Chapter 108. Shen Ji Takes Over
Su Tang shook her head, her voice muffled.
“I have no appetite. Don’t bother.”
Yasuo grew even more frantic. His eyes scanned the room and suddenly landed on Xiao Yu, who was curled into a ball on the small bed. The kitten was lazily nestled in the soft bedding, ears pricked as he listened to their conversation.
Seeing him look over, the cat let out a meow, and a pink little paw began to rhythmically knead the bedsheet.
Yasuo’s eyes lit up. He immediately scooped up the little fellow and stuffed him into Su Tang’s arms.
Su Tang looked down at the soft little puff in her arms. The little guy was tilting his head at her, his round, dark-green eyes like two translucent glass beads. He tilted his head further and acted spoiled in her embrace.
Su Tang’s heart warmed.
Her fingertips gently stroked Xiao Yu’s soft fur. Feeling the warm weight in her arms, the stifled feeling in her heart seemed to dissipate a little.
Seeing that Su Tang’s mood had stabilized significantly, Yasuo finally breathed a sigh of relief. The sound of the door handle turning came from the door, and a second later, An Se walked in. Seeing the two of them in the room, he raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly.
“It’s good that you’re both here. I just got in touch with Mo Xiao’s side. He asked me to send his regards and say that he’s doing well, so you shouldn’t worry.”
Seeing the girl he had just cheered up with Xiao Yu sinking into low spirits again, Yasuo couldn’t help but glare at An Se.
“He also told me to tell you that it’s just some superficial injuries. Sentinels have strong physiques; he’ll recover in no time, so you don’t need to worry.”
Sentinels really didn’t have many weaknesses other than their susceptibility to pollution. After listening to An Se give her a mini-lecture on Sentinel anatomy, Su Tang felt a bit more at ease.
After spending two peaceful days without leaving the Medical Department, Yasuo brought more bad news.
On the morning of the third day, Yasuo called An Se to Su Tang’s bedroom and told them both the news he had just learned.
“A suppression collar?”
Su Tang repeated in a low voice, her voice tightening.
“Why did they suddenly put a suppression collar on him? Isn’t that a measure only used for Sentinels whose spirits have collapsed?”
“Could the White Tower be doing this on purpose?”
“You’re right. They are doing it on purpose. However, it isn’t the White Tower…”
An Se said in a deep voice, sharing the news he had just received.
“I just got word and wanted to discuss it with you. Shen Ji has opened up access to his intelligence network for the White Tower. He had only one requirement: to be given full proxy authority over Mo Xiao’s disposal.”
“Mo Xiao’s matter is a mess to begin with. If the punishment is too heavy, it will hurt the hearts of all the Sentinels in the White Tower; if it’s too light, they won’t be able to give the Guide Protection Association an explanation. The White Tower is desperate to hand this mess off. What exactly is Shen Ji trying to do by taking it over now?”
Yasuo pursed his lips. This fellow Shen Ji had really gone too far this time.
He should have given him a proper thrashing yesterday.
“What else could he be doing? He put a suppression collar on Mo Xiao—just like the one he wears. I expect there’s a hint of revenge in it. We all know Team 1 rejected his application recently; he’s probably just venting.”
Su Tang’s fingertips suddenly tightened. Xiao Yu let out an uneasy whimper from being held too tightly, and she quickly loosened her grip, though her knuckles remained white.
“That madman…”
Only Sentinels whose spirits had collapsed and were treated as Grade 1 hazards would be forced to wear a collar. Shen Ji’s move was intensely insulting.
Su Tang’s fingertips stopped moving on Xiao Yu’s soft fur, and cold fury surged in her eyes.
She knew Shen Ji’s intentions all too well. This almost insulting disposal wasn’t just for Mo Xiao to see—it was for her.
“He wants me to go to him.”
Su Tang’s voice was soft, but it carried an undeniable certainty.
“I think so too. His spiritual power is on the verge of collapse. Aside from you, no one in the White Tower—no, in the entire world—can bring him back from the brink of death. He’s insulting Mo Xiao and controlling him at all costs not just to vent his emotions, but more importantly, to force you to find him.”
After An Se finished, he let out a long sigh. He could understand Shen Ji’s desire to live, but this move was a bit too rushed. After this, he doubted Su Tang would ever look at him with a straight face again.
“Then are we just going to let him have his way? That’s far too easy for that madman. I think I should go instead. I’ll go bring Mo Xiao out. Since he’s in Team 2, I’ll take Team 5 there for some ‘drills.’ It wouldn’t count as a violation.”
As Yasuo spoke, he stretched his muscles and turned to push the door open, but Su Tang called out to stop him.
“Yasuo, wait.”
“Mo Xiao is still currently being detained. Even if you take Team 5 to Team 2 for drills, let’s not talk about what excuse you’d find—just talking about bringing Mo Xiao back from there is impossible.”
“Then what should we do?”
Su Tang was silent for a moment, then suddenly let out a laugh.
“Shen Ji wants me to take the initiative to find him? Fine, I’ll go.”
“No! It’s too dangerous!” Yasuo immediately objected. “Shen Ji is completely mad and reckless now. If you go, you’ll be walking into a tiger’s den!”
“I know it’s dangerous, but it’s the best method for now.”
Su Tang looked at the two of them, her eyes exceptionally clear.
“Right now, I’m a sickly Guide recuperating in the Medical Department. No matter how mad he is, he wouldn’t dare move against me within the White Tower.”
“He just wants me to give him a spiritual soothing, right? If that’s what he wants, I’ll satisfy him.”
She just hoped he could handle it.
“Then I’ll go with you. Shen Ji’s current temperament is truly hard to grasp. No one can guarantee what he’ll do. If I’m with you, I can take you away immediately if anything goes wrong.”
Su Tang nodded, agreeing to Yasuo’s request.
Yasuo accompanied Su Tang to the place where they had last seen Shen Ji. Unlike last time, the number of Sentinel guards in the corridor was smaller, though those highly lethal weapons had still not been removed.
In the corridor, the guns at the Sentinels’ waists glinted coldly in the sunlight. Su Tang wore her ordinary clothes and a face mask, blocking out the gazes of others along the way.
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