The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 932: Away with the Misfortune

Ting Ting froze. Despite the steaming bath, ice seemed to crystallize in her veins.

"No, please..."

"Turn around and crouch lower." One Stone's voice left no room for argument.

A few seconds passed before Ting Ting complied, tears mixing with bathwater. She sank until only her head remained above water, her hair spreading like dark seaweed across the surface. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

One Stone got closer to her. The ripples lapped at Ting Ting’s nape.

“Don’t, don’t kill me... I don’t want to die...”

Horrific images flashed through her mind: One Stone forcing her head under until the bubbles stopped, a silenced gunshot turning the water crimson, One Stone emerging afterward as calmly as stepping out of a shower...

None of these horrors materialized.

Instead, One Stone's hands settled on her head, methodically working through her hair as if searching for something. Through tear-blurred vision, understanding dawned on Ting Ting: She's checking my hair. The strip search, the bath—she was making sure I’m clear!

“It’s okay now.” One Stone’s voice softened. “You don’t have a Puppeteer brand on you. There’s no bug or other suspicious energy brand, either. You’re clean.”

Ting Ting's sobs continued, but her violent trembling subsided. Slowly, she turned to face One Stone.

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A shrewd smile played across One Stone's features, tinged with resignation. "You didn't actually believe I could make resurrection pills, did you?"

"You... can't?" Ting Ting hiccupped between sobs.

"Dr. Jia gave me the method, that much is true, but my personal best was reaching page three before falling asleep."

"So the bath was..."

"To ensure we were both clean." One Stone's bitter smile deepened. "Ting Ting, if even you could sense something was wrong, how could I not see it?"

She stared into the rising steam. "I stayed, thinking I could save people. What a joke. I can't save anyone."

"Qilin and Surnamed Li have lost themselves completely. The Ocean River Union is a runaway train heading for disaster. Stay aboard, and we die with it."

Ting Ting gaped at her.

"What? Did I say something strange?"

Ting Ting shook her head violently, fresh tears spilling over. She buried her face in her hands, shoulders shaking. "You... really... scared me... to death..."

"It was necessary." One Stone squeezed her shoulder gently. "How else could I be sure Qilin hadn't gotten to you? But it's over now. We're both clean."

"Yeah..." Ting Ting's sobs gradually quieted. "What now, Sister One Stone? Where can we go?"

"First," One Stone's lips curved mysteriously, "we finish this bath. Wash away the old year's misfortunes and welcome the new."

...

Inpatient Building, Third Hospital, night.

The first-floor lobby was bright with festive lights and decorations. Dozens of patients occupied the rows of stools, their faces turned toward the projection screen with expressions ranging from intense focus to vacant stares, quiet tears to endless muttering.

The New Year's Gala had been playing for some time when the familiar voice rang out: "Dear viewers, I've missed you..."

The familiar greeting sparked a wave of cheers. Shared memories pulled even the most withdrawn patients into moments of connection, their applause and chatter filling the room.

More than twenty "medical personnel" dotted the space, either standing, sitting, or crouching. Most wore distant expressions, lost in their own thoughts.

None had imagined spending Lunar New Year's Eve in a mental hospital.

In the office at the corridor's end, Qilin sat with Surnamed Li.

"One Stone and Ting Ting never reached White Lake Hotel," Surnamed Li reported from her wheelchair, regret evident in her voice. "Colorless tracked them to a bathhouse. They disposed of their clothes. They're gone."

"Ah."

Qilin nodded, unsurprised. The Nine Scions' challenge and Vermilion Bird's condition must have swayed One Stone. And Ting Ting probably ran for Liao Liao—her body being missing from Dr. Jia's burned laboratory suggested she lived. Whether she'd joined the Nine Scions, fled, or vanished would become clear soon enough.

But that wasn't what concerned him most.

“Have you merged with the Rune Circuit, Madam Li?”

Surnamed Li shook her head.

Qilin held her gaze. “What’s going on?”

“I don’t know.” Surnamed Li frowned. “I got a new skill from Prophet, yet I still cannot merge with the Rune Circuit.”

The skill had come after the Qingyang Bridge battle, appearing in her sleep. It was unprecedented—new skills typically accompanied level increases, and she'd already received Prophet's level 7 ability. She'd assumed it heralded her imminent merging with the Knowledge Rune Circuit.

Prophet dealt in futures, after all. An early skill grant seemed plausible. Or perhaps the Heavenly Way's weakening grip had compromised its own rules.

Yet a week had passed without any sign of her merging or resonance with the Circuit.

Qilin couldn't explain it either. Each Circuit had its quirks; the Miracle Circuit granted far more privileges than others. Perhaps Knowledge had its own requirements.

“Let’s not dwell on it,” Qilin said. “We proceed as planned.”

Surnamed Li nodded.

Qilin reached for his desk phone. His secretary, Wandering Tune, answered promptly.

“Have Rain River come to my office. Tell her to bring it to me. She’ll know what I’m talking about.” After a pause, Qilin added, “And tell Sunny to come after twenty minutes.”

“Yes, sir.” Wandering Tune hung up.

Two minutes later, there was a knock.

“Come on in.”

Rain River, blond-haired and wearing a nurse outfit, walked in. She was short and petite with a youthful face, but her temperament was mature and steadfast.

“Guildmaster, Deputy Guildmaster,” Rain River greeted respectfully.

“Did you bring it?” Qilin asked.

“Yeah.” Rain River took two steps forward and laid down the leather medical kit in her hand. She opened it and took four things out.