Chapter 223: Protect Yun Sheng, I’m Worried She’s Already a Target

Chapter 223: Chapter 223: Protect Yun Sheng, I’m Worried She’s Already a Target

The lower-Level guides’ faces turned deathly pale in an instant. They clutched their heads and squatted down, some even letting out pained groans.

Cheng Nian’s body swayed, and Li Wen quickly steadied her. Her lips were pale, and fine beads of sweat dotted her temples.

Li Wen’s Level was higher than Cheng Nian’s, so she was in better shape, but her face was still pale, clearly affected as well.

Yun Sheng furrowed her brow slightly, her temples throbbing with a dull ache.

If this had happened when she first started her field training, she would have been in much worse shape under this kind of sonic pressure.

But she had been tempered over this period. On top of that, Xing Che had been training her, intentionally working on her tolerance by occasionally releasing his spiritual power as pressure. Over time, she had grown somewhat accustomed to it.

Now, a heavy, foul stench filled the air, a mix of earth and decay that made one’s chest feel tight.

Although it was daytime, the sky was terribly gloomy. Heavy clouds hung extremely low, shrouding the entire camp in a dim, gray haze.

The light cast a sickly, bluish tint on everyone’s face, and the atmosphere was so oppressive it was hard to breathe.

No one knew what kind of contaminant was producing the terrifying sound wave, but with such intimidating power, its Level had to be very high.

Not knowing what was happening, the crowd grew increasingly uneasy.

The sound of whispers slowly spread across the training grounds.

"What in the world is that thing..."

"Judging by the sound, it’s even more terrifying than the last one..."

"It couldn’t be another SSS-level, could it?"

"Then doesn’t that mean we’re..."

The voices grew quieter and more fragmented, like leaves scattered by the wind, carrying an unconcealable panic.

Some gripped their weapons tightly, others kept looking back over their shoulders, and some had already started to tremble.

Just then, a group of people walked in from outside the training grounds.

The one in the lead was the same middle-aged man who had spoken with Yun Sheng earlier. Zhao Heng and Shen Tang followed behind him, walking all the way to the high platform of the training grounds.

The middle-aged man came to a stop on the platform. His gaze swept over everyone present, emanating an oppressive aura that compelled silence.

"I am Su Yuanzhou, the new Chief Guide," he began, without any unnecessary pleasantries. "Given the current abnormal situation, I dispatched three teams to investigate. The news they sent back is that all contaminants within the entire buffer zone have gone into a frenzy."

At his words, the color drained from everyone’s faces. Someone opened their mouth as if to speak but then swallowed their words.

Su Yuanzhou didn’t give them time to process it, continuing, "The situation is urgent. Following the previous squad assignments, each squad will be responsible for one area in a final large-scale cleanup. This will be both an assessment and a combat mission.

Scores will be calculated based on the number and Level of contaminants each squad eliminates, as well as their completion time. Corresponding performance points will also be issued. Once you return to the Capital Star, these performance points can be exchanged at the Tower for supplies, equipment, or anything else you might need."

Whispers rose again, but they were different from the earlier panic.

Performance points from the Tower weren’t easy to come by.

A glint appeared in some people’s eyes, some gripped their weapons tighter, and others still hesitated.

Su Yuanzhou said nothing more, only stating in a deep voice, "Squad leaders, take your teams. You depart in ten minutes."

Zhao Heng, standing by his side, also called out, "You all heard him! Go back and prepare! Assemble in your squads in ten minutes, then move out!"

The training grounds instantly erupted in a clamor.

The trainees ran toward their tents in small groups, their footsteps urgent and disorderly. Some murmured quietly, others’ faces were pale, and some just gritted their teeth in silence.

Cheng Nian clutched Yun Sheng’s hand, her fingertips ice-cold, her eyes filled with unconcealable worry.

Li Wen stood on her other side. She also looked unwell but remained relatively calm.

Yun Sheng glanced at them but didn’t say much. Grabbing Cheng Nian with one hand and Li Wen with the other, she walked briskly toward their tent.

’Ten minutes isn’t a lot of time; we can’t waste it.’

’We have to grab our gear and necessities as quickly as possible, then go find Guo Kai and the others to regroup.’

On the way back, Li Wen suddenly glanced at Yun Sheng and said in a low voice, "Yun Sheng, while you were called away by Captain Zhao and the others, Cheng Nian and I went to find Brother Guo and asked about this new guide."

Hearing this, Cheng Nian also looked instinctively at Yun Sheng and asked hesitantly, "Yun Sheng, do you really not know Instructor Su?"

Yun Sheng blinked. Seeing their expressions, a flicker of curiosity sparked within her.

’Could it be that the new guide has some connection to me?!’

"Just spit it out, don’t make me guess. There’s no way I could; I’ve never even seen him before!"

Hearing this, Li Wen continued, "Brother Guo said that Su Yuanzhou is the eldest son of the Capital Star’s Su Family. He’s an S-Class Sentinel and has already been conferred the rank of Admiral. He was injured on a previous mission and has been recuperating on the Capital Star. He came along to Zone 10 with the status of Vice Guide. It was just unexpected that Major General Qi got injured, so he was promoted to fill the position."

She paused, giving Yun Sheng a complicated look. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"Also, he... he’s your uncle, Yun Sheng."

Yun Sheng’s steps faltered.

She turned her head to look at Li Wen, her brow furrowed slightly. "Uncle?"

"Yes," Li Wen nodded. "He’s your mother’s brother."

Seeing Yun Sheng’s expression, Cheng Nian confirmed that she truly didn’t know Su Yuanzhou, and an indescribable pang of pity for her friend flickered in her eyes.

And now, Yun Sheng finally understood why they had acted that way earlier.

’She, the real daughter, had been back with the Lin Family for so long, yet she had never even met her own uncle. It was clear the members of the Lin Family, Su Wan included, didn’t truly accept her.’

’Li Wen and Cheng Nian probably think I’m upset, don’t they?’

Yun Sheng curved her lips into a self-deprecating smile, then said in a perfectly calm voice, "Mm, I see. It doesn’t matter who he is; it has nothing to do with me. When we go out for the cleanup in a bit, don’t stray too far from me."

’An uncle? That had nothing to do with her.’

’She only wanted to do her best to protect the people who truly cared for and worried about her!’

Just then, the little wolf in her pocket seemed to sense the shift in her emotions. It gently nudged her palm, its furry head rubbing against her fingers in a comforting gesture.

Yun Sheng glanced down at her pocket. The little wolf had its head tilted up, its deep blue eyes sparkling as they gazed at her, as if to say, ’You still have me.’

Her heart suddenly softened. She gently patted her pocket and quickened her pace toward the tent.

Outside the camp, at the edge of the dense forest to the northwest, Xing Che spotted a figure standing under a dead tree in the distance. His body flickered, and he shot over, coming to a stop beside him.

"Something isn’t right about this contaminant uprising," he said, his voice low and his brow slightly furrowed. "It feels like it’s being manipulated by someone."

Si Jin’s gaze sharpened.

He didn’t look at Xing Che. His gaze was fixed on the dim, dense forest in the distance, his eyes as dark and deep as pooled ink.

"Their target is all the Preparatory Guides." His voice was soft, yet it carried an unquestionable certainty. "You stay hidden in the shadows. You must protect Yun Sheng. I’m afraid she’s already been targeted!"