The Guide Always Wants to Run (GL) - Chapter 11

With all the years Qin Xiao had spent scavenging and hunting for hidden treasure, she would bet her life that the multicolored crystal inside the wall was the most precious thing in this entire cave. No, it was the entire mine. It was nearly on par with the dazzling rainbow-colored ice sculpture beast.

Both glowed with that radiant multicolored light. Qin Xiao felt a flicker of intent. In a single lunge, she threw herself toward the crystal deeper in the cave.

The ice sculpture beasts surging down the tunnel all launched their attacks in unison. Their piercing, chittering cries rang out together. The harmonized sound stabbed through her eardrums like icy needles. It wasn’t just Tuan Tuan who felt the impact. Qin Xiao’s mind blanked completely, as if her thoughts had been erased for a moment.

In that single instant, the very ice sculpture she had been eyeing appeared right in front of her. Its tail fanned open with a sharp motion, like a peacock displaying its plumage to court a mate. Five dazzling colors shimmered in turn. Its crystalline body was dazzlingly beautiful, but beneath that beauty lay a hidden threat.

The moment it moved, Qin Xiao darted aside. In the next breath, sharp ice-like projectiles shot from its tail with rapid precision. Swish. Swish. Swish. They embedded themselves into the floor of the cave where she had just been standing.

“The prettier something is, the more dangerous it becomes.”

If she hadn’t dodged in time, she would probably be lying there full of holes, drenched in bl00d. She scanned her surroundings cautiously. More ice sculpture beasts were pouring in, their bodies forming a wall that blocked the previously broken path.

She suddenly realized that she had missed the perfect opportunity to snatch the multicolored crystal. That synchronized screeching earlier must have been their auditory-based attack.

Her thoughts raced, but she didn’t stop. Qin Xiao threw herself into yet another reckless gamble.

She began scratching at the wall with all four paws, leaving marks while desperately absorbing spiritual energy through her body. Even a little more energy could help.

Swish! Swish! Swish!
Clang! Clang! Clang!

The icy arrows struck the wall behind her mercilessly.

She felt cold air brushing against her rear. Channeling every ounce of strength, she bolted forward, even managing to glance at Tuan Tuan who lay crouched in the corner.

That golden fluff was hard to miss. Yet not a single ice sculpture beast targeted him. Every attack came her way instead.

Clearly, they could not see Tuan Tuan at all.

Could it be… Tuan Tuan belongs to a species with the ability to become invisible?

As she fled, Qin Xiao kept analyzing. Her erratic escape patterns actually worked in her favor. Many of the ice beasts fell behind, but she still couldn’t avoid being surrounded. Wounds began to accumulate on her small body.

Boom!
Boom! Boom!

From above, stones began to tumble down from the ceiling. The loud noise drew the attention of the attacking creatures.

Qin Xiao felt the passage overhead had begun to crack. It looked like a collapse could happen at any moment. She had no idea what drew the ice beasts’ attention, but she seized the chance. Using her body, she slammed into their living wall with all her might.

The moment she broke through, a second wall on the opposite side of the cave crumbled apart with a crashing roar.

Perfect timing.

“Screee!”

Chaos erupted.

The collapse of both walls killed many of the ice sculpture beasts instantly. Their bodies shattered into fragments of sparkling ice, a strange sight. More creatures were spilling down from the tunnel above.

The ice beasts still in the cave panicked. They began rushing about wildly like headless flies.

Without hesitation, Qin Xiao leapt into the wall’s hollow. In the blink of an eye, the five-colored ice sculpture king lunged straight at her again.

This time she didn’t dodge. She gathered her strength and met it head-on, twisting to protect her vital parts as she slammed into it with her full force.

She had figured it out. The moment the ice sculpture king recovered from any attack, it would call its kin to guard the crystal again. She had missed her chance once; there would not be a second time.

The creature’s tail was its deadliest weapon. It slashed her side, carving a long, bloody gash that stretched nearly twenty centimeters. Bl00d dripped rapidly to the floor.

Still, she didn’t stop. She slammed into the beast and knocked it flying. Without pausing, she lunged toward the multicolored crystal. She was almost there.

Just a little closer…

The sculpture king used the rebound force and sprang at her once more, shrieking.

This was it. Victory or defeat would be decided now.

Qin Xiao went all in. She would get this crystal no matter what. She could tell just by looking at it that this was the most valuable treasure in the cave. No question, it must hold an abundance of spiritual energy.

She braced for more injuries and pushed forward, but then a golden blur flashed before her eyes. Tuan Tuan suddenly swiped his paw and smacked the sculpture king aside.

The strike was brutal, showing no mercy at all.

With the path cleared, Qin Xiao bit down on the multicolored crystal, her teeth clamping firmly around it.

The entire cave froze.

All movement halted. The fleeing beasts, those still falling from above, and even the ice sculpture king turned to stare.

Why does this thing feel so hard? It’s bruising my gums! Qin Xiao thought, wincing.

From the passage, Yan Ningjin shouted, “Move!”

Tuan Tuan growled at the ice beasts. The ones nearby instantly shattered into pieces.

Qin Xiao finally understood why the tunnel had split and begun to collapse. It was because Yan Ningjin had forced her way in. She could grumble about it all she liked, but her feet moved fast.

Now that the treasure was in her mouth, there was no way she was letting it go.

It had taken Yan Ningjin a great deal of effort to find them. Tuan Tuan had only left her narrow tunnels that only tiny creatures could fit through. Someone of her size had nearly flattened the mountain just to get inside.

Thankfully, the commotion inside the cave had drawn all the ice beasts away. Otherwise, she never would have made it in time.

As Qin Xiao passed the chamber where the rocks had been rolling earlier, she let out a soft whimper and nudged a stone with her head. It clattered forward loudly. The sounds of chasing beasts echoed behind.

Yan Ningjin froze at the odd sight. Then she snapped out of it. Without another thought, she hoisted a massive stone over one shoulder, grabbed a rope made from some unknown material, and slid down from a high ledge.

“Rendezvous outside!”

“Rrgh.”

There was no way Qin Xiao could grab onto a rope with her tiny paws. If the rope wasn’t secure, she could fall to her death.

So she turned back the way she had come. Spotting her own markings on the wall, she followed them, darting through twist after twist until she burst from the cave. When she saw the sky, she felt as though she had been reborn.

“Chii chii chii!”

“Roar—”

She didn’t look back. Crystal in mouth, she bolted.

Yan Ningjin followed, one hand holding the boulder and the other wielding her laser sword, retreating step by step.

“Little beast, what exactly did you steal from them?”

Qin Xiao took one look at the mountainside. It was packed with ice sculpture beasts. She let out a cry and kept running.

The trio, consisting of one human and two beasts, fled at full speed. Qin Xiao led the charge, the crystal still in her jaws. Yan Ningjin turned and ran after her. Tuan Tuan brought up the rear, with a swarm of creatures close behind.

“Chii chii chii chii—”

“Awwooo!”
“

Mmph.”

Qin Xiao dashed around the small pond and dove into the forest. The creatures chased her to the edge but didn’t enter.

Yan Ningjin looked pale. Even Tuan Tuan lay on the ground, panting and visibly drained.

Qin Xiao nudged the stone with her paw, then gave it a small pat. She looked at Yan Ningjin with eyes full of sincerity, as if to say, See? I’m loyal. I brought you the energy crystal you needed.

Yan Ningjin had no idea what the little beast meant, when her wrist device suddenly buzzed. She checked it.

It was a message from Aiwei’er.

“We have news. Move quickly.”

“Rrgh.”

On the way back, Qin Xiao watched with wide eyes as Tuan Tuan vanished into thin air, just as he had when he first appeared. She frantically circled the spot where he had disappeared, tapping her paws anxiously.

Yan Ningjin’s face had gone ghostly white. Her body was covered in wounds. She rubbed her temples.

“Tuan Tuan is fine. He just needs to rest.”

Still unsure, Qin Xiao followed her back to the mech. She returned to the pile of bedding she had claimed earlier and finally spit out the crystal. She pawed at it curiously for a long time.

As soon as Yan Ningjin stepped into the mech, she ordered Aiwei’er to play back the decrypted message. Once she confirmed it was from the Xiao Corps, she gave the command.

“Reply.”

Aiwei’er answered, “Yan Yan, energy reserves are still below four percent. Less than four percent. It may not be enough to wait for their rescue.”

Yan Ningjin glanced at the stone she had tossed aside earlier.

“Little beast, is there an energy crystal inside this stone?”

Qin Xiao slumped like a deflated balloon, her whole body exuding despair.

Yan Ningjin had seen her like this only once before. That defeated look clearly meant she had suffered a serious blow.

Suspicious, Yan Ningjin turned to the crystal lying beside her. She picked it up. Qin Xiao didn’t guard it at all, so she examined it closely.

“What is this?”

Qin Xiao looked absolutely miserable. Now that they were in a safer place, the pain from her injuries flared up with full force. She gave the crystal a side glance, feeling utterly betrayed.

There wasn’t a single speck of spiritual energy in it.

The thing was a fake!