Gao Yang fell silent. Following the shock was a deep sense of defeat.
Facing Dragon, he felt entirely out of depth in both intelligence and power.
“I’m sorry for using you, Gao Yang.” Dragon openly admitted.
Gao Yang shook his head and quickly collected himself, holding himself with dignity despite the gap between them. “I’d kept my Talent a secret. I’ll consider us even.”
“Alright, we’re even.” Dragon nodded.
“You once said that I was similar to you.” Gao Yang held his gaze. “I didn’t agree at the time, but I think differently now.”
Dragon blinked at him with interest. “Oh?”
“Because we’re both gamblers at heart.” Gao Yang smiled wryly.
Dragon laughed. “Yes, and we’re not the only ones. Who in this world isn’t gambling? We have very few chips on the table and limited time. To be the winners and avoid elimination, we all throw decorum out of the window.”
A sharp insight.
Gao Yang sighed and looked down at Ghost Horse’s tomb, suddenly feeling embarrassed.
He had come to visit the man, but he ended up talking about work with Dragon.
“Captain.” Gao Yang then thought of something. “Since I’ve completed the ultimate mission you entrusted me, can I come back?”
“You may decide for yourself.” Dragon still had a smile on his face. “I can tell that your bond with your companions is genuine.”
Gao Yang admitted, “They’re good guys.”
Dragon nodded. “If you want to stay or even join the Guild for real, I’ll respect your decision.”
Gao Yang stayed quiet.
Dragon continued, “I’ve always believed that awakeners are going to end up on the same path.”
Then his smile dropped. “Other than Qilin and Surnamed Li, of course.”
Gao Yang started. “What do you mean?”
Dragon looked at him. “I may not be in the place to say this, but as a show of my gratitude, I’ll be completely honest with you. While Qilin and Surnamed Li may not be our enemies, they are inherently different from us.”
Gao Yang considered his words.
“Do you mean that while they’re walking the same path as we do right now, Captain, they have a different destination in mind?”
“Very likely.”
“What are they planning then?” Gao Yang didn’t understand.
Dragon shook his head. “I’m not sure, but it will be revealed sooner or later.”
That further compounded Gao Yang’s confusion.
Should he trust Dragon? Although he had seemed open and earnest whatever he said and did, hadn’t he used Gao Yang as well?
Perhaps this was meant to drive a wedge between Gao Yang and Qilin too so that he would take Dragon’s side.
If Dragon couldn’t be trusted, though, what about Qilin and Surnamed Li?
None of the three were to be underestimated. The more he knew about them, the less he knew them.
For some reason, Gao Yang was reminded of what Officer Huang had said to him.
‘We’re all orphans in this world, abandoned by God.’
Gao Yang grumbled silently with complicated feelings, Why are you so quotable, Officer Huang? It’s the world’s loss that you aren’t a writer.
...
Ten minutes later, Gao Yang left the Taiping Bridge Cemetery.
Instead of accessing his system immediately, he first went home and had lunch with his family before returning to his room with the excuse of taking a nap, locking the door and closing the curtains.
Sitting cross-legged on his bed, he took a deep breath and confirmed that the energy Dragon left in him had dispersed completely.
[Access granted.]
—Look up Overlord! Use whatever Luck points required! Hurry!
[Information unavailable.]
—Why? Didn’t I know the name of the Talent and have sort of experienced the power? Wouldn’t that count as me having explored the Talent?
[The target denies you.]
—What? Come again?
[The target denies you.]
—Do you mean that Dragon’s Talent allows him to set up a firewall to stop you from looking him up?
[You may understand it that way.]
—How? Is it because his Talent is the top Miracle-type Talent and you belong to a Miracle-type Talent that you are restricted?
[Please find the answer on your own.]
—You’re no help!
[Access ends.]
Gao Yang opened his eyes and let out a long breath.
Dragon was too unknowable, mysterious, and powerful.
Still, Gao Yang’s top priority at the moment was the Crimson Tide.
That afternoon and evening, Gao Yang stayed at home to spend time with his family, maintaining the appearance of normalcy.
Later that night, he quietly did physical training in his room before taking a shower and retiring to bed.
When he woke up, it was nine o’clock in the morning. Came evening, the Crimson Tide would hit.
At ten o’clock, he received an encoded message from the Qilin Guild, repeating thrice that every member was advised to gather at the White Tiger branch before night fell, and absolutely no later than midnight.
During lunch, Gao Yang was unusually enthusiastic since it could be the last meal he shared with his family.
“Here, Yang Yang.” His father picked up a piece of braised short rib and dropped it in his bowl. “Your favorite.”
“Thanks, Dad!” Gao Yang took a large bite and chewed on it. “Hm, so good!”
“You’re acting strangely, bro,” Gao Xinxin said with doubt.
“Am I?” Gao Yang felt a little guilty.
His mother smiled tenderly. “I think so too. You’ve been talking more than usual.”
“Haha, he must have been too excited.” On the wheelchair, his father smiled at him. “You’re going to the club with Little Kai and can finally leave home, away from our watchful eyes.”
“Whoa, how did you know?” Gao Yang played along.
“Hmph, brat,” his father said. “You’ll know how good home is once you’re away from it.”
Gao Yang smiled and continued to eat.
After lunch, Gao Yang really wanted to go to the kitchen to do dishes for his mother, but he stopped himself. It would be too out of character for him.
He sat on the couch and watched TV without really paying attention.
His grandmother walked out of her bedroom and sat down next to him.
“Yang Yang, are you leaving soon?”
“Yeah, Little Kai is coming to pick me up.” Gao Yang glanced at his phone. “He should be here soon.”
His grandmother chuckled and took his hand. “Here.”
Gao Yang looked down to find her handing him two hundred yuan.
“Granny, what are you...”
“Granny doesn’t have a lot, so don’t think I’m being stingy. Here. Buy anything you want to eat once you’re there.”
“It’s not necessary, Granny!” Gao Yang didn’t want the money. “I’m not going far or anything. I’ll be back in a few days.”
“Take it!” his grandmother insisted. “It’s Granny’s gift for you.”
Gao Yang thought for a moment and stopped resisting, accepting the allowance with a smile. “You’ve always taken such good care of me, Granny.”
“Hoho, as I should. You’re my beloved grandson.” Then his grandmother reached a hand into her pocket with a mysterious look on her face.
Two seconds later, she took out an osmanthus cake wrapped in tin foil. “Look what this is.”
“Whoa!” Gao Yang had guessed what it would be, but he still pretended to be pleasantly surprised and put it in his pocket. “Thank you, Granny!”
“Haha, have it on your way there.” His grandmother winked at him and joked, “Don’t let your sister know.”
That brought Gao Yang back.
His grandmother loved sweets, and when Gao Yang was little, she always had all sorts of desserts in her pockets, one of them being osmanthus cake.
Gao Yang and Gao Xinxin had fallen in love with it after trying it once, and they had always craved for more.
At the time, though, his sister couldn’t have sweets since she had cavities, and his grandmother only snuck sweets for Gao Yang because of that.
Once, Gao Yang’s scores dropped by a lot, and his father scolded him in anger.
Fuming, Gao Yang locked himself in his room and refused to have dinner even though his stomach was protesting.
Late at night, once everyone else had retired to bed and while Gao Yang twisted and turned, unable to fall asleep, his grandmother knocked on his door.
Sitting by his bed, she petted his head to comfort him and took out an osmanthus cake wrapped in tin foil. Gao Yang took it and wolfed it down. That was the best osmanthus cake he had ever had.
Then he found that Gao Xinxin had shown up at the door at some point.
“Granny gave brother a cake, but not me! Granny only likes her grandson!”
“Hush...quiet!” Caught, his grandmother pulled his sister into the room and shut the door, taking out another osmanthus cake from her pocket and giving it to his sister.
Only then did Gao Xinxin stop whining and dig in happily.
Then the siblings grew up. They had had hundreds and even thousands of different sweets, thus losing their love for osmanthus cakes. They were way too sweet and powdery, sticking in the mouth and becoming difficult to swallow.
However, his grandmother only ever bought the sweets they would consider ancient.
Whenever she gave Gao Yang and Gao Xinxin sweets, they accepted happily but left them somewhere nearby, rarely actually eating the treats.
And his grandmother knew. However, it had become a habit of hers to give him and his sister osmanthus cakes when she was showing them her love.
Ring.
The doorbell pulled Gao Yang out of his thoughts.
Gao Xinxin answered the door. Outside, Wang Zikai was carrying a large suitcase with a bright smile and boundless energy. “Yo, Xinxin. Where’s your brother? We’re going!”
“Hey, Brother, your BFF is here!” Gao Xinxin sassed.
Gao Yang quickly got up and picked up his duffle bag, walking up to the door. “You’re on time!”
“Of course! Come on, I’m reporting to the club at three o’clock in the afternoon. I don’t want to be late!” Wang Zikai had gotten good at acting. “Bro, how likely do you think I’ll go pro for real?”
“You?” Gao Yang lied without batting an eye. “Seventy percent!”
“Haha, let’s go!”
Gao Yang turned around. “Granny, Dad, Mom, Sis, I’m going.”
His grandmother smiled kindly at him from the couch. “Go. Don’t be late.”
In his wheelchair, his father was watering the potted plants on the balcony. He turned to face the entryway with some difficulty. “Take care, Yang Yang.”
Having just finished the dishes, his mother emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on the apron. “Safe trip. And don’t start any trouble!”
“Just go. Then I’ll have the computer to myself!” Gao Xinxin stood by the watercooler with a cup, a scowl on her face.
“See you all.”
Changing into shoes, Gao Yang closed the door with a smile.
Gao Yang fell silent. Following the shock was a deep sense of defeat.
Facing Dragon, he felt entirely out of depth in both intelligence and power.
“I’m sorry for using you, Gao Yang.” Dragon openly admitted.
Gao Yang shook his head and quickly collected himself, holding himself with dignity despite the gap between them. “I’d kept my Talent a secret. I’ll consider us even.”
“Alright, we’re even.” Dragon nodded.
“You once said that I was similar to you.” Gao Yang held his gaze. “I didn’t agree at the time, but I think differently now.”
Dragon blinked at him with interest. “Oh?”
“Because we’re both gamblers at heart.” Gao Yang smiled wryly.
Dragon laughed. “Yes, and we’re not the only ones. Who in this world isn’t gambling? We have very few chips on the table and limited time. To be the winners and avoid elimination, we all throw decorum out of the window.”
A sharp insight.
Gao Yang sighed and looked down at Ghost Horse’s tomb, suddenly feeling embarrassed.
He had come to visit the man, but he ended up talking about work with Dragon.
“Captain.” Gao Yang then thought of something. “Since I’ve completed the ultimate mission you entrusted me, can I come back?”
“You may decide for yourself.” Dragon still had a smile on his face. “I can tell that your bond with your companions is genuine.”
Gao Yang admitted, “They’re good guys.”
Dragon nodded. “If you want to stay or even join the Guild for real, I’ll respect your decision.”
Gao Yang stayed quiet.
Dragon continued, “I’ve always believed that awakeners are going to end up on the same path.”
Then his smile dropped. “Other than Qilin and Surnamed Li, of course.”
Gao Yang started. “What do you mean?”
Dragon looked at him. “I may not be in the place to say this, but as a show of my gratitude, I’ll be completely honest with you. While Qilin and Surnamed Li may not be our enemies, they are inherently different from us.”
Gao Yang considered his words.
“Do you mean that while they’re walking the same path as we do right now, Captain, they have a different destination in mind?”
“Very likely.”
“What are they planning then?” Gao Yang didn’t understand.
Dragon shook his head. “I’m not sure, but it will be revealed sooner or later.”
That further compounded Gao Yang’s confusion.
Should he trust Dragon? Although he had seemed open and earnest whatever he said and did, hadn’t he used Gao Yang as well?
Perhaps this was meant to drive a wedge between Gao Yang and Qilin too so that he would take Dragon’s side.
If Dragon couldn’t be trusted, though, what about Qilin and Surnamed Li?
None of the three were to be underestimated. The more he knew about them, the less he knew them.
For some reason, Gao Yang was reminded of what Officer Huang had said to him.
‘We’re all orphans in this world, abandoned by God.’
Gao Yang grumbled silently with complicated feelings, Why are you so quotable, Officer Huang? It’s the world’s loss that you aren’t a writer.
...
Ten minutes later, Gao Yang left the Taiping Bridge Cemetery.
Instead of accessing his system immediately, he first went home and had lunch with his family before returning to his room with the excuse of taking a nap, locking the door and closing the curtains.
Sitting cross-legged on his bed, he took a deep breath and confirmed that the energy Dragon left in him had dispersed completely.
[Access granted.]
—Look up Overlord! Use whatever Luck points required! Hurry!
[Information unavailable.]
—Why? Didn’t I know the name of the Talent and have sort of experienced the power? Wouldn’t that count as me having explored the Talent?
[The target denies you.]
—What? Come again?
[The target denies you.]
—Do you mean that Dragon’s Talent allows him to set up a firewall to stop you from looking him up?
[You may understand it that way.]
—How? Is it because his Talent is the top Miracle-type Talent and you belong to a Miracle-type Talent that you are restricted?
[Please find the answer on your own.]
—You’re no help!
[Access ends.]
Gao Yang opened his eyes and let out a long breath.
Dragon was too unknowable, mysterious, and powerful.
Still, Gao Yang’s top priority at the moment was the Crimson Tide.
That afternoon and evening, Gao Yang stayed at home to spend time with his family, maintaining the appearance of normalcy.
Later that night, he quietly did physical training in his room before taking a shower and retiring to bed.
When he woke up, it was nine o’clock in the morning. Came evening, the Crimson Tide would hit.
At ten o’clock, he received an encoded message from the Qilin Guild, repeating thrice that every member was advised to gather at the White Tiger branch before night fell, and absolutely no later than midnight.
During lunch, Gao Yang was unusually enthusiastic since it could be the last meal he shared with his family.
“Here, Yang Yang.” His father picked up a piece of braised short rib and dropped it in his bowl. “Your favorite.”
“Thanks, Dad!” Gao Yang took a large bite and chewed on it. “Hm, so good!”
“You’re acting strangely, bro,” Gao Xinxin said with doubt.
“Am I?” Gao Yang felt a little guilty.
His mother smiled tenderly. “I think so too. You’ve been talking more than usual.”
“Haha, he must have been too excited.” On the wheelchair, his father smiled at him. “You’re going to the club with Little Kai and can finally leave home, away from our watchful eyes.”
“Whoa, how did you know?” Gao Yang played along.
“Hmph, brat,” his father said. “You’ll know how good home is once you’re away from it.”
Gao Yang smiled and continued to eat.
After lunch, Gao Yang really wanted to go to the kitchen to do dishes for his mother, but he stopped himself. It would be too out of character for him.
He sat on the couch and watched TV without really paying attention.
His grandmother walked out of her bedroom and sat down next to him.
“Yang Yang, are you leaving soon?”
“Yeah, Little Kai is coming to pick me up.” Gao Yang glanced at his phone. “He should be here soon.”
His grandmother chuckled and took his hand. “Here.”
Gao Yang looked down to find her handing him two hundred yuan.
“Granny, what are you...”
“Granny doesn’t have a lot, so don’t think I’m being stingy. Here. Buy anything you want to eat once you’re there.”
“It’s not necessary, Granny!” Gao Yang didn’t want the money. “I’m not going far or anything. I’ll be back in a few days.”
“Take it!” his grandmother insisted. “It’s Granny’s gift for you.”
Gao Yang thought for a moment and stopped resisting, accepting the allowance with a smile. “You’ve always taken such good care of me, Granny.”
“Hoho, as I should. You’re my beloved grandson.” Then his grandmother reached a hand into her pocket with a mysterious look on her face.
Two seconds later, she took out an osmanthus cake wrapped in tin foil. “Look what this is.”
“Whoa!” Gao Yang had guessed what it would be, but he still pretended to be pleasantly surprised and put it in his pocket. “Thank you, Granny!”
“Haha, have it on your way there.” His grandmother winked at him and joked, “Don’t let your sister know.”
That brought Gao Yang back.
His grandmother loved sweets, and when Gao Yang was little, she always had all sorts of desserts in her pockets, one of them being osmanthus cake.
Gao Yang and Gao Xinxin had fallen in love with it after trying it once, and they had always craved for more.
At the time, though, his sister couldn’t have sweets since she had cavities, and his grandmother only snuck sweets for Gao Yang because of that.
Once, Gao Yang’s scores dropped by a lot, and his father scolded him in anger.
Fuming, Gao Yang locked himself in his room and refused to have dinner even though his stomach was protesting.
Late at night, once everyone else had retired to bed and while Gao Yang twisted and turned, unable to fall asleep, his grandmother knocked on his door.
Sitting by his bed, she petted his head to comfort him and took out an osmanthus cake wrapped in tin foil. Gao Yang took it and wolfed it down. That was the best osmanthus cake he had ever had.
Then he found that Gao Xinxin had shown up at the door at some point.
“Granny gave brother a cake, but not me! Granny only likes her grandson!”
“Hush...quiet!” Caught, his grandmother pulled his sister into the room and shut the door, taking out another osmanthus cake from her pocket and giving it to his sister.
Only then did Gao Xinxin stop whining and dig in happily.
Then the siblings grew up. They had had hundreds and even thousands of different sweets, thus losing their love for osmanthus cakes. They were way too sweet and powdery, sticking in the mouth and becoming difficult to swallow.
However, his grandmother only ever bought the sweets they would consider ancient.
Whenever she gave Gao Yang and Gao Xinxin sweets, they accepted happily but left them somewhere nearby, rarely actually eating the treats.
And his grandmother knew. However, it had become a habit of hers to give him and his sister osmanthus cakes when she was showing them her love.
Ring.
The doorbell pulled Gao Yang out of his thoughts.
Gao Xinxin answered the door. Outside, Wang Zikai was carrying a large suitcase with a bright smile and boundless energy. “Yo, Xinxin. Where’s your brother? We’re going!”
“Hey, Brother, your BFF is here!” Gao Xinxin sassed.
Gao Yang quickly got up and picked up his duffle bag, walking up to the door. “You’re on time!”
“Of course! Come on, I’m reporting to the club at three o’clock in the afternoon. I don’t want to be late!” Wang Zikai had gotten good at acting. “Bro, how likely do you think I’ll go pro for real?”
“You?” Gao Yang lied without batting an eye. “Seventy percent!”
“Haha, let’s go!”
Gao Yang turned around. “Granny, Dad, Mom, Sis, I’m going.”
His grandmother smiled kindly at him from the couch. “Go. Don’t be late.”
In his wheelchair, his father was watering the potted plants on the balcony. He turned to face the entryway with some difficulty. “Take care, Yang Yang.”
Having just finished the dishes, his mother emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on the apron. “Safe trip. And don’t start any trouble!”
“Just go. Then I’ll have the computer to myself!” Gao Xinxin stood by the watercooler with a cup, a scowl on her face.
“See you all.”
Changing into shoes, Gao Yang closed the door with a smile.
