The Beloved Guide Was Forced in a Love-Rival Shura Field - Chapter 12

Gu Qingfeng’s voice was soft, yet it pierced like a cold awl, stabbing straight into the hearts of every high-ranking military officer present.

A “treasure” — if it suffered any “damage” during research…

No one could afford the consequences.

The near-mad fanaticism in Huo Ze’s eyes was like being doused with a bucket of ice water, instantly extinguished by half. His lips moved as if he wanted to argue, but he found himself utterly speechless. He could disregard power and authority, but he could not disregard the safety of the research specimen itself.

The military leaders broke out in a cold sweat. This was no longer a matter of scientific jurisdiction—it was a head-on collision between the military and the royal family.

“With both the Marshal and the Second Prince protecting him, who’d dare touch this now?” a major general whispered, relief flooding his voice like a survivor of disaster.

“Touch him? After today, anyone who so much as glances at this little guide will need to measure whether they’ve got enough lives to spare.”

The smoke-free confrontation had reached its conclusion: the victor was clear.

Ning Ning was still half-encircled in Xiao Lin’s arms, a little dazed. He couldn’t understand the twists and turns of their words. All he knew was—that terrifying man with the obsessed gaze apparently couldn’t drag him away for experiments anymore.

He shifted slightly, his back pressed against Xiao Lin’s firm, heated chest. Through the fabric, he could feel the man’s steady, powerful heartbeat—thump after thump—like calming drumbeats shattering the fear inside him. His nose was filled with the clean, sharp scent of pine and gunpowder, unexpectedly reassuring.

He peeked up, only to meet Gu Qingfeng’s gentle gaze, silently soothing him.

One was like a mountain—absolute strength.
The other was like the sea—limitless acceptance.
Caught between the two, Ning Ning felt like a fragile little blade of grass being carefully sheltered.

The moon rabbit in his arms sensed the safety too. It stopped trembling, poked out its fuzzy little head, and with those violet eyes so like its master’s, blinked curiously—sniffing at one, then the other, as if trying to decide who smelled better.

After a brief emergency discussion, the military representatives solemnly announced the final decision.

“After joint deliberation, it is hereby decided—” The lead officer cleared his throat, casting a complicated glance at Ning Ning. “Cadet Ning Ning’s special ability will be classified as an SSS-level Imperial top secret, codename ‘Moon God,’ permanently sealed.”

“Moon God?” Ning Ning blinked blankly. Were they… talking about him?

“From this day forth, Cadet Ning Ning will continue his studies at the academy under ‘Special Protection,’ the highest level of security. His safety will be jointly guarded by the Marshal’s Praetorian Guard and the Royal Guard! Unless authorized by the highest joint council of the military and royal family, no one may conduct any ‘research’ or ‘testing’ on him under any pretext!”

This declaration completely shattered Huo Ze’s ambitions.

His face turned ashen. His fists clenched so tightly the knuckles whitened. His eyes bored into Ning Ning, swirling with unwillingness, frustration, and a deeper, obsessive conviction that he must obtain him someday.

Xiao Lin sensed that sticky gaze. His arm tightened around Ning Ning, his tall frame completely shielding the boy from view. His icy stare swept over Huo Ze without hiding the lethal intent within.

Gu Qingfeng stepped forward as well, subtly blocking Ning Ning from sight even more. He inclined his head politely to the generals. “Excellent. At the academy, Ning Ning will receive the best care.”

The storm was over.

The military leaders, relieved as if pardoned from death, withdrew with the researchers in haste. Huo Ze lingered just long enough to cast one last, penetrating look at Ning Ning—making the boy instinctively shrink his neck—before finally leaving.

The vast room fell quiet, leaving only the three of them.

The tension dissolved, replaced by a subtler kind of silence.

Ning Ning edged slightly out of Xiao Lin’s embrace, tilted his small face up, violet eyes still fogged with confusion. “So… I don’t have to be locked up, right?”

His soft voice carried the fragile relief of a little creature that had just escaped a predator.

“Mm. It’s over.” Xiao Lin looked down at him, the hard lines of his face instantly gentling. He raised a hand, almost to ruffle Ning Ning’s soft silver hair, but paused mid-air. In the end, he restrained himself and only patted the boy’s shoulder gently. “I’ll take you back to your dormitory.”

“No need to trouble the Marshal.”

Almost simultaneously, Gu Qingfeng’s warm voice sounded. He stepped to Ning Ning’s other side, his polite yet distant smile aimed at Xiao Lin.

“Ning Ning is my assistant. Looking after him is my responsibility. Besides, I must explain to him the confidentiality regulations regarding the ‘Moon God’ project.”

Invisible sparks crackled in the air.

Xiao Lin’s gaze darkened, the oppressive aura around him plummeting as if he might snatch Ning Ning up and leave that very instant.

Gu Qingfeng’s smile didn’t waver, but it was like a layer of flawless glass—blocking all emotion, leaving only unyielding insistence.

Ning Ning looked from one to the other, pretty brows knitting faintly. He had no idea what to do.

At that moment, Gu Qingfeng’s wrist comms emitted a soft chime.

His smile froze for an instant. He raised his hand and tapped it open. A top-secret encrypted message from the royal family popped up. His eyes scanned quickly, his usually warm face showing rare gravity.

He closed the terminal. When he lifted his gaze again, the insistence had melted into apology. He looked at Ning Ning with a tenderness that seemed almost liquid.

“Ning Ning, I’m sorry. There’s urgent business from the royal family that requires my attention.”

His voice held soothing warmth. “I’ve sent the confidentiality details to your terminal. Ask me anytime if something’s unclear.”

Then, with elegant fingers, he brushed aside a loose silver curl on Ning Ning’s forehead, feather-light.

The intimate gesture made Xiao Lin’s eyes darken dangerously.

But Gu Qingfeng acted as though he hadn’t noticed. He gave Ning Ning a comforting smile, then turned to Xiao Lin, his expression once more polite and distant. “Then, Marshal, I’ll trouble you to escort him back.”

With that, he turned and departed—graceful, composed, untouchable.

The needle-sharp tension dissipated instantly, leaving only Xiao Lin’s strong, quiet presence, enveloping Ning Ning like an unbreakable shield.

“Let’s go.” His low voice rumbled above Ning Ning’s head.

Ning Ning answered with a soft “oh,” still a little dazed, and obediently followed him.

The walk back from the testing chamber to the dormitory was silent. Every cadet they passed froze against the walls in terror at the sight of the Marshal, saluting respectfully, barely daring to breathe. Yet their eyes flicked curiously toward the silver-haired boy shielded by the man’s towering figure.

Ning Ning didn’t notice at all. After the scare, he was exhausted, only wanting to curl up in bed.

He trailed behind Xiao Lin, staring at the man’s broad back, breathing in that clean pine-and-gunpowder scent. Little by little, the taut strings of his nerves slackened, his steps light with weariness.

Xiao Lin noticed and slowed, walking side by side with him, using his own body to block all prying gazes.

Finally, the familiar dormitory door came into sight.

But Ning Ning froze.

His dormitory door… was gone.

In its place stood a massive silver-gray alloy door, gleaming coldly, bristling with security—iris and palm scanners built in. It looked more like a miniature vault than a dorm.

Xiao Lin, unfazed, strode up and pressed his palm to the scanner.

“Beep—Identity confirmed. Imperial Marshal, Xiao Lin. Highest clearance. Welcome home.”

The metallic voice rang out, and the heavy alloy door slid open soundlessly.

What lay beyond made Ning Ning gape.

Was this still his little, cozy dorm room?

The entire space was split clean down the middle into two utterly opposite styles.

On the left—militarized luxury. Dark hardwood floors, black leather sofas with sharp lines, a finely crafted retired energy rifle mounted on the wall as decoration. In the corner stood a massive bed dressed in charcoal-gray linens. On its nightstand, a conspicuous slip of paper rested.

On the right—royal opulence. A plush carpet soft enough to sink into, a velvet sofa piled with silk cushions, priceless classical paintings adorning the walls. Another enormous bed stood there, its white satin sheets gleaming, with a similar slip of paper on its nightstand.

Ning Ning stood dumbfounded at the doorway, feeling like an ordinary mortal who had stumbled into the battlefield of gods.

This wasn’t his dorm. It was two luxury showroom displays smashed together.

In his head, System 89 squealed, unable to hide its glee:

【Host! Congratulations! Your dorm has successfully upgraded into a Deluxe Love-Rival Suite™!】

Xiao Lin stepped inside, naturally occupying the “territory” of the left side. He picked up the slip of paper there, his deep voice rumbling in Ning Ning’s ears, heavy with irresistible command:

“Your belongings are packed. From now on, you’ll stay here. Safe.”

Almost simultaneously, Ning Ning’s terminal chimed. A message from Gu Qingfeng appeared, the gentle words seeming to carry his voice with them:

【Ning Ning, I temporarily upgraded your security and living conditions. I hope you’ll like it. The bed on the right is made from materials with calming effects, to help you sleep well. Good night.】

Ning Ning: “……”

He looked left. Then right. His head throbbed harder.

This wasn’t a dorm upgrade. They’d brought the battlefield straight into his bedroom.

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