The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 352: Four Directions

3:26 in the morning.

From the underground parking lot of the White Lake Hotel, eight large black cars sped out, each carrying ten awakeners who were armed to the teeth. Each team was split into two cars, and they headed to the east, south, west, and north of the city respectively, tasked to destroy the pillars of blood and stop the disaster ritual that might be taking place.

The two cars belonging to Team Seven Shadow raced along the empty road, heading to the pillar in the west.

Driving the leading car was Gray Bear, and Lithe Snake, taking the passenger seat, watched out for incoming ambushes.

Riding in the backseat were Gao Yang, Nine Frost, Ronnie, Can, Heavenly Dog, and three other young awakeners.

Although Heavenly Dog was a member of the Twelve Zodiac Signs, he was assigned to the fourth team—Gao Yang’s team—in order to make up for the power difference.

The other three young awakeners were members of the Hundred Rivers Union’s fifth team, under Green Tea’s Leadership. Green Tea and his other nine team members were riding in the second car.

In theory, the Union’s fifth team would be under Green Tea’s command, but for this operation, Gao Yang held the highest authority over the fourth special team.

“The second car is all clear,” Green Tea said, his voice reaching Gao Yang through the small earpiece.

Gao Yang responded, “Roger that. The first car is all clear.”

Can, with a tablet in her hand, was looking at the map. “Captain Seven Shadow, the red pillar should be located in the Western Suburban Park of the Xijing District.”

Gao Yang nodded and called out to Gray Bear. “How much longer is it going to take?”

“There’s little traffic. I’ll try to get there in half an hour.” Gray Bear sounded confident.

Gao Yang stopped speaking.

No one knew what they would face an hour later.

Without thinking, Gao Yang touched the Time-Space Rune Circuit in his pants pocket. After getting fed on by Fresh Snow, his stats had dropped significantly. It would be nice if his Teleportation reached level 4 before they arrived at their destination. Then he would recover a little more of his original ability.

“Captain Seven Shadow,” the young man sitting across from Gao Yang called out.

Gao Yang collected his thoughts and turned to him.

The young man was tall and slim, his hair shaved on the side with the blond middle part tied into a small braid, making his long face seem even longer.

“I’m Three Strings, a good friend of Zhang Wei.” He grinned, his small eyes glinting. “May I ask for your autograph?”

“Three Strings, this isn’t the time for that!” chastised the short, chubby guy next to him. He was dressed in hip-hop style with a black baseball cap. He quickly took off the cap and looked at Gao Yang with deference. “Elder Seven Shadow, I’m AK47. Just call me Old Seven. I’m a friend of Zhang Wei as well. Please do give me an autograph!”

Gao Yang eyed the two young men and didn’t immediately respond.

“You’ve got quite a lot of fans, Captain!” Gray Bear guffawed as he drove.

Can corrected with a smile, “We call people like them fanboys.”

“What fanboys?” The young woman next to Old Seven interjected. She had short gray hair, her delicate features in stark contrast with the vibrant red of her lipstick. “They’re just superstitious!”

“Stop it, Citrus!” Three Strings said guiltily.

“The guy has gone to three Rune Caves and come back alive every time, and he became an Elder in two months. Plus he has four Talents. He must be the protagonist of this dimension! We’ll stand a better chance of surviving by getting some of his luck!”

Citrus mimicked her companion before turning to Three Strings. “Isn’t that what you said?”

Three Strings’ face alternated between sheet pale and feverish red.

“So I’m superstitious, so what?” Old Seven said, unabashed. “Is it embarrassing to fear death? Who among us doesn't? Still, we choose to bravely put up a fight. Isn’t that enough?”

“Well said!” Gray Bear hollered.

“Hand me a marker.” Gao Yang smiled. “I’ll sign for you, but I make no promise about the effectiveness.”

“Me first!” Three Strings immediately took out a marker from his pocket and handed it to Gao Yang, presenting his arm. “Here. Just the words ‘Good luck and safety’ is enough!”

Gao Yang finished writing ‘good luck’, but when he got to the third word, the marker had run out of ink.

“Seriously?!” Three Strings turned to Old Seven and Citrus urgently. “Quick! Find me another marker!”

The two shared a look. It was clear that they didn’t make it a habit to carry markers with them.

“Shit! This...this is a bad omen...” Three Strings’ face fell. It seemed that he was the most superstitious of the bunch.

“Need a dagger?” Lithe Snake played with the dagger in his hand with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Let our captain cut the words into your skin. Won’t that be more effective?”

“Um, forget it.” Three Strings chuckled awkwardly before getting back to his seat.

Gao Yang snorted inwardly, You’re the superstition buster, Lithe Snake.

“Three String, is it? Don’t be scared.” Gray Bear lit a cigarette with a smile.

“Didn’t you quit, Uncle Bear?” Can chimed in.

“Quit my ass. I got it the last time we went into a Rune Cave. Who knows how long we’re going to live? Life is too short for us to not enjoy it.” Gray Bear took a drag. “Stop interrupting me, Can. Let me finish.”

Gray Bear glanced at Three Strings through the rearview mirror. “Don’t be scared, Three Strings. We have a ritual of sorts for good luck. We’ll do it together to ensure safe—”

Bam!

It all happened too suddenly. Gray Bear saw a shadow drop down from the sky, slamming into the hood of the car.

A second later, Gray Bear got a good look. It was a young, strongly-built slaughterer about two meters tall.

“—ty.”

Gray Bear completed the utterance reflexively.

...

3:40 in the morning. The road to the Dongyu District was all clear. The two cars of Team Azure Dragon sped toward their destination.

In the leading car were Elder Azure Dragon and his nine subordinates, the first and second teams of the Qilin Guild.

In the other car were the ten members of the Hundred Rivers Union’s fourth team, led by Joker.

Driving the first car was Azure Dragon’s right-hand man, Fourteen Rainbow, Protector and leader of the first team. Most people called him Four Rainbow.

He was thirty-one with a sculpted nose and manly facial features, his sharp brows and bright eyes standing out. He looked like the kind of confident but hotheaded protagonists seen in TV dramas.

And that was exactly the kind of person he was.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Azure Dragon had a hand on the window, his expression serious and his gaze sharp as he focused on detecting all possible dangers.

Soon, the car got onto an overpass. As their altitude rose, the light beam surrounded by blood fog grew closer.

When they first set out, the light beam looked only as big as a pinky, but now, it was fist-sized in their view.

“Ten minutes to go,” said Four Rainbow.

“Yeah.” Azure Dragon spoke into the earpiece. “ETA ten minutes.”

“Roger that,” Joker responded numbly before cutting the contact.

“Elder Azure Dragon.” Four Rainbow looked ahead and tightened his grip around the steering wheel. “We will win, won’t we?”

Azure Dragon hid his surprise. Even Four Rainbow, who was usually brimming with confidence, was unsettled.

“We do our best and let fate decide the rest,” Azure Dragon said calmly.

Four Rainbow nodded. After a moment of hesitation, he said, “Captain, mute the mic. I have some personal matters to discuss with you.”

Azure Dragon obliged.

Four Rainbow then said in a lowered voice, “Joker isn’t reliable. Don’t place your full trust in him.”

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