Chapter 90 Guide 18
Ji Yangxia looked up, revealing slightly sharp features. His pale gray eyes stared at Lu Xuejin, and he gave a smile that was very different from his appearance: "Long time no see."
“Let’s go, I’ll take you to the White Tower. They’re very worried about you.”
As he spoke, Ji Yangxia walked to the other side and bent down to open the car door. This Black Tower chief was a full 1.95 meters tall, and even when he was slightly bent over, his broad shoulders blocked most of the light, bringing an indescribable sense of oppression. His pale hair slid down, a few strands falling to Lu Xuejin's ears before quickly sliding away, the texture of which was indescribable, cold and hard like iron.
After seeing the guide into the car, Ji Yangxia stood up, glanced indifferently at the other two, and lingered for a moment on the taller person on the left.
After getting in the car, Ji Yangxia opened the glove box in front of Lu Xuejin and said, "There's water and snacks. You didn't eat anything while traveling, so fill your stomach."
Lu Xuejin only took out three small bottles of purified water, and threw the other two bottles to Luo Mang and Wan Hong in the back seat.
How have you been doing in the Southeast these past two years?
Lu Xuejin said, "Everyone took good care of me; it wasn't as difficult as I had imagined."
Ji Yangxia smiled almost imperceptibly: "But I heard from the garrison officer that you don't listen to her advice at all. She can't persuade you and can only let you do as you please."
“She meant well, but there are many issues at the border that do require flexibility.”
Luo Mang and Wan Hong looked up to him; even the commander, who was decisive and powerful, was just a junior in front of Ji Yangxia. Wan Hong stared at the hook on the back of the chair. Although he couldn't see Lu Xuejin's expression, he could tell from her noticeably lowered voice, tinged with embarrassment and slight shyness, that his commander was probably looking down and pursing her lips.
“You’ve grown up a lot,” Ji Yangxia said.
The familiarity between the two was evident in that single sentence.
At this moment, Luo Mang and Wan Hong did not exchange any words or make eye contact, but a similar thought suddenly popped into their minds—...this old man!
Ji Yangxia said, "Take a few days to rest after the inspection. Your award ceremony is in a few days. The council unanimously agrees that you are the well-deserved chief guide."
The position of chief guide has been vacant for several years. The restless Federation is in dire need of a powerful pacifier. As early as when Lu Xuejin was rescued by him and tested to have S-level mental strength and unpredictable potential, he was already the de facto next chief guide, sooner or later.
Lu Xuejin was fully aware of this, but he thought that Baita would wait until the southeastern border was relatively stable before recalling him.
Lu Xuejin's brows furrowed slowly, her eyelids closed slightly, and her long eyelashes cast a shadow under her eyes, obscuring part of her disapproving gaze.
"I plan to go back to the border after my vacation. There's too much to do and not enough manpower. If I go back, the pressure on the border will be greatly reduced."
Ji Yangxia looked ahead and said, "You should realize that your strategic significance is greater than that of the entire southeastern border. As the old saying goes, 'A son of a wealthy family will not sit under a dangerous roof.' By allowing you to operate on the border, Baita is taking a huge risk and bearing tremendous pressure."
“Even if the Southeast falls, as long as you're here, everything will be alright. But if something happens to you—the garrison officer said you often lead teams into contaminated areas to explore, and last time you came out you fainted and showed signs of hallucinations.” The chief’s fingers tapped slowly on the steering wheel, his straight lips revealing a serious expression. “You are the most capable guide in the history of the White Tower; no one can violate your will and invade the vision. That time you were in a hallucination, if you hadn’t woken up on your own, no one could have taken you out, do you understand?”
So the White Pagoda was afraid.
Ji Yangxia softened his tone: "Besides, you've been there for two years, and the southeastern border has become more stable. On the contrary, the covert resistance activities in Districts 1 and 2 are becoming more and more active. The new recruits have always heard about you, but they've never met their long-admired senior. They really want to learn from your experience. Cultivating the new generation is much more meaningful than engaging in those futile battles, isn't it?"
Using a combination of persuasion and pressure, the stubborn guide was finally convinced—Lu Xuejin nodded, clearly agreeing with the chief's statement.
Ji Yangxia said, "The most urgent task is to determine your mental state."
An S-rank guide means that no one in or around the White Tower can forcibly break through Lu Xuejin's mental defenses. The guide considers the mental landscape a private territory and rarely opens it to its own kind. The purpose is nominally to conduct an examination, but in reality, it is to allow Lu Xuejin to release her mental power on her own and observe its strength and stability.
Guides who are affected by a trance state will generally experience varying degrees of mental exhaustion symptoms.
Fortunately, that mental journey seemed to be just an accident, and Lu Xuejin's mental strength was normal.
The crowd around Lu Xuejin surrounded him, many looking at him with motherly eyes.
"Lu Xuejin, you're finally back! Those stinky sentries have been bothering me every day, asking why I haven't recalled you yet, and whether they suspect you of trying to harm the guide. I'm so wronged!"
"Xiao Jin, get some rest as soon as you get back. You've worked so hard these past two years."
"The new guides are so excited! They can't concentrate on any of the lessons as soon as they hear you're back."
Compared to the deeply hostile Sentinels, Guides are always full of emotion and generous in expressing themselves to their fellow human beings.
...
On the day of the medal awarding ceremony.
The council chamber of the First Federal District was utterly silent. In the quiet, all eyes were fixed on the lone figure in the center of the platform.
Lu Xuejin wore a specially customized award ceremony uniform from the White Tower. The pure white was spotless and radiant, reflecting a pearly, understated luster under the light. The uniform perfectly hugged her tall and straight body, with silver ribbons hanging from her shoulders. The inner lining cinched at her waist, creating a slender and powerful silhouette that was impossible to look away from.
He stood there calmly, a faint smile playing on his lips, his eyes lowered. In that instant, his demeanor possessed a power that could make people bow down in submission.
Unpretentious and humble, like a solitary peak of a jade mountain.
Respecting Lu Xuejin's wishes, the White Tower kept the ceremony small, with only a small number of high-ranking officials from District 1 in attendance. However, fixed cameras on all four sides would guide the guide's moon-like figure to various parts of the Federation, and even to the darkest, most filthy areas.
Some were amazed by this future chief, whom they had only met once but who lived up to his reputation.
Some people lamented that their child, whom they hadn't seen for two years, had become capable and strong.
A sinister gaze, filled with longing, lingered on the blurry image.
Everyone looked up at Lu Xuejin, listening to the council speaker slowly read out his achievements over the past two years. He truly deserved to be an S-rank, truly deserving of the title of chief. These achievements were transformed into numerous badges hanging on his shoulders and chest, like stars surrounding the moon, adding an unparalleled strength to his beauty, and making many sentinels' blood boil and their excitement surge.
The Starshine Medal, symbolizing the highest honor in the Federation, was solemnly pinned to Lu Xuejin's front, its brilliance complementing her blue eyes.
The guide was so powerful, and his smile was so gentle; it was hard not to be captivated by him.
Thunderous applause erupted in the council hall, like surging waves that almost lifted the dome. Everyone's eyes followed Lu Xuejin's figure with burning passion as he walked down the steps, followed naturally by an unfamiliar sentry.
A few days is enough time for the people in Zone 1 to find out the identity of the sentinel Lu Xuejin brought back. The Luo family members are barely qualified to stand behind the Chief Guide, but what about the one surnamed Wan? Born in the Contaminated Zone, his imagery and spiritual body are both deemed problematic. He's like a poor-quality, scruffy dog that's been painstakingly cleaned but still has speckled markings. How could such a filthy person be so intimate with the radiant Chief Guide…
An invisible, scorching jealousy, almost capable of igniting the air, suddenly surged from the sentinel, silently scorching the surrounding air.
The man surnamed Luo is not necessarily favored by the chief, and has been idle at home for several days. Why is the man surnamed Wan being taken care of by the chief, and a property is specially purchased for him near his home?
What merit or ability does he possess? What merit or ability does he possess!
Luo Mang watched from afar, while an elder beside him mocked, "You're like a dog, licking his boots, do you think he'll even acknowledge you?"
The elder's brow furrowed deeply as he coldly reprimanded, "Look at yourself, what kind of person are you? Without the family, you are nothing."
Luo Mang seemed not to hear, remaining calm.
After standing there for a while, seeing that Lu Xuejin was about to leave the council hall, even though the guide hadn't called him, he still walked over on his own. The elders behind him were immediately disappointed and scolded him for making a fool of himself.
“Commander.” Luo Mang naturally stepped past Wan Hong and stood almost side by side with Lu Xuejin.
When Lu Xuejin saw him, she said with some surprise, "I thought you would want to stay with your family during this time."
Upon hearing this explanation, Romang's heart, which had been tormented by jealousy and resentment, was instantly refreshed, as if a spring breeze had gently caressed it.
"I was disliked by my family the day after I returned home," Luo Mang said helplessly. "They said I was too lazy to do anything at home and that keeping me around was a waste of food. They kept urging me to come back to your side and serve you."
"No matter what I do at home, they all find fault with me." Luo Mang told Lu Xuejin funny stories about the Luo family in a witty way. In his words, his father was a serious and rigid middle-aged man who could also act coquettishly with his mother. His mother often teased him, and the two were very loving.
Wan Hong listened silently, feeling a little like laughing.
If he wasn't mistaken, Roman's parents were both Sentinels, neither of them ordinary people. Sentinel families didn't have this kind of sweet atmosphere. Besides, wasn't his mother killed by her husband long ago after going mad?
But the commander seemed unaware of his subordinate's family situation, and while listening, he tilted his head as if amused.
Until they caught a glimpse of Ji Yangxia, who was waiting for Lu Xuejin at the place she was sure to pass on her way out.
Ji Yangxia got straight to the point: "A new restaurant has opened nearby, which should suit your taste. They've launched a signature dish these past few days. Don't you like sweet and sour flavors? It's perfect for celebrating your award."
Lu Xuejin blinked: "Commander Ji, I'm sorry, I haven't had much of an appetite lately. Maybe next time, I'll treat everyone to dinner next time."
"……good."
Ji Yangxia was unwilling, but she could only watch the three of them leave.
Once outside the council chamber, Luo Mang had no choice but to say goodbye to Lu Xuejin, watching helplessly as the guide got into the back seat and Wan Hong drove away.
After completing the course, Lu Xuejin moved out of Baita. Baita had carefully selected a property for Lu Xuejin that was both secluded from the hustle and bustle and secure, and decorated it according to his wishes. It was right next to the dormitory that Lu Xuejin had applied for for Wan Hong.
A huge floor-to-ceiling window occupied an entire wall, letting in warm light that gilded everything inside. The interior featured large areas of soft wood tones, off-white, and light camel, with oak floors displaying their natural grain and sofas upholstered in thick, light gray velvet. Lu Xuejin changed out of her dress and closed her eyes for a short rest, clutching a moss-green handmade cushion.
Even though I haven't been back for two years, this place is still as clean and new as ever.
Inside the kitchen, the sentry wore an apron with his sleeves rolled up, revealing his well-defined forearms. The cleaver moved with incredible speed and dexterity as he slicing the ingredients into thin slices of almost uniform size and thickness. The pot on the island gurgled as Wan Hong lifted the lid with one hand to check the cooking status of the ingredients before adding new ones.
Just by looking at his skillful way of chopping vegetables, you can tell that Wan Hong is no novice.
Most sentinels, unable to appreciate the flavors of food, have limited culinary skills, such as thawing nutrient solutions or cooking a pot of plain, unseasoned food.
Wan Hong, however, was different.
While on the southeastern border, he didn't have time to cook. It wasn't until he got home the day before yesterday that Lu Xuejin discovered that this fierce-looking sentry actually had excellent cooking skills, and the dishes he made were extremely to his liking.
Pineapple chunks, tomato-sauce pork chunks, sweet and sour pork, lemon fish... The amount of ingredients that Lu Xuejin hadn't used for two years had piled up now, enough for Wan Hong to really show off his skills.
The guide picked up a piece of pineapple and ate it in small bites, eating it very reservedly and not showing any particular liking for it. However, Wan Hong had a feeling that Lu Xuejin really liked these dishes.
Perhaps because of his impoverished childhood and lack of normal food, Wan Hong has a strong passion for cooking. During his school years, cooking was his leisure activity outside of class. Unfortunately, due to his physical limitations as a sentry, he was unable to taste the authentic flavors of food.
Wan Hong was extremely satisfied that someone could now enjoy these dishes.
Seeing the sentry standing there motionless with his chopsticks, Lu Xuejin picked up a piece of fish and brought it to Wan Hong's mouth. This kind of fish had small bones, and he didn't like cooking it. Wan Hong conjured up the expression he should have when he tasted something delicious, opened his mouth, and took a bite, only to be surprised by how exceptionally delicious the food was.
It was the first time he had tasted the food he had cooked.
Wan Hong paused for a moment before looking up at Lu Xuejin. His disheveled hair made him look like a scruffy dog, and his expression was somewhat foolish.
Lu Xuejin ate her food calmly, as if nothing had happened.
After lunch, Wan Hongli cleaned up the dishes and tidied up the living room for Lu Xuejin—a task that used to be regularly cleaned by someone, but now it was all taken over by the sentry.
The chief guide was invincible in the spiritual realm, with no one able to challenge his authority, yet he was endearingly clumsy in the realm of daily life. Washing dishes would leave the countertops and floors wet and slippery, and Wan Hong, unable to bear it any longer, simply took over the task.
As he cleaned, Lu Xuejin sat on the sofa, resting her chin on her hand and quietly watching him. When Wan Hong turned around, he caught a glimpse of the guide An Ning's expression, and for a moment, he was somewhat dazed.
Memories are like light dancing on a glass window; it's impossible to distinguish what's real and what's fake.
It's as if the past was like this in a similar space.
But Lu Xuejin was wearing a soft, white knitted sweater, and her hair was even longer, cascading down her shoulders.
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