Chapter 132

Chapter 132

The next afternoon during class, bursts of cheers kept coming from the playground, and the woman's voice over the loudspeaker occasionally sounded, creating a lively atmosphere.

The guide students were all restless, whispering among themselves whenever the instructor turned away.

"The sentinel class is having a physical test again. I missed the last one; I really want to go see it this time."

"Last time it was a combat test, but I heard it's different this time."

"How much longer until class ends? Who has a watch?"

"Only thirty minutes left, it's so hard to wait."

……

Hearing their discussion, Yan Bubu also began to feel restless. Since it was the sentinel class's physical test, Feng Chen must be there, and he really wanted to go see.

"Let's open our books to page sixteen and continue where we left off last lesson, discussing information warfare in military conflicts..."

The instructor began the lecture. Except for Binu, who sat attentively, the other students were distracted, itching to join the cheers coming from the playground.

"Could the members of Group Three prepare to take the field? Jin Qiaoru, Wu Yuankuan, Wang Quanzhang..."

As the announcement from the playground reached the classroom, students turned their heads towards a girl sitting on the right, ignoring the ongoing class.

"Li Ruisi, your sentry competition is about to start."

"Li Ruisi, I heard Jin Qiaoru is getting ready to compete."

"Li Ruisi..."

Yan Bubu saw the girl's face flush red as she looked at the instructor, her eyes filled with pleading.

The instructor stopped lecturing, tossed the book onto the desk, and waved his hand, "Alright, go watch the competition. I'll give you the afternoon off."

"Wow!" The class erupted in cheers, hurriedly packing their books to leave.

Yan Bubu shoved his book into his desk and called out to Wang Suizi and Chen Wenchao, "Let's go, to the playground for the sentry competition!"

Wang Suizi replied, "I'll pass. I'm going home now that we have the afternoon off."

Wang Suizi's parents had passed away, leaving only an aunt who hadn't yet undergone mutation. She lived in a low-tier rental area. Wang Suizi, staying at the academy with free board, didn't spend all his monthly credits, so he often visited his aunt to share some with her.

"Okay, then you go. What about you, Chen Wenchao?" Yan Bubu asked.

As Chen Wenchao packed his books, he said, "I didn't go home last weekend. My dad thought something happened to me and has been asking around the checkpoint outside every day. I should visit him this afternoon since there's no class."

Chen Wenchao's mother was gone, but his father, having survived the mutation period, lived in the second-tier residential area. His father treasured him immensely, always rushing to the academy at the slightest concern. Restricted from entering, he would wait at the checkpoint, familiar with the soldiers there.

Since Wang Suizi and Chen Wenchao weren't going to the match, Yan Bubu left the classroom with Hei Shi and Binu. Their class's commotion led other guide classes to follow suit, all heading towards the playground.

The playground downstairs had been equipped with a ring of step stands around a large, brightly lit central area.

In the center of the field, a labyrinth of twisting corridors was formed by partitions, topped with a massive clock. Its bright red numbers were counting down, showing nine minutes and fifteen seconds remaining.

The surrounding stands were packed with people, not just sentinel guides but also numerous quantum beasts. Yan Bubu scanned the crowd for Feng Chen but, not finding him, climbed up the stands for a better view.

Binu and Hei Shi followed him, standing together on the stands.

Yan Bubu observed several sentinels cautiously navigating the maze's corridors, each with a sensor band tied around their left arm.

His gaze swept over the sentinels, and at the farthest corridor, he spotted a familiar figure.

He saw Feng Chen in combat gear, standing with a sensor band on his left arm, evidently in the midst of a physical test.

Yan Bubu hadn’t expected to stumble upon Feng Chen's exam just after descending the stairs and leaned forward, watching him intently. Many guides on the stands, new to the scene, were asking about the rules.

"Why aren’t they accompanied by their quantum beasts?"

"This is a physical test, not a test of psychic strength. They're not allowed to bring quantum beasts or use psychic powers and firearms, only daggers are permitted."

"So, is it a success if they exit the maze before the countdown ends?"

"Two groups have already competed. Success is staying in the maze for ten minutes without being eliminated. Stop asking and just watch to understand."

……

The sentinels in the maze were cautiously moving around, frequently spinning to look behind. Only Feng Chen stood still, gripping his Wu Yu dagger, calm and composed, looking no different from usual.

While Yan Bubu was still pondering the nature of their test, a sudden gasp rose from the stands. In the middle of the maze, a mutated wolf appeared, lunging at a sentinel facing away from it.

The sentinel, marked with a number seven, was about to be caught when he swiftly turned and stabbed the wolf in the chest. However, when he withdrew his knife, no blood came out, and the wolf, instead of collapsing, vanished into thin air.

Yan Bubu realized that this was similar to the holographic opponents used in ability enhancement classes. The mutated wolf was also a hologram, only more lifelike.

Applause erupted from the stands, and sentinel number seven smiled, raising his arms and turning around to nod in acknowledgment to the crowd.

But before the applause faded, the partitions that formed the maze's corridors started moving rapidly. Where there had been a partition behind number seven, it moved aside, and a large python suddenly lunged out, rearing its upper body and opening its crimson maw.

"Ah! Behind you! Behind you!" people on the stands shouted in warning.

But it all happened too quickly. Before number seven could react, the python had already enclosed his head in its jaws, his smile still unfaded.

Although aware that it was a 3D image, the scene's realism still elicited screams from some. Binu, standing beside Yan Bubu, was tense, growling threateningly. Even Yan Bubu shivered, instinctively wrapping his arms around Hei Shi's neck.

"Contestant number seven, your test is over. Please leave the field immediately."

Accompanied by the female announcement, the giant python vanished, and the sentinel remained standing. The partitions in front opened to reveal a pathway leading to the edge of the field.

Number seven, visibly annoyed, shook his head while removing the sensor band from his arm and walked out.

"Ah! Be careful!" Another wave of gasps swept through the stands.

A partition in another corridor moved rapidly, and a zombie lunged out, attacking sentinel number three.

Just as number three's dagger pierced its skull and the hologram hadn't yet disappeared, two more zombies appeared behind him, biting towards the back of his head.

The sentinel at post three, sensing something amiss from the crowd's reaction in the stands, didn't turn around but instinctively launched a mental attack. The two zombies behind him disappeared into thin air before they could even reach him.

"Contestant number three has violated the rules, the test is over, please leave the area immediately."

The sentinel, visibly disgruntled, retorted, "I was dealing with the zombies that just appeared, how was I to know two more would come from behind? I'm a sentinel, what's wrong with using mental attacks?"

"Shush—" the crowd in the stands started to boo him, "It's a physical test, using mental powers is against the rules."

"'Hurry up and get off the field; you’re ‘dead’ now.'"

"Number three sentinel protested, 'How am I dead? I’m standing just fine.'"

"'You’re already 'dead', stop playing dead, cover your mouth and get off.'"

……

"The crowd on the stands chuckled, and even number three joined in the laughter, shaking his head and sighing as he walked off through the newly opened passage."

"Yan Bubu noticed the clock ticking down, showing eight minutes remaining. While other sentinels navigated the corridors, Feng Chen remained stationary at the opposite end of the field."

"Feng Chen was far away, so Yan Bubu jumped off the stands and, while running, called to the two quantum beasts, 'Come on, let’s go see brother from that side.'"

"Heidou immediately picked up Binunu and followed."

"'Contestant number eleven, your test is over. Please leave the field immediately.'"

"'Contestant number seven, your test is over. Please leave the field immediately.'"

"Amidst the continuous cheers and screams from the stands, Yan Bubu wasn’t sure which number Feng Chen was. He listened to the announcements while quickly running towards the other end of the field."

"Feng Chen was on the far left, where the stands were less crowded. Yan Bubu leapt onto the stands and started shouting even before he could clearly see, 'Go brother, go brother!'"

"Feng Chen, who had been stationary in the corridor, glanced quickly towards the stands and then turned his gaze back."

"Heidou, with Binunu in tow, also jumped onto the stands. With Binunu being short, Heidou placed it on its head. Yan Bubu grabbed Binunu’s paw and waved it together, shouting at the top of his lungs to cheer for Feng Chen."

"The stands roared with applause, cheers, and shouts of encouragement, but Yan Bubu’s voice somehow managed to overshadow them, drawing the attention of several sentinels in the maze."

"Seeing Feng Chen look his way, Yan Bubu let out a shrill scream, 'I’m here, brother, go for it!'"

"Feng Chen gestured to Yan Bubu with a downward push of his hands and then pointed to his ears, indicating that Yan Bubu could lower his voice as he could hear him."

"'Go, brother...' Just as Yan Bubu lowered his volume and softly cheered, he suddenly let out a thunderous scream, 'Behind you!'"

"A zombie suddenly materialized behind Feng Chen, its mouth gaping open towards his neck. Feng Chen, still looking at Yan Bubu, was completely unaware of the danger behind him."

"Amidst Yan Bubu’s continuous screams, Binunu swiftly jumped off Heidou’s head, charging towards the field, only to be caught in Heidou’s mouth."

"Feng Chen, without turning back, thrust his dagger backwards over his left shoulder, piercing the zombie’s eye socket, making it instantly vanish into thin air."

"'Awesome!' Yan Bubu jumped up on the spot in excitement."

"As the competition progressed, the maze walls moved more frequently, and more zombies and mutants appeared out of nowhere."

"Feng Chen began to focus on dealing with these sudden targets and stopped looking at Yan Bubu."

"'Contestant number one, your test is over. Please leave the field immediately.'"

"'Contestant number nine, your test is over. Please leave the field immediately.'"

……

"The female voice on the broadcast continued to announce, and the number of sentinels in the maze dwindled until only seven or eight remained."

"Feng Chen was among them."

"Feng Chen had been standing near the edge of the field, initially not attracting much attention. Now, with only a few sentinels left, many people noticed him and shifted their focus to his side of the stands."

"Yan Bubu found himself gradually surrounded by more people, with some unfamiliar guides whispering among themselves. Even though they lowered their voices, Yan Bubu, with his keen hearing, caught snippets of their conversation."

"'Who is he? I’ve never seen him before.'"

"'Seems like he’s new, from the sentinel class on the floor below ours.'"

"'…Is he looking at us? He’s glanced over here a few times.'"

"'Really, he’s looking again. Oh no, I didn’t even comb my hair properly today, what do I do?'"

……

"Yan Bubu initially felt pleased hearing the praises for Feng Chen, but as he continued to listen, a feeling of discomfort began to grow inside him."

"Feng Chen was simultaneously facing off against four zombies. He had already taken down three, and as the last one charged, he struck it with his elbow against the wall, then stabbed it in the head. His movements were swift and efficient, eliciting gasps of admiration from the stands."

"The lighting illuminated the entire maze, highlighting the features of the sentinels and exaggerating any imperfections on their faces."

"But Feng Chen still looked stunningly handsome, his eyes and brows exuding a sharp coldness. His presence was a striking contrast of softness and hardness, giving him a very unique aura."

"Watching Feng Chen like this, Yan Bubu gradually stopped cheering, suddenly wishing he could wrap the stands with a dark cloth, hiding Feng Chen from everyone’s view."

"'Does he have a guide? Does anyone know?'"

"'Not sure, but I know someone in sentinel class two, I’ll ask them later.'"

"'He probably hasn’t matched yet. After all, he’s new to the academy, he definitely doesn’t have a guide.'"

……

"A few guides were excitedly discussing when suddenly someone nearby said, 'The sentinel you're talking about is mine.'"

"The guides turned around and noticed a pretty, curly-haired young guide standing beside them, glaring at them unhappily."

"'Your sentinel?' The guides were initially embarrassed, realizing the person they were discussing was right there. But upon seeing Yan Bubu’s face, they grew suspicious and scrutinized him."

"'Yes, he has a guide, and that’s me,' Yan Bubu stated."

"'How old are you?' one of the guides asked."

"Anticipating their thoughts, Yan Bubu lifted his chin slightly, 'Not too old, but we’re close to bonding fever. As soon as I hit it, we’ll bond.'"

"After saying this, Heidou turned to look at him. Meanwhile, Feng Chen, who was moving left in the maze, paused, stopped for two seconds, then continued."

"Although everyone knew about bonding fever, it was a private matter, usually discussed discreetly among guides."

"They had never encountered someone like Yan Bubu, who spoke about it so openly. They were momentarily speechless and exchanged puzzled looks."

"The ten minutes quickly passed, and the clock on the field showed zero, signaling the end of the test. Only three sentinels, including Feng Chen, hadn’t been eliminated."

"Amidst thunderous applause, the other two sentinels raised their hands and circled, nodding and smiling at the audience. Only Feng Chen just left the field and walked straight towards Yan Bubu."

"'My sentinel really likes me, always longing for our bonding fever. I’ve been worried why it hasn’t happened yet. I keep comforting him, ‘Don’t worry, it’s coming soon, maybe the day after tomorrow, maybe tomorrow, maybe even right now…’'"

"To dispel the guides' thoughts about Feng Chen, Yan Bubu spoke more fluently, but the guides, ignoring his rambling, suddenly turned and walked away."

"Yan Bubu, watching their retreating backs, breathed a sigh of relief, then heard Feng Chen’s voice from behind, 'Let’s go, they’ve all left, you can go back too.'"

"Yan Bubu shivered and slowly turned back, 'Brother, when did you get here?'"

"Feng Chen replied, 'I’ve been here since the competition ended.'"

"'Ah, it’s over? I didn’t realize. Is it really over?'"

"'Yes.' Feng Chen put his arm around Yan Bubu's shoulder, walking towards their home."

"Yan Bubu stuttered, 'Are we going back now? Aren’t we watching the rest of the competition?'"

"'No more watching. You’re about to hit bonding fever, I can’t wait any longer.' Feng Chen said calmly, his gaze fixed ahead."