The Guide Always Wants to Run (GL) - Chapter 47

Qin Xiao reached out twice, but her fingers only brushed the cold object. The fleeting contact stirred a strong sense of familiarity within her. Yet each time, that dusty gray item remained just a centimeter out of reach, as though it were teasing her on purpose. Frustration built in her chest. She felt like strangling someone. The mudpit was no ordinary trap. The more she struggled, the deeper she sank. Even the smallest movement caused the thick mud to creep higher. Within moments, the pit had swallowed her legs and was already reaching her waist.

“Help! Pull me up!”

“Stop moving. The more you struggle, the faster you sink.”

Qin Xiao was not alone in her plight. From two other teams, a few reckless individuals had thrown themselves into the mud in pursuit of the slippery treasure, forming a four-cornered chase with her. Everyone believed they could snatch the prize before the others, but reality had its cruel way of disappointing them. The object was oddly agile, as if it had grown legs. It could run.

Up above, the two teams recently ambushed by Yan Ningjin had drawn their weapons in a tense standoff. Their focus, however, remained fixed on the elusive treasure darting across the swamp. Yan Ningjin saw that Qin Xiao was safe for the moment and let her eyes scan the surroundings. One thought haunted her. Where had Wu Yu and her two companions gone?

“Hey, don’t let it get away!”

“Trap it!”

Qin Xiao, for once, stayed quiet as she watched the three other swamp-bound figures unleash every trick they had on the misbehaving item that so closely resembled her own flute. Vines burst from spiritual bodies, nets were flung wide. Each person displayed their unique skills like the legendary Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each showing off their own powers.

Yet the item was ridiculously slippery. Even when entangled in a web of vines, it managed to wriggle free and punch through a hole in the mesh. It darted around the group with flair, then, mockingly, bounced up to knock each person lightly on the head.

Qin Xiao muttered, “So cheeky.”

Lowering her gaze, she saw Hunqiu ball roll out from her jacket pocket. The pressure of the swamp had squeezed it free. It slid across the mud until it bumped gently against the elusive item.

Suddenly, the scene distorted. The swamp vanished. In its place loomed a jagged cliff face. Qin Xiao found herself clinging to the precipice, with a bottomless abyss yawning below. As she stared into it, she had the disturbing sense that the abyss was staring right back.

She shook her head, and the cliff faded away. Silently, she tossed the Harmony Flower hidden in her arms into the mudpit.

“Hey, are we doing this here, or do we fight for it after getting out of this mess?” Qin Xiao’s voice was light, but she clearly disliked the swamp. Being immobilized waist-down in such a damp, eerie place set her nerves on edge. Who knew what strange creatures might lurk below the surface? She smiled and made a proposal. “Why don’t we get out of here first, then fight over it like civilized people?”

The unruly treasure remained fixed in the middle of their four-man perimeter. It stayed just barely out of reach, like it enjoyed toying with them. The trapped group exchanged looks. One of them was nearly neck-deep already. If he moved any more, the sickly colored sludge would start to seep into his eyes, nose, and mouth.

“Fine.”

They all agreed to get out first, though each planned to be the first one up.

Qin Xiao silently counted down in her mind. On the other side of the swamp, the previously uninvolved spectators had begun to fight amongst themselves. The three men still stuck in the mud suddenly looked terrified, flailing and shouting at thin air. Qin Xiao’s surroundings began to twist and shift as well. She recognized the signs. The Harmony Flower’s hallucinogenic effects had taken hold.

She shouted, “Yan Yan!”

There was one advantage to Yan Ningjin piloting Aiwei’er. The mech filtered out dangerous smells, keeping her senses clear. Her eyes remained lucid. At Qin Xiao’s call, she directed Aiwei’er to act. One sturdy arm shot out to grab Qin Xiao’s hand. The other reached toward the wayward flute.

But the flute slipped away like a greased eel, forcing Aiwei’er to exert even more effort.

Qin Xiao’s lips tightened. “If you keep acting up, I’ll break you into pieces.”

The flute shot out of the mud and thwacked her on the forehead.

All her hallucinations scattered at once. That one hit had cleared her head, but also filled her with fury. “Dreambringer, you hit me?! I swear I’ll skin you alive!”

Aiwei’er gasped, “Oh my, Yan Yan, Madam is terrifying.”

Yan Ningjin saw that Aiwei’er had failed again. “Aiwei’er! Catch that thing immediately.”

The mech deployed seven or eight mechanical arms at once, surrounding the flute from every direction. As it tried to dodge, Hunqiu ball bumped into it again, purely by accident, and the flute finally fell into Aiwei’er’s grasp.

Meanwhile, the others remained lost in hallucinations, turning on each other like madmen.

Qin Xiao held her breath, exhaled, and repeated the process several times. The Harmony Flower’s pollen fogged her mind, warping her vision again and again. She saw herself struck by lightning. Then, she saw Ah Qin die in her arms.

Yan Ningjin pulled her into the mech’s cabin. The small space felt even more cramped with two adults squeezed inside. The air was saturated with the sweet scent of the Harmony Flower. Yan Ningjin breathed in two heavy mouthfuls before realizing the danger.

“Aiwei’er, vacuum-seal the flower and purify the air.”

Qin Xiao’s knees buckled, and she collapsed forward.

Yan Ningjin caught her and cradled her tightly. The little guide’s eyes were dazed.

“Xiao Xiao, are you all right?”

Suddenly, Aiwei’er cried out, “Enemy incoming!”

Just before the flute could reach the mech, someone swooped in and snatched it. One of Aiwei’er’s arms was even sliced clean off. At the last second, Hunqiu ball launched itself onto the flute like a round-headed spear.

On the screen, Yan Ningjin saw them at last. Wu Yu and the two Lang brothers emerged from hiding. Wu Yu grinned with wicked triumph.

“One hit each. Now we’re even.”

Then the trio fled west.

Yan Ningjin barked, “Target them. Pursue. Do not harm the little Hunqiu.”

Tuan Tuan howled by her side.

The Lang brothers flew through dense jungle, forcing Aiwei’er to dodge and weave. The mech rolled through the sky in wild spirals. Inside, the two passengers spun right along with it.

Yan Ningjin reached for the controls, preparing to fire a particle cannon. But before she could act, a warm body pressed against her back. An arm looped around her neck with enough force to nearly choke her.

“Xiao Xiao?”

Qin Xiao had to stand on tiptoe to reach her. One hand twirled a lock of Yan Ningjin’s hair while her lips curved into a wicked, satisfied smile.

“Your cultivation has improved. The benefits of having a cauldron really are something else.”

Yan Ningjin blinked. “???”

Qin Xiao leaned close and blew gently across her face. Her breath carried a unique scent that slipped eagerly into Yan Ningjin’s lungs, sending a shiver down her spine.

A heat bloomed in her chest. Something wanted to break free.

Qin Xiao whispered lazily, “I won’t drain you dry. I understand the need for moderation, but you were so inexperienced yesterday. Let’s practice a few more times, hmm?”

That last note curled like a hook, tugging at Yan Ningjin’s heart.

Yan Ningjin moved her fingers to respond, but her little guide had already pinned her down against the control console. Up close, Qin Xiao’s features were still youthful, but now held a hint of wild, playful mischief. It was more captivating than her usual obedient look.

Yan Ningjin wrapped an arm around her waist, ignoring the mud still caked on her lower body. Her heart thudded in her chest. A sweet warmth flowed through her.

“Xiao Xiao, do you… want this?”

Qin Xiao lifted her chin with a playful finger. “Satisfy me, and I might consider those outrageous requests of yours.”

Yan Ningjin reversed their positions and pressed her down onto the mech’s only chair. The moment she sat, restraints snapped into place around Qin Xiao’s hands and feet. Though flexible, the bands were strong enough to hold her in place for now.

Qin Xiao struggled twice before giving a breathless laugh. “So many tricks. Are you going to handle it yourself then?”

Yan Ningjin felt like she was on fire. All she could think about was marking her, claiming her, making sure her little guide never left her side again. She leaned closer.

Qin Xiao froze. The warm, slick sensation on her lips made her blink.

“Wait—wait! Is this really how dual cultivation works? Do you even know what you’re doing?”

Yan Ningjin, accused of incompetence, simply silenced her with more action.

For a moment, Qin Xiao’s mind cleared. She looked down and saw the restraints. Her eyes widened.

Am I still hallucinating?

But the focused intensity in the eyes above her made it clear. This was real.

She pinched herself hard.

Pain.

Oh no. This is really happening.

She tried to protest, but bound and gagged, she could only let out muffled sounds. Yan Ningjin took it as teasing resistance and grew even more determined.

Aiwei’er, still chasing the enemy, sniffed something strange in the air. It was a familiar scent. She compared it with stored records for only a moment before screaming.

“Yan Yan! Are you two really doing that in front of the purest mech in the entire Empire?!”

Qin Xiao desperately hoped the mech would stop Yan Ningjin from undressing her.

Instead, Aiwei’er squealed in delight.

“Oh my goodness, live-action adult content! I’m so nervous, what do I do? I’m totally telling Uncle Jack that I’m a worldly mech now. Yan Yan, keep going! It won’t be long before I have a tiny master of my own!”

Qin Xiao thought, I am definitely throwing this damn mech into the trash.