The Creatures That We Are-Chapter 1120: Cry

At five in the morning, stars and moon made their quiet retreat. The deep black night softened to melancholy gray-blue. Dawn approached, but hadn't yet arrived.

In the luxurious yet desolate crimson palace, Wang Zikai lounged on Pride's throne overlooking the other seats. The blond young man reclined with one leg bent at the knee, hand resting there while the other tossed a thin rectangular gift box. Up it spun before falling back to his fingers.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.

After the seventh toss, Wang Zikai caught the box and stilled. With a twirl of his fingers, it vanished like a magic trick.

He looked up as a twin-tailed girl appeared. Six translucent wings stretched from her back, visible only to those who knew to look.

The wings scattered into air currents, lifting her hair and skirt hem. Now she looked no different from any high school girl heading to morning self-study.

She climbed the stairs, stopping at Wang Zikai's side.

“Saw your brother?” Wang Zikai asked with an amused smile.

“No,” Gao Xinxin said with disappointment. “The others are there, but not him.”

“Told you not to waste your effort. You can’t find him. Even if you do, you can’t kill him.”

“Why?” Gao Xinxin challenged defiantly.

“Because he’s mine to kill,” Wang Zikai said. “Then no one will be able to lay a finger on him.”

“Ha, what kind of reason is that?”

Wang Zikai narrowed his eyes with a confident smile. “Even fate has to make concessions for what I want. The moment I said so, the possibility of any of you killing Gao Yang vanished from your fates.”

“You think I’ll buy that?” Gao Xinxin shot him an upset glare and plopped herself down beside him.

After a moment of silence, Gao Xinxin said in a softer voice tinged with sadness, “Wang Zikai, do you think my brother’s avoiding me?”

“Possibly.”

“Why? I’m his sister. Does he not care about me anymore?” Gao Xinxin’s eyes sharpened with resentment and envy.

“He cares too much, I’d say.” Wang Zikai tugged at his lips, but it wasn’t a smile. “That’s why he’s scared of seeing you.”

“Why?” Gao Xinxin looked up, her gaze innocent in a way that transcended good and evil.

Wang Zikai held her eyes seriously. “Because humans don't know what terrible things they're capable of when facing someone they care about.”

“Humans are repulsive.”

“So we’ll eliminate humans and liberate them.”

Gao Xinxin nodded. “Okay.”

Wang Zikai ruffled her hair. She cocked her head and rested it on Wang Zikai’s shoulder, speaking pitifully, “Brother Kai...”

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“No, don’t even think about it,” Wang Zikai coldly interrupted.

Gao Xinxin immediately pushed him away and straightened up, pulling a long face and giving him the silent treatment.

Feeling guilty, Wang Zikai said in a softer tone, “Other than letting you kill your brother, I’ll promise you anything. I’ll even promise you the stars in the sky.”

“Why would I need a star?” Gao Xinxin cried out. “I’m Xinxin! I’m a star![1]”

Wang Zikai blinked, reminded of a memory from a simpler time.

Gao Xinxin stalked down the stairs and declared without turning around, “It’s better to take matters into my own hands! I’ll find Gao Yang one way or another!”

Six wings of air erupted from her slim back. She took flight with a whoosh, the currents rippling through the palace, stirring Wang Zikai's hair.

With a smile that never reached his eyes, he slumped back in his seat.

The rectangular gift box materialized in his hand. He tossed it and caught it.

He repeated the motion for another seven times. No more, no less.

...

Spectres’ Mansion, Xijing District, Li City.

Dawn broke over the forest, sunlight filtering through canopies to touch the cluster of barebone graves below. Dust motes danced in the golden rays, compelling one to hold their breath when approaching, lest the dust conjure faces of the deceased at the slightest disturbance.

A small white flower rested on White Rabbit’s grave. Dragon sat before it in a brown striped sweater and light-colored jeans, nursing a nearly empty mug of black coffee. He had been here the whole night. Many came to talk to him before leaving, evidenced by the shallow and deep footprints beside him, as well as the dozen of cigarette butts.

Another rustle announced the arrival of a slim young man in all black. Expression cool, he came over with a mug filled with steaming black coffee.

Gao Yang settled beside Dragon, offering the drink.

“Thank you.” Dragon took the offered cup and had a sip. His slightly dazed eyes regained focus. He said with a smile, “That’s the side effect of sleeping too long. I get drowsy easily and have to keep drinking coffee.”

He looked up at Gao Yang. “Don’t you want any?”

“Coffee is at the bottom of my list,” Gao Yang said calmly. “I can’t sleep at all.”

“Humans indeed differ in our wants and needs.” Dragon took another sip.

Gao Yang produced the Miracle Rune Circuit without a preamble. “This is for you, Captain.”

Dragon's eyes flickered to it, but he didn't reach out. “That’s it? I thought you would hand it to me with more dramatic flare.”

Remembering a moment in his past, Gao Yang smiled faintly. “I had thought Qilin would do it more formally when I asked to see the Miracle Rune Circuit, but he just showed it to me.”

“Well, many important turns of fate do appear unassuming when they happen.”

Dragon took the Rune Circuit from him.

Gao Yang asked, “How does it feel?”

Dragon inspected the Miracle Rune Circuit. “It feels not much different from the other Rune Circuits. Perhaps a little heavier.”

“Could be in your head,” Gao Yang joked.

Dragon was going to say something when his heterochromatic eyes contracted suddenly, and a tremor ripped through him. Black coffee spilled from his mug, only to swirl back inside a second later, pulled by some invisible force.

His expression smoothed as quickly as it had broken, as if nothing had happened. Yet a single tear traced down his cheek.

Gao Yang froze. Never had he imagined he would one day see Dragon cry.

1. It’s a recurring pun with her name sounding similar to xingxing, stars. ☜