The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 253: Three Furious Punches

Gao Yang laid down Ghost Horse’s body and closed the man’s eyes before vanishing in an instant.

He teleported to Nine Frost, who had blacked out from injury, and grabbed his hand, quickly replicating level 5 Weak Point.

From behind him, the bone stings came, but Gao Yang had already teleported away, out of the attack range.

“Can!” he shouted to no one in particular.

“I, I’m here!”

Can showed herself to him. She had been hiding behind a pipe, her face covered in tears of despair.

Gao Yang teleported again to her side.

“Get on!” He turned his back to her. “Don’t let go!”

Can paused and quickly nodded, jumping onto his back with her arms and legs wrapping around him like a turtle shell.

Then the two of them disappeared.

Black Tortoise tensed. He could guess what Gao Yang was planning.

He decided to activate Phantom. However, he had been injured badly, and now that he had transformed into a monster with one’s ability and physiology, he couldn’t immediately tap into the awakener Talents inside him.

As expected, he was half a beat too slow.

A heavy punch landed on his right chest. He felt his internal organs almost shattered to pieces even with the protection of his scales.

This, Gao Yang declared silently, is for myself!

Black Tortoise was hit squarely, yet he couldn’t see his assailant.

Still invisible, Gao Yang teleported in quick succession.

After getting a punch in, he activated the replicated level 5 Weak Point.

[Stats Bonuses of Level 5 Weak Point: Constitution + 450, Endurance + 450, Strength + 600, Agility + 350, Charisma + 120.]

[Status screen updated.]

[Constitution: 950 Endurance: 950]

[Strength: 1300 Agility: 1250]

[Willpower: 500 Charisma: 236]

[Luck: 454]

With the temporary bonuses, Gao Yang’s current stats almost rivaled those of War Tiger.

Black Tortoise had given up on attacking. Instead, he crossed his arms and instinctively shielded his right chest.

He didn’t expect Gao Yang’s second punch to come from the back, aimed at his heart.

While his fist was in contact with only his flesh and bones, the force of his fist could reach his heart.

Weak Point activated!

Times five!

Throwing up blood, Black Tortoise flew into the air.

Gao Yang cried out inwardly, This is for the fourth and fifth team members who had gotten killed!

Clang!

Black Tortoise slammed into a reactor, leaving a trail of blood on the wall.

Pain overwhelmed him. The serious blow his heart suffered quickly drained him of energy, and the scales covering his body gradually disappeared.

He couldn’t afford to care. Clenching his teeth, he whirled around and splayed his hands, attempting to protect himself with Phantom.

But then a blade pierced through his palm and pinned his right hand to the reactor, and then three consecutive gunshots hit him in the left arm, which dropped down uselessly, leaving his chest entirely exposed.

No!

With a flash of fear, Black Tortoise’s eyes reflected a figure that had suddenly shown up midair. It was Gao Yang, who had teleported to him at imperceptible speed.

—This is for Wan Sisi!

Bam!!!

Gao Yang hit Black Tortoise in the right chest.

Weak Point activated!

Times twenty-five!

Wing! A powerful shockwave rippled out. Unable to hold on any longer, Can was thrown off Gao Yang’s back and ended up landing on her bottom.

Then with a piercing noise, Black Tortoise smashed through the metal wall of the reactor, ending up stuck inside.

His chest burst, and his eyeballs were squeezed out, leaving only two crimson sockets. Blood came out from all his orifices. His facial features turned distorted, and his limbs twisted into braids.

Crippled, his body looked like something grown out of the heap of damaged metal, macabre and pitiful.

Gao Yang knew he couldn’t be more dead.

But it wasn’t enough.

“Fire!”

Two streams of fire filled the reactor, burning Black Tortoise to charcoal before quickly melting and reducing his body.

“Fire!”

Gao Yang had almost no energy left, yet he kept pushing himself, squeezing himself dry. He couldn’t stop.

He smiled bitterly. Elder Black Tortoise, I’ve held your funeral for you and cremated you for free. Don’t thank me. I’m only doing my part as your subordinate.

“Fire!”

Gao Yang shouted again, but his hands no longer listened to him, and no fire came out.

“Fire! Fire, fire, fire...”

He kept shouting. His face was already covered in tears when he realized.

Why did you stop?! Keep going!

I can still fight! I have to get revenge!

“Enough.”

A hand rested on Gao Yang’s shoulder. He turned around slowly and saw Officer Huang.

“He’s dead, Gao Yang.”

Black Tortoise was dead.

The archbishop, the second in command of the Godbearer Cult had been killed. Gao Yang had taken his first step in revenge.

But for some reason, he found no joy in it, only an empty feeling that had no bounds.

Ah, it turns out that there’s no bringing back the dead no matter how many enemies I kill for revenge.

Gao Yang slowly closed his eyes and fell down backward.

...

Five minutes later, Azure Dragon arrived with the first team.

They had someone with a healing Talent among them, and with the help of first-aid items, everyone at the chemical plant was saved from the clutches of death.

Save for Ghost Horse. His body was placed on the side, covered by clothes.

The fifth team and the two awakeners from the Twelve Zodiac Signs, Qing Ling and Officer Huang, received treatment together. At the same time, Elder Azure Dragon questioned the Guild members.

When the conversation shifted to Ghost Horse, they fell silent. They didn’t know more than Azure Dragon did.

The Elder turned to Gao Yang.

Gao Yang knew there was no hiding the fact that they fought together. Actually, he had come up with an explanation back when he decided to kill Black Tortoise with Ghost Horse.

However, things went wrong, and the one they killed turned out to be nothing but a puppet of Black Tortoise’s.

The true form of Black Tortoise hadn’t heard the conversation between Gao Yang and Ghost Horse, and he had never learned of Gao Yang’s true identity and allegiance. Thus, the explanation would still work.

After careful consideration, Gao Yang revealed some of the truths.

“Ghost Horse appeared to be a spy planted in the Twelve Zodiac Signs by the God Bearer Cult. After being found out and executed, he was then resurrected by someone from the Spectres and had been working for the Cult.”

“In truth, however, he was a double agent the Twelve Zodiac Signs planted in the Godbearer Cult. It was a top secret known only to Dragon and no one else.”

“Then how did you know?” Azure Dragon said with an icy expression. “Are you perhaps a spy from the Twelve Zodiac Signs as well?”

“I can explain.”

Gao Yang looked at Azure Dragon, who was wearing a dragon mask, and said with an honest gaze and an earnest tone, “Elder Azure Dragon, while the body theft was entrusted to your capable hands, I had been secretly continuing with the investigation due to personal grievances with Ghost Horse.”

Gao Yang explained the bad blood between him and Ghost Horse.

“Following the clues, I tracked Ghost Horse to the chemical plant, only to learn that he had lured me here on purpose. He had already learned of the true identity of Black Tortoise of the Guild—he was the second-in-command of the Godbearer Cult. Ghost Horse had been working for Black Tortoise recently, and he stole the bodies for him.”

“Ghost Horse realized that Black Tortoise was incredibly dangerous, that he might have suspected him of being a double agent and was going to kill him. Thus, Ghost Horse told me about his true identity and goal, asking me to help take out Black Tortoise.”

“My beef with Ghost Horse was an extension of my beef with Black Tortoise and the Godbearer Cult. Ghost Horse believed that I had reason to take revenge against the man.”

“Even if you did have the reason to take revenge, why would you so easily believe Ghost Horse if you weren’t a spy from the Twelve Zodiac Signs? Why would you take his words for it?” Azure Dragon questioned level-headedly, his gaze sharp.

“Because I’ve found the relevant clues in Captain Three Air’s diary, pointing to Black Tortoise being a traitor. I only believe the conclusion after finding different supporting evidence.”

Gao Yang explained what he had found from the diary and the logic of his deduction.

“And Black Tortoise turned out to be a traitor from the Cult. If you don’t believe me, have Elder Vermilion Bird question Black Tortoise. The body won’t lie.”

“Why didn’t you just tell me?” Azure Dragon asked. “Leave me to deal with Black Tortoise?”

“First, you may not believe me. Second, things were urgent when Ghost Horse asked me to work with him, leaving me with little time to think. I admit I was gambling. Killing Black Tortoise would not only allow me to have my revenge, it would also be a great merit on my record. If I succeeded, I would surely become an Elder.”

Gao Yang mixed truth with lies and lowered his head with a bitter smile. “I didn’t expect things to go so wrong, and for me to almost get killed.”

“Ghost Horse and you had bitten off more than you could chew,” Azure Dragon said with a hint of disapproval. “You’re lucky to not have been wiped out entirely. Wait for your punishment. Don’t expect your killing Black Tortoise to make up for your mistake.”

“Of course. I’ll accept whatever punishment.” Gao Yang nodded humbly.

Azure Dragon sighed quietly. “Seven Shadow, I’ll take your words for it for now. Once we return to headquarters, I’ll question all of you again, and Guildmaster will join me as well. Then your punishment will be decided.”

“Understood.” Gao Yang then said, “Elder Azure Dragon, may I be questioned two days later?”

“Why?”

“He’s taking his college entrance exams,” it was Qing Ling who answered. Sitting on the ground, she held onto her Tang Dao with one hand and covered her bandaged abdomen with the other.

Azure Dragon paused and said in a softer tone, “We’ll do that then. I’ll have someone keep an eye on you. Good luck for the next two days.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Azure Dragon glanced at Ghost Horse’s body. “Take him too and have Vermilion Bird question him.”

Shit!

Gao Yang couldn’t believe he would forget about Ghost Horse’s body!

Ghost Horse knew his true identity, and he would be exposed.

When they first came up with their plan to assassinate Black Tortoise, Gao Yang hadn’t expected Ghost Horse to get killed.

“It’s inappropriate for you to take one of our own, isn’t it?”

A voice spoke up like a timely rain.

Azure Dragon and Gao Yang looked up to see three people walking through the front gates of the chemical plant.

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