The Creatures That We Are

Gao Yang and Qing Ling returned to the farmhouse. With the light turned off, they celebrated Lin Yue’s birthday, singing the birthday song and cutting the cake.

In no time, it was eleven at night. They took turns taking showers and brushing their teeth before retiring to their respective rooms.

Since Wang Zikai had joined them suddenly, there was no other room left for him. He thus settled down in the same room as Gao Yang and his father, sleeping on a foldable bed set up at the last minute.

The three of them chatted a while before turning in.

Wang Zikai, ever the carefree one, started snoring not long after. With his eyes closed, Gao Yang pretended to be asleep while his system ran, making sure that he would spot the danger immediately should something happen.

His father’s breathing was shallow. It was obvious that he was still awake too.

In the dark, Gao Yang asked softly, “Couldn’t sleep?”

Gao Shou opened his eyes immediately and turned to look at his son, whispering, “Yeah, what happened today...is like a dream. It still feels so surreal to me... Pinch me, son. I’m not dreaming, am I?”

Gao Yang nodded. “I reacted similarly.”

Gao Shou’s eyes lit up with excitement, eager. “Son, my ma...”

“It’s late, Dad. Let’s sleep.” Gao Yang stopped him in time.

They were under the same rooftop as Zhuang Mei now, and they didn’t know her power. It would be troublesome if she had particularly keen hearing. It was best to be careful.

Gao Shou hadn’t thought that far, but he could tell from his son’s tone that he didn’t want to go into it now.

Gao Shou trusted his son unconditionally, and in the world of awakeners, his son was his senior.

“Alright, let’s sleep.” Gao Shou turned around and stopped talking.

Gao Yang sighed in relief, closing his eyes to keep pretending to be asleep.

On the other side of the wall, Qing Ling didn’t sleep, either. In fact, she hadn’t even stripped down before going to bed. Under the light blanket were her two blades. She was ready to fight at a moment’s notice.

The night passed uneventfully.

Eight o’clock in the morning, they woke up one after another and had simple breakfast before calling a car to take them away. Only when the car drove out of the village, away from Zhuang Mei’s farmhouse, did Gao Yang allow himself to relax.

Qing Ling reacted similarly. She tilted her head to rest it on Gao Yang’s shoulder, deciding to have a nap.

Once they were back to the Shanqing District, Wang Zikai drove his car to give Qing Ling a lift home before heading back to his place. Gao Yang’s mother went straight to the gold jewelry shop for work, and Gao Xinxin got off halfway, saying that she had plans to go shopping with her classmates to make the most of the rare off days.

Gao Yang went home with his father, pushing the wheelchair for him. They didn’t say anything on the way.

As soon as they entered the house, his father jumped up from the wheelchair and shut the door. “You can tell me now, can’t you, Son?”

Gao Yang knew that his father must be dying to ask questions. For a second, he felt the urge to lie to his father, wanting to shield him from the cruel reality.

But his father had awakened. He had the right to know the truth of the world. And he would run into danger sooner or later if he was left in the dark.

A stark contrast from Gao Shou’s visible excitement, Gao Yang didn’t seem enthused at all. He sat down on the sofa and looked up at his father, speaking in a tired voice.

“We aren’t actual father and son, Dad.”

“What?” Gao Shou’s smile froze. He had been waiting for his son to talk about superhumans awakening, helping the weak by going after the strong, the secret missions, or the call to save the world.

But what his son said first left Gao Shou flabbergasted.

What do you mean we aren’t father and son?

“I mean we aren’t biological father and son,” Gao Yang explained.

“No! That’s not possible!” Gao Shou shouted vehemently. “Your mom...your mom will never cheat on me...”

“That’s not what I meant, Dad.” Gao Yang sighed. “Calm down and hear me out first.”

Gao Shou was still reeling when Gao Yang dropped another bombshell. “And you aren’t Granny’s biological son. Gao Xinxin isn’t your biological daughter, either...”

“That can’t be! That cannot be!” Gao Shou was losing his mind. “Do you know what you’re talking about, Gao Yang?!”

“I know. I know very well.” Gao Yang sighed, holding his father’s gaze. “We’re all orphans of the world, long abandoned by God, Dad.”

Gao Shou was stunned. He stared at his son without moving.

It was absurd. Ridiculous.

Suddenly, Gao Shou broke into hysterical laughter and said like he had realized the truth, “You’re testing your old man, aren’t you, you brat! You must be planning to recruit me into your organization, and this is the trial I have to pass! You’re a good actor. I almost bought it...”

“Dad.” Gao Yang interrupted him seriously and earnestly. “Everything I say is the truth.”

...

From ten o’clock in the morning to three o’clock in the afternoon, Gao Yang spent five hours catching his father up. First, his father had to know about the one to ten thousand ratio of humans and monsters in the Mist World.

Then Gao Yang talked about the greed, wrath, delusion, pride, life, and death monsters, as well as the twelve Rune Types, 199 Talents, Crimson Tide, Gates of Closure, the three major organizations, the Godbearer Cult, and the Spectres...

Gao Yang followed that with his own story, starting from his eighteenth birthday six months ago. He ran into an allegedly mentally-ill man, almost got killed by Li Weiwei, awakened with Talent: Lucky, then passed the test of the Twelve Zodiac Signs with Qing Ling and Officer Huang, thus joining the world of awakeners officially.

Gao Yang left out nothing.

Gao Shou was at first stunned, confused, and doubtful. Then he was scared, sad, pained, and resistant. In the end, he was silent.

“I’m done.”

Finally, Gao Yang was done with his explanation.

Gao Shou sat bonelessly on the sofa, his head lowered. He held onto his right thumb tightly with his left hand, his knuckles white.

After a long while, he finally looked up with reddened eyes, looking lost and helpless like a child losing their way on a street they didn’t know.

“What should I do now?”

Gao Yang said with sympathy. “I’m sorry, Dad. Your answer is yours to find.”

“What about your answer?” His father then thought of something. “You’re still here, with us. Is this...your answer?”

Gao Yang nodded.

“Then your mother and sister...” Gao Shou mustered the courage to ask. “Are they monsters?”

“I don’t know,” Gao Yang said honestly. “And I don’t want to know.”

“A one in ten thousand chance isn’t too bad,” Gao Shou said with wishful thinking. “See, both of us are awakeners. Perhaps your mom and sister are too. Perhaps you and your sister are actually born between me and your mom...”

“Dad,” Gao Yang interjected. “I have a teammate who can differentiate between humans and monsters. If you want to check Mom’s and Sister’s identity, I can introduce her to you.”

Gao Shou paused. He suddenly realized that like his son, he didn’t want to face the reality, either.

“My answer is the same as Granny’s at the end of the day. Whatever happens, you’re my family.” Gao Yang tried to comfort his father. “You’ve just awakened, Dad. Your head must be a mess. It’s been a long and difficult process for me to figure things out since my awakening.”

Gao Shou nodded. His head was a mess.

Even now, he still loved his family deeply, but thinking of the possibility that his wife and daughter, who he spent all his time with, could turn out to be different species from him—and monsters who could eat him at any time at that—he couldn’t accept it.

It was ridiculous, surreal.

“When my legs recovered yesterday, I was overjoyed.” Gao Shou covered his face with both hands, letting out a heavy sigh. “Now, I’d rather I were still crippled and ignorant...”

Gao Yang smiled wryly. “Then both of us would’ve gotten killed by the Tails.”

Gao Shou paused, looking up at Gao Yang.

“Maybe it’s fate,” Gao Yang said. “Maybe you were bound to awaken and save me.”

Gao Shou’s lips trembled. For a moment, he couldn’t say anything.

They were silent for a while.

Then Gao Yang thought of something and asked, “By the way, Dad, did you see it in person when Mom gave birth to me and my sister?”

“Of course not!” Gao Shou shook his head. “I was waiting outside the delivery room. I couldn’t enter.”

“Was there anything strange?”

Gao Shou thought back to it seriously. “Not really, but it did take quite long for your mom to give birth to you. I waited outside the whole night and was so worried that your mom was undergoing an obstructed labor. I kept calling out for them to save the mother first through the door...”

Gao Yang nodded and didn’t ask anything else.

He rose to his feet and advised his father, “I’m going back to my college dorm tonight. You’re gonna be on your own. Remember to play your role well and not expose yourself. It’s for you, for me, and for Mom and Xinxin.”

Gao Yang was being earnest. “You can do it, can’t you, Dad?”

Gao Shou looked at him with determined eyes. “Don’t worry, Son. Leave it to me. You must contact me if you run into danger. Don’t push yourself, okay? Dad will protect you.”

“Promise.”

Gao Yang offered a fist.

Gao Shou pumped his fist.

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