“Hey…” Tianshe said with a furrowed brow, “I’m going to make you strong.”
“Strong…?”
“This is also Qinglong’s intention,” Tianshe continued. “After much consideration, I believe this path is the safest for me…”
Xiao Ran didn’t quite grasp his meaning. “What are you blabbering about Qinglong’s intentions? Since when do I need you to tell me what he means?”
Tianshe shook his head solemnly. “You don’t understand Qinglong.”
“I… don’t understand Qinglong?” Xiao Ran let out an angry laugh. “That’s rich. If I didn’t understand him, why would he entrust me with such an important mission? Right now, I’m your commander!”
“Stop deceiving yourself,” Tianshe replied. “Today was your first time meeting Qinglong, wasn’t it? If I’m not mistaken, you don’t even know why he assigned you this task, do you?”
As he spoke, Tianshe turned to tidy the tools on the table. He wiped the blood off a scalpel and rummaged through a nearby box.
“Even if I don’t know…” Xiao Ran retorted, “I’ve still earned Qinglong’s trust. You can’t deny that, can you?”
“That’s exactly why I say you don’t understand him.”
Xiao Ran watched as Tianshe pulled out a round object from the box, examined it in his hand, then tossed it back before fishing out another. He continued speaking:
“To Qinglong… you can be useless now, but not forever.”
“What… what do you mean I’m useless now?” Xiao Ran snapped. “Don’t just spout nonsense…”
“Intelligence, physique, ‘immortal arts,’ tactics, cunning, strategy…” Tianshe glanced down at the box and said flatly, “Which of these do you possess?”
“I…” Xiao Ran faltered. “I think you’re the one missing the point. I have ‘connections.’ Qinglong is backing me now, understand?”
“You’re the one who’s clueless,” Tianshe sighed. “You actually dare to consider Qinglong as your ‘connection’… Do you realize that in his eyes, you’re not even human?”
“You—”
“If I had to name one thing special about you…” Tianshe shook his head. “It’s sheer dumb luck. Who knows what the heavens were thinking, letting someone like you survive this long, board the ‘train’ unscathed, and walk through corridors swarming with ‘Zodiacs’ and ‘rebels’ all the way to Qinglong—only for him, in a foul mood, to spare your life. Most people wouldn’t have that kind of fortune.”
Tianshe paused, sensing something off.
Could all this… really just be luck?
No. He dismissed the thought. If this were all part of someone’s scheme, then resistance was futile. The opponent would be too terrifying, and surrender the only option.
“Luck is part of strength, isn’t it?” Xiao Ran sneered. “You say I don’t understand Qinglong… but do any of you truly know him? Maybe he likes my type, and you men just don’t get it.”
Tianshe slowly stood up and walked to the table in the center of the room, dropping a few objects onto its surface.
Xiao Ran gasped—four bloodied eyeballs lay there.
“You… you freak…” She stiffened. “What are you doing?”
Ignoring her, Tianshe picked up a knife and continued cleaning it.
“Stop joking…” He gave a bitter chuckle. “‘Qinglong likes your type’… We’ve been ‘Celestials’ for years, and we still can’t tell if Qinglong is male or female. How can you be so sure he favors you?”
Xiao Ran wasn’t listening anymore. She just felt that all the ‘snakes’ here were a bit deranged—what kind of normal person collects eyeballs at home?
“What exactly are you planning…?” she asked, her voice trembling.
“Relax…” Tianshe pulled on a pair of used disposable gloves. “You won’t die. I’m just going to make you stronger.”
“You think these eyeballs…” Xiao Ran pointed at the table, “will make me stronger?”
“Correct.” Tianshe adjusted his gloves and nodded. “Have you heard of the ‘Divine Beasts’ here?”
“‘Divine Beasts’…” She hesitated. “I think I know Zhuque… he’s the one who ruined me, but he’s dead now.”
“Yes.” Tianshe leaned on the table, locking eyes with her. “Zhuque and Xuanwu are both gone. We need new overseers.”
“New… overseers?”
The word “overseers” piqued Xiao Ran’s interest.
“Each of these eyeballs represents an ability,” Tianshe explained. “Originally, a ‘Divine Beast’ would only receive three powers, combined with their innate ‘immortal arts,’ making four. Except for Qinglong and Tianlong, ‘Divine Beasts’ have four abilities, and ‘Celestials’ have three. That’s the rule Qinglong set.”
Only now did Xiao Ran realize she had misjudged the situation.
Though Tianshe’s methods were unsettling, his goal was to grant her those extraordinary powers.
She remembered how Zhuque had stripped her of reason—that man soaring through the air, impossibly strong and elusive, like a god descended to earth.
Could she reach that level too?
“So… these are the ‘abilities’?” She pointed at the eyeballs.
“Yes.”
“What do they do?”
“Mostly for emergencies and close combat,” Tianshe said, eyeing the table. “Similar to Xuanwu’s role. You’ll need to handle issues on the ‘train’ first.”
“Does that mean…” She hesitated. “I’ll become Xuanwu?”
Tianshe laughed abruptly, then shook his head. “No, no… Don’t insult Xuanwu. Xuanwu was my finest creation, and the name itself—steady, reserved—suited Wu Xuan perfectly. I can’t possibly call you that.”
“What kind of logic is that?” Xiao Ran retorted. “Can’t I be more to your liking than that ‘Xuan’ person?”
Tianshe smirked ambiguously and sighed. “Hard to say. But I can give you a new name—one that fits your temperament.”
“And that is?”
“Qiongqi.”
“Qiongqi… what kind of nonsense is that?”
Xiao Ran paused. It wasn’t an animal she’d learned about in vocational school, but the name sounded decent.
“Another ancient beast, similar to ‘Xuanwu’ in concept,” Tianshe said, patting the table. “Lie down when you’re ready.”
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