The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 914: Don’t Hate Her

Rustle. Gao Yang reached War Tiger's side and sat cross-legged in the snow, joining him in his quiet vigil before White Rabbit's grave.

War Tiger remained silent, his expression hovering between calm and numbness.

Gao Yang picked up a bottle of black nail polish from the snow-covered ground and opened it, clumsily painting his left thumb. He'd never done this before, his inexperience obvious, but that didn't matter. He just needed something to do.

War Tiger slowly turned toward the movement, snow falling from his hair and shoulders. His voice came out rough. "Give me one."

Gao Yang tossed one over.

War Tiger caught it with a weak grin. "Rabbit loved red the most. Alright, I'll give it a try."

They sat there painting their nails awkwardly in the snow, comparing results to see who did it better. Neither would concede defeat.

War Tiger's mood seemed to lift slightly—enough to speak, at least.

“Gao Yang, Rabbit never had anything nice to say to you, but don’t take it personally. That’s just how she was. Her tongue was sharper with those she cared about. Except with Dragon, of course.”

“I know.” Gao Yang closed the bottle of nail polish.

“She used you in the beginning. That was true. But it was genuine on her part that she treated you as a family after that. When you went to the Qilin Guild with her not knowing the truth, she was hurt over it for a long time.”

“I know.” Gao Yang placed the nail polish back on the snow.

“Rabbit...” War Tiger opened his mouth. He had much to say, but he suddenly didn’t feel like saying anything. “Anyhow, if she did anything to offend you, I apologize on her behalf. Don’t hate her. What she feared the most was being hated and abandoned by her family. That’d been the case since she was little.”

“I won’t.”

“That’s good.” War Tiger looked at his nails, now painted red. A laugh escaped him. "What's even the point of this stuff? She'd put it on, take it off, put it right back on. Why go through all that?"

"Uncle Tiger."

Gao Yang's voice was calm but solemn. "My condolences."

War Tiger's shoulders trembled and sagged.

He threw the polish down and reached for his pocket, finding only an empty cigarette pack. Rubbing his nose roughly, he cursed, "Fuck, how am I going to explain to Dragon?"

Gao Yang paused, remembering. "Back in Naldives, when White Rabbit thought she was dying, she left a message for Dragon."

War Tiger turned. "What did she say?"

Gao Yang repeated the words verbatim, “Good luck, Captain. White Rabbit has been and will always be your number one fan.”

After a moment of surprise, War Tiger snorted. "Right. I'll tell Dragon that."

Gao Yang nodded, then glanced around. "I recruited Liao Liao."

“The girl with Aptitude?” She had left a positive impression on War Tiger. “Good. She’s a real talent.”

“She passed my test, but just to be safe, you should meet her, too.” On one hand, Gao Yang trusted War Tiger’s eye for people. On the other hand, he wanted to give the man something to do.

"Alright, let Uncle Tiger have a friendly chat with her." War Tiger pushed himself up, hands on knees. He pulled his greatsword from the ground, shook off the snow, and strode away.

Rustle.

When War Tiger's footsteps had faded, Gao Yang raised his voice. "I'm alone now. You may come out."

Purple light sparkled from the forest depths, like a marsh's surface shimmering under a violet moon.

The light faded, revealing a tall, slim woman with pronounced curves and crimson eyes. Silver hair crowned with a flax-laced dress hat, she wore a black veil that draped from its brim, obscuring the upper half of her pale, sharply beautiful face.

Wearing a solemn black dress and black gloves, she held a flower of purple ice crystals in her hand.

Gao Yang recognized White Dew instantly, unsurprised by her presence.

She crossed the snowy ground silently. "Which one belongs to Spring?"

Wordlessly, Gao Yang brushed snow from a new grave, revealing a small calendar. Its first page read: "Start of Spring."

White Dew knelt with fluid grace, placing the crystal flower before the grave.

After a reverent silence, Gao Yang spoke. "Thank you."

White Dew scoffed, her words drawling lazily. "Don't. I opposed Spring's involvement, but his mind was set."

"Why would he do it?"

"We spent our lives searching for ways to break our curses. Spring said that since we couldn't choose our birth, we'd at least choose our death."

Gao Yang fell silent.

White Dew rose. "I've always hated you, Gao Yang, but Fresh Snow wouldn't have survived without you. Consider Spring's interference repayment for that. We're even."

“We aren’t,” Gao Yang said. “I owe you too much.”

White Dew sighed softly. “If you really think so, do me a favor.”

“Go on.”

“I have something to attend to going forward. Take care of Fresh Snow for me.” White Dew looked resigned like a parental figure. “Many things happened recently. Fresh Snow’s been unhappy. You’re the only one who can make her crack a smile.”

Surprise flickered across Gao Yang's face.

"I know you see her as a child. That's fine. Just keep her company, make her laugh, give her more joy than sorrow. She's had so little since childhood. It doesn't take much to make her happy."

Gao Yang's chest tightened.

"Outside of missions, I'll spend my time with her."

"Thank you." White Dew retreated into the forest depths, leaving only a trail of purple light that soon vanished into darkness.

...

Half an hour later, Gao Yang entered the mansion's living room. Drawn curtains and unlit lamps left only the crackling fireplace for light.

Liao Liao and Fresh Snow shared an antique sofa, chatting hand in hand. Dr. Jia hovered nearby, forcing a servile smile that creased his face.

His interest lay not in Fresh Snow herself, but in a Spectre’s vital energy.

Unfortunately, he had made little progress in befriending the Spectre. Even his parrot interested Fresh Snow more.

Gao Yang surveyed the room. "Liao Liao, gather everyone for a meeting here."

"Right away."

"Then come to my room after," Fresh Snow said mysteriously. "I have something to show you."

Gao Yang nodded. "Okay."

“Don’t forget it!” Fresh Snow skipped her way upstairs.

"Fresh Snow! Fresh Snow! Fresh Snow!" The gray parrot attempted pursuit, only to have Dr. Jia grab its tail. "Stay for the meeting!"

"Take me! Take me! Take me!" The parrot thrashed.

"You ungrateful creature!" Their squabble sent feathers flying throughout the mansion.

Soon, War Tiger, Qing Ling, Nine Frost, Chen Ying, Heavenly Dog, and Liao Liao assembled. Everyone who could attend had arrived.

Gao Yang settled onto a sofa, his voice and expression composed. "Let's begin."