Ye Lingxi’s mind instantly flashed with countless horror movie scenes.
A confined cabin, dim lighting, a ferocious vampire baring its fangs, slowly closing in on a sleeping prey…
Blood spraying across the walls…
And those slightly more suggestive horror films, where a beautiful human catches the eye of a Vampire Prince, locked away in a lavish underground chamber, crying out to heaven and earth with no one to answer…
Ye Lingxi shuddered violently, all traces of drowsiness completely obliterated.
She shook her head frantically, like a rattle-drum, her hands waving along with it: “No no no no no, I’m not going, I’ll just sleep right here, this place is fine, really!”
As she spoke, she scrambled backward on her hands and feet, retreating behind the large rock she’d been leaning against earlier, wrapping both arms tightly around the stone, making her stance clear through action—she would rather die than board that ship!
Mingzhou watched her looking like she was facing a formidable enemy, his brow furrowing slightly.
Why was the Guide so resistant to boarding the ship?
Was she afraid?
Afraid of what?
The ship was shabby, but it wasn’t dangerous, and with him there, he wouldn’t let anything harm her.
He didn’t understand.
But he could tell—the Guide truly didn’t want to go up there, and it was a resistance born of genuine, deep-seated fear.
Mingzhou was silent for a moment, then didn’t force the issue.
He stood up and looked back at Lin Chuan, who was not far away.
Lin Chuan had been keeping an eye on the commotion, and when he saw Mingzhou look over, he immediately stepped forward.
“Commander, the Guide doesn’t want to rest on the ship?”
Mingzhou nodded. “Mm. She’s very resistant.”
Lin Chuan’s gaze fell on Ye Lingxi. The Guide’s small figure was curled up behind the rock, both arms wrapped around it, watching them warily like a small animal ready to bolt at any moment.
He pondered for a moment, then spoke: “We can bring the hibernation pod out.”
“The pod has a lid, and its sealing and insulation are decent. With a soft cushion laid inside and the lid closed, the Guide won’t be exposed to wind or cold at night. It won’t be as comfortable as a bed on the ship, but it’s far better than sleeping directly on the ground.”
Mingzhou thought it over briefly, then nodded. “That works.”
Lin Chuan immediately turned and headed toward the ship, gesturing to Shi Qi and Ji Xiao as he went. “You two, come with me to carry out the hibernation pod.”
Shi Qi and Ji Xiao followed at once.
The three climbed the gangway and disappeared through the hatch.
Ye Lingxi crouched by the rock, watching the three of them board the ship, a knot of unease forming in her stomach.
What are they going up there for again?
They’re not bringing back something terrifying, are they?
She stared nervously at the hatch, not daring to blink.
About a minute later, there was movement at the hatch.
Shi Qi and Ji Xiao emerged one after the other, something slung over their shoulders.
It was large, long, and entirely silver-white, casting a cold metallic gleam under the blood moon.
The shape… was rectangular.
Sharp-edged.
With a transparent lid.
Ye Lingxi’s pupils contracted sharply.
That thing they were carrying… it looked like a… coffin…
The two Sentinels carried the hibernation pod down the gangway, their steps steady, and quickly reached Ye Lingxi.
With a soft thud.
They set the pod on the ground.
Ye Lingxi finally got a full view of the thing.
A silver-white metal shell, polished to a mirror shine.
The upper half was transparent—some material she couldn’t identify, like glass but clearer than glass.
The lower half was an opaque metal base, with what appeared to be intricate patterns and mechanisms inside.
A person could lie down inside it.
The overall shape…
It wasn’t exactly identical to a crystal coffin she’d seen before.
At most, it was just more high-tech, more premium and refined…
Ye Lingxi’s throat tightened, emitting faint, strangled sounds.
In a vampire movie she’d watched, the noble, aloof Vampire Prince slept in a coffin just like this!
The more high-class ones even had patterns and carvings—this one was simpler, sure, but that “coffin” aura hit her square in the face, impossible to ignore!
Ye Lingxi felt her blood run cold.
She knew it!!
She knew these people were vampires!
What normal person carries a coffin around with them?!
All those friendly gestures before, those gentle looks, those considerate actions…
They were all just fattening her up for the kill.
No wait—vampires don’t eat flesh, they drink blood.
So last night, when they drew her blood, they were getting her used to the taste of blood, or binding her as a blood slave.
And today, making her sleep in a coffin, was to get her acclimated to the environment, preparing her for her future role as a blood slave…
Ye Lingxi’s brain went into overdrive in that moment, cycling through every vampire-themed movie and TV show she’d ever seen, then matching the current situation to each one.
Shi Qi and Ji Xiao had no idea what was going through Ye Lingxi’s head.
After they set the hibernation pod down, Shi Qi even flashed her a big grin. “Guide, we’ve lined the pod with soft cushions and a temperature-regulating blanket. You’ll sleep nice and cozy in there tonight, and you can even look up at the stars through the lid.”
Ye Lingxi couldn’t understand. She looked at their smiles, then at the silver-glinting coffin, then at the sharp canine teeth revealed by their grins…
She stood frozen in place, forgetting even to breathe.
Mingzhou noticed something was wrong with her.
He stepped forward, bent down slightly, and called softly, “Guide?”
His voice wasn’t loud, but it was especially clear in the silent night.
Ye Lingxi was so startled by the sound that she nearly jumped out of her skin!
Her whole body jerked violently, and she stumbled back three steps, almost tripping over a rock behind her.
After steadying herself, she quickly pulled out the silver dagger she’d kept hidden for so long and held it up in front of her. “Y-you, you all—don’t come any closer!”
Mingzhou’s movements halted. Shi Qi and Ji Xiao were stunned as well.
A tiny dagger like that couldn’t possibly threaten them, of course.
The real issue was—there was no way they’d ever raise a hand against the Guide…
But why was the Guide so afraid of them?
Mingzhou stayed where he was, not advancing any further. He kept his original posture, raised both hands with palms facing her, making a gesture that said he was completely harmless and would never hurt her.
“Guide, please don’t be afraid. We won’t harm you.”
Ye Lingxi understood the tone, but not the words.
She panted, staring wide-eyed at him, then at the “coffin,” then at Shi Qi and Ji Xiao—her entire body in a state of extreme tension.
Mingzhou watched her like this, and something in his chest gave a gentle tug.
He didn’t know what she was afraid of.
He softened his expression, pointed at the hibernation pod, then at her, and made a sleeping gesture.
“Guide, the night is cold. You’ll be warmer if you sleep in the hibernation pod.”
Then he pointed at the pod again, opened the transparent lid, and mimed lying down inside.
Finally, he pointed at himself, then at the sentinels around them, and shook his head to indicate there was no danger.
“We’ll stand guard over you. No danger will come near you.”
The whole sequence of gestures, complete with pantomime and facial expressions, made him look like a contestant in a game of charades—trying so hard it was almost pitiful…