Chapter 132: Pre-departure Soothing
Su Tang watched their grave expressions and had a general idea of what was happening, but she didn’t ask further.
Her fingers instinctively toyed with the hem of her clothes as she spoke softly.
“The operation begins in two days, and it’s quite dangerous. The pollution zones are filled with red mist, and that stuff is far too infectious for you. How about I perform a purification for you now? It’ll get your condition to its peak and hopefully reduce the danger.”
As her words fell, the previously heavy silence in the room was instantly replaced by a surging undercurrent, and the sound of breathing became audible.
“Would… would that be too much trouble for you?”
Mo Xiao’s voice was several shades lower and raspier than usual. He kept his face deliberately stiff, but he couldn’t hide the anticipation in his eyes. He inadvertently rubbed his thumb and index finger together.
“It’s no trouble. I want you to come back safely too.”
Professionally speaking, their interests were currently tied together; having them around gave her more leverage against the White Tower.
Personally, she truly didn’t want anything to happen to them.
“Great! I’m applying to go first.”
Zhan Ye’s eyes were shining as he stared directly at Su Tang. His infatuation was so obvious he looked like a dog eyeing a coveted meat bone, almost ready to pounce and give her a giant lick.
“Not you.”
Su Tang bit her lip, her expression slightly awkward.
“When I purified you last time, I already stabilized your values within the optimal range. So, I don’t plan on purifying you this time.”
Zhan Ye instantly wilted like a punctured balloon, his head hanging dejectedly.
“Mo Xiao and Yasuo, you two can discuss it. I can purify one of you tonight. The other can find me tomorrow at noon. That’ll leave the day after for pre-battle preparations.”
Not hearing his own name, An Se suppressed the discomfort in his heart and lowered his eyes.
“I’ll go first then.”
Yasuo was half a beat too slow and Mo Xiao beat him to it.
“Alright. Follow me to my room in a bit then.”
“Okay.”
Listening to the two of them set the time, Yasuo was filled with regret.
Su Tang had given them two options—one at night and one at noon. The atmospheres were worlds apart, and the things that could be done were naturally different as well.
However, he didn’t say anything. Yasuo knew in his heart that they were already getting the better end of the deal since Su Tang had volunteered. He had no right to be picky. He could only blame his own lack of initiative for letting Mo Xiao win the first slot.
Since the environment wasn’t ideal, he would just have to use his own efforts to make up for the difference.
Mo Xiao was going back with Su Tang now, so he obviously wouldn’t have time to prepare anything fun or interesting.
Yasuo had a whole night and morning to think and prepare. What did it matter if the atmosphere was a bit lacking?
It was far from certain which of them would give Su Tang a better experience.
Having reached this realization, Yasuo’s irritation vanished, replaced by renewed excitement.
In the single room, one Sentinel had a flushed face and a wandering gaze, lost in thought.
Another Sentinel was inexplicably energized, looking as if he’d been injected with adrenaline.
A third was shrunk into a corner, looking listless and dejected with his head down.
An Se raised an eyebrow at the bizarre atmosphere and broke the silence.
“We’ve covered everything. Since you two have settled the timing, Mo Xiao, go with Su Tang now. Yasuo, Zhan Ye, and I will double-check the operation details.”
Su Tang nodded and turned to Mo Xiao.
“Let’s go.”
Mo Xiao instinctively followed. His gaze landed on her back, the anticipation in his eyes almost impossible to hide.
The lights in the corridor were soft, stretching their shadows long. The air was filled with a faint scent of disinfectant, and Mo Xiao’s body temperature began to rise.
They pushed open the door and the room’s lights came on, casting a warm yellow glow. The unique scent of the little Guide enveloped him instantly. Mo Xiao felt dizzy, his brain feeling as if it were on fire, unable to function.
Su Tang entered first, pulled over a chair, and said softly:
“Sit down and just relax.”
Mo Xiao sat in the chair, his eyes tracing her figure involuntarily.
She was leaning over, moving the blanket from the side of the bed nearest Mo Xiao to the other side. As she bent over, her hair fell beside her neck, and the crystal pendant at her throat swayed gently, catching the light.
His Adam’s apple bobbed, and his body temperature rose even higher than it had been in the hallway.
“Are you ready?”
Su Tang turned around with a gentle smile.
Mo Xiao nodded and took the initiative to relax his body.
Su Tang was satisfied with his cooperation. She pressed the palm of her right hand gently against the man’s chest. Pale gold mental threads flowed into his body like water, first enveloping him entirely before tentatively probing inward.
Mo Xiao closed his eyes, his long lashes trembling slightly.
He felt the familiar warmth wrap around him gently, carefully entering his body and pressing against his mental barrier.
“Good. Now, slowly open your barrier to me and let me in.”
Mo Xiao took a deep breath and relaxed his mental barrier as instructed.
That invisible, year-round wall of tension was like melting snow, gradually opening gaps for Su Tang’s mental threads.
“The pollution inside has mostly been cleared. Mo Xiao, I might need to take a look around your mental landscape. Can you handle it?”
She wanted to enter his mental landscape?
Mo Xiao’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He didn’t make her wait long before nodding.
It was perfect. The Silver Wolf was in his landscape. It hadn’t seen Su Tang in a long time and had complained to him many times.
Having received Mo Xiao’s answer, Su Tang gradually increased the number of mental threads pouring into the man’s body.
The pale gold threads flowed bit by bit toward the area of the man’s landscape. Upon first contact, Su Tang felt the body beneath her palm begin to tremble uncontrollably.
Translator’s Note
- Xiangdao (向導): Translated as Guide. They provide mental support and “soothing” for Sentinels.
- Shaobing (哨兵): Translated as Sentinel. They are the combatants who are prone to mental pollution and “mania.”
- Shihai (識海) / Jingshen Shijie (精神世界): Translated as Mental Sea or Mental Landscape. This is the internal psychological space of a Sentinel or Guide.
- Jingshen Ti (精神體): Translated as Mental Entity. This is the animal manifestation of their mental power (Su Tang’s is the Sea Moon Jellyfish, Mo Xiao’s is the Silver Wolf).
- Red Mist (紅色霧氣): A new, highly aggressive form of pollution that specifically targets a Sentinel’s mental stability.
Recommended Reads
![Does A Broken Mirror Reunion Exist in Esports? [Esports]](https://beereads.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/esports-225x300.png)
