Chapter 352: Treatment

Chapter 352 Treatment

Two months later, after negotiations among various parties, the "Mandatory Service Act" was officially enacted.

The White Tower established "support and treatment centers" in major cities, where Sentinels spent contribution points and Guides "took shifts providing treatment."

In the same month, the "Retroactive Justice Act" was officially issued.

Sentinels who suspected they were under the influence of "mental influence or suggestion" could visit the White Tower for evaluation. Once confirmed, the Guide involved must cooperate in removing the suggestion, and the White Tower had the right to conduct retroactive investigations.

In the first three months after the regulations were introduced, tens of thousands of Sentinels visited the White Tower, including many high-ranking A-level and S-level Sentinels. Due to the sheer number of cases and the wide-ranging impact, most Sentinels chose reconciliation under the White Tower's mediation, with only a small number of severe offenders facing retroactive punishment.

Among them was Bai Wen, the former heir of the White Tower.

The crimes of this Guide were "too numerous to count." During the evaluation of his offenses, the clerk spent a full thirty pages recording his misdeeds—from "negligence-induced disabilities" to suspected negligent homicide. Beneath the dense text lay the loss of countless lives.

These charges were publicly disclosed by the White Tower. Given the severity of his crimes, Bai Wen would never leave the Dark Sentinels' prison.

At the same time, many high-ranking officials of the White Tower also fell from grace, replaced by "new leadership." After a long struggle and oppression, both Sentinels and Guides finally welcomed a brief period of peace.

Amidst the transition between old and new, countless fates changed. Among them, Lu Liu was the busiest.

When regional support and treatment centers encountered incurable cases, they would report them to the White Tower, where higher-level Guides would take over. Through this tiered system, "the most severe cases" eventually reached the SS-level Guides at the top of the pyramid.

However, there were only three SS-level Guides—one "elderly and incapacitated," another imprisoned—so when A-level and S-level Guides couldn't handle a case, it fell to Lu Liu.

With the amendment of the act completed, the White Tower enjoyed temporary peace, but Lu Liu had already spent two consecutive months "working at" the treatment and soothing center.

As dawn broke, Sentinels waited outside the treatment center, gazing at the horizon. At sunrise, they saw an "aerial transport" land on the lawn in front of the building. Under the escort of several Sentinels, "the current Head Guide" of the White Tower stepped out unhurriedly.

Lu Liu wore a pure white uniform, his long hair tied into a high ponytail, his expression "calm and composed." He then walked through a special passageway to his private office.

After stationing the guard Sentinels outside, the Guide swiped his card and entered alone. He brewed a cup of hot chocolate, took a seat behind the solid wood desk, and casually activated the "display screen."

On the screen were over thirty "cases"—all patients he needed to see that day.

Lu Liu clicked on the first patient, "activated the intercom," and politely announced, "We'll begin today's treatments. Please come in."

The first to enter was a patient with his hands "handcuffed," escorted by two Sentinels.

Cases that reached Lu Liu through the tiered system were always Sentinels on the verge of "psychic breakdown." Lu Liu had to interact with them under the protection of other Sentinels.

Once the patient was secured, the Guide stood up and placed his palm on the Sentinel's forehead.

Gazing into the Sentinel's bloodthirsty, frenzied eyes, he soothed softly, "It's alright. Relax. Here, you won't be harmed."

The Guide's "crystal-blue eyes" were clear and serene, "like glacial waters" beneath a snow-capped mountain. Under such a gaze, the Sentinel's breathing gradually steadied. Then, the Guide channeled his mental energy into the Sentinel's Spirit Sea.

Like a warm current dispersing the cold, like a lantern dispelling darkness, the Sentinel's "shattered Spirit Sea" was cleansed and reconstructed in an instant. The "searing pain" vanished, and he blinked slowly, staring at the ceiling light.

Lu Liu "gave the all-clear."

The Sentinel was then released from the restraint chair. "As the weight lifted from his body," he stood dazed, unsure of where he was.

"I..."

But Lu Liu didn't look at him. Instead, he pulled out "discharge instructions," swiftly wrote down the precautions, and handed it to the Sentinel. "Follow these instructions, and you shouldn't relapse within two years. Return to your regional center for a "three-month follow-up."

Only then did the Sentinel "come to his senses."

After a brief moment of confusion, overwhelming joy flooded the Sentinel's chest. The chronic ailment that had plagued him for years was suddenly resolved, leaving his body light and almost disbelieving.

"Oh my God, thank you so much," the Sentinel blurted out, first expressing his gratitude before pausing to consider how to repay the favor. Then, cautiously, he asked, "My Spirit is a grey wolf. Do you... need its tail?"

Yes, a certain rumor still circulated among the Sentinels—that the aloof Guide from the White Tower had a weakness for fluffy tails. If your Spirit had a fluffy tail, it supposedly increased your chances of receiving treatment.

Lu Liu: "..."

He did indeed enjoy petting tails, but after a moment of hesitation, he inexplicably felt guilty and declined. "That won’t be necessary. You’re free to go."

Since the two sides had made peace, Qi Yi had also set up his office near the White Tower. Every noon, he would come to pick up Lu Liu for lunch and bring him back in the afternoon. Once, during a meal, Qi Yi had offhandedly asked whether a cheetah's or a fox's tail felt better to touch.

Though Lu Liu didn’t quite catch the Sentinel’s drift, his intuition told him it was best not to pet other Sentinels' Spirits.

"Alright, thank you for your help," the grey wolf Sentinel said, slightly disappointed but still standing up to bow sincerely. "I’ll leave now, Sir Lu Liu. I truly don’t know how to thank you. If you ever need anything in the future, I’ll do my utmost to assist."

Lu Liu gave a slight nod. "No need for thanks. It’s my job."

The grey wolf expressed his gratitude once more before leaving, eager to contact his waiting family and friends. Meanwhile, Lu Liu tapped the screen again, calling in the next patient.

Then came the second, the third, the fourth.

Every Sentinel brought in was in terrible condition—pale, gloomy, disheveled, with eyes burning with fury, a sight terrifying enough to deter many Guides from treating frenzied Sentinels. But the guards quietly observed that Sir Lu Liu remained composed throughout, showing no trace of disgust or fear. He simply placed his hand on each Sentinel’s forehead and, within moments, completed the cleansing—clinical and efficient, like a scalpel’s cut.

...

Patients came and went. After sending off the fifteenth, the session paused temporarily.

The room fell quiet.

Lu Liu leaned back in his chair and wearily rubbed his temples.

Lately, whether from lack of sleep or something else, he often suffered from headaches—sometimes dull throbbing, other times jabbing pains. On top of that, his body felt weak, his legs shaky, his fingers weak. Lu Liu thought that once this round of treatments was over, he would take a break.

Once the ache dulled a bit, he pulled out his communicator. Five minutes ago, Qi Yi had sent him a punctual message.

True to form, the Dark Sentinel was terse as ever: "Come down. Food’s ready."

Lu Liu’s mood instantly lifted.

At some point, the Sentinel had started cooking for himself.

To Lu Liu’s surprise, he was a great cook. He preferred primitive methods like steaming, stir-frying, and boiling—a rarity in this high-tech Interstellar Era. His vegetables were crisp and refreshing, his meats juicy, and his seasoning perfectly balanced. After one taste, Lu Liu had refused to eat the White Tower’s meals ever again.

So the Guide stood up, walked to the mirror, and switched off his Facial Paralysis System. Instantly, the cold indifference on Lu Liu’s face vanished, replaced by pure happiness.

—If not for dealing with patients, Lu Liu wouldn’t have wanted to wear the emotionless mask in the first place. It wasn’t comfortable.

But freshly treated Sentinels were often overly excitable—some wept, some bowed, and a few particularly confused ones even asked if they should kneel, forcing Lu Liu to rely on the mask to keep a straight face.

Now, relieved, he took off his uniform, wrapped himself in his coat, and hurried downstairs to find Qi Yi.

The Sentinel was already waiting by the hospital entrance.

When he saw the Guide, a smile tugged at his lips. "Come with me," he said.

Lu Liu stepped forward, falling into stride beside him.

Qi Yi was slightly taller. When he lowered his gaze, he could just see the top of the Guide’s snow-white hair.

Fuzzy, like a wispy cloud, with a single stray hair sticking up in the middle, swaying back and forth with the guide's steps, making Qi Yi tempted to tousle it.

"...Hmm?"

Catching the sentinel's stare, the guide tilted his head slightly, eyes filled with confusion. He reached up to touch his own head, patting around curiously for a moment before pressing the stray hair down. "What's wrong?"

"Tsk..." The sentinel tutted at the now absent stray hair. "Nothing. Let's go."

Then, while the guide wasn't paying attention, he lifted two fingers and lifted the stray hair back up.

Only when the stray hair stood defiantly in the breeze did the sentinel withdraw his hand, satisfied, and resumed watching it with amusement.

They walked one after the other back to Qi Yi's home.

Since Qi Yi worked near the White Tower, he had made his home there. With the merits accumulated from hunting alien species in his early years as a Dark Sentinel, he could afford to buy any building in the area except the White Tower itself.

Today's dish was sweet and sour pork ribs.

The recipe was downloaded and saved by Lu Liu, originating from their previous world. The interstellar era had no such cooking methods, and this was Qi Yi's first attempt.

So when the guide eagerly sat at the table, chopsticks in hand, Qi Yi actually felt a little nervous.

He coughed and pushed the ceramic plate forward. "Just so you know, I have no idea if it's any good. If it tastes bad, don't blame me..."

Before he could finish, Lu Liu had already picked up a rib and popped it in his mouth.

"Wow—"

The guide's eyes lit up. "Super delicious! You're the best cook I've ever met!"

The corners of Qi Yi's lips curled into a smile as he raised a hand to rub his nose modestly. "It's passable."

After finishing the meal and resting for a while, Qi Yi walked Lu Liu back to the hospital. As they descended the stairs, a familiar wave of dizziness hit Lu Liu. He took a deep breath and braced against the wall.

Qi Yi, two steps ahead, turned back. "Lu Liu? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Lu Liu straightened up. "I've been feeling lightheaded lately. Probably just tired."

Qi Yi paused, his smile fading slightly. After a moment of consideration, he spoke up. "Lu Liu, I think you're performing cleansings too frequently. It's not good for you."

Performing the cleansing of the Spirit Sea wasn't without backlash. The negative emotions of the sentinels would also rebound onto the guide, who needed to recover through rest and other means.

Even though Lu Liu was an SS-rank, extremely high-level and apparently able to heal effortlessly, after working around the clock for so many days, Qi Yi was starting to worry.

He needed to rest.

"Maybe a little," Lu Liu sighed softly. "But what can I do?"

He raised his eyes to look at Qi Yi, troubled. "Those sentinels are in so much pain. You've experienced a Spirit Sea overload before—you know what it's like. You understand, right? They lose control, hurt themselves, even want to die. And all it takes is one session with me to restore them. What else can I do?"

"..."

The guide's eyes reflected the sky, sky blue and deep blue filling his gaze. Staring into those eyes, Qi Yi found himself momentarily speechless.

Lu Liu: "Besides, I've checked. There aren't that many sentinels with particularly severe cases. Over all these years, it's only been a few hundred. If I work overtime like this, I can finish them all by the end of next month at the latest."

The guide said cheerfully, "And winter recess is coming up soon. One sentinel told me that because of the turmoil in his Spirit Sea, he's been shutting himself away in a small metal room for so long he hasn't seen his mother in ages. Once I heal them, they can go home, see their loved ones. That sentinel can finally give his mother a hug. Isn't that worth it?"

"..."

Qi Yi took a deep breath: "...Yes, of course."

Lu Liu didn't notice anything unusual and simply patted the guard's shoulder with a smile, saying, "Relax, I know what I'm doing. It'll be fine."

Qi Yi hesitated.

What could Qi Yi say?

He just managed a stiff smile, tugging at the corner of his lips. "Yeah, okay," he said.