The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 768: Can’t Wait

“Holy water,” said Gao Yang.

“Do you mean...” Liu Qingying frowned slightly and asked for confirmation. “The amniotic fluid of life monsters?”

Gao Yang nodded. “It’s not technically amniotic fluid. Life monsters who have come together with a human and become pregnant generate a special vital energy that they can extract at will. Even after the life monster dies, the vital energy remains in her body, able to be extracted with a special method. That’s what we call holy water.”

Liu Qingying ruminated on the information.

“Whether a life monster’s pregnant with Spectres, Malediction, or the Divine Scion, they all generate holy water, only the level of purity differs. There may be other differences, too.”

Gao Yang paused. “Now’s the key point. No matter the type of holy water, once it’s applied to a Rune Circuit, it’ll allow those with level 7 top twelve Talents to merge with the corresponding Rune Circuit and reach the peak of their power, level 8.”

“And after the first successful merge, holy water won’t be needed for the subsequent attempts.”

“How do you know?” Liu Qingying wasn’t fully convinced.

“My mother’s a life monster. I saw her use her holy water to level up my father’s Talent and help him merge with the Guard Rune Circuit.” Gao Yang lied. He wasn’t the one who saw it, but Qing Ling.

“There is other proof supporting the theory.” Gao Yang continued. “I visited Hyena’s lab in West Nation, and he used the impure holy water extracted from a life monster’s corpse.”

“Lilia had become one with Epilogue and reached level 8 Elemental most likely with the help of holy water, too.”

“The same is true of X’s Poison of Hell with level 8 Pestilence. X was working with shadowstalkers and the Godbearer Cult. It would be easy for him to acquire holy water.”

Liu Qingying nodded slightly. There was no logical flaw in the theory.

Then she thought of something. “Now that all life monsters are dead, does it mean there’s no holy water, and no one will be able to reach level 8?”

“Not necessarily.” Gao Yang smiled.

Liu Qingying came to a realization. “I’ve forgotten about you. You’re the Divine Scion.”

“I have my mother’s bloodline. However, I can’t get pregnant, so I don’t know if I can generate the special vital energy we know as holy water. It’s fine though. I have other ways to acquire holy water even though I don’t need it yet.”

“How?”

“Sorry, I can’t tell you.” Gao Yang chuckled. “That’s one of my future trump cards.”

“Captain of Nine Scions.” Liu Qingying gave him a shrewd and captivating smile. “You haven’t told me all that just to compensate me, have you?”

Gao Yang smiled. “You’re a smart woman, Miss Liu. It’s time for you to think about taking a side.”

“Thank you for the generous offer. I’ll consider it seriously,” Liu Qingying said softly.

...

At midnight, Liu Qingying woke up on her bed and slowly shook off the sense of dullness that came after a Sweet Dream. Her mind and consciousness returned to the real world.

Sitting up, she got off the bed and opened the safe, taking out the black diary and Black Gold fountain pen and flipping to the last page. She started writing on the nightstand.

—Holy water is a special vital energy generated from a life monster pregnant with a human’s child.

—Only by applying holy water to a Rune Circuit can an awakener become one with a Rune Circuit and push their Talent to level 8.

—Unproven. Credibility: medium.

Half a minute later, black handwriting emerged on the page.

—Copy that.

Liu Qingying continued to write quickly.

—Dust’s found. I’d like to have my revenge now. Will that hinder you, General?

This time, the diary was “silent” for a full minute before a line appeared.

—I’ll give you an answer in three days.

Liu Qingying closed the diary and put it back in the safe with the pen.

She shuddered slightly, lighting a cigarette and taking a drag, yet she couldn’t calm herself. She looked down at the framed photo on the nightstand. Ba Qiuchi had a bright smile on her face. Liu Qingying stared at her. The sorrow in her eyes slowly gave way to the shadow of hatred.

I’m sorry. I can’t wait any longer.

I’ve been waiting for ten years. I can’t delay this for even a second.

...

Underground base of Ocean River Union, Nanji District, four o’clock in the morning.

Wearing a black coat, black stockings, black dress shoes, and a black beret hat, Liu Qingying walked across the quiet office hall under Liao Liao’s guidance. The only bright color on her was the silver hair running down her shoulders.

She reached Qilin’s office. After giving Liao Liao a smile as thanks, she opened the door and walked in. The office was large and bright. Qilin, the guildmaster, sat behind the office desk, wearing a checkered wool cardigan and a pair of bookish glasses.

Surnamed Li sat on his side in her wheelchair. She was dressed in a light gray A-shape coat with her hair put up. Despite her age, she looked elegant and dignified with a unique grace.

Before Liu Qingying said anything, Qilin opened with, “Yan Liang said you had something important to tell me and asked to meet me immediately.”

“Yes.” Liu Qingying sat down on the guest seat, crossing her legs gracefully.

“All matters of the Guild must be approved by both me and Madam Li. Rather than telling her after the fact, I think it’ll be better for her to hear from you, too. You don’t mind, do you?”

“I don’t mind.”

“Go on then.” Qilin clasped his hands on his abdomen and leaned against the chair.

“I’m here to make you and the Ocean River Union an offer,” said Liu Qingying.

“Offer?” Qilin’s eyes glinted.

“Dust showed herself recently. I found her. It’s a piece of information I will give you for free.” Liu Qingying smiled. “I want you to go after her immediately.”

“Dust is a member of the Godbearer Cult responsible for many lives and an enemy of your esteemed organization. After you catch her and exhaust her value, I hope you’ll allow me to take her life. That is my condition.”

Qilin glanced at Surnamed Li. She nodded.

The Ocean River Union was always going to make Dust pay. Surnamed Li couldn’t be happier that Liu Qingying had sought them out.

Qilin believed it was a chance to earn some goodwill without losing anything, too, but he didn’t immediately accept the offer. Instead, he said, “What can you give the Union? Don’t tell me it’s just the location of Dust’s hideout.”

“Not only that, I’ll also give you two pieces of S+ intel,” Liu Qingying promised. “One of them is closely related to the Union, and the sooner you know about it, the better. However, you must promise to fulfill my condition first before I’ll tell you.”

Qilin and Surnamed Li fell silent.

“Guildmaster Qilin, Deputy Guildmaster Li,” Liu Qingying said earnestly. “I’ve been an information broker for years, and my credibility is well-earned.”

“I’ll swear on my reputation. If it’s not enough, I’ll swear on my life. I’ll be with you when you go after Dust anyway, so you don’t have to worry about me running away.”

Qilin nodded bemusedly. “May I ask about your motivation?”

“I hate Dust.”

Liu Qingying admitted the truth openly and directly. “Madam Li should know that Ba Qiuchi, who had met a mysterious death, was a dear friend of mine. All these years, I’d been trying to find the truth behind her death. It wasn’t until recently that I learned that she was killed by Dust. I want to avenge Ba Qiuchi.”

Surnamed Li turned to Qilin. “That is true.”

Liu Qingying added, “If you’re willing to trade with me, I have something else I’d like to ask for.”

“Go on.” Qilin eyed her closely.

“Please bring Dead Pig from the Twelve Zodiac Signs, too.” Liu Qingying smiled bitterly. “He was Ba Qiuchi’s husband, and he hates Dust no less than I do.”

After a silent moment, Qilin looked up and said, “Please stay and rest for a while, Miss Liu. I’ll give you an answer before the day breaks.”