Chapter 12: Everyone, Make Way for This Princess!
On Sen Ji’s end, the mania level test was quickly completed.
He walked out with the test report. The Sentinels flocked toward him. “Commander Sen, how is it?”
“The mania level must be at 89% by now! If it really doesn’t work, you should return to the palace and have His Majesty order Xie—Her Highness to purify you!”
“Yes, the battlefield can’t do without you. If you aren’t there to oversee things, the Zerg will surely become more arrogant.”
The Sentinels were all flattery, their faces full of concern for Sen Ji.
Sen Ji shook his head and handed over the test report.
The Sentinels crowded in to look, and their eyes widened instantly.
“Mania index 80%?!”
“Wasn’t Commander Sen’s last mania index test at 88%? It actually dropped by 8%?!”
“No way, did Her Highness really purify you? Commander Sen, you didn’t agree to some perverted condition of hers in exchange for the chance to be purified, did you?!”
The expressions of the Sentinels shifted. They looked at each other, unable to accept this fact.
Why would the Princess suddenly change her attitude?
Didn’t she loathe Sen Ji the most?
“Is there a mistake? Could the equipment be broken?”
“Commander Sen, surely you didn’t secretly tamper with the data for the sake of your pride…”
“That won’t do. If you suddenly go manic on the battlefield, the power of an SSS-class Sentinel’s mania—I’m afraid all of us Sentinels would have to be buried with you!”
The Sentinels began to criticize him. “You don’t have to do this. We wouldn’t blame you.”
“Exactly. We all know it’s impossible for Her Highness to purify you.”
“You should probably re-test!”
Sen Ji stood frozen in place, completely blindsided by this situation.
In the past, whenever he finished a mania test, the Sentinels would worry for him, hoping that one day his mania levels would drop.
Their words were sincere and earnest, which was why Sen Ji didn’t want to return to the palace and only wanted to stay on the battlefield.
But now, his mania level had actually dropped, and their first reaction was to criticize him, believing he was deceiving the public.
Sen Ji didn’t want to admit it, but what these Sentinels truly wanted to see was not his mania level dropping, but a scene where he absolutely would not be purified by Xie Qiang.
It turned out it wasn’t just the nobles and high-level Sentinels who looked down on him; even these low-level Sentinels harbored a deep desire in their hearts for him to never rise again.
He worked diligently on the battlefield, never slacking, yet the people he protected were such a group of despicable people.
Sen Ji felt extremely heavy-hearted. Even after fighting non-stop on the battlefield for a month, he hadn’t felt as weary as he did right now.
What was the meaning of his existence?
His beliefs were slowly collapsing, and everything began to feel meaningless. That is, until a soft but powerful voice suddenly pierced through the noisy surroundings and struck his ears directly.
“Are you all questioning whether the pride of the Empire is lying?”
Sen Ji looked up abruptly and saw Xie Qiang standing at the outer circle of the crowd. She slightly lifted her fair chin, her gaze clear and sharp as she looked at everyone. “Everyone, make way for this Princess!”
Xie Qiang walked through the milling crowd, stepping firmly toward Sen Ji, and then grabbed his hand.
She scanned the crowd. Though she was looking up at them, she gave off a noble aura of looking down from above.
“He is this Princess’s fiancé and the hero who guards the Empire. How could I truly despise him and be unwilling to purify him?”
“Liking to scold him is just a special habit of mine.” She gripped Sen Ji’s palm, her voice resonant and carrying the undeniable majesty of the Imperial family. “Anyone who believed those nonsense words of mine in the past should really crack their heads open and see if they’re filled with nothing but mush!”
The Sentinels were scolded into a state of stunned silence. When they finally reacted, their mouths fell open in shock.
So the Princess didn’t actually look down on Sen Ji?
She only said those things because she liked the feeling of humiliating Sentinels?
Wait, is she crazy?!
The Sentinels felt they had been deceived. They glared at Xie Qiang, wanting to give her a lesson, but because of her status, they didn’t dare to make a move.
They could only swallow their anger dejectedly.
Sen Ji looked down at the small hand intertwined with his own, and ripples stirred in his heart.
For the first time, he realized he couldn’t understand Xie Qiang as a person.
Just the day before, she was arrogant and overbearing, her eyes full of loathing and contempt for him. But suddenly, she had changed.
Not only was she willing to purify him, but she had also stood up for his status and dignity in front of the Sentinels, transferring all their anger onto herself.
Could it truly be as she said? That she was only dissatisfied with this marriage forced by His Majesty, so she had targeted him for a while? And from now on, she would do her best to make amends?
“Sen Ji.”
The girl beside him looked up at him, her bright, clean eyes like those of a newborn kitten. “Let’s go.”
Sen Ji nodded as if possessed.
Xie Qiang broke into a smile. She gripped Sen Ji’s fingers and led him through the middle of the Sentinels, walking out with her head held high.
“Wait a moment!”
Suddenly, a soft voice rang out.
Jiang Qingwan pinched her skirt and strode quickly to stand in front of Xie Qiang and Sen Ji, blocking their path.
Her eyes were full of joy as she stepped forward and grabbed Xie Qiang’s wrists. “I knew it! My persistence in persuading Your Highness to purify Commander Sen was effective!”
Xie Qiang was stunned, momentarily confused, only to hear Jiang Qingwan continue, “Since Your Highness is willing to purify Commander Sen, surely you are also willing to purify other Sentinels, right?”
She looked at Xie Qiang seriously. “Commander Sen is the hero who guards the Empire, but the low-level Sentinels have also contributed their strength; they are also a part of guarding the Empire. As Guides, we should take the initiative to share their burdens.”
“Your Highness is an S-class Guide. If you are willing to act, then the Sentinels will have no more worries and can fight to their heart’s content on the battlefield!”
Hearing this, the surrounding Sentinels all looked at Xie Qiang with anticipation.
That’s right! Why is Sen Ji a hero of the Empire and they aren’t?
Sen Ji is an SSS-class Sentinel after all; he won’t easily die on the battlefield. But they, the low-level Sentinels, are risking their lives. One slip-up and they’ll be torn apart and eaten by the Zerg.
Consultant Jiang used to be able to purify low-level Sentinels; why can’t Xie Qiang?
The Sentinels were indignant. Speaking of which, it was because the Third War Zone had Sen Ji, an SSS-class Sentinel, that Consultant Jiang had never come to the Third War Zone to purify them before she became disabled!
“Your Highness!” Jiang Qingwan gripped Xie Qiang’s wrists tightly, her eyes firm and full of expectation. “Join us! By purifying more Sentinels, we can end the war with the Zerg sooner!”
Xie Qiang was completely dazed.
As expected of the female lead; her enthusiasm was simply too high.
“I’ll think about it…” Xie Qiang felt that this kind of matter wasn’t suitable for an immediate decision, so she gave a polite refusal.
“Your Highness, what are you hesitating for?” Jiang Qingwan was relentless. “I can handle everything! Your Highness, promise me!”
Her grip was a bit heavy. Xie Qiang felt a bit of pain and tried to break free, only to find she couldn’t move at all.
“Let go first…”
Just as Xie Qiang was about to speak, Sen Ji, who was standing beside her, suddenly stepped forward and grabbed Jiang Qingwan’s arm.
His gaze was frigid, faintly carrying a sharp edge. “Let go. You’re hurting her.”
Jiang Qingwan’s arms paused slightly. She looked down and saw that Xie Qiang’s wrists had been squeezed red. Only then did she hurriedly let go.
A look of guilt appeared in her eyes. “Apologies, Your Highness. I was too excited.”
“But what I said—I hope Your Highness takes it to heart.” She looked at Xie Qiang with sincere eyes. “I will come looking for Your Highness again later.”
Sen Ji let go of her arm and raised his hand to protectively shield Xie Qiang’s shoulder. “Her Highness the Princess, let’s go.”
“Alright.”
After leaving the Testing Room, Xie Qiang rubbed her reddened wrists, her small face looking a bit dejected.
Sen Ji looked at her from time to time. Thinking of how she had just stood in front of everyone to defend him, he couldn’t help but speak. “Just now, Xie…”
Before he could finish the word “Xie,” he remembered something, and the words of gratitude suddenly froze on his lips.
This was the first time someone had stood up for him since his fall from grace, defending his remaining pride and authority.
But back then, the one who had trampled on all of it was also Xie Qiang.
Why should he thank her?
This was simply what she owed him.
But even with such thoughts, Sen Ji’s mind was in a mess.
He felt that he was currently like a toy that Xie Qiang could play with at will. When she was happy, she would hold him up and curry favor with him; when she was unhappy, she could humiliate and trample on him to the extreme.
Sen Ji clenched his fists, forcibly wiping away the touch of emotion he had just felt. He spoke coldly, “Xie Qiang, don’t think that just because of this, I will obey your every command in the future.”
Guides have a strong capacity for emotional resonance, which also makes them affectionate. Some Guides will be extremely gentle with Sentinels until they grow tired of them, at which point they discard them like old shoes and begin searching for new prey.
Xie Qiang must be like that too. Once she grows tired of him, she will begin to mock his stupidity and unrequited feelings.
He would never let himself fall into such a pathetic state.
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