Chapter 170: Rejection: I Already Have a Sentinel

Chapter 170: Chapter 170: Rejection: I Already Have a Sentinel

The rushing spiritual power frantically wrapped around Yun Sheng’s wrists, waist, and neck.

It greedily absorbed her warmth, like prisoners held captive for too long finally touching sunlight—cautious yet desperate.

Yun Sheng’s fingertips trembled slightly, and an uncontrollable blush crept up her cheeks.

The spiritual power was too hot.

So hot it made her fingertips numb, her breathing ragged. So hot it felt as if something was holding her gently in place, rendering her immobile.

And Bai Ye just watched her.

Through the dim light, from a few steps away.

Motionless.

Only his dark, deep eyes seemed to be saying something without a sound.

Being watched by him like this, Yun Sheng felt her scalp tingle. The thought of turning and running even crossed her mind.

’If I don’t run, I feel like something is going to happen.’

The moment that thought flashed through her mind, the spiritual power instantly tightened its grip.

As if sensing her hesitation, as if afraid she would actually run away, it tightened frantically, binding her wrists and waist, pulling her a little closer to Bai Ye.

Yun Sheng stumbled, nearly crashing into his arms.

"You..."

She looked up, meeting Bai Ye’s gaze at close range, and her pupils constricted.

"Afraid of me?" he suddenly asked.

Yun Sheng’s heart skipped a beat, but she put on a brave face. "Who’s afraid of you?"

Bai Ye said nothing, just watched her quietly.

His gaze was so direct it made Yun Sheng feel as if his eyes were caressing every inch of her.

Her face grew even hotter.

"Why did you call me here, anyway?" She tried to change the subject, but her voice was a little weak. "If it’s just to help you stabilize your spiritual landscape, then let’s get it over with. I..."

Before she could finish, her wrist was suddenly gripped tight.

Bai Ye’s hand closed around her wrist.

The grip wasn’t heavy, but it held her fast.

He slowly stood up.

His bare torso drew near, carrying a scorching heat and the faint scent of blood.

He was so much taller than her that even standing, she had to tilt her head back to meet his gaze.

They were too close now.

So close she could see every surging emotion in his eyes, so close she could feel the heat of his breath, so close...

Yun Sheng subconsciously tried to retreat, only to find a hand gently pressing against the small of her back.

"Bai Ye..." Her voice trembled.

Bai Ye looked down at her, the desire in his eyes growing thicker, hotter.

"You said you’d help me stabilize my spiritual landscape? Yun Sheng, my situation isn’t that simple right now."

His gaze locked onto her.

"A superficial entanglement of our spiritual power, along with hugs and kisses... that’s no longer enough to completely quiet the raging fissures. If you’re going to help, you have to go all the way. Do you know what will happen then?"

Bai Ye’s thumb gently caressed the inside of Yun Sheng’s wrist. The skin there was so thin she could see the pale blue veins, which were throbbing rapidly.

"If you know, are you still willing to help?"

Yun Sheng froze.

’Hugs, kisses, and a superficial spiritual entanglement aren’t enough... Doesn’t that mean...’

An image of her time in the cave with Si Jin instantly flashed through her mind.

The scorching touches, the tangled breaths, the memories that made her whole body go weak...

And afterward, the rampaging spiritual power around Si Jin had all quieted down. The fissures in his spiritual landscape had also shrunk significantly; it wouldn’t erupt again anytime soon.

’But she and Si Jin... that was mutual love. With Bai Ye...’

Yun Sheng bit her lip, lowered her eyes, and said nothing.

The hesitation was written plainly on her face.

Seeing her like this, the burning desire in Bai Ye’s eyes was doused as if by a bucket of cold water.

He quirked his lips into a self-deprecating smile.

The smile was faint, yet it was more painful to see than any words.

"If you’re not willing, then leave." He released Yun Sheng’s hand. "This time... I wasn’t the one who asked you to come. Luo Cheng acted on his own. I’ll have a word with him."

After speaking, Bai Ye looked away, no longer meeting her gaze.

Yun Sheng looked at his face, paler than usual, at the cold sweat beading on his forehead. Her gaze then moved down to the blood-soaked gauze on his chest.

Her brow furrowed.

"You... why did you come here disguised as White Tiger?"

Yun Sheng’s voice carried a hint of confusion, a hint of complexity, and something else she couldn’t quite name.

"Shouldn’t the great Star Alliance War God have plenty of official business to attend to? How do you have the time to run all the way out here and pretend to be someone else?"

Bai Ye’s Adam’s apple bobbed, but he still didn’t look at her.

Yun Sheng took a deep breath and continued, "Bai Ye, I don’t understand. Before, you were always pressuring me, constantly scrutinizing and suspecting me, as if you couldn’t wait to dig up all my secrets..."

She paused, her voice dropping lower. "Why would you do all this? Was this... a ploy to win my sympathy, all just to uncover my secrets?"

He looked at her, his lips twitching slightly.

It was impossible to tell if the curve of his mouth was self-mockery or something else.

"Is that... what you really think of me?"

Yun Sheng was silent.

’When Bai Ye was disguised as White Tiger, he had indeed helped her a great deal, saving her several times. If he were just an ordinary escort Sentinel, she might have actually developed feelings for him.’

’But he wasn’t!’

’He was Bai Ye, the Star Alliance War God, the man who had been suspicious and wary of her from the moment they first met.’

’He was the reason she’d been walking on thin ice ever since returning to the Capital Star, the reason she was so exhausted.’

’What’s more... he was still Lin Yueyao’s fiancé.’

’No matter the reason, she had to stay far away from him!’

Yun Sheng took a deep breath, raised her head, and met Bai Ye’s inscrutable gaze.

"Bai Ye, whatever your reasons were, you know my secret now. Whether you report it to the Star Alliance and the Tower or do something else, I can’t stop you. I just hope that, for the sake of the help I’ve given you... you’ll give me a heads-up before you do, so I can be prepared."

After she spoke, her gaze shifted to the blood-soaked gauze on Bai Ye’s chest, then back to his eyes.

"Also, if you still need my help stabilizing your spiritual landscape, I can do that. But as for what you mentioned earlier, the... deeper connection... I’m sorry, I can’t. I already have a Sentinel."

After hearing her words, Bai Ye was silent for a long time.

He just watched her—watched her calm yet distant eyes, listened to her polite yet restrained tone, saw the clear line she had drawn between them.

Suddenly, it felt as if something had viciously squeezed his heart, and the pain was intense.

"Report it?"

Bai Ye spoke in a low voice, repeating the words. His voice was impossibly hoarse.

"Yun Sheng, you think I would report your secret?"

Yun Sheng pressed her lips together and didn’t answer.

Seeing her like this, Bai Ye suddenly laughed.

The laugh was soft, faint, yet it was even more painful to witness than his earlier self-mocking smile.

"You think I came here disguised as White Tiger, risked my life to protect you, nearly lost control and devolved into a Dark Sentinel... you think I did all of that just to uncover your secret and then report it?"

With every word Bai Ye spoke, it felt like a dull knife was cutting into his chest.

By the end, his voice carried an irrepressible tremor, which he forcefully swallowed back down.