The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 353: Ambushed

“Why?” Azure Dragon’s eyes twitched.

“It’s said that Joker was a conman before his awakening, and he had gone to jail for it. Moreover, he had been the deputy fourth team leader of the Hundred Rivers Union, and only after the former leader died of an unknown cause in a mission three years ago did he take over. He’s not to be trusted.”

Azure Dragon nodded slightly and didn’t make any comments.

Four Rainbow stopped talking about Joker. The car had gotten off the overpass.

Then Four Rainbow remembered something. He glanced up at the jade pendant hanging off the rearview mirror. His fiancee had gotten it for him as a safety charm.

“Elder Azure Dragon, although this may be a flag, if I don’t get through this alive, please...”

“Watch out!”

Azure Dragon quickly reached out and turned the steering wheel a fifth to the right.

The car made a sharp turn, narrowly avoiding a small sedan flying their way.

Clang!

The sedan hit the ground, sputtering sparks as it plowed through the road, slamming into the second car.

Bam!

The two cars collided. The larger black car knocked the small sedan into the curb, both crashing through the display window of a clothes shop.

...

Meanwhile, the two cars of Team War Tiger were speeding toward the Li City University in the Nanji District, where a pillar of blood was estimated to be.

In the leading car were the members of the Twelve Zodiac Signs.

White Rabbit was driving with War Tiger riding shotgun. In the back were Green Snake, Yellow Ox, Songstress, Dead Pig, Electric Mouse, Lovely Lamb, Mischievous Monkey, and Adept Horse.

In the other car were the ten members of the Hundred Rivers Union’s sixth team, led by Goldthread.

Sitting by Songstress, Lovely Lamb had fallen asleep with her head drooping. Usually, she would’ve been slumbering in her bed and already had a few dreams.

Scowling, White Rabbit said with her gaze fixed ahead, “I still think it’s a mistake to bring Lovely Lamb with us.”

With half a cigarette in his mouth, War Tiger said with narrowed eyes, “Lovely Lamb is still young, but her Talent is useful. With her and Dead Pig around, I can rest a little more easily.”

“But...”

“Rabbit,” War Tiger cut her off coldly. “Do you really think anyone is exempt from the fight tonight? If we all die, do you think Lovely Lamb would be able to live by hiding?”

White Rabbit fell silent. She knew he was right, but in her heart, she couldn’t accept the reality.

Lovely Lamb was so very young, yet she was forced to participate in a mission at this scale.

This fight would be much more dangerous and desperate than any other.

The air was heavy in the car.

Wu Dahai hooked an arm around Fat Jun’s neck. “Follow me closely, Adept Horse. Hear me? Your brother’s gonna protect you.”

“I, I’ll follow Teacher War Tiger.” Fat Jun looked away, feeling guilty.

“You bastard!” Wu Dahai raised his voice. “Don’t you trust me? Who’s gonna heal me when I get hurt if you don’t follow me?”

“Showing your true spot, Electric Mouse?” Officer Huang teased.

“Yes, I’m afraid of dying. Aren’t you?” Wu Dahai retorted.

“Ha.” Officer Huang didn't deem that a response but turned to the sleeping Lovely Lamb. “I’ll be protecting Lovely Lamb.”

“Pot calling kettle black,” Qing Ling made a comment suddenly while resting with her eyes closed, her hand holding her Tang Dao.

“Qing Ling!” Wu Dahai was moved. “That was for me, wasn’t it? I knew you cared about me!”

“Hoho, I believe Green Snake is ridiculing both of you if these old ears of mine are working right,” Mischievous Monkey said slowly.

“Sir Monkey, it’s rough, let live, okay?[1]” Wu Dahai grumbled.

“What?” Mischievous Monkey didn’t understand internet slang.

“Life is rough enough. Let him live in delusion,” Dead Pig explained in a nasal voice.

“Rough.” Mischievous Monkey felt the weight of the word on his tongue, his wrinkly face arranged into a tired smile. “Yes, life is rough.”

“Be careful! Enemies incoming!”

White Rabbit sounded a warning.

Instantly, they all tensed up, and Songstress woke Lovely Lamb. “Cute Little Lamb, wake up. Time to fight.”

“Hmph...” Lovely Lamb rubbed her eyes, reluctantly getting up.

White Rabbit slowed down the car, while War Tiger contacted Goldthread’s unit through radio.

Three figures appeared on the road, about a hundred meters away, too far to see clearly.

White Rabbit’s eyes twitched, noticing the blinding green light shooting from the figures’ heads.

“Freeriders,” War Tiger immediately recognized.

White Rabbit didn’t hear anything as her vision flashed, and three deadly green rays shot at them.

...

Botanical Garden, Beiyong District, 3:56 in the morning.

The two cars of Team Vermilion Bird sped through the road at full throttle, not slowing down even when facing the locked metal gates of the botanical garden.

Clang!

The leading car’s sturdy head slammed through the metal gates, allowing free entrance for the following car.

Inside was a large plot of land covered in a variety of flowers, beyond which was a gentle slope. The light beam was halfway up the slope.

In the leading car sat Elder Vermilion Bird and her subordinates—the sixth team—as well as three members of the Hundred Rivers Union. All three were Colorless’ people, from the Union’s first team.

Scarlet Fox, Protector and sixth team leader of the Guild, was the driver, while Vermilion Bird took the passenger seat.

“Almost there,” said Vermilion Bird.

“Yeah.” One hand holding onto the steering wheel, Scarlet Fox took out a bottle of perfume with his other hand and applied some to his wrist.

Vermilion Bird paused. It was her birthday gift to Scarlet Fox when they were in Naldives for a mission.

Scarlet Fox put the perfume away and glanced at Vermilion Bird, his expression calm but his gaze flickering with a hint of shyness. “It smells nice. I like it a lot.”

“You can always trust my taste,” Vermilion Bird said confidently.

“Elder Vermilion Bird.” Scarlet Fox spoke in a gentle, small voice as he stared at the road ahead. “There’s something I’ve always wanted to ask you...”

“I decline.”

“Elder...”

“Fine, fine, I’ll stop playing around.” Vermilion Bird got serious. “Go ahead.”

“Why did you save me then?”

“Huh?” Vermilion Bird was taken aback.

“I was like a walking dead at the time, and I refused to communicate with anyone. Moreover, my Talent stopped working.” Scarlet Fox was being earnest. “Why did you even bother with me?”

Vermilion Bird pursed her lips and thought for a few seconds, her tone serious and gentle. “I had a little brother. I loved him very much. However, I lost him to an accident. As soon as I saw you, I considered you my little brother and swore to take care of you until death.”

Scarlet Fox paused, his eyes reddening. Before he could say something, though, Vermilion Bird snorted.

“Haha, is that the story you’re fishing for?”

“Elder...” Scarlet Fox looked embarrassed and a little vexed. “That’s not funny at all!”

“I’ll have to disappoint you, Little Fox. I simply saved you out of curiosity. There had never been a case where an awakener lost their Talent after a serious trauma.”

She shrugged. “So me taking care of you and observing you every day was only part of my job.”

“That...so.” Scarlet Fox’s eyes dimmed.

1. The original, 人艰不拆 ren jian bu chai, is a shortened version of a line from Yoga Lin’s song, Fairy Tale, which basically means we don’t have to point out the hard truth when life is difficult as it is. ?

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