The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 924: Strange Trap

Strange. When Gao Yang had heard those words before, they'd irritated him, but he'd been too accustomed to suppressing his feelings to respond.

Looking back, White Rabbit must have provoked him deliberately, hoping for a retort, seeking confirmation that Gao Yang was still part of the Twelve Zodiac Signs, still part of her family.

He should've said something back.

Gao Yang composed himself and scanned for dangers before preparing to retrieve White Rabbit for burial.

Hiss. As he continued pulling the zip down, his keen senses detected a slight obstruction—one that regular people wouldn't notice.

Suddenly, energy boiled dangerously around him, and the system’s alert blared in his head.

[Warn...]

Gao Yang instantly created a small Absolute Barrier, a golden phone booth shielding him inside.

Almost simultaneously, regular bombs hidden under the bed detonated, triggering an even greater explosion throughout the morgue. Fierce flames and blinding golden light devoured everything in an instant.

Through the barrier, thin as a cicada's wing, Gao Yang could only watch his once-friend's body disintegrate into nothing.

Outside, the howling rumbles sounded like hell. Inside, it was as quiet as heaven.

With Psychic Armor activated, Gao Yang felt nothing, his expression calm and collected.

As the body vanished, the Black Gold hairpin in her hair remained. Propelled by the explosion's compressed air, it shot toward the Absolute Barrier like a bullet.

Gao Yang's senses tracked it. He reached through the barrier to grab it—nothing outside could enter the Absolute Barrier, but he could keep what was inside in.

His right hand, gloved in golden energy, caught in the barrier's energy wall.

Though the explosion couldn't harm him, the Black Gold hairpin might have been tampered with. The move carried risk.

Yet his instinct had made him reach before his rational mind could decide.

A few seconds later, Gao Yang realized why belatedly. From the Ocean River Union's perspective, using White Rabbit's body as bait made sense when it couldn't serve as a puppet. Setting up a well-concealed regular trap with limited power for anyone who might come by was shameless, but logical.

With the trap being bombs, though, there was no reason to put a Black Gold hairpin on White Rabbit.

No matter if it was Gao Yang or anyone else, they would exercise the highest caution. Not only wouldn’t they touch anything on White Rabbit, they wouldn’t even touch the body bag without ruling out the possible threats.

And once the bombs were detonated, others wouldn’t have noticed the Black Gold hairpin thrown to nowhere. It didn’t make sense to leave the hairpin on White Rabbit had it been a trap. It would be a waste of resources.

To conclude, the Black Gold hairpin was at odds with the bomb trap. Something else was at play.

Thirty seconds later, the explosion subsided. The morgue and surrounding underground space had completely crumbled, burying the golden phone booth. Inside, Gao Yang felt entombed alive, his right hand still stuck to the barrier, gripping the Black Gold hairpin.

He took a deep breath. While dissolving the barrier, he activated Intangibility. Rubble crashed in from all directions as everything went dark.

Like a translucent fish, Gao Yang swiftly dove through the collapsed underground base to the elevator shaft. In less than two seconds, he reached it and summoned fireballs once more, running to escape along the wall.

...

Whoosh. Gao Yang reemerged above ground.

Liao Liao, Chen Ying, Hong Xiaoxiao, and Heavenly Dog rushed to meet him. They'd felt the underground tremor two minutes ago and knew something had happened.

Chen Ying looked him over anxiously, sighing with relief only when she confirmed he wasn't injured. "You alright, Gao Yang?"

"I'm fine." Gao Yang maintained his composure. "You guessed right. They're all gone. They set up bombs in the morgue, waiting for us to take the bait."

He paused briefly. "Regular bombs, but the trap was well-concealed to prevent immediate detection. Most likely done with Hunter."

Liao Liao started to ask after Gao Yang's condition, then realized that would be an insult to his Absolute Defense. Instead, she asked, "Captain, did you find anything?"

"Some." Gao Yang kept the White Rabbit and Black Gold hairpin to himself. "You four should return to the S Base. And tell War Tiger to come to the Spectres' Mansion for me." He added, "Wang Zikai, too."

"Okay." Liao Liao's face remained impassive while internally she cheered, YES! Done with work! n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

...

Spectres' Mansion, ten o'clock in the morning.

Wang Zikai and Fresh Snow sat on the sofa, controllers in hand, fully absorbed in their fighting game. Their characters clashed in fierce combat.

"Gah!"

The twin-bunned girl on screen screamed as she flew backward, crumpling to the ground. The green beast pounded its chest like a gorilla, dancing in celebration.

"Hahahaha!"

Wang Zikai tossed his controller aside and leaped onto the sofa, mimicking his character's victory dance. "Do you admit defeat? I ask you, do you admit it?"

Fresh Snow gaped at the screen. "Impossible..."

"We had a bet!" Wang Zikai crowed. "Come on! Say, 'I'm a stupid pig!'"

"I'm not!"

"You are!" Wang Zikai wouldn't let it go.

"No, no! That was... the controller wasn't working right!" Fresh Snow scowled, her face flushed. "Again! Best two out of three!"

"If you won't say it, you're accepting God Kai's punishment!" His time with Nainai had only increased his chuuni tendencies. "Pick one yourself."

"Then I'll take your punishment!" Fresh Snow glared up at him, cheeks puffed out.

Wang Zikai flicked her forehead.

"Oww!"

Fresh Snow clutched her forehead. Though it didn't hurt, the humiliation stung—she hated being hit in the head.

"Again!" She grabbed her controller, face set in defiance.

"Again!"

Three minutes later.

"Hahahaha! You lost again! Do you admit defeat? I'm asking you, you silly pig!" Wang Zikai flung his controller aside, flailing in celebration. He felt ready to backflip from excitement.

"I... don't accept it! I want a rematch! Best three out of five!"

"Forget it and accept your punishment! Let me think... I'm gonna use a rubber band this time!"

"Wang Zikai."

A voice came from above. Wang Zikai looked up to see Gao Yang standing by the second-floor corridor, wearing an odd expression.