The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 161: Contact

Gao Yang didn’t say anything.

His teacher patted him on the shoulder and assured him, “Don’t be nervous, Gao Yang. Officer Huang simply wants to ask a few more questions since Li Weiwei’s culprit was never found.”

“Okay.”

“Then I’ll leave you to it.” His teacher left the office.

Once the door closed, Officer Huang didn’t immediately speak up, but instead shut the door properly and walked around the office a few times with a small scanner. Then he picked up the items on the office desk and even looked up to thoroughly check the lightbulbs and the corners of the ceiling.

Only after making sure that there were no bugs or hidden cameras did Officer Huang allow himself to relax. He took off his police cap and gave Gao Yang a smile he was familiar with.

“It’s been a while, Gao Yang.”

“Did War Tiger put you up to this?” Gao Yang asked with a resigned smile.

“Something like that.” Officer Huang was being vague. “It isn’t wrong for former colleagues to catch up, is it?”

You really are the devil, Uncle Tiger!

Who was the one that told me to stay put at the Qilin Guild and don’t do anything rash? Why would you send Officer Huang to contact me so soon after my transfer? Should I take this as your trust in my competence, or your blatant disregard for my safety?

“How’s everyone?” Gao Yang asked.

“Pretty good, except for the HR head who recruited you,” Officer Huang said teasingly. “She cursed you and your family out every day.”

Gao Yang snorted when he imagined White Rabbit\'s furious face.

“You should give me a statement on Li Weiwei as part of the act. Best to cover our bases.” Officer Huang took out a notepad. “Do you have anything to tell me before that?”

Gao Yang snuck to the door to make sure no one was listening. Then he returned to Officer Huang’s side and started drawing on the notepad.

“I ran into an evil organization that worships an entity they refer to as the Heavenly Godbearer. Their members include monsters, freeriders, and perhaps even awakeners. They have been killing wanderers for some sort of evil ritual. The Qilin Guild takes it very seriously.”

Gao Yang finished drawing the evil symbol found at the crime scene and tore the page off to hold it up to Officer Huang. “Have you memorized it?”

Officer Huang nodded after looking at it seriously for two seconds.

Crackle. The sheet of paper burned into ashes in Gao Yang’s hand.

After a pause, he added, “Secondly, an important reason Black Tortoise recruited me was my Lie Detection.”

“Does the Guild also have a...” Officer Huang swallowed the word ‘spy’.

“Yes.” Gao Yang nodded, speaking swiftly and quietly. “Thirdly, strange things happened in the Eleventh High School. It may be a Rune Cave.”

Officer Huang’s gaze darkened.

“Don’t think about going. The Beiyong District is the Qilin Guild’s turf. I’ve reported the finding to my superior. I can’t possibly keep it to myself.”

Officer Huang nodded. “Of course. Stay safe.”

After a silent two seconds, the two of them immediately got into their act.

“You still haven’t found the culprit who killed Li Weiwei?” Gao Yang asked, raising his voice.

“Unfortunately so,” Officer Huang said loud enough to be overheard as well. “That’s why I came to talk to you. Perhaps there are clues we’ve missed.”

...

After the evening self-study, Gao Yang went straight to the Black Tortoise branch in the Walled City of Ten Dragons rather than going home.

Gray Bear had been waiting in the lobby for quite a while, his expression gloomy. He complained loudly as soon as he spotted Gao Yang, “We shouldn’t have reported it, Captain. We should’ve done this ourselves first!”

“What’s wrong?” asked Gao Yang.

“Elder Black Tortoise sent the fourth team to the Eleventh High School to investigate.” Gray Bear fumed. “How does that make sense? We found the clue first!”

Gao Yang smiled wryly. He wasn’t surprised.

The fourth team and the fifth team both answered to Elder Black Tortoise. It was said that the fourth team was stronger in general, and they performed better.

Moreover, Gao Yang had only just become the captain of the fifth team. He hadn’t earned Black Tortoise’s trust.

It was only natural that Black Tortoise would send the fourth team to the Rune Cave instead.

“We’ll follow orders,” Gao Yang said nonchalantly.

“Shit!” Gray Bear was still angry. “That’s differential treatment! Elder always sends the fourth team on the good missions, while the fifth team is left with scraps!”

“Believe me, Gray Bear, going to the Rune Cave isn’t all fun and games.” Gao Yang was speaking from the bottom of his heart.

“I don’t care! Elder obviously favors the fourth team! He dislikes the fifth team!” Gray Bear threw a tantrum like a child fighting for a parent’s favor.

“Don’t let it get to you. Maybe the fourth team won’t find anything.” Gao Yang smiled at him. “Do you have time? I\'m hungry. Let’s get barbecue together.”

Gray Bear calmed down somewhat. “Alright. I was so angry that I didn’t really eat anything during dinner.”

“Why don’t we go to Owner Liu’s place?”

“Oh my, Captain.” Gray Bear smirked with his eyes narrowed. “Is that your type?”

“You’re reading too much into it. I simply want some barbecue.”

“There’s no need to explain! I get it!” Gray Bear put an arm around Gao Yang’s shoulder like they were brothers, his smile turning salacious. “The additional appendage doesn’t change the fact that the owner is a real beauty! I myself can’t help but sneak a few glances every time I visit.”

Gao Yang sighed inwardly. Alright, it’s better that he suspects my sexuality than my allegiance.

...

Three o’clock in the morning, Gao Yang returned home and went to bed after cleaning and washing himself.

Soon, he met Liu Qingying in a Sweet Dream.

No one would doubt her devotion to providing good service. Her dream was always carefully crafted, and no two dreams were the same. This time, the two of them were sitting in the business class cabin of a plane.

The plane flew through the sky. Outside the window was an ocean of heavy violet clouds, turbulent and awe-inspiring as thunder rumbled and lightning crackled. It looked like the end of the world.

Sitting by his side, Liu Qingying had a light blanket on her.

“How well are you adapting to the Qilin Guild?” Liu Qingying said with a faint smile.

“Doing alright.” Gao Yang looked out of the window at the ocean of clouds. “I didn’t expect my first time seeing the sea as well as riding on a plane to be in dreams.”

“I can show you many more first times should you wish.” Liu Qingying smiled alluringly at him, her eyes bright.

“How exciting,” Gao Yang humored her and turned back. “Alright, you start.”

Liu Qingying turned slightly to the side. “Then I will. Please don’t get mad.”

Gao Yang nodded, picking up the glass of orange juice on the small table before him to take a sip.

“Did you join the Qilin Guild as a spy from the Twelve Zodiac Signs?”

Gao Yang almost choked. He put down the glass of orange juice and said with forced composure, “What class is the intel?”

“S-class.”

Gao Yang chuckled with a lightness he didn’t feel. “Ha, I didn’t expect myself to be this important.”

[Access granted.]

Fuck!

Liu Qingying, the old fox! She’s now after me?!

That’s a trick question! If I said no comments in panic, that’s as good as a confession to being a spy sent from the Twelve Zodiac Signs! I’m not gonna fall for it!

It’s Black Tortoise, isn’t it? He’s the one asking for the info!

[Access ends.]

“You’ve overestimated me. I’m not loyal to the Twelve Zodiac Signs.” Gao Yang shrugged. “The Qilin Guild is clearly the safer bet. With the start of the Prophecy of Seven, one has to choose their side with care.”

Then he glanced at Liu Qingying. “I’d advise you to find support soon for your safety.”

Liu Qingying gave Gao Yang a fleeting soft look. “How thoughtful of you. Thank you for your consideration. However, I still prefer staying a free agent.”

“To each its own. I get it.” Gao Yang changed the subject. “What else do you want to know?”

“Details on the Talents of Qilin and the four elders. All those are S-class intel.”

Gao Yang spread his hands. “I don’t know, and I can’t tell you even if I do.”

“I’ve thought as much.” Liu Qingying smiled. She didn’t seem disappointed. “That’s my end. I don’t have anything else to ask you.”

“Alright. Then have you made progress on your investigation into the faction behind Ghost Horse and Mad Red, as I’ve requested?”

“I did make some progress.” Liu Qingying raised her eyebrows slightly, her lips curved into a smile.