Chapter 9: The Man from the Dream Has Come
"Si Jin... You dare to break in here!"
The Abyssal Giant Wolf before them was the spiritual body of Si Jin, the Former War God of the Star Alliance, who had long been deemed completely out of control—a fallen Dark Sentinel.
Not only had Si Jin infiltrated the facility, but he had also triggered the highest-level contamination alert.
’What is he trying to do? Does he intend to completely destroy the institute?’
"Si Jin, come out! I know you’re here!"
A faint golden light began to emanate from Bai Ye, the ethereal form of a Holy Light White Tiger shimmering into view behind him.
He shielded Yun Sheng securely behind him, and a solid Holy Light Barrier instantly unfurled, stretching between them and the giant wolf.
"Grrr..."
The Abyssal Giant Wolf seemed enraged by the move. It abruptly raised a forepaw and slammed it viciously against the barrier.
Firmly protected behind Bai Ye, Yun Sheng watched the giant beast radiating a familiar yet terrifying aura, her heart pounding wildly.
’I remember now...’
’The aura and power radiating from this Abyssal Giant Wolf are identical to the man from my first dream.’
’Why is it here? Surely it’s not here for me!’
Just then, the Abyssal Giant Wolf suddenly lowered its head, attempting to bypass the barrier in an almost clumsy manner.
Bai Ye’s brows knitted together even tighter.
’This isn’t right!’
’This is absolutely not how the spiritual body of a rampaging Dark Sentinel should behave!’
But as Yun Sheng’s initial fear subsided, she gazed into the deep blue, beastly pupils reflecting her own image. For some reason, an absurd thought began to form in her mind.
’It seems... it doesn’t want to hurt me?’
The thought had barely crossed her mind when the Abyssal Giant Wolf suddenly reared up and lunged at Bai Ye with all its might.
"Watch out!"
Bai Ye shoved Yun Sheng back. The spectral Holy Light White Tiger let out a long roar and violently crashed into the pouncing giant wolf.
Golden light and black flames clashed violently again, the aftershocks of energy causing the corridor to shake violently!
The instant Bai Ye was fully focused on dealing with the giant wolf, a ghostly black shadow manifested silently, swooping down at an incredible speed.
It was Si Jin himself!
He wore a tattered black combat suit, his face mostly obscured by shadows and grime. In the instant Bai Ye was pinned down by the Abyssal Giant Wolf, he had already appeared before Yun Sheng.
Yun Sheng saw only a blur, felt a grip tighten around her waist, and was whisked away from her spot.
"Si Jin!" Bai Ye’s furious roar came from behind her, but it was too late.
Clutching Yun Sheng tightly, Si Jin sped toward the entrance of the emergency passage on the third basement level.
「Basement Level Three, High-Risk Quarantine Zone.」
The lighting here was dim, with only the flashing of red emergency lights. The air was filled with a medley of smells—disinfectant, metallic coolant, and more.
Si Jin brought Yun Sheng into a testing and quarantine room that had just been violently broken into and was now in utter disarray.
THUD!
Yun Sheng’s back hit the cold metal wall.
Si Jin released her but didn’t move away.
He stood before her, his tall frame completely shrouding her in his shadow.
"You..." His voice was hoarse and deep, as if he hadn’t spoken properly in a very long time, yet it carried a knife-like sharpness. "Who are you?"
Yun Sheng’s heart was pounding, but she forced herself to stay calm, her face a mask of terror and confusion as she looked at Si Jin.
"I... I don’t know what you’re talking about. Who are you? Why did you capture me?"
Si Jin didn’t speak right away, only staring at her intently.
Just then, the Abyssal Giant Wolf that had been fighting Bai Ye outside suddenly appeared.
But its form had changed.
It was no longer the imposing, giant beast, but had shrunk to the size of a large dog.
It walked to Yun Sheng’s feet and, in a placating gesture, rubbed its furry head against her calf.
Yun Sheng: "!!!"
Yun Sheng’s body went rigid. She dared only to scream in her mind, ’Don’t come over here! Don’t nuzzle me! Your master is watching!’
Si Jin watched as his spiritual body, which was normally exclusionary and aggressive toward everyone, displayed an almost clingy affection for the woman before him.
’This is simply ridiculous!’
He lunged closer, slamming a hand against the wall beside Yun Sheng’s ear with a THUD. His voice was cold as ice. "What did you do to my spiritual body?"
Yun Sheng flinched in fright, casting a quick glance at the "big dog" still rubbing against her leg and wailing internally, ’I’d like to know that too!’
"What... What could I have done? It was your spiritual body that approached me on its own!"
This answer clearly didn’t satisfy Si Jin.
His eyes hardened, and his other hand shot out to grip Yun Sheng’s neck. The pressure wasn’t heavy, but it was full of menace.
"Release your spiritual body." He clearly thought the problem lay with her concealed spiritual body.
"My awakening failed... I don’t have a spiritual body!" Yun Sheng choked out.
Si Jin froze, his scrutinizing gaze sweeping sharply over her entire body.
’No spiritual body? Could an ordinary person without a spiritual body make the Abyssal Giant Wolf behave so abnormally?’
His brows furrowed tightly. The force of his grip began to increase uncontrollably, fueled by his confusion and the turmoil roiling within him.
"Ugh..."
Yun Sheng struggled to breathe, her face instantly flushing red as she clawed uselessly at Si Jin’s fingers.
But her strength was useless against his. Just as her vision started to go black, Si Jin’s body suddenly stiffened, and a pained grunt escaped his throat.
The air around him suddenly distorted. The violent spiritual power he had been forcibly suppressing erupted without warning, like a bursting dam.
’He’s losing control!’
Yun Sheng’s heart nearly leaped out of her chest.
’The original work mentioned Si Jin. This Former War God, long since fallen into a Dark Sentinel, was a walking, humanoid catastrophe whenever he completely rampaged.’
’If she didn’t find a way to save herself, she would be crushed by this rampant power in the next second!’
’There were only three ways for a guide to soothe a Sentinel: physical contact, in-depth guidance via a spiritual body, or... a deeper "union."’
’The first two were impossible for her. She didn’t have a spiritual body, and as for "union"... the very thought made her want to scream.’
’That left only one option!’
’Physical contact. Using a guide’s body to temporarily channel soothing spiritual power, calming the most superficial layer of a Sentinel’s frenzy.’
In this life-or-death situation, the instinct to survive overrode all shame and hesitation.
Yun Sheng stopped clawing uselessly at the hand on her neck. Instead, steeling her resolve, she used the last of her strength to suddenly throw her arms around Si Jin’s lean waist, hugging him tightly!
Then, recalling the vague description in the original work, she pressed her palms firmly against Si Jin’s tense back.
Through the layer of torn fabric, she could clearly feel the tremors rippling beneath his hard muscles, and the unusually scorching temperature of his skin.
Yun Sheng’s fingertips curled unconsciously. Very lightly, very slowly, she traced them a short distance up the line of his spine.
The motion was as light as a feather’s touch—less a soothing caress and more of an uncertain fumble.
Her cheek was pressed against the cold collar of his combat suit. Because they were so close, she could even hear the heavy, chaotic rhythm of his heart, almost blending with her own.