The Creatures that We Are

Nine Frost didn’t realize that Gao Yang had taken the hit on purpose. Seeing Gao Yang stagger back, he quickly followed up with a flurry of jabs that poured down on Gao Yang like rain. This time, Gao Yang didn’t avoid the hits, but instead retaliated.

They exchanged blows.

Gao Yang rivaled Nine Frost in strength, reflex, and control over his body. While he wasn’t as experienced in hand-to-hand combat, the gap between them wasn’t significant.

Soon, Nine Frost’s punches landed once on Gao Yang’s chin, shoulder, lower abdomen, chest, and side, while Gao Yang had hit Nine Frost once in the left face, arm, lower abdomen, and chest as well.

Their brawl continued.

Inexperienced in close combat, Gao Yang soon got tripped to the floor by a sweep of Nine Frost’s leg, and a heavy punch flew toward Gao Yang’s chest.

Gao Yang rolled out of the way and quickly got to his feet, all the while, Nine Frost had closed in on him and put his arms around Gao Yang’s neck from the back.

Then Nine Frost loosened one arm to make a heavy swing at Gao Yang’s side.

Startled, Gao Yang made a leap with both feet, slamming into the ground with Nine Frost under him. However, Nine Frost’s arm remained locked around Gao Yang’s neck, while his other hand swung toward Gao Yang’s side.

Gao Yang quickly rolled to the right, taking Nine Frost with him and preventing Weak Point from triggering.

Instead of continuing with the grapple, the two quickly broke up and took a few steps back.

Nine Frost remembered clearly every punch he had landed on Gao Yang in the past forty seconds, and he had been counting the seconds.

He could trigger Weak Point by hitting Gao Yang in the chest, side, or lower abdomen.

Gao Yang remained standing, his arms and hands relaxed. He even closed his eyes.

What was he doing? Nine Frost didn’t understand. Was Gao Yang admitting defeat? Acting mysterious? Or taunting him?

Clock was ticking. Without dwelling on it, Nine Frost charged at Gao Yang.

Sensing his approach, Gao Yang opened his eyes wide.

—Activate Weak Point!

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

In an instant, Gao Yang’s stats doubled.

Nine Frost seemed much slower in his eyes, and his movement to attack Gao Yang’s weak points became apparent, even clumsy.

A second later, Nine Frost hit Gao Yang in the chest.

Weak Point triggered, the impact quintupled.

Yet Gao Yang’s chest took the hit like a sturdy wall.

Impossible!

Nine Frost was shocked.

A hook landed on Nine Frost’s lower abdomen. Weak Point triggered and multiplied the force by 5.

Bam!

Nine Frost felt his muscles contracted, and he flew backward like a curled-up lobster, hurtling into the ring ropes of the boxing ring and getting bounced back toward Gao Yang.

Clenching his fist, Gao Yang aimed at Nine Frost’s abdomen.

Multiplied by 5 again, the impact would be 25 times stronger.

If he made the attack, he would put a hole in Nine Frost’s abdomen, breaking his spine and spilling his large and small intestines. Nine Frost would’ve ended up wheelchair-bound even if he didn’t die.

Only at that moment did Nine Frost realize that Gao Yang had Replicated his Talent, but there was nothing he could do but ball up his fist as he flew back toward Gao Yang, hoping to make another punch before his death.

Thud.

Nine Frost’s abdomen didn’t get destroyed, and his right fist landed a lackluster punch on Gao Yang’s chin.

Gao Yang staggered back a few steps.

“Captain!”

Gray Bear had had enough. He stalked up to Nine Frost, enraged. “You son of a…”

Gao Yang regained balance and called out to Gray Bear, “Stop, Gray Bear! I’m fine.”

A punch with a five-time bonus wasn’t that much of a threat when Gao Yang’s Endurance was pushing 1000 at the moment.

Two seconds later, Gao Yang lost the replicated Weak Point, along with the stat bonuses it granted.

“Why?!” Nine Frost glared at Gao Yang with bloodshot eyes, enraged and humiliated. “Why did you stop?!”

“The hit would’ve killed you,” said Gao Yang.

“Then kill me!” Nine Frost growled. “I should be dead! All of the fourth team died, while I alone survived! Why?! I deserve death the most!”

Finally, he revealed his true feelings.

Gao Yang wiped away the blood on the corner of his mouth. “Nine Frost, have you ever thought about why you survived while your teammates didn’t?”

Nine Frost was silent. He didn’t expect the question.

“Because you’re going to avenge your companions. You will not die until you do that.”

Nine Frost stared at him.

“Yellow Butterfly died, but not the organization behind her.”

Gao Yang offered Nine Frost a hand. “Join the fifth team, Nine Frost, and find the organization to eliminate them all with us. After getting revenge, it’s up to you whether you’re staying or leaving. I won’t even care if you die then.”

There was a moment of silence.

Nine Frost held Gao Yang’s gaze, and the guilt and rage in his eyes slowly cooled into determination and resolution.

He took Gao Yang’s hand. “That’s a promise.”

“Oh boy!” Can suddenly popped up beside them, still holding onto a fire extinguisher. “Oh boy oh boy oh boy! What’s happening! That’s so hype!”

She cast the fire extinguisher aside and hurriedly came up to hold Gao Yang’s and Nine Frost’s hands. “Come on! All of you!”

Gray Bear had been sweating over Gao Yang and Nine Frost. He sighed while shaking his head and came up to reach out a hand. Then Ronnie and Lithe Snake followed suit.

They all turned to Gao Yang.

Gao Yang smiled slightly. “Welcome Nine Frost to the team.”

His team members echoed, “Welcome Nine Frost to the team.”

“May the odds be with us.”

“May the odds be with us.”

…

Gao Yang had almost gotten killed by a detonated body in the evening. Then he had a serious fight with Nine Frost at midnight.

Exhausted, he decided to postpone his visit to Vermilion Bird.

He slept for two to three hours in the dorm room at the White Tiger branch. Came morning, he rushed back to school.

The day passed without trouble.

After the evening self-study, Gao Yang called Vermilion Bird, asking if she had time and where she was. She said she was free, and that she was on shift at the funeral home.

Gao Yang was still a student, and to save money, he rode the subway first, making two transits. Then he took a taxi to the Northbound Funeral Home in the Beiyong District.

This time, he went straight to Vermilion Bird’s office and knocked on the door.

“Come on in.”

Gao Yang opened the door and entered. Vermilion Bird sat slumping in the sofa, using her phone with a cup of milk tea in her other hand.

“Here you are.” She glanced at Gao Yang, drawling lazily.

“Sister Xia seems tired.”

“Azure Dragon came in the morning.” She stretched and yawned. “He asked about every detail like he was interrogating a criminal. It was such a hassle.”

Without a word, Gao Yang gently closed the door.

Vermilion Bird smiled. “You came for the same thing, didn’t you?”

“Yeah.”

Gao Yang got to the point, speaking earnestly. “The investigation is now Elder Azure Dragon’s responsibility. I won’t get involved going forward. However, I almost got blown up last night. There were things I’d like to confirm with you, Sister Xia.”

Houseau3's Thoughts

Hm, nicely done.

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