The air was thick with tension.

Gao Yang, Qing Ling, and Officer Huang sat across from Old Master Gu at the table, their faces emotionless, but beneath the surface, their hands began to move.

Gao Yang reached into his pocket, gripping a small dagger, ready at any moment to unleash the blade's divine power he borrowed from Qing Ling, aiming straight at Old Master Gu’s heart.

Silently, Qing Ling drew her Tang blade, hidden beneath the table, seeking the perfect angle for a swift strike.

Officer Huang's hand hovered near his waist, poised to draw his gun.

Not far from the table, Wang Zikai and Fat Jun were embroiled in an argument, but the sudden shift in the atmosphere caught their attention.

Wang Zikai turned around, momentarily stunned. His mouth opened wide, fist raised, “Lizard—”

Gao Yang leapt up, covering Wang Zikai's mouth. Though impulsive, Wang Zikai understood Gao Yang's intent, looking at him with confusion.

“Wait...” Gao Yang whispered.

In the few seconds of confrontation with Old Master Gu, Gao Yang sensed not a trace of murderous intent. In fact, this was why neither Officer Huang nor Qing Ling had made a move.

Old Master Gu's behavior was bizarre.

What was strange was his calmness—he seemed no different from a regular human.

Then, something uncanny occurred: Old Master Gu’s half-beast body began to gradually revert to human form. Throughout the transformation, he sipped his tea leisurely. Only after setting down his cup and lifting his eyes did he realize that everyone in the room was tensely watching him.

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“Why is no one speaking?” Old Master Gu asked, both innocent and puzzled. “Why are you all staring at me like that? Surely you don't think I’m the killer?”

“Of course not.” Officer Huang was the first to break the silence, a smile returning to his face. “Hehe, Old Master Gu, don’t worry yourself.”

“That’s good. I’m just as eager to catch the culprit as you are,” Old Master Gu sighed, his tone full of regret. “Poor family... what terrible fate befell them…”

“Old Master Gu, it’s getting late. You should rest. We’ll return tomorrow,” Officer Huang said, rising to his feet.

Gao Yang and Qing Ling stood as well, with Fat Jun quickly following, his face full of anticipation.

Wang Zikai, his head aching with confusion, muttered, “Wait, are we just leaving? What about—”

“We’re leaving.” Gao Yang gave him a look.

“Alright then, safe travels. I won’t see you out,” Old Master Gu said slowly, watching them as they exited.

...

With no other place to go, the five returned to Huazi’s house. This time, wary of attracting attention, they didn’t turn on the living room lights, closing the windows and doors tightly. With only a flashlight to illuminate a small area, the group gathered around the light.

“He’s a lizard man! Why didn’t we kill him?” Wang Zikai was still brooding, instinctively referring to the beasts as lizard men.

“Old Master Gu didn’t seem hostile,” Gao Yang said thoughtfully, casting a meaningful glance at Wang Zikai. “Not all beasts are bad. There’s a kind of beast called the Lost…”

Gao Yang briefly explained the existence of the mindless beasts to Wang Zikai.

“Then what does transforming in front of us mean?” Wang Zikai was baffled. “Showing off his muscles?”

Officer Huang stroked his chin, “The Lost are the most gentle and stable of beasts. Even if we told them outright that we were Awakened, they would usually ignore it unless subjected to immense provocation, which could trigger their transformation and rampage.”

“What kind of provocation?” Wang Zikai asked.

“For example… if we used our abilities to harm them,” Fat Jun chimed in at the right moment.

“I’ve never seen, nor heard of, such a bizarre transformation like Old Master Gu’s,” Officer Huang said, glancing at Gao Yang. “What’s your take on it?”

Gao Yang had been pondering over what Bai Li Yi had told him. Boldly, he ventured, “I think… he might be ill.”

“Ill?” Qing Ling frowned.

“Let’s assume…” Gao Yang raised his left and right hands. “That inside a beast, there’s a switch controlling its two forms and personalities.”

He clenched his left hand, “Most of the time, they remain in human form and personality.”