Chapter 33 No Malice

Chapter 33 No Ill Intent

A dense spruce forest.

The light was sparse here; though the sun was bright, only scattered shards of light filtered through the treetops. In the damp environment, both the tree trunks and the stones on the ground were covered in moss, and the air was filled with a damp, earthy smell.

"Sentinel Fu Zhangzhou, Sentinel Fu Zhangzhou."

"Fu Zhangzhou!"

Sentinel Fu Zhangzhou led the way, ignoring the calls from behind and not turning back.

His team had gotten separated shortly after entering this forest.

There was something strange everywhere.

Not only was the Sentinel's levitation ability suppressed, but even the signals on his comms device were intermittent.

On the slope ahead stood several oddly shaped spruces—tall, twisted trunks and tightly intertwined branches forming a thick wall.

Fu Zhangzhou stopped.

He had spotted a mark on the tree trunk, one he had left an hour ago.

Had he been walking in circles all this time?

The Sentinel's gaze grew darker.

As superpower users, their five senses and intuition were far sharper than those of ordinary people, let alone his as a 3S-class Sentinel.

Yet, throughout the journey, he hadn't detected the slightest hint of anything amiss.

Why?

Fu Zhangzhou lifted his head and scanned his surroundings.

The plants in this forest appeared ordinary, even more normal than those near the camp, but the more normal they seemed, the more peculiar it felt.

Truth be told, he was deeply irritated.

It was already the fourth day since leaving the camp, and he ached intensely to return to his Guide's side.

These past few days, he had been constantly thinking about Fang Ran's little habits—

When he shot him a glare, when he was rendered speechless by him, when he wanted to push him away but couldn't.

His Guide fascinated him in every way...

The Sentinel's expression grew darker repeatedly.

He ought to be hidden away.

Thinking of Fang Ran slightly soothed the agitation in his heart.

The beast within Fu Zhangzhou had been raging to burn this place to the ground, even if it might harm others.

But he knew he couldn't.

Someone might not like it.

Before things were resolved, he still had to...

"Sentinel Fu Zhangzhou! Fu—"

The person behind him finally caught up to him.

"Ah!"

The individual seemed to slip on the damp ground, stumbling and lunging toward him.

Fu Zhangzhou lowered his eyes and sidestepped slightly, avoiding contact.

The young healer fell beside him, his knee hitting a stone and immediately staining with blood.

Shen Ke looked up at him.

The pain brought a sheen of involuntary tears to his eyes, his gaze carrying a mix of surprise, confusion, and a hint of grievance.

Pitiful and vulnerable.

But Fu Zhangzhou didn't even glance his way.

He didn't know this person before; his only impression was that Fang Ran had glanced at him a few times during the meeting.

"What are you looking at me for?" he said with a sarcastic curl of his lip.

"Aren't you a healer?"

As he spoke, a flaming sword materialized in his hand out of thin air.

Shen Ke only saw a flash of fire ahead, followed by a "splintering" sound.

The tall spruces ahead tilted and slowly toppled over.

"Crash, crash, crash—"

The thick trunks crashed to the ground, sending clouds of dust flying up.

Amid the gray haze, Fu Zhangzhou sharply detected countless fine tentacles emerging from the ground and retracting instantly.

The Sentinel's eyes glinted.

Finally, he had found an opening.

Swinging the flaming sword in his hand, he continued forward without looking back, ignoring Shen Ke, who was still half-kneeling on the ground.

Shen Ke no longer called out; clenching his teeth, he stood up and limped after him.

Only now, the previously pitiful expression in his eyes was clouded with gloom...

Meanwhile, back at the camp, the Guides had been summoned once again by Fang Liyu.

"Regarding the issue of psychic energy being drained, the center has found a solution."

She retrieved a metal wristband from the secure case beside her.

"This metal is an upgraded version of the material used in the gateway arch. Wearing it temporarily blocks psychic energy."

"According to the center's simulation tests, the usage period is approximately 5 days to a week."

"So for the next round of missions, everyone can head out with the Sentinels."

The staff distributed the wristbands.

Fang Ran looked at the plain-looking metal band, which reflected a faint halo under the sunlight.

The moment the wristband touched his arm, it quickly adhered to it, fitting perfectly.

Everyone was murmuring in wonder, while Fang Liyu continued:

"There's another piece of news."

"Our subsequent operations will require cooperation with the Guardians."

"Firstly, they have a shortage of Guides, and secondly, our personnel don’t have enough mental-type Sentinels after injuries."

Facing the puzzled looks from the crowd, she added:

"This is a decision from the Central Command."

Fang Ran picked up a hint of helplessness in her tone, but decisions from above were indeed beyond their control.

Fang Ran exchanged a glance with Zhong Wan.

Their exclusive contract with their Sentinels had only ten days left on it.

According to the rules, after the contract expires, they must provide Purification to other Sentinels.

Cooperating with the Guardians meant they might have to work with their Sentinels.

Fang Ran lowered his head, toying with the wristband on his wrist, and inexplicably recalled Zhong Wan’s words from a few days ago.

Zheng Mingyu was interested in him?

Impossible.

Not to mention he wasn’t even the protagonist—the name "Fang Ran" wasn’t even mentioned in the book.

That arrogant Sentinel was probably just trying to one-up Fu Zhangzhou.

After the meeting, the crowd gradually dispersed.

After saying goodbye to Zhong Wan, Fang Ran ambled slowly toward his tent.

He wore headphones, listening to an upbeat instrumental track.

The center treated their Guides well, and Fang Ran’s days were even more relaxed than at the subcenter.

While waiting for Fu Zhangzhou to return, he spent his days listening to music, reading, and taking walks, occasionally thinking about that hot-tempered Sentinel.

But Fang Ran’s good mood didn’t last long today.

A surprising visitor appeared in front of his tent.

The music in his headphones switched to a gentle female voice, the suggestive melody rising softly.

The Sentinel’s gaze was complex and hard to read.

Frightened, Fang Ran cut off the music and stopped about three or four meters away from him.

"Sentinel Zheng Mingyu?"

Was this guy too arrogant? Even if they were going to cooperate, was it appropriate for him to waltz in here like this?

"Guide Fang Ran, seems like you’ve been avoiding me."

Zheng Mingyu wasn’t wearing the Guardians’ uniform but a well-tailored trench coat, making him appear warm and radiant, like he’d been kissed by the sun.

He and Fu Zhangzhou seemed like two extremes—one standing in the sunlight, the other lurking in the shadows.

But Fang Ran felt that beneath that gentle gaze, some emotion seemed held back.

"Sentinel Zheng Mingyu, you’re joking." He lowered his eyes, avoiding the other’s gaze.

"I’m not avoiding you."

"Haven’t?" The Sentinel took a step forward.

"No, I’m not." Fang Ran forced himself to look up and meet his eyes directly.

"Fang Ran."

Zheng Mingyu offered him a gentle smile.

"Fang Ran, I don’t mean any harm..."