The Guide Always Wants to Run (GL) - Chapter 27

“Get over here yourself.”

Qin Xiao had more or less guessed where the little purple dough ball had come from. She just could not figure out how that hardened shell had softened into this squishy thing. If it had not been for its unique ability to devour energy crystals, which no other creature could replicate, and the way all the timings aligned so precisely, she would never have connected her Quantum beast to the five-colored crystal that had been swallowed by accident.

Qin Xiao stood up and lazily leaned against the stack of energy crystals piled beside the wall. But the moment she did, a sharp crackling sound echoed. The crystals, which were supposed to be rock-solid, crumbled like tofu dregs. She staggered and nearly hit the wall.

“Squeak—”

Startled, the purple round ball frantically began tunneling. Its chubby body rolled once, naturally carving out a curved hole like a groundhog. It desperately dug deeper.

“Squeak squeak—”

Qin Xiao reached out with a long arm and grabbed the round lump, yanking it out of the hole. Her chest rose and fell rapidly with fury. “You little wretch. I was saving those energy crystals for next time. What do you do? Devour them all.”

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She could not help gripping the soft purple ball with both hands, teeth clenched. “I ought to strangle you.”

“Squeak squeak squeak squeak—”

Tuan Tuan, anxious, circled at Qin Xiao’s feet. It let out low growls and pawed at her waist, pitifully whining. It seemed to be pleading on behalf of the little purple lump.

“Squeak—”

Yan Ningjin sensed her Quantum beast’s distress and rushed over. Her face changed at the sight. “Xiao Xiao, let go. What are you doing?”

Qin Xiao had murder in her eyes. That round ball had flopped to the ground and gone completely limp, pretending to be dead. It turned into a colorless, lifeless orb. She went to check the last wall of energy crystals. The moment she touched them, they all crumbled into powder.

Yan Ningjin could feel the volcano-like fury burning off Qin Xiao. She quickly signaled to Tuan Tuan. With a soft growl, Tuan Tuan grabbed the small round ball in its mouth and bolted out.

“Xiao Xiao, your Quantum beast is a part of you. Hurting it is like hurting yourself. You might not be used to this yet, but Quantum beasts require soothing.”

Qin Xiao wanted to chop that little orb into tiny pieces. Soothe it? Seriously?!

Yan Ningjin had no idea how to comfort her guide. Well, her little guide did seem especially feisty when angry. But she was still unbelievably cute. “You seem upset. How about I take you out for a walk?”

A walk?

Qin Xiao’s fury vanished in a puff of smoke. Looking at the wreckage scattered all over the floor, she forced herself to calm down. So I fought tooth and nail to bring back a treasure only to discover it’s a money pit. Looks like I’ll even have to pay for its energy bills…

This was a terribly unprofitable deal.

Qin Xiao quickly sorted out the little orb’s place in her mental ledger. “Can we walk around freely?”

Yan Ningjin hesitated for a second. “Where would you like to go?”

They changed into simpler clothes and headed to Aige Street, a food district. Above the street floated many small private spacecrafts designed for one or two passengers. Yan Ningjin had never been on a date. Her life had always been boring and routine, spent between her quarters and the military. Most of her time was with fellow soldiers. She had only found out about Aige Street after asking Bai Xuan for advice half an hour earlier. Bai Xuan mentioned it was a favorite spot for guides because it offered every kind of flavor such as sweet, sour, bitter and spicy.

Qin Xiao remembered how Yu Jing had always dreamed of coming here. “Yan Yan, the friend who was with me earlier, could you help send her back?”

Yan Ningjin nodded. “Of course. I’ve always meant to arrange for you two to meet again. Maybe when we go for the trial marriage certification, we can invite her over. She’s your friend, after all.”

Yan Ningjin had never asked about the group that kidnapped the Little Prince and took the little beast. She suspected her guide was hiding many secrets, like a sealed Pandora’s box. If ever opened, their current peace might shatter.

Qin Xiao’s head throbbed at the mention of trial marriage. She really felt like she was just scraping by. In order to stay free, she had no choice but to enter a trial marriage with Yan Ningjin and escape the Guide Academy’s jurisdiction. “Yan Yan, I want to be honest with you about something.”

Hearing this, Yan Ningjin remained calm. “What is it?”

Qin Xiao hesitated, then gently confessed. “I agreed to the trial marriage because I had no other choice. For now, it’s the best option for both of us, but I might not marry you in the end. If you’re not okay with that, you can back out now.”

Yan Ningjin looked at her in confusion. “Why do you think we can’t get married? Still, I’ve already made my decision. I won’t go back on it. And you’re right. A trial marriage really is best for us right now.”

A compatible Sentinel and Guide would naturally begin with a trial marriage. After some time, if everything aligned, they could move forward to a real one.

Qin Xiao breathed a little easier when she heard Yan Ningjin say she would not back out. She had no intention of mentioning that Ah Qin might be Princess Yuzhu. Sentinels were notoriously possessive.

“Then let’s go shopping.”

The streets on this planet were all flat and spotless. On either side, trash-bin robots cleaned tirelessly. The moment they detected any dirt, they would suck it up immediately.

Every shop had its own unique hostess outside, drawing in customers. It was Qin Xiao’s first time seeing this, and her curiosity got the better of her. She peeked around, only to be kissed on the cheek by a woman in red. Shocked, she almost threw a punch.

Yan Ningjin caught her raised hand and wrapped it in her palm, explaining gently, “Most shops are now managed by robot housekeepers. Owners don’t need to be present, but some specialty shops still use human-like hosts. Like that antique goose store we visited last time, because the owner was obsessed with old Earth knowledge. This Peach Lady here is an android shopkeeper. Her specialty is a complimentary kiss.”

Qin Xiao: …

She noticed that most visitors here were Sentinels or ordinary citizens. Even if Guides were present, they were accompanied by Sentinels. “Why are there so few Guides on this planet?”

The history went back more than two thousand years. After Earth was devastated by a series of natural disasters, a global catastrophe ensued. Some humans relocated to other planets. Struggling to adapt to harsh new climates, they began to evolve. Some even experimented with animal genes, using them for reproduction.

The hybrid offspring possessed superior strength compared to ordinary humans. This gave desperate survivors a glimmer of hope. They intensified these experiments and eventually produced monsters. These beings, once driven by primal instincts, would lose all sense of sanity and turn on themselves.

Sentinels were born from two thousand years of constant evolution. Today they wield unmatched power, although that power came with a heavy price because it led to uncontrollable mania.

When a Sentinel’s manic episode could no longer be controlled, it usually meant death.

Qin Xiao suddenly realized that living was not easy, and being a Sentinel might be even harder. “How do you deal with Sentinels who spiral into uncontrollable mania? Do you… handle them yourselves?”

Yan Ningjin shook her head. “They are sent to an abandoned planet and left there. They’re allowed to live or die on their own.”

So cruel.

Even someone as shameless as Qin Xiao found it inhumane. “Why are Guides so rare, then?”

Yan Ningjin gave her a deep look. “It’s said that those who experimented with animal genes failed. They could not find a solution. But then, someone suggested extracting animal brainwaves and injecting them into human brains. After countless trials, Quantum beasts were born.

Later, humanity reproduced. It turned out those once-experimented individuals passed down stable genes. So Xiao Xiao, your Quantum beast is part of you. It is one with you.”

She still disapproved of Qin Xiao trying to strangle her own Quantum beast.

Qin Xiao: …

She still wanted to stuff that little orb back into her stomach. No, should have never risked my life for that five-colored crystal. But now she had to live with her choices.

Guides first emerged around a thousand years ago. When Sentinels went mad, they would do the unimaginable. Killing. Even, well, releasing their primal urges. With beast genes in them, they became mindless when manic.

Two major incidents brought this to the Empire’s attention. In one, a Sentinel was killed by an ordinary person during a manic episode. In another, a different person’s psychic strength was so powerful that they mentally commanded the Sentinel to end their own life.

These two events caused an uproar. The first was called the Red Stone Lane Murder. The second, the Night Alley Case. They occurred barely two weeks apart and shocked everyone.

It was then discovered that these two people also had Quantum beasts. Although they were less aggressive, their mindscapes were more active than those of the Sentinels and they possessed strong mental attacks, even though their physical strength remained weaker. Scientists dubbed them mutations.

People were amazed. They soon discovered many others around them were also mutants, some with incomplete Quantum beasts. A radical faction led by Zuo Lun deemed them a threat to Sentinels. That was when a horrible mistake was made.

Qin Xiao blinked. “What did they do?”

Yan Ningjin whispered, “They hunted and slaughtered them.”

Qin Xiao gasped. Her eyes nearly popped out. She slowly exhaled and immediately withdrew her earlier pity for Sentinels. It is the Guides who truly deserve sympathy.

These Sentinels did not deserve compassion.

Seeing her puffed cheeks, Yan Ningjin assumed she was scared. “Don’t worry. I will protect you.”

Qin Xiao was not worried about that. She clenched her fists and absorbed a bit of energy crystal. She could now use a small amount of spiritual power. Dealing with a few Sentinels should not be an issue. “So when they realized the value of Guides, they began pretending to correct their mistake by rounding them up into Guide Academies?”

It was no different than fattening cows and sheep for slaughter.

Still just tools.

Yan Ningjin did not argue. She changed the subject. “A lot of people are lining up for food over there. It must taste good. Xiao Xiao, do you want to try it?”

Qin Xiao often forgot to eat, but after walking for most of the day, and smelling the delicious aroma wafting through the air, she was tempted. “But I don’t have any credit points.”

She was dead broke.

Yan Ningjin’s lips curved slightly, and she looked a little pleased. “Wait here for me. I will be back soon.”

Why does this feel like being kept and pampered?

As Qin Xiao waited, a strange sense of shame crept in. Compared to someone like Yan Ningjin, who was upright and selfless, her decision to enter a trial marriage without any intention of actual marriage made her feel like a con artist.

She relied on Yan Ningjin for food, clothes, shelter, and transportation. Was there really any difference between her and someone completely useless?

Still, Qin Xiao’s face had always been thicker than a fortress wall. At this point, it might as well be as tough as Aiwei’er’s mech shell.

“He is in the middle of a manic episode.”

“Move aside.”

“Clear the area.”

Qin Xiao had been drifting in her thoughts when the shrieks ahead pulled her back. A crowd scattered in a flash, revealing an open space. In the center, a tall and fierce-looking Sentinel held a young boy aloft. She saw it clearly. That boy was about seven or eight years old, kicking and yelling as he struggled in the Sentinel’s grip.

People screamed around them. The noise was sharp and piercing.

Should she intervene or not?

Qin Xiao was not a saint. In the cultivation world, saving someone without caution could very well cost you your life.

However, before her thoughts could settle, her body had already launched forward like an arrow. “Hey, buddy, put that kid down.”

Everyone around her gasped.

“Get away from there. That Sentinel is in a manic state.”

“Oh my god, she is a Guide.”

“Xiao Xiao!”

In the span of those few seconds, the Sentinel that Qin Xiao had just called “buddy” suddenly roared and smashed the child toward the ground. As the boy fell, the man raised a foot, clearly planning to kick him like a ball or stomp him to death.

Qin Xiao dashed in. Most people could not even see her steps clearly. Before the man’s leg fully extended, she had already yanked the child out of harm’s way. The boy was heavier than expected. She had planned to carry him, but clearly underestimated her current frail body.

“Roar—”

“What are you roaring for? Think you’re some kind of Beast King?”

Qin Xiao pushed the boy into a safe zone and turned just in time to meet the oncoming punch. She had intended to block it easily with spiritual power, thinking she could crush the Sentinel with little effort. Instead, she had to use her full strength just to hold it back.

This gave her a whole new understanding of Sentinel power.

Before she could prepare for the next attack, the man’s other hand swung toward her. She loosened her grip and suddenly saw a flash of motion. In the next moment, the man was slammed flat on the ground about a meter away.

Yan Ningjin stood over him, her expression tense. “He hit you.”

In the blink of an eye, the Sentinel climbed to his feet and charged toward them again, bloodshot eyes glowing as if soaked in a pool of bl00d. There was no clarity left in them.

Before Qin Xiao could respond, Yan Ningjin had shoved her aside.

Yan Ningjin took the full impact of the man’s punch with her arm and stumbled back a few steps. After parrying a few blows, she began her counterattack. Each strike was fierce and precise.

It was the first time Qin Xiao had seen such close-quarters combat. If not for experiencing one of those punches herself, she would have dismissed it as child’s play. Now, after feeling that raw power and watching Yan Ningjin launch the man several meters with a single kick, she could only think one thing.

Yan Ningjin looks at least two meters tall right now.

Nearby, Tuan Tuan had sunk his teeth into the other man’s Quantum beast. On closer look, a smooth, shiny teal sphere sat atop Tuan Tuan’s head. A tuft of his fur was clearly pinned underneath it. The ball sat proudly like a commander surveying the battlefield.

This rascal.

As Qin Xiao stood watching, completely absorbed, she suddenly felt a tug at her clothes. She looked down and saw the boy clutching her hem.

“Sister, thank you for saving me just now.”

“Uh—”

Qin Xiao froze. She was not exactly the hero type. She had acted on impulse after hearing Yan Ningjin explain the origin of Sentinels and Guides. She had been too angry to think straight.

“Are you here alone? Where are your parents?”

The boy scratched his head. “My brother had something come up and told me to wait for him here.”

Qin Xiao: …

Is there really a brother that irresponsible in this world?

She gave a faint sigh. “It is dangerous out here. Stay close to me.”

The boy clung to her side, wide eyes fixed on the fighting ahead. Most of his attention was locked onto Yan Ningjin, who was now covered in bl00d, her opponent’s face swollen and twisted, howling as he tried to rise again. His eyes were drowning in a red haze, veins bulging across his face in a monstrous display.

Yan Ningjin kicked the man to the ground. He thrashed like a beast, trying to stand again.

“Xiao Xiao, his mania is severe. Do you want to try cleansing his manic energy?”

Qin Xiao was dumbfounded. She pointed at herself. “Me?”

Yan Ningjin nodded firmly. “Give it a try.”

Still stunned, Qin Xiao felt a tug at her sleeve. The boy looked up at her. “Sister, please save him.”

Qin Xiao stared at him in disbelief. “He nearly killed you, and you want me to save him?”

The boy tilted his head back, his eyes clear and unwavering. “My brother is a Sentinel too. When he has a manic episode, he says it hurts so much that he thinks he will never wake up. I can’t help him, but maybe you can help this one.”

Qin Xiao had never imagined she would be pushed into the role of a saint.

Yan Ningjin had not told her that this man’s manic episode had reached its limit. Without help, he would likely die.

Qin Xiao glanced at Yan Ningjin suspiciously. “The same way I healed you?”

Yan Ningjin looked serious. “Xiao Xiao, you need to gain his trust and help him. I believe you can.”

Qin Xiao had figured out a basic method for cleansing mania. It was not difficult. The problem was that even after she cleansed the manic energy, it always returned like wild weeds. Solving the root issue was the only way to truly fix it.

To do that, she needed to go deeper into the core of a Sentinel’s mindscape. Only the most intimate person could usually do that. She knew this would only be possible after she officially bonded with Ah Qin.

The thought made her worry. Who had been purifying Ah Qin’s mania all this time?

Qin Xiao stabilized the man’s head, looked into his eyes, and sent a few threads of spiritual energy into his mind. She whispered a suggestion.

“I am the planet’s most trusted doctor, Qin Xiao. I am here to cleanse your mania. Please relax and do not resist. I am saving your life.”

She repeated the suggestion two or three times. The man’s struggles began to weaken, until finally he lay still.

Qin Xiao cautiously extended three to five mental threads. She was even more careful than when she had entered Yan Ningjin’s mindscape. She feared this man, already half-crazed, might suddenly lash out. Thankfully, the mental suggestions worked.

The man opened his mindscape. It was far more chaotic than Yan Ningjin’s, completely wrapped in red light.

Qin Xiao dared not breathe. Sweat poured down her face.

Yan Ningjin gently wiped her forehead with a sleeve while the crowd held their breath, watching from all around. Someone even recorded the scene and uploaded it to the star network.

Thanks to Yan Ningjin’s highly recognizable face, the video immediately drew attention. People had been curious about the mysterious Guide their General had “eloped” for. Qin Xiao became an overnight trending topic thanks to Yan Ningjin.

Qin Xiao had no idea any of this was happening.

She felt her energy slipping away and her mind growing foggy. The man’s mindscape was packed with manic energy, far worse than Yan Ningjin’s. Without her help, he probably would have died.

This confirmed what Yan Ningjin had suspected.

Qin Xiao opened her eyes. A single blink sent sweat trailing down her cheeks like tears. Her vision blurred, and she saw a crowd of faces staring back. Maybe it was just her imagination.

“Xiao Xiao, how do you feel?”

“I feel a bit tired.”

Her mind felt empty. She dropped backward like a slacker taking a nap. Sure enough, the person behind her caught her without fail. Qin Xiao closed her eyes and mumbled, “Let’s go home.”

The man on the ground sat up. The red haze in his eyes had faded by more than half. He looked around in a daze. When he saw Yan Ningjin, he jumped to his feet. “General.”

Yan Ningjin scooped up the woman in her arms and gave the man a cold glance. “Congratulations. You are still alive.”

The man scratched the back of his head sheepishly. He realized he must have gone into a full manic episode. His face flushed with embarrassment. “I didn’t hurt anyone, did I?”

There was not a trace of aggression left.

Yan Ningjin did not spare his pride. “You assaulted a Guide. Do you know how serious that is?”

His hand froze mid-scratch. He stared at her in shock, his whole body trembling. “Five years in prison? General, did I just kill a Guide by accident?”

His voice cracked with fear.

Qin Xiao opened one eye and reluctantly looked at him. This tall, tough man now had a red face and an expression somewhere between crying and laughing. It was quite a sight.

Yan Ningjin noticed the impatience in the person she held, so she turned and left without a word.

Tuan Tuan let out two low growls at the man before leaving with the little teal-colored orb balanced on his head, walking away as though nothing had happened.

Qin Xiao rested for most of the day and finally felt her energy return. To her surprise, she discovered that after helping Yan Ningjin soothe her mania, her own spiritual power had slightly increased. Her five senses also reached farther than before.

Lying on the bed and staring blankly outside, she was actually debating whether to find a few more Sentinels to test on. After all, immense spiritual power was just as crucial to her cultivation. Especially since, once refined enough, it could be used to launch long-range attacks that struck directly at a person’s conscious cloud.

Just like that unfortunate Guide from ‘history’ who caught everyone’s attention for using spiritual power to kill silently with a mere thought.

Creak—

The door opened.

Tuan Tuan, golden and shiny, walked in carrying the little purple orb atop his head. He leaped onto the bed with practiced ease, nuzzled Qin Xiao’s hand with his damp nose, and wagged his tail like an obedient little pet. His affectionate act tugged at the heart. Qin Xiao still felt a bit resentful seeing that purple orb, but she couldn’t resist stroking Tuan Tuan’s big head.

“How did Yan Yan train you so well?”

According to Yan Ningjin, Quantum beasts were essential parts of a Sentinel’s or Guide’s life. Though they couldn’t speak, they were usually as innocent as children. Compared to that, her own Quantum beast behaved like a little delinquent.

After struggling internally for a moment, Qin Xiao gave in and removed the orb from Tuan Tuan’s head. No matter what, it was still her Quantum beast. She placed it in her palm and stared at it for a long time. “You little Hunqiu.”

The orb let out a weak squeak.

Its tone was more obedient than before.

Qin Xiao poked it with her finger. The small orb did its best to stay upright in her palm, wobbling from side to side every time it was nudged. Even after rolling over once, it always struggled back to its upright position, swaying unsteadily.

From that simple act, Qin Xiao sensed the meaning of fear and trembling. Perhaps it was just her imagination, but ever since she had nearly strangled the little thing, it seemed genuinely afraid of her. She tapped it again with a gentler force this time.

“You little Hunqiu. Listen, we’ve used up all the energy crystals. If you want more, you’ll need to find a way to earn credit points.”

“Squeak.”

Qin Xiao teased, “Two squeaks means yes. Three squeaks means no. So, are you agreeing or not?”

“Squeak squeak.”

Laughter flickered in Qin Xiao’s eyes. She had to admit that even though this little thing’s habit of stealing food was annoying, it still looked deceptively cute and was much more lovable than her beast form.

“Maybe we should open a Guide Quantum beast Exhibition. Hang you up as the main attraction. You’ll just need to change colors every day. Come on, show me a color change.”

The small orb rolled around in her palm several times before managing to stand upright again. It slowly shifted from teal to purple, then hovered between blue and transparent, almost disappearing entirely. After counting carefully, Qin Xiao realized there were only four colors.

Suspicious, she was just about to force it to try one more color when she sensed someone approaching. She sent out a wisp of spiritual energy toward the door. “Oh? They actually dared to come.”

She got up and went downstairs just in time to see Yan Ningjin letting someone inside.

The originally tall and burly man was now curled up like a frightened puppy, having lost all his manly presence. Qin Xiao felt instant regret for saving him. He looked completely useless.

“Xiao Xiao, are you feeling unwell anywhere?”

“Why is he here?”

With a loud thud, the man dropped to his knees. He nearly grabbed Qin Xiao’s legs.

“Madam General, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have hit you. I am a monster, truly the worst. It is a miracle that you’re unharmed. If something had happened to you, even dying ten times wouldn’t be enough to atone for my crime.”

Veins popped on Qin Xiao’s forehead from the over-the-top display. “Shut up.”

Seeing her temper flare, Yan Ningjin quickly stepped in to dismiss the fool. “Weren’t you supposed to serve five years in the detention center? What are you doing here?”

The foolish man had a whole speech prepared, but Qin Xiao’s scolding forced him to swallow every word. “General, I want to offer some compensation to Madam General. I hope you both won’t find it offensive.”

At the word “compensation,” Qin Xiao’s eyes lit up. She had always appreciated practical gifts. “Let’s hear it. What do you have in mind?”

The man thought hard. He proposed sending a daily dessert from Zhenpin Pavilion, known for its luxury, each treat costing at least a thousand credits. He also suggested delivering a plush, lifelike toy favored by many Guides.

Qin Xiao’s face turned dark. “I don’t like any of that.”

Yan Ningjin chuckled at her little Guide’s sour expression and decided to offer a helpful hint. “Xiao Xiao is currently researching energy boxes and needs lots of energy crystals for her experiments. That’s what she’s lacking most right now.”

Qin Xiao gave Yan Ningjin a satisfied thumbs-up and sprawled lazily on the sofa, idly playing with the little orb. She feigned indifference. “Exactly what I was thinking. You can go now. I don’t need anything else.”

The man left with a head full of questions. He could not understand why a Guide would be interested in something like energy boxes, which were typically the work of ordinary technicians.

But no matter how odd the preference seemed, she was still the General’s wife.

“Ah! I forgot something important.” The man smacked his forehead and looked regretfully at the now-closed door. After a moment’s hesitation, he left.

Qin Xiao picked up the orb and gave it a gentle squeeze. Speaking to no one in particular, she instructed, “Listen here. From now on, any energy crystals we earn go ninety to me and ten to you. Understood?”

“Squeak squeak squeak.”

Qin Xiao snorted and was just about to discipline the little Hunqiu when another visitor arrived. This time, it was the little boy from before, accompanied by his older brother. Just as the boy had said, his brother was a Sentinel. His Quantum beast resembled a black hawk.

The moment the hawk entered the room, its sharp gaze locked onto Qin Xiao.

Before Qin Xiao could react, Tuan Tuan leapt forward and lunged at the hawk, startling it so badly that a few feathers fell off as it frantically flapped away and clung to the boy’s brother’s neck.

“General, I apologize. Xiang Tian didn’t mean any offense. Please forgive us.”

“Did you come to thank me?”

“Partly to thank Madam General for saving my brother’s life, and also to…”

The little boy was not shy at all. Likely because he could not see Quantum beasts, he had no hesitation stepping past Tuan Tuan and directly approaching. Boldly, he tugged at Qin Xiao’s sleeve and completely ignored Yan Ningjin’s faintly warning gaze.

“Sister, can you please save my brother?”

Qin Xiao didn’t feel that the older brother was in any urgent need of saving. However, when she met the boy’s eyes, full of absolute trust, she could not bring herself to refuse outright. So she asked, “What’s wrong with your brother?”