The tension in the office is thick enough to be cut with a knife.
Xin Linhua stands behind Rong Yizhan, watching with glee as the drama unfolds.
Just a few minutes ago, he was stressing his ass out over being dissected or something, now there’s none of that anxiety to be seen. He’s the same Xin Linhua.
"You’re doing this for yourself?" Director Chen leans back "What’s in it for you?"
"You know what it is." Rong Yizhan stops at the edge of the table "You didn’t oppose giving me a defect for a guide, but now that he can guide others with a high success rate, he’s suddenly ’not good for me’ uhn?"
Xin Linhua’s eyes widen slightly.
He didn’t think about that– he was too busy panicking over being a lab project, he nearly missed the big picture!
Rong Yizhan is a defect to the institute, as long as his abilities haven’t surfaced, he’s a defect to the entire continent.
His chances of awakening might have improved if he had a guide whose wave lengths match his, but there’s none. The ones who tried to force it were killed by him.
To others, not assigning Rong Yizhan a guide due to his killing spree record is a logical and safe thing to do, but to Xin Linhua whose brain is spinning to weave things together, it’s a way to keep Rong Yizhan in check.
Without a guide constantly stimulating his awakening and soothing him, his chances of awakening are low– close to zero.
Against a C-Rank with Geokenesis, Rong Yizhan totally wiped the floor with him. He didn’t lose. Despite being blindfolded, all odds stacked against him, he didn’t lose. His existence alone is a threat to many, but he doesn’t have anyone to back him, no powerful personnel or family.
No matter how the institute treats him, he has no one to back him up!
That’s why. That’s why the director didn’t oppose their pairing. A defect with a defect. What a perfectly defective match.
If Xin Linhua is with Rong Yizhan, it’ll be a win for the institute. Even if someone with a similar wave length appears in the future, the institute will likely cover it up. No guiding, no stimulation, no awakening. Rong Yizhan will be easier to control.
But now, everything has changed. Xin Linhua can guide now, and not just Rong Yizhan alone, but any Sentinel regardless of their wave length or rank.
He’s like an oasis found after weeks in a desert. According to Xu Min, the moment you come in contact with Xin Linhua, it’s like a wave of relief and calmness washes over you. The pain subsides in a split second!
To let him stay beside Rong Yizhan is a risky move, the institute does not take risks. They’ll rather split them up while they can. Luckily for them, Rong Yizhan hates his guide.
That was then. This is now. Now, Rong Yizhan has deduced their scheme. Even if he dislikes his guide, he’s unwilling to hand him over now.
"Phantom." Director Chen’s tone shift subtly "You know you’re under the institute’s law. No matter how unwilling you both are, Xin Linhua can’t refuse–"
"According to the law, a guide should be exclusive to one Sentinel." Rong Yizhan cuts him off "The law you’re talking about was changed a few years ago, I remember correctly. If multiple Sentinels were to get one guide, the guide either dies in their hands or they all take it too far and go rogue. If a guide dies, the Sentinel is bound to follow or lose his sanity." Read the latest chapters at novelping . com.
"I admire that." Director Chen laughs "I really do, but that applies to a pair who have bonded. Bonding is rare for someone of your caliber. And you two...are not bonding material."
"Bonding?" Xin Linhua interrupts.
"Yes, bonding." Director Chen gestures between them "And I don’t mean being friends or anything, this is beyond emotional bonding. It’s like a mark a Sentinel leaves on their guide. It’s easy to bond, not that hard. That’s why a guide only has one Sentinel, but the higher the rank, the harder it is to bond."
"A mark..." Xin Linhua frowns "Like a dog marking its territory? What the heck!"
Director Chen almost choked. He laughs, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Yes, you could put it that way." He turns to Rong Yizhan "So, Phantom, as long as you two have not bonded, Xin Linhua is still by proper rights, the institute’s Sentinel."
"Not really." Rong Yizhan counters immediately "It’s only been four days, surely you don’t think it’s that easy to bond. It takes a couple of months for even D-Ranks to form a bond."
"Then...if you two can bond within six months, Xin Linhua is all yours."
"And if not?"
"The institute will decide and proceed as concluded."
"Six months..." Xin Linhua mutters "That sounds like it’ll be hard."
"I don’t make the rules."
Xin Linhua’s lip twitches. He doesn’t make the rules, but he’s part of the board that does. Hypocrite!
"Remember your words, Director Chen."
"Of course."
Rong Yizhan turns and walks out of the office, Xin Linhua in tow.
The two remain silent up until they leave the administration building and return to the Sentinel Division. Get faster updates on g.com.
"Well, that could have gone worse." Xin Linhua kicks off his shoes "At least, I’m not gonna die soon. That’s a win."
Rong Yizhan grips the doorknob tight. He turns towards Xin Linhua.
"Do you know what a bond is?"
"Zero idea." Xin Linhua shrugs "But I’m sure we’ll figure it out."
Xin Linhua suddenly approach him, disregarding the word; distance.
"Yaras?, I never knew you were this sharp tongued. I thought you only act cold towards me, turns out you hate the Director. I can’t believe you actually stood up for me."
Rong Yizhan’s gaze flickers. It’s probably the first time Xin Linhua is speaking to him without teasing him or being mischievous.
"I didn’t do it for you."
"Yes, yes. You said the same thing to the Director too. I believe you."
"I said I didn’t."
"And I believe you."
Xin Linhua raises his hand, bringing it down gently. He strokes Rong Yizhan’s hair twice and quickly retreat before he gets kicked or cussed at.
"Regardless, I’ll do my best to help you."
"Help me?"
"Awakening your abilities, I’ll help you with that. I won’t do things you don’t want, so let’s try to keep you from killing me."
Rong Yizhan swats his outstretched hand aside. He turns back to his bedroom door.
"You don’t know what a bond is."
The door closes behind him with a soft click. Xin Linhua stands still with a baffled gaze.
"How hard can it be to bond?"