Chapter 191: Calling Her So Intimately, How Sappy

Chapter 191: Chapter 191: Calling Her So Intimately, How Sappy

Everyone was stunned. All eyes snapped to Yun Sheng, filled with curiosity and amazement.

Qi Yao also narrowed his eyes at Yun Sheng, his gaze heavy. "You know him?"

Yun Sheng opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Xing Che cut in.

"Of course she knows me." His tone was confident and natural, as if stating the most ordinary fact. "We’ve known each other for a long time, right, Shengsheng?"

Yun Sheng’s lips twitched.

’Shengsheng? When did we get so close?’

But she couldn’t exactly deny it.

’After all, if she really thought about it, she and Xing Che *had* known each other for a long time. She’d met him on her second day in this world.’

’Besides, denying it now would clearly cause more trouble. It was better to go along with what Xing Che said and let him handle it.’

"We do."

Yun Sheng forced out the two words through gritted teeth.

Qi Yao’s gaze shifted back to Xing Che. He didn’t lower the blade in his hand, and the chaotic spiritual power around him continued to surge, but his sharp glare had turned into one of scrutiny.

"An old acquaintance from the Eighth Star Zone? How did you get in here? This is a Star Alliance training area. Outsiders are not permitted."

Unruffled, Xing Che pulled an ID card from his pocket and handed it over.

"A Star Alliance Special Pass. Applied for in advance, it grants access to all major Star Alliance zones. I knew Shengsheng was coming for training and was worried about her safety, so I applied ahead of time to enter this area."

Qi Yao took it and glanced at it. It was indeed a Star Alliance Special Pass.

He handed it back and said coldly, "Even with a pass, now is not the time for reunions. We’re on a mission. Uninvolved personnel should not get in the way."

Xing Che put away his ID, not at all annoyed. He just said lightly, "Major General Qi, rest assured, I won’t cause any trouble. I’m just worried Shengsheng might be in danger and want to follow along to protect her."

As he spoke, his gaze fell on Yun Sheng again. The corners of his lips curved into a gentle, open smile, as if he really were just there to see an old friend.

But Yun Sheng clearly saw the flash of cunning in his eyes.

’This guy is getting addicted to acting.’

’And calling her "Shengsheng" over and over, so intimately... it’s just so cheesy.’

Just as she was about to say something, Cheng Nian leaned in and asked in a low voice, "Yun Sheng, is he really your friend from the Eighth Star Zone? He’s pretty good-looking..."

Li Wen also looked at her, her eyes sparkling, and even the usually aloof Zhou Ying couldn’t hide the curiosity on her face.

Only Zhao Qian looked at Yun Sheng and snorted, a sound that was neither soft nor loud.

The snort annoyed Yun Sheng, but she ignored it, just saying vaguely to Cheng Nian, "I guess so."

She then looked away, clearly not wanting to continue the conversation.

Cheng Nian gave Xing Che another curious glance but didn’t ask any more questions.

Just then, Qi Yao’s voice rang out again.

"You can follow if you want, but stay out of the way. You’re responsible for anything that happens to you."

He tossed out the sentence and ignored Xing Che, merely giving Zhao Heng a meaningful look.

Zhao Heng understood. He nodded slightly, his gaze landing discreetly on Xing Che.

Leaning on his blade, Qi Yao walked to the side, and several Sentinels immediately gathered around him.

"Major General, what do we do now?"

Qi Yao: "All of you return to the camp. I’ll go check it out alone."

Zhao Heng’s expression changed. "No! Major General, your spiritual power is unstable. It’s too dangerous to go alone. If we’re going, we go together!"

"That’s right, if we’re going, we go together."

Old Zhou also spoke up. His voice was still a bit weak, but he had at least recovered somewhat.

With the powerful Healing Power of an A-level Sentinel, self-preservation wouldn’t be a problem.

The other Sentinels also nodded one after another. Not a single one was willing to abandon Qi Yao and retreat to the camp.

Qi Yao’s brow furrowed tightly. Just as he was about to speak, his spiritual power surged violently again, and his face suddenly paled.

He gritted his teeth, swallowing back the coppery taste that rose in his throat.

’Returning to camp now isn’t out of the question, but he still has things he needs to do!’

Meanwhile, Xing Che had casually walked over to Yun Sheng’s side. Standing shoulder to shoulder with her, he glanced down at her, unable to suppress the smile playing on his lips.

"Shengsheng," his voice was neither high nor low, just loud enough for her alone to hear, "now I can protect you openly and honorably."

Yun Sheng took a deep breath. "Try calling me Shengsheng one more time."

Xing Che shrugged, a look of innocence on his face. "What’s wrong? You don’t like it? I think it sounds quite affectionate."

Yun Sheng didn’t want to deal with him and turned her head away.

Xing Che shifted his position, leaned his face in, and stared straight at her. "Shengsheng, your ears are red."

Yun Sheng subconsciously reached up and touched her ear.

It was burning hot.

Seeing her action, the amusement in Xing Che’s eyes instantly deepened, becoming bright and unconcealed.

The base of her ears grew even hotter. She simply stepped to the side, trying to get away from him.

Suddenly, a violent fluctuation of spiritual power erupted in the distance, like a giant boulder crashing into a calm lake, making the very air tremble.

The wave was so powerful that everyone looked up in shock.

Yun Sheng’s pupils constricted slightly.

Within the aftershock of that fluctuation, there was a distinctly familiar aura.

It was Si Jin.

Her brows furrowed sharply.

’Is Si Jin fighting that suspected SSS-level pollutant?!’

On the distant horizon, clouds churned, and the immense pressure they radiated was even heavier than before. Even from such a great distance, it made one’s chest feel tight.

"Major General!" Zhao Heng’s voice rose. "Over there..."

"I see it."

Leaning on his blade, Qi Yao stood his ground, his gaze fixed on the direction the sound came from, the light in his eyes flickering uncertainly.

After a few seconds of silence, he gritted his teeth and said, "Everyone, retreat to the camp."

Zhao Heng was taken aback. "Major General?"

"The power that just erupted... its might surpasses even my own." Qi Yao’s voice was extremely hoarse. "My condition is poor right now, and with so many Preparatory Guides here, I can’t let them risk their lives with me."

’He had gone to great lengths to become the chief instructor for this Preparatory Guide training. He wasn’t about to tarnish his own record!’

No one tried to persuade him further. The team quickly changed direction. Zhao Heng and a few Sentinels cleared the path ahead, while Guo Kai and Ma Yu protected the trainees from behind. Everyone moved hastily, preparing to retreat toward the camp.

But Yun Sheng didn’t move.

She stared in the direction of the energy burst, her fingertips curling tightly, her brow furrowing even more.

"What, worried about that Dark Sentinel?"

Xing Che had sidled up to her again at some point, his voice lazy, as if it were a casual question.

Yun Sheng ignored him.

Xing Che wasn’t annoyed. Instead, he chuckled. "Don’t worry, you should be seeing him very soon."

Yun Sheng frowned. "What do you mean by that?"

"You’ll know in a moment."

There was still a smile on Xing Che’s face, but the color in his amber-gold eyes gradually grew solemn.

Before Yun Sheng could press him for an answer, the shrieks of pollutants suddenly erupted from all directions around them.

One cry, two, ten, a hundred... It was as if the entire forest was roaring.

The ground beneath their feet began to tremble violently. A thick, rank stench filled the air, mixed with the smell of rotting leaves and soil, so acrid it made their throats tighten.

Everyone instantly froze, holding their breath.

Their hearts hammered in their chests, beating so fast they felt like they would explode.

No one spoke. No one moved. But the same thought surfaced in everyone’s mind at the same time.

’It looks like we’re not getting out of here!’