Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“We have tried our best, Mr. Wu,” the female doctor said as she handed me the test result. “We offer our deepest condolences, at this rate, there will be no suitable partner for you in the future.” She looked at me like I was an abandoned puppy.

She was the same as the judge who gave the final verdict.

I bit my tongue to keep myself from saying unnecessary things. Why did she say it like I would be single for the rest of my life? Did she want to play Cupid that badly? I didn’t need their condolences, nor did I want to find someone to marry, I just needed a Guide!

I tried to calm down and read the test result, however, I realized that it was no different from the ones I had done in other hospitals.

“Mr. Wu, let me explain how serious your problem is.” She cleared her throat, but I still caught her muttering that it was weird.

“We’ve done your matching test, but as you can see here.” She flipped the document in her hands and pointed at the test report. “It says, ‘no compatible partner can be found’. At first, we thought there was some kind of error in our system, but that wasn’t the case. You know what it means, Mr. Wu?” She asked me while adjusting her glasses.

“What is it?” I had heard it countless times already, but I decided to just follow along.

“Your Sentinel’s frequency is far too low for a normal Sentinel.”

Seeing my calm expression, the doctor added, “It was already difficult for us to detect your frequency, let alone find the Guide who matches yours. We’ve tried our best and retested it, but the result is still the same. No Guides in our database can resonate with your frequency.”

“Is there a way for me to get a partner?” I asked again, feeling determined. “Even if it's for a short time, that’s fine.” There is no way I will give up like this!

She contemplated, “You should go to the Compatibility Assessment Center for a more accurate result.”

I almost blurted out that it was impossible. The Compatibility Assessment Center was located inside the Tower, the area exclusive only to the Sentinels and Guides who joined the force. I had yet to get accepted to be an enforcer, how could I do the matching test there?

“Another option?”

She was silent for a while, hesitating. “I’ve suspected that…” She smiled sheepishly, then wrote something in her notes. She tore it out and gave it to me.

I couldn’t help but smiled bitterly as I read what was written on it. Well, there was no way it happened.

“Of course, you don’t need to believe me. I think that since our advanced technology can’t alter our frequencies, you can consider that what I said is a plausible explanation for your condition. I don’t have any intention of making you feel uncomfortable, Mr. Wu. It’s just that if you do it unintentionally, it would be so unfortunate.”

I folded the paper and then put it in my pocket. “I see, thank you, doctor.” I nodded and walked out of the room.

She was so passionate about it. Did my unusual result flip her switch?

I let out a sigh. I had expected this result, but it was still disappointing to hear it directly. This was the seventh and last hospital that my “bestie” had recommended to me, and the result was the same. I should have known public hospitals couldn’t help me in this matter. I didn't know where to go after this, so I called him again.

[How did it go?]

Before I could say something, the person on the phone beat me to it.

“They couldn’t find me a Guide.”

Xiao Hua gave a smug laugh as if he already knew the result.

[Then, what’s your plan now?]

Honestly speaking, I never thought that I would try to find a Guide in my whole life. Since I was a child, I had been diagnosed as having an abnormally low frequency that was almost undetectable, even my awakening as a Sentinel itself was a miracle. I thought my condition would get better once I became an adult, but apparently, it wasn’t the case. My grandfather was a famous A-rank Sentinel back in the day. However, my father was an ordinary person, and my two uncles were both awakened as B-rank Sentinels. They joined the Tower and miraculously raised their levels to A-rank Sentinels, through the second awakening. As of now, they have become the Chief Sentinels in their respective divisions.

Come to think of it, I hadn’t met them again after the last Chinese New Year.

“I won’t change my mind. I want to join the Tower. Any ideas?”

If it had been me a week ago, I wouldn't have thought about joining the Tower and fighting those so-called Zongzi. My Uncle Three once brought me along with him on a mission when I was 16 years old. It was a small mission, but ever since then, I realized that I was more of a scholar than a fighter. Both of my uncles also agreed on this. They even arranged a small antique shop for me to run in City H, which was called Wushanju. However, I couldn’t deny that I was really curious about Sentinels, Guides, and how they carried out the missions that the Tower assigned to them.

In the blink of an eye, it had been ten whole years since that day. Now, I'd rather be in my small shop examining various artifacts that Uncle Three often sent me from the ruins to at least quench my curiosity. If I were lucky, they could be sold at high prices. I could live leisurely and wasn't afraid of becoming like my father, who was an ordinary citizen (I don’t care if I’m a Sentinel); even being a housewife was also a respectable job.

Until that strange package came to my door.

[I knew it. While you’re busy at the hospitals, I’ve been thinking about Plan B.]

Xiao Hua was quick-witted, as expected of an A-rank Guide who had already joined the Tower. Xiao Hua was my distant cousin, he was also the one who told me that only Sentinels and Guides who have partners or those at least C-rank could meet the requirements in the Tower’s recruitment system. After that, there would be subsequent tests and training, which were known to be very strict.

The Tower itself had taken into account the advantage of having a stable partner. Nowadays, people thought that what was in the heart came first, so even if the compatibility was high, it didn’t mean they could be partnered up willingly. I appreciated the freedom to choose a partner, but my position couldn't afford to be so picky.

It was really troublesome. With my current D-rank, passing the qualification test was like a pipe dream. I couldn’t raise my rank in a short amount of time. Finding a partner was my only way, but even this method gave me a headache too.

The ‘partner’ here wasn’t meant to be in a romantic relationship, but rather partners in battle. Sentinels were gifted with enhanced physical power and sensory abilities that were beyond human limits, which made them suitable for fighting the Zongzi out there. However, it came with a weakness, such a huge amount of power was difficult to control. The overwhelming heightened senses could leave Sentinels in unstable mental states or cause sensory overload. As a result, they were prone to going berserk, losing control of their own powers, or being in a state of numbness—unable to come to their senses and trapped in their own consciences for the rest of their lives.

Sentinels needed the Guides to help them stabilize it. Hence, Sentinels and Guides got the job done by partnering up. This was also to ensure optimal outcomes, enhance the success rate, and improve the stability of the enforcers while minimizing casualties. They needed to receive a Guide's guiding to regulate their sensory perceptions. Contrary to Sentinels, the Guides had strong mental strengths, they could help Sentinels control their powers through physical contact, mental links, or pheromones. Providing support for Sentinels by Guides was called guiding.

Generally, most Sentinels were men, and most Guides were women. So to speak, a female Sentinel or a male Guide was quite rare. It was so uncommon that people took for granted that every Sentinel was a man and every Guide was a woman. There was no proof that hormones and biological factors were the reason for the gender division. Further research was still needed.

There was also a social phenomenon where most Sentinels preferred to marry their Guides, people often called it "partner for a lifetime" as a joke. Picking a partner between a Sentinel and a Guide could be done by testing their frequencies and finding the one that resonated the most. If they had a high matching degree and agreed to be partnered up, after some time had passed, the next phase was ‘bonding’. It was a routine for Sentinels and Guides that even ordinary people outside the Tower knew. That was why a partnership between a Sentinel and a Guide was often called “marriage” by some people.

There were three types of bonding that I knew of. The first was the temporary bond, a short-term mental connection that was usually formed as an emergency measure in battles. It was often used to stabilize a Sentinel during crises in the mission. The second was the official bond, a bond that was acknowledged by the Tower. The last was the true bond, an extremely rare one; it was almost like a myth. I heard that this bonding process required the most intimate physical contact and mental link. They could automatically communicate mind-to-mind due to the high matching degree that must reach 100%, resulting in the linking of the Sentinel and Guide’s consciousness. Then, I imagined being in that rare bond, the other party would likely know what I thought and felt, with nothing to hide. It was like being seen naked—no, it was worse than that. I shuddered at the thought. There’s no privacy!

I wasn’t interested in marrying a Guide, nor did I want to bond. Looking at how it worked, it was definitely a no-no. What I was looking for was a partner to get me inside the Tower. It was more difficult than I thought.

I had been looking for a Guide for the past few days, but no one had a high matching degree with me. It always showed me the same result: ‘no compatible partner to be found.’ I expected to get at least a decent one, but my hope was crumbled again and again—I felt numb now. I didn’t even get a low-matching one. Although partnering up with a not-so-high compatibility Guide might not be an ideal situation, a low-ranking Sentinel like me didn't need much guiding. However, if a Sentinel and a Guide were forced to bond at a low matching degree, there would be side effects of an unstable connection and emotional rejection—or worse, it would be ineffective, painful, and easily broken. In conclusion, it was dangerous.

Seeing how serious it was, the Tower had assigned the Sentinel-Guide Compatibility Matching Division to handle this matter properly. But, of course, public hospitals like the one I had visited before could still accept private matching test services. It was common knowledge that only those who joined the Tower cared about matching degrees because most Sentinels or Guides went to work there. Those who wanted to find a partner or register the bond should visit it for a complete examination and test their matching degree—just like its name suggests.  

“Speak,” I said to Xiao Hua urgently.  

[Tell them you’re alone.]  

“....! What’s wrong with being single?”  

Damn, this pink man, was he mocking me for still being a virgin? How dare he say such a thing? Even though it was true, I had never even held a woman's hand before. Still, his sense of humor was terrible.  

There was a sigh on the other side of the phone.

[That's not what I mean. Wu Xie, tell me, your uncles never told you anything about Sentinels and Guides, did they?]  

"How did you know? Wait, I do know the basics." I raised my eyebrows, wondering why he thought so.  

[You should learn more. Do I have to use nepotism to help you?]  

"Didn't you tell me there was a way? Then what's the point of having the academy anyway?"

[Good point. I was referring to the Lone Sentinels, those who don’t need a Guide. They can control their own powers without guiding.]

“Will it work though?”  

[I can back you up. But if your uncles know I helped you behind their backs, I’m in trouble.]  

Xiao Hua was right. Uncle Two didn’t let me join the Tower, and my father opposed the idea of me joining them. They said I was not qualified to join the Tower. It was true, yet still so annoying to think about it. I wanted to follow Uncle Three’s path when I was a child, but that wasn’t the reason why I persistently wanted to join the Tower this time.

“I’ll treat you, that’s it, if everything runs smoothly.” I knew he was in a tight position, but I had to find the truth, and the first step I needed to take was to join the Tower.

[Why don't you ask your uncles about that thing directly? It would greatly save trouble for you.]

I fell into silence. 

Around a week ago, I received a mysterious voice recording. The sender wasn’t a name I could recognize, but the voice in that recording was my grandfather’s. It was convenient to just ask my uncles, but...

“I don’t know, I feel like they won’t tell me the truth even if I ask them.”

[Have you tried it?]

“I asked them who Zhang Qiling was, but they were only silent. Isn't that suspicious?”

[....]

“Xiao Hua?”

[Who’s the sender?]

“Zhang Qiling.”

[Wu Xie, you are screwed]

“Thanks. I already know.”

[No, not that. You said the sender was Zhang Qiling?]

“Yes, why is that?”

[He died ten years ago]

“....”

End of Chapter 1 (5/3/2025)

Notes:

1. Sentinel

Definition: Sentinels are gifted with enhanced physical power (exceptional strength) and sensory abilities (extraordinary senses).

Characteristics:

• Territorial Instincts: Sentinels tend to have protective urges toward their bonded Guide. In some cases, they become more aggressive if their partner is threatened.
• Sentinels cannot receive guiding from just anyone, their compatibility with a Guide is an important factor.
• Low-ranking Sentinels may be fine without a Guide, though they will not be at full strength.

Abilities:

• Enhanced Senses: Sentinels have the ability to heighten their five senses, including sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch, to the point of exceeding human limits. The extent to which they can do this depends on each individual.
• Fighting Skills: Sentinels' physical power is much stronger than that of ordinary humans, so their hyper-accelerated movements are beyond human limits. However, their excellent fighting skills depend on each individual.

Weakness:

• Prone to sensory overload, emotional instability, and uncontrolled aggression, which can lead to insanity or self-destruction, if they do not control their abilities properly.

Special Conditions:

• Zone-Out State: An unstable mental state where Sentinels lose control over their abilities and fall into nothingness inside their minds, keeping their consciousness away, and putting them in a state similar to going "numb". The causes may vary: (1) extreme stress and exhaustion, (2) over-focus or deeply immerse in one sense and cause imbalance. To stop it, they need a Guide to pull them back to reality, either through physical contact, mental link, or breaking sensory input.
• Manic State: A state where Sentinels' enhanced senses and instincts become overwhelming, leading to dangerous instability, and losing control over their emotions and their rationality. In this state, a Sentinel will attack anyone who gets too close, but they have an extreme possessiveness towards their bonded Guide. It is triggered by sensory overload, emotional instability/trauma, separation from the Guide, force bonding, or suppressed instincts for too long. To stop it, a Guide needs to stabilize the Sentinel either through physical contact, mental link, Guide pheromones, or bond.

2. Guides

Definition: Guides possess strong psychic energy and are gifted with psychic abilities and empathy that allow them to enter the minds of Sentinels to help them control their power, stabilize their emotions, and prevent them from spiraling into numbness and a feral state.

Characteristics:

• Guides release pheromones to counterbalance Sentinel aggression and sensory overload.
• Generally, Guides are support-defensive combat types, and it all depends on their compatibility and bond with their partner (Sentinel). However, a rare combat-offensive type Guide does not rely on compatibility and bond to attack others.

Abilities:

• Guiding: The act of stabilizing Sentinels and providing mental support.

Types of Guiding:

• Temporary Guiding (General Compatibility): Some Guides can stabilize any Sentinel temporarily, especially high-level or trained Guides. If the compatibility is low, the effect will not last long or may not be very effective.
• Deep Guiding (Requires High Compatibility): True guiding only works well with a compatible Guide (matching degree above 70%). If the compatibility is low, guiding might cause pain, rejection, or mental instability. Deep guiding often involves direct mental contact, merging of spiritual tentacles, or even partial bonding.
• Bonded Guiding (Exclusive to True Pairs): If a Sentinel and Guide are bonded (90-100% match), only the bonded Guide can fully stabilize the Sentinel. Attempting to receive guiding from someone else might cause backlash or mental rejection.

Guiding for Incompatible Sentinels:

• Weak Effect/No Effect: The Sentinel may feel temporary relief, but the effect fades quickly. If the compatibility is too low, the guiding might not work at all.
• Instability/Mental Overload: If the compatibility is not high, guiding could cause headaches, nausea, or emotional distress. Some Sentinels might even go berserk if forced to receive guiding from someone incompatible.
• Emotional Stabilization: Guides can stabilize Sentinels by transmitting calm and positive emotions. There are two ways to do this, but the effectiveness depends on compatibility: (1) Mental Links and (2) Physical Contact; the more direct the skin-to-skin contact, the more effective it is.
• Sensory Regulation: Preventing overload by fine-tuning the Sentinel's senses and filtering out unnecessary input. There are two ways to do this, but the effectiveness depends on compatibility: (1) Mental Links and (2) Physical Contact; the more direct the skin-to-skin contact, the more effective it is.
• Forming a Barrier, Shield, and Safe Zone: Forming a barrier/shield around the Guide's or their partner's consciousness is a basic ability. It is a mental or spiritual defense that shields a Sentinel or Guide from external influence. A well-trained Guide can create a "safe zone" inside the Sentinel's mind, reducing mental instability.
• Illusion Projection: Some high-level Guides can create mental illusions to distract enemies or protect their Sentinel.
• Mental Attacks: Rare, combat-type Guides can use tentacles to lash out at enemies, attacking their minds directly. Some tentacles are razor-sharp, strong enough to tear apart enemy consciousness, while others can trap targets in illusionary nightmares. The strongest Guides can completely subdue a Sentinel using tentacles, forcing them into a temporary paralysis or emotional lockdown.

Weakness:

• Physically weaker than Sentinels.
• Overusing abilities can lead to mental exhaustion.

3. Partner

Definition: A Sentinel or Guide who has a stable, long-term relationship with their counterpart.

Partnership Types:

• Official Partner (formal bond/partner): A Sentinel and Guide who have chosen each other for life, usually after completing a true bond.
• Combat Partner: A Sentinel and Guide who work together on missions but are not necessarily romantically bonded.
• Fated Partner: A Sentinel and Guide with an extremely high matching degree, meaning they are naturally drawn to each other.

4. Matching Degree

Definition: The percentage of compatibility between a Sentinel and a Guide. It's determined through frequency synchronization.

Ranges:

• Below 50% — Incompatible; bonding is dangerous, ineffective, painful, unstable, and easily broken.
• 50% - 70% — Low compatibility; bonding can work, but with side effects (e.g. unstable connection, emotional rejection), not an ideal bond.
• 70% - 90% — Strong compatibility; can synchronize well, bonding enhances both individuals significantly.
• 90% - 99% — Near-perfect compatibility; instinctive connection, a deep mental connection that can enter each other's minds.
• 100% — Extremely rare "perfect match"; near-mythical, it allows for full mind-sharing, ultimate stabilization, and absolute synchronization with complete mental and physical fusion, resulting in an unbreakable bond with heightened abilities.

Traits:

• The matching degree is a fixed value. Once it is tested, it cannot be changed.

5. Bond

Definition: A spiritual, emotional, and physical connection between a Sentinel and a Guide. It helps stabilize the Sentinel's senses and deepens their connection.

Bonding Types:

• Temporary Bond: Usually forms as an emergency measure in battles. A short-term mental connection is often used to stabilize a Sentinel during crises.
• Official Bond: Often called "marriage", it's a bond that is acknowledged by the Tower.
• Spiritual Bond: A rare type of bond that is an almost irreversible merging of minds and souls, allowing for shared thoughts and emotions, resulting in a deep connection in which they can sense each other's mental states and feel each other's emotions.
• Physical Bond: A common type of bond that uses physical contact as the medium for connection.
• True Bond: A near-mythical and extremely rare type of bond. It is also the complete combination of spiritual and physical bonds.
• Forced Bond: A bond created against one's will. It is usually painful or unstable and often leads to rejection or instability.

The New Abilities Acquired From True Bond:

• Mind-to-mind communication/telepathy by linking their consciousness.
• A Sentinel with a fully bonded Guide often becomes immune to external mental attacks because their Guide's spiritual tentacles shield their mind.
• Bonded Sentinels and Guides can sense each other's emotions across great distances.
• Bonded Sentinels and Guides share a lifespan.

Chapter Text

“You're joking, right?”

Did Zhang Qiling become a ghost and leave his legacy to me the next time? Was I his secret wife or something? There was no way a ghost could send me a package!

[Unfortunately not, unless that person has the same name as the Chief Commander of the old Qilin Tower or the Chief Sentinel of the Combat Operations Division, then—]

I flinched, hearing the weight of responsibility that came with those titles alone. I was just an ordinary Sentinel, how did this person get to know me?

The sound of paper brought me back from my thoughts.

[If you succeed in getting to the Tower, let’s meet. I will tell you in detail.]

I agreed. This kind of thing couldn’t be talked about over the phone. Somehow, it made me feel restless if someone tried to listen to our conversation.

“Plan B, got it.” I ended the phone call.

I needed to get inside the Tower, find Zhang Qiling, and ask what he wanted to do with me.

The Tower wasn’t open to the public. They managed all the awakened Sentinels and Guides in the country, but the operation had been conducted by a web-based system. My only chance was to apply for the Tower’s recruitment, which was held in a week. Before then, I needed to at least find a partner or raise my rank.

There wasn’t much to do after this, and public hospitals couldn’t help me either. My mood turned gloomy just as a single raindrop landed on my cheek, followed by a steady drizzle. Within seconds, a light rain filled the air, and soon it would turn heavy. I called a taxi and decided to just go home and sort out my next plan.

While waiting in the car, I visited the Tower's official site to do some research. Based on the information I had read, the “Lone Sentinel” was also called the “Dark Sentinel.” The Dark Sentinels were a special classification of Sentinels known for their exceptional self-control, independence, and overwhelming power. Unlike normal Sentinels, who require a Guide to stabilize them, the Dark Sentinels had an innate ability to suppress and manage their own heightened senses, at least for a certain amount of time. It depended on the individual. No wonder the Tower thought highly of this special classification.

I was confident in my exceptional self-control and independence, but the Dark Sentinel’s overwhelming power made me a bit skeptical. I was just a D-rank, how much power did I have? Even at this rank, I couldn’t heighten my senses properly. The last sentence, though, gave me a sense of hope since it all depended on the individual. If they had never seen a D-rank Dark Sentinel, let me pretend to be the first one. And if something went wrong, let Xiao Hua do his job—a satisfied smile curling at the edge of my mouth.

I continued to scroll down until I reached the bonding section.

They said the Dark Sentinels could only bond with their true partner, otherwise, a severe backlash would occur. It was a pity that finding a true partner was like trying to find a needle in a haystack. In that case, they were like a ticking bomb without their true Guide.

Screech!—The abrupt stop jolted me from my thoughts, I almost accidentally dropped my phone.

“What’s the matter?” I asked the driver.

“Th-there was someone in front of the car.” The driver, who was a middle-aged man, sounded panicked and pointed at the front, but I couldn’t see anything clearly due to the heavy rain.

“I swear, I didn’t hit him!”

The driver seemed quite shocked. It would be troublesome if he really hit someone. Seeing his bad countenance, I volunteered to check the situation outside.

He handed me an umbrella with trembling hands and thanked me, undeniably perturbed.

I opened the door and closed it, then slowly approached whoever they were. I hoped they were fine and that nothing serious happened. I hurried down my steps and found a young man lying on the asphalt, drenched in rain. A sudden gust of wind blew fiercely, almost taking my umbrella away, a sense of cold ran through my veins—making me shudder.

Did the driver really hit him?

Wanting to take a closer look, I squatted down and checked on his condition. I found no wounds or blood, and fortunately, he was still alive. Did this guy faint from shock? But he looked so pale, like a ghost.

I quickly supported him to get inside the car. He had a good build, who would have thought he would be this damn heavy. Holding the umbrella while helping someone unconscious walk was difficult. My pants were already wet and the cold slowly crept over me. In no time, my shirt was in a similar state. I threw the umbrella away in annoyance and opened the rear door hastily.

Our clothes gradually soaked the seat, but I didn’t care.

“Sorry, your umbrella was blown away,” I said nonchalantly when the driver’s gaze welcomed me from inside the car.

I suspected that the driver knew what I had done to his umbrella, but he said nothing.

Finally, I put the man beside me and examined his condition one more time. Objectively speaking, he was a handsome young man… there was no blood, no wound, just unconscious. Perfect.

The driver said that we had to bring him to the previous hospital. Before he got the chance to turn around, I stopped him.

“No. I will take him home.”

The driver contemplated. I tried to convince him by saying that he was just unconscious. He wasn't injured, he had perhaps collapsed right when the taxi stopped. After a while, he finally agreed since he needed to pick up another passenger.

I didn’t know why I suddenly said such a thing. Normally, I wouldn’t even bring a stranger to my home. It was like a sound whispered in my head, telling me to take him home.

I turned to him and studied his features, undoubtedly filled with a bit of wonder. He leaned against the window, his eyes closed, and he was barely breathing. His temperature was so hot despite the chilling rain I had just felt.

It didn’t take long until we arrived at our destination. The taxi driver was kind enough to drop me right under the canopy. I glanced around and found that Wang Meng had already gone home. I took my key and opened the door of Wushanju.

My house was a two-story building. My shop was on the first floor, and I lived on the second floor. I assisted the man in entering it and led him to the small lounge area inside Wushanju, where I used to take breaks. I laid him on the arhat bed and then went to the second floor to search for a towel. I was mulling over whether to bring him another piece of clothing or not, but seeing his current state, it was better to prepare it beforehand.

Upon entering my room, I opened the closet and took a spare towel, as well as clothes that looked comfortable to wear. When I thought I had enough, I went back to the man.

Unfortunately, this man hadn't regained consciousness yet. I gently placed the towel on his head, attempting to dry his hair first. Right when I was about to wipe it, I realized that a pair of clear eyes was staring at me.

I was so shocked that my hands instinctively pulled back. As I stepped back, I stumbled into another chair and fell to the ground in embarrassment…. My butt hurt.

Say something now that you're awake, can't you?

I tried to stand up and greeted him politely, forgetting what had happened earlier.

“Oh, you’re already awake.”

He locked eyes with me without saying anything. Still silent, he cast a glance at his surroundings, like a wounded beast observing its situation and determining whether I was a friend, foe, or prey.

“This is my house. You almost got hit by a car, remember?” I tried to warm the atmosphere.

He shifted his gaze to me again, yet still, no words came out of his mouth.

“I brought you here. I thought you didn't need to go to the hospital. But if you don’t feel well, I can take you there.”

“No.”

This man finally said something—albeit short.

“I’m fine,” he added, as if sensing my complaint.

“Alright, you can rest here for the time being. It’s raining heavily outside, and it will be dark soon.”

I looked out the window, watching the stubborn pitter-patter of rain hitting it recklessly, it didn't seem like it was stopping anytime soon. So, I continued, "If you want, you can spend the night here."

As soon as I said it, I noticed another problem.

Truth be told, Wushanju wasn’t a small house, but I was so careless when I lived alone. I put all my stuff and artifacts that I had yet to study in the vacant rooms. Now, only one room was available.

I cursed at myself. I would think about where to sleep later, once he agreed to rest here for the night.

“I’ve also prepared spare clothes for you.”

“Thank you.”

My ears perked up. “No big deal. Oh, right, what’s your name? I’m Wu Xie.”

I thought he was starting to open up to me. But now that I had asked his name, he just went silent again. It was so annoying.

“Well, I will call you… Xiaoge.”

You, just like Men You Ping!

I tried to smile politely, but he then used the towel to dry himself and ignored me.

“The bathroom is over there."

After I showed him where the bathroom was, I left him to grab my own change of clothes—which stupidly I had forgotten to take. I belatedly realized that my state wasn't any better, I needed a shower too.

Unbeknownst to me at that time, a rare faint smile arose from that person’s lips.

End of Chapter 2 (6/3/2025)

Notes :

1. Bonding Fever

Definition: An intense period of instinctual need (similar to heat/rut in the Omegaverse) occurs when a Sentinel or Guide experiences an overwhelming urge to bond with their most compatible partner. This leads to a temporary state of heightened pheromone release and instinct-driven behavior.

Symptoms:

• Sentinel: Loses the ability to control their powers, instinctively seeks a partner to bond with, and becomes too aggressive and sensitive.
• Guide: Loses the ability to control their emotions, instinctively seeks a partner to bond with, is less aggressive than Sentinels but experiences physical weakness.

Stages:

• The first stage is like having a fever, where their bodies are getting hotter and hotter. The second stage involves losing control, and the last stage is seeking a partner to bond with. 
• It is resolved through physical proximity with their partners, bonding, and the use of inhibitors or medication. Once they are fully bonded and the process is completed, there will be no side effects. However, if the bond is not complete and medication is not administered, there will be serious effects that could lead to death.

Traits:

• It often arises due to extreme emotional stress, physical injury, suppressed instincts, high compatibility, and excessive exposure to synchronization.  
• The consequence of not resolving it properly in time can result in the Sentinel going manic or zoning out, while the Guide may experience overwhelming empathy overload. In some cases, it leads to more dangerous outcomes, such as a comatose state, madness, or even death.

2. Sentinel Classifications

Definition: Sentinels rely on heightened senses and combat abilities. They are classified based on their specializations.

Classifications:

• Combat Sentinel: Specialized in fighting; has strong physical combat skills; aggressive instincts.
• Tactical Sentinel: Skilled in strategy and command; has high intelligence, and fast reactions, but is not as physically strong as Combat Sentinel.
• Tracking Sentinel: Masters of sensory detection; possesses superhuman sight, smell, and hearing, making them the best at reconnaissance.

Special Classifications:

• Dark Sentinel/Lone Sentinel

Definition: A unique type of Sentinel is known for its exceptional self-control, independence, and overwhelming power. Unlike normal Sentinels, who require a Guide to stabilize them, Dark Sentinels have an innate ability to suppress and manage their own heightened senses. However, their existence is rare and usually comes with consequences (e.g., being highly unstable and dangerous; prone to mental breakdowns). They require a perfect match to stay sane.

Traits:

• Independence: Don’t Necessarily Need a Guide.
• Can’t accept guiding unless it’s from their true partner.  
• Their mental barriers are naturally stronger, allowing them to resist sensory overload on their own.  
• Dark Sentinels accumulate mental exhaustion over time; at this point, they need their true Guides.  
• Dark Sentinels are extremely rare and are often seen as both powerful assets and dangerous liabilities.

3. Guide Classifications

Definition: Guides also have specialized classifications based on how they stabilize Sentinels and their psychic abilities.

Classifications:

• Healing Guide: Specializes in deep emotional and physical healing; ideal for calming unstable Sentinels
• Combat Guide: Can directly attack or disable enemies psychically; possesses offensive psychic abilities; rare
• Tactical Guide: Functions as a commander, guiding teams; has high-level intelligence, and manipulation of multiple Sentinels.

Special Classifications:

• Dark Guide

Definition: Extremely rare, unstable, and dangerous; they tend to control emotions, engage in mental manipulation, and corrupt influence as the opposite effect of stabilization.

Traits:

• Dark Guides are hunted or exiled due to their dangerous abilities.

4. Artifacts

• Ancient artifacts or supernatural energy sources can enhance a Sentinel’s or Guide’s abilities.

5. Population

• Most Sentinels are men, and most Guides are women. Female Sentinels are rare, as are male Guides. Attributes are unrelated to gender and cannot be considered gendered representations because they belong to different categories. Sentinel/Guide is akin to a special ability.

6. Awakening

• The awakening period for Sentinels and Guides was from the time they were born until their teenage years.
• Those who did not go through the awakening process were called “ordinary people”.

Chapter Text

What a weird guy! I grumbled under my breath. He refused to tell me his name. Fine. But how come he was so tight-lipped? He barely said anything about himself, yet he knew where I lived.

…..Is he a fugitive? I let my thoughts wander too much, really. I didn’t think that was the case, though. My intuition told me that he wasn’t a bad person at all.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of something white protruding from my inner pocket before it finally fell to the floor with just a slight movement. Curious, I bent down to pick it up—it was my test result and the doctor's note that I had shoved carelessly into my inner pocket.

I unfolded the piece of paper from the doctor and tried to consider the possibilities. Despite being a little bit damp, I could still see clearly what was written on it. It was indeed a possible explanation for this kind of situation. A frequency itself represented the possibility, intensity, and compatibility of a Sentinel and Guide's bond on a certain level. Having a low frequency meant two things; either you couldn’t bond or had already bonded.

This note seemed to have its own opinion, though.

“You’ve… bonded,” I read aloud what was on it, feeling a bit disbelieved.

Apparently, this doctor knew about Sentinel-Guide bonding and matching to some extent. She speculated that the cause of my low frequency was related to the bond. However, the type of bond that could blatantly disregard other bonding options was only the true bond. Perhaps that was also the reason why she couldn't bring herself to say it directly. A true bond was like something straight out of a fairy tale, and I wasn't the type of person who believed in such a thing. That said, she had it completely wrong at one point—it wasn’t a fairy tale.

Somehow, my situation was akin to that of Dark Sentinels. We couldn’t bond with other Guides except for our true partners. It was such a shame that I didn’t know much about it aside from failing to partner up.

My uncles, despite being high-ranking Sentinels, rarely visited me and never told me anything about Sentinels and Guides. Whenever I talked to them about it, they always brushed it off as if to tell me that it had nothing to do with me. Every fiber of my being wanted to scream, “I’m a Sentinel, too.”

If my memory serves me right, they started avoiding this kind of conversation after my first trip with Uncle Three. It was as if I had been keeping away from getting involved with everything related to Sentinels and Guides. Even though I knew it could have been my own sentiment. At the beginning, I was so close to being an enforcer, proudly dreaming of pursuing the same journey as my uncles. But somehow, I changed my mind along the way. I had no recollection of the exact cause; that memory was somewhere in the depths of my mind—out of reach.

I gave it another thought, but I couldn't shake the feeling of calm before the storm. That day, I got a strange package. Its only content was a voice recording, and what was even more baffling was that the sender's name was completely new to me.

After listening to it, my grandfather's voice was the only one I could recognize, and it caught my attention. He was speaking to someone whose voice was too quiet to hear. He stated that I had my own Sentinel who could protect me when things went awry. What he originally said still lingered in my mind.

"Only his own Sentinel can protect Wu Xie."

I frowned in confusion. My Sentinel? But aren’t I a Sentinel?

It didn't make sense.

In this world, a Sentinel must be paired with a Guide to maintain their power balance. The bond was monogamous regardless of gender. As long as the relationship remained one-on-one between a Sentinel and a Guide, the Tower had no objections. However, it was a different story outside the Tower's jurisdiction. The higher their matching degree, the more favorable it was for both the Sentinel and the Guide, as well as for the Tower. A high compatibility rate could also significantly enhance their combat effectiveness.

I failed to figure out the purpose of sending this thing to me. Rather than dwelling on an unanswered question, I decided to divert my attention to the sender instead. Below the name, there was an address—though strangely, it was written in latitude and longitude coordinates. This meant the package hadn't been sent through a courier or at least an ordinary courier. It was easy to decipher, but I didn’t know what was the point of doing this.

Later, I found the place, and it was a place I never expected before— the Tower.

The sender, Zhang Qiling, might have lived inside the Tower. If that was the case, he should be an enforcer. What Xiao Hua had said might be true, but I wasn’t willing to quit without finding the truth myself. If he really died, then who sent it to me? Why were they using his identity?

The Tower itself was an enormous complex for Sentinel and Guide enforcers. There were various buildings and facilities inside. In short, there was no way to know exactly what kind of place it was without coming in person. Then again, this address didn’t pinpoint the specific location. Even if I went there in person, there was no guarantee I would find Zhang Qiling’s place of residence.  

I can’t believe you died. Just who are you exactly? I muttered to myself.  

Why did this person send the voice recording to me? Why did my grandfather want me to find my Sentinel while I was a Sentinel myself? And protect me from what? Moreover, what was Zhang Qiling's relationship with my grandfather? Were they friends?  

I touched my head, I felt like it was going to explode when I thought about these things.  

I let out a long breath, it wasn’t the right time to think about it. I had to entertain the guest. I crumpled all those papers and tossed them into the trash bin.

Since it was getting dark and the rain had yet to subside, Men You Ping agreed to stay over. I should treat my guest with hospitality, so I told him to sleep in my bed while I slept on the couch. Slouching on the couch, I kept replaying that voice recording, wondering why my grandfather had said those words until I unknowingly fell asleep.

That night, I had a dream.

When I was a child, I once went to a snow-capped mountain. It was so majestic, so unforgettable, and yet I didn’t remember how, when, or why I was there.

The heavy snow fell steadily, pouring from the sky as if wrapping me in a thick white blanket. It wasn’t as cold as I imagined, it was warm. It felt so unfamiliar, but I felt so comfortable—lulled me into a deep sleep.

After those memories resurfaced, I woke up in my bed in Wushanju. A light shone through the window, and the leaves rustled as the wind swept through. It was a sunny day, in contrast to the heavy snow, yet it felt the same.

Every Sentinel and Guide has something called a ‘spiritual landscape’ in their consciousness. I was always aware of my own consciousness, the shape, the vivid projection of my home, the West Lake. However, it was my first time sensing it so clearly, almost lucid, like a real thing. I roamed around the house, letting my eyes wander. I was amazed at the detail, and then—I froze.

This door. Where did it lead to again?

There was a dark blue door, I didn't know where it led. No matter how hard I tried, it slipped through my mind. Curious, I tried to open it, but the moment I touched the handle, almost immediately a warm blue light shone through the door—touching my face, tingling and blinding me for a while.

I was woken up—at my home, my room, my bed... Wait, my bed?

Last night, I agreed to let Men You Ping sleep in my bed while I slept on the couch. I couldn’t let a guest sleep on the couch, could I?

Two men sleeping in one bed wasn’t actually a problem, but he had just had an accident. I was afraid that my sleeping style could hurt him. I wasn’t trying to save my image at all.

That being said, what am I doing in my bed?

I jerked myself up and observed the surroundings. There was not a single presence in the vicinity. It was empty.

He had already gone. I hissed in frustration.

[You remember what I told you, right?]

“Don’t worry.”

I ended the phone call after a short confirmation.

Today was the day of the Tower’s recruitment test. It was pretty uneventful for the past week, I got to learn something new about Sentinels and Guides from the textbooks that Xiao Hua had sent to me, and nothing else happened—well, aside from someone who suddenly disappeared without saying anything.

With my car newly repaired, I opted to drive myself today, just in case. As I drove, from afar I could see the skyscraper standing tall against the horizon. Fortunately, my destination was closer to my current residence than other Towers. It wouldn’t take long to get there.

The Tower was a governing and regulatory body that oversaw Sentinels and Guides, ensuring societal stability, maintaining order, and conducting research. The hierarchy was structured to manage power levels, expertise, and authority. The Tower's largest component worked similarly to a military system, and its sole purpose was to eliminate all the Zongzi.

It had been 50 years since the first Zongzi outbreak occurred in this country. Zongzi were like those zombies in the movies, but they tended to be more intelligent and resilient. There was a lot of news about their victims every day. Despite the existence of an organization like the Tower to protect humanity, the Zongzi mocked us by delivering such news repeatedly. People speculated that the cause of this never-ending misery was due to a failed experiment, an alien invasion, or even advanced technology that went wrong, among many other theories. It became a topic of discussion from time to time. Nevertheless, none of them could be proven even now. But God finally had mercy on us when humanity discovered the superhuman entities that could eliminate Zongzi since it couldn’t be killed by ordinary means. Those were the Sentinels and Guides, and the Tower was built for them.

The Tower was established by nine prestigious families at that time; that was why the Tower I was going to was also called Nine Gates Tower. My family was one of the founding families. Even so, I told you, I had no privilege.

Now that not all of the founding families were still present, the tragedy had yet to end.

I was already so close to the entrance. No surprise, many people came to the Tower, seemingly for the same reason as me. We needed to show our ID cards before entering; it might take a while. While waiting, I looked at the buildings spread before me. There was no doubt that the area inside the Tower was very large. There were many divisions and facilities built inside. It was still fresh in my mind from what I had read the other day that the Tower had eight divisions.

It was my turn. I showed my ID card and stated my purpose for coming. They told me where the parking lot was and where to head after that.

As I parked the car, I recalled what Xiao Hua had said to me.

[When they check your ranking, say that you’re a Lone Sentinel.]

“What if they know I’m lying?”

[They won’t, at least for the time being. The method to determine if someone is a Lone Sentinel can’t be decided right away on the spot; they need further examination to make a final claim. They also measure the last time you took the guiding essence. I heard your uncle exclusively gives that to you once every three months. Since a normal Guide needs more frequent guiding, that fact can be your excuse.]

The last time Uncle Two gave me the guiding essence was a month ago. It should be enough to convince them.

I hadn’t told Xiao Hua the content of the voice recording, though. I was still confused about the whole situation, and it wasn’t the right time to tell him. He only knew that someone named Zhang Qiling had sent a mysterious package to me.

I entered the building, I couldn’t lie that I was a bit nervous. Upon entering the Sentinel-Guide Recruitment & Assessment Center, I saw many Sentinels and Guides ready to join the Tower, waiting for their turns.

I needed to register myself first. After that, a recruiter gave me a simple recruitment ID card. I had to wait for my number to be called for the first test—a rank assessment and initial screening, just like the others.

“No. 817.”

I walked to the recruitment room.

“Mr. Wu, correct? Please sit down, we're going to check your rank.”

"Yes." I nodded. My throat felt dry as I forced down a swallow.

“Please put your hand here.”

Suddenly, I felt like Xiao Hua’s Plan B was a bad idea.

“Okay, a C-rank Sentinel. You can go there to get the stamp. They will explain to you what to do next.”

I was stunned. Did I hear him correctly?

A C-rank? When did I raise my rank?

End of Chapter 3 (7/3/2025)

Notes :

1. Frequency

Definition: Represents the possibility, intensity, and compatibility of a Sentinel and Guide's bond on a certain level. Frequency doesn't measure their physical or mental abilities but rather how well they can connect and synchronize with another Sentinel/Guide.

2. Spiritual Landscape

Definition: The mental world unique to each Sentinel and Guide. It represents their subconscious mind, emotions, and personality.

Traits:

• It is a personalized, dream-like space within the mind of a Sentinel or Guide.
• It forms naturally based on their soul, emotions, experiences, and mental state.
• It can be shared during deep bonding, allowing a Sentinel and Guide to see and interact with each other's inner worlds.
• Strong Sentinels/Guides may have mental defenses, appearing as walls, locked doors, or fog.
• A Guide can enter and heal a Sentinel's landscape, restoring balance.
• When fully bonded, a Sentinel and Guide's landscapes may merge, symbolizing deep trust and connection.

3. The Tower

Definition: An organization to govern all Sentinels and Guides, as well as a special force whose purpose is to eliminate all the Zongzi.

Divisions:

• Central Administration Division: Controls laws and regulations; manages political relations with external forces; oversees Sentinels/Guides civilian life and social stability.
• Combat Operations Division: Handles all operations, assigns missions, and manages high-risk combat.
• Research & Development Division: Studies the nature of Sentinels and Guides.
• Sentinel-Guide Compatibility Matching Division: Conducts compatibility tests, arranges bonding, and stabilizes pairs.
• Medical & Stabilization Division: Treats unstable Sentinels and Guides experiencing mental exhaustion; prevents manic episodes, zoning out, and mental breakdowns; and monitors Dark Sentinels/Guides.
• Training & Education Division: Trains Sentinels and Guides in combat, mental defense, and fieldwork.
• Security & Enforcement Division: Maintains order, tracks Dark Sentinels/Guides, and protects the Tower.
• Sentinel-Guide Recruitment & Assessment: Oversees the recruitment process by identifying, evaluating, and integrating new Sentinels and Guides into the Tower.

4. Power Level and Ranking System

Definition: The Tower classifies Sentinels and Guides by their powers.

Sentinel Ranking (From High to Low):

The higher the power level, the more Sentinels need Guides. The ranking cannot be changed unless one goes through the second awakening.

• S-Rank (Elite Sentinel): The highest level and extremely rare; very strong and powerful but dangerous if unstable; near-superhuman senses and overwhelming physical power; can operate without a Guide for short periods; hard to find compatible Guides.
• A-Rank (High-Level Sentinel): Strong and powerful; can control large areas; more common than S-rank; extremely sharp senses, faster reflexes, and strong battle instinct; highly compatible with strong Guides.
• B-Rank (Mid-Tier Sentinel): Above average, reliable, and stable; enhanced perception. Better-than-human physicality; effective in combat and support at a standard elite level.  
• C-Rank (Low-Level Sentinel): Average ability; basic enhancements and struggles with sensory overload.  
• D-Rank (Weakest): Weaker than average; barely heightened senses and little combat ability; rarely dispatched in combat.  
• E-Rank (Disabled): Extremely weak; has special conditions that need constant support.  

Guide Ranking (From High to Low):  

The higher the power level, the more effective the Guides are at their stabilization. The ranking cannot be changed unless one goes through the second awakening.

• S-Rank (Elite Guide): The highest level and extremely rare; has high mental endurance and can control vast areas; psychic mastery; can stabilize multiple Sentinels at once; deep mental projection.
• A-Rank (High-Level Guide): More common than S-rank; has good mental endurance and can control large areas; strong telepathic/empathic range.
• B-Rank (Mid-Tier Guide): Above average, reliable, and stable; standard emotional stabilization and minor telepathic abilities; can provide effective stabilization and support, at a standard elite level. 
• C-Rank (Low-Level Guide): Average ability; limited telepathic/empathic skills; can only stabilize one Sentinel at a time.
• D-Rank (Weakest): Weaker than average; almost no psychic ability; may require training to function; rarely used for stabilization.
• E-Rank (Disabled): Extremely weak; has special conditions that need constant support.