"What was that?"
Rong Yizhan turns away and starts the long journey towards the institute. Xin Linhua falls in rhythm beside him.
"Yaras?, do you know how to drive?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"I have no reason to."
"I’ll go home soon." Xin Linhua hums softly "To visit my Dad and my brothers. I’ll return with a car so we don’t have to walk so much."
"Xin Linhua."
"What? Why are you suddenly so serious?" Xin Linhua nudges him slightly.
"What did you dream about in that pond?"
The mood turns stifling. Xin Linhua’s pace noticeably slows. He clenches his fist in his pocket and regulates his tone.
"Why are you so curious? It was just a nightmare. What about you? What did you see?"
Rong Yizhan keeps mute. Xin Linhua exhales softly. He knows that Rong Yizhan will never give him an answer and he can use that as an excuse. But really...what did Rong Yizhan see as well?
"Forget it, it’s unpleasant." Xin Linhua changes the subject.
All through the long walk back, Rong Yizhan’s gaze is down. He stays quiet as well, not asking anymore questions.
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"Do you think I’m stupid!?" Director Chen slams the file on the table.
Xin Linhua. Rong Yizhan. Hirano Asahi. Three of them lower their gazes, each has different expressions on their faces.
"You." Director Chen holds his head "Xin Linhua. Do you take me for a fool? You came to me and asked me to grant you permission to enter a rift. I denied and threw you out, and not an hour later, you got ’kidnapped’ by Yokais in the middle of the streets!? Broad daylight and not a single eye witness to prove that!?"
"Director..." Xin Linhua timidly cranes his neck "It’s the truth–"
"Truth!?" The man explodes "Ever since that day you got paired with Phantom, you’ve been acting possessed. You’ll never go out of your way to do this, you’re nothing but a spoiled brat who runs at the sight of a snake. Yet, you dare to walk into a rift!?" Find the original chapter at novelping.com.
"Director...I really didn’t." Xin Linhua mutters "We really got kidnapped by Yokais. Think about it– how will we enter the rift without alerting the Sentinels? It’s impossible."
"Impossible? I’ve learnt not to use that word when it comes to you." The man grits his teeth "Forget about that for a second– do you know how dangerous your actions were?"
"I apologize."
"Spare me the fake sincerity!" The man suddenly turns to Rong Yizhan "And you. How can you indulge this? He’s your guide, you should learn to restrain him."
"I’ll keep that in mind." Rong Yizhan nods once.
"You yell at me, but you speak softly with him. Straight up biased." Xin Linhua mutters.
"What did you say!?"
"I was apologizing."
"Like I don’t know it’s unreal, uhn!"
The man slumps into his chair. His gaze darts toward the file. He snatches it up and skim through it twice.
"Gan." The man calls Hirano by his codename "Is this file complete? Everything is here? You didn’t miss a thing?"
"Yes, sir." Hirano nods "I recorded everything as it is. Not s single detail was left out."
"Heavens..." The man turns to Xin Linhua again "You cleared the rift?"
"Yaras? did. Well, we both did but he did most of the killing. I’m far too fragile for that."
"Fragile? Weak? I see..." The man gives him a side eye "You’re all dismissed. Leave before I change my mind."
"Yes sir." They nod and walk towards the door.
"Ah, Director!" Xin Linhua suddenly turns back.
"Now, what? What do you want?"
"Since we were able to clear this rift without a hassle, can we do the same for every D-Rank and E-Rank rifts?"
"..."
__BAM!!!
Xin Linhua raises his leg to kick the door, but reconsiders immediately.
"All I did was ask a question." He seethes.
"You can’t ask questions like that." Hirano laughs "You’re lucky you got off without any punishment though."
"He’s just a prickly old man." Xin Linhua snorts in annoyance.
"By the way...did you guys really enter the rift on your own accord?" Hirano walks beside them.
"Of course not!" Xin Linhua is quick to defend "Yaras? was there. You can ask him!"
"I see..." The man nods "I understand. I won’t say anything."
"I have to go to training now. I’ll catch up with you guys later." Hirano runs off.
"Wait! Senior! Senior! Hirano Asahi!"
Xin Linhua tugs at his hair.
"Forget it. They have no proof anyway." Xin Linhua waves it off.
The two walk back to the Sentinel Division. Along the way, Xin Linhua notices how they’re garnering more attention than usual.
"Ah..." He exhales "Those Sentinels must have blabbered off to the others."
"Xin Linhua!"
"And here comes a victim who’s about to ask a stupid question and get–"
"Did you offend Gao Chengi?"
"Uhn?" Xin Linhua blinks "Who is that?"
Truly, he has been a menace for the past few weeks since his arrival, and he knows pretty much every Sentinel who goes to the training grounds, but not a Gao Chengi. When did he offend an unknown person?
"You don’t know him?" The newcomer frowns "That’s odd. A few weeks ago, he encountered Nikuras at your college. I heard you saved him and the others. He woke up some days ago and he’s been searching for you ever since."
"Wait...what date is it?" Xin Linhua narrows his eyes.
"Sixteenth of–"
"No way!" He widens his eyes "I’ve been in that accursed rift for three days!? Why didn’t anyone tell me?"
Xin Linhua turns to Rong Yizhan who just looks the other way.
"You didn’t ask." Rong Yizhan says.
"Damn–" he exhales instead "So, why is he looking for me?"
"I don’t know." The Sentinel shrugs "He was acting like he has some dirt on you or something. You should be careful."
"I understand. Thanks for telling me."
"No problem. By the way...I heard you cleared a rift. That’s crazy, even for you."
"Thanks, I’ll note it down in my list of crazy things I’ve done in my life."
Xin Linhua flashes a restrained smile and drags Rong Yizhan away.
The moment the door shuts, he flings his coat aside and starts to pace about.
"Shit! Shit! Shit!" He cusses "I should have left him to die."
"You want to kill a Sentinel?" Rong Yizhan questions.
"Kill him?" Xin Linhua pauses "I wish I can. Only the Director, the doctors, Zhao Xi, you and that accursed Sentinel knows about my guiding abilities. It seems he’s considering exposing it."
Xin Linhua stares down at the ra?ar on his wrist, his mind racing.
"That bastard." Xin Linhua’s gaze darkens "If he does, I’m like a piece of meat on a chopping board. Both paired and bonded Sentinels will be flocking my way."