The break room was terrifyingly quiet.
The air felt frozen solid. Gao Yang could hear his own heartbeat accelerating wildly—
It's over. They've definitely been found out.
He tilted his head to glance at Qing Ling, whose face was expressionless. Her mind was working rapidly:
If Officer Huang was a Chèn Beast, she didn't stand a chance.
Killing a single Chèn Beast wasn't hard for her, but outside the break room were over a hundred "people." If her identity as an Awakened was exposed, she would be doomed.
Should she run?
No use. Even if she escaped now, her identity had already been compromised—she wouldn't survive more than a few days.
Her last companion was even stronger than she was, but still died after accidentally revealing his identity.
She had no choice.
She had to gamble on one last possibility.
"Officer Huang, what are you doing here?" Qing Ling asked three seconds later.
Officer Huang slowly walked to the water dispenser, bent down to fill a cup with cold water, fully exposing his back to Qing Ling and Gao Yang.
After filling his cup, he turned around and leaned casually against the table holding the dispenser.
"Still working on the Li Weiwei case," he said. "I thought I'd investigate people close to her, so I came to the memorial."
"Find anything?" Gao Yang asked, trying hard to sound like a concerned citizen interested in the case.
"Asked around a bit, got a few leads. But I can't share them with you." Officer Huang took a sip of water, then smiled. "By the way, what were you two talking about just now? Sounded interesting—something about beasts? Rules?"
Gao Yang's heart sank.
No way to cover this up.
Time to bluff.
"Just a survival game we've been playing. It's really popular lately," Gao Yang glanced at Qing Ling, "We were talking about that."
"Is that so?" Officer Huang nodded thoughtfully. "What's it called?"
"It's... called Monster Human Family Party."
"Sounds fun," Officer Huang said with a wistful sigh. "You young folks still have time for entertainment. Unlike us working folks—no time for fun anymore."
He finished his water, set the disposable cup on the water cooler, and strolled out of the break room, calm as ever.
In that single minute, Gao Yang had broken into a full sweat. His back was drenched.
He asked Qing Ling, "What now?"
Qing Ling frowned slightly.
"Two possibilities. One, he's a Chèn Beast, suspicious of us and testing us. Two, he's a Chī Beast."
"Chī Beast?"
"They're a bit different. Also called the Lost. They genuinely believe they're human—even deceive themselves. Even if an Awakened appears in front of them, they won't attack. They automatically ignore key information, self-correct their memories and logic."
"So if Officer Huang's a Chī Beast, we're safe," Gao Yang concluded.
"Yes, but I'm not betting on that." Qing Ling walked to the door and peeked through the crack into the hall. "Chèn Beasts crave Awakened prey. If one can take a kill for itself, it won't share."
Gao Yang thought of Li Weiwei's attempt to kill him.
"Yeah… I've seen that firsthand."
"There are over a hundred people in that hall. There's definitely more than one Chèn Beast. That might be the only reason Officer Huang hasn't attacked."
"He wants to keep us to himself," Gao Yang said, chills running down his spine.
"Very likely." Qing Ling looked at him, eyes cold. "We still have a chance—silence him first."
…
10 p.m., Shanqing District Police Station
After the memorial, Officer Huang drove straight to the station.
Qing Ling and Gao Yang followed in a taxi and got out at a café across the street.
They sat at a window booth with a good view, ordered food and drinks, pulled out textbooks, and pretended to study—killing time.
At first, Gao Yang had refused to help Qing Ling kill Officer Huang.
But then he realized: if she failed, he would die anyway.
If he was going to die, better to go down standing.
At least it would be… with a shred of dignity.
"I've got a bunch of questions," Gao Yang said, sipping his orange juice.
"Ask." Qing Ling was slicing up a mango pancake with a knife and fork—like she was dismantling an enemy.
"Besides me, do you have any other companions?"
"Told you already. I had two before. They're both dead."
"So you've been alone this whole time?" Gao Yang was incredulous.
"Two of us," Qing Ling's eyes glinted. "My sister and me."
Gao Yang realized she meant her second personality—Qing Ling and Qing LING.
"You two… must've had it rough."
"Worry about yourself first," she said, putting down her fork. "If we fail, I'll run and hide."
"What about me?" Gao Yang asked.
"I don't know," she said coldly. "I won't save a burden."
That stung.
He wasn't a burden—he had talent too!
Then again, no point embarrassing himself in front of a pretty girl.
They waited until late at night. Finally, Officer Huang left the station.
He walked to his police car, took out his keys, and froze.
One front tire was flat—slashed by Qing Ling's remotely controlled blade.
He didn't seem too annoyed. He pulled out his phone and started chatting cheerfully. Then crossed the street and bought a pack of cigarettes.
Qing Ling and Gao Yang followed from about 50 meters back, cautiously.
Officer Huang lit a cigarette and continued his call.
When he reached a small park, he cut through it—taking a shortcut.
"Here's our chance," Qing Ling sped up.
"What if he's luring us in?" Gao Yang was suspicious.
"Then we'll see who's the real hunter," Qing Ling said, her gaze sharp.
It was late. The park was overgrown and empty. Officer Huang strolled alone through the night.
That made him seem even more mysterious—and dangerous.
Qing Ling and Gao Yang put on masks and sunglasses, then crept into a neatly trimmed hedge near the park's center.
Qing Ling raised both hands and aimed at the streetlight's surveillance camera above.
She focused, seemingly controlling something invisible.
Two seconds later, she clenched her fists—
A faint click. The red recording light went dark.
"Go distract him. Say anything, just keep his attention," she whispered. "Leave the rest to me."
Gao Yang was nervous.
"Alright."
He took a deep breath and stepped out of the bushes, hurrying up behind the officer.
"Officer Huang."
Huang stopped and turned.
"You are…?"
Gao Yang pulled off his mask.
"Oh, it's me."
"Gao Yang? What are you doing here so late?" Officer Huang smiled.
"I just remembered something about Li Weiwei—thought I should tell you."
"Really?" Huang smiled, walking toward him with some urgency. "Go on, tell me…"
Suddenly, his smile vanished.
He whirled around and drew his gun.