The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 262: Execution

Why?

When did I expose myself?

Why is Qilin so certain that I’m a spy? What evidence does he have?

Or does he not care about evidence, and he simply decides to kill me because the potential risk I bring outweighs my value as a tool?

Gao Yang didn’t understand, and he had no chance to.

His system never lied. Qilin was trying to kill him.

The top-ranking awakener, triggering a bonus of 7000 times, must have come prepared. He would surely die if he fought.

It wasn’t time to give up yet. He must not give up until the last moment!

Suddenly, Gao Yang was reminded of Ghost Horse and the time he was questioned by Dragon. Although it turned out to be nothing but an act, it was something Gao Yang could learn from.

“I’m doomed to die if you want to kill me, Guildmaster, but I feel wronged.”

Gao Yang didn’t try to cover his fear. At the same time, he emphasized his frustration—both were his genuine feelings.

Qilin didn’t say anything. He took another step forward with his cane.

Gao Yang would like to back away, but he tamped down the urge.

“I feel no loyalty toward the Twelve Zodiac Signs. I came to the Qilin Guild for my own interest, for a stronger backing.”

“You may call me out for not being loyal to the Guild either, but I have never broken a rule. I’ve done things as the Guild demands and completed all missions the Guild tasked me with. I’ve never done anything harmful to the Guild or betrayed anyone.”

Qilin took another step forward. His sharp gaze seemed to soften for a moment, but the moment was fleeting.

“You’re a good guy, Seven Shadow, but my apologies, I cannot let you live.”

Gao Yang’s heart sank. Was there no other way? Did he have to fight?

As he spoke, Qilin raised his left hand and snapped his fingers.

“Fear.”

The air around Gao Yang seemed to freeze for half a second. Then everything in his vision turned black and white.

An explosion of thoughts occurred in his brain, dredging up countless memories.

The summer night when he was four, he stood outside his grandparents’ room and got his first glimpse into the truth of the Mist World through the crack of the door.

The night he turned eighteen, on his way back home, his head was caught in the tight grasp of Li Weiwei’s tentacles. Gao Yang, I love you. I want you. Give me your everything...

In his bedroom at midnight, Gao Xinxin carved his bloody heart out with bare hands. Brother, can I eat this...

On the hill as the sun set, spiderwebs of red cracks crawled along Wan Sisi’s fair face. She looked at him, confused and innocent. Gao Yang, I’m a little lightheaded...

In the mysterious cavern, just when the overwhelming wave of time and space was about to consume everything, Old Wang let go with tears streaming down his face. Tell my wife and kid that I love them...

Midnight, on the flagpole platform in the Eleventh High School, Niu Xuan hovered in the air, his body twisted into a braid due to a strange power, while he kept calling out, Mother, mother, mother mother mother...

Late at night, in the abandoned chemical plant, terrifying shadows held onto his body. The air blades Black Tortoise manipulated were about to cut off his head. I’ll take your bodies and Talents...

Old and new, the memories surfaced in his mind at the same time, so vivid that it felt as if he was reliving them... No, the fear was ten times greater, threatening to break him down.

Pinned to the spot, Gao Yang lost his ability to think properly.

Fear wrapped around him like venomous snakes, burrowing into his body.

No!

It’s just memories. It’s all in the past. They can’t hurt me now!

The last remaining thread of rationality at the depth of his consciousness was like a crack in pitch black, letting in a ray of light.

Trapped in complete darkness, Gao Yang reached out with all he had and touched the light, trying to recover his ability to think.

There was a faint flash in Qilin's dark eyes. His lips tugged into a smile, one with a hint of approval.

He took another step forward and snapped his fingers with his left hand.

“Pain.”

Qilin’s voice barely sounded human. The utterance was like an ancient tune, a rule, a concept, an unfathomable something, a causality that could not be defied.

In an instant, Gao Yang’s head was hit with another explosion, and in rushed the memories of all the physical pains he had been inflicted with.

At the same time, all the damage he had suffered in countless fights assaulted him.

It was pure, extreme physical pain, melting his mind and emotions like hellfire.

“Ahhhh—”

Gao Yang dropped to his knees and collapsed, curling into himself.

He couldn’t breathe. Tremendous pain wreaked havoc across every part of his skin, every muscle, every bone, tormenting him slowly like a dull knife.

Kill me.

Kill me now.

Please, please stop this!

Five seconds later, the pain evaporated.

Qilin had come up to Gao Yang. He offered a hand, like he was going to help Gao Yang up.

Gao Yang looked up at Qilin’s towering figure, trembling. His brain was still blank.

“Obey,” Qilin said.

Gao Yang’s blank mind woke up.

So gently, so unlike the pain of being cut and burned; the man’s voice felt like a gentle breeze.

Feeling weak, lowly, timid, inferior as his past self, admiring and trusting the strong, dignified, elegant ones as his past self—the feelings intertwined and hit Gao Yang where he was most tender.

Involuntarily, he reached out to take Qilin’s large, warm hand, slowly rising to his feet.

Standing before the man, Gao Yang was physically intact, yet mentally, he had been tortured and wrecked.

His face was covered in tears from the waves of fear and pain, which transformed into pure gratitude and deference at this moment.

“Admit your guilt, Seven Shadow. I’ll forgive you.”

Gao Yang looked at Qilin like he was God.

And wasn’t he?

I should confess everything to Him. I crave forgiveness, salvation.

Yes, I should do that. I don’t see a reason to defy His will.

In the face of God, I’m so very insignificant, pitiful, and impure.

“I...”

Gao Yang opened his mouth. He was going to confess.

He would tell Qilin that he was sent by the Twelve Zodiac Signs, that he was only tasked with observing the Guild for now, but he could become an actual spy should the two organizations clashed.

But he wasn’t that loyal to the Twelve Zodiac Signs, not really. Everything he did was for himself, his companions, and his family.

And he had Talent: Lucky, which took the form of a system that quantified everything and allowed him to enter the Talent Pantheon. It was thanks to the system that he could comprehend these many Talents...

Ah, most importantly, he had transmigrated into this world at the age of six. He didn’t actually belong here.

I’ll tell you everything, every secret of mine.

Because you’re God, and I want to be saved, be forgiven.

[Warning, you are in extremely great danger.]

[Luck acquisition rate increases to 9000 times.]

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