The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 644: Experienced

Top floor of the Sea View Tower, Nanji District, early morning.

Ding. The elevator opened. Standing inside was a woman in an office outfit holding hands with a little boy in a suit, Chen Ying and Little Tian.

Chen Ying let go of Little Tian’s hand. They walked out of the elevator, switching gears from being family to being colleagues.

They made it across the main dining area. The three elegant screens on the far end of the room were folded, and Chen Ying and Little Tian entered. Surnamed Li was there in her wheelchair, having breakfast.

She was holding a small bowl of rice topped with raw egg. Before her was a bowl of miso soup and a few vegetable sides.

“Sorry for intruding. I’ll be back in a moment.” Chen Ying bowed, about to retreat from the booth.

“It’s fine. I’m done.” Surnamed Li lowered the bowl and chopstick, waving a waiter over to make the table. Then the waiter poured the three of them tea.

The three screens unfolded. The room quieted.

Surnamed Li stared at Chen Ying without a word.

Chen Ying took some time to speak up. “Madam Li, I have something to report to you. The Nine Scions contacted Little Tian.”

She twisted some of the truth. It was actually Chen Ying who asked Little Tian to contact the Nine Scions. She trusted Gao Yang and didn’t believe that he would betray humanity. Thus, she wanted an answer from him. It surprised her that the Nine Scions would actually spot and contact Little Tian.

Surnamed Li wasn’t too surprised. She nodded and indicated for Chen Ying to continue.

“Nine Frost of the NIne Scions has comprehended Telepathy and reached out to Little Tian, asking for a secret collaboration.”

“On what?” Surnamed Li asked.

“The Nine Scions are willing to root out Dust for us. In exchange, they wish to borrow Rune Circuits, resources, and manpower from us. If we don’t agree to the deal, they ask us to at least stay neutral and not help the Qilin Guild take down the Nine Scions.”

Surnamed Li sighed. It seemed that she had anticipated that.

“With the spy still at large, the Union will never be stable and united.” Surnamed Li nodded. “We’ll accept the deal.”

“Really?” Chen Ying was confident that she would be able to convince her, but didn’t expect the answer to come so readily.

Surnamed Li nodded. “This is between the three of us. Keep it a secret. I won’t get involved, and no traces should be left. If the Qilin Guild learns of it, the consequences will be dire.”

“I understand.” Chen Ying nodded. She had long made up her mind. “Don’t worry, Madam Li. If the truth is ever exposed, you may brand me as a traitor so that the Union won’t be dragged down.”

“Don’t ever say that, Chen Ying,” Surnamed Li reprimanded. “The Hundred Rivers Union and I cannot lose you.”

Chen Ying paused before nodding vehemently. “Understood!”

Surnamed Li turned to Little Tian. “I have another mission for you, Little Tian. Please continue to look for new awakeners. The Hundred Rivers Union must expand. We cannot sit around and wait for things to happen to us.”

“Okay.” Little Tian nodded. “I’ll work hard.”

“Good boy.”

“Madam Li.” Chen Ying could see a stronger than ever urgency and unease in her eyes. “Did you have another dream?”

Surnamed Li didn’t answer that. She waved at her and said, “Go.”

“Of course.” Chen Ying understood immediately. It wasn’t time to tell her. She would know when she should know.

...

Chen Ying walked hand-in-hand with Little Tian out of the Sea View Tower. When they were about to get into the car at the curb, Little Tian came to a sudden halt. Then after a few seconds, he turned to Chen Ying.

Chen Ying caught on. “Let’s talk in the car.”

They got in. Chen Ying put the seatbelt on for him. “He’s reached out to you?”

Little Tian nodded.

After some thinking, Chen Ying came to a decision. “We’ll have breakfast first. What do you want to eat?”

“The Golden Arch!” Little Tian said, kicking his feet.

“Let’s go then.”

Chen Ying drove to the nearest fast food place and went in with Little Tian. They claimed a seat by the window.

Chen Ying ordered a cup of hot milk and a full breakfast for Little Tian, then a cup of hot coffee and a burger for herself.

The place was boisterous with upbeat music. Little Tian enjoyed the food while kicking his legs around.

Due to his early awakening and the fact that he had encountered danger at too young an age, Little Tian was obedient but way too reserved. He rarely showed his emotions on his face.

When he was happy, he didn’t smile, but if he was sitting down, he would swing his legs around.

His favorite time was the meals he shared with Chen Ying.

Clear sunlight shone through the window and cast Little Tian’s cheeks in a warm glow. His eyes were dark like ink. He took large bites of his food, getting some sauce on a corner of his mouth. Chen Ying picked up a tissue to wipe it for him.

“Take your time. Or you’re gonna have digestive issues.”

“Yeah...”

Suddenly, a strange breeze blew into Chen Ying’s head, morphing into conceptual ideas before being combined into concrete language.

[This is Nine Frost. Do you have an answer now?]

Chen Ying continued to drink her coffee while touching and guiding the breeze in her head, turning it into language and sending it out of her ears.

[We’re willing to work with you.]

Although psychic communication done through Telepathy wouldn’t leave any trace, Chen Ying still cautiously chose the word “we” rather than “the Union”.

[Good.]

[How are you planning to identify Dust? Are you going to check every suspect with Gao Yang’s Replicate? Then I’ll have to find a way to arrange...]

[No. Captain’s not going to take the risk. It’s possible that she can damage his soul the moment he touched her.]

[Gao Yang can use a double.]

[He considered it, but it won’t work.]

[Double can only use Talent that exists intrinsically to him. So if Captain replicates your Psychometry first, then the double will be able to use the Talent. In other words, his double can use the Talents his main body has.]

[However, the double cannot use Replicate on a target to find out their Talents. It requires the secondary usage of Talents. A double cannot create another double. That’s a limit placed on similar Talens.]

[What about Time Reset? You can bring Hong Xiaoxiao along and have Gao Yang check the suspects. If there’s any danger, she can always go back to a save...]

[That won’t work, but I can’t tell you the reason now.]

[Alright. Then how are you going to root out Dust?]

[We’re helping you find Dust, to be precise. Every eleven o’clock at night, stay a few minutes on your balcony. Doesn’t matter if you flower your plants, collect your clothes, or just zone out. We’ll send you messages through Telepathy every now and then. You only have to follow the instructions.]

[That’s it?]

[Don’t worry. Captain is quite experienced in finding spies. We will help you find Dust.]

[However, you have to have unconditional trust in us. Whatever you do going forward, only you, me, and Captain shall know. Do not tell anyone, not even Madam Li.]

[I understand.]

[Now do as I say...]

Chen Ying started out composed, but then she became unhappy. She frowned slightly, even slamming her cup of coffee on the table.

Sensing her change in mood, Little Tian looked up and asked, “What’s wrong, Sister?”

“Deal’s off,” she whispered.

“Why?” Little Tian was surprised.

“He asked me to steal the Union’s puzzles, telling me it’s part of the plan to find the duck.” Chen Ying scoffed. “Did he think I’m a fool?”

The puzzles referred to the Rune Circuits, and the duck referred to the spy.

She sighed. “I did wonder if the Nine Scions were actually trying to help us, but it turned out that they were simply looking to use me.”

Little Tian was a little disappointed. He thought that he had helped his sister by forming a line of communication with Nine Frost, but now it seemed that he was happy for nothing.

“Forget it. Let’s eat.” Chen Ying put on a smile. “Let’s not talk about this.”

“Yeah.” Little Tian nodded, resuming eating.

...

[Done.]

[Good. Now the three of us are the only ones who know.]