The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 232: Suspension Bridge Effect

Gao Yang had done the same in case the body came after him, yet the body stayed unmoving save for opening its eyes. A dark green light flickered in those eyes for a fleeting moment before turning yellow, then a dark red. All the while, the body’s face, neck, and chest split into cracks that glowed red.

The whole process took less than three seconds.

For some reason, Gao Yang had a strong feeling about what would come next, the foresight as concrete as reality.

—The body would explode!

The moment the thought crossed his mind, the light coming from the body’s eyes and the cracks on its face surged in intensity.

[Warning...]

The system’s warning came much too late.

Gao Yang didn’t have the time to get out of the cargo box. He pulled Chen Ying into his arms and quickly turned around, moving faster than his brain could issue a command.

The moment his arms tightened around Chen Ying, he realized that he simply wanted to push just one person back onto the cliff before he fell into the pit of death.

“Hah!”

Then he heard Wang Zikai cry out.

A pair of strong arms wrapped around Gao Yang from his back, and a wide chest shielded him from danger like a sturdy wall, indirectly protecting the woman in Gao Yang’s arms.

Air compressed dramatically in an instant.

Bam!

The tremendous explosion rendered the box truck into ashes in the blink of an eye, lighting up the levee, the shoal, and the running river like the sun. Amid the explosion, a burning shadow flew into the air while emitting smoke, and it fell into the river with a plop.

Five seconds later, a head popped out of the water. Then a hand wiped the face.

It was Gao Yang.

With another splash, a woman emerged, her long hair stuck to her pale forehead. She seemed to still be reeling from the shock.

Chen Ying.

The two of them floated on the river and exchanged a glance, seeing the same shock and confusion on each other’s face.

Then reality struck Gao Yang.

He dove into the water. Chen Ying quickly followed suit. A minute later, they dragged an unconscious Wang Zikai onto the riverbank with difficulty. Placing him down on the ground, Gao Yang and Chen Ying dropped to their knees, panting and entirely drenched.

Not far from them, the truck had disappeared, leaving only burning ashes.

“Wang Zikai, Wang Zikai!”

Gao Yang patted his friend on the face gently. Wang Zikai frowned in pain, but he was still breathing.

Gao Yang flipped him over. Wang Zikai’s shirt and pants were both burned in the back, and his skin looked charred. Gao Yang took a deep breath and gingerly wiped a hand over Wang Zikai’s back. Under the wet, thick ash was normal human skin.

Thank God!

Wang Zikai must have transformed the split second the explosion took place, blocking the fatal blow and shockwaves for Gao Yang and Chen Ying as a sturdy wall. Otherwise, given their physique, they would’ve been blown to pieces, if not rendered into ashes.

“Whew.”

Once he made sure that Wang Zikai was alright, Gao Yang let out a long breath. His calf, caught in the explosion, began to throb in pain.

After all, Wang Zikai wasn’t actually a wall, and parts of Gao Yang’s body were still injured. Compared to death, though, the injury was negligible.

He looked down. Part of his left calf had been blown open with the flesh revealed. He was almost turned into a roasted long pig that was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

Chen Ying’s heel was burned as well.

Nothing a shot of Medicine C wouldn’t heal, though. Their injuries might scar, but that was a small price to pay.

“Is he...is he alright?”

Having narrowly escaped death, Chen Ying wiped away the water on her face, her voice trembling.

“He’s alright. He’s got great regenerative power. He’ll be fine in a bit.”

“Is he, is he really a white face?” Chen Ying’s shocked gaze was colored with a hint of fear.

“I didn’t believe it at first.” Gao Yang smiled wryly. “But outside of a white face, what kind of monster would stubbornly believe himself to be human after all he’s been through?”

Chen Ying lowered her head. She didn’t have an answer.

After a long while, she looked up at Gao Yang seriously. “Thank you, and thank him. If not for the two of you, I would be dead.”

“You were helping me with the investigation. It’s my responsibility to protect you.”

“No, this is work. You don’t owe me.”

Chen Ying didn’t relent. She held Gao Yang’s gaze. “I owe the two of you one. If you ever need my help, I will help to the best of my ability.”

“Alright, I’ll take you up on that.”

Truthfully, he was likely to need Chen Ying’s Talent in the future.

“What are you going to do now?” Chen Ying asked with genuine worry. “I know I shouldn’t ask, but what you’re investigating is obviously dangerous. You may have gotten the attention of someone you shouldn’t mess with already.”

“I know.” Gao Yang sighed. “I’ll take one step at a time. I’m going to report to the Guild immediately. You’ve done your part of the deal.”

Chen Ying reached into her pocket for her phone. It was still working.

“I’ll have someone pick me up. You don’t have to escort me. Go back once he wakes up.”

Chen Ying looked around and couldn’t help but shudder.

The only thought in her head right now was to go back to headquarters immediately and have her injury treated. Then she would take a shower and a sleeping pill for a good night’s sleep. Hopefully, she wouldn’t dream of the exploding body.

Gao Yang turned on his phone as well.

The screen lit up his composed face. Although his facial features were still youthful, he looked mature and collected at this moment.

Chen Ying’s heart skipped a beat.

She knew that his instinctual move to protect her had earned him points in her book. Moreover, a near death experience always came with the suspension bridge effect, resulting in the misattribution of attraction.

“To tell you the truth, this is my first time being so close to dying.” Chen Ying stared at Gao Yang’s face, her voice softening without her realizing. “Does this...happen to you often?”

Gao Yang looked down at his phone, searching for Black Tortoise’s number. Carelessly, he said, “I never count.”

The masculine charm hit her like a truck. Chen Ying had a moment of panic.

You brat! Thankfully, I know you’re only eighteen, or I’m really gonna develop a crush!

Gao Yang made the call and turned away to put some distance between him and Chen Ying. He briefed Black Tortoise on what had happened.

After a few seconds of silence, Black Tortoise ordered, “Stop investigating and come back to the Black Tortoise branch.”

“Understood.”

When Gao Yang hung up and went back, Wang Zikai was already waking up.

With Chen Ying’s help, he rolled to a sitting position and vomited river water, slowly coming back to his senses.

When he looked up and saw Gao Yang standing before him, wholly intact, he blurted, “You okay, bro?”

“You saved me again, Wang Zikai,” Gao Yang said gratefully.

“It’s nothing,” Wang Zikai said flippantly. “Don’t get all mushy with me. I’m allergic to that.”

“Piss off.” Gao Yang rolled his eyes at him.

Wang Zikai stretched his body and stood up, feeling like something was amiss.

With his back to Chen Ying, he stretched his arms. “Hm, that was a good nap... Why did my butt feel cold?”

“Can it be,” Gao Yang smothered a laugh, “That the explosion has burned the back of your pants?”

“Holy shit!”

Wang Zikai only realized then that he had his bare buttocks facing Chen Ying. He quickly covered them and turned around.

“Ahem.”

Chen Ying’s face was all red. Her eyes were on anything but Wang Zikai.

“Chen Ying! I just saved your life! You’re not telling anyone about what happened! You hear me? Or I won’t let you off the hook!”

Wang Zikai blushed and warned her vehemently. His dignified image as the world savior was on the line.

Chen Ying tried her best to bite down her laugh. “Don’t worry. My lips are sealed.”