The Creatures That We Are-Chapter 1094: Verbal Sparring

“What is it?” Chen Ying asked.

“That the living will never catch up with the dead.”

Chen Ying nodded. “I’ve heard something similar.”

Nine Frost continued, “The members of the fourth team are dead. Whether I avenge them won’t change that. It only sounds noble to say I want to give their souls peace. At the end of the day, revenge is merely for myself.”

He turned to Chen Ying. “Have you really moved on after avenging Little Tian, Chen Ying?”

Eyes reddening, Chen Ying shook her head. “No, but it’s becoming easier now.”

Nine Frost nodded. “At the end of the day, revenge is a selfish need.”

“What’s wrong with that?” Chen Ying didn’t understand. “If you can’t even take care of yourself, how are you going to take care of others?”

Nine Frost explained earnestly, “You misunderstood me, Chen Ying. I’m selfish as well, and I will have my revenge if the opportunity presents itself.”

Chen Ying’s brows remained furrowed.

Nine Frost said with determination, “But it’s said that the dead should never outweigh the living.”

Chen Ying stared at him.

“So the companions around me are always more important than the ones I’ve lost.” He glanced at her before looking at the bonfire in the distance. Backlit figures could be seen sitting around it.

“If I have to choose between avenging the dead and protecting the living, I’ll always choose the latter.”

Chen Ying turned away and sniffed, hiding the tears brimming her eyes in the darkness.

After a while, she turned back calmly and met Nine Frost’s glinting light green eyes. “Nine Frost, take me with you when you’re having your revenge.”

“Why?” Nine Frost asked.

“I want to help. Because...” Chen Ying’s eyes blazed as she said gently, “You’re someone I want to protect.”

“Thank you.” Nine Frost responded seriously. “But no promises.”

“Why?”

“Who I’ll take will depend on our strategy, and your Talents aren’t good for the frontline.”

Chen Ying’s smile stilled. She suppressed an eye roll.

You stupid dense man!

...

Meanwhile, Hong Xiaoxiao and Liao Liao sat by the bonfire. Hong Xiaoxiao perched on a jacket with a blanket around her shoulders, legs tucked in. She sipped coffee latte from a thermos—a habit she'd picked up from Liao Liao.

The hot drink warmed her body and flushed her cheeks, yet she didn't feel the relaxation she'd known during previous breaks.

After a moment of melancholy, she turned to Liao Liao. “Do you still have family, Sister Liao Liao?”

Liao Liao used her legs as a desk to write on her notepad, head lowered. “Nah.”

“Oh.” Hong Xiaoxiao cupped the thermos and looked down at her sneakers. “I’m not sure how to feel now.”

“Speak,” Liao Liao responded without stopping her pen.

“How do I put it?” Hong Xiaoxiao bit her lower lip, searching for the right words. “I didn’t expect monsters to be humans. My family is my family.”

“You should have listened more closely, girlie. Mr. Baili said that the two aren’t simply equated.”

“Yeah, I know.” Hong Xiaoxiao pursed her lips bitterly. “My current family isn’t real. They may be the amalgamation of many humans who should’ve existed. Their love for me is also the love of those who should’ve existed have for their children, right?”

“Well...” Liao Liao thought for a few seconds. “I think so.”

Hong Xiaoxiao smiled. “Then perhaps the collective love contains the love my real family has for me, yes?”

“Perhaps.”

“I don’t know what I’m talking about anymore.” Hong Xiaoxiao hugged her knees and buried her reddened face against them, her hands, cast in the warm firelight, tightening on her clothes.

“You’re just missing home,” Liao Liao said.

“Yeah...” Hong Xiaoxiao’s voice cracked a little. “I-I miss my parents, my grandpa, my brother... They still believe I’m on a work trip in the West Nation... It’s been many days since I contacted them. They can’t reach me. They must be worried. My mom tends to overthink. Maybe she thinks something has happened to me and has called the police... In the end, they will all disappear. I’ll never be able to repay them for raising me. I can’t even say goodbye to them properly...”

Liao Liao lowered her pen and sighed, staring at the fire wordlessly.

After a while, she offered gently, “Hong Xiaoxiao, they don’t just disappear. They simply return to the many lives that should’ve existed. They will continue to be in this world, with all of us.”

“Really?” Hong Xiaoxiao looked up, her face already covered in tears.

“Really.” Liao Liao chuckled. “But only if we humans win.”

“Yeah!” Hong Xiaoxiao nodded vehemently.

Liao Liao clicked her tongue. “You are an optimistic one. Haven’t you heard Mr. Baili? All previous rounds failed. Can we really turn things around? That should be your concern, shouldn’t it?”

“I’m not that worried.” Hong Xiaoxiao shook her head and smiled easily. “I don’t know. It’s just that Captain Gao Yang’s amazing, Mr. Baili’s amazing, everyone’s amazing. There will be a way. I’m just a little cog. I only have to do my part.”

Liao Liao laughed and pinched Hong Xiaoxiao’s face. “You’re wise with your little head.”

“Stop teasing me.” Hong Xiaoxiao rubbed her cheek.

Liao Liao smiled and picked up her notepad again.

Curious, Hong Xiaoxiao leaned in to check it. Liao Liao’s handwriting was neat and well-organized with numerous annotations. As expected of a genius student.

“Sister Liao Liao, you’re smart yet so diligent,” Hong Xiaoxiao said with admiration.

“A bad note is still more useful than a good memory.” Liao Liao chuckled. “Besides, Heavenly Dog’s going to be asleep for a long time. Once he wakes up, I can just show him the notes. I don’t have to catch him up.”

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“Oh!” Hong Xiaoxiao’s eyes glinted. With a smirk, she said, “You’ve got ulterior motives, Sister Liao Liao! Didn’t expect Heavenly Dog to be your type.”

Liao Liao closed the notepad with a thud and deliberately put on a lecherous smile. “Who doesn’t like a young stud? Pure-hearted, a nice voice, easy to dominate and tame. I can give him a few bites when I’m in a good mood and punish him with whips and candles when in a bad mood...”

“You, you, you’re doing it again!” Hong Xiaoxiao blushed. She was already picturing the scandalous scenes in her head. She quickly shot to her feet and rushed toward the underground laboratory. “I’m going to the toilet.”

Liao Liao watched her leave, feeling satisfied. Ha, you’re not going to make me blush!

A familiar laugh interrupted her thoughts. Liao Liao whirled around with wide eyes. War Tiger had been crouching behind her at some point, here to grab a beer from the box. He’d approached just in time to hear Liao Liao’s scandalous words.

“Didn’t expect you to be into that, Liao Liao.”

“No!” Liao Liao flushed red. “Uncle Tiger, it’s not what you think!”

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure to relay every word of passion to Heavenly Dog once he wakes up...”

“Stop, let me explain, Uncle Tiger... Don’t go! Listen to me... Ugh, kill me! Kill me now!”