The Creatures that We Are

War Tiger stood up and cast the cigarette butt at the wall, sending a sputter of sparks.

“From now on, the competition between organizations for talents, resources, and influence will gradually reach a plateau, and it’s only a matter of time before the civil war breaks out. All three of you are new blood with great potential, and you know quite a lot of secrets about our organization. I cannot allow you to join the Qilin Guild, or you’ll become a great risk for us.”

“Is the Prophecy of Seven really true?” Officer Huang asked, unable to accept it. “We’re all awakeners, and we’re after the same goal. Why can’t we overcome the difficulties together?”

“And who told you that we shared a goal?” War Tiger asked.

Officer Huang was silent.

“You’re a cop, Yellow Ox. How can you know less about human nature and desires than Wu Dahai?”

Officer Huang smiled wryly in the dark. “How can I not know? I know it all too well.”

He simply didn’t want to face reality. He was going to be a father. Even though the world was already a hellish place, he hoped for it to be a little less harsh for his child.

“Pull your head out of the sand and discard your wishful thinking. Be ready to fight.” War Tiger raised his voice. “The Twelve Zodiac Signs will not be the first to open fire, but we will not be the first to get hit. Since you’ve chosen where your allegiance lies, you will stay true and steadfast. Got it?”

War Tiger then said, “There’s another reason I asked you to come.”

“What is it?” asked Gao Yang.

“Among the three of you,” War Tiger said in a low voice. “At least one will join the Qilin Guild.”

“What?” Officer Huang was caught off guard, but it didn’t take long for him to figure out what the man was suggesting. “Do you want one of us to be…”

“A spy,” Gao Yang spelled it out for him.

“Yes,” War Tiger said. “We’ll seize this chance to plant someone in the Qilin Guild.”

Officer Huang sucked in a breath. “You’re asking us to go on a suicide mission, Teacher War Tiger! It’s the Qilin Guild we’re talking about!”

It hadn’t been long since the matter with Ghost Horse was settled.

Although he was an enemy, he served as a good example for them. He had been laying low with great caution for so many years, yet he still ended up exposed.

It would only be more difficult to be a spy in the Qilin Guild. Rather than walking on highwire, it would be akin to walking on a strand of hair.

“I’m not going. If you want me to go, I’d rather you kill me now.” Officer Huang didn’t even bother to think of an excuse.

“I’m not going either.” Qing Ling was also determined. “I want to get stronger.”

“How about you, Yang Yang?”

Don’t call me Yang Yang. Every time you use the cringy nickname, it’s because of something bad.

Gao Yang swallowed his words and after some deliberation, he decided it was too much of a risk to play spy. “I don’t wanna go either.”

“Alright,” War Tiger said like he had expected their answers. “I admit it is a little too much.”

“How about this? You won’t be a spy. Simply stay in the Qilin Guild and observe. When you’ve gained the trust of the Guild and when the right time comes, you’ll decide if you’re gonna play the proper role of a spy.”

“If the right time never comes?” Gao Yang asked.

“Two options.” War Tiger extended two fingers. “First, resign and come back to the Twelve Zodiac Signs. Second, continue to lay low and wait for the right time to come.”

War Tiger continued, “Bottom line is we must have someone planted in the Qilin Guild. It’s fine if you don’t act as a spy, but you will be our eyes and ears.”

Officer Huang thought for a moment before shaking his head. “I’m sorry, Teacher. My answer is still no.”

“I’ll go,” said Gao Yang.

“Gao Yang!” Officer Huang called out in surprise. “Are you out of your mind? This is not a joke!”

“I’m not out of my mind. I’ve thought things through.” Gao Yang smiled at Qing Ling and Officer Huang. “You stay with Qing Ling. I won’t be a spy, but I’ll be an observer in the Qilin Guild.”

Gao Yang agreed because he recalled the mission Dragon gave him. For some reason, he had a feeling that the mission had something to do with this.

Qing Ling had talked to Gao Yang about it in the morning, so she wasn’t too surprised by his decision, and she didn’t say anything.

“Little Yang Yang.” War Tiger patted him on the shoulder. “I’ll miss you, for real. But truth be told, you are the best candidate.”

“To play this role, you need to be brave and strategic, and you must know to be patient and lurk around like a worm. You are a grade A lurker.”

Gao Yang suppressed a snort. Was that supposed to be a compliment?

“But let me be clear about one thing. I’ll be an observer and nothing else,” Gao Yang said. “You can’t force me to do any espionage. I’m not stealing confidential documents, assassinating people, or collaborating with your mission on the inside.”

“Don’t worry.” War Tiger made him a promise. “The Qilin Guild is a rival of ours rather than an enemy. It won’t come to that just yet.”

Gao Yang joked, “Alright. I’ll consider this a training period at a big corporation.”

“Good,” War Tiger said approvingly. “You have to look at the bright side.”

“When am I going?”

“You’re a highschool student and have to go to class during the day. How about tomorrow evening? I’ll give you a ride.”

“That soon?”

Gao Yang was surprised. He had thought he would be given a few days for some training and maybe swear an oath. Then he would have a proper send-off with his companions. After all, there was no telling when he would get to return.

He didn’t expect War Tiger to so decisively give him away tomorrow.

“Soon?” War Tiger shook his head with a smile. “Others have been setting up the board before the Prophecy of the Seven was even known. We’re lagging behind way too much. It’s time for us to adjust our rule to not make a move until a move is made against us.”

…

With awakening came a boost in stamina. It wasn’t a big problem to skip sleep for a night.

Gao Yang, Qing Ling, and Officer Huang were in no mood to go home and retire to bed.

When the dawn was going to break, they went to the Sixth Deafman Beef Noodle.

They each ordered a bowl of beef rice noodle with fried egg and dug in. Halfway through the meal, Officer Huang put away his chopsticks and said disapprovingly, “I still think you’re being too rash, Gao Yang. If all three of us stood our ground earlier, War Tiger wouldn’t have forced us.”

Qing Ling didn’t say anything, but it was clear from the little change in her expression that she agreed with Officer Huang.

“Maybe so.”

Gao Yang laid down his chopsticks as well. He couldn’t tell them about the secret mission from Dragon, so he opted to give them an awkward smile. “Do you remember what you said before, Officer Huang?”

“What?”

“You said that I was dangerous, and that staying near me would bring an early death.”

Officer Huang smiled wryly. “I didn’t mean it seriously. Why would you take it to heart?”

“Because you may be right.” Gao Yang thought of Li Weiwei, Wan Sisi, and Old Wang.

A wave of sadness crept up to him. “I’m afraid we won’t get to eat rice noodles together after this.”

“Nonsense!” Officer Huang cheered him up. “The support of an organization is temporary, while companions are for forever. Remember, we are on the same boat no matter where you are.”

Touched, Gao Yang nodded in response.

Then for the first time since he knew them, he advised them like an adult would a child, “Keep close to War Tiger, Qing Ling, Officer Huang. Take care of yourselves and stay alert.”

Qing Ling’s hands stopped for a moment with noodles between her chopsticks, and she said with steel in her voice, “Worry about yourself.”

Gao Yang said self-deprecatingly, “Don’t worry. As War Tiger said, I’m a grade A lurker.”

Qing Ling dropped her chopsticks suddenly and looked up to meet his eyes.

“What?” Gao Yang felt self-conscious under her scrutiny. He wondered if he had gotten something on his face.

Then Qing Ling quickly took off the Twin Bracelet on her wrist and handed it to him. “Take it.”

Gao Yang asked after a pause, “What?”

“It’s useless to me,” Qing Ling said. “I don’t have the money to pay you back, so I’ll give you this for the debt.”

“Ah, right.” Gao Yang took the bracelet. He could still feel the lingering warmth from Qing Ling.

“Don’t die.” That was all Qing Ling said before going back to her rice noodles.

“Roger that.” Gao Yang nodded with a smile and put on the bracelet.

Houseau3's Thoughts

Isn't that just spy with extra steps...?

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