Chapter 152 Don’t Misunderstand

Chapter 152: Don’t Get the Wrong Idea

"Guide Fang Ran, let me handle this," Wen Qi said with a smile. "I'm an Awakened. Even with low compatibility, I can ensure a certain level of purification."

"Besides... your relationship with Sentinel Fu Zhangzhou is so close. I wouldn’t want to put you in an awkward position."

Wen Qi's attitude was remarkably gentle, appearing considerate of others.

Under normal circumstances, Fang Ran would have happily accepted, but now, as he looked at Wen Qi, a growing sense of caution stirred within him.

This person was shrouded in too many mysteries.

He had disappeared for over ten days and now showed up here for no apparent reason.

His actions just now were also strange...

Although he hadn't interacted much with Lu Wenshan, Lu Wenshan was most likely a good person, but the same couldn't be said for Wen Qi.

He just never imagined that one day he would find himself competing with Wen Qi for Lu Wenshan’s purification task. If a certain someone found out, it would be big trouble...

Thinking of the sentinel’s stubborn and relentless nature, he felt a headache coming on.

Sighing inwardly, he decided to treat it as a good deed before the Marking...

Steeling himself, Fang Ran made up an excuse for Wen Qi.

"My compatibility with Sentinel Lu Wenshan is quite high. The purification efficiency will be better. This place is dangerous; we need to find a way out quickly."

"High compatibility?" Doubt flashed in Wen Qi’s eyes, but he quickly smiled again. "That’s perfect. Let’s work together to perform an emergency purification for Sentinel Lu Wenshan."

"Together?"

Fang Ran was taken aback, not expecting Wen Qi to suggest this.

But in an emergency, it wasn’t uncommon for multiple Guides to perform purification together. He couldn’t find a reason to object.

While he hesitated, Wen Qi had already taken Lu Wenshan’s hand, lowered his gaze, and focused on beginning the purification.

Gritting his teeth, Fang Ran also placed his hand gently on Lu Wenshan’s chest, closest to his heart.

Before releasing his energy, he glanced down at the sentinel.

Lu Wenshan’s eyes were still tightly shut, his expression pained.

*Hurry up and wake up.*

*If Wen Qi really has ill intentions, at least we can deal with it.*

Fang Ran closed his eyes and began to release his energy.

Truthfully, he wasn’t very confident—the compatibility was just an excuse he’d made up...

But as soon as his spiritual energy flowed from his palm, a surge of resonance rushed into his Spiritual Sea.

*What?*

Fang Ran was startled.

A spiritual link... had formed without any hindrance.

The next moment.

Completely unprepared, Fang Ran’s spiritual energy flooded straight into Lu Wenshan’s Spiritual Sea.

Amid a snow-covered mountain range, he stood atop a cliff, separated by a blizzard, staring into the distance at a pure white rabbit.

*This is...*

Fang Ran was at a loss.

Lu Wenshan had actually opened his Spiritual Sea to him... even allowing him to see his Spiritual Body...

*No matter.*

*First, calm down and focus on purification.*

To his surprise, the purification went unusually smoothly.

In just over ten minutes, the blizzard on the mountain began to subside, and the sentinel’s condition stabilized.

This was enough.

The Spiritual Sea was an extremely important and private place for both sentinels and Guides. Fang Ran didn’t want to linger.

He let out a long sigh of relief. Just as he withdrew his spiritual energy, a scorching energy wrapped around it, seemingly trying to blend into his spiritual energy.

*Something’s wrong.*

*This isn’t Lu Wenshan’s spiritual energy.*

Fang Ran grunted, cutting off the connection without hesitation.

It was too rushed, and his Spiritual Sea ached with a dull pain, but thankfully, he hadn’t allowed that energy to invade.

*Close call...*

He slowly opened his eyes and found that the sentinel had regained consciousness.

"Thank you."

As always, Lu Wenshan showed little expression, but there seemed to be emotions churning in his eyes.

"Thank you, Fang Ran," he said again.

Fang Ran was quite composed. "The situation was urgent just now, and besides, you saved me."

"Don’t overthink it. This is just my duty as a Central Guide."

"Besides, Guide Wen Qi also helped purify you just now."

Wen Qi smiled. "The two of you really do have high compatibility. Just now, my energy could only linger outside the Spiritual Sea and wasn’t of much help."

Lu Wenshan glanced at him but said nothing, slowly sitting up instead.

Seeing that he had recovered, Fang Ran asked anxiously, "What about Fu Zhangzhou and the others?"

Lu Wenshan frowned. "We got separated right from the start."

"This forest is bizarre. Communication signals are almost completely blocked. It’s impossible to get in touch with them."

"Then why... are you this badly injured?"

"I encountered a Marauder and fought with him."

"A Marauder?"

Fang Ran was stunned. This matter was indeed related to those Marauders.

"That person is a top-tier Fire Sentinel," Lu Wenshan continued, "with strength almost on par with Fu Zhangzhou."

"Fire element..."

Fang Ran recalled the strange, scorching energy from the purification. "After a Sentinel is injured in a fight, can the opponent's energy linger within them?"

Lu Wenshan paused at the question. "That's not possible."

*Impossible?*

*Then where did that energy come from?*

"Let's not talk about this for now," Wen Qi interrupted their conversation. "We should focus on finding an exit first."

"Right," Fang Ran nodded. Now wasn't the time for this.

He stood up, took out his terminal, and began recalibrating their direction.

Just then, a sudden heat flared in his right palm.

The energy signature belonging to Fu Zhangzhou surged into his Spiritual Sea...

At the same moment, "A low rumble—"

Fang Ran felt the ground beneath his feet tremble slightly.

Deafening blasts followed instantly. The aftershocks of the energy impact swept through again and again, making the surrounding trees and plants rustle.

Simultaneously, on the other side of the forest, a blinding crimson light pierced the sky, scattering a flock of birds in panic.

This energy signature was instantly recognizable...

It was Fu Zhangzhou!

"It's coming from the lake!" Wen Qi blurted out.

Fang Ran and Lu Wenshan both looked at him in confusion, noticing his somewhat unnatural expression.

"Don't misunderstand—I woke up over there this morning."

*Is that so?*

Fang Ran glanced at him, then lowered his head to open the map on his terminal. The lake wasn't that far, but for an ordinary person, it would take half a day to get there.

Lu Wenshan frowned at the lake's coordinates. "Going on foot would take too long."

He glanced at Wen Qi. "Sentinel Fu Zhangzhou probably needs purification. I'll take Guide Fang Ran there first. Please wait here for me."

Wen Qi smiled. "I understand."

Lu Wenshan nodded to Fang Ran, then placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Relax, it'll be quick."

"Okay."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Wenshan activated his teleportation ability.

Fang Ran's vision flashed, as if he had entered a void. A moment later, a gust of wind rushed past him, his body felt weightless, and the world swiftly reformed before his eyes.

A few seconds later, he and Lu Wenshan stood on a hillside.

"This place..." Fang Ran looked around. "This isn't the lake."

Lu Wenshan withdrew his hand, helping him steady himself. "Wen Qi is being suspicious."

"Guide Fang Ran, hand me your terminal."

"Terminal?" Fang Ran was puzzled, not sure what he meant.

"I left my terminal in the grass back there," Lu Wenshan replied.

*Left it there?*

Fang Ran quickly understood. "You want to see Wen Qi's reaction?"

"Exactly," the Sentinel nodded, taking the terminal Fang Ran handed him and immediately syncing his account to it.

"But I thought there was no signal here?"

Lu Wenshan tapped at the terminal as he answered, "The system's backend supports short-range comms. This hillside isn't far from where we were."

A moment later, the terminal finally pulled up the feed from the grassy spot.

Wen Qi's figure flickered onto the display.

He stood there, his expression somewhat unreadable, perhaps due to the poor lighting.