The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 18: The Oriole Follows

Gao Yang could clearly sense a strange energy coming from the alleyway behind him. He didn’t want to drag this out any longer. Be it fortune or catastrophe, he would have to face it sooner or later. He was going to take it head on this time! Still...he needed insurance.

He cast Wang Zikai a glance, “Come with me.”

“Roger that!” Wang Zikai couldn’t be more eager.

Gao Yang walked into the alleyway. The area was old, the buildings empty and waiting to be torn down for renewal. Only a couple streetlamps still functioned, but even the functional ones were flickering, painting an eerie picture.

Gao Yang and Wang Zikai walked deep into the narrow alley. Wang Zikai started out excited, but his excitement slowly gave way to apprehension as they went further and further in, and after a gulp, he picked up a brick from the ground and clutched on it.

Suddenly, Gao Yang extended a hand to stop Wang Zikai. He shouted at the darkness ahead, “Who is it? Show yourself!”

After a few seconds, a figure staggered out. It was a man, overweight and not very tall. Slowly, he walked into the patch of light from one of the few surviving streetlamps, and Gao Yang finally got a good look at him.

“Fat Jun?”

He was dressed in a gray t-shirt, and his pale face looked lost, his footsteps unsteady. When he heard Gao Yang call out to him, he said, “Yeah.”

“Why are you here?” Gao Yang asked.

“Yeah...why am I here...?” Fat Jun rubbed at his head and suddenly shouted like he was just remembering something, “Ah!”

He stumbled toward Gao Yang and clutched onto him. “Brother Yang! Save me! Help!”

“What is it? Take your time.”

“I, I don’t know... Something’s wrong with me... I was bitten...” Fat Jun struggled to sort out the tangled mess in his head.

“What bit you and where?” Gao Yang asked hurriedly. “Give me the details.”

“Hand...my hand...” Fat Jun extended his right hand. “Something’s really wrong...”

Gao Yang took a look. The hand was intact and perfectly normal.

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“There’s nothing wrong with it.” Wang Zikai leaned closer to take a look himself, not wanting to be left out of the loop. He scoffed and said, “You must have jerked off one too many times and gave yourself a hallucination...”

Before he could finish, Fat Jun’s chubby hand gurgled, and a crimson red eye appeared on his palm.

“What the—” Wang Zikai jumped back in shock. “What is that?!”

Fat Jun trembled, on the verge of breaking down. “I don’t know... Save me, help me...”

Hit with an ominous feeling, Gao Yang hurried to back off, but Fat Jun’s right hand was quicker and grabbed his neck with unusual power. Then Fat Jun’s arm swole like rapidly fermenting dough, turning into a giant lump of melty flesh in a matter of seconds.

It seemed to have a life of its own, and it gurgled as it rolled and squirmed, slowly devouring Gao Yang’s head. Gao Yang didn’t feel any pain, but his breath was slowly getting taken away like he was stuck in a lump of rotten, slimy aspic.

Gao Yang took out the dagger he had hidden in his pocket and stabbed the lump of flesh—nothing. The lump swallowed the dagger as well before vomiting it out with a sputter.

Terrified, Wang Zikai bolted. “Help—help!”

Gao Yang was lifted off the ground, and the fear of almost getting his head crushed by Li Weiwei returned in full force. He swung his arms around, struggling to break free, but it was all in vain.

Fat Jun was still rooted to the spot. His giant, twisted, swollen hand refused to listen to him. He cried out, “Help! Someone, anyone... What’s happening to me...”

When Gao Yang was going to black out from the lack of air, a familiar voice spoke up again, “Stop!”

It was Wang Zikai!

He had run away for a brief moment, but gradually, he overcame his fear and turned around. He charged at Fat Jun and drop-kicked him. “Let him go!”

The moment his feet collided with Fat Jun’s face, Fat Jun flew backward into the air, dragging the lumpy giant hand with him and causing it to let go of Gao Yang. Just when Fat Jun was going to hit the ground, the giant hand made a landing first and propped him up.

Fat Jun got back to his feet. Immediately, the giant hand lunged at Gao Yang again.

Gao Yang was still coughing on his knees. There was not enough time for him to run.

“You son of a—” Wang Zikai stood before Gao Yang. “You’re not touching my brother again!”

As he spoke, the muscles of his right arm swelled and burst through his sleeve, and his skin turned grayish green with a tough, sturdy texture. Under the warm yellow street light, it looked like bronze.

Slap! Wang Zikai’s bronze hand caught Fat Jun’s lumpy one easily.

The two giant monstrous hands battled for dominance, pushing against each other.

“Ahhhh—” Veins popped from Wang Zikai’s forehead, and his eyes had turned a dark green at some point. His arm kept applying more pressure and reached a staggering grip force of 1000 kilograms in only five seconds.

The lumpy hand was no match for his bronze one. It seemed to have a mind of its own and made a soft sound of panic. It swung around, trying to break free of Wang Zikai’s grip, but it was too late.

Splash! Finally, Wang Zikai’s monstrous bronze hand crushed the lump of flesh, splattering light purple blood everywhere.

When Gao Yang got to his feet, Fat Jun was already unconscious on the ground, his arm back to normal.

Wang Zikai panted heavily, his chest heaving, and the right arm that had broken his sleeve slowly reverting back to his human one.

Gao Yang looked at Wang Zikai from the back. His friend seemed quiet, cold. Fear shot through Gao Yang from the soles of his feet. Was his friend really a mere wanderer? Why did he sense a greater power hidden inside Wang Zikai than Li Weiwei and Auntie Ho?

Gao Yang wasn’t sure if he should call out to Wang Zikai, or turn around and run.

That was when Wang Zikai turned to him, eyes misty with tears threatening to break free. “Gao Yang! You didn’t lie to me! I’ve gotten stronger!”

“What?” Gao Yang knew he must have a dumb look on his face right now.

Wang Zikai rushed to him and threw his arms around him, jumping up and down. “Did you see? My qilin arm[1]! The cultivation method you taught me is the real deal!”

“Nah, it’s nothing. It’s all because of your hard work...” Gao Yang did his best to put on a smile. Thank god this friend of his wasn’t a bright one, or things would’ve gotten really ugly.

“Oh, that’s right!” Wang Zikai was so happy that he only remembered about Fat Jun now. “I didn’t expect this guy to turn against us. Should I kill him?”

“Wait.” Gao Yang stopped him. After a pause, he asked, “You live in the area, don’t you?”

“Yeah.”

“And you live alone because your parents are divorced?”

“Yep. So?”

“Come on. Let’s go to your place.” Gao Yang pointed at Fat Jun, who was still lying on the ground. “Take him with us.”

...

Fat Jun weighed about 90 kilograms, yet Wang Zikai was able to carry him home as swiftly as a swallow without even breathing a little heavily.

Gao Yang noted that with surprise. Monsters were truly terrifying once awakened. He was like a lamb living among the wolves.

Wang Zikai’s family was ridiculously rich. His father did business in real estate, while his mother was a politician and often showed up in the news. Wang Zikai lived in a neighborhood of villas by the river where every square meter cost a fortune.

His three-story mansion came with a parking lot, a swimming pool, a front yard garden, and a big garden area. The price was in a different league of its own compared to regular villas.

In the basement garage, Wang Zikai had tied Fat Jun to a chair.

Gao Yang was going to call Qing Ling, but that would leave behind digital traces, and frequent contacts with her would only attract more attention. Besides, Wang Zikai was now powerful enough to protect him and more.

He told Wang Zikai to fetch him water. Wang Zikai happily obliged. Seizing the moment, Gao Yang accessed his system and took a look. As expected, his Luck points had increased at greater rate again during the time Fat Jun attacked him.

He hid the system.

Not long after, Wang Zikai returned with a bucket of water. Without waiting for Gao Yang’s instruction, he poured it all over Fat Jun’s head. Fat Jun woke up with a yelp.

“Where, where...am I?” Fat Jun’s head was still muddled. “Brother Yang...why did you tie me up...? What happened...?”

“Are you a human or a monster?” asked Gao Yang.

“I’m human! An awakener!” Fat Jun cried out. “Didn’t you know that already?”

Gao Yang didn’t respond. Fat Jun had a Talent and had used it to heal him. That would support him being human. However, the giant lumpy hand didn’t look like the result of a human Talent at all, but a monster’s form. No, I have to check to be on the safe side.

“Do you have that kind of film at home?” Gao Yang asked Wang Zikai.

Wang Zikai paused. “What film?”

“You know, that.”

1. Internet slang to refer to a really strong arm, but it’s often used when you can’t suppress the urge to do something, like throwing a punch at someone, or, well, jerking off. ?