Chapter 1162: Period

Nine Frost quietly looked at Chen Ying.

Chen Ying turned to Adept Horse and Harvest Song with a worried expression. “Although the power concentration plan made us substantially stronger, and we’ve prepared for tonight’s fight, we are still objectively speaking the weakest team, yet we’re facing Greed, who may be second only to Envy and Pride.”

“Greed is strong in its rule-based ability rather than its fighting ability,” Nine Frost said.

“I know. That’s why we have a better chance by using our intelligence against Greed.” Chen Ying still sounded frayed with nerves. “But intelligence-wise, we still...aren’t that remarkable.”

Nine Frost nodded. “Only Captain and Dragon could counter Greed perfectly, but they have more important things to do. And if they are the ones after Greed, Greed may not even show up.”

Chen Ying smiled bitterly. “I know. It’s just that...” She shook her head. “Nothing. It won’t help to go into it.”

“We should trust Captain,” Nine Frost said with determination. “But more so we should trust ourselves.”

“Yeah.” Chen Ying nodded. Although there was little basis, Nine Frost’s words eased her quite a lot.

Cool night wind glid along the shimmering water and rustled Chen Ying’s long hair. Black strands obscured her vision. She reflexively tucked her hair behind her ear.

Nine Frost’s eyes sharpened. He went up to brush Chen Ying’s hair aside and found a small red dot on her neck. It looked like a needle had pricked the skin.

“Where is this from?” Nine Frost asked.

Chen Ying blinked and touched the spot. “What do you mean?”

“Adept Horse!” Nine Frost called out urgently.

Adept Horse jumped and landed beside them.

Nine Frost explained, “Chen Ying seems injured on her neck. Check it.”

Adept Horse’s face darkened. He placed his right hand, which was wearing an enchanted glove, on the small red dot on Chen Ying’s neck. It flickered with a soft green light.

He sighed in relief after a while, retracting his hand. “She’s not injured internally, and there’s no foreign energy in her. Her energy pathway is stable, too.”

“Are you sure?” Nine Frost asked.

“Yes,” Adept Horse said with certainty.

“You’re too nervous, Frost.” Chen Ying chuckled. “It may be a mosquito bite.”

“I’ve overthought it,” Nine Frost said. “Sorry.”

“Why would you apologize?” Touched, Chen Ying grabbed Nine Frost’s hand. “You’re worried about me.”

Adept Horse cleared his throat. “I’ll be going if there’s nothing else.”

“Go!” Chen Ying hugged Nine Frost’s arm and flashed him a smile with her head cocked. “Let us have a private moment for a little longer.”

Adept Horse chuckled. He moved to turn away, but stopped himself.

A sharp caw came from above them. Soon, a crow landed on Nine Frost’s shoulder. Its black body and black eyes seemed to contain something insidious.

Chen Ying’s smile stiffened. When she realized it, she had already let go of Nine Frost’s arm.

Her heart sank for a reason she didn’t understand. Perhaps the crow’s ominous appearance had doused her enthusiasm, or the wind of fate had caught her off guard.

The crow cawed once more.

Expression icy, Nine Frost said in a low voice, “Something’s sighted. We’re heading to the Apple Island.”

...

Green Mountain, Shanqing District.

Atop the silent mountain peak, night wind swept over the observation deck Vermilion Bird, White Dew, and Zhang Wei were occupying. They looked down at the sparkling city below.

Standing on a marble pillar of the railing, Zhang Wei shouted at the city with his hands around his mouth, “Lust! Come on out! I’ll have my revenge for you taking my love from me! Only one of us will walk out from this fight tonight!”

Vermilion Bird and White Dew stood behind him, eyeing him with three parts indifference and seven parts derision. Although Zhang Wei insisted that he was trying to rile the death monster up to locate her, Vermilion Bird and White Dew believed that Zhang Wei was doing it more to vent his frustration.

Under the moonlight, White Dew’s silver hair framed her beautiful face and crimson eyes. Wearing a quaint black dress and long white laced gloves, she looked regal and dignified.

“When is the idiot going to stop shouting?” she asked.

Vermilion Bird was dressed in a checkered shirt and jeans. Under the baseball cap, her longer curls were tied into a ponytail. She didn’t have any makeup on save for the vibrant lipstick. She took one last drag against the night wind before putting the lipstick-stained cigarette out on the lid of the trashcan.

“No idea, but it’s going to be the 20th soon.”

White Dew looked at Zhang Wei and said pityingly, “Why deceive himself? Even without Lust’s interference, Chen Ying wouldn’t have picked him.”

Vermilion Bird laughed. “Some people will rather lose to an enemy than to himself.”

White Dew snorted. “Right. A defeat against an enemy can be avenged, but a defeat against himself is just that, a defeat.”

Beep

. Raven Shark’s awkward, nervous voice came from the radio: “Elder Vermilion Bird...the Qingyang Bridge... Signs of a death monster spotted...”

Raven Shark was part of Team Vermilion Bird, but Vermilion Bird had him hide in the water to search a larger area for the death monsters. Finally, they made some progress.

“Don’t make any move. We’ll be right there!”

Vermilion Bird ended the call, a fleeting fear flashing through her eyes.

She took a deep breath and shouted with feigned nonchalance, “Hey, Fighter of Love, let’s go have your revenge!”

...

Neighborhood around the great Anliang market, Anliang District.

A car inched along the road at night. Gregor was driving with Mischievous Monkey in the passenger seat, Dead Pig and Lovely Lamb in the back.

Although this wasn’t Lovely Lamb’s first time joining a fight, it was her first time being so involved. She had been especially awake this morning.

That tired her and made her fall asleep after dinner. She only woke up thirty minutes ago, bursting into tears after dreaming about Uncle Ghost Horse and Sister White Rabbit.

Dead Pig awkwardly comforted her for a long time until she finally settled down. Now, Lovely Lamb had recovered. She clenched her little fists and readied herself for the incoming fight.

Dead Pig took a Black Gold bracelet from his pocket, putting it on Lovely Lamb’s wrist.

“What is this?” Lovely Lamb raised her hand and inspected the bracelet with large bright eyes.

“A gift from Uncle Dead Pig,” Dead Pig said in a nasal voice, his smile kind.

“Why?”

“Because...” Dead Pig thought for a moment. “Because you’re a fighter from today on. This is a meaningful day that should be commemorated with a gift.”

“Okay!” Lovely Lamb didn’t suspect anything. She shook the bracelet around with joy and pride.

Then she looked up at Dead Pig and said, “Do you have a gift for being a fighter, too, Uncle Dead Pig?”

Dead Pig paused, remembering Ba Qiuchi’s bright infectious smile.

“Of course. I’ve received the greatest gift in the world.” He ruffled her hair.

“Sir Monkey,” Gregor spoke up, unable to contain his curiosity any longer. “There’s something I’ve wanted to ask you.”

Mischievous Monkey chuckled softly. “You’re a diligent writer, looking for writing material even from an old man like me.”

“Ahaha.” Gregor felt a little exposed. “You misunderstood me. I’m just starting a casual conversation to alleviate our nerves.”

“Ask,” Mischievous Monkey said.

“How do you feel when facing Gluttony?” Gregor slowly turned the driving wheel. “If I were you, I would rather face a different enemy than my brother.”

Mischievous Monkey narrowed his eyes slightly. He only responded after a pause, “In my age, death and separation don’t mean as much.”

Gregor considered the words. “Then what’s the important thing?”

“If I have to pick one thing,” Mischievous Monkey said in a weathered voice, “I’d say closure.”

Gregor wasn’t sure he understood, so he waited for the old man to continue.

“Everyone has their regrets and confusions. None can part from this world with a completely clear conscience. We either move on or forget about them. All things fade away. When death approaches, many are left with a simple desire: to die well.”

“To die well... You mean to meet a good death?” Gregor asked.

“Yes, a good death.” Mischievous Monkey nodded. “That’s different for everyone. To me, a good death is a death with proper closure.”

“So, a period marking the end of the story?” Gregor interpreted from his perspective.

“Yeah.” Mischievous Monkey smiled, the wrinkles on his face a record of the years he had lived. “We’ve been brothers all our life. The story needs a period, and that’s the only thing I can do.”

“I understand,” Gregor said thoughtfully.

“Uncle G!” Lovely Lamb’s bright voice came from the backseat. She had just talked to Dead Pig about something fun.

Gregor switched to his kind uncle mode immediately. “What is it, Little Lamb?”

“Yanyan told me that your adventure game is super fun.”

“Haha, of course. I wrote the story myself.” Gregor sounded proud. “Why, do you want a go as well?”

“Yeah!”

“Okay. We’ll run a campaign with Yanyan after we beat the death monsters.”

“Yay!” Lovely Lamb was already looking forward to it. “Brother Raven Shark, Sister Xinxin, Brother Gao Yang too. We’ll all play it together. I wanna be a fairy!”

In order not to discourage her, they had told Lovely Lamb the death monsters had been put under the evil dragon’s curse. Beating the death monsters would lift the curse, and they would be friends again just like a game.

“No problem.” Gregor put on a forced smile, patiently going over the race: “A fairy is a good choice. They fly, sing, have magic, and are good with a bow—”

“Stop the car!”

Dead Pig suddenly shouted.