"A symbiosis between humans and animals." Lin Ye's voice was as cold as the back of a knife, without a trace of warmth. "The rules of the old city are that supernatural creatures are not allowed to transform into humans, and symbiosis is a capital crime. You should know it."
The boy didn't speak, but bit his lower lip tightly. The lip had been bitten and blood was oozing from it. His left hand pressed on Ye Li's head, his movements were too gentle, as if he was comforting an injured child. The dying beast let out a low whimper, not of fear or pain, but of reluctance with nostalgia.
"It didn't hurt anyone." The boy's voice was hoarse as if it had been sandpapered, with a subtle tremor. "We are just looking for food. The trash cans in the old city are things that even humans despise. We... We just want to survive."
Lin Ye's hunting knife stagnated slightly, and the tip of the knife was half a minute closer to the boy's throat, but he did not press down any further.
