The Guide Always Wants to Run (GL) - Chapter 41

“These are the ones I brought. Please let them through.”

“Hmm, four women?”

Brother Mi stepped forward just in time, blocking the other man’s gaze from Amy. Yan Ningjin shielded Qin Xiao behind her. Su Shu, on the other hand, faced the creature without hesitation. There was a blooming trumpet flower on top of its head. She even threw a flirty look at the flower.

Brother Mi chuckled and then handed a full bag of supplies to the half-tree, half-human creature. He gave it a meaningful pat. “Thanks for the help.”

From a distance, Qin Xiao caught the scent of spiritual energy. Her eyes locked onto the bag of supplies. The little round ball in her pocket began to stir uneasily. It poked its head out and stared at the bag. If she hadn’t pressed it down in time, the thing might have leapt out and devoured the energy crystals.

To Qin Xiao, the creature resembled a trumpet flower, though with a thick stalk and over two meters tall. It seemed like a juvenile plant spirit. Most mature plant spirits reached heights of five or ten meters and looked like giant trees. This one was on the shorter side. She rubbed her eyes and saw its stalk transform back into two sturdy legs.

The flower-headed being weighed their group with a long, appraising gaze. Finally, it gave Brother Mi a slight nod and muttered in a warning tone, “You shouldn’t bring women.”

Their group of eight made two turns before someone finally let out a quiet breath of relief.

Qin Xiao, full of questions, asked without hesitation, “What was that just now? They looked… strange.”

What she really wanted to say was that they didn’t even look human. Aside from demonic cultivators, were there sentient beings from other species that had gained intelligence and formed their own cultivation paths?

“We’ve already entered the Wood Star System’s territory. Those creatures are its citizens. Since they know adventurers often pass through the forest, they’ve taken over this small town at the forest’s edge. It’s now the checkpoint for anyone wanting to enter. If you want to get through, you have to pay a toll,” Brother Mi explained patiently. Then he added, “Amy and Aya need the most protection. As for Miss Su, you may be a sentinel, but in this place, stay cautious and don’t move around alone.”

No one objected to his advice. Not even Amy, who seemed used to this situation.

Qin Xiao still didn’t fully understand what he meant.

As they talked, they arrived at a place called the Outlander’s Lodge. This was the town’s designated inn for outsiders like them. Compared to the luxury accommodations on Capital Star, the place felt rather crude. Most of the buildings were wooden. The floorboards and doors creaked under their weight, as if they could collapse at any moment.

Inside the main hall, Qin Xiao finally saw what kind of world this truly was. The inn was full of “people” who, on the surface, looked normal with two arms, two legs, a nose, and a pair of eyes. But when she blinked, most of them transformed into bizarre plants, animals, and worst of all… bugs.

Yan Ningjin noticed her expression shift and assumed she was uncomfortable. “Once we’re in the room, get some rest. I’ll have Tuan Tuan keep watch.”

Qin Xiao glanced at her and asked in a low voice, “Yan Yan, do you know what these people are?”

Yan Ningjin hesitated, scanned the hall, and answered, “Most are from other star systems. Besides the Empire, there are people from the Wood System, the Beast System, and other systems we don’t know. The Wood System dominates the medicinal trade. Most of our planet’s herbs come from there. These folks are probably here searching for herbs, too. As long as we’re not after the same items, we shouldn’t have any conflict.”

Qin Xiao thought for a moment. “Can you tell which systems they come from?”

Yan Ningjin paused before answering, “Those with flowers or grass growing on their heads are locals from the Wood System. The agile ones are probably from the Beast System, but not all of them. Some from the Beast System move with heavy steps. Those who tend to stare sideways are usually from the Zerg system.”

Qin Xiao was astonished. Most of what Yan Ningjin said was correct. If she hadn’t seen these beings’ true forms with her own eyes, she might have been fooled. Many of them had humanoid appearances. She stared in wonder. “How do you know all this?”

Yan Ningjin winked.

Brother Mi handed the access token from earlier to the lodge manager, who quickly arranged for them to be taken to the rear courtyard.

As they passed through the crowded hall, Qin Xiao felt several malicious gazes, cold and venomous, like being watched by hidden predators.

Yan Ningjin was given three rooms. She quickly reassigned them. “Three people per room. Amy, Ironhead, and Brother Mi will be in one. Liu Jiang, Su Shu, and Mu Yan will be in another. Xiao Xiao and I will share the last room. At night, someone should always stay awake. Don’t all fall asleep.”

Brother Mi hesitated for a second when he heard this arrangement. He glanced at Qin Xiao and Yan Ningjin, then said nothing.

Their rooms were lined up side by side, all with similar layouts. The ceilings were low, just two to three meters from the floor. Outside every room were leafy plants, and inside, a crescent-shaped flower.

“What’s this?”

“It purifies the air. The locals call it the moonlight flower.”

“And the hanging leaves outside?” Qin Xiao had turned curious. She reached out and touched one of the moonlight flowers. They bloomed casually, without any soil beneath them. The window was open, and the flower sat right at its edge. As she touched it, the flower retreated shyly.

Yan Ningjin checked everything in the room, even under the bed. “Those drooping leaves mean the room is occupied. Most people won’t disturb you. If a guest agrees to let someone in, the leaves roll up automatically.”

Qin Xiao peeked outside the window and saw that every doorway was draped with leaves, like curtains. “Wow, that’s amazing.”

“Those leaves are called guest willows. They’re protective and loyal, but their memory is short. Once we leave, they forget us and become loyal to the next guests.”

“That’s kind of sad.” Qin Xiao withdrew her head. “Earlier, the trumpet flower guy said we shouldn’t bring women. Was there some taboo?”

Yan Ningjin had just finished arranging the bedding. She pulled her little guide to sit down. “Women from other systems are rare and valuable. Some star systems even abduct them to ensure reproduction.”

Qin Xiao understood immediately. In their eyes, she, Amy, Su Shu, and Yan Ningjin were all just breeding tools. She looked at Yan Ningjin with a subtle expression. “You’re not even mad.”

Yan Ningjin gently pressed her curious companion down onto the bed and looked at her with tenderness. “Xiao Xiao, we need strength for tomorrow’s journey. If you don’t rest well, you’ll struggle.”

As soon as Qin Xiao lay down on the soft bedding, she felt so comfortable that she didn’t want to move. Tuan Tuan jumped onto the bed and lay down beside her, eyes locked on the little ball in her pocket. It sniffed it from time to time.

Yan Ningjin gave Tuan Tuan a look. The golden-furred beast stopped bothering the little Hunqiu. “Sleep. I’ll keep watch.”

Qin Xiao drifted off quickly. She had no idea that under the bed grew a plant that released a faint scent. The gas was colorless and odorless, making anyone who inhaled it fall into a deep sleep filled with pleasant dreams.

She dreamt of the cave where she and Ah Qin used to live. Ah Qin lay asleep on the bedding, her pale face delicate like a sheet of paper. Qin Xiao picked a dogtail grass from outside and teased her with it until Ah Qin opened her amber eyes and glared.

“You’re being annoying.”

“How? You’re lucky, really. If it weren’t for me, that old man would’ve drained you dry. You wouldn’t be resting peacefully now. Get up and serve me. If I’m pleased, I might let you live.”

…

Qin Xiao sat up abruptly and met eyes with Tuan Tuan. She even saw her reflection in his amber gaze. She reached out and patted his fur. “Big guy, how come I never noticed your eyes look a bit like hers?”

“Her?”

“Mm.”

She noticed Yan Ningjin holding a light sword. The room reeked of bl00d. A trail of bl00d led from the door to the bed. Clearly, a fight had taken place. Yet Qin Xiao had heard nothing. “Were you hurt?”

Yan Ningjin still fixated on her earlier words. “You haven’t said who Tuan Tuan’s eyes remind you of.”

Qin Xiao frowned. Was now the time to talk about that? She got out of bed and glanced at the window. Dawn was approaching. “I can’t believe I slept that long.”

And she had dreamed of something from so long ago.

She wasn’t the type to sleep deeply. How had she missed a fight inside their room?

“Was I just that tired?”

Yan Ningjin pointed under the bed. “There’s a plant under there called sleep grass. It releases a harmless gas that induces deep sleep. Its range is limited.”

Qin Xiao suddenly understood. “Yan Yan, you seem to know everything.”

Yan Ningjin carefully wiped the bl00d from her sword and glanced at her little guide. “Before I entered the military academy, I was an adventurer.”

Qin Xiao froze. “What?”

Yan Ningjin added, “But I didn’t know Lady Luo or Eva back then.”

Qin Xiao nodded slowly. If she had, Aya’s memories wouldn’t have been blank.

“Back then, adventure teams were smaller and less organized. Discipline was lacking. Most groups were like wandering mercenaries. The competition was brutal. You had to stay alert. Sometimes, teammates would betray you. Survival meant being prepared for anything.”

Qin Xiao listened quietly. From her words, she glimpsed a chaotic era.

“Were you alone back then?”

Yan Ningjin paused. “No.”

Before Qin Xiao could ask more, the guest willows outside rustled.

“Boss, dawn’s breaking. Should we move out?”

“Yes.”

The sky was just turning light. As the group gathered, Qin Xiao noticed bl00d on Yan Ningjin, Ironhead, and Liu Jiang. Ironhead had a wound on his wrist. But everyone looked energetic. They didn’t seem affected by a night attack.

In the inn’s hall, many others were already awake.

Qin Xiao’s memory was sharp. She noticed that several insect folk were missing. The ones still there gave them openly hostile glares.

As they set out for the forest, several groups silently followed behind.

Qin Xiao whispered, “Were those disgusting bugs the ones who attacked us last night?”

Bugs?

The sentinels chuckled. Brother Mi stifled his laugh. “Aya, you’re smart. How’d you guess it was the bugs?”

Qin Xiao had no idea why they were laughing. Yan Ningjin bent down slightly to explain, “The Zerg system often kidnaps women to reproduce. That’s made them enemies across star systems. Everyone hates them.”

Qin Xiao nodded gravely. “I hate bugs too.”

Her comment lightened the mood. The group walked along a level path until they reached a fork with three routes. Ironhead took out a map and studied it.

“This path leads to the Tarpo Forest. We can find gu vines there. But it’s full of danger. Don’t touch anything along the way.”

Qin Xiao looked back and saw the groups that had been following them stop at the fork, clearly hesitating.

“Why aren’t they following us?”

Yan Ningjin held her hand tighter. “Don’t look back. Focus on what’s ahead.”