Chapter 17: The Monster Eater

Ye Yang was completely terrified, fleeing in utter disarray. Laifu fired his gun wildly behind them as Ye Yang’s footsteps faltered, stumbling out hurriedly.

As soon as he stepped outside, Ye Yang couldn’t hold back and began to vomit. He simply couldn’t bear it. Even if it was zombies devouring people, he wouldn’t have cared, having witnessed it multiple times before. But what about the reverse?

Was that person really human? Impossible! Yet he could speak! He even waved his bloodied hand at Ye Yang! He was actually eating the monster?

Instinctively, Ye Yang saw that person as something more terrifying than the zombies, so he opened fire immediately.

The volley of gunshots drew everyone’s attention. Ling Fengyan charged forward at the lead, stunned to see Ye Yang’s expression. “What’s going on? What happened?”

“Monster…monster…someone eating a monster…” Ye Yang struggled to speak through his vomiting, unable to form a complete sentence.

“A person? Eating a monster? Zombies?” Ling Fengyan looked puzzled. Seeing Ye Yang shaking his head desperately and trembling violently, suddenly something clicked in his mind.

“Don’t shoot anymore, I’ll go check it out.” Ling Fengyan frowned deeply and entered the house. Even now, Ye Yang continued vomiting, nearly bringing up his bitter bile.

After a while, Ling Fengyan emerged again, sighing helplessly. Behind him was the very person who had been eating the monster. Although he had wiped the blood and filth from the corner of his lips with his clothes, his appearance was still shocking.

“Stop shooting. He’s human.” Ling Fengyan stopped Ye Yang, who was about to raise his gun.

“Damn! I know that, but… but he’s eating monsters?” Ye Yang stepped back shakily. A person eating monsters? This guy was definitely stranger than the monsters themselves.

“He… well, you don’t understand. Anyway, stop shooting. He won’t hurt you.” Ling Fengyan said with a wry smile.

“Tch, eating monsters is so strange? They can eat us, but we can’t eat them?” The newcomer sneered defiantly. “Kid, you almost shot me, you know? It’s just eating a monster. What’s the big deal?”

Ye Yang was speechless. Though he said that, it was still too disgusting. Who would eat monsters?

Moreover, the man didn’t exactly look human. Around thirty years old, actually quite handsome in appearance, but his clothes were ragged like a beggar’s, his hair was messy and unkempt, his entire body filthy, his face flushed red, a streak of blood at the lip’s corner. Most revoltingly, he held a large chunk of rotten flesh.

That… was that a monster’s heart? Ugh… Ye Yang started vomiting again.

“Tsk tsk, kid, you don’t understand. The innards of these monsters are good stuff. Eating them… hehe, you’ll get stronger!” The man said with a smile, tossing the heart around. “Want a bite?”

“Eating it makes you stronger?” Ye Yang was stunned. Suddenly he recalled something: this guy knew Ling Fengyan. Could he also be a hunter? So to become superhuman, one had to eat monsters? Damn! There was no way he’d want to become a superhuman—it was too disgusting.

“Don’t listen to him; he’s crazy.” Ling Fengyan said, half laughing, half exasperated.

Ye Yang nodded vigorously. He could tell this guy was definitely crazy, but seemingly quite powerful. Was he the one who killed the monster inside? That looked bigger than a mutant—a predator?

“How did you get here? Did you kill that predator?” Ling Fengyan frowned.

“Tch, I came to help but was late. Didn’t find anything interesting.” The man pouted and strolled over to a mutated corpse, pulling out a small knife to start digging in. Ye Yang promptly resumed vomiting.

Fortunately, the cabin was isolated; none of the villagers or wanderers came over. Otherwise, the spectacle of hundreds vomiting together would have been quite dramatic.

Ling Fengyan nodded slightly. He seemed incompatible with this man. Frowning, he greeted Ye Yang and turned to leave. Ye Yang hurried to follow—he definitely didn’t want to stay with that guy.

“He’s a hunter?” Ye Yang asked, puzzled.

“Hmm…” Ling Fengyan seemed reluctant to admit it but nodded. “He used to be, but not anymore.”

“Oh… but why does he eat monsters? Is your power derived from eating them?” Ye Yang was sweating coldly. Ling Fengyan might not mind, but just thinking of that icy beauty, Tingting, eating monsters made him shudder.

Ling Fengyan smiled bitterly. “No, it’s just that guy’s ability. You can’t fully blame him.”

“His name’s Yao Jun, a strong fellow, was a hunter in my cohort. But because his power is really strange and unacceptable to others, he left to become a loner. He’s not a bad person and often helps us, just a bit disgusting.”

Ling Fengyan pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, lit one, and handed one to Ye Yang. “Want one?”

“Whoa… Zhonghua? Haha! Of course.” Ye Yang grabbed it eagerly. How long had it been since he last smoked? Over twenty years. He’d wanted to buy some at the wanderers’ bar before, but that stingy girl Qi Fang never wanted to spend money, always saying smoking was bad for health. Damn her, such a miser.

After all this chaos, Ye Yang had no mood to tidy the battlefield. His questions multiplied. He followed Ling Fengyan’s lead, waiting for a chance to ask.

Qi Fang was still unconscious. Uncle Zheng had already taken her back to the wanderers’ camp. Ye Yang didn’t stop him—after all, it was no good for the girl to remain in this blood-soaked village. He knew the way and could find her later.

“By the way, what about these villagers?” Ye Yang frowned. The village was no longer livable.

“Send them to other villages first. We’ll open new ones later.” Ling Fengyan sighed. “No choice, there’s no room in the city.”

Ye Yang nodded. That seemed appropriate. Apparently, the city people weren’t abandoning them. His previous worries were unnecessary. Keeping everyone out of Yanjing must have had its reasons.

“Old Yan, I’m leaving if there’s nothing else.” Yao Jun strolled up behind them. Ye Yang instinctively moved three meters away, not wanting to get near him.

“Go ahead.” Ling Fengyan sighed deeply. “You’re really not returning to headquarters?”

“No!” Yao Jun’s tone was resolute. “You know my situation. Even if I don’t care, what about others? Like this kid—he doesn’t even dare approach me!”

Ye Yang was taken aback. When Yao Jun said that, a trace of sadness flickered in his eyes. He probably wanted to go back, but this life was forced upon him. As he said, how many could accept his eating monsters? What exactly was his power? Why did he have to eat monsters?

Just then, Yao Jun suddenly stepped toward Ye Yang. This time Ye Yang didn’t retreat but smiled faintly—though it was a forced, almost tearful smile.

Yao Jun frowned and scrutinized Ye Yang carefully until even Ye Yang felt chills. Then Yao Jun muttered slowly, “This kid… is strange. His aura is very peculiar. Old Yan, have you noticed something different about him?”

“Strange?” Ye Yang was stunned. Indeed, his body was different from normal people, but how could they tell?

Ling Fengyan was also stunned, stroking his chin. “I’m not a perception type, so how would I know? What did you see? This kid is odd—not a hunter, yet not afraid of infection!”

Yao Jun didn’t answer directly but grabbed Ye Yang’s right hand, examining it closely, even smelling it. His frown deepened.

“Not obvious, but… he has the same power as us!” Yao Jun said gravely. “And not weak! Though it seems hidden. He probably can’t use it himself.”

“Power? What power? Hunter’s power? Do I have abilities too? Can I become a hunter?” Ye Yang was instantly interested. Ling Fengyan approached with a strange expression.

“Human? Could it be…” Ling Fengyan asked.

“No way! Definitely human.” Yao Jun replied.

“How strong? Approximate level? LV1? LV2?”

“Hehe, you won’t believe it—just judging by strength, he’s no weaker than you!”

“Whoa…” Ling Fengyan was stunned.

“What are you two talking about?” Ye Yang was completely dumbfounded. They were playing riddles, grabbing and poking his arm, saying things he didn’t understand.

“But… I can’t really say. He gives me a strange feeling.” Yao Jun ignored Ye Yang’s question, lost in thought.

“He carries that kind of aura, you know, like those guys. But I’m sure he’s definitely human! However…”

“Damn! What is it already?” Ye Yang was impatient.

“Could he become a hunter?” Ling Fengyan suddenly asked the question Ye Yang most wanted answered.

Yao Jun frowned. “I don’t know. But do you decide? Ha! We still have to ask that idiot. Tsk tsk, I only took a quick look. You should take him back for those guys to see, right? Hmm… better not take him back. Let them come look.”

Ling Fengyan nodded. He caught the meaning in Yao Jun’s words, but Ye Yang was still lost. Who was that idiot? Who were those guys? The WHO?

“Kid, tsk tsk, know why I’m interested in you?” Yao Jun suddenly smiled, patting Ye Yang’s shoulder. “You know? Your scent is very similar to those monsters. It really whets my appetite.”

“Ah?” Ye Yang instinctively jumped far away. Was this guy planning to eat him too? He wasn’t a monster!

“Ha! Hopefully the day I eat you never comes, though I’m looking forward to it. You shot me a few times; we’ll settle the score later.” Yao Jun laughed heartily, waved at Ling Fengyan, and turned to walk out of the village.

“Damn! Just as you said, this guy is crazy!” Ye Yang gritted his teeth. He disliked Yao Jun intensely.

Unexpectedly, Ling Fengyan did not respond but stared at Ye Yang intently for a long time. Ye Yang sensed something was off—less friendly, more hesitant.

Was it because of Yao Jun’s words? What was wrong with him? What scent? Why couldn’t he smell it at all?

“Let’s leave it at that for now. Hmm… you shouldn’t follow us for a while. You’re going back to the wanderers’ camp, right? Leave a name; I’ll send people to find you.” Ling Fengyan smiled slightly. “When the time comes, someone will answer your questions.”

“All right. I’m Ye Yang.” Ye Yang nodded. Though unwilling to wait, he had no choice. Watching Ling Fengyan turn toward the helicopter, he suddenly clenched his teeth, stepped forward two paces, and grabbed his arm.

“I’ll wait for you at the bar, but I want to ask a favor. Can you help me find a few people? Please! They’re my parents, Ye Lingyun and Yue Huaxuan. Both are scientists. And Yan Yaxin, my girlfriend. I just want to know if they’re alive!”

“Ye Lingyun?” Ling Fengyan was stunned, his eyes suddenly shining with a strange light. He grabbed Ye Yang’s arm and shouted, “You say your name is Ye Yang? Your father is Ye Lingyun? Dr. Lingyun? You’re his son?”

With a loud bang, the people near the helicopter erupted into chaos, rushing over eagerly. They had heard everything Ling Fengyan said.

Faced with the anxious crowd’s questions, Ye Yang stood there dumbfounded and confused. His dad’s name was Ye Lingyun? What’s the matter? It’s not like it’s Li Gang…