The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 335: Visiting Old Friends

Gao Yang thought about it and made a bold guess. “Perhaps the destruction of the world won’t be the actual end, and things will start anew.”

“Like a computer rebooting?” Vermilion Bird proposed an analogy.

“Ah, that’s the pattern the universe follows, isn’t it?” White Tiger said. “The Big Bang would be followed by the Big Crunch. Rinse and repeat.”

Azure Dragon turned to Qilin, coming up with a possibility. “According to the doctrines of the Godbearer Cult, the Heavenly Way will reach its end, and the world will be reduced to nothingness in its doom. Only those who believe in the Heavenly Godbearer may meet salvation, entering the blissful otherworld through the Gates of Closure, the only way out.”

“It seems the doctrines aren’t completely baseless, but supported by some facts.” Vermilion Bird leaned down, resting a thumb on her lower lip. “No wonder Black Tortoise willingly did the Cult’s bidding and acted as a spy in the Guild.”

“It’s all for survival.” Azure Dragon said pensively. “It’s just that everyone survives in different ways.”

A silence followed. They pondered on their own, their thoughts straying without a clear aim.

Clack.

Qilin knocked on the floor with his cane to break everyone out of their reverie.

“Friends, our priority now is still to face the Crimson Tide. Once we overcome it, we’ll have two years to figure things out. Everything will be meaningless if we can’t survive the immediate crisis.”

“Agreed,” said Azure Dragon.

“Dragon, Surnamed Li, and I have reached an agreement,” said Qilin. “Before the Crimson Tide hits, all awakeners, including members of the three major organizations and the friendly unaffiliated individuals, will gather in the White Tiger branch so that we may face our enemies together and make preparations.”

“Guildmaster,” Gao Yang said worriedly. “There may be some among the pride monsters who can make wide-range attacks. It’s going to be dangerous for all of us to stay together.”

White Tiger smiled. “Hoho, Brother Seven Shadow, have you forgotten about me?”

Gao Yang paused. Right, White Tiger’s the Chief of Security. He must have an impressive Talent.

“Can I tell him, Guildmaster?” White Tiger glanced at Qilin.

“Go ahead. He’s one of ours.”

“My Talent is Absolute Defense, serial number 9, the top Guard-type Talent. Although it’s only level 3 at the moment, it’s sufficient.”

White Tiger smiled as he explained. “One of my abilities is to create a safe barrier that will cover the whole floor. It cannot be destroyed, and it can be moved. Nothing can get in from the outside, but what’s inside can go out.”

“Not even the blood fog can get through?” Gao Yang thought about the fog that was supposed to ignore all rules.

“Haha, it can’t,” White Tiger said with pride.

“That good?” Gao Yang admitted that he was envious. As someone who valued his life, it was his dream Talent.

“There are a lot of restrictions though. For one, the duration is short. I can only make it last 10 minutes before I have to rest for an hour. Still, it should be enough in case of a large-range attack as you mentioned.”

He continued, “I’ll have a member with sensory and detection ability stand watch. As soon as a threat is detected, I’ll put up the protective barrier.”

“Now I understand.”

Gao Yang nodded with relief, lamenting in his mind, It’s a shame that his Absolute Defense is kept at level 3 since the Guard Rune Circuit hasn’t been found.

If White Tiger’s Talent could reach, say, level 7, perhaps he would be able to keep up the barrier for hours. Then he could rest during the day and put up the barrier during the night, allowing them to all survive the Crimson Tide by holing up together.

“White Tiger is our last line of defense, meant to make sure that the enemies wouldn’t get us in one fell swoop.” Qilin broke Gao Yang from his overly idealistic daydream.

“To change fate, we must make a proactive move,” Azure Dragon added.

“That’s right.” Qilin nodded and turned to the four Elders. “All of you will be our core combatants. Please do prepare yourselves for taking the final stand.”

“Understood.” They answered together.

...

The second last day before the Crimson Tide would arrive, Gao Yang woke up early.

Seven o’clock in the morning, he left home and took a ride to the flower shop on the Sunfacing Road in the Daxu District, Let Life be Beautiful like Summer Flowers.

He opened the door to find Songstress, dressed neatly in a gardening apron with her tied hair resting on her left shoulder, making a bouquet of roses in the shop.

“Welcome. Have a look.” Songstress was focused on the work at hand and didn’t look up, her profile beautiful and gentle.

“I’m here for some flowers.”

Recognizing his voice, Songstress paused and then looked up with a smile. “Ah, dear customer. What are you looking for?”

Although she was smiling, there was a flash of loneliness and sorrow in her eyes.

Gao Yang knew his visit had dredged up memories of a particular someone.

“I’m visiting friends who have passed away. Do you have a recommendation?”

“For men or women?” Songstress asked in a natural tone.

“Both.”

After a pause, Songstress said with a smile, “For men, I’d recommend white chrysanthemums, forget-me-nots, or baby’s breaths. For women, I’d recommend carnations, tulips, or lilies. Of course, you may also consider their favorite flowers before their passing. Offering flowers is about the heart, not the conventions.”

Gao Yang thought for a while. “Please give me a bouquet of white chrysanthemums, baby’s breaths, and lilies each.”

Songstress was momentarily taken aback. She didn’t expect Gao Yang to buy three bouquets.

“Of course. A moment, please.”

...

At around eight o’clock, Gao Yang arrived at the Taiping Bridge Cemetery.

The air was refreshing in the morning, and the coolness of the previous night lingered in the breeze sweeping over the mountain range.

Gao Yang climbed up the mountain halfway holding three bouquets of flowers with both hands. Traversing the rugged rocky path, he found Li Weiwei’s tomb.

The girl in the photo was pretty and gentle, her smile vibrant like flowers.

Gao Yang placed the lilies on her tomb.

“I’m sorry, Li Weiwei, for not visiting you until now,” Gao Yang said with grief and regret. “So many things have happened during the past few months.”

Before awakening, he and Li Weiwei had been childhood friends who talked about anything and everything, yet now, even though he should have a lot to share with her, the words were stuck in his throat.

After half a minute of silence, Gao Yang smiled resignedly. “Anyhow, I’ve been well. I’ll visit you again if there’s a next time.”

He rose to his feet and walked in the opposite direction for a while, taking the other side of the fork to find Wan Sisi’s tomb.

This time, he offered the baby’s breaths.

He stared at the photo on the tomb. The girl was smiling shyly, her gaze equally bashful.

Gao Yang felt a dull pain in his heart.