Chapter 6. Zhan Ye’s Invitation
Su Tang had just sat down when her wristband suddenly vibrated. She lowered her head and swiped open the light screen; it was a message from Li Mo.
“Miss Su, we have reissued your soothing points from last time according to the highest standard, totaling 4500. Please check.”
The balance on the light screen instantly jumped from 500 to 5000. The numbers flashed somewhat dazzlingly in the morning light.
She was stunned, tapping her fingertips on the light screen to confirm it wasn’t a system glitch.
Yesterday Mo Xiao said he would have Li Mo calculate it at the highest standard; she didn’t expect it to be implemented so quickly.
Su Tang smiled. It seemed life had some hope, didn’t it?
Just as she finished clearing out the pile of her luggage in the corner, the sound of the door opening came from the entrance.
Su Tang paused in her steps. Turning her head, she bumped right into Mo Xiao walking in. His combat uniform was stained with grass clippings, and beads of sweat on his forehead slid down his jawline, landing on the scar on his collarbone.
“I left my tactical manual behind when I stopped by earlier.”
He raised the black manual in his hand.
Mo Xiao’s gaze swept across the living room and finally stopped on her wristband.
“Did you see the points Li Mo reissued to you?” he asked.
“Mn, I saw it. Thank you.”
Su Tang smiled at him.
“But these points… aren’t they too high?”
She remembered the rank of those three Sentinels yesterday. Even if tripled, it shouldn’t be this much.
“Not much.” Mo Xiao straightened up, his Adam’s apple moving. “You used spiritual resonance when soothing, which has a bonus effect on stimulating a Sentinel’s potential. According to regulations, it should be calculated higher.”
He paused, then added.
“Every mission in the future will be calculated according to this standard.”
Su Tang didn’t ask further.
She knew this was likely the result of Mo Xiao’s extra care. Saying too many thanks would seem overly polite instead.
The silver wolf suddenly rubbed its nose against her pant leg, its tail gently sweeping across her ankle.
Su Tang bent down and patted the little fellow’s head, seeing its tail wag even more happily.
“Want to go to the training ground?”
Mo Xiao watched the interaction between the girl and the silver wolf, his gaze warming.
“Do you want to go? There’s a rookie assessment today; you can earn points.”
“Earn points?” Su Tang got interested. “How?”
“The rookies’ spiritual power is unstable, and small-scale mania occasionally occurs. Guides who help soothe them can get extra rewards.”
“But the intensity isn’t high, so it won’t affect your recovery.”
He probably added that explanation because he was afraid she would push herself too hard like last time.
Su Tang thought about it. 5000 points looked like a lot, but given the prices at the Supply Station yesterday where a decent nutrient agent cost 2000, these points weren’t enough to spend at all.
“I’ll go.”
She nodded. “It’s good to go out for a breather. Staying in the dormitory, I’m going to die of boredom.”
The corner of Mo Xiao’s mouth seemed to curve up—so fast it was like an illusion.
“Change into comfortable clothes. I’ll wait for you downstairs.”
The silver wolf followed Mo Xiao out. Passing the door, it looked back at Su Tang, its tail swaying gently as if saying goodbye.
Su Tang changed into a pair of durable khaki cargo pants and tied her long hair into a high ponytail.
Just as she walked out of the dormitory building, she saw Mo Xiao leaning against a hover car. The silver wolf sat at his feet, intently gnawing on an energy bar.
Seeing her arrive, the silver wolf barked happily at her twice.
“Let’s go.”
Seeing her, he opened the passenger door.
As the hover car ascended, Su Tang looked out the window.
The White Tower’s training ground was on the west side, a huge open-air field. At this moment, the sound of orderly shouting came from it. She saw rookies in unified training uniforms running laps, while spiritual entities played on the grass nearby.
There were lions, cheetahs, little bears, and some canine creatures.
“The one in the black tank top is the Third Squad’s vice-captain.”
Mo Xiao spoke suddenly, pointing at a man by the field who was scolding rookies.
“Zhan Ye’s man. Stay away from him.”
Su Tang looked in the direction he pointed. The man had a golden eagle tattooed on his arm, just like Zhan Ye’s spiritual entity. She withdrew her gaze and didn’t speak.
Mo Xiao was reminding her that Zhan Ye’s Third Squad and his First Squad probably didn’t get along well.
The hover car landed at the edge of the training ground. Just as it stopped steadily, a rookie squatted on the ground holding his head and wailing. His spiritual entity was a half-grown native dog, circling him anxiously, its fur standing on end.
“Probably overtrained and spiritual power overloaded.”
Mo Xiao pushed open the car door. “You try?”
Su Tang nodded.
Releasing her spiritual power, just as Mo Xiao told her, the spiritual power of the rookies here was generally not high. They hadn’t been to the battlefield either, so the level of pollution was very low, making them very easy to soothe.
Releasing just a little spiritual power was enough to soothe them.
“Done.”
She stood up, and her wristband suddenly vibrated.
100 points arrived.
“Efficiency is not bad.”
Mo Xiao stood behind her at some point. The silver wolf sat at his feet, tilting its head to look at her.
“Faster than Li Mo.”
Su Tang was just about to smile when she saw Zhan Ye standing on the viewing platform not far away, a cigarette in his mouth, raising the wine bottle in his hand toward her.
Daring to drink on the training ground—the Third Squad was indeed free to the point of boundlessness.
Su Tang withdrew her gaze, looked at another restless rookie in the field, and rolled her wrists.
“Again.”
She said to Mo Xiao, a hint of unyielding spirit in her tone.
Su Tang had just soothed the third rookie, and the points on her wristband jumped to 5300.
She was looking down to check her points when a shadow suddenly loomed over her.
“Little beauty is quite nimble.”
Zhan Ye had walked over at some point. His military boots crushed the gravel of the training ground, making a rustling sound.
His body was filled with the faint smell of alcohol, and a lit cigarette was clamped between his fingertips.
“300 for three rookies? Captain Mo calculates quite shrewdly.”
Su Tang didn’t look up.
“It’s better than having one’s hands tied by taking favors.”
Zhan Ye laughed low, his laughter carrying the openness of being exposed.
“True.”
He crushed the cigarette butt under his foot. The Golden Eagle flew out from behind the man, clutching a silver metal can in its claws, and landed steadily in front of Su Tang.
“Iced nutrient solution just exchanged from the Supply Station. Try it?”
Dense water droplets condensed on the surface of the can, and the label bore the expensive price tag “1500 Points.”
Su Tang glanced at it and looked away, looking at another rookie in the field holding his head.
“If Captain Zhan has nothing else, I’m still busy.”
“Busy with what? Busy being free labor for Mo Xiao?”
Zhan Ye bent down to pick up the can of nutrient solution, his fingers tapping a light rhythm on the can.
“The Third Squad has a live combat drill the day after tomorrow. The opponent is that bunch of trash from the Second Squad. If we win, participating Guides get 5000 points and priority to exchange for the latest spiritual power stabilizer.”
5000 points.
Su Tang’s movements paused. If she remembered correctly, the highest-grade Guide supplement she accidentally glimpsed last time was also around this price.
She needed that right now.
“Mo Xiao won’t let you go.”
As if seeing through her thoughts, Zhan Ye lowered his voice, lacing it with a hint of temptation.
“The old fogies in the First Squad have too many rules. How can they be as free as our Third Squad? If you come, I’ll let you be the lead Guide, double the points. How about it?”
He was very close. The smell of alcohol mixed with mint tobacco washed over her.
Su Tang took a half-step back, backing right into a steadier shadow.
“Zhan Ye.”
Mo Xiao’s voice was as cold as tempered ice. He stood behind her at some point.
“Interfering with others’ work—according to White Tower regulations, how many points should be deducted?”
Zhan Ye raised an eyebrow, straightened up, and patted Su Tang’s shoulder, moving so fast Mo Xiao didn’t have time to stop him.
“Day after tomorrow, 9 AM, Third Squad Training Ground. Come or not, it’s up to you. I’ll save a seat for you.”
After speaking, he whistled. The Golden Eagle flapped its wings and took off, the wind it stirred making Su Tang’s ponytail sway.
Su Tang rubbed the shoulder he had patted. Mo Xiao’s gaze fell on her shoulder, his brows furrowing slightly, but he said nothing.
“There are two last rookies. I’ll take you back after handling them.”
“Captain Mo,” Su Tang spoke suddenly, looking in the direction of the Third Squad’s training ground in the distance. A huge electronic screen stood there, scrolling through the drill rules.
“Can Guides from the First Squad participate in the live combat drill the day after tomorrow?”
Mo Xiao’s movements paused, his side profile appearing exceptionally cold and hard in the sunlight.
“The Third Squad’s drill… the rules are wild, and it’s easy to get hurt.”
“I’m not afraid of getting hurt.” Su Tang’s eyes were very bright, like stars dipped in light. “I need points.”
Mo Xiao was silent for a moment. The silver wolf rubbed its head against his palm.
He finally just gave a hum, his emotion undetectable in his tone.
“Go if you want. But remember, you are a member of the First Squad now.”
Of course she knew she was a member of the First Squad. Rest assured, this is just a money-making operation. I’m not stupid; I know which squad is the best choice for me to stay in.
taking a deep look at the drill rules scrolling on the electronic screen, Su Tang slowly curled her lips into a smile.
She was determined to get that 5000 points the day after tomorrow.
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