The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 750: Eight Years Old

“I’m staying too,” Cold Cicada said at a deliberate pace. Despite his youthful appearance, he held himself like an elderly—and he was an elderly. The conflict was striking. “I agree with Sunny. We shall face the changing world by being constant.”

“I...” Quiet Book glanced at Zhong He and mustered her courage. “If Team Leader will take me, I’m going.”

That left Harvest Song. She had always been a quiet and concise one. Feeling everyone’s gazes on her, she looked up slightly and said with determination, “I’m not leaving.”

No one was surprised by her decision.

When Surnamed Li agreed to the merging of the Hundred Rivers Union and the Qilin Guild, one of her conditions was that after the establishment of the Ocean River Union, they must find and kill Dust. It was to investigate the Godbearer Cult and to avenge Ba Qiuchi, Green Tea, and Goldthread. It was something that must be done sooner rather than later.

Harvest Song wanted to avenge Goldthread. Ironically, Harvest Song would be stabbing Goldthread’s body if she were to kill Dust.

She knew that if she joined the Twelve Zodiac Signs, she would lose her chance for revenge. The Zodiacs didn’t have enough reason or incentive to go after Dust.

The round of census ended. Those who would like to go to the Zodiacs or were at least interested in it were Lying Wood, Yellow Lotus, Muzitu, Deep Earth, and Quiet Book.

Those who were staying were Harvest Song, Cold Cicada, Sunny, Void, and Tall Sky.

They all turned to Zhong He, waiting for him to give the final say.

Zhong He maintained a poker face.

Suddenly, he scoffed. “You didn’t take it seriously, did you?”

Lying Wood paused, swallowing down words.

Zhong He stood up with hands on his knees. “I told you before that I don’t make a good leader. I’ve made up my mind to be unaffiliated. Consider this a simple chat. We’ve talked about this many times before.”

“Old Zhong...” Yellow Lotus stood up too.

“Lotus.” Zhong He shot her an icy stare. “I won’t stop you if you’re resigning, but think about it carefully. Do you know what will happen to unaffiliated awakeners in a chaotic world? I won’t be taking care of a weak one like you.”

“You...” Yellow Lotus was going to say something when Lying Woord grabbed her.

“Drop it, Lotus.”

“Goodbye, everyone, and take care.”

With his back to everyone, Zhong He waved a hand and walked away without turning around.

...

Abandoned amusement park, Nanji District, the next afternoon.

It was a rare sunny day in winter. White clouds decorated the blue sky, and the sun bathed everything in warm light.

With her hair tied into two buns, Lovely Lamb was dressed in a short white shirt with squarish collars and a traditional pleated skirt, the clothes pretty and warm. She looked like a young fairy from ancient times.

Riding a wooden horse of the merry-go-round with White Rabbit, she laughed joyously. Behind her, there was Heavenly Dog. And even further back was Dead Pig. He’d been quietly pushing the merry-go-round. With the electricity cut off in the abandoned amusement park, Dead Pig had to put in the work and use his brute strength.

At that moment, they really missed Wu Dahai...and his Electricity.

It was Lovely Lamb’s eighth birthday. She asked White Rabbit, Heavenly Dog, and Dead Pig to celebrate it with her.

It was dangerous for too many awakeners to gather around. After some agonizing, White Rabbit decided to take Lovely Lamb to this abandoned amusement park even though it was far from good enough.

Lovely Lamb wasn’t picky, though. She was happy as long as the others were with her.

“Alright, alright,” White Rabbit hollered. “We’ve been going in circles for ten minutes. Let Dead Pig have a break.”

“Okay!” Lovely Lamb nodded.

White Rabbit jumped off the horse with Lovely Lamb in her arms. Heavenly Dog followed suit.

Dead Pig was wearing his usual cyan linen shirt and shorts—he never dressed to the season. Chuckling, he came up to them and said in a nasal voice, “Cute Little Lamb can ride the merry-go-round for as long as she wants.”

“Uncle Dead Pig, I want to ride the Ferris wheel!” White Rabbit glanced at Heavenly Dog.

Without missing a beat, Heavenly Dog picked up Lovely Lamb and placed her on his shoulders, flying toward the Ferris wheel.

Dead Pig and White Rabbit looked up at them, steeping in their thoughts.

Dead Pig said, “Lovely Lamb’s grown up without us realizing. She’s now eight.”

“Yeah.”

White Rabbit thought back to the way Lovely Lamb entered their life. She had been abandoned at the door to Ghost Horse’s flat when she was one year old. At midnight, Ghost Horse woke up to the wailing of a baby. He was shocked when he opened the door.

Ghost Horse should’ve taken the baby to an orphanage, but as a special agent, he was cautious by nature, and he tested her with Telepathy first. The baby could receive his psychic wave, which meant that she was human.

It was clear that whoever abandoned the baby was an awakener and sought him out on purpose. They knew that Ghost Horse’s Telepathy would allow him to tell humans from monsters, and they wished that Ghost Horse and the Twelve Zodiac Signs would take the baby in.

Ghost Horse took the baby back to base. War Tiger put the decision to take in the child to vote, and all voted yes.

In the beginning, they were prepared for Lovely Lamb’s awakener parents to seek her out. As time went by, however, they slowly forgot about it and treated Lovely Lamb like their family.

Now, Lovely Lamb was the Twelve Zodiac Signs’ child. Even if her biological parents did show up, they would not let her be taken away.

Ring.

White Rabbit’s phone rang. It was a video call.

She picked up. Fat Jun was standing in a bakery. He had styled his hair today, and he looked more spirited in a casual gray suit.

He quickly moved the camera to the cake cabinet. “Look, Sister Rabbit. There are chocolate cakes, baked cheesecakes, ice cream cakes, cream fruit cakes, milk cakes...”

“Cream fruit cake,” White Rabbit interjected. “Although Cute Little Lamb loves ice cream, she’ll have diarrhea if she has it in this cold weather.”

“Okay.”

“I’m hanging up if there’s nothing else.”

“Okay, okay. I’ll be right there.”

White Rabbit hung up.

“Did Adept Horse lose weight?” Dead Pig asked while chuckling. There was a hint of envy in his voice.

“That so?” White Rabbit thought back to it. “Seems like it. Or maybe he looks thinner in the video chat.”

“Haha, I heard that Adept Horse has been seeking War Tiger out for training, and he specifically asked for training that would help him lose weight in addition to making him stronger.”

“He’s motivated.” White Rabbit raised an eyebrow.

“Rabbit.” Dead Pig laughed. “Stop playing dumb. Who do you think he’s working so hard for? If you don’t like him, don’t give him false hope. A honey trap is a double-edged sword. Both of you will end up hurt.”

“You’re not HR, Dead Pig, and you don’t know how much pressure I’m under. I can’t sleep. My hair’s soon gonna all fall off.” White Rabbit sighed and grumbled.

“You can’t keep those who are leaving, and you can’t drive away those who want to stay,” Dead Pig advised her seriously. “You’ll know once you’re my age that one shouldn’t obsess over what to do in many matters, but follow where things are going.”

White Rabbit nodded bemusedly. “Yeah. I’ll talk to Adept Horse.”