The Natives of This World Are So Fierce - Chapter 36: Jiu Tian Joins the Team
Yes, that brand had left a deep impression not only on Qin Xiaoxia, but also on Huang Jiutian and their classmates that year.
When Qin Xiaoxia had returned to school after his sick leave, the burn mark on his palm had prompted his homeroom teacher to have several talks with him.
Back then, if Qin Xiaoxia had so much as nodded, Old Qin would definitely have faced a domestic abuse case.
Fortunately, Qin Xiaoxia had been a reasonably filial son. He had stubbornly explained it away as a "family tradition," and Old Qin really did have the same brand on his hand.
As Qin Xiaoxia's deskmate, Huang Jiutian had seen that brand plenty of times.
The words most often on his lips had been things like "cool" and "badass."
Whenever that happened, Qin Xiaoxia had been particularly eager to fulfill Huang Jiutian's wish to "get one too."
Unfortunately, this mark was not something anyone could get just because they wanted it, which had left Qin Xiaoxia seething for quite a while.
Huang Jiutian had grown up. Naturally, he no longer thought branding his palm would be fun, as his younger self had. But hearing Qin Xiaoxia bring up the past for the second time that day stirred his curiosity, and his racing heartbeat showed no sign of slowing.
Whatever Qin Xiaoxia was about to say, it would not be an ordinary answer.
And sure enough.
"Jiu Tian, this brand actually has a very special name: the Dawn Seal. It represents the honor and responsibility bestowed upon someone recognized by the current leader of the Dawn Association."
Qin Xiaoxia stopped keeping him in suspense.
"And the Dawn Association possesses power beyond your imagination. For nearly a thousand years, it has stood behind the scenes as the world's guardian."
Huang Jiutian froze for a few seconds, instinctively assuming this was another of Qin Xiaoxia's outrageous attempts to pull his leg.
"That's just way too..."
But his words cut off.
Above Qin Xiaoxia's outstretched right hand, masses of invisible matter were swirling into existence with a howl.
The violently churning air had actually become visible to the naked eye, an effect Huang Jiutian had only ever seen in movies.
An oppressive force emanated from Qin Xiaoxia, who was right in front of him, leaving Huang Jiutian feeling unable to move a muscle.
"Over the centuries, we have been known by many names: wicked witches and warlocks, wondrous magicians, saints who spread light, sages who inspired wisdom, wanderers who drove out evil, and cunning, deceitful tricksters."
In a deep voice, Qin Xiaoxia slowly recounted Dawn's "past."
"History has forgotten us, and that is what we hoped for. It means the world does not need us."
After those words, Qin Xiaoxia's tone abruptly changed.
A voice Huang Jiutian had never heard before came from his mouth, carrying a tremor that shook both body and soul.
"Hedis, Kalon."
The next moment, a red symbol flashed briefly at the center of the swirling air in Qin Xiaoxia's palm.
Boom!
Flames!
Blazing-hot flames erupted, shooting straight up to the ceiling. Scorching heat swept toward Huang Jiutian on a rush of air, blowing his hair back and pushing his body backward.
Then the flames vanished immediately, as though they had never appeared.
The sudden burst of fire gave Huang Jiutian a terrible fright, leaving him dazed.
The black scorch marks on the ceiling and the lingering heat on his face told him that what had just happened was no illusion.
"That eruption of flames at the Crooked Loach River was my doing."
Qin Xiaoxia delivered those words in a remarkably calm voice, leaving Huang Jiutian even more shocked.
Huang Jiutian pointed at Qin Xiaoxia, struggling to speak. Suddenly, he remembered what another patient in his ward had said about a monster appearing at the Crooked Loach River.
"You, you... then the reason you were hospitalized..."
Qin Xiaoxia chuckled self-deprecatingly.
"Heh, it's embarrassing to admit, but my magic power wasn't sufficient to control that blaze back then. It drained a considerable portion of my life force, and I nearly didn't survive."
At that moment, Qin Xiaoxia's gray-white hair corroborated his words, silently hinting at the danger he had faced.
"So, Jiu Tian, do you still think supernatural powers don't exist?"
Huang Jiutian's mouth hung open. Only after taking a deep breath did he force himself to calm down.
"Why are you suddenly telling me this?"
If Qin Xiaoxia really wanted to tell him, and could freely do so, why had he waited until now, after so many years of knowing each other? Huang Jiutian believed they were close enough.
"Yeah... why am I suddenly telling you now..."
Qin Xiaoxia leaned back against the sofa, his eyes fixed on the ceiling.
"The once-glorious Dawn no longer exists. But the terrifying onslaught from other dimensions has returned, and I need help."
"Our world has been peaceful for too long... so long that we seem almost helpless when suddenly faced with all this."
Huang Jiutian suddenly realized something and looked at the beer bottle on the coffee table in alarm.
Clearly, the story about that monster was probably true.
"Relax. My magic power has already burned the Faceless Yin Ghost to nothing, so it's just an ordinary beer bottle now."
At that, Qin Xiaoxia sat up straight and looked solemnly at Huang Jiutian.
"Jiu Tian, we've known each other for almost twenty years. I know you inside and out. I know your character. Now I'm asking you, would you be willing..."
"Would you be willing to help me rebuild Dawn, so we can face the onslaughts to come-the onslaughts from all those other worlds?"
Huang Jiutian gulped, his heart pounding like mad.
"Do I have to get that design branded onto my palm too?"
Qin Xiaoxia smiled.
"You're not qualified yet. Once you successfully awaken your magic power, I'll personally perform the Inscription for you."
"In my capacity as Dawn's current leader!"
Unsurprisingly, Huang Jiutian joined the team. Joining Dawn was an immensely tempting prospect for most young people-or rather, for most people, period.
All the more so when the invitation came from Qin Xiaoxia.
Even the late Old Qin grew increasingly impressive in Jiu Tian's eyes.
Still, Huang Jiutian felt a small pang of distress.
The once-glorious Dawn Association had now declined to the point where only Qin Xiaoxia and Doudou remained, plus himself, a peripheral member who had yet to pass his probation.
The world's unsung heroes!
That was Huang Jiutian's assessment of the Dawn Association.
But this was no time to dwell on the past. From Qin Xiaoxia, he learned the following.
Awakening magic power was already extremely difficult. Talent, luck, and an inherited legacy were all indispensable.
Man-made catastrophes and changes in the world's environment had subjected the ancient Dawn to tremendous trials behind the scenes, unknown to everyone else.
And as the Anomalies were gradually eradicated, Dawn's activities had grown increasingly quiet.
By the modern era, there had even been a period when the "inheritance of magic power" was interrupted.
Yet it was precisely at such a time that a true crisis had suddenly descended once more.
Still, if things weren't like this, I might never have had the chance to join Dawn, or even learn it existed.
Huang Jiutian also felt a little fortunate. From Qin Xiaoxia's words, he deduced that he had a very good chance of obtaining magic power.
And given his relationship with Qin Xiaoxia, those odds could probably be pushed a little higher.
One of his current tasks was to use his own abilities to investigate how far this series of Civil Defense Projects had progressed, in order to gauge the preparations being made by those at the top.
As an elite designer, Huang Jiutian had many classmates and friends who were outstanding professionals in the same industry. Sometimes, the information he could obtain was more comprehensive than what certain so-called higher-ups knew.
Doudou had silently eaten breakfast on the sidelines throughout, watching "Mama Huang" go from a skeptic to someone whose eyes sparkled with the same starry light as Su Su's.
Doudou silently reached a conclusion.
Dawn is terrifying!
This chapter naturally counted as yesterday's second update.