The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 973: What to Fight for

“Why?” Crimson Bee asked.

“Colorless wasn’t the one to start the civil war,” Gao Yang set aside the snack and explained patiently. “There’s no unresolvable conflict between her and the Nine Scions, and there’s no bad blood between me and her. If we’re talking about casualties, you’ve lost more people. I’ll consider us even.”

“Veggie and Small Luo, both of you were involved in the disaster at the Starcatching Pavilion. If there’s someone the Nine Scions hate more, it would be you. But you’re still alive, aren’t you?”

Veggie and Small Luo ducked their heads simultaneously, emotions warring across their faces.

Gao Yang's calm smile never wavered. “Had Colorless surrendered genuinely, I wouldn’t have killed her, and the Nine Scions would’ve taken her in.”

Lin Fu lamented regretfully, lowering his ink brush. “Colorless didn’t have to die.”

“Wahhh—” Canary cried even harder in Veggie’s arms.

Gao Yang sighed softly. “That’s right.”

The others fell silent.

“However,” Gao Yang paused, “It was Colorless’ choice to give her life.”

“Yeah.” Lin Fu, with his years of experience, caught the underlying meaning immediately.

The others' confusion showed clearly on their faces.

“Colorless must have felt like she had no right to live, that she deserved death the most.” Gao Yang’s eyes darkened. “I understand. There was a time when I thought that way, too. While her decision was extreme...”

He gathered his thoughts before continuing, “There’s no right or wrong choice. A choice is only that, a choice. We all have our own path.”

“As expected of the leader of an organization,” said Crimson Bee. “Your perspective is different from that of a nobody like us.”

Wandering Tune echoed, “Lesson learned.”

“You flattered me.” Gao Yang looked around. “You should think about the path you’ve walked on. The Nine Scions and the Twelve Zodiac Signs aren’t going to threaten or hurt you, but we do not allow betrayal. If you decide to join us, there’s no turning around.”

The usually silent Harvest Song gave a slight nod. Then her eyes widened, and she leaped up, launching two cherry blossom shuriken at him.

Gao Yang's hand shot up, catching the hidden weapons between his long fingers.

“Holy!”

“Shit!”

“Fuck!”

“God!”

“Bark!”

The others finally realized his presence, starting and almost scattering like critters.

They soon calmed down and realized that there was no need for them to flee, though. If Gao Yang wanted to hurt them, they would’ve already been dead.

“Gao...” Wandering Tune corrected himself. “Master Gao, where did you get here?”

“I’ve been here a while. And call me Gao Yang. You may call me Captain if you join the Nine Scions.” He tossed the weapons back to Harvest Song with a faint smile. “Calm down. Have a seat.”

After arriving at the subway station, Gao Yang had activated level 4 Air Man, which he borrowed from Ting Ting. Given the buff from the Guard Rune Circuit and his high Willpower and Charisma, his Air Man was more effective than Ting Ting’s; no one noticed him when he approached.

As long as he didn’t break Air Man, the passive effect would last beyond Replicate’s use time, operating on the much longer storage time.

He ate snacks as he listened to them chat.

He only spoke up because he had to say something, but to his surprise, the others didn’t immediately realize.

Harvest Song was the first to notice that the leader of the Nine Scions was among them.

Following the shock, the atmosphere turned awkward.

It was like the head of a company masquerading as a janitor. And when a group of young men went to the company for an interview, talking about the head of the company in the break room, the man they were talking about took off his hat and said, “Hello, I’m him.”

After a silent moment, Gao Yang resumed the conversation.

“For necessary precaution, we’ve made you suffer for three days.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine!” Crimson Bee's demeanor shifted instantly to servile. “Teacher War Tiger put in so much effort to bring us to different places for team building every day, turning us into better versions of ourselves, reflecting on our mistakes—”

“Crimson Bee,” Gao Yang cut him off. “I prefer it when you are being defiant.”

Crimson Bee laughed awkwardly. “Captain Gao, I have the tendency to run my mouth. Please don’t take it personally.”

“Vermilion Bird holds you in positive regard. Don’t be nervous. Just be yourself.”

“Okay.” Relief flooded Crimson Bee's face as he exhaled deeply.

Gao Yang looked at the others. “We’ve all lost a lot during the fight at the Qingyang Bridge. We hate each other and dream about killing each other to avenge our companions. That’s to be expected. That means we’re humans.”

He paused, unflinching when the eyes shifted to him. “But we have to think long and hard about what we’re fighting for. If we don’t, we’ll be allowing hatred to blind us.”

“Colorless found her answer. That was why she didn’t become a slave for resentment. She told Qing Ling before death that she hoped to end the bloodshed and hatred with her. While she might not be a perfect leader, she was a real fighter.”

“She made her choice, and I made mine. Now, it’s your turn.”

“Nicely said!” Old Seven leaped up, throwing his baseball cap to the ground. “Brother Yang...pah, I mean, Captain Gao!”

“Just call me whatever.” Gao Yang smiled. “It’s just a name.”

“Alright! Brother Yang! I really...” Old Seven's face flushed as he stumbled over his words. “I don’t know what to say. Back then, I, Three Strings, and Zhang Wei really admired you. That night during the Crimson Tide, I even asked you for an autograph. You may not remember...”

“I remember,” Gao Yang said regretfully. “A shame that Three Strings’ marker ran out of ink.”

After a stunned moment, Old Seven’s eyes reddened and welled with tears.

“Brother Yang! You may not believe it, but never have I bought the claim that you were the Malediction! The past three days, Teacher War Tiger told us a lot of truth we didn’t know. All I can say is that Qilin is a real fucking bastard! Thank heaven I am given another chance to follow you, Brother Young...”

“I...I’ve always feared death, but now I realize that while I’m scared of dying, I’m even more scared of dying meaninglessly! First Firelord, Nomad, Jing Ke, Sister Ling, Musashi... They shouldn’t have had to die! They really...fucking shouldn’t have died like that...”

Old Seven could no longer continue. He choked, tears threatening to fall.

“Forget it...forget it...” He turned his back to the others, covering his face with chubby, scarred hands. He sobbed like a child.

Lin Fu sighed and turned to Gao Yang. “Count me in, Captain Gao.”

“And me,” said Wandering Tune.

“Me too!” Bumblebee's choice had been made the moment he learned Elder Vermilion Bird lived.

“Include me,” said Harvest Song.

“And me!”

“Don’t forget me!” n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

...

All had voiced their willingness to join.

“Captain Gao, have we...passed the test?” Rewind couldn't contain her anxiety. Sleep had eluded her these past days, her nights plagued by nightmares of Qilin turning them into puppets.

“Not yet, just one more thing,” Gao Yang said.

“Oh, right...” Rewind ducked her head, face flushing as she fidgeted with her hair.

“Why don’t we stay here for a few more days?” Wandering Tune suggested. “Wouldn’t want us to lead Qilin to the main base.”

“That won’t be a problem,” Gao Yang said assuredly. “It’s easier for me to protect everyone if we are all together.”

“Right! Captain Gao has Absolute Defense!” Small Luo said excitedly, remembering Elder White Tiger’s performance during the Crimson Tide. The man’s Absolute Defense had been level 3, yet he was able to protect everyone like a hero.

Gao Yang reached out his hands. “I need you to form a circle and link hands. That’ll be the last test.”

Confusion flickered across their faces, but they complied without hesitation. The circle formed around the bonfire, their joined hands casting intertwined shadows on the station floor. Orange light danced across their faces, reflecting the conviction burning in their eyes.

Three seconds passed in perfect stillness.

“Can the Nine Scions trust you?”

“Yes!”

Their unified response thundered through the empty subway station, echoing down the dark tunnel like a vow.