The Creatures that We Are

The next day, ten o’clock in the morning.

Room 5007, White Tiger Branch.

Gao Yang woke up in the large bed in his room. He clicked a button above the bedside lamp. The thick curtains parted slowly to the sides. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, bright sunlight illuminated the prosperous Li City.

Topless, Gao Yang sat up and had a large gulp of water before walking to the full-length mirror barefooted, examining his body, which had gotten more well-built by the day.

After using the level 2 healing medicine provided by the Guild, his injuries had more or less healed, leaving only faint scars. The scars would disappear in a month if he was lucky. Then it would seem like he had never gotten injured in the first place.

Gao Yang took out a chicken sandwich from the fridge and reheated it in the microwave. Then he poured himself a glass of milk.

Sitting at the table, he waited for his breakfast to heat up, his thoughts straying.

He finally came to terms with what had happened at the Eleventh High School.

During their investigation, the fourth and fifth teams chanced upon the Rune Cave and acquired the Summon Rune Circuit and the Support Rune Circuit—but at a heavy price.

Those killed in the mission included Xiran from the fifth team, and Dark Li, Old Joe, Xiuyi, Black Sparrow, and Yellow Butterfly from the fourth team.

And Nine Frost from the fourth team suffered serious injury.

The rest of them had also been injured to various degrees.

The twenty-four hours of twists and turns, suffering and losses were reduced to a short, concise report. Of course, it was merely the official one made to the Guild. The actual report, including information about Yellow Butterfly being a spy planted by the Godbearer Cult, had been made directly to Black Tortoise by Gao Yang and Gray Bear.

That night, after they dealt with Yellow Butterfly, Gao Yang and the others quickly returned to the rooftop to save Nine Frost, who had blacked out from his injury, with their last shot of Medicine C.

Then they retrieved the bodies of their companions and brought them back to the flagpole platform on the running track, including the charred Yellow Butterfly.

With the two Rune Circuits, the portal to the real world opened. Just like what had happened in the Gu Family’s Village, a beam of light came down from the sky.

They entered the beam of light and returned to the Eleventh High School on the surface.

Elder Black Tortoise noticed the loss of contact three hours after the fourth and fifth teams went on the investigation mission, and he immediately requested reinforcements.

Leading the first and second teams personally, Elder Azure Dragon arrived at the Eleventh High School and locked it down, initiating a thorough search. They soon found traces of battle in the auditorium. Black Tortoise and Azure Dragon speculated that the two teams must have been pulled into a Rune Cave.

They had an awakener with a Time-Space-type Talent look for a way into the Rune Cave. Strangely, when the awakener attempted to create an opening at the flagpole platform, they found their Talent unresponsive.

They didn’t know that it was the Support Rune Circuit inflicting the silence debuff, the influence of which radiated from the Rune Cave to the bordering area outside.

Left with no option, they could only wait for a miracle to happen.

And at midnight the next day, a miracle did happen.

When Gao Yang and the others walked out of the light beam appearing on the platform, they were immediately greeted by the two Elders.

Both Azure Dragon and Black Tortoise were wearing a mask.

Gao Yang presented them with the Rune Circuits, and the two Elders each took one for safekeeping. Then they escorted Gao Yang and the other surviving members to the Black Tortoise branch in the Walled City of Ten Dragons for treatment and questioning on the entire mission.

After hearing Gao Yang’s and Gray Bear’s statements, the two Elders fell into thought.

Elder Azure Dragon took his leave first. He was going to personally report to Guildmaster Qilin.

Black Tortoise stayed behind. He took off his mask, his gaze tired and his face seemingly aged by a few years.

Both the fourth and fifth teams listened to his command. His people had found two Rune Circuits at once, which was an incredible contribution. However, they paid the price of losing half of their members, and one among them turned out to be a traitor.

It was only natural that he couldn’t be glad of the good news.

Three o’clock in the morning, everyone other than Nine Frost, who was still being treated, returned to the White Tiger branch via the underground hyperloop capsules. They were to rest until called for questioning.

Gao Yang returned to his hotel room. He didn’t turn on his phone. He didn’t think about anything, actually. After a quick shower, he plopped down on the bed and fell deep asleep.

When he woke up, it was already ten o’clock in the morning.

Ding.

The sandwich was done heating in the microwave. Gao Yang stood up to retrieve the plate and placed it on the dining table.

He drank some milk and dug into his breakfast. The food was tasty, but Gao Yang was in no condition to appreciate it. He simply repeated the motion of chewing.

His phone rang after he had taken a few bites. It was an encoded message sent internally by the Guild, consisting only of a time and a location:

11:30 a.m., Blue House Psychiatric Clinic, 343 Li River Central Road, 19F, Feiyang District.

Gao Yang paused.

A psychiatric clinic?

What, is the Guild worried that I may have PTSD and wants me to get an evaluation?

Whatever, they must have their reasons.

Gao Yang finished breakfast and switched to his ‘normal’ mode.

He turned on his phone and responded to messages from his family and friends.

Then he called his mother, telling her that he had skipped a school day because he had something to take care of with Wang Zikai, asking her to make a belated request for sick leave to the school and promising to go back to school this afternoon.

During the call, his mother badmouthed Wang Zikai angrily and reprimanded Gao Yang.

Gao Yang took it all in stride and patiently placated her before ending the call.

Then Gao Yang sent a message to Gao Xinxin.

Every time he narrowly escaped death, he found himself missing his little sister.

In less than ten seconds, Gao Xinxin responded to his messages on WeChat.

Gao Xinxin: I’m still in class! Don’t you bother my study!

Gao Yang: My little sister is smart enough to chat while studying.

Gao Xinxin: Enough with it! Speak! What did you do yesterday?

Gao Yang: Hung out with Wang Zikai.

Gao Xinxin: Bro! My brother from the same parents, you’re gonna take the entrance exams soon. Can’t you take things a little more seriously?

Gao Yang: Worry about yourself and your highschool entrance exams.

Gao Xinxin: Hmph!

Gao Yang: Any dresses that caught your fancy recently?

Gao Xinxin: What?

Gao Yang: Your brother has some savings and wants to buy you a gift. Isn’t your birthday coming up in ten months?

Gao Xinxin: No need! Your sister is now an online model and sellers fawn to send me clothes for endorsements! I have more dresses than I can put on!

Gao Yang: What do you want then? I’ll buy it for you.

Gao Xinxin: Nothing. Just get into a good college! Mom said that we’re going on a family trip to Naldives when summer vacation comes!

Gao Yang: Really?

Gao Xinxin: Only if you get into a college!

Gao Yang: Of course I will!

Gao Yang ended their chat with a smile.

The college entrance exams were coming in about half a month. Time sure flew.

He left the dorm and took the member elevator to the underground hyperloop station, riding a capsule back to the Black Tortoise branch. Then he left the Walled City of Ten Dragons for the walking street, hailing a taxi at the street corner.

His destination was 343 Li River Central Road, an office building. Gao Yang took the elevator to the 19th floor. Following the signs on the wall, he turned left then right, reaching the Blue House Psychiatric Clinic.

He opened the glass door gently. The metal wind chimes with a simple design clinked in a pleasant way.

The clinic wasn’t that big. The walls and the floor were all painted in a serene light blue.

Manning the front desk was a young brunette woman with gentle facial features, dressed in white uniform.

She stood up with a smile and said, “Welcome. Do you have an appointment?”

Appointment?

Do I need one?

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