Chapter 909: Pay Double

Chapter 909: Pay Double

"Thanks for the compliment."

Gao Yang rested his head against the chair, eyes closing. "Wanna join the madman's organization?"

Liao Liao started, then understood. Of course Gao Yang had saved her for a reason. This wasn't charity.

"May I ask why?" she asked carefully.

"There are many reasons. Your ability, your smarts, your potential..." Gao Yang's voice carried unconcealed exhaustion. "What really convinced me, though, was something else."

"What is it?"

Gao Yang opened his eyes, offering her a small smile. "Looking at you, I feel like seeing my past self."

Liao Liao's heart clenched. Strange. Gao Yang saving her life hadn't moved her, but that single sentence struck deep.

Perhaps kindred spirits did exist. Perhaps she needn't be alone.

Perhaps she could find companions and meaning like Gao Yang had done. It would be wonderful to lead such a life before sweeping the tombs of those she disliked.

"You may leave or stay. Make your choice." Gao Yang's eyes closed again.

Liao Liao wrestled with herself.

Gao Yang's alright, but following him means a shortened lifespan. Just look at those around him.

But returning to the Ocean River Union isn't an option. Going unaffiliated... No, that would be even more dangerous in these chaotic times.

Think it through, Liao Liao. Weigh the pros and cons. One misstep leads to the abyss...

A weight suddenly fell on her shoulder.

She glanced sideways to find Gao Yang's head resting there. The train's curve had sent him sliding over in his exhausted sleep.

This wasn't a double. Gao Yang was weak, defenseless.

She could kill him in a second.

He was the prime target of the Ocean River Union and the Malediction, as prophesied by Surnamed Li. His death might end the civil war and save humanity.

Yeah, but what does all that have to do with me?

I only know that this man saved me at the risk of his life and fell asleep on my shoulder, like I'm a companion he can entrust his back to.

Fuck.

Liao Liao cursed herself before looking up with newfound determination. “Where are we heading, Dr. Jia?”

One Stone paused. "Of the enemy, we recovered Yellow Lotus, Thick Earth, and White Rabbit. The first two we restored. White Rabbit was beyond saving."

"And," she watched Qilin's back, "Dr. Jia was taken. Ting Ting and Cold Cicada escaped. They say it was Gao Yang."

"The others?" Qilin finally spoke.

"Wandering Tune called from the lab. It's burned, along with the bodies. The remains... need confirmation, but he believes they're Yan Liang, Qin You, 0618, and Void..."

Qilin fell silent once more. He said nothing, and he had kept his psychic power from leaking this time.

Yet One Stone noticed his figure growing colder and darker.

After a long stretch of silence, Qilin turned around with an impassive expression. “Where are the bodies?”

One Stone lowered her head reflexively. “By the riverbank.”

“Take me there.”

“Yes, sir.”

Qilin followed One Stone to a patch of green by the river. Under the moonlight lay nine relatively intact bodies, covered by bloodied white cloths.

Qilin stood among them and raised his hand, gesturing at the others to keep their distance. Then he closed his eyes.

One Stone sensed a strange energy radiating from him. It chilled her to the bones and made her skin crawl. It felt like getting caught by a viper and spiderwebs while getting sucked on by leeches. She paled and shuddered, moving another ten meters backward to join the others.

A minute later, the insidious energy faded.

The wind halted. The air stilled. Suddenly, glowing green lit up for everybody.

Qilin opened his left eye. It looked like an emerald at the pitch-black bottom of a lake.

Clack. His cane struck the ground.

The bodies rose, white cloths falling away. In the moonlight, the wind blew once more, and the dead puppets turned toward their master, eyes flickering green.

Qilin faced his surviving followers.

"I, Qilin, hereby make an oath!"

"No drop of blood shed tonight will be in vain. Our humiliation and hatred will be paid back twofold."

"No one will take us down. No one will stop humanity from moving forward."

He raised his fist to the sky. "For survival!"

"For survival! For survival! For survival..."