Chapter 6 What on Earth Happened?

Chapter 6: What on Earth Is Happening?

A desolate, silent desert.

Boundless and shrouded in impenetrable darkness.

Fang Ran felt like a traveler desperately seeking water in a vast, endless sea of sand.

He was utterly at a loss.

Fu Zhangzhou’s condition was far more severe than he had imagined—this was clearly the manifestation of someone who had been teetering on the brink of a breakdown for years.

These days, besides Guides, several major corporations have developed oral medications.

While they can’t yet compare to a Guide’s Purification, they can still offer some relief.

If this man refused Purification, why wouldn’t he even use medication?

Fang Ran wasn’t a Sentinel and couldn’t truly comprehend that pain, but he knew how desperate Sentinels could become for Purification.

Purification was the nourishment for their Spiritual Sea; a Sentinel deprived of it was like a yellowing, ailing plant, destined to wither and die.

Fang Ran couldn’t fathom why Fu Zhangzhou didn’t cherish his Spiritual Sea. Wasn’t it the very foundation of every Sentinel’s existence?

Never mind, this was beyond his purview.

Purification was merely a job; he didn’t need to pay this Sentinel undue attention.

Dismissing his doubts, Fang Ran began to channel energy.

A massive tide of blackened energy surged back into his body.

Fang Ran felt a slight nausea but managed to keep it in check.

He slowly controlled the release of his pheromones, and the fresh, sweet scent of oranges gradually enveloped them, deepening their connection.

Fu Zhangzhou’s expression grew increasingly pleased.

Seeing Fu Zhangzhou’s lips part slightly, Fang Ran quickly cut him off.

“Stay quiet during the session.”

He really didn’t want to hear any more of those cheesy pick-up lines.

Fu Zhangzhou offered a noncommittal smile, but his eyes grew intense.

Like a hungry wolf lying in wait after spotting its prey, his gaze was filled with greed and longing.

Fang Ran felt profoundly uneasy under his stare.

“Close your eyes.”

Fu Zhangzhou obediently complied, but the hand Fang Ran was holding gently turned over.

The back of Fu Zhangzhou’s hand brushed against Fang Ran’s palm, light as a feather, causing Fang Ran to shiver involuntarily.

A triumphant smile once again played on Fu Zhangzhou’s lips.

This time, Fang Ran was genuinely annoyed and amused.

This guy was always up to something; he couldn’t let himself be led by the nose any longer.

Steadying himself, he re-immersed his consciousness in the black desert.

The continuous energy output only stirred small ripples.

It was like pouring a cup of water into the desert—a futile gesture.

This level of corruption couldn’t be resolved with just one Purification session.

But it didn’t matter.

Fang Ran had made up his mind: after this Purification, he would cut all ties.

No matter how high-level a Sentinel he was, the Guide Committee would protect Fang Ran. Even if the heavens themselves descended, he wouldn’t be afraid. At worst, he could simply move far away—after all, he had already been contemplating a transfer to another district for a while.

As Fang Ran’s thoughts drifted, the previously calm and still desert suddenly began to transform.

A magnificent and alluring black rose slowly emerged from the sea of sand.

Accompanied by a lingering, melodious violin tune, it swayed like an enchantress dancing, continuously unfurling its petals—beautiful yet bewitching.

The rose felt utterly eerie.

Though in full bloom, it exuded a sense of lifelessness, a decadent aura of being on the verge of death, yet it possessed a fatal allure.

The entire Spiritual Sea became surreal, as if only this rose was real.

Fang Ran froze in place.

As if under a spell, he couldn’t tear his eyes away.

The restless anxiety buried deep in his heart seemed to be nourished, surging directly into his mind.

In an instant, a strand of his mental energy uncontrollably extended like a tendril, coiling and stretching toward the rose.

The rose trembled slightly, as if awaiting his touch.

Fang Ran faintly sensed that something was wrong.

A sense of danger abruptly swelled within him, and he mustered all his strength to retract the mental tendril.

But the rose, which had been quietly blooming just a moment before, suddenly enlarged and lunged forward madly.

Fang Ran watched helplessly as the rose disintegrated into powder, dissolving into that mass of mental energy.

He immediately severed their connection.

“Fu Zhangzhou, what’s wrong with you?”

“Fang Ran.”

The Sentinel’s face showed no guilt, only wildly amplified madness in his eyes.

“You were the one who lost focus first.” His voice was deep and hoarse, leaving no room for argument.

Fang Ran knew he was right, but a stifling anger still welled up inside him.

He had fallen for this man’s trick again.

He didn't know what it meant for mental energies to merge.

He only knew that if an unfamiliar Alpha used pheromones to entangle an Omega, it would be a shameless act of harassment.

Fang Ran couldn't help but glare at the Sentinel.

Fu Zhangzhou, however, pretended not to notice and assumed a calm expression.

“Guide Fang Ran, let’s continue.”

Seeing how composed he looked, Fang Ran guessed that perhaps it wasn’t a big deal.

He glanced at the terminal beside him.

Only 17 minutes had passed...

The center’s rules stated that the first purification session must last at least 25 minutes. If he kicked him out now, it would mean the purification was all for nothing.

Purifying a Sentinel above A-level could earn him several extra points.

He closed his eyes, trying hard to convince himself.

As long as he got through this session, he could do fewer purifications this month.

Holding onto this belief, Fang Ran gritted his teeth and reconnected.

But for some reason, as his mental energy re-entered the desert, an uncontrollable heat rose within him.

From the inside out, unstoppable.

It was as if the dry desert temperature had risen a few more degrees, and his mental energy was about to ignite.

Was it because he had been too angry earlier?

He cracked open his eyes and noticed that Fu Zhangzhou had also closed his.

Fang Ran couldn’t read any emotion from his gaze.

What exactly was happening?

All he knew was that his Spiritual Sea was beginning to feedback a sense of pleasure.

This was a sign that the purification was proceeding smoothly.

But Fang Ran had a vague feeling that this sensation was somewhat different from before.

It felt like there was something more.

He was like a traveler trapped in the desert, desperately searching for a way out but finding nothing, forced to tough it out.

When the time finally reached the 25-minute mark, Fang Ran cut the connection without hesitation.

By then, he was drenched in sweat, frantically holding back his heavy breathing.

In those last 7 minutes, the emotions feeding back from the Spiritual Sea were overwhelmingly intense.

He had almost lost control.

Fu Zhangzhou slowly opened his eyes, his gaze deep and inscrutable.

Fang Ran turned his head away. The internal heat still hadn’t subsided, and he didn’t want Fu Zhangzhou to notice his unusual condition. Forcing calm into his voice, he said, “The purification is complete, Sentry 97, you may leave.”

Fu Zhangzhou didn’t make things difficult for him. He stood up and leisurely put on his trench coat.

“You’re very skilled.”

It was just an ordinary compliment, but it made Fang Ran’s heart clench tightly. Beads of sweat formed on his temples.

This person was far too dangerous—he had to stay away.

Seeing Fang Ran lower his head without responding, Fu Zhangzhou simply smiled and opened the door of the purification room.

Fang Ran listened to the sound of his footsteps fading away and relaxed slightly.

It was finally over.

Fang Ran slowly let out a breath and closed his eyes.

The lights in the room were still off. The refracted light from the blinds cast intersecting shadows on Fang Ran’s back, like a fine net enveloping him.

Outside the door, the Sentinel chuckled softly.

“I like anything that smells like oranges.”

Fang Ran’s hair stood on end. The moment he looked up, he met the Sentinel’s profound gaze.

The purification room door slowly closed as the two locked eyes. Only then did Fang Ran realize that the rich scent of oranges in the room had even sweetened the air.

Could this guy have noticed something?

Impossible!

There are no Alphas in this world.

Fang Ran tried to comfort himself as he attempted to stand up.

But suddenly, another wave of heat surged through his Spiritual Sea, as if it were about to ignite at any moment.

Restlessness, feverishness, uncontrollable.

He instinctively gripped the back of the chair, panting heavily as he slowly sat back down.

What on earth was happening?