The Labyrinth of the Monsters

Gao Yang knew that Qing Ling was not joking. This person had never joked before.

The current situation was also within his expectations. When Gao Yang decided to save Wang Zikai, it wasn't just an act of kindness. He had other concerns, but he hadn't thought it through clearly at that time.

After a whole day of thinking, he had figured it out. Now it was time for his own performance, he decided to perform the strongest secret technique from the hot-blooded manga - Mouth Escape!

"Qing Ling, I know that you have been able to survive for so long because of your exceptional caution and decisiveness."

"Flattery won't work." Qing Ling said coldly.

"Then let me ask you a question: what is your purpose for staying alive?"

"What purpose do I need to stay alive? Do you want to die?" Qing Ling didn't understand.

"Of course I don't want to die, but everyone will die, even if you can live to be 100 years old." Gao Yang smiled a little embarrassedly. "But being alive is not just about eating, drinking, and going to the bathroom. There must be something you want to do."

Qing Ling fell silent.

"Take your time to think about this question, no need to rush to answer." Gao Yang said, "Let me give you a reason why you can't kill Wang Zikai."

"Go ahead."

"Although I have only awakened for a few days, I have already realized that being an awakened being is very dangerous. The reason why you can survive for so long is not just because you are strong and cautious."

"Also because I have a second personality." Qing Ling was also aware of this.

"That's right, once you become an awakened being, you will instinctively reject, distance yourself from, and be wary of all beasts except for the Lost Ones. Other beasts can sense this, and over time, the awakened beings will reveal their flaws. But you are different, you have a second personality. Although your second personality is also cold and has misandry, she can get along well with all the beasts."

"Other awakened beings are not so lucky. Like me, like Chubby Jun, no matter how good our acting skills are, we are always on guard against beasts. Once we discover other awakened beings, we instinctively want to form a group. Forming a group may seem to make us safer, but in fact..."

Qing Ling stepped out of the shadow, "It's more dangerous."

"Yes, these beasts are not stupid. Although according to Chubby Jun's observation, they act like humans 24 hours a day. They won't take the initiative to test, lure, intimidate, or attack non-awakened humans. But that doesn't mean they won't observe and pay attention to us when they come into contact with us humans."

"Li Weiwei is the best proof of this. Before this, I was childhood sweethearts with her, we talked about everything. But when I awakened, she immediately revealed her true face and put me in a life-threatening situation."

Qing Ling nodded, "If several humans have close contact, they have reason to suspect whether these humans have awakened. After all, it's abnormal in a ratio of one in ten thousand."

Gao Yang sighed, "Yes, but if we don't form a group, we won't be able to get more information, grasp more rules, and find the truth... In this way, even if we live to be 100 years old, we will still be... orphans abandoned by the gods." Gao Yang paused for a second and quoted Officer Huang's words with ups and downs, "abandoned orphans."

Qing Ling's gaze shifted as she fell into deep thought.

"Going back to my previous question," Gao Yang took a step forward, "Qing Ling, what are you alive for? Don't you want to figure out why this world has become like this? Don't you want to uncover the truth behind it? Or, can we escape to a truly safe place, or even defeat these beasts? These are the things we must do."

Qing Ling fell silent.

Gao Yang felt hopeful and his voice became more passionate, "Now the question is, as awakened beings, we can only become stronger by forming a group, and only then can we win the final victory. But once we form a group, it will increase the risk of exposure, which will lead to our elimination before we have enough advantage."

"What are you trying to say?" Qing Ling asked.

"There is a way right now to effectively reduce the risk of exposure."

"The Lost Ones." Qing Ling understood.

"Yes, the Lost Ones are the best smoke bomb." Gao Yang speculated reasonably, "The beasts are acting like humans every minute and every second, so while a beast may be able to recognize its own kind, it may not be able to distinguish what kind of beast the other party is. As long as we frequently keep Wang Zikai by our side, it won't arouse suspicion from other beasts."

"And, based on my life trajectory, I am good friends with Wang Zikai. You only have a relationship with me because of Li Weiwei's death... It's reasonable for the three of us to be together. On the other hand, if you kill Wang Zikai now, it would be too suspicious."

Qing Ling nodded, "Li Weiwei was your childhood sweetheart and also my best friend. Wang Zikai is your good friend. If both of them, who are beasts, die, and the two of us humans have frequent contact, it will only raise more suspicion."

Gao Yang smiled, "Maintaining a close relationship with the beasts is important, it's a kind of cover. Officer Huang didn't kill Grandpa Liu for the same reason."

Qing Ling said, "Okay, you convinced me."

Gao Yang breathed a sigh of relief: Phew, finally passed through the deception.

...

At night, Gao Yang returned home, everything was normal. His parents nagged at him again for staying out all night, but they didn't notice anything else.

Gao Yang dealt with it, returned to his bedroom, locked the door, and lay on the bed, closing his eyes.

【Beep -】

【Enter the system】

【You have gained 71 lucky points】

-Wait, wasn't it 1 lucky point per hour?

-It has been at most 50 hours since the last login, right?

【Your lucky talent has reached level 2】

【From now on, the danger level of your survival time will change the gain of lucky points】

【In the past, you experienced 20 minutes of extremely dangerous survival time, and during this time, the lucky point reward was increased by 60 times】

-Referring to the time when Auntie He attacked me? Fortune favors the bold!

-Give me all the luck."【Once Lucky Points are allocated, they cannot be changed. Are you sure?】

——Yes! Hurry up!

【Congratulations! Your Luck has exceeded 100 points, and your attributes have randomly and permanently increased: Physical Strength +9, Endurance +10, Agility +10, Mental Strength +20, Charisma +3】

【Physical Strength: 27 Endurance: 28】

【Strength: 17 Agility: 27】

【Mental Strength: 37 Charisma: 19】

【Luck: 101】

——Ah, I feel like I didn't profit this time, even lost a bit.

——What's the use of Mental Strength?

【Mental Strength can increase the output and defense of mental Talents, and your perception will also be enhanced, making it easier to detect danger and hostility】

——Understood.

——Can the hidden panel be unlocked?

A quick look at " will leave you more fulfilled.

【Sorry, your Luck is insufficient】

——How much is enough?

【You do not have the right to know at the moment】

——Fine, I'll save up.

【Supplement: Level 2 Luck, Talent Temple has been opened. You now have a chance to use a free Comprehension, do you want to use it?】

——Wow! This is good, so Awakened Beings can have multiple Talents.

——Tell me, which is more important, Talent or attributes?

【In the early stages, Talent has a higher priority. Attributes need a quantitative change to cause a qualitative change, and they need to be combined with Talent to achieve the best effect】

——Alright, I'll listen to you, use the Comprehension chance.

【Comprehending……】

【Comprehension failed】

——Heh, as expected.

【To comprehend again, you need 30 Lucky Points】

——You should have told me earlier, I've used all my points! Forget it, I'll try again tomorrow.

【Access ended, System hidden】

【Beep——】

……

The next morning, after a light rain.

Gao Yang, holding an umbrella, walked on the damp and crowded streets, watching the office workers waiting for traffic lights, squeezing into buses and subway stations in a daze, he couldn't help but sigh——these Beasts are really dedicated, he used to say "corporate slaves", but he didn't expect it to be so literal.

Gao Yang went to school. During the morning self-study period, the Class Teacher walked in: "Gao Yang, Qing Ling, the police are here. It's about Li Weiwei's case, they want you to come to the office."

Li Weiwei's death had only been a few days ago, but when the Class Teacher mentioned her, there was no heaviness or regret on his face, it had become very cold, even a bit impatient.

Gao Yang and Qing Ling got up and left the classroom, heading to the office.

Officer Huang was smoking in the office, there were no other teachers inside.

"Did you handle the last incident properly?" Qing Ling asked.

"Don't worry, no traces were left." Officer Huang flicked the ash off his cigarette, "I heard from Chubby Jun about the reason for your failure."

"We can try again." Qing Ling said, "This time we will definitely succeed."

Officer Huang didn't respond, he put out his cigarette in the ashtray: "I met my wife in high school, she was my first love, we've been together for many years. I thought I knew her well enough, I mean... as her 'human identity', I knew her well."

Officer Huang stood up and looked around, only after confirming the office was absolutely safe, did he lower his voice and continue: "But a while ago, my wife started acting strange. I thought she might have discovered something and started suspecting me. Although I've never tested my wife, I always thought she was a Lost One, but if she started suspecting me, then she couldn't possibly be a Lost One."

"During this time, I've been struggling in fear and unease, and I even thought about killing her. It was just a coincidence that I met you guys, which led to this operation."

Officer Huang raised his hands and rubbed his face vigorously, letting out a long sigh: "Thank God, it didn't succeed, otherwise I would have been living in hell for the rest of my life."

"Has the plan changed?" Gao Yang asked.

"Yes, the plan has changed." Officer Huang stood up, "I found out last night that I misunderstood my wife. She was acting strange because she was hiding something from me. She confessed to me last night, to be honest, I was shocked when I found out."

"What happened?"

"My wife," Officer Huang looked at Gao Yang and Qing Ling with a deep gaze: "is pregnant."