Chapter 8: Take Responsibility for Everything Concerning the Guide

Yu Xia looked at the two men, whose expressions had suddenly turned cold, and shrank her neck slightly. "Is there a problem?"

Huo Lin gently took her wrist in his hands as if cradling a fragile treasure. "Does it still hurt? Your injury."

So, they were worried about her past wounds. A warmth spread through Yu Xia's heart. "It doesn't hurt anymore. It will heal quickly, and it won't even leave a scar."

Seeing her accustomed tone, the two men felt even more heartbroken and furious. Even if she weren't a Guide, no Sentinel could be forgiven for treating a person this way!

"If he were in my hands..." Nyx clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking, while murderous intent filled his eyes.

Huo Lin tilted his head and said in a low voice, "He is already dead." The Sentinel who had hidden Yu Xia away should be thankful he was dead; otherwise, he would have torn him apart with his own hands.

Thirsty again, Yu Xia began sipping from Huo Lin’s oversized water bottle, oblivious to their conversation.

The two watched her drink in silence, their hearts heavy with concern as they noticed the translucent, manifested fins near her ears. Her mental energy had been depleted too much, and combined with the psychological effect, her thirst would only grow.

For a Guide to recover their mental energy, a quiet and comfortable environment like the White Tower was ideal. Since Yu Xia’s spirit beast was a dolphin, a pool of water to soak in would be beneficial if an ocean or lake weren't available. However, they were currently in a contaminated zone; even if the residential area still had water, it was likely tainted as well.

Yu Xia set down the bottle and wiped the corner of her mouth. Seeing Huo Lin and Nyx staring at her, she smiled sheepishly, feeling embarrassed that she was the only one drinking while Huo Lin hadn't taken a sip. "I... I just feel so thirsty all the time."

Huo Lin replied, "Your spirit beast is a dolphin. You exhausted a lot of mental energy helping me repair my mental landscape, so it is normal to be thirsty."

Seeing that Yu Xia did not know what a Sentinel or Guide was, Nyx couldn't help but ask, "Your previous guardian was a Sentinel—did he not even tell you this? How on earth did you grow up?" Nyx couldn't imagine what kind of Sentinel would do such things to a Guide, nor could he fathom how terrible her upbringing must have been.

Huo Lin raised a hand to stop his questioning and patiently explained to Yu Xia what Sentinels and Guides were, and how they differed from ordinary people.

Yu Xia listened intently to Huo Lin’s description, gaining her first real understanding of the world. Sentinels possessed bodies several times stronger than the average person. Because their five senses were so acute, they were easily disturbed by external stimuli, which could lead to mental instability; thus, they required the mental guidance and soothing of a Guide. If a Sentinel were compared to a mad dog, the Guide was the leash that kept them in check.

Sentinels and Guides both possessed spirit beasts—typically manifestations of animals or plants—which reflected their individual personalities and inner selves to some degree. However, Guides were rare and lacked the powerful physiques of Sentinels, necessitating strict protection; therefore, they almost always lived on beautiful, safe planets.

After clarifying the basic structure of this world, Yu Xia finally let out a sigh of relief, her trust in Huo Lin and the others growing. At the very least, she knew these people would not intentionally harm her.

She also understood now what that power in her body was—it was her mental energy, and the little dolphin was her spirit beast. She also realized that the "guardian" Huo Lin mentioned was a Sentinel. It was similar to a guardianship between a senior and a junior—a relationship meant for protection and care, where one was responsible for the other. But as for the nature of the relationship...

To Yu Xia, it seemed like a form of kinship. She didn't mind it much; as a human from the new world, her way of thinking was different from that of the old world.

As she pondered this, her thoughts began to drift, and she couldn't concentrate. She yawned several times, feeling inexplicably drowsy.

"You need to rest." Huo Lin picked her up and walked toward the sofa in the room.

Nyx quickly pushed two sofas together and cleared away the dust. Huo Lin laid her down with gentle care. Yu Xia’s mental energy was still depleted and hadn't fully recovered, and she had yet to truly grasp the nature of her own abilities. Feeling only physical exhaustion, chest tightness, and heart palpitations, she fell asleep the moment she lay down.

Huo Lin activated a mental shield for her, isolating her from all interference. Though a Guide’s senses weren't as sharp as a Sentinel’s, weakened mental energy made them sensitive to external stimuli. The other Sentinels, acting on instinct, also sought to protect Yu Xia; they activated their own mental barriers, creating a thick, wall-like fortress of friendly, albeit unfamiliar, mental energy to ensure she felt safe even in her sleep.

While she slept, Huo Lin and his men did not remain idle. Some Sentinels set out to scout for a safe route, while others headed to the nearest supply point to find food. They all had food rations allocated to them; although supplies had been delayed for a long time, the administrators would take the remaining small portions and split them further. It was a matter of luck—not every supply point still had anything left.

When Yu Xia woke up, the sky outside was beginning to brighten.

A large black panther and Nyx’s snow wolf were guarding her feet. Seeing her wake, they immediately rose and moved toward her.

Yu Xia still felt a sense of fear toward such large beasts, but after Huo Lin’s explanation the night before, she understood that spirit beasts were essentially extensions of the Sentinels' consciousness. In other words, the black panther and snow wolf in front of her were, in a sense, Huo Lin and Nyx themselves.

The black panther nudged her with its large head, nuzzling into her arms. When Yu Xia stroked it, it immediately rolled onto its back, exposing its belly. The snow wolf also wagged its tail excitedly, rubbing against her and even licking her smooth leg.

Outside, Nyx, who was on his way back, felt a sweet sensation flood his mind and smacked his lips. *So sweet.*

Huo Lin, walking beside him, shot him a sharp look.

"Meow-rawr!!!" The black panther scrambled up and pounced on the snow wolf.

Yu Xia hurriedly stepped in to stop them. "Don't fight!"

The panther and the wolf immediately ceased their attack, baring their teeth at each other in a show of friendly truce.

"You... you're awake!"

Yu Xia looked up to see a Sentinel standing at the door, looking at her with a flustered expression. Two other Sentinels peeked in behind him, only to be shooed away by his stern look.

When he looked back at Yu Xia, he gave a bashful, clumsy smile. "Yu... Yu Xiaxia, are you hungry? Are you thirsty?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Yu Xia’s stomach growled in response.

Balu walked quickly to the table, took out a nutrient solution and a piece of dried meat, and placed them down. He looked at Yu Xia with a flushed face. "The others went to... went to find food. You... you eat these for now. There will be... there will be better food later."

"Thank you, these are already very good." Yu Xia walked over. Seeing the tall Sentinel’s face turning red to the tips of his ears, he didn't dare look her in the eye and spoke in a stammer, as if he were incredibly shy and had never spoken to a girl before.

"No, no, it's not good enough, you're being... wronged." Balu watched as Yu Xia sat at the table, just half a meter away from him. The clear, sweet scent of her pheromones made him feel like he was about to faint with happiness. His feet felt rooted to the spot, reluctant to leave, yet he dared not take a step closer for fear of offending her.