Chapter 96 Are They Talking About Me?

Chapter 96 Are They Talking About Me?

Seeing Lu Wenbai charge over with murderous intent, Zhao Hengming instantly grew wary, his eyes darkening further.

He narrowed his eyes, gritting his teeth as he asked, "Who are you?"

Just as Lu Wenbai was about to answer, Chen Yang returned from behind.

"What's going on with you all?"

He scrutinized the grim-faced Zhao Hengming.

Pale and exuding an aura of death, he looked colder than a corpse despite being alive.

With Chen Yang's S-Class psychic sentinel abilities, he could sense something was amiss with this person—his psychic energy was scattered, showing signs of an impending outburst, yet there was an indescribable strangeness... as if his soul had already departed, leaving behind nothing but a hollow shell.

He had seen this person before—he had come looking for Fang Ran on the very day they arrived in District 5. From the tone of their conversation that day, it seemed like a lovers' quarrel? He had seen plenty of those—between sentinels and guides, it was easy to understand.

But then Chen Yang recalled Fu Zhangzhou's bizarre fighting style. That guy had been in District 4 for years, and every time he saw him on a mission, it still shocked Chen Yang.

Hmm... someone actually dared to compete with that madman for a guide? That was hard to fathom—wasn't that just asking for death?

"Elder," Lu Wenbai stopped him, "let me handle this guy. No need for you to intervene."

If those few found out he did nothing, there would be hell to pay.

Never mind the second elder and that 3S-Class sentinel; even the first elder wouldn’t let him off easily, especially since it was a task he assigned.

Thinking of this, Lu Wenbai’s gaze at Zhao Hengming grew even fiercer.

Zhao Hengming was also staring at him but completely misunderstood the meaning behind Lu Wenbai’s words and actions.

"Are you... the sentinel Fang Ran is going to match with?"

Everyone was stunned by his words.

Had this guy been in District 5 for so long without hearing the news from District 4? Did he really not know that the one persistently clinging to Fang Ran was the legendary 3S sentinel?

Zhong Wan nodded with an "I see" expression. "No wonder you’re so fearless, daring to show up here. So you really don’t know who Fang Ran’s sentinel is."

Zhao Hengming looked Lu Wenbai over again.

"I don’t know who he is, but he’s just an A-Class sentinel."

He turned to look at Fang Ran again. "He’s not suitable for you."

"He looks physically weak—as a sentinel, he’s definitely not up to standard. Narrow eyes—doesn’t look like a good person. Plus, he’s young and impulsive, clearly just here toying with your emotions."

"Fang Ran, our compatibility is high, and I’ve ranked up... once we return to District 4, we can build a life together."

Lu Wenbai, young and quick to anger, was enraged by the unprovoked insults and nearly threw the pot of steaming duck-blood vermicelli soup at him. Luckily, Zhong Wan quickly caught it and exclaimed, "Don’t waste good food on this scumbag!"

He set down the duck-blood vermicelli soup and immediately thrust a half-finished bowl of borscht into the sentinel’s hands.

"Use this instead. This doesn’t taste good."

"......"

Lu Wenbai was stunned and nearly dropped it.

"Who does he think he is, throwing things at me?" Zhao Hengming glared viciously at the two.

"Then do I have the right?"

Before Zhao Hengming could react, Fang Ran snatched the bowl of borscht and splashed it all over him.

Pieces of ingredients lodged in the sentinel’s hair, and viscous red soup slowly dripped down his face.

His already unpleasant expression, combined with this wretched appearance, made him look like a demon from hell.

Zhao Hengming widened his eyes, his face a mask of disbelief, and slowly said:

"Fang Ran, you..."

"Zhao Hengming, you’re absolute scum."

Fang Ran spoke word by word: "Fang Ran... I can’t forgive you for what you did in the past."

These words were spoken for the original host.

"Get out. I won’t purify you."

"Better stay far away, or my sentinel will most likely find you and beat you up again."

"Anyway, do yourself a favor and don’t show your face in front of me again."

Zhao Hengming’s entire face twisted in fury, his chest heaving as he struggled for breath, seemingly unable to process Fang Ran’s words.

He wasn’t without regret.

The old Fang Ran was kind to everyone, and he had worked hard to become someone special in his eyes. But just then, that guide appeared, whispering temptations.

Advancement—every sentinel’s lifelong dream. Breaking through ranks also meant a rise in power.

The temptation was too great. He didn’t know why, but he somehow agreed.

But things didn’t go smoothly. Although he advanced, the subsequent explosion made him a public enemy, leaving him in his current state.

When he saw Fang Ran again that day, he truly thought there was still hope.

But the guide before him now... seemed completely different, looking at him with nothing but disgust.

He couldn’t accept it.

He refused to accept it.

He didn’t want to die like this, a broken man.

The moment this thought emerged, his body reacted first.

The sentinel suddenly surged with power, like a striking viper finally seizing its chance, lunging rapidly toward Fang Ran.

Lu Wenbai quickly moved to block him, but the moment he touched the sentinel’s energy, he was knocked away.

Chen Yang also raised his hand, but before his psychic shield was fully deployed, the man had already grabbed Fang Ran’s wrist.

Fang Ran’s pupils suddenly contracted, his heart raced with panic, his breath hitched.

In an instant, the sense of danger in his mind peaked.

Fu Zhangzhou.

He called out inwardly.

As if sensing it, Fu Zhangzhou, the sentinel dozens of kilometers away, snapped open his eyes.

Was that Fang Ran calling him?

At the same time, both their spiritual seas grew hot, and energy surged through them both at once.

A powerful surge of power erupted from Fang Ran.

Instinctively, he grabbed Zhao Hengming's hand and yanked and flung him away.

"Bang!"

The tall sentinel was hurled backward, flung several meters away before crashing to the ground.

It all happened too fast.

Zhong Wan, who stood nearby, froze in place, too stunned to even cry out.

He had just seen Zhao Hengming suddenly lunge at his friend like a madman, even sending Lu Wenbai flying.

Just as his heart was in his throat, a bizarre whirlwind sprang up around Fang Ran, actually throwing Zhao Hengming away.

What just happened?

Although Zhao Hengming's condition was clearly not right, a guide's strength was simply incomparable to a sentinel's.

Zhong Wan glanced at Fang Ran; his friend looked just as shaken, apparently just as baffled about what had occurred.

Well, whatever it was, it worked out.

He took another step forward and saw Zhao Hengming lying face down, motionless—likely knocked unconscious.

"He's out cold," he turned and said to Fang Ran.

Fang Ran nodded, then looked down at his right hand.

It was the second time.

It was the second time he had borrowed Fu Zhangzhou's energy.

Just now, it was like a volcano erupting—an astonishing surge of energy from nowhere had instantly thrown an A-class sentinel to the ground.

The only explanation was that another deep mental resonance had occurred between him and the sentinel.

Just then, footsteps echoed as a squad of sentinels rushed into the dining hall. The leader shouted, "Who reported a possible sentinel going berserk?"

"I did," Zhong Wan immediately waved at them.

At the mention of "berserk," many people in the dining hall turned to look.

The sentinel team followed Zhong Wan's voice, spotted Zhao Hengming lying unconscious beside him, and quickly closed in on them.

"Is he the sentinel suspected of rampage?"

"Yes," Zhong Wan pointed at Fang Ran. "He just tried to attack my friend."

The man, likely the patrol captain, glanced at Fang Ran, then bent down to briefly check Zhao Hengming's condition. "Then why is he... in this state?"

"It was him," Fang Ran immediately pointed at Lu Wenbai, who was still in shock, and said with a grateful expression:

"This sentinel stepped in bravely and saved me."

The man looked at Lu Wenbai. His aura wasn't particularly strong—probably just an A-class sentinel—so he turned back to Zhong Wan and asked, "Was it really him?"

Zhong Wan glanced at his friend out of the corner of his eye, saw him nod slightly, and firmly replied, "Yes! It was him. Don’t underestimate him just because he’s young—he’s a real powerhouse."

The two guides nodded earnestly.

"..."

The sentinel paused for a moment, then patted Lu Wenbai on the shoulder.

"Impressive."

Only then did Lu Wenbai snap back to reality.

Were they talking about me?