Chapter Summaries

On his eighteenth birthday, Gaoyang witnessed a bloodied mental patient get shot after warning him that monsters were everywhere and no one could be trusted. A nightmare then resurfaced a childhood memory of his grandfather’s mysterious death, and Gaoyang woke to a WeChat message that left him shocked.

• Gaoyang recalled how he transmigrated at age six and grew up in a loving family.
• On his eighteenth birthday, a bloodied patient knocked Gaoyang off his bicycle and warned him about monsters before a police officer shot him.
• Gaoyang dreamed of hearing strange sounds in his grandparents’ room when he was four and seeing his grandfather’s covered corpse carried away.
• The dream revealed Gaoyang’s suspicion that his grandfather had been missing a hand when he died, before the dead patient appeared and grabbed him.
• Gaoyang woke from the nightmare, spoke briefly with his sister, and spat out his water after opening WeChat.

Gaoyan met Li Weiwei after she accepted the prank confession, but he spent the day troubled by clues that the world was dangerous. When he described the monstrous arm he had once glimpsed, Li Weiwei revealed a similar transformation and attacked him, calling him the first Awakened she had met.

• Wang Zikai sent Li Weiwei a long confession from Gaoyan’s phone as a prank, and two days later Li Weiwei accepted it and invited Gaoyan to meet.
• Gaoyan met Li Weiwei and her friend Qingling, then spent the afternoon on a date with Li Weiwei.
• While walking Li Weiwei home, Gaoyan asked whether she had seen her grandmother’s body after her death and told her about his grandfather and the warning from the psychiatric patient.
• Gaoyan described the grayish-green scaled arm he had seen, and Li Weiwei’s arm split open and grew similar scales.
• Li Weiwei lifted Gaoyan by the neck, forced writhing tentacles into his face, and told him he was the first Awakened she had met.

Gaoyang survived Li Weiwei’s attack when Qingling killed her, then discovered his Fortune talent and a system that awarded points for staying alive. Qingling entered his bedroom and announced that she would question him, beginning by asking whether he liked men or women.

• As Li Weiwei crushed Gaoyang with her tentacles, he activated the system and learned that his Fortune talent was passive and could not save him.
• Qingling stabbed Li Weiwei through the heart, told Gaoyang to claim he knew nothing, and disappeared over a courtyard wall.
• Gaoyang returned home, treated his wounds, and learned that surviving for three hours earned him Fortune points he could use to raise attributes.
• Gaoyang inspected his attributes and talent list before Qingling climbed through his bedroom window and ended the system session.
• Qingling asked Gaoyang whether he liked men or women, then removed her shirt and said they would begin.

After Qingling tested Gaoyang and explained that beasts could disguise themselves as people, Li Weiwei’s death became public at school. Qingling accused Gaoyang of killing her, and Officer Huang took him aside for questioning, leaving Gaoyang fearing he had entered a prisoner’s dilemma.

• Qingling tested Gaoyang with an attempted seduction and revealed she had been checking whether he was a beast, then gave him special medicine.
• Gaoyang’s younger sister bargained with him for money, and the medicine later healed most of his wounds overnight.
• At school, Qingling publicly asked Gaoyang where Li Weiwei was, and their teacher announced that Li Weiwei had been murdered.
• Qingling accused Gaoyang of killing Li Weiwei and threatened to have the police investigate him.
• Officer Huang, who had shot the mental patient three days earlier, stopped Gaoyang and took him to another office for questioning.

After Officer Huang questioned Gaoyang about Li Weiwei’s murder, Gaoyang attended her funeral and confronted Qingling, who revealed that nearly everyone around him was a beast. The chapter ended with Officer Huang overhearing their conversation about beasts.

• Officer Huang questioned Gaoyang about his relationship with Li Weiwei, their last date, and the broken surveillance cameras, then let him go.
• Wang Zikai found Gaoyang, learned Li Weiwei had been murdered, and invited him to play games, but Gaoyang said he was going to her funeral.
• At Li Weiwei’s funeral, Gaoyang met Qingling in the break room and challenged her about her behavior; Qingling said she had a second personality named Qingling.
• Qingling threatened Gaoyang with a hidden blade, then explained that only one person in every 10,000 was human and that beasts killed Awakened humans.
• Officer Huang entered the break room and asked what Gaoyang and Qingling were saying about beasts.

Qingling and Gaoyang suspected Officer Huang might be a Wrath Beast and decided to silence him before he could attack. They lured him into a park at night, where their confrontation began with Officer Huang drawing his weapon.

• Officer Huang questioned Gaoyang and Qingling about their talk of beasts and rules, then left the break room.
• Qingling explained that Officer Huang might be a Wrath Beast or an Infatuation Beast and decided they should silence him.
• Qingling and Gaoyang followed Officer Huang to the police station and waited until he left late at night.
• Qingling remotely slashed Officer Huang's car tire, then followed him into a central park with Gaoyang.
• Qingling disabled a surveillance camera and sent Gaoyang to distract Officer Huang.
• Gaoyang approached Officer Huang with a supposed clue about Li Weiwei, but Officer Huang abruptly drew his service weapon.

After Qingling spared Officer Huang in a fight, he revealed that he was an Awakened and explained what he knew about talents over a late-night meal. He offered to share a memorized list of 199 talents, but only if Gaoyang and Qingling met his conditions.

• Qingling stopped her blade at Officer Huang’s throat after deducing that he was human, and he admitted that he was an Awakened.
• Officer Huang had his severed fingers reattached, then told Gaoyang and Qingling he would report that street thugs had injured him.
• At a malaatang stall, Officer Huang revealed that Old Man Liu was a Lost One who ignored unwanted conversations, and that the psychiatric patient he had killed was an Awakened with the [Olfaction] talent.
• Officer Huang described his [Gun God] talent and identified Qingling’s talents as [Metal] and [Blade God], while explaining that Awakened people could develop additional talents.
• Officer Huang said there were 199 talent serial numbers and offered to recite the list if Gaoyang and Qingling agreed to his conditions.

Gaoyang learned more about the dangers of the beast-filled world, used his fortune points to boost his attributes, and struggled to face his family, whom he suspected were beasts. After school, he met Qingling in disguise and she opened the first note from Officer Huang, beginning their assigned task.

• Officer Huang offered to reveal serial numbers and answer a question in exchange for a favor, and Gaoyang agreed while Qingling accepted three notes with instructions to open them one at a time.
• Gaoyang suspected that Grandpa and Grandma were beasts and dreaded the possibility that the rest of his family might be, too.
• Gaoyang used 30 fortune points to raise his Fortune to 30, gaining a permanent six-point bonus to all attributes, but could not unlock the hidden panel.
• Gaoyang lied to his mother about staying out with Wang Zikai, then left for school after hearing his parents argue about his friendship.
• After evening self-study, Gaoyang met Qingling in an alley, changed into a black hoodie and disguise, and watched her unfold the first note.

Gaoyang and Qingling followed the second note to retrieve a hidden sniper rifle, then went to the Pink Hotel to await the time specified in the note. After borrowing Wang Zikai’s ID to check in, they left him furious and determined to get a room nearby.

• At Qingyang Bridge, Qingling used her Metal ability to pull a hidden iron case from the river while Gaoyang helped her.
• They opened the case and found a disassembled M82A1 sniper rifle, which Gaoyang carried in a backpack.
• Qingling read the second note, directing them to a south-facing room on the Pink Hotel’s fifth floor and forbidding them to open the third note until six.
• At the hotel, Gaoyang and Qingling could not check in without ID, so Qingling found Wang Zikai outside and took his ID.
• Wang Zikai saw them enter the hotel, then threatened the desk clerk into giving him their room number and booked room 601.

Qingling and Gaoyang staged a visit to a love hotel before preparing to kill the woman beside Officer Huang at the Riverside Scenic Belt. Just as Qingling fired, Wang Zikai dropped in front of the rifle and took the bullet.

• Qingling and Gaoyang made their hotel room look like they had been intimate, and Qingling explained how Beasts imitated human reproductive systems.
• Gaoyang reasoned that Officer Huang wanted his wife killed because she might suspect he was Awakened.
• Qingling and Gaoyang spotted Officer Huang and his wife at the No. 2 Viewing Platform, and Qingling set up the sniper rifle.
• Qingling fired at Officer Huang's wife, but Wang Zikai suddenly dropped in front of the muzzle and was struck by the bullet.

After Wang Zikai was shot while spying on Gaoyang and Qingling, the two struggled over whether to save him until innkeeper Fat Jun healed him. A suspicious knock at the door interrupted them, and Gaoyang lunged at Fat Jun after sensing danger.

• Wang Zikai secretly climbed down from room 601 to catch Gaoyang and Qingling, but a gunshot struck him and he fell unconscious.
• Qingling and Gaoyang argued over whether Wang Zikai was a Lost One, then Fat Jun arrived and used his Healing Talent to save him.
• Qingling questioned Fat Jun, who admitted installing cameras and listening devices to observe beasts and search for other Awakened people.
• A voice claiming to be housekeeping knocked, and Fat Jun identified the caller as Aunt He, his cleaner.
• After Gaoyang accepted Aunt He's explanation that she had mistaken the room number, a chill ran down his spine and he lunged at Fat Jun.

Gaoyang, Qingling, and Pang Jun fought Aunt He after she transformed into a monster and broke into their room. They killed her with a coordinated attack, and the exhausted survivors were joined by Wang Zikai.

• Aunt He broke into the room in a monstrous form and wounded Gaoyang while he and Pang Jun hid.
• Qingling attacked Aunt He with her Tang Dao, but Aunt He struck her with her tail and threw her into the bathroom.
• Pang Jun distracted Aunt He with a quilt while Gaoyang wounded her and used a hair dryer cord to electrocute her.
• Gaoyang helped Qingling drive the Tang Dao through Aunt He's chest, killing her.
• Pang Jun treated Gaoyang's arm and asked how he had realized Aunt He was dangerous; Gaoyang explained that he had noticed she had no cleaning cart.
• Wang Zikai appeared and praised Gaoyang's quick thinking.

After defeating Aunt He, Gaoyang and Qingling learned more about the Wrath Beasts and brought Wang Zikai into their group by telling him he was the destined warrior who would save the world. As they left the hotel, Gao Xinxin confronted Gaoyang and revealed she had told everyone, making him realize she was a Horn Caller.

• Wang Zikai revealed he had watched the fight, and Gaoyang persuaded him that he was a special new human destined to fight the lizard people.
• Officer Huang identified Aunt He as a Slayer-type Wrath Beast, warned the group about Horn Callers, and arranged to cover up the fight by reporting a gas explosion at Pang Jun's hotel.
• Gaoyang, Qingling, and Wang Zikai left the hotel; Gaoyang told Wang Zikai to go home and pick them up at school that night.
• After Wang Zikai drove away, Qingling said they would eventually need a chance to deal with him, but Gaoyang spotted his younger sister, Gao Xinxin.
• Gao Xinxin told Gaoyang she had already told everyone, and Gaoyang recognized her as a Horn Caller.

Gaoyang discovered that his sister Gao Xinxin was a Horn Caller, but she only confronted him over a supposed girlfriend and he managed to calm her down. At school, Qingling ordered him to lure Wang Zikai somewhere isolated so she could kill him, threatening to kill Gaoyang if he refused.

• Gao Xinxin confronted Gaoyang and Qingling at the hotel, mistook their situation for a secret romance, and deleted the photos she had posted after Gaoyang asked her to.
• Gaoyang took Gao Xinxin to Lao McDonald's, reassured her about her wrinkled dress, and promised he would save her first if she and Qingling fell into the water.
• Wang Zikai returned to school after withdrawing and excitedly asked Gaoyang about becoming a new human and receiving a mission.
• Gaoyang kept Wang Zikai quiet by teaching him cultivation principles, and Qingling later summoned Gaoyang to the rooftop.
• Qingling told Gaoyang that Wang Zikai was a beast and ordered him to lure Wang Zikai somewhere deserted so she could kill him; she threatened Gaoyang when he asked what would happen if he refused.

Gaoyang persuaded Qingling to spare Wang Zikai, arguing that a Lost One could help conceal their alliance from Beasts. After gaining Fortune points and unlocking the Temple of Talents, Gaoyang learned that Officer Huang’s wife was pregnant.

• Gaoyang convinced Qingling that keeping Wang Zikai alive would provide cover for their cooperation and help them avoid Beast suspicion.
• Gaoyang spent his Fortune points on luck, gained permanent stat increases, and unlocked the Temple of Talents, but his first comprehension attempt failed.
• Gaoyang and Qingling went to meet Officer Huang at school, where he explained that he had feared his wife suspected him and had nearly killed her.
• Officer Huang said he had learned his wife had been hiding something and revealed that she was pregnant.

Gaoyang and Qingling learned that Officer Huang's beast wife was pregnant, and Huang decided to let the child be born. Huang explained how Talents leveled up and offered to arrange an interview for Gaoyang and Qingling with a mysterious organization; later, Gaoyang realized someone was following him.

• Officer Huang told Gaoyang and Qingling that his beast wife was pregnant and said he wanted the child to be born.
• Qingling asked how Talents leveled up, and Officer Huang said Talents could reach level eight but refused to explain how to advance them.
• Gaoyang asked about meeting the organization above Officer Huang, and Huang revealed that he was only an outside operative who had failed its assessment.
• Officer Huang offered to arrange another interview for Gaoyang and Qingling, and they both agreed to join.
• Officer Huang reacted to a sound at his office door, and Qingling thrust her Tang Dao through it before Huang decided he had been paranoid.
• After a peaceful day, Gaoyang walked home alone and realized someone was following him.

Gaoyang suspected he was being followed by a Wrath Beast, but the pursuer turned out to be his classmate Wan Sisi, who had been worried about him. After parting with her, he sensed someone following him again and discovered Wang Zikai, only to realize that they were both still being followed.

• Gaoyang entered a convenience store to confront his pursuer, but found Wan Sisi waiting outside.
• Wan Sisi admitted she had followed Gaoyang because she was concerned about how he had changed since Li Weiwei's death.
• Gaoyang and Wan Sisi shared food and drinks, then parted ways after chatting.
• Gaoyang noticed he was still being followed and hid behind a vending machine with his schoolbag as bait.
• Wang Zikai appeared and admitted he had followed Gaoyang because he was bored with training.
• Gaoyang sensed that someone was following them, leaving him and Wang Zikai on alert.

Gaoyang and Wang Zikai fought Pang Jun after a monstrous hand emerged from Pang Jun’s palm, and Wang Zikai’s bronze Beast arm crushed it. They took the unconscious Pang Jun to Wang Zikai’s villa, where Gaoyang questioned whether Pang Jun was human and asked Wang Zikai for videos to test him.

• Gaoyang and Wang Zikai entered the alley and found Pang Jun, who revealed a blood-red eye in his palm as a huge mass of flesh grew from his hand.
• Pang Jun’s mutated hand grabbed Gaoyang and engulfed his head, but Wang Zikai overcame his fear and returned to help.
• Wang Zikai transformed his right arm into a bronze Beast arm and crushed Pang Jun’s tumorous hand, leaving Pang Jun unconscious.
• Gaoyang had Wang Zikai carry Pang Jun to his villa, where he tied Pang Jun to a chair and checked that his Fortune point earnings had doubled.
• After Pang Jun woke and insisted he was human, Gaoyang asked Wang Zikai whether he had any videos at home.

Gaoyang used Qingling’s method to test whether Pang Jun was human, then heard Pang Jun’s account of being bitten by a strange white cat. Officer Huang shot Pang Jun after deciding the incident made him dangerous.

• Gaoyang and Wang Zikai brought a laptop to the garage and made the tied-up Pang Jun watch an adult video as a test, while Officer Huang briefly walked in on them.
• Officer Huang returned, and Gaoyang explained that Qingling had taught him the test for distinguishing Beasts from humans.
• Pang Jun told them that a small white cat with green eyes had bitten his finger, after which he dreamed of being groped in a crowded subway car and later lost control of his right hand.
• Officer Huang aimed his pistol at Pang Jun despite Gaoyang asking to keep him under observation, then fired.

After Pang Jun survived a gunshot and his mutated arm regenerated, Gaoyang and Officer Huang decided to keep him tied up and observe him. Officer Huang arranged an interview for Gaoyang and Qingling, who reached an old arcade at the appointed address but paused before entering.

• Pang Jun's arm transformed into a fleshy mass, expelled the bullet, and returned to normal, so Gaoyang and Officer Huang agreed to keep him alive and observe him.
• Officer Huang speculated that Wang Zikai might be a new type of Infatuation Beast and told Gaoyang they should join an organization; he gave Gaoyang a time and address for an interview.
• Gaoyang went to school, told Qingling about the previous night, and spent lunch with Wan Sisi and his classmates.
• Gaoyang and Qingling traveled to Huang Song Street, where they found the old arcade at number 121.
• As Qingling prepared to enter the arcade, Gaoyang asked her to give him the length of one song first.