Chapter 26: Twenty six spirits, precious

Silence blanketed everything; only the occasional evening breeze seemed to play a requiem for the ordinary souls who had passed.  

That fleeting glimmer just now seemed like an illusion. 

Yet Ning Li knew, that one drop of tear was real.  

In this perilous world of Guides and Sentinels, among Sentinels who had grown numb to life and death, there still existed an “outlier” who grieved for the death of an ordinary person.  

Such an “outlier” was probably as rare as she, a Transmigrator.  

Rare, yet precious.  

Ignoring Xiao Hei’s constant chatter, Ning Li thought for a moment and finally chose to place her right hand on her new teammate’s left shoulder.  

This was a gesture that showed closeness between comrades without crossing boundaries.  

Between two people who had only known each other for four days, it was just right.  

Ning Li, rarely one to comfort others, could only offer dry words, “Try to live longer.”  

Alive, one could protect more people.  

Alive, one could witness the world becoming better—or worse.  

Alive, one could strive to change this world.  

“Alright.”  

The evening wind rose, stirring the strands of hair on Ning Li’s forehead.  

Faintly, it seemed as if a petal brushed lightly across her brow, like a dragonfly skimming over water, leaving behind a soft imprint.  

From the corner of her eye, she caught a fleeting glimpse of a dreamy blue-purple hue shimmering with silver light, like a meteor’s tail or a brilliant starry river suspended high above, lasting only a moment before vanishing.  

Ning Li blinked in surprise. 

“What’s that?”  

“It’s my Spirit Entity.”  

【So cute.】  

【Super cute.】  

【I want to pinch it.】  

Ning Li: ……….. 

Xiao Hei!  

Spirit Entities or not, that’s going too far.  

Before, it was one thing to pet cats and dogs; now, wanting to pinch a petal? 

It should be a petal, right?  

What Ning Li didn’t know was that this petal had taken the lives of the Medusa Officer and his two subordinates, devastating the Abnormal Species in the recent battle without mercy.  

And now, it appeared as gentle and harmless as a real petal, quietly brushing over her brow before quietly disappearing. 

Even showing affection was done quietly.  

She didn’t ask.  

Yin Que pinched his brow and looked back. 

“Sorry, I hope it didn’t disturb you.”  

From his words, Ning Li sensed two meanings: he referred both to his Spirit Entity and the emotional display he just showed.  

She shook her head. 

“It didn’t.”  

In truth, she wanted to ask if that soft petal that suddenly appeared was expressing friendship. 

But after thinking it over, she just…  

That petal looked special. 

Especially beautiful.  

From her experience over three months since transmigrating, Sentinels and Guides could only reveal their complete Spirit Entities externally—like her own 

【Necromancer】 or the disguised 

【Overlord Flower】.  

Or like Yuan Zi’s 

【Pink-Tipped Rose】, Lu Shuangshuang’s 【Night Rosemary】, and Lu Xiao’s 【Pearl Jasmine】.  

So, her new teammate’s Spirit Entity was a petal?  

That was indeed a very unique Spirit Entity.  

On the way back to the 520 Convenience Store, Ning Li and her new teammate encountered an ordinary person offering 10,000 universal coins.  

At the moment they met her, she was being dragged into a dark alley by vines.  

Vines were a type of Abnormal Plant, a subclass of Abnormal Species, possessing both strong lethality and some degree of intelligence.  

The ordinary woman’s face was streaked with tears and snot. 

Her eyes brightened when she saw them, and she was about to cry out for help, but then she seemed to think better of it and quickly shut her mouth.  

The light in her eyes dimmed little by little.  

Perhaps because too many Sentinels had passed by coldly, so much so that she had lost the will to survive.  

Even though she saw two people passing by—one of whom was even a Sentinel—she still did not call out for help.  

Let it be.  

No need to embarrass herself anymore.  

No matter how loudly she cried, no one would pay attention, right?  

To powerful Sentinels, the lives of ordinary people were worth nothing.  

In this dangerous Forbidden Zone, where death lurked at every turn, no one would recklessly risk saving an ordinary person. 

Even if someone was willing, without sufficient ability, the casualties could be more than one.  

She thought, they were not wrong. 

If she were them, she wouldn’t be brave enough either.  

The young ordinary woman closed her eyes in despair.  

She had been dragged several kilometers by the vines, from one neighborhood to another, to a block recently struck by an explosion.  

She didn’t know what fate awaited her. 

But whatever the outcome, it was beyond her control.  

Just as the ordinary woman was about to be pulled into the dark alley, a silver-blue flash streaked before her.  

The once dominant vine that held her tightly was instantly cut through, black sap oozing from the severed part.  

The young woman felt the binding force loosen. 

She blinked in shock and saw the once plump and moist vine quickly lose vitality. 

It withered visibly before her eyes, until—  

It turned into a dry, brittle weed. 

So dry that she could crush it with her fingers.  

What an awe-inspiring and enchanting power.  

She had waited so long, and finally, rescue had arrived!  

Instinctively, she looked at the two passersby.  

The one who looked like a Sentinel stepped closer. 

Under the moonlight, she could only see his black baseball cap and the shadow of his visor mask. 

His tall figure blocked part of the moonlight, casting a large shadow.  

The surroundings grew darker, but this change did not frighten her; instead, it filled her with—  

Hope.  

Hope for life.  

“This is a newly emerged Forbidden Zone, not yet breached. Once breached, anyone entering can leave at any time.”  

“The dark alley is the vine’s nest. Now that the vines are dead but their scent remains, this alley has actually become a safe place. At least, Abnormal Species won’t come near.”  

“You can stay inside until the Forbidden Zone is broken. When it is broken, a rainbow will appear at the exit, and you can follow the rainbow’s direction to leave.”  

“Please be patient. It won’t be long.”  

These words sounded like heavenly music in the young woman’s ears. 

Some of it she vaguely heard and forgot, but some she remembered firmly.  

Just bow.  

As long as she stayed in the alley, she was safe! 

She just needed to wait a little longer, and then she could leave!  

After saying this, the Sentinel and the Guide prepared to leave.  

The young woman’s legs, weakened by fear like noodles, regained strength. 

She hurriedly stood up and bowed deeply,  

“Thank you!”  

She never imagined that one day, a Sentinel would not only save her life but also patiently explain the rules of the Forbidden Zone to her, giving her the confidence to protect herself. 

No one had ever told her these things!  

Her “thank you” was sincere, heartfelt.  

The Sentinel stopped and made a hand gesture indicating no need to thank him. 

“It’s my duty.”  

Then he left.  

But the young woman couldn’t help but think, what duty was there?  

The other Sentinels she had encountered all turned a blind eye; only he generously extended his hand to help her.  

The dim light in her eyes rekindled once more.  

So, there were still good Sentinels in this world.  

She would bless him every day and forever remember this kindness!  

Ning Li did not overlook the flicker of light igniting in the rescued woman’s eyes.  

That was hope rekindled in this despairing world.  

Was this the true purpose behind her new teammate’s relentless aid to others?  

To rekindle hope for others, to guide them out of the bewildering crossroads of survival, to give them the motivation to continue living.  

In such a dark world of Guides and Sentinels, he was like a beam of light, dispelling the darkness.  

“After the Forbidden Zone is breached, can people come and go freely?”  

“Yes,” Yin Que explained. 

The first to breach a Forbidden Zone are called Pioneers. 

But breaching doesn’t mean the zone is completely safe. 

It just means those who enter later have a path to escape.  

If the initial difficulty of the Forbidden Zone was maxed out, then having an escape route reduces the difficulty by at least 30%.  

Ning Li sighed, “Pioneers are truly great.”  

The Pioneers who first entered and successfully breached the Forbidden Zone carved out a survival path for later arrivals. 

They were the guiding stars, the beacons for others.  

This world has never lacked for pioneers.  

Across thousands of years of Guide and Sentinel history, countless predecessors shed blood and sweat for this world.  

Her new teammate’s familiarity with the Forbidden Zone—could it mean he frequently went in to pioneer?  

Back at the 520 Convenience Store, the manager was absent. 

The night shift employee was a fresh face, someone Ning Li hadn’t seen before.  

Seeing the two of them heading toward the Staff Break Room, the employee scowled and snapped, “What are you doing? You’re not here to buy anything, right?”  

Ning Li said, “We’re employees of this store.”  

The employee sneered, “Employees? Even lies need some planning. Our store hasn’t hired in ages. Tell me, what exactly are you two doing?”  

At that moment, Yin Que’s voice rang calmly through the convenience store, “We’re hiring today.”  

The employee’s face showed confusion. 

His eyes glazed over as he murmured, “Hiring? Oh, yeah, that’s right.”  

He scratched his head and grinned awkwardly, “My mistake. You two go rest in the staff dormitory first. I’m on duty tonight.”  

An unseen crisis quietly dissipated.  

Once inside the Staff Break Room, Ning Li asked, “Is that a talent from your Spirit Entity?”  

Getting the job at the convenience store, fooling the night employee, confusing others…none of these things were easy.  

“Kind of,” Yin Que chuckled lightly. 

“Actually, it’s a talent of the Jellyfish Spirit Entity. I just borrowed it.”  

Jellyfish Spirit Entity…that was the Medusa Officer!  

He not only eliminated the Medusa Officer but also took the Medusa Officer’s Spirit Entity talent?  

With such strength, how did he die so easily in the first place?  

After death, he lay alone on the mass grave, and no one knew how long he had been there.  

Come to think of it, did the Medusa Officer even deserve to be his nemesis?  

Ning Li thought of her own Spirit Entity’s two talents and deliberately tested,  

“Can you lend me your Spirit Entity talent to use?”  

Yin Que didn’t expect this request; a flash of surprise passed through his dark eyes.  

Ning Li said, “You can try.”  

Better to ask outright than have her new teammate borrow her Spirit Entity talent secretly without her knowledge.  

Of course, judging by his character so far, he didn’t seem like the type to sneak around doing such things. 

But this world was still unfamiliar to Ning Li. 

If he could borrow others’ talents, what about the others?  

Did others have similar Spirit Entity talents?  

Better to get an answer from her new teammate first.  

Yin Que studied her for a few seconds, confirming she was serious and not joking, then politely asked, “Is it okay?”  

“Yes.”  

A few seconds later, Ning Li got her answer.  

“Failed.”  

“Oh.” 

So, he couldn’t lend it.  

Somewhat surprising, yet not too much.  

In the end, it was just a feeling of, “As expected.”  

Unreplicable talents, unique gifts she alone possessed—her Spirit Entity was truly one of a kind.  

Since she had already revived her new teammate, one more secret didn’t matter.  

As Ning Li walked from the Staff Break Room toward the Staff Dormitory, a voice called softly behind her, “Thank you.”  

Ning Li paused and turned around. 

“Thank me for what?”  

He had thanked her once after she revived him; she hadn’t done anything just now.  

Yin Que bowed his head with a smile, silent—  

“Thank you for remaining cautious in this world, yet still willing to give me a measure of trust.”