Gao Yang stared wide-eyed at Wang Zikai, who sat cross-legged on the floor in the corner, looking at him.

The air was eerily quiet; no one moved.

"You..." Gao Yang finally broke the silence. "When did you wake up?"

"Just now," Wang Zikai grinned, his eyes filled with excitement as he looked at Gao Yang.

"When exactly is 'just now'?" Fatty Jun instinctively took a step back and asked.

"A few minutes ago, maybe?"

Gao Yang had a bad feeling, "Did you see everything?!"

"Sure did!" Wang Zikai got even more animated, jumping up. "Whoa! When I woke up, I saw you guys fighting. It was awesome... I thought I was dreaming..."

Wang Zikai gestured wildly with his hands, "I saw Qing Ling get smacked away, smashing through glass. Man, I was shocked! That’s when I realized it wasn’t a dream and played dead out of fear..."

Gao Yang held his forehead, feeling a headache coming on.

"Hey, what’s with this lady? She turned into a lizard woman when she was alive, but now she’s back to human form after dying?"

"And who are you guys anyway? X-Men? Do you have superpowers? You’re just incredible..."

"Wang Zikai," Gao Yang interrupted.

"What?"

"Stop talking and let me have some peace," Gao Yang was on the verge of breaking down.

Fatty Jun stepped back, "Boss, Boss Lady, we can’t keep him around... let’s do it."

"I'm not the Boss Lady," Qing Ling said weakly, lying on the waterbed, "I'm exhausted. Do whatever you want with this idiot."

"Idiot?" Wang Zikai pointed at his nose, "Are you talking about me?"

"No!" Gao Yang shouted, pointing at Aunt He’s body nailed to the wall, "We mean this lizard monster."

"Oh wow, it really is a lizard monster!" Wang Zikai got even more excited.

Gao Yang took a deep breath, making a decision, "Wang Zikai, what I'm about to say is very important, so listen carefully!"

"Okay!" Wang Zikai was all ears.

Five minutes later.

Wang Zikai was profoundly introspective, "So, you're saying my body was modified when I was a kid, making me special, and now these lizard monsters want to kill me..."

"Exactly! We are all new humans, adapted to withstand the lizard people. But you are the most unique, the chosen warrior, destined to face the lizard people's ruler!"

"That's a lot to process... let me think..." Wang Zikai leaned against the wall, deep in meditation.

Gao Yang took a step closer and spoke emotionally, "Wang Zikai, Qing Ling, and I have been secretly protecting you all along." I've been aloof lately since my identity was revealed, and I didn't want to pull you into this... you saw it for yourself, this lizard person nearly murdered us..."

"Really?" Wang Zikai turned around.

"Absolutely!"

"Good brother! I knew... you wouldn’t abandon me!" Wang Zikai’s eyes were red, and he tightly grabbed Gao Yang’s hand. "To be honest, when I saw you on the first day of school, I just felt you were special in the crowd!"

"I’ve never liked anyone, not even my parents! But you, I liked right away. Didn’t expect... you hid it so well!"

"That’s the bond of destiny," Gao Yang smiled, "It seems we’re destined to be comrades in arms!"

"Of course!" Wang Zikai was even more excited, "Let’s take down those lizard people together! Save the world!"

Gao Yang breathed a sigh of relief. Stupidity, it seemed, could be life-saving.

Fatty Jun was dumbfounded: What kind of divine maneuver was this?!

Qing Ling was still lying on the bed, too exhausted to object—or to care.

Fatty Jun quickly forced a stiff smile, "Brother, let’s keep a low profile! Humans are still at a disadvantage, surrounded by lizard people. We need to hide our identities and bide our time. There’s always hope as long as we’re alive!"

"Got it." Wang Zikai patted his chest hard, "Don’t worry, once I’m strong enough, I’ll protect you all!"

...

Ten minutes later, Officer Huang, who had received the call, arrived.

He pushed aside the obstacles and entered the room.

“There was an accident, the mission failed,” Qing Ling said, sitting on the bed while Fatty Jun treated her injured arm.

“From the looks of the scene, I can tell.” Officer Huang took out a cigarette, glancing at Aunt He, still nailed to the wall. “Pretty brutal. Let me guess... she looked like a lizard?”

“Yes, what kind of beast is it?” Gao Yang asked.

“It’s also a Wrath Beast. From what I know, there are three types of Wrath Beasts: slayers, devourers, and heralds.” Officer Huang squatted down, quietly examining Aunt He’s corpse.

“The one you encountered should be a slayer, very strong in combat. But this one was quite degraded. If you’d met it in full condition, I’d be collecting your bodies right now.”

Everyone in the room inhaled sharply.

“However, the most terrifying of the Wrath Beasts is the herald. If you encounter one, you’re dead for sure.”

“Are the heralds very strong?” Qing Ling asked.

“Not particularly, but they use their special vocal cords to alert all beasts within a kilometer radius instantly.”

“...”

Gao Yang said nothing, considering it a stroke of luck.

It seems investing all his points in luck had its benefits. Sometimes, you just have to believe in the supernatural.

“Officer Huang, hello.” Fatty Jun stepped forward, smiling warmly as he extended his hand. “I’m your new companion.”

“I can tell.” Officer Huang shook his hand, then turned to look at Wang Zikai, who was clueless yet brimming with confidence.

“This energetic young man is...”

Suddenly, Officer Huang’s expression darkened, his eyes filled with a chilling intent to kill.

“Officer Huang!” Gao Yang quickly stepped forward, blocking Wang Zikai. “He’s one of us.”

Officer Huang looked into Gao Yang’s eyes, remaining silent for a moment. He had a rough idea. Lost ones didn’t always have to be killed, as they were very human-like. As long as they weren’t “provoked,” theoretically, coexistence was possible.

But overall, humans knew too little about the beasts, making such behavior excessively merciful. However, Officer Huang wasn’t in a position to lecture the young man, as he himself hadn’t killed “Old Liu.”

He nodded, lowering his voice. “Confirmed safe?”

“Safe.”

“Alright.” Officer Huang lit his cigarette, taking a deep drag. “You three tidy up and leave immediately. Go to school as usual.”

He then turned to Fatty Jun. “You’re the owner of this hotel?”

“Yes.”

Officer Huang nodded, surveying the brutal scene. “I can handle this as a case of home invasion. But there are too many signs of a struggle, making it hard to cover up quickly. The risk of exposure is too high.”

“Is there any other way?” Fatty Jun asked.

“Mind making the news? ‘Couple’s Hotel Gas Leak Explosion: One Dead, One Injured.’”

The dead would be Aunt He, and the injured would be Fatty Jun. If you’re going to put on a show, might as well go all out. Since Fatty Jun could heal, this act would cost him nothing.

“But... this hotel is all I have! Do I really have to blow it up?” Fatty Jun was distressed. “I don’t have insurance! I won’t get any compensation and might even face fines...”

“Is it more important than your life?” Officer Huang retorted.

“Officer Huang is right, nothing matters more than life,” Gao Yang also advised.

Fatty Jun sighed, cursing, “Burn it! Losing a building to gain a few companions is worth it!”

...

Ten minutes later, Gao Yang and Qing Ling left the hotel.

Morning had just broken, and the city was waking up under the dawn light.

Pedestrians were sparse, with a few breakfast carts, some young people just finishing an all-nighter at the internet café, and a lazy street-cleaning truck passing by.

Wang Zikai followed excitedly behind the two, pumped up. “Damn, everyone looks like a lizard person to me now!”

“Keep your voice down!” Gao Yang reminded him. “Go home and stay put. Qing Ling and I will go to school first. Come pick us up at the school gate tonight. I have a task for you.”

“Got it.” Wang Zikai ran across the street to his sports car.

Before driving off, he waved at Gao Yang, full of energy, “Let’s kill them all and save the world!”

“The fact that a lost one didn’t go berserk after such a shock is illogical,” Qing Ling said coldly.

“I thought you’d let him go,” Gao Yang sighed.

“No way.” Qing Ling’s eyes were sharp. “If he dies tonight, we’ll be too suspicious. We’ll find a better opportunity later...”

Before she finished, her face darkened.

“What’s wrong?”

Gao Yang asked just as he noticed Qing Ling’s gaze behind him.

Turning around, he was shocked.

“Gao Xinxin?!”

His sister stood a few meters away, dressed in a new Lolita dress and wearing a golden wig, looking like a beautiful doll. She stared at Gao Yang expressionlessly.

Under normal circumstances, Gao Yang would compliment her on her looks, but now he was so nervous he nearly stuttered, “Sis, what are you doing here? I’m just dealing with something with my classmate...”

“Stop acting. I already know.” Gao Xinxin’s voice was calm.

Gao Yang’s heart sank.

Qing Ling stepped forward, fingers subtly flexing, ready to strike.

Gao Yang still held onto a sliver of hope. “Sis, what are you talking about? I don’t understand...”

“It’s too late.” His sister’s face twisted into a smile too cold for her age. “I’ve already told everyone.”

Despair and terror gripped Gao Yang’s throat in an instant.

—A herald!