AZI Volume 3 Chapter 40

With the skies blue, the sun had replaced the moon, and with it, returned the scorching heatwaves.

"Hmm."

Standing at the top of a hill, Long Hua surveys the landscape through his divine senses—while Yu Ji uses a pair of binoculars, to look into the far distance.

"Well? Anything of interest in the distance?"

Despite having seen nothing worthy of attention, Long Hua still asks, as it would be a bit unnatural to not do so.

Lowering the binoculars, Yu Ji replies—

"Nothing. Also, are we really going without sleep tonight?"

For Long Hua, going without sleep for a full week isn't an issue, but the same cannot be applied to Yu Ji.

Shrugging a shoulder, Long Hua answers—

"Eventually, you're going to have to go without sleep for a day. Might as well get it over with. Besides, I for one isn't too keen on taking a dirt nap."

"Ai…"

Understanding what Long Hua meant by a dirt nap, Yu Ji could only nod.

Turning away from Yu Ji, Long Hua begins to move, while asking—

"Surnamed Yu, if we run out of supplies, what would you do?"

"Uh?"

Towards this abrupt question, Yu Ji can't help but look to Long Hua's back with an odd expression on her face, and answers—

"I… Logically I would think to look for more from… Others?"

"Oh? The fact that you didn't immediately resort to cannibalization is surprising."

As Long Hua lets out a chuckle, Yu Ji widens her eyes, and replies—

"I think the fact that you thought to resort to that first is what's even more surprising!"

Paying no heed to Yu Ji's remark, Long Hua continues to ask—

"When you said others, do you mean by other people, or…?"

"Other people of course."

"Then let me ask you this, why do you think I packed up all those piranhas last night?"

"You…?"

Thinking about the previous question, and connecting it to this one, Yu Ji answers—

"You plan to eat those?"

"All living things in nature can be eaten under the right circumstances, and with the right preparations. Those things are ultimately still a type of fish; they're probably the most common thing that we'd be able to get to the domestically farmed livestock—that we have back in the city."

The reason why the current world's wildlife isn't treated as a primary source of food—is mainly due to a mortal chef's inability to cut into the skin of those creatures. A Sinner's Relic is usually the only thing capable of the feat, and if one is a Sinner, they are either dealing with Immortal related issues, or are in retirement. That being said, why would they think to become a chef after that?

"True…"

Despite seeing the logic in Long Hua's words, the idea of eating the piranhas—that had attempted to eat them the night before, is still somewhat discomforting to Yu Ji; mainly due to how unusual these creatures are from the norm.

"Surnamed Long, how's your cooking skills?"

"Nonexistent, but it shouldn't be too difficult—since we're only grilling them after taking their innards out."

In response to Long Hua's nonconfidence inspiring words, Yu Ji can only raise a sigh, whereas the former continues to say—

"Next question."

"There's more?"

"Surnamed Yu, there's no trust between us, so I need to know that you won't drag my leg down."

Twitching her lips in response to Long Hua's bluntness, Yu Ji replies—

"…Ask away then."

"If a group of robbers came, and attacked us for our supplies. What would you do?"

"Fight them off."

"And not kill them?"

"…Every single person here—other than the people from the hall, is a member of the Disciplinary Bureau, if we kill any one of them…-"

Cutting Yu Ji off, Long Hua says—

"Some of them are, but some of them have already sworn fealty to the hall."

Turning her head quickly, Yu Ji realizes—

"You want to use that as an excuse to kill them?"

"Smart. Anyone that wants to rob me of my supplies, won't receive an ounce of mercy. In fact, I'll even rob them of theirs—after offing them. However, if I see value in keeping them around, I don't mind putting a leash on them instead."

"Your methods are extreme and spine chilling to say the least, but… I agree with them."

Coming from an assassin background, it doesn't take Yu Ji too much effort to see eye to eye with Long Hua on this matter, to which, the latter replies—

"Then, I don't think I need to ask you anything else."

"…"

Contemplating with a frown on her face, Yu Ji eventually musters up her courage to ask—

"…Surnamed Long, are you… Even human? I know I shouldn't be saying this, but the way you see life is a bit…"

Resisting the urge to stop his movement, Long Hua answers—

"If I said, I'm not, what would you do?"

Without any hesitation, Yu Ji answers—

"I don't care, so long as you can get me back to my little sister alive. I'll even worship you as a god if needed."

Laughing aloud, Long Hua says—

"Surnamed Ye's eyes really are quite sharp."

"What did the captain say about me?"

"He said, if there's money to be made, you'd be the first to jump at it for the sake of your little sister, which makes you seem easy to manipulate."

Casting her eyes down, Yu Ji raises a sigh, and remarks—

"What can I do about that? We're each other's only family. If I don't take care of her, who would?"

A faint smile appears on Long Hua's face in response to these words.

"Indeed, families should care for one another. I…"

Shaking his head, Long Hua lets out a laugh of self-ridicule, and mutters—

"Letting a white-haired man send off a black-haired man, I suppose I should be ashamed of myself?"

"Hm? You said something?"

"Nothing. Take care of your little sister well."

"Of course."