The Creatures that We Are

Through the gaps in the shelf, Gao Yang could see a young woman. She had blond curls that looked to be from a past period, and she wore a small black dress hat, a face veil, and an extravagant long black dress with a complicated design. She looked like a young lady attending a funeral in a movie set in medieval times. In the present day, one would assume she was cosplaying an anime character.

It was White Dew, in disguise.

“I was going to visit you,” Gao Yang said quietly.

“Visit my sister, you mean,” White Dew pointed out icily.

Gao Yang admitted, “Yeah, last night…”

“Whatever you did last night had nothing to do with us. I’m here to give you a message.”

After a pause, Gao Yang took a step forward to approach the shelf.

White Dew did the same. They talked through the only gap in the shelves like they were in a church’s confessional.

“From now on, the Spectres have nothing to do with you or any awakeners. We each walk our own path. You get it?”

“Why?”

“There’s no why.”

After a silent moment, Gao Yang nodded. “Okay. But before that, I’d like to meet Fresh Snow and let her feed on me.”

Gao Yang could die at any moment, and if that happened, he would like Fresh Snow to live a little longer.

“No need,” White Dew said. “She’s not hungry yet.”

There was another silence.

Gao Yang opened his mouth but then swallowed the words. He instead said, “I understand. I won’t bother you again. If there’s anything you need, though, you may seek me out at any time. Keep the number that can reach me.”

White Dew didn’t say anything to that. She continued to flip the novel in her hand and pretended to be reading.

After about ten seconds, she said in a cool voice, “Leave the bag and go.”

Gao Yang lowered the black backpack. Inside was a cluster of gray gas—Waking Insects.

He took two steps back to the shadowed corner, and two seconds later, he disappeared without a sound.

White Dew could no longer sense Gao Yang’s presence. He had left with Teleportation.

She sighed. There was suddenly a postcard in her hand. It was Fresh Snow’s letter to Gao Yang.

She tucked it in the novel and closed it, returning the book to the shelf.

…

Meanwhile, in an office in the Sew View Tower in Nanji District.

The office was spacious and minimalistic. Sitting before the window wall was an old-school employer desk, across from which was a sofa for the guests. A potted lace fern was placed in the corner. On the wall hung a calligraphy work that said, Be serene and walk far.

Surnamed Li sat in her wheelchair, pressing the anti-eavesdropping button on the desk. Suddenly, metal sheets lowered to cover the windows, turning the room into an enclosed chamber that allowed no light to enter.

The calligraphy work shifted to reveal a recessed cabinet with a hemisphere-shaped high-tech device made of Black Gold. The name Dr. Jia was carved into the surface.

The device shook gently and made a soft, strange white noise that filled the space like waves, creating an omnidirectional disturbance that prevented regular technology, advanced technology, or Talents from eavesdropping on the room.

“Report.”

Chen Ying nodded. She gave Surnamed Li a detailed report on her collaboration with Gao Yang and the plan to root out Dust.

Surnamed Li let out a long breath in appreciation. “Good work, Chen Ying.”

Chen Ying nodded. “It’s my job.”

“With Dust identified, the Hundred Rivers Union no longer has to suspect each other and stay on guard.” Surnamed Li sighed. “I didn’t expect Dust to be a second soul attaching to Goldthread, though. The fire back then…”

She shook her head and pushed aside her heartbreak, stopping herself from following the memory.

“We have not eliminated the danger yet, Madam Li,” Chen Ying said. “Dust may find another host.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve prepared for it.” Surnamed Li slowly explained. “Sha Ye and Jiang Hao have developed the Cleansing Bracelet, enchanted with Sha Ye’s level 3 Cleansing. It can guard against any mental and spiritual curse, and even if the defense breaks down, the bracelet will break, too, which will serve as a warning. It can stay effective for more than a month.”

“However, the bracelets only prevent curses and don’t remove curses. When I got your message last night, I immediately had everyone put one on.”

Surnamed Li lifted her hand. There was a small simple Black Gold bracelet on her wrist, too.

Chen Ying finally relaxed. Then she thought of something. “What about the other organizations?”

“The Twelve Zodiac Signs are happy to receive the equipment. The Qilin Guild says there’s no need for that. They have their solution.”

Chen Ying wasn’t surprised. With Dr. Jia around, they would have developed defensive equipment to a similar end.

Surnamed Li thought for a moment. “Chen Ying, we must not allow Qilin to know that the Nine Scions helped you discover Dust.”

“I know.” Chen Ying had already come up with an excuse. “Green Tea left clues for Chestnut and at home. I discovered the clues and tracked down Dust. It had nothing to do with the Nine Scions.”

Surnamed Li was still worried. “And the clues left by Green Tea?”

Chen Ying nodded. “I fabricated them.”

Surnamed Li nodded slightly, bemused.

“Then we just have to find Dust and avenge Ba Qiuchi, Green Tea, and Goldthread,” Chen Ying said with determination.

“Yes.” Surnamed Li nodded, waving Chen Ying over. “Come here.”

Chen Ying went up to her and knelt.

“Give me your hand.”

Chen Ying did as she said. Surnamed Li took her hand and put a Cleansing Bracelet on her.

Chen Ying felt a soft, sacred energy spreading to the rest of her body from her skin before melting into her blood and flesh, disappearing into her.

Surnamed Li covered her hand with both hands, patting her like an elderly would a family member. “You’ve grown up, Ying Ying.”

Chen Ying felt warm and fuzzy. When was the last time she heard the nickname? It had been so long ago, like a distant dream.

Chen Ying was an orphan. She grew up in an orphanage.

For some reason, her brain developed slowly in her youth, and she reacted to things with a delay, always clumsy. As a result, she was often the target of bullying from the other children.

When Surnamed Li and her husband returned to Li City, they decided to adopt a child for better cover. Surnamed Li set her eyes on Chen Ying at first glance.

It was winter. The girl, no older than four, was dressed in a dirty blue cotton shirt and cotton pants, her hair messy and uneven like someone had taken a scissor to it with bad intentions. Her cheeks, ears, and hands were all covered in red blisters.

Clutching at the hem of her shirt, she cowered behind a wall in the backyard, head lowered and eyes blank and terrified. She didn’t dare to move.

“Haha, stupid!”

“Hahaha…big stupid!”

A few children threw snowballs at her without pulling back.

Thud.

A tightly-pressed snowball hit her on her blister-covered face, leaving a trail of ice.

Chen Ying pressed her lips together and clenched her teeth to endure it. Tears brimmed in her eyes for being unfairly treated, but she didn’t dare to let them fall.

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