Chapter 18: Even More Foolish Than I Am

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Ji Xun had been waiting all morning without any news from Zhao Zhanlei. He rested his head on the desk, still upset from the morning over the disappearance of the Big King, and his thoughts were all tangled after Fu Shuxing’s interference.

“Ji Xun.”

“Ah?” Ji Xun looked up at his classmate.

“There’s someone outside asking for you.”

Ji Xun thought it was Zhao Zhanlei, so he walked out of the guidance office, only to see Sun Shuangjiang standing there.

Today, Sun Shuangjiang wore a red velvet dress that made her porcelain-white face look even more delicate, her doe-like black eyes bright and moist. Avoiding Ji Xun’s gaze, she nervously lowered her eyes and said, “I-I came to return your umbrella. Thank you for yesterday.”

As she spoke, she handed over the umbrella with both hands.

Ji Xun replied, “No need to thank me.”

He took the umbrella and looked at Sun Shuangjiang, then glanced again before saying, “You look very…”

Sun Shuangjiang immediately grew anxious and pinched the palm of her hand.

Ji Xun searched for the right word and said, “Very spirited!”

Sun Shuangjiang’s face flushed red.

Ji Xun continued, “You look different from before. It’s quite good. I hope you stay like this from now on.”

Blushing, Sun Shuangjiang kept lowering her head repeatedly. “I-I’ll be going now.”

“Bye.”

After watching Sun Shuangjiang leave, Ji Xun lowered his head, pondering the black umbrella in his hand.

He had to return that umbrella as well.

Finding an excuse, Ji Xun didn’t hesitate and crossed the Reverse Current River, heading to the sentinel guidance building across the way.

This was Ji Xun’s first time visiting the sentinel building since entering the Sanctuary.

Unlike the guide building, the sentinel building was taller, more spacious, and decorated in darker hues. In the corridors, one could see the spiritual forms released by the sentinels—mostly carnivorous animals.

The atmosphere was completely different from the guide building!

Ji Xun clenched the black umbrella tightly.

Fortunately, most of those spiritual forms looked like juveniles.

Suddenly, a whistle sounded from upstairs. “Wow, look at this! Which little cutie got lost?”

Ji Xun immediately looked up.

He saw an unfamiliar sentinel leaning on the stair railing, looking down at him from above. The man wore battle fatigues, with an eagle perched on his shoulder, not appearing very friendly.

“Hey there, little guide~” the man waved and smiled, about to tease him.

A sentinel nearby immediately slapped him on the shoulder. “Don’t mess around. This is Ji Xun.”

“Ji Xun?” The eagle-eyed sentinel choked, his smile disappearing as he grew serious and looked at Ji Xun. “You’re here for Lei Zi?”

Ji Xun quickly nodded.

Though unsure why these sentinels knew him, Ji Xun still asked, “Can you take me to find him? I have something to talk to him about.”

“Sure, follow me.”

Ji Xun followed the sentinel.

The sentinel said, “I’m Fan Yunhai, in the same class as Zhao Zhanlei.”

Ji Xun replied, “Hello, I’m Ji Xun.”

Fan Yunhai smiled, “I know.”

Ji Xun looked at the black claws hooked over Fan Yunhai’s shoulder by the eagle. Its dark red eyes were sharp and bright, its beak a lead-gray downward hook, its feathers rufous with golden tips, and its chest and belly dark brown.

“Wow, what kind of spiritual form is that? So handsome.”

“A golden eagle.”

Apparently understanding his guide’s compliment, the golden eagle immediately fluttered its wings and soared into the sky!

Its wingspan was vast and majestic!

“Wow!!” Ji Xun watched the golden eagle circle the corridor before returning to perch on Fan Yunhai’s shoulder. His eyes shone with admiration. “This is way too cool!!”

“Chirp!”

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Ji Xun was stunned. “Did it just call out?”

Fan Yunhai raised an eyebrow in surprise and nodded, “Yeah.”

Ji Xun exclaimed, “So cute! The call contrasts adorably with its cool and handsome appearance—like Stone’s cheetah, which sounds like a little kitten when it calls, haha.”

Hearing this, the golden eagle lowered its head modestly and preened its feathers.

Fan Yunhai looked at Ji Xun again, more curious.

Ji Xun asked, “What’s up?”

“Nothing,” Fan Yunhai shrugged. “It usually doesn’t pay much attention to people. Maybe it got a bit excited seeing you today.”

Ji Xun smiled and decided to withdraw his first impression that Fan Yunhai was hard to get along with. Looking at the golden eagle, he asked, “Can I gently touch it?”

Fan Yunhai hesitated. “It has a bad temper.”

“Then forget it,” Ji Xun said quickly. But just then, the golden eagle flapped its wings, and one large wing swiped firmly across Fan Yunhai’s face, as if slapping him.

Fan Yunhai: “…”

Ji Xun thought, good thing I didn’t touch it—it’s really fierce.

Fan Yunhai walked to the guidance office door and loudly called, “Lei Zi! Your boyfriend is here looking for you!”

Zhao Zhanlei thought he misheard. “Who?”

Fan Yunhai: “Ji Xun!”

As soon as those words dropped, Zhao Zhanlei’s scalp tightened, feeling a sharp killing intent emanating from Fu Shuxing beside him. He immediately stood up and walked out, saying, “Nonsense! He’s my brother.”

“Wow—” others began to tease.

Zhao Zhanlei walked out, casually closing the door behind him.

“Xun, what brings you here?”

Ji Xun handed him the umbrella and was about to speak, then glanced toward the window, where the sentinel class A’s windows were packed with curious heads peering out.

Ji Xun: “…”

Zhao Zhanlei followed his gaze, then strode to the window and shouted at them, “Go, go, go! What are you all staring at? What’s so interesting?”

The sentinels immediately broke up, making noise as they dispersed.

Zhao Zhanlei led Ji Xun a little further away.

Ji Xun followed behind and asked, “Stone, did you ask? Did he skip his spiritual counseling session yesterday?”

Zhao Zhanlei said, “Right, he didn’t go.”

Ji Xun: “Why?”

“He said he was originally going to the appraisal building but the rain was too heavy, so he went to the guidance building. By the time he realized he’d gone the wrong way and came back down, his umbrella was gone.”

Ji Xun: “…”

Zhao Zhanlei looked at him.

Ji Xun stammered, “W-why are you looking at me like that?”

He quickly shoved the now hot-to-the-touch black umbrella into Zhao Zhanlei’s hands. “I don’t want it!”

Zhao Zhanlei couldn’t help but chuckle.

Ji Xun then asked, “It’s not raining today, did he go for counseling?”

“No.”

Zhao Zhanlei said, “Brother Xing said he’s not in the mood today.”

Ji Xun found this ridiculous. “You need to be ‘in the mood’ for spiritual counseling???”

“Yeah, he said his hand is injured and it’s too embarrassing.”

“…How did he hurt his hand?”

Zhao Zhanlei looked a bit awkward, glanced at Ji Xun, then hesitated. “Brother Xing told me not to tell anyone.”

“I’m leaving then.” Ji Xun turned to go.

Zhao Zhanlei hurriedly grabbed him. “You’re not ‘anyone’! I’ll tell you—he cut himself with a knife accidentally.”

Ji Xun looked puzzled. “?”

Zhao Zhanlei explained, “Brother Xing said he wanted to eat an apple last night and used a fruit knife to peel it. He accidentally cut his palm.”

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Ji Xun: “??”

“After cutting his left hand, he tried peeling with the other hand and cut his right hand too.”

Ji Xun: “…”

He looked serious when telling the story, which made Ji Xun incredulous. “You actually believe that??”

Zhao Zhanlei: “Ah.”

He looked confused. “Why wouldn’t I?”

Ji Xun: “You’re even dumber than me!!”

Zhao Zhanlei: “Xun Xun, you can scold me all you want, no need to include yourself.”

Ji Xun: “…”

Zhao Zhanlei said, “So you’re saying Brother Xing’s lying to me?”

“Isn’t that obvious?” Ji Xun said. “A fruit knife can’t cause such big wounds. Would he really wrap both hands up like that? And he’s a sentinel. After a whole night, such small cuts wouldn’t only remain unhealed but would still bleed in the morning. Does that make sense?”

Zhao Zhanlei suddenly realized, “True! That’s totally unreasonable! Then how did he get hurt?”

Ji Xun said, “How would I know if you don’t ask?”

He added, “But he doesn’t want to say, and we can’t force it. Forget it. You take him for counseling today. If he refuses, report it to the instructor and have the instructor contact Uncle Gao.”

Zhao Zhanlei said, “Isn’t that a bit extreme…”

Ji Xun immediately raised his voice, “What’s extreme about it? Uncle Fu and Uncle Gao aren’t home right now. Fu Shuxing is so arrogant; if something happens, can you and I take responsibility?!”

Zhao Zhanlei hadn’t really thought about why they’d be responsible, and instinctively answered, “No…”

“Then fine! Just do as I say!” Ji Xun said. “I’m leaving now.”

“I’ll see you out.”

“No need!” Ji Xun said. “You go take him now!”

Ji Xun went down two floors, then suddenly remembered he hadn’t asked Stone about Xu Yuangui.

He immediately turned and ran back upstairs but accidentally bumped into someone.

“Sorry…”

Ji Xun was about to apologize when the other person suddenly cursed, “Are you blind or what?!”

The voice was too familiar. Ji Xun immediately looked over.

Sure enough, it was Xu Yuangui.

Upon seeing Ji Xun, Xu Yuangui’s expression changed drastically—from arrogant to pale with fright! He nervously apologized repeatedly, “S-sorry, Ji Xun! What are you doing here? I didn’t see you. Are you okay? Did I hurt you? Do you need me to take you to the treatment pod? Who are you looking for?”

Ji Xun watched the entire transformation—from fierce scolding to terrified apology—in less than a second.

He increasingly felt Xu Yuangui’s apology yesterday in the guidance office wasn’t sincere.

Someone must have done something to him.

Ji Xun thought for a moment, frowned, and asked, “Xuangui, the day before yesterday after school, did Zhao Zhanlei confront you?”

Xuangui’s face turned deathly pale, his heart racing. He said, “W-what? What?”

His eyes darted nervously as he quickly said, “I really don’t know what you mean. Earlier, it was my fault—I didn’t see you and accidentally bumped into you. I apologize. I didn’t expect you’d come to the sentinel building. Are you alright?”

“I’m fine, of course,” Ji Xun cautiously said. “You know I’m not someone to mess with, right?”

Xuangui nodded tightly, thinking Ji Xun was threatening him. He clasped his hands and looked miserable. “My dear lord, I wouldn’t dare to mess with you. I really didn’t see you just now. Please, let me off this time.”

Seeing Xu Yuangui so terrified, Ji Xun pursed his lips for a moment but finally said, “Forget it, it’s fine.”

He strode down the stairs.

Something was going on here.

Definitely.

Xu Yuangui wasn’t usually so afraid of Zhao Zhanlei. Even when Zhao Zhanlei beat him up, he still dared to retaliate.

Looking across the entire Sanctuary, who could be the person that made Xu Yuangui this fearful and wary?