Lovely Lamb was too young. Moreover, she was the treasure of the organization, to be protected at all cost.

Officer Huang, Heavenly Dog, Dead Pig, and Mischievous Monkey all had their own family and friends. They must be eager to spend more time with their loved ones and put some countermeasures in place before the Crimson Tide.

In comparison, Qing Ling was the best candidate given that she had no attachments.

Gao Yang went through the list of people here.

From the Qilin Guild, there were Vermilion Bird, Scarlet Fox, Can, Ronnie, and himself.

From the Twelve Zodiac Signs, there were White Rabbit, Qing Ling, and Wu Dahai.

And from the Hundred Rivers Union, there were Chen Ying, Green Tea, and Joker.

A total of eleven people was quite the group of delegates, befitting the fifth-ranking awakener, X.

Vermilion Bird took command of this operation. She stood up and announced with proper authority, “Now that everyone’s here, let me explain the situation briefly.”

All eyes were on her.

“I encountered X once a long time ago. I was trying to recruit him back then too.” Vermilion Bird smiled wryly, seemingly remembering an unpleasant memory. “He rejected me, saying that the Guild wasn’t showing enough goodwill.”

“Not showing enough goodwill?” White Rabbit was curious as the one-woman HR department of the Twelve Zodiac Signs. “In what way?”

“I don’t know. He didn't say.” Vermilion Bird shrugged. “Anyway, he’s a strange man.”

“He lives on the F Island and wouldn’t take visitors during nighttime. We’re visiting him again tomorrow afternoon.”

Gao Yang was surprised. What a coincidence. Isn’t F Island the one my family is staying on?

“Do we send a few people, or go together?” asked Chen Ying.

“We go together.”

“Wouldn’t it be too much?” Gao Yang questioned.

Vermilion Bird arched an eyebrow and smirked. “That’s what I’m aiming for. Almost a dozen people from the three major organizations are asking him to join us. He can’t say that we haven’t shown enough goodwill this time, can he?”

“I feel like that was just an excuse,” Wu Dahai countered. “Maybe with such a large group, he would reject us because he feels burdened by too much goodwill.”

Amused, Vermilion Bird said, “We’re asking him for help this time, after all. Let’s do what we can. If he wants something in return, we satisfy him to the best of our ability.”

“Here, this is a picture of X.” Vermilion Bird took out her phone and left it on the table.

The others went up to look at the waist-up photo.

“Shit, that’s him?” Wu Dahai gasped. “He’s got quite the reputation.”

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