Chapter 169: A Scalding Craving

Chapter 169: Chapter 169: A Scalding Craving

「Inside the command tent.」

Yun Sheng sat on a simple folding chair, her spine ramrod straight.

Qi Yao didn’t speak immediately, instead sizing her up for a few seconds.

His gaze was calm, but it made Yun Sheng feel a prickling on her back, as if something were slowly scanning her, causing every inch of her skin to silently tighten.

"How did you rest last night?" he suddenly asked.

Yun Sheng was taken aback for a moment, then replied, "I’m okay. I got some sleep and I’ve recovered."

Qi Yao nodded, but his gaze didn’t leave her face.

"When the White Tiger led you out of the canyon," he began slowly, "were there only pollutants outside? No one else?"

Yun Sheng’s heart clenched.

Her expression, however, remained unchanged. She just looked as if she were earnestly trying to recall something, then shook her head.

"That’s right," she said, a trace of confusion in her voice. "It was swarming with pollutants outside. I didn’t see anyone else."

Qi Yao stared at her, not missing the slightest change in her expression.

"But at the scene, we detected the spiritual power fluctuations of another person."

He paused.

"A suspected Dark Sentinel."

Yun Sheng’s eyes suddenly widened.

The shock was so genuine she didn’t even have to act.

’She really hadn’t expected Qi Yao to send people back to that dense forest so quickly, and with detection equipment at that.’

"A Dark Sentinel?" she repeated the term, her voice filled with disbelief. "I... I don’t know... I really didn’t see anyone else!"

Qi Yao didn’t speak. He just watched her, his eyes filled with scrutiny, inquiry, and a calm that sent a chill down Yun Sheng’s spine.

The air in the tent seemed to freeze.

After a long moment, Qi Yao spoke again.

"So when you went out, you didn’t see the White War God either?" His tone was calm, but his gaze was sharp enough to pierce through her. "That White Tiger... did he do anything else unusual? How powerful was he when he fought those S-Class pollutants?"

Yun Sheng’s heart tightened.

’Is he suspecting that the White Tiger is Bai Ye?’

An image of Bai Ye slaying an S-Class with a single blow flashed through her mind, along with the pollutants he had torn apart so easily.

"He’s very strong," she said carefully, a trace of lingering fear in her voice. "But I was too scared at the time, so I didn’t dare to watch closely. I just know he was always in front of me, and the pollutants couldn’t get through at all."

"So you’re saying that White Tiger held off that many S-Class pollutants by himself, along with a constant stream of low-level pollutants, and held on until the White War God arrived?"

Yun Sheng shook her head, her expression innocent and bewildered. "I didn’t see the White War God. After the White Tiger recovered a bit, he said it was too dangerous and told me to go back inside the canyon."

She insisted that she hadn’t seen Bai Ye.

’As for whether Qi Yao would start to suspect a connection between the White Tiger and Bai Ye because of her story, or even see through the disguise... that wasn’t her problem.’

’After all, Bai Ye was the Star Alliance War God. His status was higher than Qi Yao’s; he’d have his own way of dealing with this.’

’She was just a Preparatory Guide, a small fry. All she hoped for was to not get dragged into this.’

Qi Yao was silent for a few seconds.

His eyes remained fixed on Yun Sheng, as if trying to judge the truth of her words.

"Yun Sheng, are you sure you’re not hiding anything?"

Yun Sheng’s heart skipped a beat.

The next moment, Qi Yao stood up.

He walked around the table, approaching her step by step.

Yun Sheng’s back instantly tensed.

The aura of an S-Class Sentinel, tangible and heavy, slowly enveloped her as he approached.

It wasn’t as terrifying as the aura of an SSS-level Sentinel, but it still made it hard for her to breathe.

Yun Sheng’s fingertips trembled slightly, but she could only force an innocent expression as she met his gaze.

One step.

Two steps.

Qi Yao stopped in front of her, looking down at her.

"I’ll ask you one more time. You really... saw nothing?"

Yun Sheng’s throat tightened.

The pressure grew heavier and heavier, so heavy she almost wanted to flee. Just when she was about to break, the tent flap was suddenly thrown open.

A figure stood silhouetted against the light, looking expressionlessly at the two people inside the tent.

"Major General Qi."

The voice was business-like, devoid of any emotion.

Qi Yao’s aura instantly receded. He turned to face the newcomer, his brows knitting slightly.

"Deputy Luo?"

Luo Cheng walked into the tent, his gaze sweeping briefly over Yun Sheng before landing on Qi Yao.

"The General has some questions for Yun Sheng. I’m to take her to him."

Surprise was written all over Yun Sheng’s face.

’She’d thought Bai Ye had just upped and left yesterday. She never imagined... he’d actually send Deputy Luo over?’

Qi Yao’s eyes suddenly darkened. "The White War God wants to see her?"

Luo Cheng nodded. "Yes."

Qi Yao looked at Yun Sheng, his gaze clearly sharper than before.

But he didn’t say anything else, merely turning to the side to clear the path.

Luo Cheng tilted his chin at Yun Sheng. "Let’s go."

Feeling as if she’d received a pardon, Yun Sheng quickly stood up and followed Luo Cheng out of the tent.

She could feel Qi Yao’s gaze stuck to her back.

The gaze was like an invisible thorn, pricking its way from her back up to the nape of her neck, making her scalp tingle.

Even after leaving the tent, even with the sunlight on her face, the feeling of being watched by a predator didn’t lessen one bit.

It wasn’t until she had walked a dozen or so steps away that the feeling finally vanished completely.

Yun Sheng quietly let out a breath, only to find the back of her clothes was soaked with cold sweat.

Luo Cheng led her out of the encampment without saying a single word the entire time.

Several times, Yun Sheng wanted to ask where he was taking her, but whenever she met his cold, expressionless face, the words died on her lips.

’She wasn’t worried about her safety, though.’

’The little wolf had been gone when she woke up that morning, but she was certain Si Jin was somewhere nearby.’

’He would definitely appear the moment any danger arose.’

At this thought, her steps became a little more steady.

After walking for about twenty minutes, the view suddenly opened up before her.

In a small, hidden hollow, a few military tents were pitched in a neat, staggered formation.

About twenty Sentinels were moving about the area, all of them with calm auras and sharp eyes. They were clearly elites.

’They must be Bai Ye’s personal troops.’

Luo Cheng led Yun Sheng straight toward the largest tent in the center.

He stopped at the entrance of the tent, lifted the flap, and tilted his chin at Yun Sheng.

"Get in."

Yun Sheng glanced at him, and after hesitating for only a second, she stepped inside.

The flap fell shut behind her.

The inside of the tent was dim, with only a single portable lamp emitting a soft glow.

The moment Yun Sheng stepped inside, she felt a wave of chaotic spiritual power wash over her.

It wasn’t the violent frenzy of someone on the verge of losing control, but rather a disorder born from extreme suppression, as if something inside was thrashing wildly but being forcefully held down.

Yun Sheng’s gaze traveled across the dim space and landed on the figure in the corner.

Bai Ye was sitting up, leaning against a simple military cot.

He had changed out of his combat uniform and was bare-chested. Bandages were wrapped around his shoulders and chest, the white gauze unable to completely hide the bloodstains seeping through, nor could it conceal the lean, smooth lines of his muscles.

Broad shoulders, a solid chest, and below that, a chiseled eight-pack, each muscle clearly defined, rising and falling slightly with his somewhat heavy breaths.

Further down, the distinct V-lines of his hips disappeared into the loose waistband of his pants...

Yun Sheng’s gaze lingered for a moment, uncontrollably.

Just then, Bai Ye seemed to sense someone had entered and slowly opened his eyes.

His eyes were filled with a savagery that had not yet faded, like a caged beast imprisoned for too long, ready to tear everything apart at any moment.

But in the instant he saw who it was,

that savagery receded like the tide.

In its place was a scorching desire that was almost instinctual.

His gaze was too searing, so hot that it made Yun Sheng’s breath catch.

Before she could even react, that chaotic spiritual power surged violently toward her.