SS-Class Guide - Chapter 22

Wei Hetai came from a wealthy family.

His personal qualifications were also quite good; as a B-rank Sentinel, it would not normally be difficult for him to support someone like Rong Xiushi. However, taking on two high school students in the Fifth District as well made the situation significantly harder.

Given they were not related by blood, it was impossible for Rong Xiushi to simply remain a parasite, draining Wei Hetai’s resources indefinitely. Since Rong Xiushi had expressed a desire not to lose his freedom, the paths available to them were limited. Going to the black market was perhaps the only way to earn a large amount of money in a short period.

Wei Hetai knew a little bit about how to access the black market.

Early the next morning, the two of them had breakfast with Rong Xiuxi and then delivered food to Rong Xiujia. Rong Xiujia’s condition seemed very good. After spending about an hour with her, they took Rong Xiuxi out to look for an apartment near the twins’ school. In this regard, Rong Xiushi knew even less than Wei Hetai and Rong Xiuxi.

Ultimately, they rented a unit in a residential building near the school. The management fees were expensive, but it was safe, with security guards patrolling every morning and evening. Considering the siblings would be living together, Rong Xiushi specifically chose a two-bedroom apartment. Because it was close to the school, the monthly rent was as high as 1,200. If paid annually, there was a discount, bringing the total to 20,000.

An annual rent of 20,000 was considered extremely expensive in the Fifth District. Wei Hetai paid the full year upfront. Rong Xiuxi stood there dumbfounded and bewildered, feeling as if he were dreaming. Until yesterday, he and his twin sister had been squeezed into a storage room of barely ten square meters. Now, he had a room of his own, and it was paid for a year in advance.

For the next year, neither he nor his sister would have to worry about housing. Wei Hetai did not just pay the rent; he also covered the management fees for the coming year and pre-deposited money for utilities.

Wei Hetai ruffled Rong Xiuxi’s hair and advised, “The utilities are prepaid. If you and Xiujia have not used it all by the time you move out, it will just be a gift to the landlord.”

Upon hearing this, Rong Xiuxi immediately looked pained, his expression full of soul-crushing thriftiness. Seeing this, Rong Xiushi thought his younger brother was adorable and could not help but poke his cheek.

Wei Hetai then took them out to buy a heap of daily necessities and finally a large stock of groceries, mainly rice, flour, grain, and oil. They were worried that if they were not around, the siblings might be too frugal with themselves, which was highly likely.

Once everything was settled, Rong Xiushi looked at Rong Xiuxi and said, “Xixi, both you and Jiajia need to study hard, understood?”

Rong Xiuxi nodded obediently.

Rong Xiushi’s expression turned serious. “What I mean is, I want you to stop working part-time jobs. Put all your focus into your studies.” He paused before adding, “There are over two years left. Once I get my diploma from Fanse Academy, I can bring you to the Central District. I will transfer you to schools there, so you need to be prepared. Do you understand?”

Rong Xiuxi blinked, his grey eyes, so similar to his brother’s, filled with longing for the future.

Rong Xiushi continued, “I will send living expenses to you and Jiajia every month. If the money is not enough, or if the school suddenly requires some fees, you must tell me, okay?”

Rong Xiuxi nodded repeatedly.

After walking Rong Xiuxi back to school, Rong Xiushi and Wei Hetai returned to the hotel to discuss entering the black market. They had only been granted ten days of leave, so they did not have much time. Wei Hetai shared what he knew about the black market.

The black market was divided into several tiers. In the highest tier, it was rumored that even S-rank Sentinels and S-rank Guides could be found. Rong Xiushi was stunned. He could believe the part about S-rank Sentinels, but he found it hard to believe an S-rank Guide would enter the black market.

After the great war two years ago, the Temple of Se’an, which originally had one double-S-rank Guide and seven S-rank Guides, now only had five S-rank Guides in total. Including the late An Yuan, three Guides of S-rank or higher had died in that war. Of course, he had heard that major factions secretly trained S-rank Guides and that some S-rank Guides who preferred freedom were hidden among the populace, but the truth remained unknown.

Wei Hetai told Rong Xiushi that given their current situation, they could only access the lowest-level black market. The typical clientele there, while not necessarily wealthy, were generally B-rank Sentinels. Once Rong Xiushi entered the black market, his main task would be providing mental channeling for these Sentinels.

According to market rates, a C-rank Guide channeling a B-rank Sentinel cost 500 per session. A B-rank Guide channeling a Sentinel of the same rank cost three times that, or 1,500. Black market prices would be lower, but he could still make around 1,000.

Rong Xiushi calculated that if he could channel five B-rank Sentinels a day, that would be 5,000. If he kept it up for a month, it would be a massive sum of money. In the black market, there were three types of transactions: bartering, using the common currency of the five districts, or using anonymous cards from major banks. Cash was frequently used in black market dealings. One of the absolute rules was that counterfeit money was strictly forbidden; anyone caught violating this rule usually ended up dead without knowing how.

Naturally, because many people dealt in cash, leaving the black market could be extremely dangerous. Rong Xiushi and Wei Hetai agreed that once they earned money, Rong Xiushi would pay Wei Hetai for protection at the market rate. Truthfully, neither of them knew the black market very well.

The two split up to take action. They decided to prepare today and head to the night market. Wei Hetai was responsible for scouting the items needed for the night market, while Rong Xiushi would buy props to disguise them both.

While buying the disguise materials, Rong Xiushi looked at himself seriously in the mirror. With a face that was 80 to 90 percent similar to his original appearance and a thin frame of about 174cm, he truly had no fetish for cross-dressing. But to ensure he would not be recognized, he was willing to dress as a woman.

Blushing, he bought a common style of women’s clothing from a street stall, a long black wavy wig, and some basic makeup. To avoid leaving a trail, he paid for everything in cash. After Rong Xiushi finished shopping, he met up with Wei Hetai. It was already quite dark.

Rong Xiushi followed Wei Hetai into a blind spot without surveillance cameras and began to change. Rong Xiushi had prepared a clown costume for Wei Hetai; this type of outfit was very common in the black market. Wei Hetai changed. When he looked up at Rong Xiushi, he was stunned.

A black-and-white dress, black stockings, a ribbon around the neck to hide the Adam’s apple, and long wavy black hair. At that moment, Rong Xiushi was clumsily applying mascara. It could be said that currently, aside from the mascara, Rong Xiushi had not even applied a base layer of makeup. Yet even so, he was breathtakingly beautiful.

Wei Hetai had known for a long time that Rong Xiushi was decent-looking, but he never imagined he could look this stunning. At this moment, he was certain that if Rong Xiushi appeared at Fanse Academy looking like this, he would undoubtedly be the school beauty.

Rong Xiushi felt Wei Hetai’s gaze, his cheeks turning slightly red as he met his eyes. He felt the sacrifice he was making to avoid being recognized was far too great. Thinking it over, Rong Xiushi felt he needed to explain to Wei Hetai that he did not have any strange hobbies. He said, “Believe me, I have no personal interest in makeup. I am doing this only because I do not want to be recognized.”

Wei Hetai nodded understandingly and said, “Indeed, like this, absolutely no one will recognize you.” He paused, then added, “The fake chest you bought is very realistic.”

Rong Xiushi felt a bit embarrassed. “I heard it is a popular model in the Fifth District.”

Once everything was ready, they put on masks. Most people in the black market wore them. Some masks were beautiful and only covered the eyes, while others covered the entire face. Rong Xiushi’s goal was clear: earn money. To attract Sentinels to his station, he had to find a way to catch people’s eyes. Female Guides were far more popular than male ones, which was one of the reasons Rong Xiushi had swallowed his shame to cross-dress.

A visual feast always attracted a crowd. To that end, Rong Xiushi chose a beautiful mask that only covered his eyes, matching the colors of his dress with silver-engraved patterns along the edges.

The time was 8:00 PM.

Wei Hetai led Rong Xiushi through several dark alleys toward the black market. Sentinels in deep blue security uniforms guarded the entrance, demanding permits to enter. They did not have any. However, that was not an issue; without a permit, anyone could enter by paying 200 in cash. Before even earning a cent, they had to pay their way in. After paying 400 in cash, they successfully entered.

By 8:30 PM in early September, it was completely dark, but the black market lights illuminated the night. A Sentinel guarding the entrance looked at Rong Xiushi and let out a whistle. Rong Xiushi paused and instinctively looked back. Under the night lights, Rong Xiushi’s icy grey eyes seemed to glow with a layer of fluorescence, shimmering like fine, expensive jewels. As he turned, his black wig danced slightly. Even with a mask on, he was incredibly eye-catching at that moment.

Many people moved in and out of the black market, and many were dressed even more provocatively than Rong Xiushi. There were bunny girls, maids, and Lolita styles, countless beauties of all kinds. In comparison, Rong Xiushi wore a very common black-and-white dress, yet he remained the most captivating person in many people’s eyes. Without a doubt, wherever he stood, he was the center of attention.

The Sentinel looked at Rong Xiushi and said bluntly, “What a beautiful chick.”

Rong Xiushi’s brow furrowed imperceptibly. Wei Hetai grabbed Rong Xiushi’s wrist and said, “Let’s go.”

Rong Xiushi nodded. To avoid trouble, he purposely took Wei Hetai’s arm, pretending they were a couple as they walked through the market. Jewelry and rarities were sold here, but what surprised Rong Xiushi most was a counter selling low-level insects and ants. He could not understand why anyone would sell such things.

Wei Hetai lowered his voice and said, “Insects and ants are special. Research has shown different types can be used in medicine. Some can even be made into physical recovery agents, talent potions, or even mental landscape soothing agents.”

Rong Xiushi knew this. Many freelance Sentinels made a living hunting Zerg and fierce beasts. Two years ago, the Zerg Queen had died. Without a ruler-class Queen, the Zerg scattered. Though the danger they posed to the five districts was not as intense as before, disasters still occurred. The Temple of Se’an constantly sent teams from the Martial Temple to hunt them, but their numbers remained staggering.

Fortunately, without a Queen, there would be no new King-class soldier ants. What Rong Xiushi did not know was that the black market sold live Zerg. In his view, all things had spirits except for the Zerg. Rong Xiushi withdrew his gaze and looked around for Guide stations. That was how he had imagined it: a group of Guides gathered in one area, and passing Sentinels would choose one for channeling.

Just as he was thinking this, Wei Hetai led him toward a hotel in the black market called “Deyou.” Rong Xiushi looked at Wei Hetai with confusion, but Wei Hetai signaled him not to ask questions.

Inside the Deyou Hotel, a masked young man in a uniform approached and asked Wei Hetai about their needs. Wei Hetai smiled at Rong Xiushi and said, “This is my partner. She is a Guide.” He deepened his voice slightly, making it sound different from his own.

The staff member immediately understood. The hotel manager, hearing the news, warmly welcomed them and began asking Rong Xiushi questions. “So, may I ask, what is this beautiful Guide lady’s talent rank?”

Rong Xiushi remained silent, leaving all the questions to Wei Hetai.

“B-rank,” Wei Hetai replied.

The manager said, “I assume you two know our hotel’s rules. We take a ten percent commission.”

“That is fine,” Wei Hetai said.

“Then please follow me. I will have someone lead you to this beautiful lady’s studio.” The manager paused before asking the most sensitive question, “To what level is this lady willing to perform channeling?”

Physical contact, the exchange of breath, or the final steps. The more contact, the better the effect. Wei Hetai paused, then replied, “Primary level.”

The manager looked very disappointed. “That is a pity.” He tried to entice them. “Perhaps you two could reconsider.”

Wei Hetai said, “No need to reconsider. Primary level is sufficient.”

The manager said, “If this beautiful lady is only willing to go to the primary level, the results might not be ideal. This could affect the effectiveness and, consequently, your final earnings.”

“I apologize, but I am quite possessive of my partner. There is no need for further persuasion. We only do primary level.”

Hearing this, the manager stopped pushing and ordered a uniformed staff member to lead them to a studio. The studio provided by the Deyou Hotel was an isolation room. However, the interior was mediocre, the space was small, and it was not very comfortable.

Only the two of them remained in the isolation room. As they sat down, Wei Hetai said, “Some hotels in the black market conduct various transactions, including channeling studios. Though they take a cut, they protect the basic safety of the staff.”

Rong Xiushi nodded. “That is good. We do not have to go out and solicit clients.” Even so, since the beauty contest aspect was gone, he felt his current outfit was a bit of a waste.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang. They looked at each other and chose to remain silent. The door opened, and a staff member led in a Sentinel wearing a mask. The staff member had a polite smile and spoke respectfully, “Beautiful Guide lady, this gentleman is a regular customer of ours. He heard a new B-rank Guide lady had arrived and wanted to test his compatibility with you.”

Because of his voice, Rong Xiushi did not dare speak and continued to pretend to be mute. Wei Hetai responded for him, “Very well. Please have a seat, sir.”

The Sentinel client looked at Rong Xiushi, his chin tilted up slightly as he asked arrogantly, “Are you a mute? Why do you not speak?”

Before Wei Hetai could answer, Rong Xiushi nodded first, pointed to his mouth, then shook his head, sincerely indicating he was indeed mute. Seeing his actions, the Sentinel and the staff member were briefly stunned, then looked at him with pity. Perhaps because they felt that even though he was a Guide, being a mute was too pitiful, they did not give him any more trouble.

The Sentinel sat across from Rong Xiushi and allowed him to perform the channeling. As his protector, Wei Hetai stood beside him, while the staff member stood in the corner as a monitor. All eyes were on Rong Xiushi.

Rong Xiushi habitually grasped the client’s wrist. The Sentinel’s lips curled as if he wanted to mock him; in the past, the only double-S-rank Guide in the five districts liked to channel Sentinels this way, but not everyone was An Yuan. What he could do, others might not.

However, the moment Rong Xiushi’s mental power entered his mental landscape, the overwhelming sensation of comfort immediately shut him up. With Rong Xiushi intentionally channeling slowly, the session lasted about half an hour. When it was over, the Sentinel client, after a moment of daze, dropped his arrogant act and said enthusiastically, “Beautiful Guide lady, our compatibility is very high. Would you be willing to get to know me better?”

Without Rong Xiushi having to do anything, Wei Hetai and the staff member ushered the client out. Within half an hour of that client leaving, another staff member brought in a new one. The situation remained stable.

The black market’s operating hours were from 8:00 PM to 5:00 AM. They had arrived at the hotel at 9:00 PM, and by 3:00 AM, they had handled seven clients. Rong Xiushi was quite satisfied. Rong Xiushi rubbed his forehead, feeling tired. Wei Hetai asked in a low voice, “Shall we leave?”

Rong Xiushi hesitated, then nodded.

However, just as they were about to find the manager to settle their earnings, there was a knock on the door. Another staff member entered with a Sentinel. Compared to the previous ones, this Sentinel’s mask only covered half his face, and he smelled of alcohol. He seemed to have been drinking quite a bit.

In theory, Sentinels and Guides did not care for alcohol, but some people enjoyed the feeling of it numbing their brains. This client was clearly drunk, his steps unsteady as the staff member helped him into the chair across from Rong Xiushi. The staff member looked at Rong Xiushi apologetically. Rong Xiushi understood completely; this was just the nature of the job. They would encounter all sorts of clients and could not always choose based on their preferences. Workers are not always their own masters.

Rong Xiushi wanted to finish this quickly so he and Wei Hetai could leave the hotel. His pale hand grasped the wrist of the drunken Sentinel and he began channeling immediately. He wanted to get it over with and go home.

Rong Xiushi’s brow furrowed slightly as he looked at the Sentinel slumped in the chair, his eyes half-closed behind the mask. He felt something was slightly off, but he could not quite put his finger on what it was. What Rong Xiushi did not know was that while he felt something was off, the drunken Sentinel he was channeling felt the same way. However, due to the heavy alcohol, his brain was sluggish.

A half-hour passed in the blink of an eye. Rong Xiushi finished the channeling. The staff member immediately helped the drunkard out. Only Rong Xiushi and Wei Hetai were left in the studio.

“I think that person was a bit strange,” Rong Xiushi whispered.

“In what way?” Wei Hetai asked.

Rong Xiushi’s voice was steady; even now, he had not fully realized the issue. “Compared to the others, his mental landscape was a bit…”

At that point, Rong Xiushi’s expression froze. His pupils dilated in shock, and he was visibly stunned.

“What is wrong?” Wei Hetai asked.

Rong Xiushi stood up hurriedly and grabbed Wei Hetai’s wrist.

“Do not panic, tell me what happened,” Wei Hetai urged again.

Rong Xiushi said anxiously, “That man just now, he was not B-rank, and he was not A-rank. He was an S-rank Sentinel.”

Wei Hetai’s world shook. If Rong Xiushi could complete a channeling session for an S-rank Sentinel in just half an hour, it meant he was an S-rank Guide. Wei Hetai had suspected as much before, but facing the reality was still a massive shock. After the three S-rank or higher Guides had fallen two years ago, Rong Xiushi was likely the sixth S-rank Guide currently known in the five districts, and the youngest.

This was something to panic about.

Wei Hetai led Rong Xiushi out of the studio. He wanted to leave immediately, but before they left, Rong Xiushi was still thinking about the wages he had worked all night for.

“Forget it,” Wei Hetai said.

Rong Xiushi hesitated, but considering the potential trouble, he nodded. Fortunately, they ran into the hotel manager just as they were leaving. Wei Hetai said that Rong Xiushi was exhausted after working all day and requested his pay. The manager was surprisingly generous, paying them in cash immediately. As they left, he even told them they should come back often.

Wei Hetai and Rong Xiushi quickened their pace, hurrying out of the black market. They did not dare delay, stripping off their disguises in a blind spot without cameras. Wei Hetai’s disguise was easy to remove, but the women’s clothing on Rong Xiushi was harder to handle. Wei Hetai helped him, using makeup remover to clean his face. He noticed that even with the messy makeup gone, Rong Xiushi’s looks were not diminished at all under the moonlight.

Rong Xiushi adjusted his thick bangs to cover his beautiful eyes and put on his heavy black-framed glasses. “Do I look normal?”

“Normal,” Wei Hetai replied.

After disposing of all the disguise props, they took the cash and spent some time moving through arcades and bars before returning to the inn. Rong Xiushi was very nervous. He did not know the rules of the black market, nor did he know if something bad would happen if news got out that an S-rank Guide might have appeared there.

But then he thought, Wei Hetai had said that S-rank Guides might even show up in the black market, so it should be fine, right?

Rong Xiushi comforted himself.

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