Chapter 195: I Am Your Sentinel, You Have to Give Me an Official Status

Chapter 195: Chapter 195: I Am Your Sentinel, You Have to Give Me an Official Status

Si Jin followed Xing Che’s gaze and saw Yun Sheng looking up from the crowd. Her eyes met his, and the corners of her lips curved up slightly.

He should have been happy. She was safe, and she was smiling at him. But Xing Che’s words were like a thorn stuck in his throat, impossible to swallow or spit out.

Si Jin’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He wanted to walk over and ask, "Is what Xing Che said true?" but his feet felt nailed to the ground, unable to move a single step.

He was the Star Alliance’s number one most wanted criminal. Walking over there would only cause trouble for Yun Sheng.

Dejection, suffocation, unwillingness, and an indescribable bitterness welled up all at once, making his chest ache.

Xing Che suddenly waved in Yun Sheng’s direction. His posture was casual yet flamboyant, just like a peacock displaying its feathers.

That smile was so grating!

The spiritual power around Si Jin churned violently for a moment before he forcibly suppressed it.

He stared at Xing Che for a long while before suddenly speaking. "You came to help just now because Yun Sheng asked you to?"

He had been provoked by Xing Che’s words and consumed by anger. Now that he had calmed down and thought about it, he knew Yun Sheng would never casually agree to let Xing Che be her Sentinel.

Xing Che raised an eyebrow. He didn’t bother hiding it and simply nodded. "That’s right."

"Despicable! You used your help to force her to agree to your terms?"

Xing Che just smiled, unfazed. "Despicable or not, it doesn’t matter as long as I achieve my goal. Besides, you should be happy. This proves Shengsheng cares about you. Shengsheng was worried you couldn’t beat that Devouring Abyss Beast, so she begged me to come help."

Si Jin’s fists clenched tightly.

’Of course she cares about me,’ he wanted to say. ’I don’t need you to tell me that,’ he wanted to say. He wanted to say... but found he couldn’t get a single word out.

What he wanted most right now wasn’t to hear this from Xing Che, but to walk openly to Yun Sheng’s side and hear it from her.

But he couldn’t even do something so simple!

Seeing Si Jin’s expression, Xing Che, for once, didn’t provoke him further. His gaze drifted to Yun Sheng, his tone softening slightly.

"Don’t overthink it. She agreed to my terms because she didn’t want to see you get hurt. You should be happy. At least she’s willing to go this far for you."

A flicker of light crossed Si Jin’s eyes. He pressed his thin lips together and said nothing.

Xing Che started walking toward the crowd. After a couple of steps, he stopped without turning back.

"Alright, things are settled here, so you should get going. If you stay too long, those people over there will get suspicious."

Si Jin stood frozen, watching his back, watching him walk toward Yun Sheng. The tightness in his chest grew even more intense.

But he knew Xing Che was right. He had to leave.

He bent down, hoisted the massive carcass of the Devouring Abyss Beast onto his shoulder, and glanced toward the crowd.

Yun Sheng was being held by Cheng Nian, who was talking to her. Her profile was cast in a soft silhouette by the sunlight.

As if sensing something, she suddenly looked up in his direction.

The moment their eyes met, Si Jin’s fist clenched, then quickly relaxed. He turned and vanished into the dense forest as fast as he could.

Xing Che walked back to the crowd and went straight to Yun Sheng.

"He’s gone. Don’t forget what you promised me."

Yun Sheng ignored him. Her gaze followed the direction Si Jin had disappeared in for several seconds before she slowly looked away.

The death of the Devouring Abyss Beast seemed to have intimidated the swarming pollutants behind them.

After Qi Yao led his team to kill another wave, the creatures stopped at a distance and didn’t charge again.

He erected a wall of spiritual power, protecting everyone inside, and told them to rest where they were.

Having done all this, he sheathed his blade, turned, and his gaze passed over the crowd to land on Xing Che.

Xing Che was leaning against a tree trunk, arms crossed, with a casual posture, looking as if he’d just returned from a leisurely stroll.

Qi Yao walked up to him and looked him up and down.

"You’re SSS-level?"

Xing Che neither confirmed nor denied it, merely raising an eyebrow slightly.

His expression seemed to say: ’So what if I am, and so what if I’m not?’

Qi Yao stared at him for a few seconds, then decided not to press the issue. Instead, he said, "You’re strong enough. I’d like to ask you to protect these trainees on the way back to the temporary camp."

Xing Che chuckled, a lazy sound, but there was no warmth in his eyes.

"I’m under no obligation to help you. Shengsheng was the one who asked me earlier. She was afraid her companions would get hurt, so I stepped in."

Qi Yao’s brow furrowed for a moment, but then it smoothed out again.

"When we get back, I can request a commendation for you from the Star Alliance. Or if you have any conditions, just name them, and I’ll do everything I can to meet them."

Xing Che ignored him, his burning gaze fixed on Yun Sheng not far away. The corner of his mouth curved into a smirk.

"I’m not interested in your terms," he said leisurely. "I only listen to Shengsheng."

They weren’t speaking quietly, and many people were paying attention. As soon as he said that, all eyes in the vicinity snapped to Yun Sheng.

A vein twitched on Yun Sheng’s temple. She pretended not to hear and didn’t move.

But soon enough, Qi Yao looked at her as well.

"Yun Sheng, come here."

Having been called out by name, she could no longer ignore it. Yun Sheng had no choice but to brace herself and walk over.

Qi Yao looked at her and said bluntly, "The Soul-devouring Beast is dealt with, but Zhao Heng and the others haven’t returned from scouting, and the pollutants behind us could attack at any moment. Right now... my condition isn’t good. I can’t guarantee I can protect everyone. He’s strong enough to protect them. But he only listens to you."

There wasn’t a hint of pleading in his voice; he was simply laying out the current predicament, leaving the choice entirely up to Yun Sheng.

Yun Sheng pressed her lips together, turned to glare at Xing Che, and lowered her voice, a hint of annoyance in her tone.

"I already agreed to your condition."

Xing Che spread his hands in a show of grievance, his voice full of some unidentifiable resentment. "Yes, you agreed. But when I came back after helping, you wouldn’t even give me the time of day."

He silently added in his head, ’You were too busy staring at Si Jin.’

Yun Sheng was left speechless by his shameless act and sighed helplessly. "That’s not what I meant... So, are you willing to help again?"

Xing Che looked down at her, the casualness in his amber-gold eyes fading, replaced by a flicker of seriousness.

"Later, if your companion asks again about our relationship, you have to tell her that I’m your Sentinel." He paused, a cunning arc forming at the corner of his lips. "In that case, your companions are my companions, so of course I’ll help."

Yun Sheng froze, then frowned. "Xing Che, do you really have to make such an unreasonable demand...?"

"Unreasonable?" he immediately interjected, as self-righteous as a child demanding candy. "I’m not asking you to announce it in public. I’m just asking you to tell the truth when your companions ask."

Yun Sheng bit her lower lip. "That’s still the same thing!"

"How is it the same?" Xing Che pressed, a subtle hint of a smile hidden in his eyes. "They might not even ask. Besides, you’re so reluctant. You’re not actually thinking of backing out of our deal, are you?"

Yun Sheng subconsciously took two steps forward, leaned in close, and hissed through clenched teeth in a voice only he could hear, "Xing Che, don’t push your luck!"

Unexpectedly, Xing Che took half a step back, putting some distance between them. The cunning look on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a nonchalant expression.

"So stingy. You’re already trying to back out of what you promised." His tone was light, showing no sign of disappointment at being rejected. Instead, it was more like he was whining playfully. "You want me to do the work but won’t even offer a little sweetener? Is that fair?"