The Creatures that We Are

“No, you should still return to the Twelve Zodiac Signs,” Gao Yang said. “Remember what I told you? Eggs shouldn’t be put in the same basket. That is my honest feeling.”

Fat Jun nodded. “Alright. I’ll listen to you, Brother Yang!”

Gao Yang thought for a moment and asked, “By the way, have you seen Captain Dragon recently?”

Fat Jun thought for a moment before shaking his head. “I haven’t seen him for a while. Uncle Tiger said that Captain’s been working in secret, and it’s important. He can’t tell us about it.”

Bemused, Gao Yang then asked, “What have you been working on?”

Fat Jun said, “Uncle Tiger’s tormenting…training the new guys Shadow Mouse brought us. I don’t know what the other old members have been busy with. They’re gone all the time. Yesterday, Sister Rabbit did return, but she acted weirdly. She was a little cold with me and wasn’t as friendly as before.”

Fat Jun said dejectedly, “I haven’t done anything that would anger her. Or has she…found out that I criticized My Buddy is the Chosen One online with an alt account?”

Gao Yang chuckled. “Don’t overthink it. She’s likely doing it for your good. There are things you’ll be safer not knowing.”

“True.” Fat Jun felt a little better hearing that from Gao Yang.

“It’s time. You should head back with Heavenly Dog,” said Gao Yang. “Have Nainai disguise you and be careful on your way back.”

“Don’t worry!” Fat Jun propped himself up with some difficulty, using his knees as support.

Gao Yang stood up too. “I’ll walk you down the mountain.”

…

Small library, second floor of Spectres’ mansion, four o’clock in the morning.

The square room was lined with bookshelves along all four walls, filled with all sorts of classics. Through the small skylight in the ceiling, a ray of blue moonlight shone through and lit the fine dust particles in the air, as if they were fragments of knowledge and wisdom.

The one sleeping in the library had nothing to do with knowledge or wisdom, though.

At the center of the room was an army cot. Wearing only a pair of shorts, Wang Zikai slept on his back with his legs bare and his body covered by only a thin blanket.

On his face was a book titled Flowers for Algernon.

Wang Zikai was tall and well-built with smooth muscles throughout his body. His long limbs hung from the small, narrow army cot, making him look like a large tabby cat that had squeezed itself onto a small cat bed.

He snored and scratched his well-toned abdomen. When he turned to his left side, the book covering his face fell to the ground with a flap.

The sound woke Wang Zikai up. He blinked blearily and realized that someone was sitting by his side.

He thought he was dreaming, but quickly realized that it wasn’t the case. A few seconds later, he opened his eyes wide and took a good look. It was Gao Yang! He was sitting on a small stool and looking quietly at him.

Wang Zikai was suddenly wide awake. He jerked up into a sitting position and said, “You’re back, bro!”

“I’ve been for a while. I didn’t wake you, did I?” Gao Yang said.

“Geez, it’s fine!” Wang Zikai said happily. Then he thought of something, and his smile dropped. “Um, about Can…I’m sorry about that.”

“Yeah.” Gao Yang nodded impassively. “How’s your injury?”

“Injury?” Wang Zikai laughed haughtily and swung his arms around. “I’m not injured. Don’t listen to Nine Frost’s nonsense.”

“Good.” Gao Yang inspected Wang Zikai’s body to make sure his friend had fully recovered. Then he said seriously, “Come with me to get some fresh air.”

“Now?” Wang Zikai was surprised.

“Now.”

“No problem!” Wang Zikai jumped up from the army cot and scrambled to find his shirt and pants. “Give me a sec. Just a sec.”

…

Half an hour later, Gao Yang took Wang Zikai to the middle of nowhere in the mountain. It was the secret training ground Nine Frost and Wang Zikai had picked. All that met the eyes were holes put into the ground and broken branches on the trees, which made it clear that quite intense fights had broken out here.

Wang Zikai had been in a good mood when he left the mansion with Gao Yang, but he started to feel weird as he walked. Why…is this place so familiar?!

He felt a little exposed. With both hands in his pockets, he said with feigned nonchalance, “Wow, what happened here? Did someone get into a fight here…”

Gao Yang moved to the center of the clearing and turned around. “I knew you were sparring with Nine Frost to learn from him.”

Wang Zikai’s smile stiffened and morphed into a scowl. “Dammit, Nine Frost! I told him to keep a secret! I’m gonna beat his ass…”

“I’m not anyone else. It should be okay for me to know, right?”

“Well, yeah.” Wang Zikai rubbed his nose. “I was gonna learn a few tricks to use on Azure Dragon, but you went and offed him.”

Gao Yang’s eyes darkened for two seconds. It wasn’t as easy as you put it.

He looked up at Wang Zikai. “Come on. Attack me.”

“Huh?” Wang Zikai thought he had heard wrong. “What did you say?”

“Let’s spar.” Gao Yang extended a hand toward Wang Zikai. “Let me see the result of your training.”

Wang Zikai hesitated. “Do we have to?”

“What, are you afraid of losing to me?”

“Haha! I won’t lose! I’m God!” Wang Zikai boasted proudly. “I’m worried that I’ll hurt you accidentally. You’re not fully recovered yet. Don’t push yourself.”

“Wang Zikai.” Gao Yang scoffed. “Do you really think you’re the strongest among the Nine Scions?”

“Am I not?” Wang Zikai’s eyes widened.

Gao Yang extended his middle finger and curled it. “I won’t use any Talents. Let’s have a purely physical fight and see who’s better.”

“Why are you asking for a beating, bro?”

“Cut the crap and try me.” Gao Yang gave him a derisive look.

Wang Zikai was getting annoyed. He clenched his fists and cracked his knuckles. “You asked for this, Gao Yang. Don’t regret it.”

“Come…”

Before Gao Yang could finish, Wang Zikai came up to him in a flash and swung his fist at his face.

Gao Yang could tell it was a feint at a glance. The movement of the punch was unnatural, and the control of force awkward. He didn’t dodge but instead offset Wang Zikai’s real attack with a simple outward movement of his right hand—it was a left hook aimed at Gao Yang’s abdomen.

Wang Zikai perked up. Haha, this is a feint, too. The real attack is the left leg…

Whoosh. Gao Yang was already kicking Wang Zikai’s right calf with a sweep of his leg. Wang Zikai lost his balance and toppled to the side.

Wang Zikai was startled. He saw through it!

Still, Wang Zikai had incredible reflexes, and the moment he fell, he propped himself up with one hand and jumped.

Bam!

Having predicted the reaction, Gao Yang made a kick and hit Wang Zikai in the chest as he leaped up. Wang Zikai made a muffled groan and got thrown off his feet. With a flip in the air, he was going to make a safe landing when Gao Yang teleported to him and kicked him in the lower abdomen.

Wang Zikai felt his muscles clench. It hurt.

Didn’t you say no Talents? You’re fucking cheating!

Wang Zikai was shocked and confused. Gao Yang didn’t pull back. His right fist flickered with crimson firelight, about to shoot out a fire dragon to devour Wang Zikai.

Now cornered, Wang Zikai forgot about the fancy tricks Nine Frost taught him and moved on pure instinct, and he used a hundred percent of his power rather than pulling his punches.

With incredible speed, he caught Gao Yang’s red right fist. A sharp pain shot from his palm, burned by a heat that could instantly melt metal.

Were it anyone other than him, their hand would’ve been vaporized.

Wang Zikai crushed Gao Yang’s fist with terrifying power imbuing his five fingers.

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