The Creatures That We Are
Chapter 1236: Goodnight

Chapter 1236: Goodnight

Inside the special medical ward, Qing Ling sat by the bed in a towel and a pair of slippers. Her hair was still damp at the tips, and she was holding a sandwich in her hand. It was obvious that she had rushed right over. Despite her state, though, she didn’t seem embarrassed.

She exchanged a glance with Gao Yang as a greeting.

After a moment, she broke the silence.

“Wang Zikai’s alive. He’s unconscious just like you were and hasn’t woken up yet.” Qing Ling paused. “Given his special role, we’ve placed him somewhere else.”

Gao Yang nodded.

“Those who have sacrificed themselves were buried in the forest,” Qing Ling said.

Gao Yang nodded again.

“As for your uncle and sister...”

“Qing Ling,” Gao Yang said, his voice barely above a whisper. He managed a smile. “I think...I’m hungry.”

Qing Ling offered him the sandwich after a pause. “I’ve just reheated it.”

Noticing the small bite that had been taken, Gao Yang said, “I can’t eat this much. Let’s share?”

“Okay.” Qing Ling halved the sandwich.

They ate in silence. Qing Ling quickly finished her share and rose to pour a glass of water before Gao Yang finished his. She returned to her seat and watched as Gao Yang chewed. She handed him the glass of water once he swallowed the last bite.

He took a sip and put the glass on the nightstand.

Letting out a long breath, he sat against the headboard and murmured—it could be to himself or to Qing, “Am I alive?”

“You’re still alive,” Qing Ling said.

“Still alive,” Gao Yang repeated. “Still alive.”

Another moment of silence.

Gao Yang turned around slightly to look at the glass of water on the nightstand. “So, I can’t let you delete any of my memory. The living must remember everything that happened as best we can. It’s the promise we made to the dead.”

A few seconds later, an ant-sized Nainai rushed out from behind the glass. She jumped off and reverted to her original size. Face flushed, she tried her best to cover up the embarrassment of the failed ambush. “Since-since you’ve just woken up, this Empress will spare you this time... You-you must not let anyone else know, you hear me? Otherwise...”

Nainai trailed off, sensing Qing Ling’s killing intent. She ran for the door and opened it.

“Oh, shoot!”

One Stone crashed in. She panickedly picked up her glasses from the floor and sorted out her hair. When she looked up, it was to Qing Ling’s icy gaze.

“Don’t kill me!” One Stone cried out, raising her hands in surrender. “It’s a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding... Nainai, I knew you would be trying something. I caught you red-handed!”

“Huh?” Nainai was stunned.

One Stone grabbed her and fled. “Come with me!”

Bam! The door slammed shut. The farce finally ended.

Gao Yang didn’t pay it much mind. He thought for a moment and asked, “How long have I been asleep?”

Qing Ling didn’t even have to think. “It’ll be seven months after twelve.”

Gao Yang was surprised by how long it had been.

“What has happened during this time?”

Qing Ling thought for a moment. Much had happened, but only one Gao Yang must know immediately.

“After your fight with Wang Zikai, Dragon took the Miracle Rune Circuit and said he needed to get Overlord to level 8. He also said that he would meet you when it was time.”

Gao Yang stared at the ceiling blankly for a moment.

Then he turned back to Qing Ling with an apologetic smile. “My brain must be getting rusty. I get lightheaded when I try to think about anything.”

“Food coma,” Qing Ling said. “You just ate.”

“Is that so?”

“It is,” Qing Ling said with certainty. “Rest, Gao Yang. Everything can wait until tomorrow. I’ll be watching you tonight.”

“Okay.” Gao Yang slowly closed his eyes.

Qing Ling stood up and moved another patient bed over to combine with Gao Yang’s. She lay down on the now double bed like it was the most natural thing in the world and closed her eyes.

The lights in the room dimmed. Qing Ling counted Gao Yang’s breathing until he fell asleep calmly. She finally allowed herself a sigh of relief.

It had been a long time since Gao Yang fell asleep on anything other than a couch—coma not included. She reached out to place a hand on a corner of his blanket.

It was the first time she found something more reassuring than the hilt of a blade.

Goodnight, Gao Yang.