SS-Class Guide - Chapter 25

Rong Xiushi’s lip twitched. Posting on FriendCircle, this was yet another practice he could not understand, especially taking photos of other people to post. After hanging up with Yu Tianlu, Rong Xiushi decided to take a short nap.

At noon, Wei Hetai woke Rong Xiushi up, and they ate boxed lunches together. Since the space in the private compartment was narrow, they had to dispose of the food boxes immediately; otherwise, the smell would linger for a long time. Rong Xiushi stood up instinctively to throw the boxes away, but Wei Hetai beat him to it, clearing out all the trash before he could act.

The rest of the day was uneventful. Rong Xiushi opened his phone and tried to study; after all, he was someone who aimed to get a scholarship. The original An Yuan had never been a fan of studying, and trying to learn through a phone screen now made his head throb. He forced himself to read for half an hour, but his mind began to drift and his vision blurred. He simply could not continue.

Suddenly, he thought of his gossipy classmate, the D-rank Guide who mentioned posting on FriendCircle. He could not comprehend such behavior. Driven by curiosity, he opened his chat history with Yu Tianlu and entered his FriendCircle.

The original owner of this body had very few friends. When the popular messaging app opened, he saw he had fewer than thirty contacts, including school groups and homework groups. He and Yu Tianlu had become friends because Yu Tianlu had added him first when they started school. Yu Tianlu was a very social person; on the first day of school, he added everyone in the class, and rumors said he had added almost the entire academy.

As Rong Xiushi scrolled through Yu Tianlu’s FriendCircle, he saw various posts showcasing different things. Yu Tianlu loved to show off, but not usually himself. Instead, he showcased the people around him and the things happening to them. He occasionally posted about himself, but rarely. He only posted positive things. For example, what a friend had bought, an achievement someone earned, a passed exam, or who was currently titled the “school grass” or “school beauty” of their academy.

Rong Xiushi had heard that because of Yu Tianlu’s personality, some of his friends who wanted to brag but felt too shy to do so themselves would find ways to let Yu Tianlu know about their good news. They would then wait expectantly for him to post about them. One had to admit, Yu Tianlu was a unique individual.

Rong Xiushi scrolled down and did not see a single negative post. He even saw a comment from a mutual friend on one of the posts. This friend was also their classmate.

“Wow, if it were not for your post, I would never have known A-Cheng was so amazing! He has already participated in Temple of Se’an missions multiple times!”

Rong Xiushi thought to himself that Yu Tianlu was practically a “know-it-all.” It was quite impressive; no, very impressive.

Time passed quickly. Just as Wei Hetai had said, people were curious about the “High-Speed Rail Beauty” on the first day, but by the second day, almost everyone had forgotten. The only one who still remembered was likely the gossipy Yu Tianlu. Yu Tianlu had persistently tried to nag Rong Xiushi into taking a photo, but after being rejected multiple times, he finally stopped.

On the third day, the high-speed rail finally arrived in the Central District. Unlike the difficult boarding process in the Fifth District, they were cleared after a simple security check. Someone in the crowd grumbled quietly that the more backward a place was, the stricter the security, while the more developed areas were more relaxed.

Rong Xiushi and Wei Hetai returned to the apartment together. Having been away from the chaotic Fifth District for over ten days, Wei Hetai’s family was worried and wanted him to come home. Before knowing Rong Xiushi was an S-rank Guide, Wei Hetai had not thought much of it. Now, however, he felt it was dangerous for Rong Xiushi to be without protection, even in the Central District.

Wei Hetai frowned, his worry growing. “Xiushi, you should come with me.”

Rong Xiushi was stunned for a moment and refused immediately. For many years, Wei Hetai had taken great care of him. The Wei family had never approved of their association. This was especially true after Wei Hetai broke through from C-rank to B-rank; once the original owner could no longer provide effective channeling for him, the Wei family became even more opposed to them being together.

Rong Xiushi also remembered when Wei Hetai’s parents had visited the original owner, telling him not to continue being a burden to their son. They were not blood relatives; they were just friends. But it was clear that rather than a friend, he was viewed as a weight pulling Wei Hetai down.

Wei Hetai tried to persuade him, but Rong Xiushi remained firm. Seeing this, Wei Hetai had no choice but to leave alone. Rong Xiushi felt a sense of relief at not having to see the Wei family. However, ten minutes after Wei Hetai left, a familiar set of footsteps returned. He was back.

Rong Xiushi looked at him and asked, “Did you forget something?”

Wei Hetai nodded. Under Rong Xiushi’s bewildered gaze, he said, “I am still not at ease leaving you. Let us go together.”

Rong Xiushi was speechless. He was surprised; extremely surprised. After a moment of silence, he realized things had reached a point where he had no choice but to follow.

Wei Hetai’s older brother, Wei Heshu, currently worked at the Temple of Se’an as an A-rank Sentinel. He lived in Jingye District, which was also where the former An Yuan used to live. Rong Xiushi did not want to go to the Wei home for two reasons: he did not want to see Wei Hetai’s parents, and he did not want to return to Jingye District.

Jingye District was very far from Fanse Academy. Commuting daily would take a lot of time, which was why Wei Hetai had moved out of his family home in the first place. Wei Hetai called a taxi, and the two rode together.

As the taxi reached the borders of Jingye District, the security became noticeably stricter. At the entrance of the residential area, Rong Xiushi, as a non-resident, had to register his name, phone number, and temporary address before being allowed in.

Wei Hetai pointed to a building in the distance. “Look over there.”

Rong Xiushi looked in the direction he pointed. There were rows of tall buildings that all looked virtually identical.

Wei Hetai said, “From Building 35 onwards, that is mostly where the S-rank and double-S-rank members of the Temple of Se’an live.”

Rong Xiushi nodded. Wei Hetai realized that saying this to an actual S-rank Guide was not very persuasive, so he added, “In the past, Master An Yuan lived in that area.”

Rong Xiushi went quiet. After a brief pause, his gaze shifted toward that area once more.

Wei Hetai led the way. “My family lives in Building 12. If I am ever away on a mission, you can ask my brother for help.”

Rong Xiushi thanked him, though he sincerely hoped such a situation would never arise. Suddenly, Rong Xiushi stopped walking. With his heightened perception, he felt someone watching him. He scanned the surroundings and saw a familiar face: Gu Hanqing.

Gu Hanqing looked haggard. After looking at him for two seconds, Rong Xiushi withdrew his gaze and continued walking as Wei Hetai urged him on.

Wei Hetai lowered his voice. “That man is Master Gu Hanqing, one of the two double-S-rank Sentinels of the Temple of Se’an.”

“He does not look like he is in a good state,” Rong Xiushi remarked.

“My brother told me that after the events two years ago, the atmosphere in the Temple of Se’an worsened significantly. Even now, many people have not recovered from what happened back then.”

Rong Xiushi suppressed the urge to look back at Gu Hanqing.

Wei Hetai added, “This neighborhood is like that. If you are lucky, you might see some of the most prominent people from the Temple. If you are unlucky, you might offend a powerhouse without even knowing it.”

Rong Xiushi thought to himself that in the past, he might have been exactly that kind of person to others.

After a fifteen-minute walk, they arrived at the Wei home. They entered using the fingerprint lock. Wei Hetai’s mother, who had received word of their arrival, greeted them immediately. When her eyes fell on Rong Xiushi, her expression froze.

Wei Hetai was completely unaware that his parents had contacted Rong Xiushi privately. He smiled and pulled Rong Xiushi inside. “Mom, you probably have not seen Xiushi in a long time, right?”

Rong Xiushi forced a smile and spoke awkwardly to her. “Auntie Wei, it has been a long time.” His voice grew quieter as he felt increasingly guilty.

In front of her son, Mrs. Wei managed a small smile and invited Rong Xiushi to sit. Knowing Wei Hetai was coming home, she had prepared early. She had them sit on the sofa and went to the kitchen to pour two glasses of juice. Under Mrs. Wei’s gaze, Rong Xiushi felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles.

At around 6:00 PM, Wei Hetai’s father returned. He frowned slightly upon seeing Rong Xiushi but said nothing. While Mrs. Wei prepared dinner in the kitchen, Mr. Wei looked at his son. “Atai, Ashu should be home around seven. You can eat once he arrives.”

Wei Hetai nodded. “I am not hungry.” He then looked at Rong Xiushi. “Let us go to the isolation room.”

Rong Xiushi followed him into the room, where soft white noise began to play. Since his rebirth, Rong Xiushi had not been in such a high-quality isolation room.

“Xiushi, the soundproofing here is very good. If you have any thoughts, you can tell me here.”

Rong Xiushi looked around. “My original plan was to earn money in the black market, but…”

They both understood. After the incident in the Fifth District, monitoring of the black market would undoubtedly be tightened. If Rong Xiushi tried to earn money there again, the danger would increase. He could not afford to take that risk.

While Rong Xiushi received some money for channeling Wei Hetai, he could not keep draining his friend. Furthermore, he did not want to take Wei Hetai’s money because the other man had already helped him so much.

They were both troubled. Under these circumstances, how else could they earn money?

Suddenly, Wei Hetai said, “There are often certain events.”

Rong Xiushi looked at him, puzzled.

“You have always been very busy, so you might not know much about these things.” Wei Hetai explained, “The ten major academies, or other schools, often hold masquerade banquets. During some of these events, Guides provide channeling for different Sentinels as needed. Usually, the Sentinels pay a corresponding fee. Generally, the earnings from these situations are higher than the market rate.” He added, “Though, of course, there are some very thick-skinned Sentinels who do not pay.”

Rong Xiushi’s eyes brightened.

“I will take you with me if there is such a gathering in the future.” Wei Hetai continued, “Also, our Combat Department often forms teams to enter danger zones. If a Guide is willing to join, we split the loot based on the situation.”

Rong Xiushi knew about this. When he was An Yuan, no team dared to invite him for fear of an accident. As for the original owner of this body, he was a D-rank Guide, and people looked down on him, so he had never been invited.

“If I encounter that kind of mission, I will find a way to bring you along.”

This was a legitimate way to earn money. Rong Xiushi nodded and agreed. These methods could work, but they were unstable. It would still be difficult for Rong Xiushi to support himself and the two children back home, but he could not think of a better solution for now. He decided he would continue his evening tutoring and find a new part-time job for the weekends.

The doorbell rang, signaling someone’s arrival. Wei Hetai led Rong Xiushi out of the isolation room. Mrs. Wei wore a perfect smile. “Atai, Xiushi, come out quickly. Ashu is back. Wash your hands so we can eat.”

Wei Hetai introduced Rong Xiushi to his brother, Wei Heshu. Wei Heshu was an A-rank Sentinel who had joined the Temple of Se’an within the last two years. Many people joined the Temple every year, and An Yuan had never met him before. After greetings, they sat down to eat.

Mrs. Wei was an excellent cook. Sentinels and Guides could not eat food with very strong flavors, so the dishes were light yet delicious. There was no “no talking at the table” rule in the Wei household. The parents and the older brother were very concerned about Wei Hetai, asking why he had suddenly gone to the Fifth District and inquiring about his studies.

After asking about Wei Hetai, the parents turned their gaze to Rong Xiushi and asked him some questions. Every question was simple, yet they made Rong Xiushi acutely aware of the gap between him and Wei Hetai.

Wei Hetai also sensed the awkward atmosphere. He put down his chopsticks and said, “It is getting late, and we have school tomorrow. I will take Xiushi back now.”

The parents exchanged a look but did not insist they stay. Wei Heshu stood up. “Atai, Xiushi, let me drive you back.”

Rong Xiushi felt a bit embarrassed, but Wei Hetai accepted immediately. Under the watchful eyes of the parents, the three of them left. Wei Heshu drove while Wei Hetai sat in the passenger seat and Rong Xiushi sat in the back.

As the car drove along, the brothers chatted. Rong Xiushi had no intention of interrupting and listened quietly. It was just small talk. Wei Heshu said, “I do not know if I should say you have good luck or bad luck. You rarely go to the Fifth District, but when you did, the whole district was locked down.”

Rong Xiushi felt his scalp go numb. Wei Hetai paused. “I heard an S-rank Guide appeared.”

Wei Heshu smiled. “A friend of mine went there. He said it was quite interesting. That S-rank Guide…” He smiled wider. “She was quite adorable. According to the S-rank Sentinel, he was a bit dizzy from drinking, and the S-rank Guide worked very hard to channel him. She did not seem to realize anything was wrong until the session was over.”

Hearing this, Wei Hetai recalled Rong Xiushi’s bewildered state that day and thought he was indeed adorably muddled.

Wei Heshu continued, “Later, based on surveillance, they found the Guide might have realized something was wrong after the fact and fled in a hurry.”

Wei Hetai agreed. Listening to them, Rong Xiushi’s face turned red with embarrassment.

Thinking quickly, Wei Hetai asked, “Brother, I do not understand. Why would an S-rank Guide go to the black market to earn money?” He asked as if he truly did not know.

Wei Heshu’s voice was calm. “A love for freedom, but still needing to make a living.”

“But I think that way of earning money is a bit foolish,” Wei Hetai said. “It is too easy to get caught.”

Wei Heshu offered no opinion on that. Rong Xiushi’s face grew even redder, feeling personally called out.

Wei Hetai asked as if in passing, “If you were that S-rank Guide, brother, how would you earn money?”

Wei Heshu glanced at him. “That depends on where I am.”

“Suppose it was at our academy?” Wei Hetai suggested.

Wei Heshu smiled and said casually, “Use a disguise. Fanse Academy is so large that one more or one fewer person, whether real or fake, would not be noticed if they avoid all surveillance. Of course, you would have to ensure you avoid every camera and leave no trace.”

Wei Hetai and Rong Xiushi were stunned. Rong Xiushi was shocked that such a thing was even possible.

Wei Heshu added, “However, since they are Fanse Academy students, whether they are Sentinels or Guides, they generally enter the Temple of Se’an or work in its studios. Your hypothesis does not really hold up.”

They both thought he had a point. Wei Heshu dropped them off at their apartment and left.

Rong Xiushi hurriedly nudged Wei Hetai. Wei Hetai looked around and went to the balcony to confirm his brother had left. They then went downstairs to a nearby isolation room. These rooms were expensive and charged by the minute. Rong Xiushi felt pained by the cost. He could actually create a mental barrier to prevent eavesdropping, but he feared being hunted, so he did not dare. Wei Hetai was a B-rank Sentinel and had not yet reached the level required to create a mental barrier.

Inside the room, Rong Xiushi said, “According to what Brother Ashu said, I could pretend to be a Fanse Academy student, a student who does not exist, and then use that fake identity to contact classmates.”

Wei Hetai nodded. “But you would need an anonymous SIM card to scan codes and receive money.”

“If we were in the Fifth District, those cards would be easy to get,” Rong Xiushi said.

Wei Hetai thought for a moment. “I should be able to get one. Also, if you control yourself a bit and do not act as outlandishly as you did in the black market, there generally should not be any problems.”

Rong Xiushi nodded.

“However, this is still risky. Unless it is absolutely necessary, it is better not to take this step.”

Rong Xiushi nodded obediently. If he ever had to take that step, he would likely cross-dress again to avoid suspicion. It was safer. After their talk, they left the room and went back to the apartment.

The next morning, they walked to Fanse Academy together before parting ways. Wei Hetai went to the Combat Department while Rong Xiushi went to the Guide Department.

On the way, a student strode up to Rong Xiushi and greeted him warmly. The student looked very young with short black hair, black eyes, and stood about 180cm tall. He had a bright, sunny smile that immediately made people like him.

Rong Xiushi knew him. It was Yu Tianlu, a D-rank Guide in his class. He was the legendary student who was extremely gossipy and had supposedly added almost everyone in the school as a friend. They walked toward the teaching building together. Other students joined them, and their group grew quickly.

“Xiushi, can you tell us about the Fifth District?” Yu Tianlu asked.

Rong Xiushi’s eyelid jumped, and he pushed his glasses up his nose.

“Have you heard any other news about that wild S-rank Guide in the Fifth District?”

Rong Xiushi thought for a moment. For his own sake and for the sake of the original owner who might return one day, he had to maintain good relations with the students. He said seriously, “It was extremely exaggerated at the time.”

“How so?” Yu Tianlu asked curiously.

“Wei Hetai and I stayed at a hotel,” Rong Xiushi explained. “From morning to night, several groups came to inspect us. There were people from the Temple of Se’an, the City Management Bureau, and probably other factions too.”

The others gasped. One of them said, “If that happened here in the Central District, people would definitely protest, thinking it disrupted their peaceful lives.”

Yu Tianlu disagreed. “No way. If an S-rank Guide appeared in the Central District, it would be even more chaotic than in the Fifth District. After all, the major factions are more widespread here.”

That made sense. Yu Tianlu added, “But Xiushi, thinking romantically, you might have even crossed paths with that S-rank Guide since you were in the same area.”

“Did you go to the black market?”

“Argh! If I had known a wild S-rank Guide was there, I would have gone too!”

Rong Xiushi smiled. “I wish I had too.”

Suddenly, one of the students in the group lowered their voice. “Look! It is the god Wen Xiuyu!”

Rong Xiushi froze and instinctively looked where the student was pointing.

Wen Xiuyu. The boy he had once treated like a younger brother. He had short golden hair and pale blue eyes. His features were almost exactly as Rong Xiushi remembered, but his aura was different. In his memory, Wen Xiuyu was a child who loved to act spoiled. He would cling to Rong Xiushi, lean on him like a small bird to make requests, or ask with teary eyes for Rong Xiushi to attend parent-teacher meetings instead of his parents or brother.

That once-clingy boy who was like a piece of sticky candy now felt as cold as ice. His temperament was entirely different from what Rong Xiushi remembered.

As if sensing Rong Xiushi’s gaze, Wen Xiuyu looked over coldly. His eyes were incredibly sharp. When their eyes met, Rong Xiushi could clearly feel the emotion in them: intense loathing.

Rong Xiushi was stunned. He never imagined that one day Wen Xiuyu would look at him with such a gaze.

The group with Rong Xiushi kept looking toward Wen Xiuyu. A few who knew that Rong Xiushi liked Wen Xiuyu glanced at him and noticed he was staring straight at the other boy.

Yu Tianlu patted Rong Xiushi and whispered, “Feelings happen and are hard to control, but some emotions are destined to have no result.”

Rong Xiushi was dazed for a moment. Once he understood what Yu Tianlu meant, he quietly looked away. Everyone present looked at Rong Xiushi’s hair, which had turned completely white in just a few days due to “extreme heartbreak,” and felt he was truly pitiable.

At the same time, the group thought back to the interesting news from the Fifth District. Yu Tianlu said with a smile, “You all must have heard too. A white-haired beauty wearing glasses appeared at the Fifth District high-speed rail station. They said she looked a lot like Master An Yuan from the Temple of Se’an!”

Then, someone in the group turned their gaze toward Rong Xiushi.

“That person would not happen to be you, Xiushi?”

With those words, all the students turned to look at Rong Xiushi.

Yu Tianlu said, “Um, Xiushi, could you take off your glasses and let us see?”

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