The Creatures That We Are-Chapter 1122: Unbecoming

“I talked to Vermilion Bird, War Tiger, and Nine Frost,” Gao Yang said calmly. “We have three options: kill her, lock her up, or throw her out.”

“Have you not considered cutting off her connection to Greed?” Dragon asked.

“That was our first thought,” Gao Yang said. “But to remove the bell, we have to kill Greed. It’s unlikely that we can sever the link from this side alone. Until then, we still need to lock her up.”

Dragon held his gaze. “What do you plan to do?”

“Lock her up first, then put it to a vote. Ke Yo’s one of ours. This isn’t a matter we can decide among a couple of people.”

“Have you considered that it won’t be fair to Ke Yo?”

“That’s what Vermilion Bird thinks.” Gao Yang looked down at the graves at his feet. “But letting the issue go unaddressed will be unfair to everyone.”

Visit freёnovelkiss.com for the 𝑏est n𝘰vel reading experience.

“Fairness to the many doesn’t always outweigh fairness to an individual.”

“I know.” Gao Yang nodded. “But the consequences of an individual’s decision shouldn’t be suffered by the many. We all have to take responsibility for our past.”

Dragon smiled approvingly. “You’ve grown, Dark Horse.”

“Grown,” Gao Yang repeated. “When I was little, I thought it was a compliment.”

“And now?”

“Now.” Gao Yang narrowed his eyes. “Who can say for sure?”

...

In the afternoon, the living room of the Spectres’ Mansion welcomed many visitors. It was quite clear that there wasn’t enough space. Some were standing or sitting on the floor. Everyone was here save for the unconscious Xiao Xin and Heavenly Dog, as well as Ke Yo.

Chen Ying and Nine Frost had learned their lesson. This time they maintained their watch from within the group rather than separate themselves. Then if anything seemed wrong, they would all notice.

Vermilion Bird and War Tiger resided over the meeting. They first explained the plan to “fold their power in half”—halving the number of combatants while doubling their power. After thirty minutes of discussion, they reached a consensus.

“Let’s vote,” Vermilion Bird announced. “Those who agree with the plan, raise your hand.”

Hands rose across the room in unanimous agreement.

Vermilion Bird’s eyes widened by a fraction. “I knew the proposal would pass, but I didn’t expect everyone to agree.”

War Tiger held an unlit cigarette between his lips. Since the place was packed, and there were children in the room, he didn’t light it. “Then it’s time to choose: stay or go. Those who want to keep fighting, stay. Those who want to return to normalcy, give your Talents to those who are staying with Vermilion Bird’s help.”

He winked at Qing Ling. “How about it, Green Snake? Consider retiring, trading your Talents to me...”

Qing Ling's silent gaze fell on War Tiger's Dragonslaying Giantsword. War Tiger shuddered, suddenly feeling like prey rather than predator.

He quickly changed his target, smiling at Liao Liao. “Le Le, don’t you love slacking? Why don’t you just have a long vacation and quit altogether?”

“Haha, you don’t understand, Uncle Tiger. Slacking is only fun when at work. A vacation is boring.”

Liao Liao maintained a respectful smile, but she fumed internally, I’m Liao Liao, not Le Le! And if the world were safe and peaceful, I would of course rather be a mundane person, but now? I feel safer with more tricks at my disposal.

War Tiger couldn’t let go. He shifted his heated gaze to Hong Xiaoxiao. “Little Hong Hong.”

“Huh?” Hong Xiaoxiao straightened up and stiffened like she was facing a predator.

“Your parents have put in a lot of effort to raise you to adulthood. Now that you’ve finally graduated from school, you should repay them. This is your chance to do that. You should seize it—”

“Uncle...Uncle Tiger!” Hong Xiaoxiao mustered the courage to speak up, “Thank you for your concern! But I’ve decided to stay and fight!”

“Why?” War Tiger asked, deflating.

Hong Xiaoxiao's cheeks reddened. “I just, I just want to fight!”

Because I have to do right by Can and Zhong He, Hong Xiaoxiao vowed silently, jaw clenched. I have to give it my all until the last second of my life. Only then can I face them in the afterlife.

War Tiger clicked his tongue. Then he turned to Nainai with a smirk. “Grandma[1], why don’t you...”

“Insolence! A mere mortal dares to covet the divine power of this Empress?” Nainai shot him down without hesitation, hands on her hip.

“You scrooges!” War Tiger raised his voice. “I’m not doing this for myself. It’s for the ultimate victory! Can’t you look at the bigger picture?”

“Then why don’t you give your Talents to Green Snake?” Gregor interrupted. “It’ll have the same effect.”

War Tiger opened his mouth and closed it.

Gregor huffed out a laugh. “Although Mark’s only your old man in name, it’s still against the mainstream morality for you to kill him. Won’t it be better to let Green Snake kill him for you? No moral dilemma. What a perfect plan.”

“You, you, you...”

“Enough already.” Vermilion Bird shot War Tiger a glare. “This is unbecoming. Stop getting on everyone’s nerves.”

“I, I, I—” War Tiger sputtered.

Vermilion Bird cut him off. “You each have two days to consider if you want to stay or become mundane. There’s no turning back once you make up your mind.”

“Those who want to become a regular human, you may decide to whom you’re giving your Talents. Or you can let me decide. I'll distribute them based on what's most optimal for the fight.”

She scanned the room. “Any questions?”

No one said anything.

“Alright, next on the agenda.” Vermilion Bird paused, her expression hardening. “Ke Yo is...in a special state. I locked her up in the basement for now, blocking and sealing the space.”

She turned to One Stone.

One Stone said with a tablet in her hand, “She’s still unconscious. I’ll get notified if she wakes up.”

Vermilion Bird nodded. “We locked up Ke Yo because she has a complicated connection to the Heavenly Godbearer—Greed. The death monsters were able to find us twice most likely through Ke Yo. Therefore, Ke Yo poses a great threat to us now.”

“Locking Ke Yo up isn’t a sure-fire way of eliminating the threat,” Nine Frost added seriously.

“That’s right.” War Tiger's face lost all trace of humor, turning savage and cold. “So, I suggest we kill her.”

1. This is War Tiger’s nickname for Nainai. Grandma is 奶奶 (nai-nai) in Mandarin. ☜