Licheng City was bisected by the Li River and was referred to by citizens as "East Bank" and "West Bank."
The East Bank was the old city center, housing the pedestrian streets, prestigious schools, stadiums, museums, large shopping malls, and the financial center. The West Bank was the newly developed district, focusing on tourist attractions. It had developed rapidly in recent years, with housing prices catching up to the East Bank.
Licheng was divided into nine districts. Gao Yang and Qing Ling lived in Shanqing District, District 5 on the East Bank.
Qingyang Bridge was the first modern bridge in Licheng, mainly connecting Shanqing District in the east to Feiyang District in the west.
This bridge had a history spanning decades. Compared to the bridges built later, it was like a senile old man—dilapidated and in disrepair, with little traffic. However, once past midnight, the number of large trucks on the bridge increased, as taking this route allowed them to bypass a toll station, making it the preferred choice for long-distance freight.
Late at night, Gao Yang and Qing Ling arrived under the bridge at the East Bank head. Heavy trucks rolled over the potholed surface overhead, emitting deafening rumble-rumble sounds every now and then.
Gao Yang was genuinely worried the bridge might collapse.
Qing Ling sat cross-legged on the riverbank, focusing her attention on searching for something.
The content of the first note was:
—At the East Bank head of Qingyang Bridge, use your [Metal] ability to find something.
Soon, Qing Ling opened her eyes. "Found it. It should be that thing."
Gao Yang really wanted to ask what thing and where, but that would make him look like an idiot, so he just stood by her side and said nothing.
Qing Ling walked down the embankment, extended her hands toward the river surface below, and soon frowned.
"What's wrong?" Gao Yang asked.
"It's a bit far. Come here and hold me."
"Hold you how?"
"Have you seen Titanic? That poster."
"I get it!"
Gao Yang hurriedly hugged Qing Ling's slender waist from behind. The river breeze blew past, carrying the scent of her hair—like flowers swaying in the wind.
The girl in his arms leaned forward, her hands extending another meter or so toward the river. Gao Yang didn't have time to think too much; he tightened his grip on Qing Ling.
Ripples began to appear on the water's surface, growing more and more intense.
Splash—
A rectangular iron box broke through the water and hovered in mid-air.
Qing Ling gritted her teeth and pulled back with both hands. The heavy iron box flew toward them.
Gao Yang tensed his body and pulled back hard, like in a tug-of-war. When the weight on Qing Ling suddenly vanished, he couldn't stop his momentum and fell backward, pulling Qing Ling down with him.
Qing Ling wasn't in a hurry to get up from Gao Yang's body. She lay flat on his chest, breathing heavily.
Gao Yang wasn't in a hurry either. How to put it... being pressed down by a beauty didn't feel bad.
"Isn't the Metal Talent supposed to be powerful? Why does it feel like when you use it..." Gao Yang carefully chose his words out of a desire for self-preservation, "...it's kind of underwhelming."
"I just awakened it not long ago. The level is too low."
Qing Ling rolled over and stood up. "Right now, my maximum sensing range for metal is 20 meters, my maximum control range is 10 meters, and the weight limit is 10 kilograms. That thing just now exceeded the limit."
Gao Yang secretly noted this down: No matter how strong a Talent is, it depends on the level. A low-level strong Talent might be worse than a high-level weak Talent.
Qing Ling walked to the iron box, took out her dagger, sliced open the thick waterproof tape, and carefully opened the box.
Gao Yang leaned in to look and was startled.
Inside the iron box lay a black sniper rifle, disassembled and neatly embedded in the inner casing. Under the moonlight, these cold, black-lacquered metal parts emitted a dangerous yet sexy sheen.
The System voice in his brain appeared on cue.
[Observe unknown item? Cost: 1 Lucky Point.]
—Observe.
[M82A1 Semi-Automatic Anti-Materiel Rifle. 12.7mm ammunition. Magazine capacity: 10 rounds. Effective range: 1800 meters. Weight: 14kg.]
Gao Yang's heart sank. Looks like we're going to kill someone.
Even for Officer Huang, getting a sniper rifle like this in a short time was impossible. He must have been preparing for a long time, hiding it here and waiting for an opportunity.
Qing Ling looked at the sniper rifle, pondering for a moment.
She took out a duffel bag from inside the iron box, put the box inside it, and glanced at Gao Yang. "Carry it."
Gao Yang quickly went over, lifted the heavy black bag, and shouldered it.
Qing Ling opened the second note and stayed silent for a long time.
"What is it?" Gao Yang asked.
"Where is the hotel?" Qing Ling asked.
Since they were carrying equipment, they could only walk. It took them an hour to arrive at the Pink Hotel. This was a "love hotel." Pink neon lights flickered on their faces, and the ground was littered with explicit little cards.
"Are you sure?" Gao Yang swallowed. "It's here?"
"See for yourself." Qing Ling handed the second note to Gao Yang:
—Go to the Pink Hotel, fifth floor, south-facing room. Open the third note at 6:00 AM.
Gao Yang and Qing Ling walked into the hotel.
The receptionist was a fat man, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, wearing a T-shirt with a JoJo character on it. His hair was sparse, and his face was oily. He was buried in a mobile game. "Does anyone want a scope? Hey hey, revive me, revive me! So close, he's one-shot..."
Gao Yang looked around. Strange. Shouldn't the receptionist at a love hotel be a pretty lady?
"Ahem," Gao Yang coughed twice. "Room for the night."
The fat man looked up at Gao Yang. "One person?"
"Two."
The fat man put down his phone. His eyes darted to Qing Ling behind Gao Yang, and his eyes instantly went straight. "Holy crap! Bro... you're eating good tonight!"
Gao Yang was embarrassed. "Fifth floor, south-facing room. Is it available?"
The fat man's wretched smile revealed a hint of envy. "Let me check... Ah, what a coincidence. There's one left—'Mirror Flower, Water Moon'!"
"What?" Gao Yang didn't react.
"That's the room name." The fat man chuckled. "Automatic water bed, tantric chair, mandarin duck bathtub, ceiling mirror... gives you the ultimate experience..."
"Fine, that one." Gao Yang blushed and took out his phone to scan the QR code.
"Okay, please show your ID."
Gao Yang froze. He forgot to bring it.
He looked back at Qing Ling. Qing Ling shook her head.
"Bro, can't help you then." The fat man looked helpless. "If you really can't, I recommend an outdoor spot? Guaranteed excitement..."
Qing Ling expressionlessly turned and walked away.
Gao Yang thought she was angry and quickly chased after her.
As soon as he stepped out the door, he found Qing Ling had caught someone.
Gao Yang was surprised. "...Wang Zikai?"
Wang Zikai, who had just come out of an internet café after a losing streak, was about to get his car. Before he could take two steps, someone grabbed him. He looked back and saw it was his classmate Qing Ling.
Then, Gao Yang walked over too.
Wang Zikai paused. "Gao Yang, w-why are you two here?"
"Did you bring your ID?" Qing Ling got straight to the point. "Lend it to me."
Wang Zikai glanced at Qing Ling and Gao Yang, then at the love hotel behind them. "You guys are... getting a room?"
Gao Yang nodded.
Wang Zikai cracked on the spot. He took an exaggerated step back. "Holy shit! Oh my god..."
Although his mouth was full of dirty jokes, he was actually "mother-womb single" (single since birth). But he never doubted that his good brother Gao Yang was also single since birth. Even though he liked to "matchmake" him with Li Weiwei, he never thought Gao Yang would actually stop being single.
Now look at this. Not only had Gao Yang ended his bachelorhood, but it looked like he was ending his virginity tonight too!
Wang Zikai's mentality collapsed.
"Gao Yang! Your childhood sweetheart Li Weiwei has only been dead for a few days? It hasn't even been seven days... Is this okay? Is this appropriate?! You animal!"
Qing Ling was impatient. She directly started searching Wang Zikai. "Give me the ID."
"No..." Seeing Qing Ling being so proactive, Wang Zikai found it even harder to accept. "Qing Ling, aren't you a lesbian? Why are you hooking up with a man?"
"What's so good about this kid Gao Yang! Consider me instead! I'm rich, handsome, and romantic... How am I inferior to Gao Yang!"
"You have no brain." Qing Ling pulled the ID card out of Wang Zikai's pocket and dragged Gao Yang back to the hotel. The two successfully registered at the front desk and walked into the elevator as a pair.
Wang Zikai stood rooted to the spot, dumbfounded the whole time. The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. Why?! I can handle not having a girlfriend, but that bastard Gao Yang definitely cannot have one before me!
He charged straight to the front desk. "Hey, which room did they book?!"
"Sorry, that's guest privacy..."
Wang Zikai grabbed the fat man by the hair and slammed his head onto the desk with a thud. "You jabber one more word, and I'll make your private parts disappear! Understand?"
"501! 501!"
"Get me a room. 601!"
"Yes, yes... opening it right now!"