The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 592: Tag Along

“Okay!”

Fresh Snow dashed into the walk-in closet. With Gao Yang’s continuous effort and repeated reminders, Fresh Snow finally developed a basic understanding of gender differences. She knew now that she should put on human clothes after turning from a cat to a girl, and that she should mind her privacy and physical boundaries in human form.

After Gao Yang washed up, Fresh Snow reemerged in a white jumper.

“I’m done!”

Gao Yang looked at her slim bare legs and sighed. Fresh Snow doesn’t mind the cold, so let’s forget about putting socks on her.

After some hesitation, Gao Yang asked with lingering worry, “Have you put on undergarments?”

“Yeah.” Fresh Snow grinned.

“Pants?”

“Yeah!”

Fresh Snow grabbed the hem of her jumper with both hands and lifted it, revealing a pair of jean shorts and her bare belly.

“Alright, alright.” Gao Yang averted his gaze and turned away to grab a comb from the vanity. “Come here. I’ll comb your hair, and we’ll go.”

“I want braids, Gao Yang!” Fresh Snow obediently sat down, looking expectant. “The kind of braids Sister does for me!”

Gao Yang smiled fondly. “Alright. I’ll give it a try. No promises...”

Ring.

The doorbell rang.

“Idiot Kai’s back!” Fresh Snow jumped to her feet happily and skipped her way to the entryway.

“Wait.” Gao Yang grabbed her. “Stay behind me.”

Blocking her and keeping a distance from the entryway, Gao Yang called out warily, “Who is it?”

“It’s me, Captain Seven Shadow!” Can responded excitedly from outside the door. “We’re here to visit you!”

Gao Yang said coldly, “Door’s unlocked.”

The door opened.

Can was wearing a long-sleeved shirt with horizontal stripes and a denim overall. Her bob hair had gotten long, parted softly on the side and covering her ears, running down to her slim, fair neck.

“Captain!” Can came up to him with a beam.

“Don’t move,” Gao Yang snapped coldly.

Can’s smile froze, and she came to a sudden halt, feeling awkward. She didn’t know what she had done wrong.

“Prove that you’re you,” Gao Yang said.

Can caught on. “Oh, right.”

A second later, she disappeared. Then a gust of wind hit Gao Yang and swirled around him.

Gao Yang relaxed. “That’s enough.”

It was too unlikely for someone to be able to disguise themself as Can and use Invisibility and Gale.

Can reappeared and rushed up to Gao Yang. “We’re here to visit you, Captain.”

We?

Gao Yang looked up to see Lithe Snake, wearing camouflage and a black beret, walking into the door, followed by Nine Frost, who was dressed in the fifth team’s uniform. Then Hong Xiaoxiao came in, looking left and right nervously. The last to enter was Six Rime in the traditional witch outfit of white robe and red dress, her impassive face looking cold like ice.

She closed the door behind her. That was the entire group.

Whoosh. Lithe Snake had been smiling a second before, but then he threw a throwing knife at Gao Yang’s eye. Gao Yang raised his right hand and caught it easily with two fingers.

He “returned” the throwing knife to Lithe Snake, and the man caught it easily too, putting it back into its sheath.

“I’ve proven myself, Brother Lithe Snake,” said Can. “No need for you to do the same.”

“Who said anything about proving myself?” Lithe Snake glanced at Gao Yang. “I’m checking if it’s the real Captain.”

“Whoa, that’s...” Can was going to blurt out the word “paranoid”, but managed to say instead, “...cautious of you.”

“There are many who can catch your knives,” Gao Yang said on purpose. “This doesn’t prove anything.”

“Of course it does.” Lithe Snake scoffed. “Everyone moves and reacts differently.”

Gao Yang nodded. It seemed that Lithe Snake had memorized the way every teammate moved and reacted.

Nine Frost looked around before turning to Fresh Snow, asking in a raised voice on purpose, “Who are you?”

It was for Hong Xiaoxiao and Six Rime’s benefit, of course. Can was one of their own, and Lithe Snake had already told her about the Spectres and Fresh Snow.

“Wang Xiaoxiu,” Fresh Snow answered for herself. “I’m Wang Zikai’s cousin. Are you Gao Yang’s friends?”

Gao Yang was pleased with her reaction. Although he had told Fresh Snow about how she should react in different scenarios, her readiness still caught him by surprise.

Gao Yang answered Nine Frost, when in truth his response was meant for Hong Xiaoxiao and Six Rime. “She’s a white face with a stable temperament. Don’t worry.”

“Then I’ll be frank.” Nine Frost put aside his reservations. “Captain, after your attack last afternoon, Elder Azure Dragon sent us to protect you. Gray Bear has to go to work, and he’s better at taking hits than protecting people. Thus, the five of us are assigned.”

It’s to protect but also to watch me.

Gao Yang didn’t voice his thoughts but simply nodded. “Thank you. Make yourselves at home.”

“Wait!” Fresh Snow finally realized the situation, and her eyes widened. “Are we not going to the cinema, Gao Yang?”

“We’ll go another day.”

“We can all go together.” Fresh Snow didn’t want to accept it. She had thought she could put another checkmark on her bucket list today.

“There are too many people in the mall and too little space. Our lines of sight will be obstructed, which makes it easier for an ambush to happen. Better to stay here.” As expected of a former mercenary, Lithe Snake was a pro in the work of a bodyguard. “I’ll keep watch outside with Six Rime. The rest of you should stay with Captain.”

He glanced at Six Rime. “Let’s go.”

“Elder Azure Dragon ordered me to stay right by Elder Seven Shadow.” Six Rime remained where she was, her expression unchanged.

Lithe Snake wasn’t surprised. He had wanted to get Six Rime out of here. Hong Xiaoxiao would be easy to deal with since she was new. Then the other members of the fifth team would have a chance to talk to Gao Yang in private.

However, it seemed that Elder Azure Dragon had anticipated that, which was why he sent Six Rime.

“I’ll go with you.” Nine Frost didn’t want Six Rime to suspect them, so he made the offer voluntarily.

“Sure.” Lithe Snake leaped out of the window.

Nine Frost used the stairs to get to the rooftop instead.

That left Gao Yang with Fresh Snow, Can, Hong Xiaoxiao, and Six Rime.

Can had learned about Gao Yang’s parents and Officer Huang. After some hesitation, she mustered the courage to say, “We texted you, Captain. You didn’t reply...”

“I got them.” Gao Yang nodded. “Sorry. I haven’t been feeling well lately.”

His mood was one thing. Another reason Gao Yang didn’t respond to the texts from any member of Team Heavenbreaker was to avoid suspicion.

The messenger app on all Guild members’ phones was encoded. In theory, the Guild could be monitoring all the communications. Gao Yang didn’t think it was worth it to take the risk. Even private conversations could make the Guild think that they were getting other ideas.

And Gao Yang was right to be careful. After his parents’ funeral, Qilin immediately relieved him of the leadership position of Team Heavenbreaker, and there were discreet signs that Qilin had become wary of him.

“We...we understand.” Can wasn’t sure what to say. “We’re just...worried.”

“Thank you,” Gao Yang said in a distant tone. “Sit. I’ll make coffee for you.”

He walked into the kitchen. Fresh Snow immediately followed, and so did Six Rime.

Gao Yang sighed. Six Rime followed the order to shadow him to a T.

Unhappy, Fresh Snow pouted and stared at Six Rime. “Stop following him like a pest!”

Six Rime was unfazed. “I’m doing my job.”

Two seconds later, she coldly retorted, “You’re the pest.”