The Guide Always Wants to Run (GL) - Chapter 66

That planet was quite remote. Along the way, Qin Xiao grew increasingly bored and leaned against the window to watch the scenery outside. She had to admit, everything here was vastly different from the immortal lands she once lived in, though she hated to acknowledge it.

In the immortal lands, intelligent beasts roamed freely. Each one was as cunning as a human. The slower-witted cultivators would often be played like fools by them, sometimes even losing their lives. Killings occurred frequently, sometimes for treasure, sometimes for private vengeance. Even those righteous sects might strike in secret for hidden motives. A moment’s carelessness could cost one their life.

Now, however, life for everyone seemed more stable. There were rules, systems, checks and balances. Private duels were rare. Everything looked different, yet somehow felt the same.

Qin Xiao leaned on the window, gazing at the sparkling stars scattered across the universe. Each star likely held thousands upon thousands of ordinary people. Time was moving forward, but she remained confused about this world.

“Xiao Xiao, what are you looking at?”

“How did you all make such ships? Tearing through the sky like that… They look pretty powerful.” Qin Xiao curled her lips. After all, when she had torn through the sky using a ‘divine artifact,’ she had been caught in a spatial compression that nearly crushed her soul right out of her body. Had she not reacted fast, she would have been annihilated.

Yan Ningjin did not fully grasp her meaning but selected words Qin Xiao could understand. “The ships are made by the Mo family. They specialize in spacecraft, mechs, and many electronic systems. Even the household robots we use come from them. I don’t know all the materials they use, but one thing remains certain, which is that these technologies rely heavily on energy crystals.”

Qin Xiao grew curious. “Mo Hui and this Mo family you mentioned, what’s the connection?”

Yan Ningjin gave the guide a helpless look. She could not tell if the girl was too sharp or too slow. After all this time, she only just made the connection. “Yes, she is the eldest daughter of the Mo family, yet she was raised in the Guide Academy from childhood. After she was paired with Liu Ze… Well, you know the rest.”

Qin Xiao began rubbing her fingers together unconsciously.

Yan Ningjin immediately noticed the gesture and guessed she was deep in thought again. She gently reminded her, “You’ll soon be the godmother of Mo Hui’s child. That gives you some ties to the Mo family.”

Qin Xiao covered her face. If she had known Mo Hui was connected to the Mo family, she would have refused her offer outright, although what was done was already done. She waved her hand helplessly. “Forget it.”

She had no fondness for the Mo family. What she had heard from Mo Hui was enough to tell her they were driven by profit, even going back on marriage agreements. “No wonder Mo Hui never brought it up back then.”

Yan Ningjin suddenly recalled something. “Xiao Xiao, I brought you fifty million worth of energy crystals from the Mo family, along with a small personal spacecraft. Once we return, I’ll teach you how to fly it.”

Qin Xiao’s eyes widened in shock. “Yan Yan, how could you be so good to me? I thought you asked them for a ship. The military needs large vessels for combat. You could have traded it for military supplies or recruited more soldiers to expand the Xiao Corps.”

Yan Ningjin was nearly floating from all the praise. Her heart was bubbling with joy. “It’s all thanks to you and Hunqiu. It’s been tough on it lately. Hmm, where did the little ball go?”

Qin Xiao reached into her pocket, which had once been plump but now lay flat. “Hunqiu?”

As soon as she called, a round-headed creature dashed out of the corner, speeding to her side in the blink of an eye. “Squeak!”

Tuan Tuan sniffed with his nose, then lowered himself. He let out a howl toward Hunqiu.

The little Hunqiu understood immediately. It grabbed onto Tuan Tuan’s golden fur with both paws, took some effort to climb up, and stood triumphantly on the lion-tiger beast’s head. It puffed itself up like a ruler, squeaking commandingly, as if issuing royal decrees.

Tuan Tuan carried Hunqiu over to the window. The large and the small creature leaned together against the glass, unmoving.

Qin Xiao watched their little backs intently and found them incredibly amusing. “Yan Yan, do you think Hunqiu and Tuan Tuan understand the scenery outside?”

She wasn’t sure about other Quantum beasts, but Tuan Tuan definitely could. As for Hunqiu, with its intelligence, it was likely it could as well. Yan Ningjin did not hesitate to nod. “They can.”

Qin Xiao marveled. These Quantum beasts were all little geniuses. They were even more amazing than her Dreambringer.

With a thought, her Dreambringer unhooked itself from her back and shot into the air, spinning multiple three-sixties. It made her dizzy just watching. “Hey, stop showing off or you’ll crash and break something.”

The spiritual flute landed solidly and bounced its way over to Tuan Tuan. It then attempted an even bolder move, standing upright on Hunqiu’s round head.

Qin Xiao covered her face, unable to watch.

Time passed swiftly. In ten days, Qin Xiao had grown tired of the scenery outside the ship and could not help turning her thoughts to Yu Jing and Bai Xuan. Unfortunately, Yan Ningjin watched her like a hawk. Whenever she tried to visit Yu Jing, Yan Ningjin tagged along. The three of them would sit in silence, unable to say a word. The atmosphere was unbearably awkward.

“Yan Yan, how many more days until we arrive? It feels even farther than last time when we went—” Qin Xiao glanced at the daydreaming Yu Jing and tactfully skipped the next few words. “Farther than last time.”

“No, the direction is different. Also, the energy crystal usage varies.” Yan Ningjin took the time to explain the basics of spacecraft to her guide. She explained the three sizes, which were large, medium, and small, and even went on to describe the ultra-large warships, including their speed and the amount of energy crystal they consumed.

Yu Jing quietly got up and walked back to her room, not saying a word. Their conversation had completely ignored her. She was stuffed with dog food to the point of indigestion. These two were truly something.

Just as Qin Xiao was about to lose her mind, they finally reached their destination, which was Cursed Planet.

From high above, all they could see was a dense forest. The sunlight barely touched the treetops, casting a warm glow only at the highest peaks. The rest remained shadowed, as if light could not penetrate. The entire planet lay under a shroud of gloom, as if it were the very cradle of all sins. It radiated the air of a forsaken realm steeped in shadows.

“This place looks creepy,” Yu Jing muttered, rubbing her arms as her hair stood on end. If she had to come here alone, she would rather die. “Why does that river look red?”

She instinctively stepped back and accidentally stepped on something. Turning around, she found Bai Xuan glaring at her. Yu Jing instantly moved a step away, her face full of disdain.

Qin Xiao tilted her head and observed the view with excitement. “This planet is mine now.”

Yan Ningjin had thought her little guide might react like Yu Jing, so she had been racking her brain for comforting words. She never expected this response. She reached out and ruffled Qin Xiao’s hair lovingly. “Yes, Xiao Xiao. It’s yours now. Everything here belongs to you.”

Qin Xiao was quite satisfied. The vastness exceeded her expectations. “Yan Yan, let’s go down.”

Yan Ningjin stopped her and gestured toward Bai Xuan.

Bai Xuan brought out a rope she had prepared earlier. “Madam, I’ll go down first to scout.”

Qin Xiao looked at Yan Ningjin in confusion. The latter explained, “Some Sentinels who suffered manic episodes went missing not long ago. There’s a chance they’re still down there. Besides, no one has entered this forest for a long time. Hidden dangers could be everywhere. Someone has to go first.”

Scouting was indeed a dangerous task.

Noticing Yu Jing’s pale face, Qin Xiao quickly grabbed Yan Ningjin’s wrist. “Yan Yan, why don’t we go down together? With Aiwei’er, we’ll be more flexible.”

Yan Ningjin nodded without hesitation. “Alright. Bai Xuan, stay up here and monitor our signals.”

“Boss, let me go instead,” Bai Xuan said, worried.

Yan Ningjin raised a hand to cut her off. “Follow my orders.”

“Yes, Boss.”

Midair, Yan Ningjin released Aiwei’er from the space button. Holding each other, they leapt downward like star-crossed lovers throwing themselves off a cliff. The thrill was so intense that Qin Xiao screamed, “I can fly again—”

Before she could finish, Aiwei’er had absorbed her into the mech, ending the exhilarating moment.

Yan Ningjin had not missed a single word. “Xiao Xiao, what did you mean by ‘I can fly again’?”

Qin Xiao touched her waist, where Dreambringer was stored. “A good warrior never brags about old feats. Hey, hey! Aiwei’er is about to crash. Watch out! Ouch—”

Before she finished, Aiwei’er had slammed into thick ancient trees, spinning 360 degrees repeatedly as it tumbled down.

Qin Xiao was held protectively in Yan Ningjin’s arms. They ended up pinned to the mech’s ceiling. The screen showed pitch-black surroundings.

“Oh no, Yan Yan! Aiwei’er is stuck.”

“Clear the trees around us.”

Aiwei’er activated some unknown function. Strange buzzing sounds filled the air, accompanied by off-key music that grated on their ears.

“Reporting, Yan Yan. A lifeform is within one hundred meters.”

“Identify it.”

As Aiwei’er continued cutting through trees, its systems swiftly responded. “It is an adult Mange Beast.”

A visual of the beast appeared on screen, along with details of its weak points. Qin Xiao, being upside down, could not make out what the creature looked like.

“Are there many beasts on this planet?”

“Yes.”

Uninhabited planets often became havens for wild creatures, whether human or beast.

Yan Ningjin had brought a team as a precaution. She had not expected to encounter a thick-skinned Mange Beast the moment they landed. She had a feeling that clearing this planet would be a long and perilous mission. “Xiao Xiao, Mange Beasts have extremely tough skin. Ordinary blades cannot harm them, and they also tend to live in packs. If you encounter one, don’t fight head-on.”

Qin Xiao responded with a nonchalant hum.

Yan Ningjin noticed something off. “Are you hurt?”

Qin Xiao shook her head and pointed outside. “Not sure if I was seeing things, but I think I saw a shadow pass by.”

Aiwei’er protested, “Madam, that’s impossible. No creature can escape my sensors. Oh, the Mange Beast is leaving. What a pity.”

With the trees cleared, Aiwei’er finally made a stable landing.

Qin Xiao was so shaken up that she nearly vomited.

Seeing her discomfort, Yan Ningjin advised, “Lie down and rest. I’ll check the surroundings.”

Qin Xiao held her back. “I’m fine. It’s too dangerous to go alone. I’ll go with you.”

Yan Ningjin agreed and simply carried her on her back with ease. From Aiwei’er’s landing point, she surveyed all four directions.

“Do you remember that time you got lost on that abandoned planet? There was a forest just like this. In the blink of an eye, you vanished. I thought you ran off without us.”

Qin Xiao huffed, “You and Tuan Tuan were too slow. I made it through the forest and thought you had ditched me.”

They both laughed.

“No one was around, and no one knew where that Mange Beast had gone,” Yan Ningjin said as she prepared to send a signal flare for the ship to descend.

“Alright.”

“Xiao Xiao, do you get lost easily?”

Qin Xiao pretended not to hear and laid comfortably on Yan Ningjin’s shoulder.

Yan Ningjin did not press further. She just kept the thought as a private secret. Once back, she used her mental power to control Aiwei’er and cleared a wide space by cutting down trees. That area would become their landing site.

Everyone quickly got to work, which included building fires and setting up tents. They soon resembled a full-fledged expedition team. The group gathered around the fire.

Yan Ningjin grew serious. “In the coming days, we won’t have much leisure. Aiwei’er spotted an adult Mange Beast earlier. It likely is not alone. This planet could be their lair. Avoid acting alone. Move in pairs, or small groups of three to five. Use signal flares immediately if anything happens.”

She briefed them thoroughly, then added, “Bai Xuan, count heads and organize night watches. The rest should rest up.”

Bai Xuan began the headcount, but soon her expression changed. “Boss.”

Yan Ningjin looked at her. “What is it?”

Everyone’s eyes shifted to Yan Ningjin. Bai Xuan casually pointed out six people. “You six, take positions at the four cardinal directions tonight.”

With that, the rest of the group dispersed to rest.

Bai Xuan and Yan Ningjin walked to a secluded area. Bai Xuan wrote a number on her palm. It was two.

Yan Ningjin frowned. “Are you sure?”

Qin Xiao’s face turned grave. “Did something happen?”