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Chapter 393: Go Independent

The Twelve Zodiac Signs had four as well: Psyche, Element, Life, and Buff.

The Hundred Rivers Union had three: Support, Damage, and Poison—the Poison Rune Circuit could only be used under the watch of all three organizations.

Qilin’s Talent was level 7 Eidos. The Twelve Zodiac Signs and the Hundred Rivers Union would never allow him to get his hands on the Psyche Rune Circuit. They would do everything to stop him from accessing level 8 Eidos.

However, the Hundred Rivers Union wasn’t strong enough to keep the Psyche Rune Circuit safe, so they traded it for the Support Rune Circuit from the Twelve Zodiac Signs, which was the right choice.

As for the Damage Rune Circuit, the Hundred Rivers Union would never trade it away to the Twelve Zodiac Signs.

War Tiger’s Killing Expert must have reached level 6 during the Crimson Tide. One more level-up, and he would be able to merge with the Damage Rune Circuit and reach level 8, which was something the Hundred Rivers Union had to prevent from happening.

As for the Qilin Guild, they kept the Miracle Rune Circuit and Knowledge Rune Circuit in order to prevent Dragon’s Overlord and Surnamed Li’s Prophet from reaching level 8.

Meanwhile, the Twelve Zodiac Signs’ Buff Rune Circuit and Life Rune Circuit were kept from Azure Dragon’s Limitless Evolution and Vermilion Bird’s Equivalent Exchange.

The Time-Space, Element, and Summon Rune Circuits didn’t pose immediate threat at the moment given the top Talent of each type had already died, and no awakeners had comprehended them just yet.

However, Qilin must have traded two Rune Circuits for the Time-Space Rune Circuit with the Twelve Zodiac Signs because he was unwilling to let others have it.

Alcoholic’s Time-Space Spirit was a formidable Talent. Reaching level 8, it would be a trump card that could determine the victor, and even change fate.

After thinking through all that, Gao Yang slowly lifted his head to find Gray Bear, Nine Frost, and Can looking at him.

“What?” Gao Yang asked.

The three smiled, sharing the same thought.

“Captain, you seem different after waking up,” Can said carefully.

“Ha, I agree.” Gray Bear stroked the bushy bear on his chin. “Is it because you’ve gotten stronger and thus projected the same presence as the top awakeners?”

“That’s not what Can meant,” Nine Frost said bluntly. “Captain seems less like a boy and more like a man now.”

“Is this what people mean when they say, ‘Growing up isn’t a gradual process, but a leap?’” Can cackled.

“Enough with the teasing.” Gao Yang smiled tiredly. “I’ve been unconscious for three months. It’s only natural that I’ll seem different after waking up. I’m tired. You should go. Don’t stay too long.”

Gray Bear rose to his feet. “Alright. Come back to the Guild soon, Captain. Everyone’s waiting for you.”

“Then we’re heading out, Captain.” Can seemed a little reluctant to leave. Thinking of something, she asked, “Ah, are you still going to college, Captain?”

“Of course.” Gao Yang nodded. “My family submitted the application for me. I’ll be a computer science major at Li City University. Considering my circumstances, the school keeps me as their student.”

“Awesome, we’re schoolmates!” Can said with barely contained excitement. “I’m gonna be your senior from now on, Captain! Tee-hee, your senior is gonna take you under her wings!”

“The disrespect!” Gray Bear patted her on the head. “Let’s go.”

Once the fifth team left, the room quieted again.

Gao Yang leaned against the headboard and closed his eyes slowly, his mind cluttered with concerns.

Granny had passed away, so had some of his companions. In exchange, the Mist World would enter a temporary reprieve.

The Prophecy of Seven had been postponed by the Crimson Tide, but the fact that Rune Circuits could push a Talent to level 8 had further driven the three organizations apart and fueled their hostility.

An internal war seemed inevitable.

For now, though, they shared a great enemy in the Godbearer Cult, and with only two years left for them to tackle the problem of humanity’s survival, the war wouldn’t immediately break out.

Gao Yang wished for all awakeners to form a united front more than anyone, but the leaders of the three major organizations might not share the same sentiment.

Dragon’s ultimate goal was to open the Gates of Closure. For that, he was willing to give and sacrifice everything.

Qilin’s and Surnamed Li’s ambitions remained a mystery, but it was clear that they had different goals than Dragon. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be so wary of each other. The tension between Qilin and Dragon was especially high.

If Qilin and Surnamed Li weren’t working to open the Gates of Closure though, what could their goals be? Gao Yang didn’t have the faintest idea.

And Gao Yang’s goal had become increasingly clear to him—he would protect his family and companions at all cost. He wanted those important to him to live, safe and sound. If the Mist World was going to end, a world where they could build a life must be found.

To that end, Gao Yang and Dragon shared the goal of opening the Gates of Closure.

What lay behind and whether their paths would diverge from then on was another story.

Gao Yang sighed. Those he depended on could leave, and the organization he had the support of could crumble. In the end, he had to rely on himself.

It was time to consider breaking away and starting anew.

At the moment, those he trusted included Wang Zikai (although he was a monster), Qing Ling, Officer Huang, Fat Jun, Gray Bear, Can, Nine Frost, and Lithe Snake.

It would be unwise for such a small group to break away from their original organizations to form a new faction.

For one, they would make an enemy out of their original organizations. And with limited power, they would struggle to even protect themselves should a civil war break out, let alone thinking about promoting peace and harmony by uniting everyone.

He must not rush. Haste did make waste, as they said.

He needed time to get stronger, as well as looking for more trustworthy companions who shared his ideal.

That was it then. He should rest.

Gao Yang closed his eyes and meditated to clear the thoughts in his head and the emotions in his heart. Slowly, he fell asleep.

...

The next day, one o’clock in the afternoon.

The temperature had dropped. Sitting in an automatic wheelchair, Gao Yang headed to the fountain at the center of the garden of the inpatient building. Bathed in the warm sunlight and cool autumn wind, he felt at peace.

It had been eighteen hours since he woke up. His body had been recovering well, and the energy lying dormant for the past three months had awakened and settled down.

He could move normally without the help of a wheelchair.

Just to be safe, though, Gao Yang decided to play weak and stayed at the hospital for a few more days, doing physical therapy.

After all, it would be too suspicious for a patient who had stayed unconscious for three months to immediately be on his feet, running around all healthy and getting discharged from the hospital.

Still, he couldn’t stay long, either. Time was too precious to waste.

He would try to go from using a wheelchair to a cane in a week and get himself discharged, getting back on track with his life.

A voice broke him from his thoughts. “Brother!”

Gao Yang turned to look over his shoulder. It was Gao Xinxin.

She was still wearing her white and blue summer uniform with a small backpack. Her twintails jumped as she skipped her way to him with a beam, her face flushed.

“Why are you here, Gao Xinxin?” Gao Yang was happy, but put on a disapproving look. “Shouldn’t you be at school?”

“It’s lunch break. I can’t come to keep you company after the evening self-study from today on, so I visited at noon.” Gao Xinxin handed Gao Yang a bag of takeout. “Here.”

Gao Yang took it. It was a box of takoyaki.

“I bought it on the way here and had two. The other two are for you.”

“Thanks, I haven\'t had lunch yet.” Gao Yang picked up a bamboo stick and popped a takoyaki into his mouth.

“Oh.” Gao Xinxin seemed to have remembered something. “You’re a patient, Brother. It’s bad for you to have oily food, right? I’ll have the rest.”

“Don’t worry,” Gao Yang laughed as he ate. “This is your brother you’re talking about. I’ll be fine.”

Gao Xinxin giggled and went up to push Gao Yang’s wheelchair. “I’ll take you back to your room, Brother.”

“Sure.”

Gao Xinxin pushed Gao Yang back into the inpatient building and entered an elevator. Once inside, she blabbered on about the fun things that had happened to her at school. Gao Yang listened happily as he ate.

Ding.

The elevator door opened. Gao Yang looked up to find that they had reached the top floor of the building.

“Ah.” Gao Xinxin seemed to only realize then that she had pressed the wrong button, and she hurriedly reached out to remedy her mistake.

“Don’t worry about it,” Gao Yang stopped her with a smile. “Might as well get some fresh air on the rooftop.”

“Sure. If you want to get some fresh air, we’ll do that.” Gao Xinxin was especially gentle and meek with her brother today. Perhaps it was because he had just woken up.

She pushed Gao Yang to the rooftop.

White bed sheets were hung all around the rooftop, looking pristine white under the sunlight and fluttering in the wind.

“It’s nice with the cool breeze.”

Gao Xinxin let go of Gao Yang’s wheelchair and skipped her way to the railing of the rooftop with her hands held behind her back. Then she held onto the railing and popped her head over to take a look below, kicking around her calves, which were covered in white socks.

Gao Yang smiled without a word.

Time passed. Gao Xinxin turned around with a smile, her bang ruffled by wind.

“I’ve got a question, Brother.”

“Go on.”

“When did you awaken?”