The Guide Always Wants to Run (GL) - Chapter 14

Yan Ningjin stood behind the glass wall of the medical bay, her gaze unfocused. Despite years of battle across countless frontlines, nothing had shaken her quite like this strange little creature.

Bai Xuan stepped out of the medbay and handed her a nutrient solution. “Boss, do you want to deal with those injuries first? You don’t look stable.”

Truthfully, Yan Ningjin was far from well. Bl00d had dried across her skin, and external wounds of every shape and size littered her body. Even so, she shook her head. “Tell me what happened while I was gone.”

Bai Xuan frowned slightly, organizing her thoughts before sharing the key points. “Everyone believed that the interstellar pirate Hu Luoshan kidnapped the Princess, who was secretly returned to the royal family. So when you disappeared, they assumed the two of you had gone missing together. Finding you meant finding Her Highness.”

Yan Ningjin thought of how the little creature had expertly used the escape pod. “Hu Luoshan is dead.”

Bai Xuan gasped and looked at her in disbelief, then burst out laughing. “The infamous pirate Hu Luoshan is dead? Ningjin, are you joking?”

Yan Ningjin glanced at her indifferently. “If Hu Luoshan was the one who used the escape pod, then the partial skeleton I discovered must be his. I cannot think of anyone else who would have been in there. More importantly…” She turned around, her face solemn. “When I found the escape pod, there was no sign of Her Highness.”

Not even a fragment of a body.

Bai Xuan’s expression changed as the laughter faded. “But based on what you said, the escape pod registered two life signs. If one of them was Hu Luoshan, who was the other?”

Yan Ningjin had once entertained a wild theory. She suspected that the faint life signature Aiwei’er had detected might have belonged to the strange little creature. Or perhaps she had misunderstood all along, and the faint signal was actually… Hu Luoshan?

But under what circumstances would a bloodthirsty pirate suddenly change his objective from kidnapping a princess to seizing… such a strange little monster?

Now that Hu Luoshan was dead, the only one left…

Yan Ningjin realized the key to finding the Princess might be tied to this creature. “While it is under treatment, I want a full report on its condition and data.”

The abrupt shift in subject left Bai Xuan dazed for a moment, though her sharp mind quickly caught up. “Boss, did I hear you right? You want us to run diagnostics on that—” She searched her decades of vocabulary for a less offensive word, hesitated, then finished, “—on that little beast?”

Yan Ningjin patted her shoulder in a rare show of encouragement. “You heard right. Thank you, Strategist Bai.” She started walking away but paused and turned back. “Oh, and don’t call it those two words in front of it. It gets upset. Also, test its mental strength level.”

Bai Xuan stared after her in disbelief. It took her a while to find her voice. “Why would we need to test the mental power of a little freak?”

Shrugging dismissively, she stepped into the medbay.

The treatment cycle was halfway finished. Through the glass, Bai Xuan saw the little creature sprawled in every direction, still clutching the radiant multicolored crystal in its mouth.

This was her first time seeing a creature insist on holding a gem with its teeth. When they tried to place it in the chamber, it had refused to let go.

…

This ship belonged to the Xiao Corps and included personal quarters for their members. As Yan Ningjin returned to her own room, patrolling personnel saluted her. She nodded slightly in response.

The first thing she did was release Aiwei’er from her spatial button. “Aiwei’er, seal the room.”

A warning alarm squeaked from Aiwei’er, followed by a concerned tone. “Yan Yan, your rage index has climbed from ninety-five to one hundred and two. The optimal response is to find a guide with high compatibility to ease your—”

“Silence.”

Yan Ningjin’s eyes had darkened to deep red. Her exposed skin visibly pulsed with thick, aggressive veins. On the bed, a lump of golden fur suddenly appeared, rapidly expanding to fill the space. It trembled once, then growled at Aiwei’er. Leaping down, it slashed at the floor with its claws, leaving three deep grooves. Again. And again.

Scratch. Scratch. Scratch.

Aiwei’er thought the flooring might soon be shredded like its polished casing.

Yan Ningjin extended her hand. “Give me the suppressant.”

As Aiwei’er handed over the injector, she kept muttering, “But Yan Yan, this is the last suppressant. If you go into another rage cycle, the suppressant might lose its effect. You could fall into permanent madness… and die! Wuuu, Yan Yan, Aiwei’er doesn’t want you to die.”

Yan Ningjin plunged the syringe into her neck. The bulging vein on her forehead throbbed even harder. Whether the suppressant was taking effect or she was simply furious at Aiwei’er, it was hard to tell.

…

Beep. Beep. Beep.

The medbay signaled that treatment was complete.

Bai Xuan had already donned insulated gloves and was waiting outside the pod with a cheerful grin. The moment it opened, she reached in to grab the freak.

But Qin Xiao’s eyes had opened at the first beep. This wasn’t entirely unfamiliar. In the original owner’s memories, the medpod had been a frequent resting place. For over a decade, many of her awakenings had begun here.

She leapt up and landed firmly, spinning to face her would-be captor.

Bai Xuan was genuinely surprised. That freak still had strength? The sharp claws came so close to her pretty face that she barely had time to dodge. Tossing off her outer coat, she grew serious.

“Freak—no, little beast. Behave, and you’ll suffer less.”

Qin Xiao hated anyone who toyed with her body. It was bad enough when that woman did it. Now this one dared to call her a freak?!

Furious, she charged forward, but midway, she swerved and bolted for the door.

Bai Xuan had never seen a creature fake out like this. Still, she was no amateur. She tracked every movement and easily cut her off.

“You’re not escaping my claws.”

Qin Xiao backed into a corner, clutching the crystal tighter in her teeth. Her mind raced, trying to plan a way out.

Step by step, Bai Xuan closed in. Seeing the once-wild creature now curled up like a scared kitten, she suddenly felt playful.

She rubbed her hands together. “With such an interesting look, maybe I should run a few experiments. I could start by chopping off one of your claws—”

Before she could finish, the medbay doors opened.

Facing her was Yan Ningjin.

Whatever Bai Xuan had meant to say vanished into her throat. She laughed awkwardly and straightened. “Just joking, Boss.”

Yan Ningjin’s expression was ice. She strode over, crouched down, and scooped up the trembling creature.

“She is coming with me.”

Qin Xiao shifted her paw, nosed into the crook of the woman’s neck, and sniffed. Her head tilted in confusion as she studied the sharp lines of Yan Ningjin’s face and her tight jaw.

Strange. Something smells off.

Bai Xuan scratched at her wine-red hair. For a brief moment, she had sensed danger radiating from Yan Ningjin, especially those eyes, as if they wanted to devour her.

“It was just a little joke. No need to take it so seriously.”

She clapped her hands and glanced down at the glove and the recording instruments still active.

“Boss, I haven’t even tested the creature’s mental strength yet.”

Yan Ningjin continued walking away without pause.

Bai Xuan sensed something was wrong. She looked around the room, but nothing seemed amiss. With a sigh, she shut off the devices and began cleaning up.

“I rarely act as the medic. Boss, you could at least show some gratitude. Next time, you’ll owe me.”

“What do you want?”

The sudden voice made Bai Xuan whirl around. She stared in surprise at Yan Ningjin, who was now approaching her.

But she looked different in a fresh uniform with a healthier complexion.

Bai Xuan frowned. “Boss, didn’t you just come in? Why are you back already—”

Yan Ningjin walked with military precision. Her eyes swept over the open medpod.

“Where is the little beast?”

Bai Xuan’s pupils shrank as she caught sight of the military insignia on the uniform.

Now she understood what had felt off and why the earlier Yan Ningjin’s behavior had seemed so strange.

“Boss… it’s bad. The one who took the little creature just now wasn’t you. I was tricked.”