The Beloved Guide Was Forced in a Love-Rival Shura Field - Chapter 10

Ningning stared at the cold words displayed on his terminal: [Imperial Military Committee]. His wrist trembled, and the small device nearly flew out of his hand.

In his mind, System 89’s warm and cute voice tried to comfort him:
“Don’t be afraid, Host! Maybe it’s a good thing—like they’re giving you a bonus!”

Ningning didn’t believe a single word.

He took a deep breath, fingertips quivering ever so slightly, and connected the call.

On the other end was a military official, his voice completely devoid of emotion, like synthetic audio—cold, mechanical, inhuman:

“Cadet Ningning, due to your display of ‘special and undocumented Guide abilities’ during the simulated battle, according to Imperial Supreme Act No. 117, you are required to report within 24 hours to the Imperial Ability Evaluation Center for mandatory comprehensive testing.”

“I—I…” Ningning’s tongue knotted, “I’m just a B-rank Guide. That time… that time it was just luck…”

“This is an order.”

The voice on the other end was utterly flat, then cut the line without hesitation.

The terminal screen dimmed to black.

Ningning’s beautiful violet eyes dimmed as well, like jewels covered in dust, glazed over with a faint mist.

【It’s over, 89. They’re going to cut me open and study me.】

The moment the call ended, the order simultaneously reached two other people’s terminals.

When Xiao Lin found Ningning, he was alone, curled up on a bench in the Academy’s quiet Moonlight Garden. The place was filled with glowing evening primroses, their petals swaying softly in the night breeze, scattering dappled light across the boy’s silver hair, making him look like a fragile vision about to shatter at any moment.

Xiao Lin lightened his steps, but the sound of military boots against the stone still startled him.

Ningning looked up, seeing the tall, imposing figure block most of the light, cloaking him in shadow. In those deep green eyes was unhidden worry—and a suppressed flicker of anger.

“Don’t be afraid.”

Xiao Lin crouched down so their eyes were level. His voice was as low and steady as always, carrying a strength that reassured.

His gaze was too focused, as though the entire world had vanished, leaving only Ningning. That kind of scorching possessiveness and protectiveness was impossible to ignore. Ningning instinctively looked away, his heart skipping a beat.

The man reached out, the warm, calloused pad of his finger brushing Ningning’s cold cheek with restrained tenderness.

“I’ll go with you.”

He paused, then gave his vow—one word at a time:

“They won’t dare touch you.”

That promise was more powerful than any guarantee.

Just as Ningning’s heart began to settle, a warm voice broke the silence.

“Ningning.”

Gu Qingfeng approached, black hair, dark eyes, the perfectly tailored instructor’s uniform adding to his noble, refined presence. On his face was that flawless, comforting smile.

Alarm bells instantly went off in Xiao Lin’s mind. Anger surged—territory violated. He stood, tall and unyielding like a wall, subtly shielding Ningning behind him.

Gu Qingfeng’s gaze skimmed past Xiao Lin’s tense shoulders and landed on Ningning’s uneasy face. His smile grew gentler.

“Ningning, don’t be afraid. This is only routine procedure. As your mentor, it’s my duty to accompany you—to ensure all your rights are protected.”

“Not necessary.” Xiao Lin’s voice dropped, harsh and unyielding. “I’ll protect him.”

“Oh?” Gu Qingfeng chuckled lightly, though his dark eyes behind the glasses were unfathomable. His words were like a knife wrapped in silk, cutting straight to the mark.

“Of course, the Marshal will protect him. But in what capacity, I wonder? As the Academy’s chief instructor… or something else?”

The “something else” was weighted with meaning.

Their gazes clashed, sparks crackling in the silence.

Xiao Lin’s jaw tightened, every instinct telling him to grab Ningning and take him away from this smiling fox.

But Gu Qingfeng seemed to see right through him. Calmly, deliberately, he spoke again—each word blocking Xiao Lin’s path.

“Besides, by Academy regulations, during any official activities outside school grounds, a student’s appointed mentor has full rights to accompany and supervise, to safeguard the student’s legal interests. Surely, Marshal, you wouldn’t wish to break the law?”

He tilted his head slightly, eyes glinting with a confident, provoking smile.

Xiao Lin’s eyes darkened dangerously, the pressure around him dropping to suffocating levels.

Caught between the two, Ningning felt the air thicken until even breathing hurt. He glanced nervously from one to the other, finally blurting out, voice small, almost tearful:

“Why don’t… why don’t you both come?”

The suspension car ride to the Evaluation Center was oppressively silent.

Wedged between Xiao Lin and Gu Qingfeng, Ningning sat stiff as a board, not daring to move. He felt like a piece of metal caught between two massive magnets—lean even slightly, and disaster would strike.

On his left was Xiao Lin, blazing hot, radiating the dominant pine-and-gunpowder scent of a top Sentinel, wrapping around him possessively.

On his right was Gu Qingfeng, cooler in body temperature, exuding a gentle yet invasive aura—like green bamboo after snow, slipping in everywhere unseen.

Two entirely different yet equally powerful presences clashed violently in the cramped space, and Ningning was at the eye of the storm.

His natural, unconscious allure only magnified under such tension. With tousled silver curls framing his delicate face, just sitting there nervously was enough to stir both men’s possessiveness to madness.

Finally, Xiao Lin lost patience.

A massive dark-gold wolf appeared silently, lowering its enormous head onto Ningning’s lap with careful intimacy, golden eyes half-lidded in a display of submissive affection—as if declaring ownership to the world.

Almost instantly, a wave of icy energy followed. A snow-white nine-tailed fox materialized, curling elegantly over Ningning’s shoulder. One fluffy tail brushed lightly across the sensitive nape of his neck, leaving a faint blush, then coiled around a strand of his silver hair with subtle possessiveness.

The ticklish sensation made Ningning flinch and shrink his neck.

The wolf’s eyes snapped open, a low, threatening growl rumbling from its throat.

The fox didn’t even lift an eyelid—its tail-tip merely tightened slightly around the silver strand, flicking in defiance.

“Remove it.” Xiao Lin’s voice was low, squeezed through his teeth—directed at Gu Qingfeng.

Gu Qingfeng’s eyes curved in amusement, his tone leisurely:

“Marshal, no need to be so tense. My Xiao Jiu only thinks Ningning’s hair is soft. It seems… it likes him.”

Xiao Lin’s jawline went rigid, heat filling the car.

Head aching from the suffocating tension, Ningning instinctively reached out, patting the wolf’s furry head with a small palm, murmuring softly:

“Good boy, it’s okay.”

The growl caught in the wolf’s throat, melting into a pleased rumble. It rubbed against Ningning’s hand, all docility and devotion.

For the first time, Gu Qingfeng’s warm smile flickered ever so slightly. The nine-tailed fox reluctantly loosened its hold on Ningning’s hair.

The suspension car descended silently onto the landing pad of the Imperial Ability Evaluation Center. The building was forged entirely from pale alloy, sharp and austere, like a silent steel fortress radiating authority.

The automatic doors slid open. A blast of air tinged with disinfectant and metal hit them.

A man in a white research coat and gold-rimmed glasses stepped forward—the Center’s director, He Junyi. Seeing Xiao Lin was enough to make him nervous, and spotting Gu Qingfeng beside him nearly shattered his professional smile.

“Marshal, Your Highness.” He bowed, then cautiously shifted his gaze to Ningning, half-hidden between them. Awe flashed briefly in his eyes before professionalism returned. “Cadet Ningning, please follow me. The testing chamber is ready.”

He gestured for Ningning to come alone.

Xiao Lin didn’t move, his tall figure a wall blocking the way. His voice was frigid.

“We’ll be present.”

Sweat beaded on He Junyi’s forehead. “Marshal, by regulation, the testing must be conducted in a sterile, interference-free environment. Outside personnel—”

“I am his chief instructor,” Xiao Lin cut him off, tone leaving no room for argument. “I must be present.”

“And I am his mentor,” Gu Qingfeng added smoothly, voice gentle yet weighted. “It is my duty to ensure the test causes no spiritual harm. Or… is there something about the procedure the Evaluation Center doesn’t want others to see?”

The last sentence was soft, but it made cold sweat trickle down He Junyi’s back. He dared not offend either man, nodding quickly.

“N-no, of course not! Please, this way.”

The corridor leading to the chamber was a long tunnel of blinding white. The overhead lights glared, sterile and merciless.

Following behind, Ningning felt like a condemned prisoner being marched to execution. His foot caught on something; he stumbled.

Two hands shot out instantly—one steadying his left arm, the other supporting his right elbow. Xiao Lin and Gu Qingfeng, synchronized as if rehearsed.

“Thank you,” Ningning murmured, cheeks warm at the heat from both sides.

At the corridor’s end, a massive circular door slid open.

Inside was an even starker white void—vast and empty. At its center stood a single examination bed, surrounded by intricate, nameless machines. Silver wires snaked outward like serpents from their terminals. The room hummed faintly, otherwise lifeless and cold.

Ningning froze at the threshold, violet eyes reflecting the sterile chamber. He instinctively recoiled.

Waiting within was the Empire’s foremost pharmacologist and notoriously eccentric Guide, Huo Ze. Clad in a lab coat, his sharp gaze swept over Ningning like he was a rare treasure. His lips moved in a low murmur:

“Such an interesting specimen.”

A reinforced glass wall separated Xiao Lin and Gu Qingfeng in the observation room, though their eyes never once left Ningning.

The test began.

The instant the cold probes touched Ningning’s skin—

“BEEP—BEEP—BEEP—ALERT! ALERT! Energy levels exceeding limit!!”

The shrill alarm split the air. Machines went berserk, screens filling with skyrocketing data, warning windows flashing red one after another.

A recording researcher shrieked, nearly toppling off his chair:

“Gods! How is this possible?!”

He pointed at the main display, where the power curve had not only shattered the S-rank threshold but was still climbing at terrifying speed—hurtling straight toward the legendary SS-rank range. His face twisted with disbelief.

“The numbers—still rising! The system’s going to overload! Cut the power!”

Outside in the observation room, Huo Ze’s usually distant eyes suddenly blazed with feverish light.

He stared at the impossible data, lips curving into an uncontrollable grin—ecstasy and madness at discovering an unparalleled treasure.

Meanwhile, at the storm’s eye, Ningning lay trembling on the exam bed, flinching at the alarm, wide violet eyes blank with confusion and innocence.

He had no idea that within his fragile frame, he was unleashing a power that could shake the entire Empire to its core.

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