The Guide Always Wants to Run (GL) - Chapter 23

The Ancient Restaurant still upheld the old traditions of Earth’s classic establishments. Everything, from preparation to service, was done entirely by hand. In this age where intelligent robots were already commonplace, this rare practice made the place uniquely enchanting.

Many of its furnishings had been carefully crafted to mimic the layouts and designs of old Earth’s restaurants, now known only through scattered books and digital archives. These thoughtful recreations made the restaurant a major attraction.

Dining here was more than just eating; it was an experience. A simple meal could cost more than the average person’s monthly salary. Over time, this made the Ancient Restaurant a favorite date spot for second-generation elites and privileged Sentinels escorting their Guides.

The first to arrive were representatives from the Guide Academy. A group of sixteen entered under the leadership of none other than the headmistress herself Madam Qin. As per protocol, to prevent an accidental 100% compatibility from triggering the dangerous binding heat between Sentinel and Guide, all fifteen participating Guides were locked in a sealed, transparent chamber. From outside, no one could see in, but those inside had full visibility of everything happening outside.

Surprisingly, the fifteen Guides had no objections to the arrangement. On the contrary, they were buzzing with excitement.

“I heard the General will be here. I can’t wait to meet her.”

“I prefer Her Highness Yuzhu. She is so gentle. Marrying a kind Sentinel must lead to a lifetime of happiness.”

“Personally, I like Lady Bai Xuan, but my compatibility with her is only thirty percent.”

The young Guides chattered non-stop while Madam Qin gave them a stern glance.

“Regardless of who you admire, remember you are only allowed to observe. Later, the list of attending Sentinels will be sent directly to your wristbands. If you want to connect with someone, press the red button. In three seconds, a result will appear.”

A delicate-looking boy raised his hand timidly. “What if we accidentally press the button by mistake?”

“Sweetheart, don’t worry. Just don’t leave this room if you make a mistake.”

“Understood, Headmistress.”

After she finished her instructions, Madam Qin locked the chamber with a triple security mechanism. Then she stood by the buffet line to wait for the night’s most important guests.

When Her Highness Yuzhu arrived with two Sentinel escorts, the entire hall fell silent for a few seconds. Madam Qin stepped forward to greet her with symbolic courtesy. Everyone knew the Guide Academy could not have survived on Capital Star without royal support.

Just moments later, General Yan Ningjin entered with Generals Bai Xuan and Feng Ming. She gave a slight nod to the crowd before heading straight toward the banquet host. But before she could make it far, Madam Qin intercepted her.

“General, please wait.”

“Headmistress, is something the matter?”

Bai Xuan and Feng Ming exchanged a knowing glance, and without an ounce of shame, they left their superior behind. They chuckled as they walked off together.

“This must be General Aige’s doing. After our General Yan crashed on that deserted planet, I heard from Aiwei’er that she went into a violent episode. If it happens again, not even double doses of suppressants will help. We really need to find her a gentle little Guide. Maybe one of them can soothe her.”

Feng Ming scoffed. “I doubt it.”

Bai Xuan wasn’t optimistic either. She knew the truth behind these so-called match-making banquets. Every year, one or two of them were held under different guises, all meant to pair high-ranking Sentinels with Guides from noble houses. The newly passed Guide Protection Act did include provisions for civilian Sentinels, but looking at tonight’s guest list, very few civilians had been invited. In this rigidly stratified era, a civilian Sentinel getting matched with a Guide was like winning a cosmic lottery. Most had no choice but to pile up military merits and hope fate favored them one day.

“The General always gives her spot to us. Mark my words, if it weren’t for General Aige throwing a fit, she wouldn’t have come tonight either.”

Feng Ming slumped a little. “But if this continues, she’ll spiral into endless madness. We need to do something.”

Their minds wandered into a fantasy-filled brainstorming session about how to force their General into bonding with a Guide. So absorbed were they that they completely missed the two figures quietly hiding in a corner.

Qin Xiao’s gaze remained fixed on Her Highness Yuzhu. When she saw her surrounded by admirers, she sighed inwardly. My Ah Qin is so popular. With so many people around her, now isn’t the time to approach.

Yu Jing gently tapped her shoulder. “The one blocking General Yan is Madam Qin, the head of the Guide Academy. You should stay far away from her. If she realizes you’re a Guide, things will get messy.”

Qin Xiao gritted her teeth. “I am a Sentinel!”

Yu Jing smirked. “Alright, a very determined Guide who wants to be a Sentinel.”

Qin Xiao’s face twitched. If she could, she would boil this damn fish and drink the soup.

Seeing Qin Xiao dazing off again, Yu Jing nudged her. “What are you waiting for? Stick to the plan. Go find General Yan.”

Just then, a large golden-furred creature ambled away from General Yan’s side and began circling Qin Xiao. It sniffed the air like a predator locking onto prey.

Its fluffy, golden tail kept swishing in front of her face, brushing her cheeks more than once. Qin Xiao’s expression froze. After enduring a few more tail-whips, she finally snapped in a low growl. “Shoo. Go play somewhere else. You’re in the way.”

Tuan Tuan’s eyes lit up instantly. With a joyful pounce, the big lion-tiger beast knocked the petite Qin Xiao to the ground, pinning her while licking her face excitedly. A deep, satisfied rumble came from its throat.

Yu Jing, who couldn’t see Quantum beasts, was utterly confused.

Across the hall, Bai Xuan and Feng Ming dropped their desserts in unison. They stared at each other.

“That’s Tuan Tuan, right?” Bai Xuan asked hesitantly.

Feng Ming didn’t sound too sure. “Looks like it… but he’s always aloof, just like the General.”

While General Yan responded politely to Madam Qin, her eyes never left Tuan Tuan. That beast almost never left her side. Unless… it had found something. The moment she saw it pounce on someone, she cut off Madam Qin.

“I appreciate your kind offer, Headmistress, but I have something to attend to.”

Madam Qin had been trying to persuade General Yan to consider bonding with one of the Guides in the chamber. Her spiritual data had been stored at the academy for five years, yet the highest compatibility recorded was just seventy percent. A match like that was already rare, but it still wasn’t good enough.

The general public had begun to speculate that Yan Ningjin might never find a suitable Guide. If that were true, the Empire risked losing one of its greatest military assets. Under pressure from all sides, Madam Qin was forced to use this banquet as a final opportunity to convince her.

“General, everyone’s time is precious. Why not reconsider my proposal? It would benefit us both.”

“Very well. I will give you a clear answer soon.”

Yan Ningjin left her without another glance and marched toward the source of the commotion. Yu Jing stood frozen as the General approached. She quickly snapped out of it and yanked at Qin Xiao’s uniform.

“Get up, Qin Xiao! The General is coming. What in the stars are you doing?”

Qin Xiao was busy fending off Tuan Tuan’s enthusiastic tongue. Its warm, wet licks tickled her face, making her squirm. If it weren’t for the situation, she would have loved to cuddle this giant beast.

Yan Ningjin glanced at Yu Jing first, then her gaze fell on the person being pounced on.

Bai Xuan and Feng Ming rushed forward.

“General, what exactly is happening here?”

The only ones able to physically interact with a Quantum beast were Sentinels and Guides. The girl on the floor didn’t look like a Sentinel. Which meant the only possibility was that she was a Guide.

One look at their uniforms confirmed everything. They were staff from Ancient Mandarin.

Yan Ningjin sent a mental command. Tuan Tuan reluctantly retreated, its heavy tail thumping her leg as if urging her to move forward.

“Are… are you alright?”

Qin Xiao reached out and grabbed the extended hand without hesitation. “Yan Yan, I came to find you.”

Yan Yan?

Bai Xuan and Feng Ming exchanged shocked looks. The romantic tension was undeniable. With perfect timing, they made up an excuse and dragged a stunned Yu Jing away.

“We’ll leave you two to talk.”

Yan Ningjin found it strange. She was certain this was their first meeting, yet something about the girl felt oddly familiar.

“You came looking for me?”

Qin Xiao nodded enthusiastically. She hadn’t expected Yan Ningjin to come to her, which saved her a great deal of trouble. Without hesitation, she said, “I’ve been looking for you for a long time.”

Yan Ningjin felt her heartbeat skip. “Do we know each other?”

Seeing the curious stares around them, Qin Xiao pulled her aside.

“You once promised me something. I want you to fulfill that promise now. Will you?”

She had deliberately lowered her voice, knowing Sentinels had sharp senses. The two stood so close their breaths mingled. A sudden heat rose in Qin Xiao’s body, and strange, foreign voices whispered in her mind.

She staggered slightly. Yan Ningjin immediately caught her. “Are you alright?”

Qin Xiao shook her head. When she looked up again, her face was flushed.

Yan Ningjin frowned.

“Are you trying to break your promise?”

Her usually cold eyes began to cloud with a scarlet mist. A sweet scent wafted off the girl in front of her, and it was so potent that it seeped into every pore of her being. In her thirty years of life, Yan Ningjin had never smelled anything like it. Her entire body was screaming one thing.

Mark her. Mark her.

Qin Xiao had no idea what was happening. But the one thing she was certain of was that she had not made a mistake.

Yan Ningjin suddenly seized her wrist, her eyes burning red.

“You’re in heat.”