If you're thinking of all this as an organism-- [he waves his hand again, with more certainty, leaning forward as his interest in the topic overcomes his desire to see just how far he can coax that blush to spread.] -- are we really part of it?

We're still different from the old gods. We disappear all the time, shinki like me sometimes remember things, we've still got real names instead of just the ones we get from our gods.

It could be that it's that invading force that's putting us here. We could be cannon fodder to keep the old gods distracted and divided, and stop them finding those invaders.

[Or, what's the right image for Shen Wei's metaphor? Zhao's not great with medicine or biology, apparently. He scowls in brief thought, and then suggests:]

... An allergic reaction?