The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 344: Gu’s Mountain Retreat

Wang Zikai parked on an unpaved clearing that served as a temporary parking lot. On the left was a lake. The rough shapes of a pavilion and railings could be seen, which must have halted construction not long after it started. And on the right, about a dozen Chinese-styled villas sat at the bottom of the mountain; only the rough frame had been built.

Gao Yang checked Wang Zikai’s phone. It was already eleven o’clock.

In an hour, the Crimson Tide would come.

Both Gao Xinxin and Wang Zikai would be put to sleep—at least Gao Xinxin said that she had fallen asleep the past two days, and the way she kept dozing off tonight fit how a wanderer or a human should react to the Tide.

Of course, there was always a possibility that she was an elite monster, but it was unlikely.

Since Gao Xinxin was here, Gao Yang and Wang Zikai couldn’t use their supernatural power to climb walls and jump between roofs; the three of them searched through the villas the mundane way.

Each would require them about two minutes, and it took them half an hour to go through all of them.

Gao Yang was worried about his mother on one hand, and about the coming Crimson Tide on the other hand.

Soon, they returned to the temporary parking lot.

Gao Xinxin was standing by the lake, using Wang Zikai’s phone to call father and grandmother.

Standing before the car with Gao Yang, Wang Zikai said in a lowered voice, “Bro, it’s gonna be midnight in thirty minutes. If I can’t resist the power of Sleeping Beauty, am I going to fall asleep again?”

“Very likely.”

“Then you should drive.” Wang Zikai handed him the car key. “It’ll be bad if I fall asleep halfway. The two of us will be fine, but your sister is a regular person. We don’t want her to get hurt.”

Gao Yang paused. Since when has Wang Zikai become so considerate and thoughtful?

Gao Yang was moved, but also uneasy.

Thoughtful, smart, considerate—it wasn’t a good omen for these positive descriptors to apply to Wang Zikai.

Finishing her call to home, Gao Xinxin came back with her head lowered. “Brother, Dad still hasn’t gotten any call.”

“What’s going on?” Wang Zikai frowned. “Is it not kidnapping?”

“I don’t know.” Gao Xinxin lost her calm again. “Has Mom been hurt by the woman? Could it be that the woman was jealous of Mom and...”

“Don’t think too much, Gao Xinxin,” Gao Yang cut her off. “It’s late. There’s no point in running around blind. Let’s go home.”

Gao Xinxin paused and fumed. “Are you giving up, Brother?”

“I’m not, but doing this isn’t going to help.” Gao Yang tried to explain to her calmly. “We should trust the police...”

Gao Xinxin raised her voice to a shout. “I’m not going home! Go back on your own!”

“Gao Xinxin, stop being stubborn!” Gao Yang grew serious and grabbed her hand. “Things are messy enough as they are. Stop stirring up trouble and come home with us!”

“Let me go!” Gao Xinxin broke free of his hand. “I’m not stirring up trouble. I have to find Mom! I won’t go home until I do!”

There was no time. Gao Yang made up his mind and bodily carried his sister away, turning to go back to Wang Zikai’s car. “Wang Zikai, drive!”

“Hm? Oh, right...” Wang Zikai hurried into the car.

“Let me go! Let go!” Gao Xinxin struggled.

Gao Yang cried out in pain when his sister bit his hand, forcing him to let go. She turned around and bolted as soon as her feet touched the ground.

“Gao Xinxin!”

His sister ran along the path wrapping around the lake. On the other side was a short mountain, on which rough structures of the retreat could be seen, meaning it had been part of the halted construction.

Gao Xinxin quickly disappeared up the mountain.

Anxious and regretful, Gao Yang turned to Wang Zikai. “Stay here. I’m going to get her.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“No need!” Gao Yang said. “I’ll be right back.”

Gao Yang tried his best to chase after her at regular human speed and opted out of using Teleportation. He didn’t want to risk having Gao Xinxin witness him using his Talent. After all, there was no telling if she was a regular human or a wanderer.

Gao Yang followed the rocky path. There were no street lamps on the hill, and the dense bamboo woods obscured the moonlight. It was too dark to see clearly.

“Gao Xinxin!” Gao Yang shouted as he went up the mountain, his voice echoing.

He thought about calling Heavenly Dog and Can. There was no way he would return to the White Lake Hotel before the Tide came tonight. If Heavenly Dog and Can came to pick him up, though, he would be able to return safely even with the Tide ongoing.

However, he suddenly realized that he didn’t have his phone with him. He gave up on the idea.

“Gao Xinxin! I’m sorry! I was wrong! Come here. We’ll keep looking for Mom, okay?” Gao Yang tried to coax her out.

Outside of the echoes of his own voice, though, there was no response.

Soon, Gao Yang reached the top of the mountain.

Built on the relatively flat land was a concrete observatory a few hundred square meters in size, at the center of which was a tower, but only three stories had been built before the construction was stopped short.

“Gao Xinxin!”

Gao Yang called out again. The moon in the sky had already turned pink.

No, I have to get things done now. It’s going to be midnight soon, and the blood moon and blood fog are coming!

“Gao Xinxin! Mom’s home, Mom’s alright! I just got a call from Dad. Come on, let’s go home!”

Gao Yang had no choice but to lie.

“Brother!”

Gao Xinxin’s voice came from the unfinished tower.

“Gao Xinxin!”

Gao Yang looked at the tower not far from him. Surrounding the unfinished building were scaffoldings that hadn’t been torn down, and at the bottom was a dark doorway.

A few seconds later, a frail, bright figure ran out.

It was Gao Xinxin. She rushed toward Gao Yang and held onto him, burying her face into his arms.

Gao Yang hugged her close. “I’m sorry, Xinxin. I was wrong...”

“I’m scared, Brother...” Gao Xinxin cut him off with a trembling voice, her face still pressed to his chest. “There’s, there’s something in the tower. It caught me...”

“What thing?” Gao Yang hurried out.

[Warning! You are in extremely great danger.]

[Luck acquisition rate increases to 5000 times.]

Startled, Gao Yang pushed Gao Xinxin away hard.