Every Sentinel I Dreamed of Came Looking for Me

"The mine did indeed collapse. The energy fluctuations were too intense, causing the surrounding pollutants to rampage. As for the reason... is this the only thing you want to ask about?"

Yun Sheng paused, and her expression flickered.

Watching her reaction, Bai Ye felt the thorn in his heart dig a little deeper.

’Does she really care that much about Si Jin?’

’She knows I also came back from the abandoned mine, yet she shows no interest in how I’m doing. Is Si Jin all she cares about?’

The questions tumbled in his throat, but in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to ask any of them.

He remembered how his previous persistence had only been met with Yun Sheng’s wariness and distance. If he pressed her now, he would likely only push her further away.

Noticing his expression, Yun Sheng quickly explained, "I... I was just curious. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked so many questions. You called me out here for a reason. Was there something you wanted to ask me?"

’She assumed the situation at the abandoned mine was classified, beyond what someone of her rank was allowed to know, and that her questions had displeased White Tiger.’

Bai Ye saw the caution and wariness in her eyes, and the tightness in his chest grew.

’She was always like this with him.’

But she wasn’t like this in his dreams.

’In his dreams, she would kiss him, hold him, and whisper words in his ear that made his heart pound uncontrollably...’

Bai Ye lowered his gaze, taking a deep breath.

When he looked up again, the subtle chill emanating from him had mostly subsided, and his voice was a little gentler.

"It’s nothing major. I just heard you ran into danger on your mission today. As your designated escort Sentinel, I failed in my duties, so I wanted to apologize to you in person."

’That’s his reason?’

Yun Sheng’s lips twitched, and an awkward smile crept onto her face.

"It’s fine. We went out as a team today with two B-level Sentinels, and I wasn’t hurt. There’s no need for you to apologize, Mr. White Tiger."

Seeing how eager she was to distance herself, Bai Ye felt another prick of pain in his heart.

"Those two B-level Sentinels are decent. But if I had been there today, you wouldn’t have ended up in such a mess.

You have another mission tomorrow, so I’ve requested to be assigned as your team’s escort Sentinel. With me there, you can relax a little."

Yun Sheng was utterly stunned.

’Is he... volunteering to protect me?’

"Mr. White Tiger," she began, her voice laced with uncertainty, "you really don’t have to..."

"It’s my duty," Bai Ye cut in. "But I have my own reasons, too."

’His own reasons?’

’What kind of reasons?’

Yun Sheng wanted to ask, but when she met Bai Ye’s deep, dark eyes, the words caught in her throat.

Bai Ye said no more.

"It’s getting late. Go back. You have a mission tomorrow."

With that, he turned and headed for the command tent. After a few steps, he stopped.

"Oh," he said without turning around. "It’s windy tonight. Be careful not to catch a cold."

Yun Sheng stood rooted to the spot, staring blankly as his gray-clad figure vanished from sight.

’It’s windy, don’t catch a cold?’

’Was that him showing concern?’

’What an awkward way to show it.’

’He couldn’t even look at me while saying it, and his tone was so stiff, like he was forcing himself.’

Yun Sheng shook her head. Deciding not to dwell on it, she turned and walked back to her tent.

To be honest, she really didn’t want White Tiger to come with them.

Guo Kai and Ma Yu might be B-level, but if they encountered a Dark Sentinel, their first instinct would be to lead the team in a retreat, not to dig deeper.

But White Tiger was different. She didn’t know his exact Level, but judging by his presence and reaction during the last pollutant attack, he had to be at least A-level.

’If someone like that ran into a Dark Sentinel, would he really just ’lead the team in a retreat’?’

’Once Si Jin recovers, he’ll definitely come find me.’

She really didn’t want any more complications.

’But... what could she say?’

’He’s an escort Sentinel; it’s his prerogative to request assignment to any team. As a mere Preparatory Guide, how could I refuse?’

Yun Sheng sighed, lifted the tent flap and ducked inside.

...

The piercing sound of the assembly whistle rang out early the next morning.

Yun Sheng rolled out of bed, washed and dressed as quickly as she could, and ran to the assembly point with Cheng Nian and Li Wen.

The other members of Group Six were already there.

And next to them, the familiar gray-clad figure stood quietly with his arms crossed.

’White Tiger...’

’He actually came!’

"Group Six is assembled," Guo Kai announced, clearing his throat. "Today’s mission area is deeper than yesterday’s, so everyone stay sharp. Also, in addition to Ma Yu and me, we’ll be joined by Sentinel White Tiger. With him here, you’ll have extra protection. Let’s aim to complete this mission successfully."

Cheng Nian sidled up to Yun Sheng and said with a smile, "The White Tiger Officer came too! He’s so powerful. Looks like we won’t have such a rough time today."

Yun Sheng didn’t reply.

She watched the gray-clad figure, her mind fixated on a single thought.

’I hope Si Jin doesn’t find me too soon. I hope he doesn’t run into White Tiger. I don’t want Si Jin to be exposed and get hurt again!’

"Move out!"

Guo Kai’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

The group headed out of the encampment.

Today’s mission area was deep within a dense forest to the southeast of the encampment.

Though the area had been corrupted by pollutants years ago, the trees hadn’t completely died. Instead, they had stubbornly survived in the mutated environment.

Towering trees blotted out the sun, making the forest floor damp and muggy. The air was thick with the stench of rotting vegetation and a strange, cloyingly sweet odor.

Vines of all kinds draped down from the canopy, weaving between the trunks to form a dense, impenetrable green web.

"Watch your step," Ma Yu said, his gaze sweeping over the dangling vines. "Places like this are perfect for things to hide."

The words had barely left his mouth when, from the canopy overhead, several thick, previously motionless vines suddenly sprang to life!

They were perfectly camouflaged, indistinguishable from the ordinary vines around them. It wasn’t until they dove down with lightning speed that everyone realized they weren’t plants at all, but living creatures.

"Watch out!"

Guo Kai’s warning had barely been shouted before the vines began to attack everyone.

Guo Kai swung his blade, severing one vine, only for another to wrap around his wrist. Ma Yu rolled away, barely dodging an attack. Zhou Ying’s spiritual power pierced one of the vines, but before she could catch her breath, another lunged at her from the side.

Cheng Nian shrieked and dodged while Li Wen desperately pulled her back. Zhao Qian’s legs gave out, and she was dragged away by He Yi, who grabbed her by the collar.

In the chaos, a dark green vine, thicker and more concealed than the others, slithered silently out from the decaying leaves behind Yun Sheng.

It didn’t attack. Instead, it shot out and wrapped around her ankle with astonishing force!

"Ah—"

Yun Sheng was yanked off her feet by an immense force. The next second, the vine contracted violently, dragging her at high speed into the depths of the forest!

"Yun Sheng!"

Cheng Nian’s shriek erupted behind her, but it was quickly swallowed by the rushing wind and the lashing of branches.

Yun Sheng struggled desperately, but the vine was wrapped so tightly it felt like an iron band cutting into her flesh.

The surrounding trees blurred past. Just then, a gray-clad figure gave chase, moving at incredible speed.

It was Bai Ye!

He had taken off the instant Yun Sheng was dragged away, his body a blur as he rapidly closed the distance.

Just then, a black Energy Barrier materialized in front of Bai Ye without any warning.

Caught off guard, Bai Ye nearly crashed into it. He wrenched himself into a sharp turn in mid-air, landing on a thick tree trunk.

He steadied himself with one hand on the trunk, his pupils contracting as he stared at the black barrier that had appeared out of nowhere.

’This power... it carries an aura that is incredibly familiar to me.’

’It’s Si Jin. He’s here!’