The Guide Always Wants to Run (GL) - Chapter 7

“Wuuu—”

A delicate boy, around five or six years old, sat on the ground sobbing quietly. His eyes were filled with tears as he looked up at the people in the room. Whatever thoughts crossed his mind only made him feel more aggrieved, and his broken cries slipped intermittently from his throat like a wounded little beast. Beside him, a gray furball curled into itself, trembling as it huddled close to his side.

A woman in a white coat shook her head in frustration. Anyone who had survived that day on the ship would recognize her immediately. She was the assistant pharmacist who had saved several lives. If she had not stepped up in time, those who were hit by the pirates’ particle guns would have died from excessive bl00d loss before treatment could arrive. She scratched at her long hair and growled under her breath.

“Have you lost your minds? You brought him here, but do you know the entire capital is hunting the person who took him?”

The group exchanged glances. All but one stepped outside to speak in hushed tones, leaving a girl barely in her teens to watch over the child.

“General Yan Ningjin of the Xiao Corps disappeared with the escape pod. Everyone on that ship saw them get pulled into a black hole. Now, the whole area near Shepherd Star is searching for her. If we find her, we find Aya. Then we can use this brat to trade for Aya. Two birds with one stone.”

The woman in the white coat pressed her lips tightly together and held her forehead. “This is my fault. I shouldn’t have secretly placed Aya in the escape pod after sensing pirates nearby. If I hadn’t done that, none of this would have happened.”

“Eva, it’s not your fault. The situation was dire, and Aya… she was undergoing beast transformation.”

Eva finally broke down.

“Hu Luoshan, that ruthless pirate, was in the escape pod. If he saw Aya, he wouldn’t have held back. My poor Aya. What now? I never should have brought her to the capital for medicine. I should never have taken this trip.”

Someone stepped forward and pulled her into a comforting embrace.

“Eva, this isn’t your fault. You must keep your spiritual power in check. Imagine Aya is still alive. We will help you find her. She must be out there somewhere, waiting for us.”

“Boss, something’s wrong with the little prince.”

“Hmm?”

The little prince lay trembling on the floor. His whole body twitched as if in a spasm. His skin glowed red, and his temperature was alarmingly high. The gray ball of fur beside him rolled on the floor as well. Among the group, only a few could see the creature’s Quantum beast.

Eva shoved the person beside her away and stumbled forward. She knelt and released a pale blue spiritual aura that enveloped the young prince. Within moments, his convulsions eased.

“He just awakened his sentinel traits. They’re still unstable. Add a recent fright on top of that, and my own unstable spirit just now affected him.”

The girl who had been left to guard the prince stared wide-eyed.

“But… isn’t the little prince supposed to be five or six? Most sentinels awaken at thirteen. Isn’t this way too early?”

Eva gazed down at the boy, his cheeks flushed with heat.

“He carries royal bl00d. That bloodline awakens earlier than others, as a sentinel or guide, sometimes even from birth.”

She gently lifted the boy into her arms, smoothing his forehead and whispering in his ear.

“Do not be afraid. I will not harm you.”

If only someone would be this kind to Aya. Just someone. Please, don’t hurt her.

On a foreign planet…

After eating a packet of nutrient paste from Yan Ningjin, Qin Xiao had to go out and hunt. That was the price of taking someone’s food and shelter. In the daylight, the creatures of the forest were hidden in the shadows, making them hard to find.

Qin Xiao circled around the forest like she was patrolling her territory, but found nothing. Her short legs gave out, and she collapsed to the ground, pondering her life. Whenever she wasn’t hunting, these beasts would approach her on their own. Now that she wanted to catch them, they were nowhere in sight.

She considered crossing the woods to the escape pod for a couple of dumb birds, but dragging prey halfway might attract other creatures. Her small body couldn’t handle that.

No matter how she thought it through, there was no better option.

Meanwhile, Yan Ningjin was near Aiwei’er digging pits and setting traps. When she turned, she saw the little beast lying lazily on the ground. Its rabbit-like tail swayed from time to time, clearly in a good mood.

The day passed quickly. Night fell before they knew it.

Human and creature sat around a small fire, staring at each other.

Yan Ningjin tossed a branch into the flames. With a crackle, the fire blazed higher.

Qin Xiao lay beside her, chin on the ground and eyes darting about. Warmth seeped into her body, bringing a drowsy haze.

Ever since I landed here, everything I used to take for granted now needs careful thought. First problem is how to eat. Second is how to sleep…

Yan Ningjin suddenly remarked, “You didn’t catch anything today.”

Qin Xiao: !!!

Was that… a hint of blame in her tone?

Her ears twitched. Maybe it was just the fire. Maybe that’s why they feel hot.

Once, I was a grand Nascent Soul cultivator. Now, because I ate one packet of nutrient paste, I have to go hunting to repay someone. How humiliating.

Qin Xiao stared mournfully into the fire.

This must be what they mean by a tiger fallen to the flatlands, bullied by dogs, or rather, bullied by an ordinary human.

Yan Ningjin had no idea what went on in that fuzzy head. She calmly broke more dry branches and tossed them into the flames.

“This is all we have. It won’t last till morning. Once the fire dies, the creatures surrounding us will attack.”

Qin Xiao gave a soft howl.

Yan Ningjin could not tell if that sound was meant to comfort her or say something else.

She snapped the remaining branches and tossed them in.

“In the coming days, we need to search for energy. If we find enough to power Aiwei’er, we might stand a chance of leaving this place.”

The moment she heard the word we, both of Qin Xiao’s ears perked up. She rose, ran a circle around the fire, then sat beside Yan Ningjin.

The flames leapt and shrank. As the glow receded, the shadows of the creatures who had long coveted their warmth began to appear.

Yan Ningjin remained still. Qin Xiao did the same. Around them, none of the creatures moved. Not until the fire completely died.

“Awoo!”

“Little beast, these are tomorrow’s breakfast.”

Qin Xiao nearly dropped her jaw.

There was no time to protest as the rabbit-like beasts swarmed in. Their glowing red eyes multiplied in the dark, terrifying to behold.

Qin Xiao darted left and right, but there were too many. She was quickly overwhelmed. Their sharp teeth scraped her body, stinging just enough to annoy her. One bit her on the neck. Danger flared in her mind.

Suddenly, the tiny dot in her dantian burst with light. Her energy surged. With a roar, she flung the monsters off. Most crashed into Aiwei’er’s mech, coughing bl00d and fainting. A few recovered quickly and charged again.

“Roar!”

“Roar!”

Qin Xiao froze. She had just raised her head and howled when another, deeper and far more powerful, roar echoed her own.

Before she realized it, a golden tiger appeared on the battlefield. It was majestic, though oddly colored. Its radiant fur gleamed too brightly to seem natural.

Wait, is that a tiger? A golden, glittering tiger?

Ever since she came to this world, her sense of beauty had been warped by bizarre creatures. Anyway… she was hideous too.

While she gawked, the tiger cast her a cold glance. Then it tore into the rabbit-monsters with lethal precision.

The beasts fled like a receding tide.

Only the corpses of their fallen companions remained.

Qin Xiao stared, unmoving. Her paw twitched. She really wanted to touch it. That color. That fur. It looked like treasure.

Yan Ningjin used her lightsaber to pile the rabbit corpses together. As she retracted the blade, she noticed the sparkle in the creature’s eyes.

The golden tiger rubbed against Yan Ningjin affectionately. Qin Xiao’s gaze stayed locked.

Yan Ningjin was stunned. This little beast can see my Quantum beast?!