The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 258: Support Group

“Ask.” Driving, Vermilion Bird cast her gaze on the road ahead.

“Before, you said that body number 4 died in the Crimson Tide too, most likely killed by a Spectre or a pride monster.”

Vermilion Bird nodded. “Yeah.”

“How did number 4 run into the pride monster?” Gao Yang frowned slightly. “Do pride monsters lure awakeners out with trickery as well?”

“Probably not.”

Vermilion Bird tugged at her lips with a complicated look on her face. “I questioned number 4’s body. He was lured away by a greed monster. Confident in himself, he easily dealt with the greed monster going after his ‘family’. Unfortunately, he encountered a stronger enemy on his way back to base and didn’t survive it.”

“Um.” Gao Yang wasn’t sure what to feel. “So number 4 just got unlucky. He ran into a pride monster roaming about, and the pride monster happened to be a shadowstalker.”

“Likely so.”

Vermilion Bird slightly narrowed her eyes. “It was speculated that there are no more than 15 pride monsters in the world, half of them are shadowstalkers, while the other half are lightbringers and observers. If there weren’t check and balance between different factions, awakeners would be in even greater danger.”

“I get it now.” Gao Yang grasped the gist of her explanation. “During the seven days of the Crimson Tide, pride monsters are the greatest threat to awakeners, but unless you seek out danger actively, it should be unlikely for you to run into one.”

“Yes.” Vermilion Bird nodded before adding, “There is another source of threat, though—the Spectres.”

Gao Yang paused. He almost forgot about them.

“The seven days of the Crimson Tide is when the Spectres most actively kill awakeners.”

“Aren’t Spectres awakeners too?” Gao Yang asked. “Don’t elite monsters attack them?”

“We are more or less certain that while the Spectres are in a different camp from high-ranking monsters, they stay out of each other’s way.”

She turned to glance at Gao Yang. “By the way, do you know why Spectres go after awakeners? You’re now entitled to the information.”

Gao Yang had gotten the answer from Fresh Snow, but he pretended to not know and shook his head.

“It’s because the Spectres feed on awakeners’ energy.” Vermilion Bird’s eyes flickered. “It’s easier to think of them as vampires.”

“Oh, so that’s what they are!” Gao Yang affected a surprised tone and added a flattery. “That’s a perfect analogy, Sister Xia!”

“Yeah. Regarding the Spectres, the Guild has learned and confirmed a few things.”

“First, it’s a small group, the number of members only in the single-digit.”

“Second, Spectres seem to be a little weaker than pride monsters in general, but there may be stronger ones among them.”

“Third, awakeners are food to Spectres, and by feeding on awakeners, Spectres can extend their lifespan and increase their power.”

“Four, Spectres don’t just feed on people without control. Quite the contrary, they are disciplined in the endeavor, preferring awakeners with high-ranking Talents in particular. On average, they only feed once every two years.”

“Five, during a Crimson Tide, Spectres are stronger and more eager to hunt.”

Gao Yang listened quietly and said in a disappointed tone, “So you don’t know where they come from?”

Vermilion Bird smiled. “We don’t, but we’ve made some progress. It’s all thanks to you.”

Gao Yang caught on immediately. “The Godbearer Cult?”

“Yeah. I questioned Black Tortoise’s body. Although I only got one minute, I gathered quite a lot of information, including some about the Spectres.”

“What did you learn?”

“I can’t tell you the details since they haven’t yet been confirmed.” Vermilion Bird gave him a lopsided smile. “Just know that the Spectres and the Godbearer Cult have been working together over the years.”

Gao Yang didn’t press.

Vermilion Bird sighed. “The Guild was planning on putting more effort into investigating and eliminating the Godbearer Cult, but the Crimson Tide coming early throws a wrench in the plan. How does the saying go again? Sunny days never last, but when it rains, it pours?”

Gao Yang glanced at Vermilion Bird and said tentatively, “Is it just me, or did you sound excited when you said that, Sister Xia?”

“Seven Shadow!” Vermilion Bird pushed him on the shoulder. “You don’t have to announce everything you notice, alright?”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Vermilion Bird brushed her bang aside. “Hey, do you think I’m a terrible person?”

“Why?”

“I found life boring and always looked forward to something to happen, but whenever something did happen, people died in large numbers. To those who simply want to lead a peaceful life, I must be the worst.”

Gao Yang gave it a good thought and said honestly, “The world won’t allow us to live in peace forever. It’s better to make a move proactively than falling under the mercy of others.”

Vermilion Bird perked up and gave him an approving wink. “You know me well, Seven Shadow!”

...

Blue House Psychiatric Clinic, 19th floor, 343 Li River Central Road.

When Gao Yang and Vermilion Bird entered the office building, it was the lunch break. Office workers went downstairs to get food in droves, filling the elevators and leaving no room for them to get on. Gao Yang and Vermilion Bird chose to climb the stairs. As awakeners, they were able to easily make it to the nineteenth floor without their breathing going even a little rougher.

They opened the glass door to the clinic. The metal wind chimes clinked pleasantly.

Miss Qin, the receptionist, was nowhere to be seen. She must have gone downstairs for lunch too.

“Doctor Su, are you there?” Vermilion Bird called out toward the treatment room politely.

Doctor Su responded from the other side of the door, “We’ve been waiting for you. Come on in.”

Vermilion Bird and Gao Yang exchanged a glance before pushing the door open and entering.

In the brightly-lit therapy room, Doctor Su still looked like the typical psychiatrist with his gentle and scholarly demeanor. He was sitting on the sofa at the head with his cane resting on the side.

On the rectangular sofa on his left sat two men, both maskless.

One sat in a perfect posture with no smile on his face, dressed in a thin gray windbreaker. He was tall, wide, and strongly-built, looking like an experienced fighter.

Based on his physique, Gao Yang guessed that he was Elder Azure Dragon.

He looked to be in his forties, his eyes sharp and shrewd. His facial features were sculpted, and his face covered in a circle beard. His presence alone demanded respect even when he didn’t show any emotion.

He resembled Gao Yang’s mental image of a guildmaster more than Doctor Su.

The middle-aged man sitting by Elder Azure Dragon appeared more approachable. He looked to be in his forties as well, but he had an average build and a slight beer belly.

He was dressed in a soccer jersey and shorts with blue stripes and a pair of white socks and sneakers. Around his neck was a damp towel. It looked like he had just walked out of a soccer field.

His hair was thin and cut close to the scalp. On his round face was a pair of small, piercing eyes, a chubby nose, and thick lips, resembling a comedy movie star.

He looked up at Gao Yang and Vermilion Bird, speaking in a friendly tone like he was making small talk. “Little Xia, Little Shadow, here you are.”

For a moment, Gao Yang almost thought the man was an elderly relative of his, and this was a simple family meeting.

Who would’ve thought that Elder White Tiger of the Qilin Guild, the man in charge of security, would be so down to earth?

“Guildmaster, Elder White Tiger, Elder Azure Dragon.” Gao Yang nodded slightly and greeted them one by one.

Vermilion Bird, on the other hand, seemed right at home. She sat down on the sofa across from the two Elders and patted the seat next to her. “Relax, Seven Shadow.”

Gao Yang sat down next to her.

And now, all core members of the Qilin Guild had arrived.

Doctor Su’s shoulders tilted to one side. Holding his cane with one hand and propping his head with his other hand, he spoke up in a rich, gentle voice.

“Now that we’re all here, let’s start the group support session.”

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