It seemed hard to imagine that such a person, at only twenty-one years old, had already fallen into a mental and psychological predicament.
The front desk researcher thought this.
The black-haired young man stood at the research institute’s front desk, registering.
Because he needed to write more precisely, he had taken off his gloves, revealing long, slender, and elegant fingers. The nail shape was rounded, clearly regularly and meticulously trimmed. He wore a thick down jacket, with a white high-neck sweater inside, and a light coffee-colored scarf wrapped on the outside. This made him look like a student in peacetime who would quietly sit in a café waiting for a review week drink.
The researcher saw the identity information he filled in:
Name: Xin Hexue.
Gender: Male.
Age: Twenty-one.
Group: Guide.
Marital status…
It seemed that the receptionist researcher stared for too long.
The young man looked up from his writing, gave the other party a slight smile, and said warmly, “The decor style of your research institute is quite special.”
The researcher stared at him directly, got caught, and let out a dry laugh, “Although it looks like a black-hearted psychological counseling agency, actually it isn’t. This really is a black-hearted laboratory haha…” The researcher paused, then changed her tone, “No, I mean this really is the Sentinel-Guide Research Institute of the Central Military District. Our laboratory’s research focus is on psychosomatic fusion and neuroscience. As an empire-level laboratory, we always stay humble, walking at the forefront of interdisciplinary research between psychosomatic science and modern human neuroscience. We firmly believe that through tireless effort and keeping our original intention, we will solve the mental predicaments for more Sentinels and Guides.”
The Sentinel behind the young Guide swept a cold glance over, his pupils as dark as a deep pool.
The researcher steadied herself and swallowed nervously.
Compared to receiving Sentinels, she still preferred to receive emotionally stable Guides, although most of the clients coming for help at the lab were Sentinels.
That’s why Xin Hexue’s case appeared special.
The researcher asked, “Mr. Xin, is this Sentinel your husband?”
Xin Hexue turned back to glance at Wei Zhuo. Wei Zhuo met his gaze and looked away first.
[Wei Zhuo love value +1]
Xin Hexue turned back and smiled at the researcher, “No, he is not.”
The researcher suddenly realized, “Oh, then you two must not have entered the hall of marriage yet… he must be your boyfriend, right?”
The researcher had seen many situations like this. Young Sentinel-Guide pairs who were matched together would definitely have emotional friction on daily life, which would cause conflicts and even affect the state of each other’s mental bodies. In severe cases, it even causes psychological illnesses and somatic symptoms.
The institute’s services included everything, from mediating small couple quarrels to treating their psychological diseases.
The researcher thought it was another quarreling young couple and even casually praised, “You two really look like a perfect match.”
She wasn’t sure if she heard a whale call, but the sound of a sea surging overlapped with the white noise device installed at the institute.
When finishing the identity collection form, the pen spun once between Xin Hexue’s nimble fingers.
Xin Hexue slowly said, “No, he’s just my friend.”
Xin Hexue added, “He sent me over because he wasn’t at ease about me. Please don’t misunderstand, my friend would be troubled by it.”
It was as if something crashed and shattered against an iceberg.
[Wei Zhuo’s heartbreak value +3]
The researcher hadn’t expected this situation. She put away the completed form from Xin Hexue and indeed saw “unmarried” in the marital status field, and “single” in the emotional status field.
She apologized to the Sentinel, “I’m really sorry, I misunderstood your relationship.”
Wei Zhuo’s jawline was stiff, “…It doesn’t matter.”
……
Most of the staff at the research institute were ordinary citizens without differentiation, and to maintain order just in case, a small number of guard posts were occupied by Sentinels.
Besides that, even the main laboratory head was an ordinary human.
Even the reception room was set up like a psychological consultation room.
A young man in a white coat sat behind the desk, scanning over the registration form in his hand. The handwriting was elegant and free, vigorous and powerful, not quite matching the Guide’s appearance.
He looked up, and the lenses reflected light, “Did this symptom exist before? Before losing your spouse?”
Ji Yushan had a basic understanding of Xin Hexue.
Xin Hexue sat on the sofa in the center of the reception room, “Mm.”
Ji Yushan asked him, “How long has it lasted?”
Xin Hexue: “I don’t remember, it’s been like this since I was a child.”
Ji Yushan: “Since childhood means how young?”
Xin Hexue: “Maybe since I entered the White Tower.”
Entering the White Tower meant the time when mental power was detected.
Guides would be sent into the White Tower and protected in all aspects until near adulthood when the Empire evaluated they could leave.
Ji Yushan left the desk and walked to Xin Hexue’s side.
His figure was tall and upright, his height comparable to a Sentinel, but his gentle and meticulous temperament immediately set him apart from the traditional stereotypical image of a Sentinel.
Ji Yushan wore glasses and appeared scholarly. He pointed to Xin Hexue’s hands, “Do you always wear these gloves?”
“Most of the time, yes.”
Xin Hexue lowered his eyes. The leather gloves accidentally rubbed against each other.
Perhaps because of his personality and profession, Ji Yushan disliked all vague answers. Rather than continuing to question a Guide who was clearly still wary, Ji Yushan preferred to observe directly.
He asked, “Can you take off the gloves and let me see?”
Xin Hexue slowly pulled off the black leather gloves.
The fingers were fair, distinct and slender, so elegant that they didn’t look like a man’s hands.
Ji Yushan thought of the white eustoma flowers he had seen in the school garden while studying. That place was a dating spot for tower couples, and it was a place he passed every day on the way to the library.
Ji Yushan pushed his glasses, “Can we hold hands?”
The Guide understood his meaning, and opened his fingers.
Ji Yushan’s hand was a circle larger. When ten fingers interlaced, one could see that his fingers were longer than Xin Hexue’s, and the knuckles were thicker and harder.
Because of the overly sensitive sensory system from skin hunger, even simple skin contact with strangers was a huge stimulus.
A thin layer of sweat gathered on Xin Hexue’s forehead, and the corners of his eyes turned slightly red.
Before the Guide could reveal an even more uncomfortable state, Ji Yushan let go of his hand, “Does this situation also occur with your mental body?”
Xin Hexue nodded silently.
Ji Yushan: “I would like to take a look at the state of your mental body.”
Xin Hexue shook his head.
Ji Yushan: “Not allowed?”
Xin Hexue lifted his eyelashes and said calmly, “I am a defective Guide, I don’t have an independent mental body, we are fused together.”
Sentinels’ and Guides’ mental bodies were independent from the main body. In combat states, there could be temporary fusion forms, but most of the time, the mental body could move freely, acting as the main body’s partner and exerting maximum effect.
It was rare for the mental body to be naturally fused with the main body and cannot be separated. In the Sentinel-Guide system, this was indeed considered a congenital defect.
It was really hard to imagine that the only 3S-level mental power Guide in the Empire was actually born defective.
The reflecting lenses hid Ji Yushan’s eyes.
Ji Yushan: “If it is fused, then can you release your mental power to show its external manifestation?”
As soon as he finished speaking, a pair of pure white light wings with long and slender feathers unfolded in the air.
The room’s heating was sufficient, so the young man wasn’t wearing the outer down jacket. The wings looked as if they grew naturally from the back covered by the high-neck sweater.
Of course, because it was the condensed result of mental power, it didn’t damage the fabric.
Ji Yushan’s fingers picked up the outermost primary feather, and the wings shivered slightly when touched.
The pure white sacred color, though soft enough, could be seen from the gloss and smoothness that there was still room for improvement.
Or rather, precisely because of the death of the spouse, the wings had lost their most perfect and smooth state.
After all, for a Guide who had already undergone mental landscape merging, the death of the Sentinel was a major blow.
It brought many problems, the foremost being the lack of the mental bond, which is directly reflected in the state of the Guide’s mental body. In severe cases, it could lead to mental body depression.
Of course, due to Xin Hexue’s unique situation where he didn’t have an independent mental body, the state of his feathers still reflected problems.
Ji Yushan let go of his hand. When Xin Hexue folded his wings, he suddenly asked, “How many times a week did you and He Botian do it before?”
The glass wall of the reception room was knocked by a Sentinel outside.
Ji Yushan and Wei Zhuo’s gazes met.
Clearly, this soundproof glass couldn’t block the hearing of a Sentinel of this level.
Ji Yushan contacted his assistant through the communicator, his tone carrying a slight sarcasm, “Take the Sentinel standing outside elsewhere, don’t interfere with the patient’s treatment.”
The Sentinel was taken away.
The doctor with a high nose bridge and silver-framed glasses questioned his patient, “How many times a week did you and He Botian do it before?”
Xin Hexue’s eyelashes trembled slightly.
……
He came out of the reception room with a week’s supply of medicine.
Wei Zhuo, who was waiting at the edge of the hall, stepped forward and handed back the down jacket draped over his arm to Xin Hexue.
Xin Hexue put on the down jacket, and Ji Yushan bid farewell to him, “From a long-term perspective, I hope you can consider my suggestion.”
When driving Xin Hexue back, Wei Zhuo looked at the road ahead expressionlessly. Finally, halfway through the trip, he opened his mouth and asked, “What did Ji Yushan suggest?”
Xin Hexue sat in the passenger seat, his elbow propped on the window edge, looking at the receding scenery outside, his voice very light, “He thinks I should match with a new Sentinel.”
Wei Zhuo’s hands tightened on the steering wheel.
The car stopped at the red light, people hurried across the crosswalk. In the vast Imperial city, the flow of people and cars never ceased, never knowing when they would meet or when they would brush past each other, separating and disappearing at the end of the road.
The car window was lowered to leave a gap, and fresh and cold air poured in, cooling Wei Zhuo’s somewhat overheated head.
His Adam’s apple tightened, and his voice sounded hoarse, “What do you think?”
Xin Hexue saw himself in the rearview mirror, the scarf wrapped around his chin.
“I don’t know, I’m not ready to start a new intimate relationship yet.”
Compared to this, he was more interested in how long Wei Zhuo could keep pretending.
Until the next universe big bang?
The next moment, the Sentinel already wanted to pierce through the window paper, “Last night, I actually towards you…”
The corners of Xin Hexue’s eye curved, but when he turned to look at the other party, he had a considerate expression.
“It’s okay, I can understand.”
“Sentinels do indeed do things different from usual when they riot, but that isn’t something you can control.”
His words choked back the remaining words on Wei Zhuo’s lips.
“He Botian has also lost control before.”
Xin Hexue thought for a moment and finally added one more stab, “So I believe last night was just an accident, it wasn’t your intention, so you don’t need to feel guilty, okay?”
[Wei Zhuo heartbreak value +1]
[Wei Zhuo heartbreak value +1]
[Wei Zhuo heartbreak value +1]
……
The heartbreak value continued to rise, in sync with the red light countdown, until the light changed.
The car continued driving forward, moving opposite to the pedestrians on both sides of the road.
There was a long silence in the car.
Finally, the Sentinel forced out a suppressed sound from his throat.
“…Mm.”
……
The second semester for the Sentinel-Guide Joint Military Academy was in winter.
Sentinels first had to undergo the traditional one-month intensive military training, carrying weights and running on the track in the Imperial City’s severe winter temperatures. Only after passing a series of physical tests would they start official courses.
It was already the end of November by this time.
The sycamore trees lining the campus roads had shed all their leaves, and it was desolate and bleak.
Yan Ji finally got back his communicator that had been confiscated for a month, and received new teaching materials. This year, Sentinels’ practical and theoretical courses each took up half, meaning half the first year would be spent in classrooms.
After applying for a retest at the Northern Frontier Sentinel Tower, his combat power was as he expected, at 3S-level, and he was immediately sent to the Imperial City to study.
Normally, after four years and graduating from the Joint Military Academy, he could participate in battles.
But Yan Ji still felt the time was too long.
Did this mean he had to wait until after graduation before he could apply for a compatibility test with Xin Hexue?
Usually, only high level Sentinels qualified to fight on the front line could apply for a Guide partner.
He carried the new teaching materials into the classroom.
This place was almost no different from a standard university lecture hall.
His roommate had already built a basic understanding of each other during the one-month military training and was waving from the first row, “Yan Ji, come over, I saved you a seat!”
All the Sentinels in the classroom turned their heads upon hearing the name, or their gazes instinctively flicked over.
After all, there had only been three people with a 3S-level combat power in recent years.
Yan Ji’s name as a freshman was still too big.
Yan Ji entered from the back door. He had thought his roommate would be smart enough to grab a seat in the back row for a theory class, but he didn’t expect Jia Jin to be so studious.
Jia Jin said, “Brother, am I good or what?”
Yan Ji sat down, “What class is this?”
Since it was in a lecture hall, it must be a major course.
Jia Jin was digging out his click pen, “Sentinel-Guide Relationship Management.’ Let me tell you, this class is very popular. I had to arrive half an hour early just to grab a front-row seat.”
He glanced at Yan Ji’s desk, “Wait, did you bring the wrong book?”
Yan Ji didn’t care, “So what if I did? What kind of fancy class is this? I can’t even understand the name, what’s the point of learning it?”
He had no interest in theory classes.
Yan Ji put his arms around his neck and leaned back, bored, “When can we just fast-forward to the actual combat training with monsters in the Folded Zone?”
As he thought this, he pulled out his newly returned communicator and sent a message to the pinned contact.
[Yan Ji: Where are you?]
[Yan Ji: I’m in the Imperial City now. Do you have time?]
Yan Ji typed away, and the words “I want to see you” appeared in the input box, but he deleted them one by one.
Would that be too direct?
It made it seem like he came all this way just to see that Guide.
[How about meeting up?]
Yan Ji typed it, then deleted it again.
The tone was too polite, it made it seem like he was the one begging, plus it was a yes-no question…there was a chance the other party could reject him.
Ha, it wasn’t like he was dying to see Xin Hexue or anything.
Xin Hexue wouldn’t reject him either, right?
Yan Ji began retyping, trying to choose the right wording, so much so that he didn’t even notice the bell for class.
Until Jia Jin jabbed him in the arm hard with his elbow and whispered, “The teacher’s here…we’re in the first row!”
‘Tch, a typical good student.’
Yan Ji lifted his gaze lazily, and then froze completely in his seat.
A tall and slender young man in a long trenchcoat stepped in from the snowy winds outside the corridor.
The trenchcoat hung straight and naturally, the hem swaying slightly as he walked with restrained energy.
Xin Hexue stood at the podium and swept his gaze across the room.
He didn’t recognize Yan Ji at first glance.
Because of the strict rules at the joint military academy, the originally silver-grey-haired Sentinel had dyed his hair black again.
Xin Hexue’s gaze passed over him faintly, not pausing even a second at the eyes that had suddenly lit up.
Before officially starting the class, Xin Hexue gave a brief self-introduction.
Even though his words were short, just his name, that he had graduated from this school, and that he had two years of deep Folded Zone experience.
But just the name Xin Hexue was already well known among the Sentinels below the podium.
They even had his profile and the details of his various Folded Zone exploration missions memorized like the back of their hand.
Xin Hexue placed his hand on the podium, “Any questions? You may ask now. If there are none, we’ll begin this semester’s course.”
A Sentinel in the first row raised a hand.
Xin Hexue nodded to allow the question.
Yan Ji grinned, his voice bright and clear. Even if those present weren’t Sentinels with sharp hearing, just ordinary people, they could still hear clearly from the back row:
“What is the teacher’s criteria for a. ideal partner?”
