The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 706: Swallow Up

Headquarters of Hundred Rivers Union, Nanji District, one o’clock in the morning.

Outside the meeting room, Little Tian and Liao Liao both had their Talents activated to watch the surroundings and make sure there were no enemies around—which wasn’t necessary.

“How old are you going to be this year, Little Tian?” Liao Liao couldn’t help but tease a child when she saw an obedient and cute one.

“I’m turning seven,” Little Tian said happily. Chen Ying promised to take him to the Di amusement park on his birthday. That was what he had been most looking forward to recently.

“Got a girlfriend?” Liao Liao smirked.

Little Tian shook his head bashfully.

“You should.” Liao Liao spat out lies without thinking. “When I was your age, I had already gone through many boyfriends...”

Little Tian laughed. “You’re lying. Brother Zhang Wei told me that Sister Liao Liao had been solo since birth...”

Liao Liao’s smirk stiffened.

Ugh, my face itches. It’s gonna turn into a raging mask...

“What does Zhang Wei know?” Liao Liao insisted. “Sister...”

“No way!”

A shocked growl rang from the meeting room. Liao Liao and Little Tian jumped, their face going stiff. They both had a bad feeling about what was happening.

Meanwhile, in the meeting room, Zhong He slammed the table and shot to his feet, glaring at Yan Liang from across the table. “Only in your dream, Yan Liang!”

Elder Yan Liang from the Qilin Guild had suddenly visited tonight, asking for a meeting without giving the Union the chance to reject.

Surnamed Li called Chen Ying, Colorless, and Zhong He—the new sixth team leader—to receive Yan Liang together, asking Little Tian and Liao Liao to stay on watch outside.

It was Zhong He’s first time attending such a meeting as a team leader, and he couldn’t maintain his composure when the bombshell dropped.

Chen Ying had a dark look on her face, too, but she tried to cool Zhong He down. “Calm yourself...”

“How?!” Zhong He got even more worked up. “He made it clear! He wants to swallow up the Union by force!”

“Zhong He.” Surnamed Li made an order. “Sit down.”

Only then did he control his temper and reluctantly sit down.

“Haha, he’s young and hotheaded.” Yan Liang smiled under his mask and spoke like a tolerant elder addressing a young one. “Madam Li, you’ve led your organization well. Everyone at the Union has a backbone. I like that.”

Colorless crossed her arms with an impassive expression, suppressing an eye roll. You like that? What gives you the right to judge us? You think you’re entitled to?

“Elder Yan Liang.” Chen Ying chose her words carefully. “Do you mean what you said?”

“I do.” Yan Liang was blunt. “And I’m being earnest.”

He turned to Surnamed Li and said seriously, “The Qilin Guild hopes to merge with the Hundred Rivers Union. If you don’t like the name the Qilin Guild, we may keep the name the Hundred Rivers Union.”

“Surnamed Li will be the deputy guildmaster for the time being, and in all guild matters, she has the right to veto a proposal and to directly order all Elders.”

“The team leaders will be promoted to Elders, and the human resources will be reallocated so that every Elder has enough manpower in a fight.”

“And if you’d like, Madam Li, you may be the guildmaster after the Nine Scions is destroyed. You’ll be in charge of all Rune Circuits in our possession, too.”

The meeting room fell silent.

Zhong He’s anger evaporated, replaced by utter befuddlement.

Yan Liang wasn’t here to swallow up the Hundred Rivers Union, but to join them.

Why does it feel like a rich young lady marrying herself to a poor boy with valuable dowry and fanfare?

Still, Zhong He came to a realization after only a few seconds. Ha, no matter how he sweetens up the deal, the Hundred Rivers Union will no longer be in charge once we merge with the Guild.

“Elder Yang Liang,” Colorless couldn’t help but chime in with a scoff. “I find no fault in you, but...”

“But?” Yan Liang asked.

“You’re disingenuous.”

Yan Liang chuckled. “I know you won’t believe me. To tell you the truth, Qilin and I don’t covet power. We started the Qilin Guild for one thing, opening the Gates of Closure.”

“Let’s put it simply.” Yan Liang showed his card. “As long as you allow Qilin to open the Gates after the twelve Rune Circuits are gathered, we’re willing to make any concession.”

“Talk all you want.” Zhong He scowled. “Who knows if we’ll be in charge then? Once you have the twelve Rune Circuits, how are we going to be your match? Then you’re free to do whatever you want.”

The meeting room fell silent again.

While Zhong He was blunt, he had voiced what the Union members were thinking; a promise a wolf made to a lamb couldn’t be trusted.

After a moment of silence, Yan Liang shook his head and sighed. “Use your brain, young man.”

“You...”

Chen Ying grabbed Zhong He to stop him from acting up.

“If Qilin wanted the three Rune Circuits, he would’ve taken them,” Yan Liang said. “During the Crimson Tide, Qilin was strong enough to easily defeat Lilia. Would any of you say with confidence that you could take her down?”

Colorless’ and Zhong He’s faces darkened.

Chen Ying didn’t react. She wasn’t a fighter and didn’t feel humiliated at all. It was a compliment to even be compared to Lilia.

“You should know that Elder Vermilion Bird could triple someone’s power with Equivalent Exchange for 90 seconds.”

After an intentional pause, Yan Liang continued, “With all of you together, do you think you can endure Qilin’s tripled Eidos for 10 seconds?”

Zhong He didn’t back down. “We...”

“Do you want to say that you can hide?” Yan Liang cut him off. “The Mist World is only this big. The fish in the water, the animals on the ground, the plants and trees, the reflective surfaces. There are many hidden eyes of the Guild where you can’t even imagine.”

“Some may slip through the cracks, but we’ll find all members of the Union sooner or later.”

Before Zhong He could argue, Yan Liang said, “Do you want to say that you can hide in the underground base, that this is a safe sanctuary for you?”

Yan Liang laughed hoarsely. “Let me tell you something. With his power tripled, Azure Dragon can turn this place into a giant pit at full power, and your base will be gone in seconds. If all of the members are gathered here, it’ll save us the trouble of looking for you.”

Zhong He stares with his mouth agape. Every response Yan Liang gave clutched his heart like an invisible hand.

“I don’t mean to threaten you,” Yan Liang said in a softer voice. “I simply want you to understand that it’ll be as easy as flipping a hand for the Qilin Guild to take the Rune Circuits from you. Even in this dire situation, however, the Guild shows you as much respect as we can and follows the rules only because of Qilin’s kindness. You should be thankful that he is kind.”

“Haha.” Yan Liang’s gaze turned icy under the mask. “Were I Qilin, you would've been long dead.”