The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 233: Introspection

The three of them waited on the shoal for about twenty minutes until the Hundred Rivers Union sent half of the first team to escort Chen Ying back.

Gao Yang and Wang ZIkai decided to go as well. As soon as Wang Zikai got into his sports car, Gao Yang received a message from Black Tortoise on his phone: get in my car.

He looked up to see a luxurious gray sedan parked nearby.

He told Wang Zikai, “You should go home. The Guild has sent someone for me.”

“Is your new organization reliable?” Wang Zikai looked doubtful. “It doesn’t seem that way. Why don’t you stay with me? The 94 Duo will defeat whoever comes our way, be it gods or buddhas!”

“How many times have I told you that you’re the hidden ace, and that you should lay low for the moment?” Gao Yang placated him with flattery.

“Alright. I’m going home then. My fucking butt is getting cold.” Wang Zikai pushed the accelerator and drove away.

Once the sports car was out of sight, the sedan slowly came over. The door slid to the side, revealing Black Tortoise—or Yan Feng.

He was dressed in a dragon robe with imperial headwear, and on his face was a fake mustache.

Gao Yang paused, suppressing the urge to holler, ‘All hail Your Majesty the Emperor.’

“Come in.” Yan Feng lifted his head slightly, his dignified and composed voice demanding respect. He seemed to still be in character.

Gao Yang got into the car and sat down next to Yan Feng.

The car started. Yan Feng’s manager, dressed professionally with a shrewd look on his face, said in an irritated tone, “He’s only got an hour off, and it’s been 20 minutes. Hurry up already! We’re all waiting for you!”

“Drop the kid at the walking street in the Feiyang District before taking me back to the set.”

“Who is this kid to you?” The manager glanced at Gao Yang through the rearview mirror. He joked, “He’s not an illegitimate child of yours, is he?”

With a gentle smile on his face, Yan Feng flipped his manager off.

Gao Yang was a little surprised. It turned out that Black Tortoise was but a regular person as the actor Yan Feng, and he was quite close to his manager. They must have known each other for a long time.

Yan Feng glanced at his manager before turning back to Gao Yang, saying in a lowered voice, “Like I said before, he’s a white face. Don’t worry about him.”

Gao Yang nodded.

“I just reported to Guildmaster,” said Yan Feng. “The investigation is now out of your hand.”

“The mission...”

“Is now Elder Azure Dragon’s responsibility. He will conduct the investigation personally.”

Gao Yang was somewhat reluctant. He didn’t like dropping things halfway, but deep down, he also felt relief. Perhaps he had dodged a bullet.

All in all, he was conflicted.

“Stay in the branch for the next few days,” said Yan Feng. “You may still be in danger.”

Gao Yang said honestly, “But I’m taking my college entrance exams in a week, and I have to go to school during the day.”

“Hm.” Yan Feng seemed troubled. “True. It’ll be too suspicious for you to go missing the next few days. It’s likely to alert them.”

He nodded. “Go to school then. I’ll ask White Tiger for two Protectors to keep an eye on you secretly until you finish your entrance exams.”

“That won’t be necessary.” Gao Yang didn’t like being watched. “I’ll be careful myself.”

Yang Feng still sounded worried. “It’s too dangerous to leave you on your own.”

“I have a bodyguard. He’s reliable.”

“The one who drove away in the sports car?” Yan Feng was sharp.

“Yes.”

“Can he be trusted?”

“Yes. He’s stronger than me, and we’ve been through life and death situations many times.”

“Alright.” Yan Feng nodded. “I’ve told Elder Azure Dragon everything you reported to me. Is there anything else you’d like to add?”

“Not at the moment.”

“Then we’ll end things here.” Yan Feng immediately shifted to actor mode and picked up a script out of nowhere. “I’m going to memorize my lines. Make yourself at home.”

He quickly got into his role and put on a different expression. “Hmph! There are always the unruly sorts coming after this Emperor...”

...

Half an hour later, the car stopped at the entrance of the ancient China-themed walking street in the Feiyang District.

Gao Yang got out of the car and made it through the street block of bustling establishments and rowdy crowds, diving into the narrow alley leading to the Walled City of Ten Dragons. Then he rode a capsule under the Black Tortoise branch to the hotel-like dorm at the White Tiger branch.

He first treated his wounds with fast-acting medicine. After they were just about healed, he stripped and took a bath, resting while quietly going over all the information he had gathered so far.

First, he was now 100% certain that there was another spy among the Qilin Guild.

It was the spy’s help that allowed Ghost Horse to steal the bodies with such ease.

Based on what Chen Ying had found, Ghost Horse seemed to be following the direct orders of the spy, which meant that the spy was a high-class secret and most likely a high-ranking member of the Godbearer Cult.

Ghost Horse could only carry out the spy’s order and wait for the next instruction to come. He wasn’t allowed to ask any questions.

The spy and Ghost Horse must have learned about Gao Yang being tasked with investigating the theft. In response, the enemy retaliated and almost succeeded in taking out Gao Yang.

In the beginning, only Qilin, Black Tortoise, and Vermilion Bird knew that Gao Yang was looking into the matter. As his investigation progressed, though, there were many points where the information could have been leaked.

To an outsider, the snippets of information wouldn’t be enough to piece together what was going on, but to the spy, even the slightest movement would lead them to the conclusion that Gao Yang was conducting an investigation under the table.

Gao Yang had a feeling that the spy must be higher-ranking in the Qilin Guild than Yellow Butterfly, which meant that they were at least a Protector.

—Or even an Elder.

The possibility sent a shudder down Gao Yang’s spine. What would it mean for one of the Elders to be a spy?

It would be equivalent to War Tiger being revealed as a traitor in the Twelve Zodiac Signs. The implications were grim.

Gao Yang had two options.

First, follow orders and give up on the investigation.

The positive was that he would be out of danger temporarily. The spy would be too busy dealing with Elder Azure Dragon, who was going to personally investigate the matter, to bother with Gao Yang.

The negative was that it felt wrong to just give up when Gao Yang was so close to catching Ghost Horse.

And a day Ghost Horse lived on was a day Gao Yang slept with an eye open.

Gao Yang sighed and closed his eyes.

[Access granted.]

[You have a total of 231 Luck points.]

—It’s been seven days, and I fought Ghost Horse and almost got blown up two hours ago. That’s about what I should get.

—Increase Constitution and Endurance to the limit and put the rest of my Luck points into Charisma.

[Constitution: 500 Endurance: 500]

[Strength: 500 Agility: 500]

[Willpower: 500 Charisma: 116]

[Luck: 454]

[Access ends.]

Submerged in the warm bath, Gao Yang felt his energy concentrating to his chest before spreading to different parts of his body. A moment later, he found his breathing more stable, his heartbeat stronger, his muscles more toned, and his bones hardier.

This is about my current limit.

Even so, I’m unlikely to be able to endure something like the explosion two hours ago. I’d be crippled even if I lived.

He wondered how Wang Zikai’s physical abilities would translate into stats. Still, it didn’t make sense to look at stats alone. After all, monsters had their ‘Talents’ too.

Take Old Wang’s Iron Skin as an example, before activating the Talent, Old Wang’s Endurance might not be that much higher than that of other awakeners. After activating Iron Skin, though, he was significantly more durable.

If Gao Yang was going to go against an assassin, the best counter would be a Talent for tanking. If that wasn’t possible, acquiring a Talent for assassins would at least allow him to give as good as he took.

And to defend against a Talent for ambush like Detonation, acquiring a Life-type or Guard-type Talent would increase his chance of survival.

As for curses, Miracle-type Talents would be a good counter.

Another near death experience cemented Gao Yang’s belief that there were no strong awakeners who would forever be undefeated, and there were no weak awakeners who could never put up a fight.

Teacher War Tiger was right. In the world of awakeners, there were many more factors that would determine the victor and the one to survive.

Only in a shonen manga would people announce their names and have a head-to-head duel.

Gao Yang opened his eyes and clicked into his photo album on his phone. He found the picture he had taken of the face of the body that almost killed him.

After debating with himself, he clenched his teeth and rose from the bathtub with a splash.

No, I can’t just do nothing!

He accessed his contact list and found Sister Xia. He was about to make a call.

Thud, thud, thud.

Someone knocked.

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