—A herald!

Officer Huang’s words seemed almost prophetic.

Gao Yang had imagined that someday he might have to face his "family" with weapons, but he didn’t expect it to come so soon, and certainly not with his beloved little sister.

A rough estimate suggested that there were fewer than ten pedestrians on the street. Assuming a third of them were Wrath Beasts, that meant three, which was already too much to handle.

And Officer Huang had mentioned that the herald uses its special vocal cords to alert all beasts within a kilometer radius. A kilometer radius means that besides those on the street, the beasts "sleeping" in the buildings would also wake up.

The conclusion: unless he and Qing Ling could teleport instantly, they were doomed.

Gao Yang gave up; he couldn’t think of any way to escape.

"You run. I should be able to hold them off for a few seconds," Gao Yang told Qing Ling.

Qing Ling didn’t speak. She neither ran nor initiated an attack.

His sister didn’t transform immediately. She walked toward Gao Yang, with an expression and demeanor so cold and unrecognizable…

Wait! Could it be...

“You found a girlfriend without my permission!” His sister pointed at Gao Yang and started scolding him. “What did you say before? You promised that you’d need my approval to find a girlfriend!”

“And you two actually came to this kind of hotel!”

“You even... are into the alphabet circle!” His sister stomped her foot in anger.

Qing Ling pulled down her sleeve to cover the wound on her wrist and turned her face away.

“No, it’s not what you think...”

Thank goodness! Thank Buddha!

Gao Yang almost cried, realizing it was just a false alarm!

His sister, getting angrier, pulled out her phone: “I’ve already taken photos and posted them on my Moments! I’ll tell everyone about your disgrace! Get you expelled from school! Get our parents to disown you and kick you out of the house...”

Gao Yang quickly grabbed his sister’s phone and tossed it to Qing Ling: “Delete it.”

“Okay.” Qing Ling complied.

“What are you doing? Give me my phone back! Don’t think about destroying the evidence!” His sister tried to grab it, but Gao Yang held her head in place with one hand.

“What’s going on in that little head of yours...” Gao Yang rolled his eyes.

Qing Ling deleted the photos from Moments, the album, and the backups in the recycle bin, then tossed the phone back to Gao Yang’s sister. She waved her hand tiredly: “Handle this yourself. I just want to go home, take a bath, and sleep.”

“No problem.”

...

Ten minutes later, Gao Yang and Gao Xinxin were sitting at McDonald’s.

The morning sunlight shone through the glass windows, casting a clean and beautiful halo on his sister’s hair, skin, and dress.

Girls at this age are just shedding their childishness and stepping into adolescence. The youthful vitality they unconsciously exude affects everything around them. Gao Yang, having just been through a fierce battle, gradually relaxed.

Gao Xinxin prided herself on being mature, but to Gao Yang, her pouty expression had a kitten-like cuteness. She pouted, biting the straw of her drink, and swung her legs in annoyance.

“Gao Xinxin?”

His sister ignored him, turning her face away.

“Little sister?”

“Don’t think a kids’ meal will make me forgive you!”

“It’s really a misunderstanding. Qing Ling and I are just friends. We stayed up all night working on exam papers.”

“Who would believe that? Who does exam papers at a couple’s hotel?”

“A lot of people do that. It’s called being unpredictable!” Gao Yang fibbed.

“Really?” She was half-believing.

“Of course. We’re just academic rivals, you know?”

“The kind who say they haven’t studied but end up getting the highest scores?” She asked.

“Exactly.”

“Disgusting.”

“Hehe,” Gao Yang chuckled. “By the way, how did you know I was here?”

“My dress arrived yesterday. I put it on and waited for you to come home and see it, but you didn’t come back, and you didn’t answer your phone. I waited until I fell asleep.”

She puffed her cheeks in anger. “When I woke up, I got angrier. I called Wang Zikai, and he said you were at a hotel with a girl from class, so I came to catch you red-handed!”

“Little sister, that’s not how you use the phrase ‘catch you red-handed,’” Gao Yang said, amused.

“Don’t joke around with me!” She raised her voice, her face looking aggrieved, and her eyes turned red. “I was so happy to show you my dress. Do you understand that feeling?”

Gao Yang suddenly felt a bit heartbroken. “It’s not too late to see it now. The dress looks great!”

“No, it’s wrinkled now!” She cried. “And my face is all puffy. I look the best at night, which goes perfectly with this dress!”

Gao Yang felt a warmth in his heart. He reached out and pinched his sister’s cheek. “You always look good.”

“Better than the girl you were with?”

“Better.”

“If we both fell into the water, who would you save first?”

Gao Yang hesitated. Knowing Qing Ling’s personality, she’d probably say: save your sister first, I want to swim a bit more.

“Of course, I’d save you!” Gao Yang said.

“Good! You said it yourself! Pinky promise!” She extended her little finger.

“Pinky promise!”

...

At 8 AM, City No. 15 High School, Shanqing District.

Gao Yang arrived at the school gate with his backpack just after the morning study session ended. He was thinking of an excuse for being late when he saw a familiar red sports car parked by the roadside.

Gao Yang had a bad feeling.

Sure enough, Wang Zikai was at the school gate, arguing heatedly with the PE teacher in charge of checking for tardiness.

“I’m not dropping out! I want to attend school!” Wang Zikai shouted.

“Student, you’ve already dropped out! Don’t cause trouble,” the PE teacher said, clearly at a loss, but still speaking politely due to Wang Zikai’s wealthy background.

“Teacher, I’ve had an epiphany! I want to study!”

“It’s good to have an epiphany... but you need to re-enroll first.”

“No! I love studying! Studying is the true path! I don’t want to waste another second.” Wang Zikai was about to say more when he saw Gao Yang approaching. He immediately ran over with a big smile. “Bro!”

“Didn’t I tell you to stay at home?” Gao Yang frowned.

Wang Zikai was too excited: “I can’t stay at home! Just thinking about being a new human makes me so freaking excited...”

“Keep it down.” Gao Yang was embarrassed. Qing Ling was right; this idiot should be killed, or he would cause trouble sooner or later.

“Hey, don’t you all have those superpowers? Why don’t I have one? That’s not right; aren’t I the chosen warrior?” Wang Zikai asked expectantly, his eyes wide and eager. If he had a tail, it would be wagging.

“The power inside you has just awakened... everything takes time.” Gao Yang lied.

“That makes sense!”

“By the way, didn’t you say you had a task for me tonight? Give it to me early so I can finish it sooner.” Wang Zikai’s thoughts jumped around.

“This task... can only be done at night.”

“Got it.” Wang Zikai slung an arm around Gao Yang’s shoulders. “Come on, let’s go to class together.”

...

By the end of the day, Wang Zikai had nearly driven Gao Yang nuts. It felt like rearing a husky. Gao Yang had to teach Wang Zikai a series of "meditation techniques" to persuade him to sit still and quit fidgeting about.

Sure enough, Wang Zikai sat motionless at his desk, meditating.

During the second evening study session, Gao Yang went to the bathroom. As he came out, he was blocked by Qing Ling: “Come to the rooftop with me.”

The rooftop?

It doesn't feel like a good place.

Gao Yang followed Qing Ling to the rooftop. She glanced back, and the iron door slammed shut with a “click.” She looked around to make sure no one else was there.

“How’s your sister?” Qing Ling asked.

“No problem, I handled it.”

“Keep an eye on her. Some beasts are very clever and can disguise themselves.” Qing Ling said.

“Okay.” Gao Yang sighed inwardly. If possible, he hoped his sister wasn’t a beast. If she had to be one, he hoped she was just a lost one.

A breeze lifted Qing Ling’s long hair, messing up her gaze. “I know you’re close to Wang Zikai, but he’s a beast.”

Gao Yang didn’t respond.

Sure enough, the inevitable confrontation had come.

Clouds drifted across the sky, covering the moon. Standing in the darkness, Gao Yang couldn’t see Qing Ling’s expression, but her tone was firm and uncompromising: “After evening study, take him somewhere secluded. I’ll kill him.”

Gao Yang was silent for a moment before looking up: “What if I refuse?”

Qing Ling didn’t hesitate: “Then I’ll kill you both.”