You're Happy Too Soon

Xin Lan's kiss was over as soon as it began, as light as a feather brushing past, leaving only a delicate, sweet fragrance of lilies of the valley.

But Chi Ming's head rang with a buzzing, as if fireworks had all exploded inside it at once.

If his willpower hadn't been strong enough, he feared he wouldn't even have been able to hear what Xin Lan was saying over the din.

He stood there dumbstruck for a full half minute before his brain finally processed the most important information, and he hurriedly nodded like an eager puppy.

"Don't worry, Lanlan! I won't let you down!"

With that, he raised a hand to touch his lips, his heart brimming with excitement and delight. His golden pupils contracted sharply with the sudden rush of emotion, and the love in his eyes was almost overflowing.

This is wonderful!

Lanlan hasn't abandoned me!

I still have a chance to become her exclusive sentinel!

Compared to the excited, secretly delighted Chi Ming, Wu Xi felt as though his heart had plunged into an abyss.

He was in no mood to envy or resent Chi Ming anymore.

Because it seemed that the guide really was about to abandon him.

He wasn't as lucky as Chi Ming. Not only did she dislike his Spirit Body, but she also disliked him for overstepping and grabbing her hand.

On top of that, he couldn't even do something as simple as shedding tears to win her sympathy, the way Chi Ming had.

Xin Lan's fleeting enthusiasm faded as quickly as it had come.

Having kissed the pretty crybaby on the lips, she was in an excellent mood and paid no attention to the dejected puppy nursing his sorrow in silence.

"Chi Ming, have the clothes arrived? I want to go to the Sanctuary and see the work environment."

"They're here. I'll get them right away."

Chi Ming got to his feet and vanished like a gust of wind, his chest still brazenly exposed. His suit, which was tight and restrictive all over, did nothing to slow him down.

Xin Lan propped her chin on her hand, a little envious.

These sentinels were all over 1.9 meters tall, with powerful physiques and astonishing strength. They were practically a combination of the speed and strength ability users from the apocalypse.

But they still couldn't compare to her.

Mental ability users are the best!

Chi Ming had bought lots of clothes in every style, as well as shoes, socks, underwear, skincare products, and menstrual products.

Most men wouldn't even think of those things, but Chi Ming seemed to have specifically invested talent points in this area.

Not only had he bought everything, but he had also cleared out his walk-in closet and arranged it all neatly for her. She could go in and put together whatever outfit she liked without worrying about anything missing.

He really was the good boy she liked.

He handled things so thoughtfully.

Xin Lan gave his cheek an approving pinch and happily went inside to change.

But the moment she closed the door, Chi Ming's face darkened.

He glanced at the message on his wristband, then turned and exchanged a look with Wu Xi. Both frowned deeply.

Wu Xi's expression was gloomy. "Why did the Federation send people so quickly? The guide's identity is in question. I thought they'd at least take some more time to think it over."

Chi Ming snorted, a fierce glint flashing through his golden eyes.

"They're just a bunch of government lackeys. As long as Lanlan is willing to stay, the administrator won't let them take her away. What we need to watch out for most right now is the Free Alliance."

At the mention of the Free Alliance, Wu Xi clicked his tongue in irritation, his nose wrinkling sharply as a trace of crimson suddenly tinged his gray eyes.

"If they dare lay a hand on the guide, I'll make sure they die without a burial place."

Chi Ming understood his resolve, but he still frowned and spoke cautiously.

"The Free Alliance's base isn't easy to find, and they're especially good at underhanded tricks. Lanlan has no backing and is such a high level. Even if the Federation can't take her away, the Free Alliance will make a move. We have to be on guard. It would be best to stay by her side at all times in case something happens."

No matter who Xin Lan was or whether there was a conspiracy behind her, she was, at least for now, a genuine S-rank guide and the only guide in K9 District.

She alone could save them, and she alone could save the other sentinels in K9 District who were on the verge of going berserk and mutating.

"I know."

Wu Xi answered, but a trace of dejection passed through his eyes.

He wanted to stay by the guide's side and protect her too, but his Rampage Level was already at 92%. If she didn't like him and wasn't willing to form a deep link with him, he might not last much longer.

The high-grade guide pheromones available for purchase were nowhere near as effective at suppressing his condition as they had once been. He had long had a feeling that if he kept relying on them, he would go berserk and begin mutating within six months at most...

At that thought, he gave Chi Ming another envious look.

"You lucky bastard. It must have felt great when the guide purified your mental landscape, right?"

Chi Ming froze for a moment, then happiness and a barely concealed hint of smugness appeared on his face.

"It did feel great. It felt so good my scalp tingled. I think I'll be able to sleep well tonight."

Wu Xi: ...

Damn it.

He wanted a good night's sleep too! All these years, the severe headaches that plagued him day and night had nearly driven him mad!

It was said that the higher a guide's rank and compatibility, the better the effect of their mental landscape purification. A guide of the same rank with 60% compatibility could clear away all the headaches caused by a sentinel's mental energy going berserk, while 80% could make a person feel like they were in heaven.

Their compatibility with the guide was close to a hundred percent. How good would it feel to have her purify their mental landscapes even once?

He couldn't even imagine it!

No wonder Chi Ming, who was usually brimming with murderous energy, was in such a good mood. From head to toe, he radiated refreshed, comfortable satisfaction, as though he'd had a taste and wanted more.

And the guide had only purified half of his mental landscape.

If she finished the job, wouldn't Chi Ming soar straight into the heavens?

Inside the walk-in closet.

Xin Lan, who had changed her clothes, was staring at a dark blue vine coiled around the mirror.

If she wasn't mistaken, this thing was probably her Spirit Body.

It was strange. She had never known there was such a thing in her head before. Just now, she had merely wondered what her Spirit Body would be if she had one, and the vine had popped out of her head from nowhere.

Amazingly, she could not only share the vine's five senses and control it to change shape at will, but also know what it was thinking.

Yes, a vine actually had thoughts.

They were only the most basic thoughts, such as wanting to grow bigger or smaller, being hungry, or craving something, but Xin Lan still found it interesting.

That was because the vine's thoughts would directly cause her to have similar ones, while her subconscious would also be directly reflected in the vine.

It was like another version of her in a different form.

And it had evidently been shut away for too long. As soon as it came out, it played wildly and had no desire to go back.

Xin Lan didn't restrain it. She simply had it turn into a bracelet and leave with her.

The Sanctuary was about half an hour's drive from the South Tower. Chi Ming had notified the administrator before they set off.

So when Xin Lan arrived at the Sanctuary, she saw several handsome men in black uniforms standing straight as they waited outside, visible from a long way off.

There was red hair, purple hair, blue hair-all sorts of colors—but the most eye-catching was the man in the middle, with his aloof, noble bearing and long, smooth silver hair.

He, too, had a perfectly handsome, European-style face, as though sculpted by God's own hand. His physique was fit and lean, making him a truly exceptional specimen.

But although he wore a gentle, courteous smile when he looked at her, there was little joy or excitement in his deep blue eyes. Up close, she could even clearly feel the solemn, austere air about him.

"Hello, Guide Xin Lan. I'm Mo Xiao, the administrator of K9 District. I'm very pleased to meet you."

Mo Xiao took the initiative to offer his right hand. His manner was very polite, and unlike Wu Xi, he didn't presume to kiss her hand. He only wanted to shake it.

But Xin Lan still didn't extend her hand.

She cast a casual glance at the black leather glove on his hand, then walked past him and into the Sanctuary.

"You're happy too soon. I haven't decided whether to stay in K9 District yet. First, tell me about the work environment and what the job involves."