The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 590: Smoking Friend

He listed the Talents, “Lucky, Painter, Flake Out. Given the name, Flake Out seems the most likely to be a Talent for resurrection.”

“Flake Out, serial number 195, Knowledge-type.” Vermilion Bird’s eyes glinted. “No, that’s not right. Resurrection should be the ability of a Life-type or Miracle-type Talent. Even a Time-Space-type barely fits the criteria.”

“Think outside the box, Vermilion Bird,” said Azure Dragon. “There are limitless possibilities. For example, Madam Wu’s Strong, Buff-type. If she had reached machine ascension and thus gained immortality, it could be considered a form of resurrection too. Take Knowledge-type as another example, if Dr. Jia, with Genius, succeeds in developing true resurrection pills, that’s another means to the same end.”

“You’re right.” Vermilion Bird nodded.

“Let’s stop the guessing game here.” Qilin concluded the meeting. “We\'ll only learn the truth from Luqi himself. Be careful from now on. Our priority is to help Seven Shadow acquire the Guard Rune Circuit from the abyss and open the Gates of Closure as soon as possible.”

“Understood.” Azure Dragon and Vermilion Bird nodded.

“Speaking of Seven Shadow.” Qilin’s gaze darkened. “I’m not sure if I’m being paranoid. I feel like he’s changed. It’s become more difficult for me to understand him.”

“I feel the same,” Azure Dragon chimed in. “I considered him a good colleague. Bold yet shrewd, but he did live by certain principles. Now, though, I feel like he’s getting ideas.”

“He lost his grandmother, parents, and a team member. It’s a great blow to him. Seven Shadow’s always been the sentimental type.” Vermilion Bird sighed. “I think he’s reconsidering his path going forward.”

She said with an edge of complaint in her tone, “You choosing not to save him back in Island Nation must have hurt him, too, Guildmaster.”

Qilin let out a bitter laugh. “In that, I did use him, and he has every right to hold a grudge for that. However, I thought Seven Shadow was someone with a broader perspective.”

He shook his head and sighed. “I’d like to avoid being his enemy, if possible. Outside of Dragon, he’s the greatest threat.”

Vermilion Bird hid her surprise. If Qilin said that to her and Azure Dragon, he must have become deeply wary of Seven Shadow.

The thought that they could become bitter enemies gave Vermilion Bird a pang of lamentation.

She thought back to the time she had spent with Seven Shadow, and her mind settled on a specific moment they had shared: late at night, Gao Yang had asked Vermilion Bird for a cigarette after a call. He looked exhausted then, as well as sad and lost.

She was suddenly feeling regretful. She should’ve given him a cigarette.

In this damn world, it wasn’t a bad thing to have another tender soul as a smoking friend.

“Azure Dragon.” Qilin decided on the future arrangements after a brief moment of consideration. “Seven Shadow’s strong. Luqi may not succeed in killing him. Still, to be safe, we should assign more people to keep an eye on him.”

“The tracking bracelet is already an eyesore to him. Is it really right to have more eyes on him?” Vermilion Bird was worried. “Let’s not push him to a corner.”

“What about assigning members of the fifth team?” Azure Dragon suggested.

“That’ll work,” said Vermilion Bird. “He’ll feel better with friends.”

“That’s it then.” Qilin came to a decision. “We take the bracelet off and send people to protect him instead. You’ll decide on the members, Azure Dragon.”

Azure Dragon nodded. “Leave it to me.”

“Thank you. No accident shall happen before we help Seven Shadow acquire the Guard Rune Circuit.” Qilin rose to his feet and knocked on the floor with his cane. “You’re dismissed.”

...

Let Life be Beautiful like Summer Flowers, the Sunfacing Road in the Daxu District, early in the morning.

The morning saw a thin fog permeating the city. A sprinkler drove through, and the damp road reflected large patches of the warm red light of the rising sun.

A delicate beauty was watering the potted plants outside the flower shop with a watering can, dressed in a beige oversized sweater, straight-leg jeans, and a brown apron.

The green light came up across the road. A tall, slim woman crossed the crosswalk and headed to the flower shop. She was wearing a white short tweed jacket and a long black coat with a straight cut, her light gray hair tied into braids and resting on her left chest from the back of her head. Her pearl earrings were bright. Her style was muted in general, but the details were eye-catching.

While bending down to water the plants, Songstress heard footsteps approaching. She tucked a strand of long hair behind her ear and looked up, breaking into a smile. “Miss Liu, are you here for some flowers?”

Liu Qingying returned the smile. “I am.”

“White lilies again?”

“Yes, I’d like a bouquet, please.”

On the same day every year, Liu Qingying would buy a bouquet at Songstress’ shop and then visit a long-lost friend in the Taiping Bridge Cemetery.

Liu Qingying took out her phone to make the payment when a large, tall shadow loomed over her like a mountain. Then the nasal voice of a man said, “And a bouquet of white roses for me.”

Liu Qingying didn’t even have to turn around to know that it was Dead Pig.

“A moment.” Songstress wasn’t surprised at all. She walked inside with a smile. “I was wondering where you were, but you showed up.”

“It’s been a while, Sister Liu.” It was deep into autumn, but Dead Pig didn’t seem bothered by the chill at all. He wore a custom-made gray linen shirt and black linen shorts, walking on a pair of thick wooden sandals.

Liu Qingying roasted him in the softest voice, “How did you become even fatter, Dead Pig?”

“Haha, it’s unavoidable going into middle age.” Dead Pig was entirely unfazed, his tone still pleasant.

“You’ll end up not fitting into an elevator alone.”

“I’ll work on losing weight. Starting from tomorrow.” Dead Pig was still smiling. He had said that a million times.

They had been friends for years. As they exchanged barbs, Songstress returned with two bouquets. One of white roses, for Dead pig, and the other of white lilies, for Liu Qingying.

They took the flowers and headed to the nearest subway station without a word, as if they had rehearsed it.