Chapter 132: Invitation

To the Twelve Zodiac Signs,

First, we would like to offer our genuine congratulation to you for discovering two Rune Circuits in the matter of a month. It is of great importance to all awakeners, and we are one step closer to our common goal.

According to the

Agreement for the Free Movement of Talents among Organizations in Li City

, this guild hereby issues our sincere invitation to Dark Horse, Green Snake, and Yellow Ox of the Twelve Zodiac Signs. We hope that the three of them will consider joining the Qilin Guild and work together with us for a better future.

We look forward to your speedy response.

Qilin Guild

June 4th

Wu Dahai read through the invitation word by word and slapped his thigh, exclaiming, “Holy shit! Crazy! The Qilin Guild is openly recruiting you! Talk about honor!”

Gao Yang knew this was coming, but he didn’t expect Qing Ling and Officer Huang to be included.

Well, there were three possibilities.

First, Black Tortoise did want the two of them too.

Second, they were a smokescreen for Black Tortoise to cover up the fact that he wanted Gao Yang.

Third, Black Tortoise hoped to achieve his goal by applying pressure, the subtext being, ‘I’m asking for three, but you should at least give me one. Otherwise I’ll consider it an insult, and I won’t be as polite next time!’

“Haha, how interesting.” War Tiger crossed his legs and rested his feet on the tea table, a bemused expression on his face. Leisurely, he took a sip of beer.

Then his phone rang. It was White Rabbit.

She had received the encoded message as well.

War Tiger unlocked his phone and put her on speaker. Her yells immediately rang through the room.

“Qilin Guild the fxxxing xxxxxxxxx! Who do they think they are? What disgusting xxxxxx! They fancy themselves the boss? I’ll xxxxx their xxxxx xxxxxx...”

Gao Yang and Wu Dahai gaped. This was the first time they heard White Rabbit curse, and the number of swear words she got in as well as the sheer variety were honestly quite impressive.

White Rabbit was in charge of human resources for the Twelve Zodiac Signs. The headhunting must have hit her most sensitive nerve.

“Calm down, Rabbit,” War Tiger reassured her simply.

“

Calm down?

How am I supposed to be calm? They’re openly after our members! All three of our newbies! What, are they just gonna render all my hardwork this year useless?!”

War Tiger placated her, “That’s a little unfair. Didn’t you get Heavenly Dog from the Qilin Guild as well?”

“That’s not the same!” She raised her voice even further. “Heavenly Dog was still in his trial period, and he was thinking about jumping ship because he didn’t like the Qilin Guild. Only then did I approach him. I play my role with impeccable ethics!”

War Tiger thought about it and said, “Well, why don’t we give the three of them some time to decide for themselves?”

“No!” White Rabbit was ready to kill a man. “None of them are leaving! Or I’ll break their legs!”

“And you talked about your work ethics.”

“I don’t care!”

“Alright, alright. Go back to your bromance novel.”

War Tiger hung up and turned to Gao Yang. “What do you think, Yang Yang?”

Gao Yang hid his guilt under a mask of nonchalance. “Not interested.”

“Really?” War Tiger curled his lips. “It’s the Qilin Guild. Putting aside all other matters, the pay they offer must be several times higher.”

“That’s not all.” Wu Dahai looked envious. “There are so many beautiful girls there, and they allow office romance!”

“Then why don’t you go?” asked Gao Yang.

“I’d like to, but they didn’t invite me, did they? If I go, I’ll be the lowliest pawn.” Wu Dahai huffed from his nose. “I’d rather be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix. Got it?”

War Tiger put an arm around Wu Dahai’s neck. “Haizi, my boy, Uncle Tiger doesn’t like how you put it!”

“Ow, owwww!” Wu Dahai cried out.

“

Chicken

? Is that how you see the Twelve Zodiac Signs?”

“No no no!” Wu Dahai begged for mercy with his face flushed. “I misspoke! I’m uneducated! I made a mistake. Please spare me, Uncle Tiger!”

War Tiger let go of him and threw him a disapproving glance. “Besides, you ain’t the head of a chicken in the Twelve Zodiac Signs. At best you’re the chicken butt. If you go to the Qilin Guild, you’re gonna be the phoenix’s poop.”

...

Came morning, Gao Yang went to school. The self-study session and the rest of the morning passed uneventfully.

At noon, Gao Yang secretly met up with Qing Ling in the second-floor lab for information exchanges. Gao Yang made sure to bring a lunchbox to the cafeteria to get Qing Ling three vegetable dishes, one protein dish, and a meaty chicken leg.

Qing Ling didn’t turn his offer down. With great seriousness and awe, she finished the lunch Gao Yang prepared for her. The chicken leg was so big that she got oil all around her mouth.

Gao Yang stifled a laugh and gave her a napkin. She cast the chicken bone away, wiping her mouth before wiping her fingers. It was cute how seriously she went about it.

Once she was about done, Gao Yang asked, “What do you think about the Qilin Guild’s offer?”

“I’m not going,” Qing Ling said decisively.

“Why?”

Qing Ling’s reasoning was simple. “I can keep getting stronger following War Tiger, but it may not be the case at the Qilin Guild.”

“True.” Gao Yang nodded. It was a very Qing Ling answer.

“What about you?”

“I’m still considering it.”

“What is there to consider?” Qing Ling frowned, feeling a mix of confusion and displeasure.

“Well, as you said, the strong rule over the weak in this world, and the Qilin Guild is stronger than the Twelve Zodiac Signs,” Gao Yang said in a half-joking tone. “It makes sense for me to consider getting a more powerful support, doesn’t it?”

Qing Ling fell silent.

She wanted Gao Yang to stay. They were companions, and companions should stick together.

But why wouldn’t she go with Gao Yang then?

It was because while Gao Yang was important to her, he wasn’t as important as her pursuit of power. Then she was in no place to ask Gao Yang to stay. He had every right to prioritize himself over his companions as well.

“Do what you want,” Qing Ling said coldly.

...

After the evening self-study, Gao Yang and Qing Ling met up in their usual alleyway and changed into casual clothes before heading to the Millennium Tower, located in the Daxu District.

Outside of Dragon, everyone was going to the underground sixth floor of the Millennium Tower to discuss the matter of the Qilin Guild’s headhunting. The meeting would be led by War Tiger and White Rabbit.

As usual, Gao Yang and Qing Ling walked arm-in-arm, pretending to be a loving couple. They exited the subway station late at night. At some point, it had started pouring.

Although they wouldn’t mind braving the rain to get to the Millennium Tower, two humans walking in pouring rain would attract unwanted attention. Since they still had time, they decided to get away from the rain under an awning by the street, waiting for the rain to relent a little.

As soon as they got some shelter, a song started playing inside the flower shop behind them. It was a song by the King of Milk Tea, Jay Chou.

What is most beautiful isn’t the rainy day, but the awning we have found shelter under...

[1]

Gao Yang awkwardly cleared his throat and looked to the side at Qing Ling. Her dark hair was drenched, the tip of the strands dripping droplets of water on her fair neck and collarbones. She took out a rubber band from her pocket and gathered her hair with both hands to tie it into a high ponytail.

Gao Yang noticed on her wrist the Twin Bracelet she bought back in the haunted house market.

“Does it work, the Twin Bracelet?”

Qing Ling didn’t say anything, but her hardening expression made it clear that she hadn’t yet overcome the obstacle on her path to leveling up.

Gao Yang shut his mouth out of consideration.

“Hey, why are you staying out there? Come on in.”

The glass door behind them opened, the wind chimes clinking.

𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Gao Yang and Qing Ling turned around, surprised.

1. Jay Chou’s

Secret

?