THE KIN SELECTION

"How we can do that?" Shen YongZheng tightened his fists. Peering at the silent creature, Shen YongZheng could not figure out how to make the creature stop the hallucinogens.

"Are you sure this is carbon monoxide?" Zhang Shi asked.

"I'm sure. I'm too old to recognize this gas." Shen YongZheng supported Zhu Jiu's head with the coat Zhu Jiu used to support his head earlier. "It has no scent but my throat is hurt since I sniffed the gas. And the dizziness... If I'm a normal HaiXing, I will collapse earlier."

Zhang Shi took a deep breath. "I told you that your boiling young blood will lead you to your demise yet you don't listen to me," he rued.

"What did he do in the past?" Shen YongZheng glanced at the epiphyte DiXing.

"Besides becoming your second son's right-hand man? He did nothing more," Zhang Shi sighed. "He gave his entire life to serve Ye Zun."

"That I already know. I'm talking about what he did in the past that related to his temper?" Shen YongZheng took a broken branch near him and played with the stick. "Then why did someone with a high dedication like that serve the wrong person?"

"A stupid senior thought that it would be funny to disregard his ideals to be like your first son. And your first son's uprightness did not help either." Zhang Shi glanced at Zhu Jiu. "I wonder if Black Cloak Envoy dealt with his case differently, what he would become?"He lifted his eyes, peering at the cloudy sky.

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"Lao Da!", "Deputy Da!"

Both Zhu Hong and Chu NianZhi were startled. The dust flew up like a mist when the creature's paws landed.

"Is he alright?" Sha Ya shouted, mostly because of the tense influence.

"I don't know." Chu NianZhi's eyes jiggled around the creature, trying to find an opening to get Da Qing.

"Oh, geez. He is there." Zhu Hong pointed at the little creature lying on its back under the beast's paw. Da Qing was safe and sound though he was rolled under the beast.

"Gosh, he gave me a minor heart attack." Chu NianZhi touched his chest.

The demon beast tilted its head in concern. It seemed the creature was afraid that it would hurt Da Qing. It nuzzled its big nose to Da Qing's face. But the angry cat Da Qing did not buy what the demon beast did to him. Like an upset cat, he raised his claws and slapped the beast's nose.

"Bad boy, bad boy." Da Qing kept slapping the creature. "How dare you do that to me?" Da Qing sassed. The others blinked in the dumbfounded face when the creature lowered its head, lifting its paw to protect the uninjured face.

Suddenly, the wind rotated around the demon beast's body. And like a huge amount of energy pressed out of its body, the monster shrank. The only thing that was seen after the huge blow was a small cute black sheep.

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"Ah Hong... Since when do you call Deputy Da his proper title?" Zhu Jiu stepped backward.

"What do you mean?" Zhu Hong stuttered.

"You know what I meant." Zhu Jiu squinted his eyes. "You always call him Fat Cat, Annoying Cat, or Lao Da. You never use his proper title to address him."

"Well... I..." Zhu Hong stuttered. "I..."

"You are not her." Zhu Jiu interrupted the excuse-searching process. "Who are you?"

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"What are you going to do with him?" Zhao YunLan asked his brother, glancing at the little kappa.

"I want to bring him back to the Dragon City." Zhao MingAn caressed Xiao Cài's head.

"With his new-awakened ability?" Shen Wei's eyes widened. "Over my dead body."

"But, Ge. What if we still can save Xiao Cài?"

"You still have his side after you see everything?" Shen Wei scolded his younger brother. "I don't mind if he is just an eternal little kappa with a telepathic power. But he can change into a gigantic monster once he is triggered. Then how can I let you take him to the city?"

"I create the antiserum."

"Huh?" The three others said in unison. Zhao YunLan even almost slipped from his seat.

"When you brought him for the first time, I took his blood as a sample. Just like what we did to Zhang JiKeng and the snake man." Zhao MingAn patted the tired baby kappa's back. Xiao Cài sucked his thumb. Shen YeZun pulled the thumb tenderly.

"Is his DNA the reason you learn about how to perfect the imperfect serum?" Zhao YunLan now saw the red string.

"Yes," Zhao MingAn nodded. "Just by studying his mutation line, I can reverse the mutation."

"But MingAn, don't you think it will be too risky?" Shen YeZun asked. "Cells are just as dynamic as nature. Every cell will mutate at a certain point. How can you reverse the unpredictable mutation?"

"That... I wonder." Zhao YunLan crossed his arms, staring at his brother.

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"You, Fat Cat!" Zhu Hong slapped the cat's paw beating the lamb. "How can you do that to this innocent creature?" she pulled the scared little sheep into her hug as the black cat took its human form.

"You are too much." Sha Ya caressed the sheep's head, comforting it.

"Innocent creature? I'm too much?" Da Qing could not believe his ears. "Did you see how it almost killed me?"

"Why can't you stop being too dramatic?" Zhu Hong glared at the confused Yashou. "How can this sweet little thing kill you?"

"Sweet little thing?!" Da Qing was agape. He threw his head to Chu NianZhi, demanding support. But let alone support, Chu NianZhi could not even stop laughing at his misery.

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"Who are you? And why do you personify my fiance?" Zhu Jiu took a safe distance, eyes never leaving Zhu Hong's doppelganger.

Zhu Hong's doppelganger smirked before her laugh broke. "You are good, Lieutenant." She lifted her eyes, gazing at the cautious man.

"No... It's you who gives up so easily." Zhu Jiu strengthened his stance. He was ready to strike if it was necessary.

A wry laugh broke once again before the mist engulfed Zhu Hong's figure. And when the murk dissolved, a familiar figure emerged. A familiar yet unwanted one. "Ma TiHua?" Zhu Jiu was agape.

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"Where are you going?" Zhang Shi asked the man who approached the fog.

"Searching," Shen YongZheng answered. He was not stopping.

"Searching for what?" Zhang Shi frowned.

"Searching a way to stop the gas." Shen YongZheng gritted his teeth.

"Be careful," Zhang Shi said. He knew he could not stop the old general.

"Don't worry about me. Just take care of that boy," Shen YongZheng answered as thick energy swathed his body, preventing the mist from touching his smelling sense.

Shen YongZheng stepped closer to the creature in the middle of the murk. What so strange was the gas seemed not to influence the flowers around the creature. Those flowers stayed fresh and blossomed beautifully. The gigantic creature squirmed when its eyes caught the old general's figure approach. Its eyes glared at the unknown man under the shadow. Shen YongZheng halted his step when the gas grew ticker. His energy shell cracked as the gas pressure increased.

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"You recognize me well, Lieutenant Zhu." Ma Tihua slid his hands into his pant pockets.

"What are you doing here?" Zhu Jiu clenched his fists.

"Just say, I keep my eyes on my investment." Ma TiHua strode toward the anxious man.

Zhu Jiu gulped. Did this man know that Zhao MingAn tricked him? Did he know that his childhood friend had the antiserum? "What do you mean by investment? You do nothing but threaten us." He tested the water.

"Really?" Ma TiHua ceased his step, eyes staring at Zhu Jiu. Once again, Zhu Jiu gulped. That sharp black orb's gaze was like stripping him layer by layer. "Then tell me why Zhao MingAn seems so healthy as if nothing bothers him?"

"What do you expect?" Zhu Jiu's voice trembled. He clenched his jaws. If eyes could kill, Ma TiHua would have died a hundred times already.

"Lieutenant Zhu... I don't like surprises. Especially, unpleasant surprises." Ma TiHua tilted his head to see the anxious man. "That's why, I want to show you something." He waved his hand and from another corner, two men appeared with a familiar person.

"Ah Hong..." Zhu Jiu was agape.

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"What happened?" Zhang Shi asked the stunned old general.

"Stay away!" Shen YongZheng shouted when Zhang Shi was about to walk toward him.

"What's wrong?"

"The gas pressure increases." The old general strengthened his barrier. "Bring Zhu Jiu away. I'll try to deal with this creature."

"This is the last stage of the training ground." Zhang Shi reprimanded the man. "Do you know what to do?"

Shen YongZheng lowered his gaze. Of course, as a high-rank general, he knew every stage of a training ground. Especially because the wisdom of Tai, KunLun's younger brother was well-known in the military. They used every stratagem written by Lord Tai as reverence. The last stage was about how to win without a fight. But how he could stop the creature without hurting it?

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Zhu Jiu rushed to see his lover but one guard pulled the chain around Zhu Hong's neck. The lady's writh stopped the young cop on his track. "What are you doing with her? Let her go!" Zhu Jiu clenched his fists, but his feet cemented on the ground. He may not do something stupid or the man would hurt Zhu Hong.

"Let her go?" Ma TiHua snorted. "How can I let her go? I told you, didn't I? I need to protect my investment."

"She has nothing to do-"

"She has anything to do related to my investment." Ma TiHua cut Zhu Jiu. "Because she related to you."

"What?"

"Chu NianZhi related to Chu ShuZhi. He will make an impact on Shen Wei, but not so much. That's why I killed him just like that. Sha Ya is bothersome so I kill her. And that cat is related to Zhao YunLan but just like Chu ShuZhi to Shen Wei, Zhao YunLan will stay sane if he dies." Ma TiHua counted his fingers. "But you... You are different." Ma TiHua pointed at Zhu Jiu. "If something happens to you, not only Zhao YunLan but his whole family will be impacted."

"Then come to me! Let her go!"

A loud wry laugh answered Zhu Jiu's desperation. "You don't pay attention, do you?" Ma TiHua shook his head. "I told you that she is here because she related to you."

Zhu Jiu's blood temperature dropped. The cold crept from his head to his toes. "What do you mean?" His voice choked his throat. Ma TiHua did not reply just glanced at his man. The man in black lifted his hand, five sharp nails sprouted out. Zhu Jiu's eyes widened when he knew what the man was about to do.

Zhu Jiu was a light rider. He used light as his stepping stone. But with tenebrosity around him. How could he use his power? His eyes jiggled as they inspected his surroundings. Everything seemed helpless until he saw a glint of light from Ma TiHua's watch. With the help of a dim glow, Zhu Jiu rushed to reach Zhu Hong who was held near Ma TiHua. But when he almost got his lover, Ma TiHua covered his watch.

Zhu Jiu's speed decreased at once. He fell to the ground right when the nails stabbed into Zhu Hong's throat. "No!" Zhu Jiu screamed. His pupils shrank when blood gushed from his lover's unblemished neck. The crimson liquid stained the clear skin.

"General Shen!" Zhang Shi called the old general when Zhu Jiu's body shook.

"What?" Shen YongZheng asked.

"The illusion almost controls his body. You must move faster."

Shen YongZheng tightened his jaws. "Zhang Shi... I need to talk to my friend. Can you wake him up?"

"Mhm."

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"You don't expect me to leave Xiao Cài in this place right?" Zhao MingAn peered at his companions.

"If Madame Gwang brought him here, Madame Gwang will take care of him well." Zhao YunLan stared at his younger brother.

"Says the one who always doubts her." Zhao MingAn tightened his grasp around the little kappa.

"He will be too dangerous if we bring him out of this place," Shen Wei insisted. "I'll try to talk to Sang Zan. He won't mind to let you come to this place to visit Xiao Cài."

"My mutation is also dangerous. So, it will be best if you leave me here." Zhao MingAn glared at his future brother-in-law. "Everyone can visit me anytime they want if they are not too busy."

"MingAn.", "Ah Ming."

Zhao YunLan and Shen YeZun were agape when Zhao MingAn retorted to Shen Wei. But Zhao MingAn lifted the little kappa and walked toward another place, sitting there to take sleep with Xiao Cài in his hands.

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"So... What is it?" Zhao XinChi asked when Zhang Shi's consciousness submerged into slumber.

"If I could I would never wake you up, but your other son needs our help." Shen YongZheng glanced at the young man who was drenched in sweat in his deep sleep.

"What happened to him?" Zhao XinChi asked, but then, his nose sniffed something in the air. "Are these hallucinogens?"

"Yes..."

"Do you need me to report you everything? Or did Zhang Shi tell you already?" Shen YongZheng asked when Zhao XinChi peered around.

"I already know." Zhao XinChi darted his eyes to the creature. "So, you wake me up to deal with an animal?"

"You are the best animal tamer I ever known."

Zhao XinChi sighed, shaking his head. He gazed at the creature who kept lowering its head. Its eyes stared at the newcomer. "YongZheng... May I borrow your coat?"

"What for?" Shen YongZheng frowned, but then his eyes widened. "Don't tell me..."

"We don't have any choice," Zhao XinChi took a deep breath. "That kid is frightened. I can't afford to scare that kid even more."

"Be careful." Shen YongZheng passed his coat.

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"Ah Hong!" Zhu Jiu screamed when his lover dropped to the ground. "No, Ah Hong... Wake up... Wake up, please." He grabbed the lifeless body, pulling her into his hug. "You, evil!" Zhu Jiu glared at Ma TiHua.

"Well... You are supposed to be happy as they two died a peaceful death." Ma TiHua laughed.

"Two?" Zhu Jiu frowned.

"Oh... You don't know that she is pregnant?" Ma TiHua tilted his head.

"You are lying," Zhu Jiu gulped, but the lump in his throat choked him.

"Oh, dear... She never tells him." Ma TiHua shook his head. "Why don't I slash her womb and let you see your future baby?" He nich their face distance. "I meant your former future baby."

Shen YongZheng pressed his hand on Zhu Jiu's chest when the younger man flinched. "What are you dreaming about?" He wondered.

Zhao XinChi strode into the creature through the mist. The high gas pressure around him pressed his bones but did not stop his track. "Urgh." He grunted when his walking stick broke.

"Are you alright?" Shen YongZheng caught his best friend before the old man fell to the ground.

"You... What are you doing here?" Zhao XinChi frowned. "Don't tell me you split yourself."

"It's not like I have an option." Shen YongZheng lifted his best friend's body. "I have two people to take care of."

"The pressure is not a joke. Can you handle it?" Zhao XinChi was concerned.

"Don't you dare look down on me, old man." Shen YongZheng huffed.

"Aaaarrrrggghhhh!" Zhu Jiu screamed in his stressful nightmare. "I kill you! I really kill you!" And just like sided with him, Nature opened the way. The murk dissolved and the dim sunlight brightened. Zhu Jiu clenched his fists, collecting his power. The next thing that happened was he rode the light and attacked Ma TiHua at lightning speed.

"Can you stretch your power?" Zhao XinChi asked. His eyes did not leave the creature.

"Why?" Shen YongZheng frowned.

"The beast is frightened."

"What?" Shen YongZheng blinked. "That creature is frightened? Of what?" he could not help but be amazed. If there was someone frightened, that was supposed to be them.

"Can you see that it keeps lowering its head? It peeks at us as if did not want to see us."

"Are you sure that you can handle it yourself?"

"Mhm." Zhao XinChi strode to the creature's side and sat near the fresh flowers. "Do you like flowers?" He asked the creature who scooted away from him.

Zhao XinChi lay on his back, glancing at the dark sky. "Do you know... I wish I could see sunshine in this place. But this place is always in darkness somehow," he talked again.

"I kill you!" Zhu Jiu charged at Ma TiHua. The two bodyguards struggled to stop him at all costs. Tears dropped along with his fast movements. But Ma TiHua smiled in every drip.

Zhu Jiu glared at Ma TiHua. His eyes filled with hatred. "Please, don't hate me," Ma TiHua jested. "That's useless," he laughed.

Zhu Jiu tightened his fists. With agile movements, Zhu Jiu attacked both men in black, and in a swift jump, Zhu Jiu blasted toward Ma TiHua. Ma TiHua fell on his back while Zhu Jiu sat on top of him with fish ready to hit the man. "I told you, I'll kill you." Zhu Jiu gritted his teeth.

"Then, what are you waiting for? Kill me!" Ma TiHua lifted his eyebrow.

"Don't you ever think just because you can't die you won't feel any pain. I'll make you feel the pain you'll never forget!"

"Do you really disregard my warning, young man?" Zhao XinChi's heavy voice echoed inside Zhu Jiu's mind.

"But..." Zhu Jiu cried, his fist trembling in the air.

"If you want to revert to the old you, disrespecting the chance the present time gives you. Then go ahead!" The voice reverberated once again.

Zhu Jiu sniffled. Suddenly, a warmth touched his fist, and pulled it down. Zhu Jiu lifted his eyes and gazed at the warmth source. "General Shen."

Meanwhile, in the center of the ground, Shen YongZheng and Zhao XinChi fell to the ground, coughing blood...

Kin selection was an occurrence when animals engaged in self-sacrificial behavior that benefited the genetic fitness of their relatives.

The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb. When people tied in a vow to protect their precious, the term "family" could expand regardless of the blood ties...

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Picture credit to Beeopic