The Creatures That We Are-Chapter 42: Sick

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Chapter 42: Sick

The air curdled with tension.

Gao Yang, Qing Ling, and Officer Huang sat across from Fourth Grandpa Gu, their expression unchanged while their three pairs of arms sprung into action under the table.

Gao Yang took out a small dagger from his pocket and aimed it at the old man’s heart, ready to activate at any moment the Talent he replicated from Qing Ling, God of Blade.

Qing Ling had secretly conjured her Tang Dao under the table, finding the right angle to swing her blade.

And Officer Huang had a hand on his holster, prepared to make a shot at a moment's notice.

Wang Zikai and Fat Jun had been arguing not far from the table. Just as their argument grew heated, they finally noticed that something was wrong. freewebn ovel.com

Wang Zikai gaped for a moment when he turned around. Then he opened his mouth wide and raised his fist, β€œLiz—”

Gao Yang shot to his feet and covered Wang Zikai’s mouth. While he was a reckless one, Wang Zikai understood Gao Yang and didn’t resist. He simply gave his friend a questioning look.

β€œWait...” Gao Yang whispered.

In the few seconds they confronted each other, Gao Yang had not felt even a trace of murderous intent from Fourth Grandpa Gu. In fact, that was the reason Officer Huang and Qing Ling hadn’t made a move either.

Fourth Grandpa Gu was behaving in a very strange way.

It was strange that he was serene and at ease, no different from how he acted before his transformation.

Then something unbelievable happened. Fourth Grandpa Gu’s half-transformed body became wholly human again. Throughout the entire process, he had been savoring his tea, and only when he put down the teacup and looked up did he notice that everyone in the room was staring at him nervously.

β€œWhy are you so quiet?” Fourth Grandpa Gu asked with innocent confusion. β€œAnd why are you staring at me? You...can’t be suspecting me of killing them, can you?”

β€œOf course not.” Officer Huang broke the silence and put a smile back on his face. β€œHaha, don’t overthink it, Fourth Grandpa Gu.”

β€œThat’s good. I’m more eager to see the culprit caught than you all.” The old man sighed in lamentation. β€œSuch a tragic fate for the family. What had they done to deserve this...”

β€œIt’s late, Fourth Grandpa Gu. Why don’t you go rest? We’ll return tomorrow.” Officer Huang stood up.

Gao Yang and Qing Ling rose to their feet as well. Fat Jun quickly caught up to them, looking eager to get out of the house.

Conflicted, Wang Zikai said, β€œHuh? We’re going just like that? He...”

β€œCome on.” Gao Yang shot him a look.

β€œFarewell. Forgive me for not walking you.” Fourth Grandpa Gu slowly stood up and saw them out of the door.

...

The five of them didn’t have anywhere else to go, so they returned to Huazi’s place. This time, they left the light in the living room off to avoid attracting attention, and they shut all the windows and doors before lighting up a corner with a flashlight. They sat around the light.

β€œHe’s a lizardman! Why didn’t we kill him?” Wang Zikai was still hung up on that. And he was still referring to monsters as lizardmen.

β€œFourth Grandpa Gu didn't seem hostile.” Gao Yang gave Wang Zikai a pointed look. Then he explained to him what delusion monsters were. β€œNot all monsters are bad. There’s what we call wanderers...”

β€œThen why did he transform before us?” Wang Zikai didn’t get it. β€œJust to flex?”

Officer Huang stroked his chin. β€œWanderers are the most harmless and stable kind of monsters. Even if we say we’re awakeners before them, they’ll usually filter it all out. Only a great stimulus will set them off and make them transform.”

β€œWhat stimulus?” asked Wang Zikai.

β€œLike...hurting them with our Talents,” Fat Jun chimed in.

β€œI’ve never seen a monster transformed for no apparent reason the way Fourth Grandpa Gu did, nor have I heard of it happening.” Officer Huang glanced at Gao Yang. β€œWhat do you think?”

Gao Yang had been thinking about what Baili Yi told him. He made a bold speculation, β€œI think he might be sick.”

β€œSick?” Qing Ling frowned.

β€œLet’s consider a hypothesis...” Gao Yang extended both hands. β€œThere’s a switch inside all monsters, controlling whether they present the form and personality of a monster or a human.”

Gao Yang clenched his left fist. β€œNormally, they present as human.”

Then he relaxed his left hand and balled his right hand up. β€œUnder certain circumstances, the switch turns on, and they transform into monsters with the personality of one.”

Officer Huang nodded, telling Gao Yang to continue.

β€œLike humans, monsters are living creatures, and all living creatures go through the different stages of life with a particular lifespan. We age. As we get old, we become physically weaker, and we sometimes get sick. All kinds of problems may arise.”

Gao Yang opened his hands and clasped them together. β€œNow, the old man’s switch is malfunctioning. That’s why his two states are overlappingβ€”just like a lightbulb flickering due to poor contact. However, because it’s a wanderer, the most harmless kind of monster, it isn’t aware of its condition.”

Gao Yang was reminded of the summer when he was four, of his grandfather’s arm that he had seen through the crack of the door. Perhaps his grandfather had been a sick monster as well.

β€œI wouldn’t have believed that monsters could get sick in the past. After all, I’ve encountered my fair share of old wanderers.” Officer Huang clicked his tongue. β€œBut now, I’m not so sure.”

Wang Zikai yawned, his eyes misty for a moment. β€œAll that analysis doesn’t seem to mean anything. I say we slaughter everyone in the village if we can’t find the culprit. They are all lizardmen anyway. It’s easier to just take them all out.”

Gao Yang hid his shock. You’re a monster yourself, Wang Zikai. Aren’t you being too cold to your kind?

β€œThat’s the typical gamer mindset, Brother Kai.” Fat Jun licked his lips. β€œI don’t think things would be that simple.”

β€œThen what do you suggest?” Wang Zikai shot back. β€œShould we just wait for our deaths here?”

Fat Jun stuttered and fell silent.

β€œI agree with Wang Zikai,” Qing Ling said after having been silent the whole time. β€œWhatever we have to do, we’re not dying here.”

β€œThat is a solution. Perhaps the culprit will show themselves if we initiate an attack.” Officer Huang sighed. β€œBut there’s no turning back, and the risk is high. The villagers won’t all be wanderers. A few wrath monsters will be enough to back us into a corner. Moreover, there may be even more powerful monsters hidden somewhere.”

β€œThen what do we do?” Fat Jun asked anxiously. β€œWe can’t get out. We can’t win in a fight. Both paths lead to death.”

β€œStop tucking your tail between your feet. Have you forgotten about me?” Wang Zikai thumped on his own chest. β€œI can take on ten monsters myself!”

β€œThat still won’t be enough!”

β€œYou know nothing! Perhaps my endless potential will be activated after killing ten monsters. Then I’ll just enter the zone and go beyond my limit again. That’ll save us, right?”

β€œHaha.” Officer Huang was amused by Wang Zikai’s naivety and optimism. β€œThis isn’t a movie. Are you sure you’ll be able to exceed your limit just like that?”

Gao Yang rolled his eyes. Putting aside whether Wang Zikai would become magically stronger, what if his brain was the thing that went beyond its limit, and he realized he was a monster? If he then turned on them, they would really be doomed.

β€œOf course I can!” Wang Zikai lifted his chin further. β€œI’m the chosen one, ain’t I, Gao Yang?”

β€œYou are...” Gao Yang put on a smile that was more twisted than a grimace.

β€œThen we’ll vote by a show of hands?” Officer Huang proposed. β€œRaise your hand if you agree that we should take the offense.”

Wang Zikai and Qing Ling both raised their hands immediately. Officer Huang did so after thinking for a moment. Then Fat Jun followed suit hesitantly. As the only one left, Gao Yang didn’t think there was a point to him casting his vote.

β€œAlright!” Officer Huang announced their decision. β€œWe’re clearing the village.”

β€œWhen do we start?” asked Qing Ling.

Wang Zikai was already rubbing his hands together in anticipation. β€œRight now, of course! What are we waiting for?”

β€œWait.” Gao Yang disagreed. β€œWe should rest for tonight and investigate further tomorrow. There’s something else I’d like to make sure. Let’s start the operation tomorrow evening.”

β€œI’m fine with that,” said Officer Huang.

Qing Ling nodded.

Fat Jun didn’t really have an opinion, so he nodded as well.

β€œWhy are we dragging things on?” Wang Zikai sounded petulant for having his parade rained on, but in the end, he decided to follow the decision of the majority. β€œFine, tomorrow evening it is!”

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