Chapter 99: You Will Be the Last Person to Die
Beside them, after being ignored by Xie Qiang as she worriedly checked Hong Que’s injuries, Cang Jiu narrowed his fox-like eyes.
Had their relationship become this good in just a few days?
He felt a bit jealous.
The silver-haired youth stepped forward and tugged at Xie Qiang’s sleeve, subtly separating the tightly embracing pair. “Your Highness, now is not the time to worry about him. The Zerg Empress will likely summon every Zerg in the entire wormhole. We must leave this place as quickly as possible!”
Xie Qiang looked back. Indeed, the insect tide in the distance was growing denser. Sen Ji and Mo Yin, who had been at the edge of the swarm, were nowhere to be seen. She couldn’t help but worry. “Then those two…”
“They likely went to pursue the Zerg Empress. Don’t worry about them; we should head back to the starship first.” Cang Jiu reached down her sleeve, intending to take Xie Qiang’s hand and lead her away, but Hong Que suddenly scooped her up in a princess carry. “Then let’s move fast!”
With that, he took off running.
Cang Jiu: …
This stupid bird!!!
The fox youth gritted his teeth, forced to turn toward Jiang Qingwan, who had walked over after being left behind. His voice was cold. “Let’s go.”
Jiang Qingwan lowered her head, proactively offering her crumpled collar. “I’ll have to trouble Strategist Cang.”
The four of them moved rapidly toward the starship.
Sensing Xie Qiang’s presence moving further away, the Zerg Empress let out an anxious screech. At her call, the ground in front of Xie Qiang’s group suddenly collapsed. Countless flying Zerg erupted like surging black magma, swarming toward the four of them!
“These pests! They never end!”
Due to the interruption of his secret technique, Hong Que was temporarily unable to summon the Zhu Que to help. He had no choice but to set Xie Qiang down and shield her behind him.
Jiang Qingwan was also tossed beside Xie Qiang by Cang Jiu. Cang Jiu summoned the Silver Fox, forming a triangular defensive position with Hong Que to protect the two girls while meeting the incoming Zerg.
Xie Qiang watched the sky full of Zerg, worrying if they could escape with their lives, when she noticed Jiang Qingwan suddenly crouch down and set her backpack on the ground.
Jiang Qingwan opened the bag. As she rummaged through it, she asked, “Her Highness hasn’t had any protein for several days, right? Would you like pork jerky or beef jerky first?”
Xie Qiang looked down at her with an incredulous expression.
As expected of the heroine! Even in a situation like this, she actually has the heart to worry about protein!
Xie Qiang: “Beef jerky, please.”
“Certainly, Your Highness.” Jiang Qingwan pulled out a pack of compressed beef jerky, tore it open, and handed it to Xie Qiang. She then reached out to feel her forehead to ensure she didn’t have a fever before asking, “Were you bitten by any poisonous insects? I brought ointment.”
Xie Qiang shook her head. “Do you have high-efficiency healing ointment? My shoulder is injured.”
“Yes.” Jiang Qingwan quickly unbuttoned seven or eight layers of thermal wear, pulling a box of ointment from the innermost layer to hand to Xie Qiang.
The novel mentioned that when the heroine went down into the wormhole with Cang Jiu to find people, she wore many layers of thermal clothing. But seeing it in person, Xie Qiang couldn’t help but marvel at her constitution.
Perhaps because her mental spirit was a Polar Bear, Jiang Qingwan’s strength was greater than that of an average Guide, and her cold resistance was superior to ordinary people. Even if she were hung by the neck in mid-air, she would probably survive quite well.
Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Xie Qiang opened the ointment and began applying it to the bruises on her shoulder.
Jiang Qingwan caught a glimpse of the terrifying deep purple mark on her shoulder. After hesitating, she asked softly, “Your Highness… how did you get this injury?”
Xie Qiang thought for a moment and said, “You wouldn’t believe me even if I told you.”
Jiang Qingwan said seriously, “As long as Your Highness doesn’t lie, I will believe it.”
Xie Qiang gave an “oh” and said honestly, “I got this from fighting the Zerg Empress.”
Jiang Qingwan: ?
Jiang Qingwan looked at Xie Qiang with a hint of exasperation. “Forget it. If you don’t want to say, then don’t.”
The Princess must be dizzy from hunger in the wormhole and bumped into a rock, causing the bruise. She was probably too embarrassed to admit it.
Thus, Jiang Qingwan rummaged through her bag again and stuffed various types of meat jerky into Xie Qiang’s pockets.
Once she was sure Xie Qiang had enough to eat, she put her backpack back on and looked at the surrounding insect tide.
Xie Qiang finished applying the ointment, fastened her buttons, and looked up to see Jiang Qingwan staring intently at the Zerg. She followed her gaze.
These Zerg were truly too ferocious and hideous. She didn’t want to look after just a few glances. Seeing that Jiang Qingwan showed no sign of disgust or fear, she couldn’t help but ask, “Guide Jiang, aren’t you afraid?”
Jiang Qingwan stopped chewing. After swallowing, she looked at Xie Qiang with confusion in her eyes.
Was the Princess feeling afraid?
The girl before her was only in her early twenties; this was likely her first time seeing such a scene. Jiang Qingwan gave a gentle smile, remembering the first time she had gone to the battlefield.
Facing a surging insect tide, it would be a lie to say she wasn’t scared. But when she saw the Sentinels charging forward to fight the Zerg, risking their lives to ensure the safety of the Guides, her fear vanished.
“Your Highness need not worry,” she said in a soft, gentle voice. “The Sentinels will protect you.”
As long as you are still an S-class Guide, they will not abandon you.
Xie Qiang was noncommittal. She watched Cang Jiu and Hong Que fighting the Zerg and analyzed, “This is a wormhole area, and the Zerg Empress is right here. Without a complete Sentinel army to suppress the tide, we will eventually be worn to death.”
“Is that so…” Jiang Qingwan lowered her head slightly. After a moment of thought, she looked up with a graceful smile. “Then there’s really no other way. If we must die, then so be it.”
“However, I can promise Your Highness that you will be the last person to die.”
The young woman stood there with her backpack, looking bulky in her thermal gear. Because she had spent several cold nights in the wormhole, her cheeks and the tip of her nose were red and chapped from the frost. Yet, she maintained her smile as she promised softly, “If the Sentinels all fall in battle, I will take their place and guard you until the very end, even if my unworthy body can only protect you for a single second.”
Xie Qiang froze.
She knew Jiang Qingwan wasn’t just saying pretty words, because the heroine in the original text was exactly this kind of person.
She viewed the Empire’s interests as everything and was willing to give her life for them. If the Empire needed someone to improve Sentinel benefits to soothe their dissatisfaction, she would charge to the front lines to purify low-level Sentinels.
And since Xie Qiang was beneficial to the Empire, she would protect her at any cost.
“Alright, thank you then.” Xie Qiang chewed her beef jerky, murmuring to herself. But Jiang Qingwan is the heroine of this world, after all; she shouldn’t die, right?
Wait? Thinking about it this way, I’m an important villainess! The plot hasn’t reached my death scene yet!
Xie Qiang’s slouched back instantly straightened, and the jerky in her mouth tasted even better. “It seems there’s still hope for this battle.”
She just needed to verify if any Zerg were coveting her little feet. If they were, it would mean this world was still working hard to follow the original plot.
In that case, it wouldn’t let her or the heroine die so easily.
“Can I borrow one of your coats?” Xie Qiang turned and asked Jiang Qingwan.
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