The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 742: Absolute Defense

That was the final step of Qing Ling’s plan.

She had learned from Gao Yang to consider not only her moves, but also the moves the enemies could make.

They had decoupled the train cars. Qilin must have guessed that it was the Nine Scions’ doing.

They would surely return to the train station in Zone D to intercept them given it was the only official channel out of North Harvest. Wang Zikai had punched Raven Shark and signaled that the NIne Scions had rescued Gao Xinxin to fool Qilin.

Wang Zikai never actually left North Harvest with Gao Xinxin. Only Qing Ling, Hong Xiaoxiao, and Ke Yo did. After some time, they could have Nainai head to North Harvest to give them a touch-up and bring them back.

Things went smoothly. They never got tracked or intercepted by Qilin the whole way. It seemed that Qilin thought playing hide-and-seek was beneath him. The man had left already.

It was ten o’clock in the morning. A warm sunny day.

Gao Yang, Nainai, Can, Chen Ying, Wang Weiyan, and Zhang Wei stood in the front yard of the mansion, waiting for Team Qing Ling to return.

Following Nine Frost to base, Qing Ling, Hong Xiaoxiao, and Ke Yo had heard from him what happened at the Starcatching Pavilion.

Objectively speaking, they got lucky. If they hadn’t been sent to Island Nation by Gao Yang, it was most likely that every one of them outside of Wang Zikai would’ve died without leaving a corpse behind.

Hong Xiaoxiao had been crying the whole way back.

Ke Yo joined Nine Scions not long ago and wasn’t that close to everyone, but she was still heartbroken. She tried her best to comfort Hong Xiaoxiao.

Qing Ling kept on a long face the whole way back without making any comment.

Now, Nine Frost was back with them.

Qing Ling spotted Gao Yang in the crowd at first glance. He had become thinner compared to three days ago, making the sharp lines of his face more pronounced. His face was pale and his eyes cold and dark. His longer hair was tied messily into a small ponytail.

He said simply, “Welcome back.”

Qing Ling nodded.

“Can...” Hong Xiaoxiao could no longer hold it in. She rushed up to throw her arms around Can, and Can lost it too. The girls bawled in each other’s embrace.

Zhang Wei’s eyes reddened again. He clenched his teeth to tamp down the urge to cry. He told himself that he shouldn’t turn his tears into a cheap thing.

“Where were they buried?” Qing Ling asked.

“The maple forest in the back.” Gao Yang turned around. “Follow me.”

Nine burial sites were lined up in the depths of the forest, each for Sha Ye, Herb Snail, Lithe Snake, Gray Bear, Little Tian, Chestnut, Empty Life, Shuang Shuang, Buzhou, and Wild Range.

There were no tombstones or epitaphs.

Before Sha Ye’s grave was the camellias Wang Weiyan had picked for her.

Before Herb Snail’s grave was about a dozen pebbles Zhang Wei had arranged into the number 6, the man’s last word to the world.

Before Lithe Snake’s grave was a Black Gold dagger. It was the weapon the man had gifted Gao Yang back in the Ni Nation desert. Gao Yang returned it to its original owner.

Before Gray Bear’s grave was a can of beer.

Before Little Tian’s grave rested a kite Chen Ying had made for him.

Before Chestnut’s grave was a toy car. She had always loved modifying cars before her death, but Zhang Wei couldn’t burn a car for her. The toy car would serve as a placeholder for now.

Before Empty Life’s grave was a book Zhang Wei had found in the study room in the mansion, titled In Search of Lost Time.

Shuang Shuang and Buzhou were buried together without anything laid before their grave; Chen Ying said that they would be content with each other’s company.

Before Wild Range’s grave was a pair of mountaineering boots.

Standing before the line of graves, they didn’t need any explanation to figure out who was buried where. It was self-evident.

Hong Xiaoxiao knelt between the graves that belonged to Lithe Snake and Gray Bear, losing her voice to silent sobs. After joining the Nine Scions, she had long considered everyone family. And in the family, her favorite person was Uncle Bear. He was just like the kind of relative in an extended family with the loudest voice and an inclination for boisterous time, always the one to start something.

She felt at ease with him around. Even when they were trying to find joy in misery, things were warm as long as he was there.

The others each mourned their losses.

After some time, a gust of chilling wind rustled the trees and their hair. Qing Ling, who had been silent, suddenly took a step forward and splayed her right hand, summoning the Black Gold dagger buried before Lithe Snake’s grave.

She handed it to Gao Yang. “Take this.”

Gao Yang accepted it after a moment of silence.

“What do we do now, Captain?” Qing Ling asked.

All eyes were suddenly on him. It was the question on everyone’s mind.

Gao Yang tightened his grip around the dagger Lithe Snake gifted him. In the chilling wind, the man’s voice seemed to linger.

“You’re the Divine Scion! The leader! Our boss!”

“Xiran, Ronnie, and Ghost Horse are all watching you. We’re all watching you too.”

Gao Yang closed his eyes.

[Access granted.]

[You have accumulated 1997 Luck points.]

—Comprehend a Guard-type Talent.

[Do you wish to spend 1920 Luck points to attempt a comprehension?]

—Yes.

[Comprehending...]

[Comprehending...]

[Comprehension succeeds!]

[Congratulations! You have comprehended Absolute Defense, serial number 9, the top Guard-type Talent.]

[Congratulations! Absolut Defense reaches level 3.]

[Congratulations! Absolute Defense breakthroughs to level 4.]

[Stats Bonuses of level 4 Absolute Defense: Constitution + 1200, Endurance + 1200, Charisma + 800.]

[Details: The Talent grants energy shields of different types and Absolute Barriers. There can only be one large Absolute Barrier at a time or three small Absolute Barriers. The barriers last 10 minutes with a cooldown of 1 hour.]

[Nothing may enter the barriers or make any in-depth investigation into something in the barriers. Whether the ones in the barriers may leave the barriers is decided by the Talent user.]

[Status Screen updated.]

[You now have 77 Luck points.]

[Constitution: 1640 Endurance: 1641]

[Strength: 1104 Agility: 1851]

[Willpower: 2003 Charisma: 2302]

[Luck: 2020]

[Absolute Defense Lv4]

[Teleportation Lv6]

[Replicate Lv6]

[Fire Lv6]

[Double Lv6]

[Psychic Armor Lv6]

[Lie Detection Lv4]

[Lucky Lv5]

[Access ends.]

...

Gao Yang opened his eyes. There was an inconspicuous flash of determined golden light in his gaze. He put Lithe Snake’s dagger into a sheath on his waist.

“The Nine Scions’ goal has never changed. Born in the dark, we chase the dawn.”

“But before that, there is a path we must walk, and blood we must get on our hands.”

“The Nine Scions, at attention.”

“Captain!”

The chorus of responses rang through the empty forest.

Gao Yang looked around at his companions. In a calm but determined tone, he uttered the words that had been in the depths of his heart.

“We avenge them.”

[End of Act 5 Part I]