The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 587: Seize the Chance

“Hong Xiaoxiao,” Gao Yang said in a serious tone, expression solemn. “I believe you should know how dangerous the Mist World is now. Not only do you have to face dangerous monsters, you also have to deal with the treacherous ones among the awakeners.”

“Yeah, yeah...” Hong Xiaoxiao nodded, wiping her eyes.

“It’s each person for themselves. No one really cares about whether other people live or die. It’s the same for the Guild. You’ve just joined, yet you’re already sent on a dangerous mission. Last time, you almost got killed by Yellow Ox. This time, you straight-up died. If I hadn’t replicated your Gamer, not even Elder Vermilion Bird would have been able to save you. You should know that all resurrection Talents require the bodies to have an intact brain and heart...”

Hong Xiaoxiao remembered the moment she was killed again, and she blanched, shaking all over. Her death was real.

Gao Yang didn’t give her the time to take a breath. “Even if you resign from the Guild now, you can’t go back to the past. You’ve awakened. You’re faced with dangers every moment every day, be it monsters, awakeners, or the Godbearer Cult. The bad apples among the awakeners, especially, will go after your Talent. You know how Talents are recycled, right?”

Hong Xiaoxiao nodded.

“You have a special Talent. There must be many people who want to kill you so that they will have a chance to acquire your Talent.”

“What...what should I do?” Hong Xiaoxiao had never felt so helpless and confused. “I don’t want to die. I...I just graduated and worked so hard to get a job. My dad’s not the most healthy, and my grandma’s getting old. My younger brother has just entered high school. My family needs me...”

“Hong Xiaoxiao.” Gao Yang comforted her. “Everyone in the Mist World is walking on thin ice, but you’re luckier than others.”

“Huh?” Hong Xiaoxiao was lost. I’m not lucky at all. I’m super unlucky.

“Because you met me,” Gao Yang said. “Your only way out is to trust me.”

She paused.

“See, I have Replicate. I can replicate your Gamer and store it for as long as 50 hours. Isn’t that convenient?”

“When we go on a mission together, you should stick close to me. Then if you get killed, even if your brain and heart are damaged, I’ll be able to bring you back. Similarly, if I die without living an intact body, you’re the only one who can save me.”

Hope lit up in Hong Xiaoxiao’s eyes. “That’s, that’s right. We can save each other, just like what happened today.”

“Yes.” Gao Yang smiled faintly. “Employment is temporary, but friends are forever. Today I may be Elder Seven Shadow, but who knows? Tomorrow I may be Octopath Traveler instead.”

“What we can say for sure is that you don’t want to die, and neither do I, and our Talents make us the perfect duo for keeping both of us alive. We should work more closely together.”

Although Hong Xiaoxiao was inexperienced, she wasn’t stupid. She immediately understood his unspoken words, and she nodded. “Yeah, I...I get it now.”

“Okay, then from now on, we’ll be friends through life and death.” Gao Yang offered her a hand. “Can I trust you?”

Hong Xiaoxiao hesitated a little, but a few seconds later, she clenched her teeth and took Gao Yang’s hand, nodding vehemently. “You can!”

—Activate Lie Detection.

—The target didn’t lie, and she was benevolent.

Gao Yang let go of Hong Xiaoxiao’s hand and glanced at his phone. “Elder Azure Dragon will be here soon. He’s going to ask you what happened in private. Just tell him the truth.”

“Okay, but not what we just talked about, right?”

Gao Yang asked instead of answering, “What do you think?”

Hong Xiaoxiao blushed. “Pretend...I didn’t say that.”

“Good.”

She was just going to say something when her stomach gurgled. She felt awkward and dejected. She hadn’t gotten even a bite of her premium steak.

Gao Yang could read her like a book. He smiled gently. “Are you free this evening?”

“Huh?” Hong Xiaoxiao looked up. “Yeah, I am. I took a leave and don’t have to go to work today.”

“We’ll go back to the Walled City of Ten Dragons with Elder Azure Dragon. After we make our report, I’ll treat you to barbecues at Miss Liu’s place.”

Gao Yang was going to have an intel exchange with Liu Qingying, anyway.

“Sure!”

Hong Xiaoxiao agreed readily, forgetting the trauma of her earlier death for a moment. One should have a dependable senior at work! I’m not that unlucky in this regard.

...

Second floor of the Black Tortoise Branch, Walled City of Ten Dragons, early morning.

Outside the special cell at the end of the corridor, a woman in a long white coat stood with her back pressed to the wall, her head slightly tilted as she elegantly took a drag of her lady cigarette.

Grayish blue moonlight poured in, rimming her delicate profile with a faint white glow.

Puff. Vermilion Bird exhaled a puff of white smoke, her tongue resting against the inside of her teeth. She lowered the hand holding the cigarette and shook off some ash.

Click. The door opened. Liu Qing Ying emerged.

Her long silky silver hair glowed coldly under the moonlight. Her light green sweater dress hugged the curves of her hip, leaving her shoulders revealed. There was a slight seductive sway to her hip as she sauntered. She was enthralling.

“How did it go?” Vermilion Bird asked.

In the morning, Vermilion Bird gave Ke Yo food that Liu Qingying had marked. An hour ago, while Ke Yo was asleep, Liu Qingying invaded her dream for the first time to trigger a nightmare.

For the greatest effect, Liu Qingying had used Sweet Dream right by Ke Yo. Then the alarm she had set woke Ke Yo up, and Liu Qingying left the dream too.

Liu Qingying didn’t immediately respond, but lifted her chin and blinked at Vermilion Bird.

Without missing a beat, Vermilion Bird took out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from the pocket of her lab coat.

Liu Qingying lit it and took a drag, leaning against the wall with her left hand holding onto her right elbow and the cigarette raised to her sensuous red lips by her right hand. She parted her lips to speak.

“I saw Ke Yo’s childhood through her nightmare.” Liu Qingying cocked her head and smiled. “And it’s an unfortunate one.”