BANG—
Officer Huang fired three shots instantly. But because the frequency was so fast, Gao Yang only heard a single report.
In the split second the gun fired, three sparks erupted in the air two meters away from Officer Huang. He had shot down the three daggers ambushing him.
However, the daggers were just a feint.
Officer Huang was startled. A black shadow had already swooped down from his left side, arriving right under his nose before he noticed.
Shhhink— A sharp, white blade of light flashed past.
Officer Huang raised his pistol to block in the absolute nick of time. But the steel gun was as soft as playdough; it was instantly sliced in half. At the same time, two of his fingers were sliced off cleanly, like scallions.
Half a second later, Officer Huang's head would be separated from his shoulders.
But that scene never happened.
The long, narrow, razor-sharp Tang Dao stopped against Officer Huang's Adam's apple. It didn't cut down. Still, the skin on the man's throat split open, and fine beads of blood oozed out—injured solely by the blade aura emanating from the weapon.
Qing Ling retracted her blade and took two steps back. "You are not a Wrath Beast."
Officer Huang clutched his bleeding fingers. The pain made his face pale, but he showed no panic or fear. "How did you know?"
"If you were a Wrath Beast, in the final second, your instinct would have been to block my attack with your arms." Qing Ling gently ran her finger along the bloodless blade, and the Tang Dao folded and vanished into her hand.
"They are confident in their bodies; it's a primal reaction. Humans are different. Humans choose to block my blade with tools they believe to be sturdy."
"Correct. I am also an Awakened." Officer Huang smiled. "Thank you for not killing me."
2:00 AM. Shanqing District. Third Hospital Emergency Ward.
Officer Huang's fingers had been reattached and bandaged. Gao Yang and Qing Ling waited in the lobby.
Officer Huang walked out of the treatment room, wearing a smile. "Tomorrow I'll write a report. You two were being robbed by street thugs, I intervened to help and got injured accidentally."
Gao Yang and Qing Ling looked at each other, saying nothing.
Officer Huang spoke again. "Hungry? Come on, let's go get something to eat."
The three of them went to a Malatang (Spicy Hot Pot) night stall near the hospital. An inconspicuous blue tent was pitched at the entrance of a small alley. Beneath it sat a pushcart equipped with a spicy broth pot and a small gas canister. The dim yellow light and the aroma of food created a warm corner in the cold, unfeeling city.
The owner was an old man in his sixties, hale and hearty, with a booming voice.
"Officer Huang! Whoa, what happened to your hand?"
"Work injury."
"Your line of work sure isn't easy. Guess you can't drink today, then."
"Right. Everything else, same as usual."
"Got it." The old man busied himself, then looked at Gao Yang and Qing Ling. "What will you two have?"
Qing Ling stared expressionlessly at the menu, processing her choices at high speed. "One skewer of shiitake mushrooms, one winter melon, one potato, one cabbage, one fish ball, one crab stick, one fried gluten ball, a portion of tomatoes, and a portion of sweet potato vermicelli. Extra spicy."
Gao Yang was stunned. She really doesn't hold back.
Well, I might as well follow suit.
"Same as her."
The three of them sat side-by-side next to the pushcart, burying their heads in the fragrant, spicy bowls. Officer Huang looked like he was in heaven. "Mmm, the taste of surviving death is amazing. Thought I'd never get to eat this again."
Qing Ling didn't speak, focusing intently on biting into a slice of potato.
Gao Yang was cautious. "Officer Huang, maybe we shouldn't talk about those things in public."
Officer Huang looked up and glanced at the old man, who was blanching meat. "It's fine. Old Liu is a Lost (Delusion Beast). He automatically ignores any content he doesn't want to hear. Isn't that right, Old Liu?"
Old Liu looked up. "What's up?"
"I said the pig lungs are very crispy today. Give me another portion."
"Coming right up!" Old Liu laughed heartily.
Gao Yang finally relaxed. "Did you deliberately test me and Qing Ling today?"
Officer Huang's smile was a bit helpless. "I knew you were Awakened early on. I just didn't expect your girlfriend to be one too."
"Not my girlfriend." Qing Ling finished the potato slice and started on a fish ball.
"Remember the mental patient I killed that day?" Officer Huang asked.
"I remember." How could I forget? If not for him, none of this mess would have happened.
"He was also an Awakened." Officer Huang's eyes held a trace of pity. "But he was completely exposed. There was no hope for him. Rather than letting him be tortured to death or eaten by a Wrath Beast, it was better to send him on his way."
Gao Yang remained silent.
"That brother's Talent was [Scent], Serial Number 175. He could distinguish the smell of Beasts. Because of that, he lived in fear every day until he finally had a mental breakdown."
Officer Huang stared at the steaming spicy pot, waiting devoutly for the pig lungs to cook. "He smelled that you were human immediately, which is why he told you to run. If I hadn't shot him then, he likely would have dragged you down with him."
"...Thank you." Gao Yang's voice was tight.
"Don't mention it. We're all in the same boat."
"You mentioned Talents earlier," Gao Yang licked his lips. "Is every Awakened's Talent different?"
"Of course," Officer Huang said. "My Talent is [Gun God], Serial Number 41. I have mastery over firearms, never miss a shot, and my drawing speed is extremely fast."
"Then what is my Talent?" Gao Yang asked deliberately.
"You've kept yourself hidden so well, and I don't have a Reconnaissance Talent. How would I know?" Officer Huang found it funny.
"Oh."
"Your girlfriend's Talent should be [Metal], Serial Number 20. She can control any metal element."
"Not my girlfriend." Qing Ling finished the fish ball and started on the mushroom.
Officer Huang looked at Qing Ling with undeniable envy. "Besides that, she likely also possesses the Talent [Blade God], Serial Number 32. That swordsmanship and destructive power are definitely not something a normal person can achieve."
"Can you have multiple Talents?" Gao Yang asked.
"Once a human Awakens, they immediately gain one Talent. You can learn more later, though I still haven't figured out the method or laws behind learning new ones."
"How do you know so much detail about Talents?" Gao Yang was puzzled. Does Officer Huang have a System too? Unlikely.
"I've lived longer than you, and being a cop gives me access to more information channels." Officer Huang smiled. "In fact, I once saw a complete Talent Sequence List. Based on my experiences so far, I believe the information on that list is authentic."
"How many Talents are there in total?" Qing Ling finished the fish ball and started on the cabbage.
"There are 199 Serial Numbers in total. Theoretically, the smaller the number, the stronger the Talent." Officer Huang looked at Qing Ling enviously. "You are very strong."
Gao Yang's heart shattered.
My Serial Number is 199. Dead last.
No wonder I have zero presence. And "Lucky"? Lucky my ass!
Qing Ling put down the chopsticks she was using for the cabbage. "Give me the Sequence List."
"I don't have a physical copy." Officer Huang pointed to his head. "It's all memorized in here."
"Then tell me."
"Tell you guys?" Officer Huang smiled faintly. "Well, it's not impossible."
"You have conditions?" Gao Yang guessed it.
"Of course. There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world." Officer Huang smiled meaningfully. "Except for this bowl of Malatang."