The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 228: We’ve Been Waiting

Gao Yang’s biggest problem actually lay in convincing his mother, but he had a solution to that.

He called his mother and told her that he had decided to go to a college in Li City, and Wang Zikai played a big part in convincing him.

That was enough to make his mother take a liking to his ‘delinquent friend’.

Then Gao Yang promised his mother that he had been staying with Wang Zikai for cramming sessions. After all, it was more effective when someone was there to supervise and help him with test problems and memorization.

To support his claim, he even took pictures of him and Wang Zikai pretending to be studying diligently.

Wang Zikai, ever the dramatic one, put on a headband that said, ‘Ace the entrance exams,’ as if he was the examinee between the two of them.

Amused and resigned by Wang Zikai’s antics, Gao Yang’s mother agreed to let Gao Yang stay with Wang Zikai. But she made sure to remind her son that he should rest as well, not to pull all-nighters on doing practice tests.

Three days later, late at night after evening self-study, Gao Yang found Wang Zikai waiting to pick him up outside the school in his sports car—the McLaren Wu Dahai had lent him.

It was a relief that Wang Zikai was a monster. Otherwise, Gao Yang would be anxious about him playing bodyguard so openly every day.

“Bro! Let’s go home!”

Wang Zikai took off his sunglasses and rested a hand on the car door, grinning confidently at him with all his pearly whites on display.

As Gao Yang walked up to the car, he heard a honk from another car nearby.

He turned around and identified it as Gray Bear’s.

“Give me a few minutes, Wang Zikai.”

Gao Yang crossed the road to reach Gray Bear’s car. Then he opened the door and got into the passenger seat.

“Captain, I’ve done what you asked me to do.” Gray Bear took out a stack of paper. They were photocopied screenshots of surveillance footage.

Gao Yang took the stack and flipped through the copies. The fidelity of the screenshots was lacking. All were nighttime shots of small to medium size trucks that had driven past the particular crossroad he identified before.

“All small to medium size trucks going through the crossroad on May 18th, 1 a.m. to 8 a.m. are here. There are nine in total. I asked someone to help look them up. It took quite some time.”

Gao Yang nodded. “Any results?”

“Yes.”

Gray Bear pointed at one of the screenshots, which was a truck of a home moving company. “The others have been confirmed and excluded. This is the only one that’s suspicious.”

“Go on.”

“The truck was stolen about ten days ago. The moving company notified the police, but the truck was never found.”

Gao Yang put two and two together. The body robbers had first stolen the truck before they stole the bodies from the funeral home. Then the bodies were transported with the truck.

“Good. Can the car be found?”

“As long as the truck was driven on the road and got captured by a surveillance camera, it could be tracked down.” Gray Bear’s confident tone took a turn. “If the car is never used, though, there’s not much we can do.”

Gray Bear smiled wryly. “The police can’t possibly check every household for the truck, and this is an investigation done under the table, one I had to ask a favor for. We have neither the manpower nor the resources for a comprehensive search.”

Gao Yang nodded and pondered for a moment. “Is there any awakener adept at finding objects in the Guild?”

Gray Bear gave it a good thought. “Well, I don’t think so. I don’t know about the Elders. Their Talents are kept a secret.”

Gao Yang was a little disappointed. Was this a deadend?

“However,” Gray Bear said, thinking of something. “There may be someone like that from the Hundred Rivers Union.”

“Really?”

Gray Bear said with uncertainty, “That’s my guess. They have always been quite good at finding things. I heard that one of their members is a medium of sorts.”

The Hundred Rivers Union?

Gao Yang mused. Then he kept the picture of the moving truck and returned the rest to Gray Bear. “Destroy those. This is where your involvement ends. Don’t tell anyone about it.”

“Captain.” Gray Bear smiled, curious. “What are you looking for? You’re being all mysterious.”

“Gray Bear.”

Gao Yang held his gaze and quoted Vermilion Bird, “Every secret comes with a risk. You shouldn’t ask about what you shouldn’t know. It’s for your sake.”

Gray Bear nodded. “I know this must be dangerous, Captain, but we’ve overcome deaths together.”

That’s exactly why I can’t watch you die. And Qilin wants me to investigate in private.

Then Gray Bear’s gaze grew heated. “Ah, did you find out anything from Captain Three Air’s diary?”

Gao Yang shook his head. “I read it through many times, but it seems like a simple diary to me.”

Gray Bear looked at him imploringly. “Captain, I won’t stick my nose in anything else, but if you ever find the culprit, tell me. The fifth team must avenge Captain Three Air!”

The culprit had been found—Mad Red, and Gao Yang had killed the man.

As for the group behind Mad Red, the Godbearer Cult, it wasn’t an enemy the fifth team could deal with. It would likely take the whole Qilin Guild to go against the Cult.

Gao Yang patted Gray Bear on the shoulder. “Don’t worry.”

“Alright.” Gray Bear relaxed.

Then he reminded Gao Yang, “Ah, if you’re gonna ask the Hundred Rivers Union for help, you should do it ASAP. Psychic stuff is less likely to succeed as time passes.”

“I’ll think about it.”

Gao Yang got out of the car and watched Gray Bear drive away. Then he got into Wang Zikai’s sports car.

“Should we go home now?” Wang Zikai asked. “Or are we getting some food?”

“A sec.”

Gao Yang thought about Gray Bear’s advice and found it viable. It wasn’t too late yet. He had Chen Ying’s number. He could call her.

Looking for the truck was only one part of the investigation, and he wouldn’t need to tell the Hundred Rivers Union anything important about the case. It shouldn’t be against Qilin’s will to ask for this favor.

Gao Yang made the call. Chen Ying picked up after a couple rings.

“Hello?”

“Dark Horse, now Seven Shadow,” Gao Yang said concisely.

“Wait.” There was a moment of quiet, followed by a splash and the faint sound of body being dried with a towel. Then the rustles of clothes being put on.

“What can I help you with?”

“It’s best we talk personally, as soon as you’re able.”

“Okay. I’ll wait at the restaurant Cherry Blossom on the top floor of the Sea View Tower, in Nanji District.” The answer came promptly.

Gao Yang was taken by surprise. Isn’t she being too decisive? It’s as if she knew I would ask to meet her.

Gao Yang put away his phone and turned to Wang Zikai. “We aren’t going home. Let’s go to the Sea View Tower in Nanji District for food.”

“Alright!”

Wang Zikai started the car and pushed the accelerator. The enthralling sound of engine revving rang, the car’s tail light drawing lines along the dark road.

Gao Yang and Wang Zikai arrived at the Sea View Tower past midnight.

Contrary to what the name of the building would suggest, Li City didn’t border any sea.

It was a quaint seven-storied hotel. Gao Yang and Wang Zikai walked past the revolving door into the luxurious yet old-fashioned lobby. Then they entered the elevator and pressed 7F.

Half a minute later, the elevator door opened, leading to a restaurant with island-style interiors.

There were no customers this late at night.

Dressed formally and professionally in white shirt, suit pants, and high heels, Chen Ying stood in the reception area outside the elevator like she had been waiting for a long time.

She waved at them when she saw them. “Please, come in.”

Gao Yang and Wang Zikai followed her through the regular seats to the innermost room. The three-pane folding screen slowly opened, revealing the softly-lit elegant space.

A low longtable was set up before the tatami floor, on which were sophisticatedly plated sushi, sashimi, and drinks.

An elderly woman knelt before the table. She was dressed in black gambiered silk with her hair put up with a hairpin. Her graceful demeanor gave off an air of nobility and serenity.

She had taken care of herself well. Her skin was fair and firm with only some wrinkles at the corners of her eyes and mouth. Her ocean blue eyes were like calm lakes in fair weather.

In a corner behind her was a wheelchair.

Is she paralyzed below the waist? Gao Yang wondered.

Also kneeling at the table was a woman dressed like a performer. She was playing a rueful tune with an erhu.

“We’ve been waiting, Captain Seven Shadow.”

The elderly woman smiled.