Chapter 17: The Past of General Lin Zheng

Angus held her close, steadying her breath. For the first time, the once domineering man showed a moment of vulnerability.

“We sentinels... we don’t deserve you to do this for us.”

“We’re just expendables, you know...”

Wen Li interrupted loudly, “No!”

“In my eyes, you are living beings! With feelings, blood, and flesh—how could you be expendables?”

“You are the ones who demean yourselves!”

Years of silently bottled-up grievances poured out in an instant.

The fervor, admiration, or hatred of the sentinels; the disdain, indifference, or mockery of the guides.

Wen Li had never been unaware of these.

She had struggled to adapt to the physical contact the sentinels demanded, to their eyes filled with desire.

She had tried hard to conform to the world’s rules.

She had managed to make friends she liked and found a sense of belonging in this world.

But Angus’s one sentence denied all of Wen Li’s efforts these past days.

The sentinels don’t need your charity.

Between you guides and us sentinels, we are always the ones who are dominated.

Wen Li wanted equality; she refused to be a canary in a gilded cage.

Angus fell silent.

Once, he thought Wen Li was just the next sacrifice, but now he was wrong.

He had changed his mind. In Wen Li’s eyes, sentinels exist, and we are worthy.

Having fought through countless battles to reach this position, Angus had seen too much.

Many, like Wen Li, wished to overturn such an unequal relationship.

But as the number of federation guides dwindled, what was precious inevitably came with shackles called protection.

Angus held the girl tightly, feeling her warm body and beating heart.

“I will petition the higher-ups to revoke the orders concerning Ban.”

Releasing Wen Li, he fixed his gaze on hers.

“I will always remember what you said today. If you want to grow stronger, I will open the path for you.”

“From now on, you can do whatever you wish.”

Wen Li was surprised by Angus’s help.

In her memory, as the head of the White Tower guides, he was always busy.

Yet he kept himself apart from the conflict between guides and sentinels, giving off a contradictory impression.

Now, helping Wen Li meant standing with the guides, and the delicate balance the White Tower painstakingly maintained might be shattered by his actions.

But Wen Li needed help, and she met his gaze with resolute eyes.

“I will never let you down.”

After this conversation, Wen Li felt their relationship had grown closer, though Angus still scared her with the little snake in the end.

The next day, she found that familiar figure standing outside the purification chamber.

Ban was still her personal assistant, and Wen Li happily ran over and embraced him.

“Wonderful! Wonderful!”

Ban shielded the excited girl, preventing her from falling, a smile barely restrained at his lips.

“Miss, please calm down.”

They were pulling each other in the corridor, which was hardly appropriate.

“Ban, hurry inside.”

The purification chamber was filled with the scent of flowers—Ban had replaced them earlier today. Wen Li had never seen this variety before.

They shimmered a dreamlike blue, as if blending the clear sky with the depths of the ocean.

Wen Li carefully touched the crystalline petals.

Blue powder dusted her fingers, and she felt a faint ripple of spiritual energy.

Though slight, Wen Li found it incredible.

“It actually has spiritual energy?”

Ban explained, “Yes, this is the Starfold Flower, the latest research from the Federation Laboratory.”

“They can generate a small amount of spiritual energy until they wither.”

In Wen Li’s understanding, only humans could produce spiritual energy—could plants and animals as well?

Her curiosity demanded more knowledge.

Fortunately, her personal assistant was an outstanding graduate of the Federation’s premier technological university.

Ban explained everything in simple terms.

Wen Li said, “So, some objects can serve as carriers of a guide’s spiritual energy?”

Ban nodded, “Theoretically yes, but practically it’s very difficult.”

“A guide’s spiritual energy level must be very high to separate it and attach it to an object.”

Ban activated his light-brain to show Wen Li something.

A simple cloth doll appeared.

Wen Li blinked in disbelief when she saw the price below it.

Pointing at the light-brain, she asked, “Ban, look at this. How much is that doll?”

Ban struggled to hold back laughter, pressing a hand to his lips, though the amusement nearly spilled from his eyes.

“Yes, Miss, one million Federation credits.”

Wen Li’s entire annual salary?

“It was made by the SSS-ranked guide Mia, containing powerful purifying energy.”

“And the quantity is limited. Most sentinels can’t afford it.”

Instantly, Wen Li’s mind conjured a scheme to get rich overnight.

Ban, however, arranged the materials Wen Li needed for the afternoon and dispelled her notion.

“You can’t, Miss. Your spiritual energy level isn’t sufficient; this would drain your spirit sea too much.”

Wen Li lowered her head silently. “Alright.”

She flipped through the materials and asked about the afternoon schedule: “Ban, no appointments today?”

“Yes, this afternoon you’re to meet with General Lin Zheng.”

“Ah, another troublesome matter.”

Wen Li sat on the sofa, beckoning Ban to sit as well.

“Ban, tell me about Lin Zheng.”

Ban adjusted his monocle and said, “You’re curious about him? His information is actually confidential.”

Wen Li made a small gap with her fingers to gesture, “Can I know just a little?”

Ban shook his head slightly, then chuckled, “Of course, Miss.”

“Lin Zheng is the youngest general in federation history, nearly promoted to full general.”

Wen Li asked, “Why not?”

Ban answered, “Because of a spiritual rebellion.”

“He was the first SSS+ rank sentinel. To control him, the federation not only gave him a general’s rank, which didn’t suit his status, but also assigned two SS+ guides to him.”

Wen Li: “Two? That’s quite an investment. What happened next?”

Ban: “I suppose you know about the news from a year ago: Lin Zheng bit one of his guides to death.”

The black leopard gripped the guide’s corpse in its mouth, savagely tearing her apart.

Wen Li was unaware; she had been in this world less than half a year, and the original owner’s memories were vague.

To avoid suspicion, she feigned surprise.

“So it was him. That news spread all over the StarNet at the time.”

Ban did not know why this federation scandal was still so widely known. Given Wen Li’s position, her family should have told her about it.

But since the lady said so, there must be some reason.

Ban continued, “Afterward, the guild took him to a military tribunal and sent him to CT-20 prison.”

“Even though he’s a federation hero... a respected general... they still wanted him dead.”

Wen Li put down her hands and leaned back on the sofa, frowning slightly.

“But the last time I went on a mission, his mutation index had reached 97%. The White Tower still saved him.”

Ban stood and walked to the window, gazing out.

“That’s because of you, Miss. The White Tower is unwilling to give up on the general.”