The Guide Always Wants to Run (GL) - Chapter 69

Qin Xiao quickly realized what those people had been staring at her for. They had taken her for some sort of plaything to satisfy their urges, as if she were capable of reproduction. Her little face flushed red with anger. “Shameless.”

Yan Ningjin stepped forward and shielded the trembling little Guide behind her, responding with fists rather than words.

Qin Xiao hadn’t even had time to react. In her memory, Yan Yan had never been so impulsive. This version of her felt different. Yet Yan Ningjin struck fast and hard, catching the leader off guard and driving him back. Qin Xiao could only stare in stunned silence.

They were outnumbered, with only the two of them standing against the rest. Yan Ningjin instinctively kept shielding her, which created an opening that allowed one of them to scratch her arm.

“Yan Yan, don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.”

With those words, she even had the nerve to taunt the starved-looking Sentinels. “Come on then. If you think you’re capable, come catch me.”

She sprinted along the riverbank, shouting as she ran, “Xiao Yu, release the hounds!”

The lead Sentinel, who had nearly caught the corner of her clothes, was suddenly drenched by a surge of river water. As he sputtered in confusion, Qin Xiao, as slippery as an eel, darted back under his arm and escaped again. It happened several times. He felt utterly played with. The others, looking like hawks trying to catch a chick, didn’t dare use real force. They only reached out with their hands, which of course failed every time.

Frustrated, he stopped and shouted toward the sky, “Aaaaargh—”

Qin Xiao’s eyes narrowed. His limbs were swelling rapidly, muscles expanding in seconds. His dark pupils turned red. She was reminded of the deranged Sentinels Hunqiu had healed not long ago.

“Yan Yan, be careful. These people will go berserk like Sentinels on suppressants. Their strength will spike.”

No need to say more. Yan Ningjin had already engaged. The arms of the three Sentinels at the front were as solid as steel blocks. Even so, she held her own, although they knocked her back several steps.

She wiped the bl00d from the corner of her mouth, eyeing the encroaching ring of enemies. “Xiao Xiao, you go first.”

Qin Xiao had seen Yan Ningjin’s strength and speed before. If she couldn’t suppress them, running would be pointless. Besides, this was her domain. These bastards were way too arrogant. They needed a beating.

“Not going. We haven’t even started fighting yet. If we lose, then we run.” She pulled out the Dreambringer Flute from behind her back, wearing a mischievous grin. “You’re in for a treat. Hehe.”

“Xiao Yu, help me keep these freaks busy.”

Yu Jing’s little head popped up from the water. Currents swirled around her, layer upon layer of whirlpools forming as if the entire river bent to her will. A Sentinel lying in ambush beneath the surface was suddenly flung into the air by a violent geyser, then slammed into a tree. He didn’t get up.

“Yu Jing, please wake up Ah Hu and the others.”

The five men, including Ah Hu, lay motionless on the ground like corpses. Despite all the noise, they hadn’t stirred. Yan Ningjin had to keep an eye on her little Guide as well.

Yu Jing used water to douse them, over and over.

The five jerked upright like they’d just escaped a nightmare. What they saw was a tightening circle of Sentinels pushing Yan Ningjin and Qin Xiao into a trap. Yan Ningjin was already fighting. Qin Xiao was being backed into the center.

“General! Madam!”

No one noticed the flute music drifting from Qin Xiao’s Dreambringer Flute. Its gentle, clear tones trickled like spring water, seeping into everyone’s hearts. Movements slowed.

The river grew even wilder. The whirlpools spun faster. Anyone staring too long at the surface might be dragged in.

Yu Jing’s tail slapped the water anxiously.

“Something’s off about that flute music.”

Taking advantage of the slowed enemies, Yan Ningjin punched the leader, the same one who had demanded she leave Qin Xiao behind. Bl00d burst from his nose, his already-sunken face turning grotesque. Yet he wore a drunken smile, seemingly lost in a dream.

The others were no better, each wearing a disturbing grin of their own.

Yan Ningjin shivered and punched them all until they looked like swollen pigs. By the time she noticed, they were all bleeding from their noses, their hands shamelessly drifting to inappropriate places as they remained lost in a trance.

It made her nauseous.

She turned to see her little Guide positively beaming as she played the vibrant green flute she’d snatched from the jungle.

“Xiao Xiao, does your flute have some kind of hypnotic effect?”

Qin Xiao took a moment to kick the Sentinel who had been chasing her. He was too strong though. She lost her balance and fell backward.

That was the difference in physical strength between Guides and Sentinels.

Yan Ningjin caught her easily. “Xiao Xiao, don’t play around. Let’s leave while they’re still out of it.”

Logically, Qin Xiao agreed, but emotionally, she was still furious. These filthy degenerates dared to lust after her. She wanted them dead.

She played the flute and kicked, over and over. Every single one of them got a few good hits.

Yan Ningjin sighed, then scooped her up. “Xiao Xiao, stop fooling around. We need to inform Bai Xuan and the others.”

Qin Xiao rolled her eyes dramatically, but she still wanted to end them.

Yan Ningjin turned to call Ah Hu and the rest, only to find they had also succumbed to the flute. They clung to each other, caressing…

Yan Ningjin’s nose twitched with fury. She kicked each one into the river.

Then, still holding Qin Xiao, she jumped in as well.

The flute music continued, echoing more ethereally. It felt less like it came from the riverbank and more like it drifted from the sky.

Yu Jing, seeing the five men fall into the river, quickly ducked into hiding. Using the swirling water and refracted light as cover, she waited until the area was clear before poking her head out again.

She glanced back at the Sentinels. They had descended into hedonistic delirium. Some hugged their comrades and groped each other with disturbing enthusiasm. The whole scene resembled… utter depravity.

Yu Jing had never seen anything so obscene. Her eyes nearly burned. She grabbed a stolen outfit and disappeared beneath the surface. “Oh my god, that flute is poisonous.”

“Ahhh~ So comfortable.”

“Come here. Let big brother give you a good rub.”

…

Yu Jing surfaced again, just as she was about to sneak ashore. What she heard made her skin crawl.

Yan Ningjin sat with a stony expression, listening to the gasping dreams of her five subordinates.

Qin Xiao was unbothered. She held Hunqiu’s paws like a makeshift iron, using them to dry and smooth her clothes. One had been torn when a Sentinel grabbed her, and it still felt chilly.

She mumbled curses as she worked, clearly not over what had happened.

“Xiao Xiao!”

“What?”

A vein twitched on Yan Ningjin’s forehead. Her face remained tense. “When will they wake up?”

Qin Xiao retrieved the Dreambringer Flute and blinked innocently. “Probably after they finish their beautiful dream.”

Yu Jing had just climbed ashore and nearly choked on her own saliva.

Yan Ningjin’s eye twitched. She glanced at Qin Xiao’s exposed back, where the torn fabric revealed pale skin marked with red.

“You’re red here.”

Qin Xiao squirmed, a little ticklish. “As long as the skin isn’t broken, it’s fine.”

If a Guide bled, their sweet scent would spread rapidly through the air. Any nearby Sentinels would go mad. Good thing she hadn’t fought them head-on.

Her round eyes darted toward the faint smear of bl00d on Yan Ningjin’s lips. She reached out and touched it. “You’re bleeding, Yan Yan. Where are you hurt?”

Yan Ningjin felt pain in her chest and stomach, but it wasn’t serious. She shook her head and glanced at the five entangled men.

“Xiao Xiao, is there another way to wake them? This is too—”

Yu Jing covered her eyes. “It burns.”

Qin Xiao giggled. “Just slap them hard. They’ll wake right up.”

“Slapping works? But when I hit those creeps earlier, they didn’t stir.”

“That’s because Dreambringer Flute was still playing.”

Yu Jing shuddered. No wonder she’d felt so uneasy. That flute was definitely the culprit. She sneaked a glance at the flute now strapped behind Qin Xiao’s waist.

Yan Ningjin grabbed one of the five and delivered a sharp series of slaps.

“Aiya! General, why are you hitting me?”

She exhaled in relief. “As long as they wake up.”

Qin Xiao and Yu Jing sat nearby, watching Yan Ningjin work. The only sound in the woods was the crisp smacking of cheeks.

“Xiao Yu, how does this river connect to so many different shores? Where were we just now?”

“There are several hidden currents beneath the riverbed. The section beyond the archway is just one of them. I think this bl00d river links the water systems of the entire planet.”

“Why does it look like bl00d? You said it was dangerous, then you dove in alone. Hmm?” Qin Xiao narrowed her eyes. She gave Yu Jing a devilish grin. “Xiao Yu, are you hiding something?”

Yu Jing’s eyes darted around, avoiding her gaze.

Qin Xiao only wanted to tease her. She didn’t press further.

“General, Madam.”

“Do you remember what just happened?”

They froze, then recalled the chaos. Blushing furiously, none of them could meet each other’s eyes.

Yan Ningjin wasn’t sure how to describe this either. “Let’s go back. You can explain everything on the way.”

No one objected. As they walked, each man shared his version of events. After they split up, they encountered strangers wearing Xiao Corps uniforms. Since everyone in the unit was familiar with each other, the newcomers stood out. Curious, they followed quietly, only to be knocked unconscious.

“General, I woke up once. That man was unbelievably strong. He dragged us toward the bl00d river like we weighed nothing. I couldn’t even resist before he knocked me out again.”

“That punch mark on the tree, was it yours?”

“Yeah. I tried to get up, but he grabbed my leg. He was really alert and knocked me out again.”

“General, I think I saw a… mermaid.”

“I think I did too. Her hair was long, and she flung me onto the shore with her tail.”

“There’s nothing in the river. Yan Yan and I searched it. Just some water plants. Maybe you mistook them for a mermaid, but you five definitely did some shameless, filthy things. Even Yan Yan and I couldn’t bear to watch. Right, Yan Yan?” Qin Xiao deflected skillfully, stabbing at their shame.

Wretched…

Filthy…

The five men covered their faces and ran.

Qin Xiao clicked her tongue at their retreating backs. “Yan Yan, your five subordinates are way too shy. It’s not such a big deal, right?”

Yu Jing covered her face and hurried ahead, determined not to walk with the shameless Qin Xiao.

Yan Ningjin’s smile turned dangerous. “Xiao Xiao, you just said ‘it’s not such a big deal.’ That makes it sound like you’ve seen a lot. I wonder how much experience you really have.”

Qin Xiao didn’t sense the danger. She lit up and started recounting Dreambringer’s glorious history. “It’s not that many, but whenever Dreambringer acts, it knocks them out instantly. They always try to act so proper afterward, which makes it all the more hilarious.”

A vein danced on Yan Ningjin’s forehead, but she stayed calm and asked, “So how many times has Dreambringer acted?”

“I’ve lived over a thousand years. How would I know? Too many. I lost count ages ago.”