Chapter 616: Bottom Line

Chapter 616: Bottom Line

In the pantry, Qilin turned around to find Azure Dragon and Vermilion Bird already standing outside the door. Since the weather was getting cold, they were both wearing long windbreakers and scarves.

“Guildmaster.”

“Guildmaster.”

“Come on in.” Qilin walked out of the pantry, holding his cane with one hand and the tray with the other hand.

They sat down on the sofas in the counseling room and exchanged small talk, sipping on the coffee leisurely.

“Let’s start the meeting.”

Qilin got to business. Without Miss Qin here, there was no need to call this a group session anymore.

Azure Dragon first made his report. “Last night, my people found clues in the abandoned chemical plant on Apple Island.”

Vermilion Bird frowned slightly. “Isn't that where the thing with Black Tortoise happened?”

“Yes.” Azure Dragon nodded. “There was a private car and two bikes, all burned down. Judging by the remains of the bikes, it was a shared moped and a racing motorcycle. Inside the car were nine burned cellphones—or what’s left of them.”

“That’s them,” Vermilion Bird said.

“Yeah.” Azure Dragon glanced at Vermilion Bird. “I asked the intelligence department of the Hundred Rivers Union for help, and they found that the last person to rent the shared moped was Hong Xiaoxiao.”

Vermilion Bird’s face darkened. Although she had guessed that Hong Xiaoxiao had turned on her, she still found it humiliating when facing the truth.

“The motorcycle belonged to Seven Shadow’s friend, the special wanderer named Wang Zikai,” Azure Dragon continued. “He’s said to be strong. Crimson Bee and Forest Crane almost died at his hands when trying to catch Gao Xinxin.”

Qilin took a sip of his coffee quietly, his eyes glinting.

“The others who had lost contact include Gray Bear, Nine Frost, Lithe Snake, Can, Nainai, and Green Snake from the Twelve Zodiac Signs.” Azure Dragon’s eyes turned fierce. “They are likely to have defected with Seven Shadow.”

After a two-second pause, he said regretfully, “I’m not surprised about the others, but I didn’t expect Nainai to go with them. I’ve more or less raised her to be what she is today, and I’ve treated her well. Yet she betrayed me too...”

“No offense, you’ve trained and treated her kindly, but you’ve never really acknowledged her.” Vermilion Bird smiled bitterly. “That is what she needs.”

Azure Dragon paused before nodding. “I did find it difficult to communicate with her. I didn’t understand her, and I never tried to.”

Qilin didn’t say anything to that.

“Do you really want to bet on that?” Vermilion Bird frowned. “Do you want more chaos, Azure Dragon?”

Azure Dragon shook his head. “No. If possible, I wish for the three organizations to be at peace rather than at each other’s throats.”

“Same for me.” Qilin’s eyes were cold. “We’ll deal with Seven Shadow and acquire the Guard Rune Circuit first. Then we think about our next move.”

“Understood.”

“What about the Godbearer Cult?” Vermilion Bird asked.

“As long as they don’t start anything, we leave them alone for now,” Qilin said. “The Mist World is running out of time. Opening the Gates is more important than anything.”

“Of course.”

They talked about other work for another half an hour. After the meeting, Vermilion Bird rose to leave, and Qilin stopped her.

“Vermilion Bird, please give me a ride.”

“No problem. Is it far?” she asked. “If so, I’ll have to refuel the car first.”

“It’s not far,” Qilin said.

...

Ten minutes later, Vermilion Bird drove Qilin to the Anliang District. Folk music was playing in the car, while the two of them stayed silent.

Since they were near the destination, Vermilion Bird turned off the radio and said faintly, “The day Seven Shadow entered the abyss, he tried to recruit me, but I said no.”

She paused. “I didn’t expect things to turn out this serious.”

Qilin nodded, unsurprised. “Seven Shadow’s always wanted to go independent.”

“I’m not speaking for him,” Vermilion Bird said earnestly. “But I don’t think he started out with the plan to go independent. He just graduated from high school, and he’s been awakened for less than six months. He’s playing by the ear. Excuse the dramatics, but he’s been pushed along to where he is today by fate.”

“Vermilion Bird.” Qilin took off his glasses and sighed, his tone even. “You’re blaming me.”