The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 767: Men’s Time

Early morning, Nine Frost and Wang Zikai returned to the mansion, both topless and covered in sweat and injuries.

“Whoa!”

Can had woken up to go to the toilet, still bleary-eyed, and she ran into the two topless men in the living room as soon as she left her bedroom.

She was immediately wide awake. “You, you two...you...”

“Shh! Quiet!”

Wang Zikai hurriedly gestured at her. He didn’t want others to know that he had trained with Nine Frost.

“You...” Can gave him a once-over, heart pounding and face flushed. “What were you up to?”

“Can’t tell you.” Wang Zikai gave her a toothy grin and nudged Nine Frost’s strong peck with his elbow. “It’s men’s time.”

Nine Frost had agreed to keep a secret, so he nodded with an awkward cough.

Holy shit!

Really? Seriously, really??!!

Can tamped down the urge to scream, already penning a 10k m/m erotica in her head. She forgot to go to the toilet and instead turned right back to her room. I gotta share the incredible news with Hong Xiaoxiao and Ke Yo! Now! I can’t wait even a second!

Wang Zikai headed to the bathroom on the first floor, planning to have a cold shower. Nine Frost was going to use the bathroom on the second floor. Someone stopped him as soon as he reached the top of the stairs.

“Nine Frost.” Gao Yang had woken up. He was standing on the balcony outside.

“Yes, Captain?” Nine Frost joined Gao Yang on the balcony to look at the mountain ranges. The sun wasn’t rising for a while. All they could see was a hazy cerulean sky.

A cold wind swept over them. After a while, Gao Yang broke the silence.

“I know you’re in a hurry to root out the Godbearer Cult.”

Nine Frost stayed silent.

“It is my goal to wipe out the Cult, but Lin Dajian’s a trap we cannot step into.”

“I’ll be careful,” said Nine Frost.

“Have you considered why now? Dust and Luqi could’ve lured me out with Lin Dajian long ago, but they didn’t do it until now, pulling the trick all of a sudden.”

Nine Frost blinked before quickly catching on. “They’re prepared this time.”

Gao Yang nodded. “We don’t know how many powerful enemies yet await us among the Godbearer Cult, but Luqi and Dust can’t be the only ones. Who knows? There can even be a death monster among them.”

Nine Frost jumped.

“It is possible.” Gao Yang made a bold speculation. “We never see a death monster, but it doesn’t mean one doesn’t exist. Perhaps they’re asleep. Perhaps they’re sealed away. Perhaps they’re staying neutral. What if the Cult woke them up or reached an agreement with them?”

Nine Frost nodded. “Yes, those are possible.”

“We don’t know enough about the Cult,” Gao Yang said. “That’s why I wanted to catch Dust alive or at least get her body. Then Vermilion Bird would be able to question it.”

Gao Yang’s eyes dimmed when he brought up Vermilion Bird.

“The trap being so obvious reflects the Cult’s readiness.” Gao Yang stared at Nine Frost. “You will leave tracks behind if you look into them. Both the Godbearer Cult and the Ocean River Union are watching. There are countless eyes on us in the dark. And don’t forget about Surnamed Li’s Prophet. If we get too involved in the matter, the risk of exposing ourselves will rise.”

Gao Yang enunciated every word. “What happened at the Starcatching Pavilion will not happen again.”

“I understand,” said Nine Frost.

“I’ll leave Nainai in charge of this. She’ll go back to Li City University as a college student and keep an eye on Lin Dajian’s disappearance. She won’t look into it but merely pays attention. We’ll leave the rest to time.”

Nine Frost was convinced. He held Gao Yang’s gaze. “I shouldn’t question you. Lithe Snake is right. You’re our leader. We chose you, so we should trust you unconditionally. You don’t have to explain when you make any decisions going forward.”

“I wasn’t explaining myself to you.” Gao Yang chuckled. “I’m asking for advice, Deputy Captain.”

Nine Frost paused, his gaze growing determined. “I agree.”

“Okay.” Gao Yang glanced at Nine Frost and pointed at his own temple with his index finger. “There’s something else I want to talk to you about.”

Nine Frost used Telepathy on him without missing a beat.

...

Gao Yang woke up to find himself standing on a small stone bridge. Under the bridge was a clear creek. On the sides were dense clusters of willow trees. Spring saw clear sunlight shining through the canopies. Rustled by the breeze, the willows danced prettily like the dress of a beautiful woman.

Liu Qingying stood beside Gao Yang in her usual dress rather than playing a character like she usually did.

“What is it?” Gao Yang asked.

This time, Liu Qingying had sought him out.

They had a simple ritual for when Liu Qingying wanted to contact Gao Yang. She would place a potted plant on the windowsill of her office, on which was a flower petal marked with Sweet Dream.

Every now and then, Can, while invisible, would fly to the neighborhood and watch the window to Liu Qingying’s office from afar. If there was a potted plant on the windowsill, she would manipulate wind to take away the petal. Nothing would seem out of place.

And Gao Yang would meet up with Liu Qingying came night.

“Yes.” Liu Qingying skipped the pleasantries and got right to the point. “I found Dust, Captain of Nine Scions.”

That was as Gao Yang had expected. Dust made it obvious this time. It was only natural that Liu Qingying would notice.

“You may make a move.”

Gao Yang was silent for two seconds. Then he said calmly, “I’m preparing for my revenge against the Ocean River Union. We’ll go after Dust after that.”

“Captain of Nine Scions.” Liu Qingying’s voice hardened. “This is a precious opportunity. If you miss it, who knows when you’ll get to strike? Dust will disappear, while the Union won’t. You can have your revenge at any time.”

“I know,” Gao Yang said. “But the NIne Scions must have our revenge first. It’s more important than killing Dust.”

Liu Qingying couldn’t let it go. “I helped you contact Ke Yo in secret in exchange for rooting out Dust and killing her.”

“Yes,” Gao Yang said. “And I did root out Dust, which fulfills half of the deal.”

“What about the other half?” Liu Qingying held his gaze a little aggressively. “The leader of the Nine Scions must honor his word.”

“And I will, but not now.” Gao Yang sighed. “I understand your eagerness to have your revenge, Miss Liu, so you must be able to understand mine.”

Liu Qingying fell silent.

Gao Yang’s eyes glinted. “If you really can’t wait, you may seek help from someone else. I believe the Twelve Zodiac Signs will be more than happy to help. Dead Pig must hate Dust as much as you do.”

Liu Qingying didn’t say anything. She had considered it, but Dead Pig would never be able to catch Dust. Dust was too cunning, and she must have support. Gao Yang remained Liu Qingying’s best bet.

“What about this? I’ll give you another S-class intel as compensation. Of course, you’ll be the one to determine if it’s true.”

Liu Qingying could tell that Gao Yang had made up his mind, so she stopped pushing. And well, an S-class intel was an S-class intel.

“Fine.” She sighed softly. “I’ll take the compensation.”

Gao Yang looked down at the gentle creek. “It’s the condition for a Talent to reach level 8.”

Liu Qingying didn’t understand. “It’s to merge with the corresponding Rune Circuit, isn’t it?”

“That’s only one of the conditions. Something else is required.”

“That so?” Liu Qingying pushed aside her obsession with revenge for now and acted like an information broker. “What else is required?”