Chapter 89 Guide 17

After resting, Lu Xuejin led the elite team on several more missions. Perhaps because of the newly emerged contaminated area, the pollutants around the outpost were noticeably more agitated than before, and even intelligent entities were detected, which caused considerable trouble for the outpost.

Autumn is coming soon.

Historically, the first instance of berserk disorder occurred during the autumnal equinox. This season, with its noisy, graying leaves, is a peak time for sentry berserk disorder and susceptibility. Many military regions would deliberately halt operations for a period at the beginning of autumn to ensure the agitated sentries calmed down and prevent major disasters on the battlefield. The southeastern border region couldn't afford a full rest; it could only try to reduce manpower and rotate personnel.

Lu Xuejin had planned to give the sentries some guidance during this time, but she received an order from the highest will of the White Tower, brought back by the garrison officer.

“When you fainted last time, you were in a trance-like state for a while. Although there were no serious problems, Tari believes that your condition still needs further evaluation to eliminate any potential risks. I have been reporting this to headquarters, and they have been turning a deaf ear for so long, but they have finally made a decision.” The garrison officer seemed to have a lot of complaints about his colleagues at headquarters.

Lu Xuejin lowered her eyes: "Can we wait a little longer?"

"Waiting for what?" the garrison officer said coldly. "Waiting for those lunatics to keep coming to you for guidance? Lu Xuejin, you are very important, really very important. Everyone here combined is not as important as one of your fingers. The tower has already taught you what the autumn sentinels are: lunatics, beasts. When they go berserk, they won't remember that you are their commander. They will only keep squeezing guide hormones out of you, never satisfied."

"Have you forgotten what happened in the last two autumns?" Seeing the guide remain silent, his eyelashes trembling slightly, the garrison officer softened his tone and comforted him, "Actually, staying away from them is a good thing for them. Relying too much on the guide is not a long-term solution. Once the period of turmoil passes, everything will be fine."

He added, "You really like your current subordinates, don't you? Well, this time the tower has recalled that captain and that... kid who's a great match for you. You won't be alone."

They tried to persuade the seemingly gentle, powerful, and omnipotent guide commander from almost every angle.

The garrison officer treated Lu Xuejin like a junior, showing him affection and care. Sometimes he would be cold, but that was only because he didn't want Lu Xuejin to get hurt.

How could Lu Xuejin not appreciate her good intentions?

Her pale lips curved into a smile, her eyes crinkling: "Thank you, sir, I understand."

The military vehicle swayed and rattled, taking them across the border. Midway, they switched to a railcar, traversing several districts towards District 1. Wan Hong sat behind Lu Xue, watching the scenery outside the window fall behind them. The dense forests no longer blocked out the sun, and the air was no longer humid and stuffy. A breath he took was dry and refreshing, carrying the astringent taste unique to autumn.

Through the gap between the seats, he caught a glimpse of the commander's soft blond hair, swaying gently in the wind, making him want to reach out and hook it. He also remembered the faint fragrance when he held the guide in his arms.

Many guides return from the border with a few sentries. These sentries, being their subordinates and trusted confidants, are the best candidates for "guarding." As long as the guides are not transferred out or returned, these sentries can remain in Zone 1, serving only the guide.

The Federation has too many sentries; they don't need a few more.

Lu Xuejin is an S-rank guide; anyone below S-rank is unworthy to be his guard. Wei Jing and He Cang accepted this qualification restriction well. As for Luo Mang, they only chirped a few times, because they knew that with his status, even if he wasn't a guard, he would still have a way back. But towards Wan Hong, the two A-rank guides made no attempt to hide their jealousy and disdain.

What merits does a kid who crawled out of a polluted area have?

The closer you get to Zone 1, the brighter and more magnificent the buildings become. The suburban fields stretch as far as the eye can see, while the city is filled with skyscrapers. If you hadn't experienced the overwhelming pollution in the surrounding area and seen the dark, dirty soil and withered farmland, you would think that humanity is still living in the old era of rapid development and constant change.

The young man, who came from a polluted area, stared intently out the window, giving off the feeling of a country bumpkin visiting the city.

"Are you hungry?" Lu Xuejin turned around, her arm resting on the back of the chair. Her sapphire-like eyes shone brightly in the morning light. "There is a food delivery service in the car, but the taste is just so-so."

Both sentries shook their heads.

Lu Xuejin chuckled softly: "Why are you so tense? It's just going back to Zone 1, why are you so nervous?"

Luo Mang wasn't there for that reason; he'd seen the scenery of District 1 since he was a child and was already tired of it. But when he returned to District 1 under the identity of "Lu Xuejin's bodyguard," despite repeatedly telling himself to remain calm, he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.

Wan Hong said, "This is my first time going to the capital, so it's unavoidable."

"first?"

The sentry calmly explained, "After I was rescued, I received my education in the tower of District 7. After completing my studies, I immediately went to the southeastern border and didn't have the chance to travel to the previous districts."

"The buildings in District 7 are quite old, a world apart from here. But for me, it's a very good place to live. Before I came to the Federation, I didn't even have a house and slept in the wild every day. Without the guidance of intelligent beings, even if pollutants occupy an area, they will quickly erase all traces of human civilization."

This past is extremely shameful, but Wan Hong spoke of it frankly, "Now that I think about it, I'm curious why I was able to survive until the Federation came. The others... died long ago. Some were able to snatch the bodies and bury them hastily, while others couldn't. Only I survived, so it's no wonder that many people doubted my identity."

Upon hearing this, Luo Mang tilted his head and frowned slightly.

The commander's cautious words of comfort reached her ears: "In this era, survival is everything. Don't worry about what others think."

Those who had openly mocked Wan Hong had all been taught a lesson by him, yet now they were acting pitiful and pathetic in front of the commander, as if they had been bullied all along—it was truly unpleasant. For the first time, Luo Mang experienced the scheming nature of his teammate; even though he hadn't ordered a drink, he seemed to smell a faint aroma of tea.

Upon returning to Zone 1, I immediately went to the sanctuary for cleansing and inspection.

"Oh, isn't that Lu Xuejin?"

Lu Xuejin stopped and turned his head, recognizing Sister Sally, whom he had met in the dark area of ​​Asia Bridge. Three years ago, before he left with the Federation, Sally...

"Finally back from the border. I knew it. With your status, how could you be sent to a place like that?" There was no sense of time passing between them, as if they were still in that dilapidated little church, speaking without any restraint. "Oh, and you've got two more tagalongs."

Lu Xuejin said gently, "They are my subordinates."

“I know, I know, just like those wild dogs.” Sally chuckled to herself for a moment, then coughed a few times and said, “So it seems the Federation is no different from our Dark Zone. They both treat Guides like their own eyes, keeping watch over them, afraid that the jewels will just run away on their own.”

He speaks incoherently, a disabled and incompetent sentry.

Luo Mang lowered his eyes, concealing the cold glint within them.

Wan Hong, on the other hand, calmly observed the commander's acquaintance.

It sounded like his superior wasn't a native of the Federation either; like him, he was a Dark Zone guide rescued by the Federation.

Hearing about Lu Xuejin's past, for some reason, the first thing that came to mind was that absurd nightmare. In the dream, the face of the dead sentinel was unfamiliar, but his eyes were familiar—the kind of cold indifference that treated killing as a simple task, like eating and drinking, devoid of any scruples, a gaze that revealed mountains of corpses and seas of blood. In the gaps between the shattered images, a glimpse of reality could be seen—piles of corpses, with exotic buildings in the background.

There are also several secret areas near the southeastern border. Wan Hong has carried out several reconnaissance missions and recognizes that they are the company's architectural style.

Wan Hong used to think it was just an absurd dream.

But if it's true, why would he dream of past events after so many years? Is it because of his unparalleled compatibility with Lu Xue?

But why was it that the death of that one sentry appeared in my dream?

The more I thought about it, the less I could find an answer; my empty head was filled with nonsensical guesses.

Even after they parted ways and went to their respective confessionals, they still hadn't come up with an answer.

Due to its large number of followers and relatively harmless doctrines, the Holy Spirit Church is the only legal religion within the Union, and its sanctuaries have even become important oversight bodies for the Union.

Many people believe that receiving baptism in the sanctuary can wash away the defilement in the contaminated area, and the first thing they do upon returning to Zone 1 is to go to confession. This has gradually become a routine. Although it has no practical effect, the psychological comfort it brings will be reflected in their mental state to some extent.

This was Lu Xuejin's second time stepping into the confessional. The last time, he sat opposite Liang Mi, whose wrist disc was suspended by a snake-like spirit.

The sanctuary in Zone 1 is far more magnificent than the dilapidated chapel in the bridge, and even the confessional is spacious and bright, with a small angel statue beneath which is a clear spring for people to use.

Lu Xuejin sat down, not intending to use water to groom herself, her fingers merely gliding lightly across the surface of the water.

Suddenly, a rhythmic knocking sound came from behind the porch.

"Is anyone home?" Sally asked in a low voice, teasingly. "Is that our little Lu Xuejin inside?"

"..." Lu Xuejin was reluctant to speak.

"Ahem." Sally stopped acting strangely and her tone returned to normal. "How have you been these past two years? Those good-for-nothings on the southeastern border, they haven't given you any trouble, have they?"

Lu Xuejin replied, "Everyone is very kind to me."

As he said this, he suddenly realized that the scene of him talking to Sally across the porch was very similar to the confession of believers to priests in the old days, telling them about their sins.

Lu Xuejin smiled.

But his sins were countless, and no one would believe them if he were told. In most people's eyes, he was a selfless, gentle, and powerful commander, while those who witnessed his darkness had been swallowed up by this land, just like Liang Mi.

“I’ve been hearing about you. They say you’ve made great contributions on the southeastern border and are likely to be awarded a medal and promoted to chief this time. Why are you working so hard?” Sally said, her voice slightly muffled as if she were eating. “These pollutants are the work of us sentinels. What does it have to do with you? Just relax and relax. You’ll only kill yourself if you keep working so hard.”

"The sins committed by the sentries?" Lu Xuejin raised an eyebrow.

"...Don't pretend you don't know." Sally sneered. "I, as a Sentinel, don't care, but you, as a Guide, are unwilling to tell me? What genetic mutation? It's actually because the original Sentinels attracted higher-dimensional beings, causing human genes to change, making us sources of radiation pollution. That's why we can't kill all the pollutants, because there are too many Sentinels in the world. Unless we all are wiped out, but who dares to give that order, who has that kind of ability?"

“Many people actually know about this research, but it hasn’t been made public for the sake of maintaining stability, and nobody cares,” Sally chuckled. “We selfish people are only concerned with our own survival; none of us are clean. Who would be willing to sacrifice themselves for others? Only you are so naive, not knowing what kind of hype the Federation has given you.”

"As for you guides, your radiation levels are even lower than ordinary people. The whole 'sentinel-guide integration' thing is just made-up nonsense—" Sally didn't consider herself a sentinel at all, and dared to say anything because she was in the sanctuary. "Didn't they say that there were traces of guides long before the sentinels appeared? But back then they weren't called guides, what were they called again? Superpowered beings?"

“My memory isn’t what it used to be, so I’m telling you all this so you won’t push yourself so hard. Now that you’re back in Sector 1, take a good rest. The merits you’ve earned in the last two years would be more than a Sentinel could earn in a lifetime. You should have retired long ago,” Sally advised.

She meant well.

"I understand, ma'am. Thank you."

"No need to thank me. We're from the same place, so of course we should stick together. Don't forget to help me out too." Sally chuckled. "I've been annoyed with the people here for a long time. Lu Xuejin, keep up the good work and let your sister play the role of Pope."

Lu Xuejin smiled and said, "Okay."

I dip my fingers into the spring water, then slowly extend them, creating a string of crystal-clear water droplets. These water droplets, carrying a certain weight, linger on my fingernails, reluctant to leave.

After a preliminary check confirmed that she was not carrying any contaminants and that her mental state was stable, Lu Xuejin led the sentries away from the sanctuary.

Romang is a local from District 1, so he doesn't need to worry about accommodation. Wan Hong, on the other hand, is visiting District 1 for the first time and doesn't seem to have much money. With so many Sentinels queuing at the Black Tower, he probably won't be able to find housing quickly.

Just as Lu Xuejin was about to suggest that Wan Hong stay at her house for a few nights, she turned her head and saw a low-key black minivan parked in front of the sanctuary's tall and magnificent archway. A white-haired sentry in a crisp uniform was waiting quietly.

"Chief Planner," Lu Xuejin called softly.