The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 624: Eat, No Talk

“Well said! Qilin isn’t worthy!” White Rabbit said proudly. She was happier when someone complimented Dragon than when someone complimented her.

If asked what she liked about Dragon, she could list many: his godlike good look, his great power, his tender nature, his high intelligence and emotional intelligence, his elegance, his good taste, his pleasant voice...

If asked why she loved Dragon, though, White Rabbit only had one answer: Dragon was a hopeless idealist, his belief so pure that she couldn’t help staring at it.

Some were born to be the stars, and others were born to chase the light.

White Rabbit was a fly drawn to Dragon’s light, and she felt proud to be able to witness his dream and glory coming to fruition.

She turned to the hibernation chamber with a determined gaze, all pumped up with fighting spirit. “Rest easy, Captain. The Twelve Zodiac Signs will die to protect you!”

“Shit, it’s nice to have a fangirl.” War Tiger smacked his lips together in feigned envy. “Alright, let’s not get cheesy about it. Time to work.”

“Yeah.” White Rabbit smiled a little bashfully.

War Tiger took out his pack of cigarettes but found it empty. He frowned. “It’s too early to talk about this, but a smart rabbit has three burrows. You should start thinking about it.”

“Leave it to me.”

War Tiger advised, “You’ll be in charge of the task on your own. No rush. The priority is to find a well-hidden place.”

White Rabbit gave him an okay sign.

They walked out of the Dragon Door, and as soon as they returned to the living room, they ran into Heavenly Dog, dressed sharply with a hand in his pocket. He waved at them with his right hand. “Hey.”

“Why are you here at this time, Heavenly Dog?” White Rabbit asked.

Heavenly Dog scratched his head. “I’m here for Uncle Tiger.”

After a moment, he added, “It’s an emergency.”

“You don’t seem to be in a rush.” War Tiger snorted, shooting White Rabbit a look.

White Rabbit turned to leave without missing a beat.

Heavenly Dog went up to War Tiger and whispered into his ears. War Tiger narrowed his eyes with his lips curled.

“Alright. Go.”

...

Rooftop of an express hotel, Sunfacing Road in Daxu District, one o’clock in the afternoon.

A tall, thin man stood upright at the edge of the rooftop, dressed in a windbreaker, a pair of jeans, and a black beanie, his stubbled face half covered by a pair of sunglasses.

It was Nine Frost in disguise. Chewing on a choco stick, he looked over at the flower shop across the road—Let Life be Beautiful like Summer Flowers—with a pair of binoculars.

From the vantage point, he could see through the small window on the second floor into the attic. Heavenly Dog sat on a beanbag with white headphones on, listening to music with his eyes closed. He seemed to have fallen asleep.

Heavenly Dog often swung by Songstress’ shop to sit for a while, listening to music and having a beverage, getting some sunshine. That was something Gao Yang had told Nine Frost.

A minute later, Nine Frost finished the choco stick; his mission was completed.

He put the plastic wrap of the choco stick and the binoculars in the pocket of his windbreaker. Then he took out an old model cellphone from his jeans, making a call.

The call was immediately picked up, and a modulated voice said, “How is it?”

“It’s done. Things went smoothly.”

“Alright. Then we set out at night.”

“Okay.”

Nine Frost hung up and easily disassembled the phone, taking out and crushing the chip before pocketing the phone. He turned to leave.

...

Mizuya Street, Zone D of Island Nation. November 27th, late at night.

There were many cheap B&Bs, hostels, and 24-hour libraries with capsule hotels around the area, and it saw many young backpackers from different nations. A young man with the typical West Nation appearance—blond hair, blue eyes, and sculpted facial features—walked out of the bright and warm convenience store, holding three discounted lunch boxes and three bottles of water.

He leisurely walked along the narrow street under the night sky, soon reaching a quiet and lesser tread alley. Making a turn, he went deep into the alley and climbed up an external metal staircase to the third floor of a B&B, knocking on the door.

Three quick knocks followed by a one-second pause and then another three knocks. Then he repeated it once more to make nine knocks in total. A few seconds later, the door opened to reveal a man and a girl. The girl had blond hair and emerald eyes, her facial features delicate but pronounced.

The man was tall and slim with brown curls, olive skin, light green eyes, and a serious look on his face.

The three exchanged looks of greetings.

The blond man sat cross-legged before the table, placing down the three lunchboxes he had bought at a discount, each containing marbled beef, fried pork cutlet, and chicken and egg as toppings for the rice.

He glanced at the blond girl and brown-haired man, indicating for them to make their picks first.

The blond girl sat down across from him and picked the marbled beef after a glance. The brown-haired man bent down and picked the chicken and egg one, leaving the blond man with the fried pork cutlet lunchbox.

One standing and two sitting, they started eating quietly with disposable chopsticks.

The air was heavy and silent. The blond girl didn't have much of an appetite, and she ate distractedly, taking a long time to chew with every bite.

After a few bites, she slammed down her chopsticks and looked up at the blond man across from her.

“Alright, alright. I give up, Brother. I give up, okay?”

The blond man lowered his chopsticks and smiled. When he spoke, it was Gao Yang’s voice that came out, “You couldn’t help but start talking after only how long, Gao Xinxin? And you want me to take you with us?”

Gao Xinxin looked at her watch and sighed. “It’s only been three hours. It’s too hard.”

“Listen to Captain, Gao Xinxin. Hide well. It’s too dangerous for you to follow us around.” The brown-haired man spoke up. It was Nine Frost’s cold and smooth voice.

Gao Yang turned to the disguised Nine Frost. “When will he arrive?”

“Three in the morning.” Nine Frost continued to eat. “Nainai’s disguise lasts more than thirty hours. That’ll be tomorrow at noon.”

Gao Yang nodded, forming a plan in his head. He resumed eating without a word.

“The girl called Nainai is awesome! She just rubbed my face and hair, and I turned into a different person.” Gao Xinxin shot Gao Yang a derisive look. “Compared to her, you’re such a loser, Brother.”

“I’m a loser?” Gao Yang couldn’t accept that. He glanced at Nine Frost. “Tell her about all the glorious achievements under Elder Seven Shadow’s belt, Nine Frost.”

“A civilized man does not speak when eating or sleeping.” Nine Frost wasn’t in the mood to get between the siblings as they bickered.

It all started on November 22nd. That early morning, the Nine Scions were established on Apple Island, and Nainai made a passionate chuuni declaration.

The moment she said, “Born in the dark, the Nine Scions will chase the dawn,” she felt a rush of inspiration descending upon her and entering her head; the world seemed to spin around her. She almost blacked out.

Can caught her. “You...alright?”

“I’m...fine...” Nainai’s chest heaved violently, and she smirked with feigned nonchalance. “Ha, this Empress felt it...a new sort of chaos power mixing the divine and the demonic... This Empress’ devil crimson eyes are unsealed...”

In human language, it meant that Nainai’s Shapeshifter and Scale had reached level 7 at the same time.

Everyone was happy for her then. It was a good omen for the freshly established Nine Scions.