The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 9: The Second Note

The city was divided into nine districts. Gao Yang and Qing Ling lived in the fifth district located in River East: Shanqing District.

Qingyang Bridge was the first modern bridge in the city, connecting the Shanqing District in River East and the Feiyang District in River West.

It had been around for decades. Compared to the other bridges built afterwards, it was akin to an old man nearing his end. The structure itself was weathered and hadn’t been maintained for years. It usually didn’t see much traffic, but after twelve o’clock in the evening, there would be more trucks taking the route. It was carriers’ first pick for long-distance transportation since going to the other side of the river via the bridge would mean going past one less toll.

Late at night, Gao Yang and Qing Ling found themselves under the east side of the Qingyang Bridge. Every now and then, there would be a thunderous rumble of trucks speeding along the bumpy road overhead.

Gao Yang was worried that the bridge might collapse.

Qing Ling sat on the river levee with her legs crossed, concentrating on her search.

The first note said the following:

—Go to the east side of the Qingyang Bridge and look for something with your Talent, Metal.

Soon, Qing Yang opened her eyes. “Found it. That should be it.”

Gao Yang wanted to ask what it was and where it was, but he didn’t want to seem like an idiot. Thus, he stayed by her side and said nothing.

Qing Ling got off the levee and reached both hands toward the river below her. Her brows furrowed after a short moment.

“What is it?” asked Gao Yang.

“It’s a little far. Get over here and hold onto me.”

“How?”

“Ever watched Titanic? Like the poster.”

“Got it!”

Gao Yang hurriedly held onto her slim waist from behind. Wind glided along the river and brought the fragrance of her shampoo to him. It smelled like a garden of swaying flowers.

Within his arms, Qing Ling leaned forward, closing the distance between her hands and the river by another one meter. All irrelevant thoughts vanished from Gao Yang’s head. He quickly tightened his arms around her.

Ripples appeared on the surface of the water and grew more and more volatile.

Splash!

Until a rectangular metal case flew out into the air.

Clenching her teeth, Qing Ling pulled her arms back forcefully, and the heavy metal case flew toward them.

Gao Yang tensed his muscles and yanked like he was in a tug of war. When the counterforce from Qing Ling suddenly disappeared, he toppled backward onto the ground, unable to stop the momentum in time.

Qing Ling didn’t immediately get away from Gao Yang, but instead lay prone on his chest, panting heavily.

Gao Yang didn’t urge her to get up. It wasn’t a bad feeling to have a pretty girl on top of him.

“Isn’t Metal a powerful Talent? When you’re using it, why does it seem...” His survival instinct compelled him to choose his words carefully. “...a little mediocre?”

“It hasn’t been long since I acquired it. The level is still low.”

Qing Ling rolled to the side and got up. “At the moment, I can detect metal at a maximum range of 20 meters, control metal at a maximum range of 10 meters, and I can manipulate metal with a maximum weight of 10 kilograms. That thing is way over my limit.”

Gao Yang made a mental note to himself: even the greatest Talent would be limited by its level. A low-level powerful Talent could be less useful than a high-level weak Talent.

Qing Ling walked up to the metal case and pulled out a dagger to cut the thick layer of waterproof tapes. Gingerly, she opened the lid.

Gao Yang moved closer and was shocked by what he saw.

Inside was a black sniper rifle. The disassembled parts were tucked neatly in the case. Under the moonlight, the black finish of the metal components had a dangerous and alluring shine to it.

The system inside his head made a timely appearance.

[Do you wish to inspect the unknown item with 1 Luck point?]

—Do it.

[M82AI semi-automatic anti-material rifle. Paired with 12.7mm rounds with a cartridge of 10 loads. The effective range is 1800 meters. The gun weighs 14kg.]

Gao Yang’s stomach twisted. They were going to kill someone.

Not even Officer Huang would be able to acquire a sniper rifle like this on such short notice. He must have planned this long ago and left the weapon hidden in the river, waiting for an opportunity to come knocking.

Qing Ling considered the rifle for a moment.

Then she took out the black bag inside the metal case and put the case in it. Peering at Gao Yang, she said, “Carry this.”

Gao Yang took the heavy bag from her and shouldered it.

Qing Ling unfolded the second note. For a good while, she didn’t say anything.

“What’s wrong?” asked Gao Yang.

Qing Ling responded with a question of her own.

“Where’s the Pink Hotel?”

...

With the gun case, they had no choice but to get to their destination on foot. It took them an hour to reach the Pink Hotel. It was a love hotel. The flickering neon pink light cast shadows on their faces. The floor was covered in small cards with erotic advertisements.

“You sure?” Gao Yang gulped. “This is the place?”

“See for yourself.” Qing Ling gave him the second note.

—Go to the Pink Hotel and pick a room facing south on the fifth floor. Read the third note at six o’clock.

Gao Yang and Qing Ling entered the hotel.

Manning the front desk was an overweight man who looked to be twenty-seven or twenty-eight. He was dressed in a T-shirt with a character from the manga Jojo on it. He was going prematurely bald, and his face was visibly oily. Staring down at his phone screen, he muttered as he played his game, “Anyone looking for a scope? Hey, hey! Revive me now! Whew, almost didn’t make it there...”

Gao Yang scanned around. Strange. He thought the front desk was normally manned by beautiful young women at love hotels.

He let out two fake coughs and said, “I want a room.”

The overweight man looked up at him. “Just you?”

“For two.”

The man put away his phone, his eyes going wide as he looked over Gao Yang’s shoulders and saw Qing Ling. “Holy! Brother...you’ve got an exciting night coming!”

Embarrassed, Gao Yang said, “A room on the fifth floor with the window facing south. Is one still available?”

The man’s slimy smile had a hint of envy to it. “Let me see... Ah, you’re just in time to get the last room. The Mirage of Flower and Moon!”

“What?” Gao Yang was confused for a moment.

“That’s the name of the room.” The overweight man cackled. “Adjustable water bed, love chair, couple bathtub, ceiling mirror. All to provide you with a steaming hot stay...”

“Right. I’ll take it.” Gao Yang offered his phone to pay for the room, his face flushed.

“Okay, ID card please.”

Gao Yang paused. He forgot it at home.

He turned to Qing Ling. She shook her head.

“I can’t help you, brother.” The overweight man shrugged. “How about finding a nice place outside? I’m sure it’ll be even more exciting...”

Her expression never changing, Qing Ling turned around and headed outside.

Gao Yang thought she was mad and hurriedly caught up with her.

As soon as he was out of the door, he saw Qing Ling grabbing someone.

Gao Yang flinched. “...Wang Zikai?”

Wang Zikai was just about to get to his car after a losing streak at the internet cafe. Before he could take more than two steps, though, someone grabbed him. He turned around and was surprised to find Qing Ling there.

Then he saw Gao Yang approach them.

“Gao Yang?” Wang Zikai paused. “Why, why are you here?”

“Do you have your ID?” Qing Ling asked unceremoniously. “Let me use it.”

Wang Zikai looked at Qing Ling and Gao Yang, then at the love hotel behind them. “You...are getting a room there?”

Gao Yang nodded.

Wang Zikai felt like the world was ending around him. With a dramatic step back, he exclaimed, “What the heck! What the, I can’t...”

Although he had quite the dirty mouth, he was in fact a virgin with zero experience since birth. However, he had never once doubted the assumption that his best mate Gao Yang must have been single forever as well. Yes, he had been trying to set him up with Li Weiwei, but he never thought that Gao Yang would actually get a girl.

Yet Gao Yang had not only gotten a girl, but was actually losing his v-card tonight!

Wang Zikai couldn’t take it.

“Gao Yang! How long has it been since your dearest childhood friend died? Not even seven days... Do you really think this is okay? That you can do this? You’re a monster!”

Qing Ling lost her patience and searched Wang Zikai’s without waiting for his cooperation. “Give me your ID.”

“What...” Her eagerness further compounded Wang Zikai’s disbelief. “Aren’t you into girls, Qing Ling? Why are you hooking up with a man now?”

“And what’s so great about Gao Yang? Why don’t you consider me? I’m rich, handsome, and romantic... Why would you choose Gao Yang over me?!”

“You don’t have a brain.” Qing Ling found his ID in his pocket and dragged Gao Yang back into the hotel. They booked a room at the front desk before disappearing into the elevator as a pair.

Wang Zikai watched them go, still reeling from the shock. The more he thought about it, the more pissed he got. How is this happening?! I’m fine with not having a girlfriend, but freaking Gao Yang is not getting one before I do!

He rushed to the front desk. “Hey, which room did they get?!”

“I’m sorry. That’s the privacy of our guests...”

Wang Zikai grabbed the man by the hair and slammed his head to the desk. “If you don’t talk, I’ll make your private part disappear!”

“501! It’s 501!”

“Give me room 601!”

“Okay, okay... Just a minute!”