The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 162: Progress

Liu Qingying was manipulating her dream.

“Let’s talk Ghost Horse first.” She opened her eyes. “According to reliable sources, Ghost Horse isn’t dead.”

Gao Yang was unsurprised. “I knew that back when I was still with the Twelve Zodiac Signs. I can even tell you that Ghost Horse was executed by Dragon. I saw him die.”

“Then there’s only one explanation.” Liu Qingying’s eyes curved. “He was resurrected.”

“Is there a Talent like that?”

Liu Qingying smiled shrewdly. “Haha, that’ll be an A-class intel.”

“Go on. I’ll owe you.”

“There is a Talent that resurrects people, but it comes with many limitations. The brain and heart must not have been completely destroyed, and the Talent has to be applied within twenty-four hours after the target’s death.”

“Is it among the top ten Talents?” Gao Yang asked.

“I’m not sure, but personally,” Liu Qingying paused, “I think it’s the ability of a Spectre.”

Gao Yang’s breath hitched. Why hadn’t he thought about it?

“Why do you think a Spectre has the Talent?”

“I have my basis for the guess, but it’ll count as another A-class intel if you ask further.” Liu Qingying spoke in a gentle voice. “It’s bad practice to put too much on tab. I run a small business after all.”

Gao Yang fell silent. The speculation gave him chills. “Do you mean Ghost Horse is supported by the Spectres?”

“I’m only an information broker. It’s not in my place to jump to conclusions.” Liu Qingying chose her words carefully. “I can only tell you that it’s a possibility.”

Gao Yang made a thoughtful sound.

Liu Qingying continued, “As for the man named Mad Red, I’ve made some progress in that regard as well. I’ll say it’s a B-class intel. Do you want to buy it?”

“Yes, I’ll pay you with jinwu.” Gao Yang now had the money.

“I didn’t find much with the name Mad Red, but I did find something with his Talent, Detonation.”

Gao Yang nodded for her to continue.

“The last time Detonation appeared was on an unaffiliated awakener. The Qilin Guild was going to recruit her, but she rejected the offer. Nothing has been heard about her ever since.”

Liu Qingying handed Gao Yang a dossier.

Gao Yang took it and found that it was the enrollment document for a college in Li City. The ID photo showed a redheaded girl with delicate brows and eyes and pronounced facial features. Her eyes were the color of the ocean. Although she was smiling, there was a lingering ruefulness to her.

Name: Lilia

Sex: Female

Age: 19

Country of Origin: Snow Nation

Gao Yang turned to Liu Qingying. “This is...”

“Lilia was from the Snow Nation. Seven years ago, she came to Li City as an exchange student. She awakened with Talent: Detonation. The Qilin Guild sought her out, but she didn’t join them. Not long after, she went missing. The police filed it as a missing person case.”

Gao Yang was suddenly reminded of the sister Mad Red talked about. Was he talking about Lilia?

According to Mad Red, Lilia was already dead.

Gao Yang’s contemplation was interrupted by a stream of sunlight from the window. He looked up to find the plane breaking through the clouds and heading to land.

Below was a gray, misty ocean. There was a snowy island surrounded by water. That must be the Snow Nation.

Liu Qingying looked out of the window too. “It’s said in textbooks that the Snow Nation is about seventy thousand square kilometers in size, but according to the information the Hundred Rivers Union collected during their expedition, the part of the Snow Nation where people can actually go around is no bigger than four thousand square kilometers, about one fifth of Li City. It was the third biggest ‘isolated island’ of the Mist World.”

“A big nation with low population density, the Snow Nation has no more than a hundred thousand people. It’s a nice destination in winter for skiing, aurora, and hot springs.”

She chuckled. “I digress.”

Gao Yang was still reading the dossier over and sorting through all the information he had at the moment.

Liu Qingying calculated the price. “You still owe me an A-class intel for tonight. Please pay in full in a month. If you don’t have an intel for me in exchange, you may pay me with coins. However, an A-class intel is quite expensive...”

“I can pay you now,” Gao Yang cut her off.

Liu Qingying’s eyes glinted. “Oh?”

“Are you interested in monsters?” Gao Yang asked with a smile.

“In what way?”

“Monsters killing each other as a sacrificial ritual with the support of a mysterious cult. Among the followers are freeriders.”

Gao Yang had a feeling that Liu Qingying would learn of the fact sooner or later whether he told her or not; it was better to sell her the information when he could.

And he hoped that Liu Qingying would look into it. Perhaps she would dig up more clues, which would in turn further his own investigation.

“Interesting.” Liu Qingying’s lips parted. It was obvious that she was very curious. “I’ll take it.”

Gao Yang gave her a brief summary.

After listening to him with full attention, she muttered in a low voice, “Heavenly Godbearer. I’ve never heard of it.”

“Do you have a pen and paper?”

Liu Qingying closed her eyes and conjured them for him.

Gao Yang started drawing the symbol found at the scene.

Liu Qingying stared at it for a long time before she said bemusedly, “At the moment, I can’t tell the value of the intel. However, it is unusual.”

She turned to Gao Yang and smiled with satisfaction. “I’ve gotten quite the haul tonight. I’ll consider us even.”

Gao Yang nodded. “Fine by me.”

“Would you mind trading information about the Heavenly Godbearer in the future if you find out more?”

“I can’t promise you,” Gao Yang said honestly. “The Guild places great importance on the matter. I’ll have to see how things turn out. If you find out more about it, however, please consider selling the information to me.”

Liu Qingying laughed, her eyes slightly narrowed. “You do take your job seriously wherever you are.”

“Of course. I can’t disappoint Elder Black Tortoise when he’s invested in me.” Gao Yang brought up the man on purpose.

Liu Qingying immediately caught on.

Gao Yang was insinuating that despite Liu Qingying denying her prior involvement with Gao Yang, there was no guarantee that Black Tortoise wouldn’t suspect a deal between them after Gao Yang’s meeting with him in Liu Qingying’s dream.

Therefore, Gao Yang must not tell Liu Qingying anything substantial about the Qilin Guild that he knew of. Otherwise, he would be the one Black Tortoise suspected first.

Of course, Black Tortoise might enter a trade of information with Liu Qingying too.

In theory, Liu Qingying didn’t have to come to Gao Yang for information about the Qilin Guild if she could get it from Black Tortoise, and vice versa.

Gao Yang had been recruited by Black Tortoise. Black Tortoise wanted to put him to use, but at the same time, he couldn’t just lay down his guard around Gao Yang. That much was evident in Black Tortoise’s decision to send the fourth team to investigate the Eleventh High School.

At the end of the day, Gao Yang would do his best to stay loyal in public and in private. He didn’t think he would be able to fully earn Black Tortoise’s trust, but at least he should avoid attracting suspicion.

“Always good to do business with you.” Gao Yang closed his eyes and entered his system.

...

Gao Yang woke up at dawn.

His mother got up quite early today as well, and she took the time to prepare a nutritious meal for him.

His mother had been following quite a few official accounts sharing health tips. That was how she learned that the traditional breakfast she used to prepare wasn’t balanced enough, and children’s growth could be stunted as a result.

Since then, she had been preparing a full breakfast for them, including milk, eggs, whole wheat bread, cereals, and an assortment of fruit.

After filling his stomach, Gao Yang shouldered his backpack and got ready to go to school.

His homeroom teacher had told the parents about Gao Yang and Niu Xuan’s trip to the Eleventh High School.

Before he stepped out of the door, his mother reminded him in a serious tone to stop fooling around, that he must keep his distance from the likes of Wang Zikai and Niu Xuan and stay focused on the upcoming entrance exams.

Gao Yang agreed quickly.

The moment he left his neighborhood, he ran into Cucumber and Fat Hu, who were on their way to school as well. They were riding on bikes.

Cucumber hurriedly caught up to Gao Yang and jumped off his bike. “I was just about to call you, Gao Yang!”

“What is it?”

“The hospital called!” Fat Hu came up to them pushing his bicycle, his joy obvious. “Young Master Xuan woke up!”