The Guide Always Wants to Run (GL) - Chapter 50

Qin Xiao had lived most of her life as a lone wanderer. She was used to dancing between demonic cultivators and so-called righteous sects, mostly for the sake of resources, whether spirit pills, divine artifacts, or powerful techniques. Her skills at fleeing were unmatched, and when it came to fighting for her life, she was no slouch either.

She was a drifter. Her style was bold and unrestrained. Never once had she imagined someone would one day risk their life for her.

The flute’s melody sharpened. It pierced the air like a torrential downpour, like scattered raindrops striking a swamp, like a child wailing deep in the forest. An eerie tension spread through the dense woods.

“Aaah! Aaah!”

Two prolonged screams rang out for barely a minute or two before silence fell again. In the entire forest, Qin Xiao stood alone, the last one standing.

She staggered forward a couple of steps. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed with a splash into the mud. Crawling on all fours, she dragged herself to Yan Ningjin’s side.

Yan Ningjin looked terrible. Bl00d soaked her entire body. There was a fist-sized wound just below her left chest. Bl00d still poured from it.

Qin Xiao took one glance and could tell it wasn’t fatal. Wu Yu had tried to kill her, but their difference in height had thrown off the strike. Even so, at this rate, Yan Ningjin would bleed out. “How are you holding up?”

Yan Ningjin weakly shook her head and pointed to the man lying beside her. “Go check him.”

Qin Xiao swayed where she stood. Her head spun. After catching her breath, she stumbled over to Wu Yu, checked his breathing and pulse, and made sure he wouldn’t jump up to attack again. Only then did she crawl back to Yan Ningjin’s side. She stared at the wound, unsure what to do. “Medicine. Do you have any?”

Yan Ningjin pressed the mech’s chest button. Aiwei’er swiftly enclosed them inside. The moment it detected the strong scent of bl00d, its voice rang out. “Oh dear, Yan Yan, you’re injured.”

“Vital signs now at 55 percent… 54… 53…”

Qin Xiao didn’t want to hear another word. “Bring out all the hemostatics and emergency meds. Now.”

The mech’s storage units had several power boxes and supply containers. There were plenty of suppressants, but fewer bleeding stoppers. Qin Xiao rummaged through them and injected a suppressant into Yan Ningjin’s neck. She stared at the wound. “Why isn’t it stopping?”

Without another word, she grabbed a cloth and stuffed it into the wound. It was clumsy and rough, nearly brutal. Only when Yan Ningjin gave a faint whimper did she ease up. “You need a healing pod. We have to get you back to the ship.”

Yan Ningjin noticed the guide’s pale, tense expression. She looked upset.

Yan Ningjin tried to explain slowly. “I’ve heard of Lord Wu before. If the Lang brothers hadn’t called him that, I wouldn’t have made the connection.”

Wu Yu’s faction had a notorious reputation across the galaxy. They were no better than pirates like Flash Raid because they were murderous, arrogant and ruthless.

“So, Xiao Xiao, you did the right thing. Don’t feel guilty.”

Qin Xiao froze. Her pupils shrank. “Who said I feel guilty? That’s nonsense.”

Yan Ningjin chuckled, but the laugh tugged at her wound. Her face twisted in pain.

Qin Xiao saw the color drain from her cheeks and hurried to open the supply box again. But the suppressant she used earlier seemed to be the last of its kind.

“Stop talking. Aiwei’er, increase speed. We’re leaving the forest immediately.”

She gathered the remaining medicine and looked up, only to find Yan Ningjin staring at her without blinking. That gaze was too intense, making Qin Xiao’s heart race. She reached out and covered the woman’s eyes. “Too much bl00d loss. Rest for now.”

Only when the soft fuzz beneath her palm disappeared did Qin Xiao lower her hand. But before she could even sigh in relief, pain surged through her like a tornado.

Clutching her head, she bit through her lower lip without making a sound. Wave after wave of pain washed over her until she finally drifted into a semi-conscious state.

“Oh no, it’s those woman-trees again.”

Aiwei’er had run into the Tarpo Forest, where vines whipped around the mech, nearly dismantling it.

Qin Xiao was jolted awake by scattered, tuneless flute sounds that resembled wailing ghosts as the soft brush of fur swept across her cheek. Her head spun the moment she opened her eyes. It wasn’t an illusion. The entire mech was spinning.

“Yan Yan, help me!”

“Madam, save me!”

Qin Xiao pushed herself upright and found Tuan Tuan lying next to her, looking listless. The golden-furred beast watched her with innocent amber eyes. The ticklish sensation earlier had been from its little paw.

She leaned in, nuzzled its fur, and rubbed its big head affectionately.

Maybe it was her imagination, but afterward, Tuan Tuan’s eyes looked a little brighter.

On the console, Hunqiu was bouncing around the Dreambringer, plugging its holes and muttering single syllables. That chaotic melody had come from those sounds.

Qin Xiao reached out. “Both of you, come here.”

The Dreambringer tilted, and Hunqiu lost its balance. With a soft plop, it landed on the floor and rolled to her feet.

Qin Xiao cupped it in her palm, gave it a pat, then tossed it to Tuan Tuan. She picked up the Dreambringer and began to play.

The flute’s clear tone rang out. The vines that had ensnared Aiwei’er loosened and slipped away. The cheerful notes stirred the entire Tarpo Forest. Even those who had wandered into it by mistake were freed and began to retreat.

Qin Xiao looked at Yan Ningjin’s frowning face. Even the music didn’t wake her. She reached out and touched her. Her skin was burning. A strange flush colored her cheeks.

“Aiwei’er, contact Brother Mi.”

“Madam, you are magnificent.”

“…”

Brother Mi’s projection appeared on the display. From the background, it looked like he was still at the inn they had stayed at before. Qin Xiao hadn’t even spoken yet when he started chattering nonstop.

Apparently, after they had split up, someone ambushed them near the Golden Cicada Spring. The prize had been stolen, and everyone was hurt.

“Brother Mi, we’re leaving first.”

“…Huh?”

Qin Xiao looked at Yan Ningjin lying on the ground. “Leave the inn. Go back to the ship. Everyone’s injured. We need to recover.”

Brother Mi blinked. “So we’re giving up?”

Qin Xiao answered softly. Her strength had barely returned, her mind still blank. Now Yan Ningjin was hurt, and the rest of the team was in bad shape too. If they kept pushing forward, it could spell disaster.

Aiwei’er escorted them back to the place where they had entered the forest. As they left, Brother Mi exchanged a few words with the gatekeeper. The man’s eyes darted between the four women, his face full of disbelief. It was as if he couldn’t understand how the four of them had survived.

“Ironhead, take the helm.”

“Got it.”

Qin Xiao handed over command to Ironhead and carried Yan Ningjin to the medical pod. Amy followed and started up the treatment system. Only after watching Yan Ningjin lie inside did she speak.

“She suffered severe injuries with several broken ribs that nearly punctured her lung, and it had been a very close call.”

Qin Xiao knew that if Yan Ningjin hadn’t pulled her aside, the wound would have been hers. She would’ve had a hole punched straight through her chest.

So…

She stared at the pod, troubled. Another life owed. Another debt.

Amy, unaware of Qin Xiao’s inner turmoil, comforted her. “It’s alright. She’ll be fine once she wakes up. But the spring water was taken. What do we do now?”

Qin Xiao checked with Amy to make sure Yan Ningjin’s wound would fully heal once she woke. Only after getting her assurance did she return to the matter at hand. “We found the Gu Vine and the Hongmeng Flower.”

Amy said, “We still need the spring water.”

Getting robbed halfway was common. Qin Xiao didn’t dwell on it. Others had the right to steal from them just as they had the right to steal back.

“Auntie Amy, contact Lady Luo. See if we can find any on the black market. That would be best.”

If not, they could always go again.

Amy immediately turned to contact Lady Luo.

Qin Xiao had exhausted herself. Especially after carrying Yan Ningjin, all her energy was gone. She slumped to the floor beside the pod with her hands trembling as she leaned back and let her thoughts drift.

Behind her, the Dreambringer sprang from her waistband. Hunqiu followed, bouncing along. The jade-green flute and a dough-like ball circled in front of her, dazzling her eyes.

Tap tap tap.

She worried the Dreambringer might break itself. Compared to the mech’s alloy walls, it was as fragile as an egg against stone. Her gaze followed Hunqiu as it rolled from the flute’s base to its tip, proudly perching on top.

A flute topped with a round ball…

It was an absurd sight.

She hadn’t noticed before, her mind still foggy. But after Hunqiu got knocked down for the fifth time and squeaked in protest, she finally saw it.

It had climbed. That doughy thing had actually crawled up the smooth surface of the Dreambringer.

It had grown claws.

Yes. Claws.