Chapter 110: Beast

Beast

When they were still about a hundred meters from the sea surface, Fu Guang knew it was bad, but her words could not match the speed of the shark person; in the instant she realized it, Lan'an had already grabbed her and shot out of the sea.

The light was like a laser, shining on her lowered eyelids, her field of view filled with a bright halo as if overexposed, the light spreading in her vision.

Fu Guang covered her burning eyes, her previously upright body went limp in Lan'an's arms, miserably thinking: I'll have to be blind for a few days.

She had been careless, forgetting she was a fragile Guide; deep-sea fish can hardly survive on land, let alone a fragile human. If she weren't now a shark person, the change in water pressure would be enough to make her drink a pot.

Beneath the girl's hand covering her eyes, two clear tear tracks streamed down; Lan'an's fingertips trembled as he quickly recalled, there had clearly been no problems along the way, so how could she have been injured?

The girl patted his clenched hand, her voice slightly helpless, "The light became too intense; for a moment my eyes couldn't take it, but it's nothing serious."

Splash, splash.

Fish after fish leapt out of the sea surface, then fell back under gravity, wildly smashing back into the sea with a "bang", kicking up several meters of water curtain, splashing both of them with a splashing sound.

"'Sorry, sorry.' Various fish fell like dumplings, one after another turning back into human form; after taking just two steps, they sensed something off about Lan'an's aura, and peered furtively at the Guide."

"'What's going on?' someone asked softly."

"The person beside him also shook his head, lowering his voice: 'Where are you hurt?'"

"'Does it hurt?' Lan'an said softly, covering Fu Guang's eyes with both hands, casting a shadow over her eyes."

"Fu Guang leaned lazily in Lan'an's arms; the familiar scales, retracted as Lan'an returned to human form, felt against her like her 'Dharma robe'—smooth and gentle."

"'I can still accept it.' Fu Guang replied, turning her head toward the Sentinel who had asked, smiling: 'Nothing serious, no need to worry—how about the two seniors?'"

"'The Guides just saw a phantom sea beast and went to hunt it,' a Sentinel replied."

"Fu Guang laughed and nodded, propping one hand on the sea surface, releasing her innate skill 'Ocean's Hymn'."

"When she had previously used this skill, Fu Guang discovered it not only had purification and healing functions, but the water would also bring her information from the ocean."

"Conversely, if she agreed, she could broadcast her position to all marine life."

"At this moment, in Yummengze, aside from humans, no sea beasts would swim upstream."

"Blue light flickered; a Sentinel strode straight toward Fu Guang, only to be halted by a pair of icy eyes."

"'Don't just stand around, go provide support.' Lan'an continued to block the view, giving the dazed team members a sideways glance, his voice low and heavy."

"'Yes, boss.' The Sentinels glanced at the now extremely alluring Guide, then, unable to withstand the boss's pressure, they all turned and dove into the sea."

"'I want to touch the scales.' The girl in his arms suddenly made a nonsensical request."

"'Touch my waist.' He said in a low voice; the originally seamless 'Dharma robe' could suddenly be lifted, and Fu Guang boldly slipped her hand from the hem inside, feeling the familiar scales."

"Lan'an suddenly realized that the King knew his scales better than he did."

"He had no low-ranking people around him, whether Sentinels or Guides, so he only remembered that low-ranking Guides were fragile, forgetting what circumstances could injure a Guide."

"If it weren't for the King, whose tear streaks appeared in the sunlight, he wouldn't have recalled that a B-rank Guide's eyes cannot see invisible objects in the deep sea."

"'It's my dereliction of duty.' The shark person's voice was hard to hide with self-reproach."

"For Fu Guang now, pain is practically everyday fare, let alone when caused by her own negligence."

"Since her fate is decided by herself, Fu Guang feels no dissatisfaction, or rather, no anger."

"Her decisions are also made according to her own will; she accepts all consequences of her choices."

"'Be careful next time?' Her answer seemed somewhat perfunctory to Lan'an."

"There was no punishment at all; as a subject, he should be happy, yet it made his heart feel uneasy, signifying that he could be discarded at any moment."

"Fu Guang closed her eyes, resting against his chest where his heart beat a little faster; her fingertip lightly tapped the scales revealed on Lan'an's waist."

"'What are you thinking, Lan'an?' Fu Guang didn't understand why his mood grew even more gloomy after her reply, so she asked."

"The scales under her fingertip tensed, the heartbeat sound grew more urgent—thump, thump, thump—since she couldn't see, her hearing became extraordinarily sharp, almost like her own heartbeat."

"'I'm wondering, will you abandon me?'"

"Lan'an tilted his head, gazing seriously at her, trying to detect any change on the girl's face, as if observing whether the master had any intention to abandon him, like a dog that had just finished wandering."

"Lan'an's spirit was tense; in his mind there was only the option that he would not be abandoned, and he would not accept anything else."

"'Abandon? Aren't you of age yet?' Fu Guang said lazily, drowsiness washing over her like a tide, and she grew a bit sleepy."

"'Huh? I've long been of age.' Lan'an received an answer that was somewhat off; however, as the girl spoke, her face and voice showed no fluctuation, so he could not discern the King's meaning and could only reply slowly, choosing his words carefully."

"'Here, the only thing worthy of being called abandoned is trash.'"

"'I will only abandon what I possess.' Fu Guang felt drowsiness rising, not wanting to continue this topic with Lan'an."

"A soft fur brushed his neck; the man spoke word by word, even somewhat sweetly: 'You possess me; I do not want to be abandoned.'"

"Fu Guang sighed inwardly, feeling that her thoughts could not connect with the shark person, and she did not want to continue arguing this topic."

"She directly gave a perfunctory 'hmm-hmm-hmm'."

"'I belong to you.' In her half-asleep state, Fu Guang only heard that sentence repeating incessantly by her ear, like the endless buzzing of insects in summer grass."

"So annoying."

"Noticing the girl's hand move slightly, Lan'an stopped his chanting."

"He understood Fu Guang's implied meaning: being of age meant he was an independent individual with free will, neither to be possessed nor abandoned."

"He was not an unconscious object, nor a clinging vine dependent on others—how could the words 'abandon' apply?"

"Yet he voluntarily put on shackles, handing one end to the King, willingly becoming her vassal."

"He suddenly felt some resentment, resentment toward the Guide."

"For the Sentinels, the Guide they recognize has a strong allure, existing in their mental power and genes; their every move is influenced by the Guide, shifting in the direction they favor."

"Yet why can the Guide ignore them, manipulate their sorrow and joy, yet look coldly on everything, as if nothing mattered, like a one-person solo performance."

"He rubbed his chin against the girl's soft hair; he is a beast, and what the King said is not wrong in the slightest."

"He closed his eyes, holding the girl tighter; his greed extended beyond just that hint of tenderness leaking from his fingertips."

"He lowered his head to conceal the frenzy in his eyes, drunk on the King's flavor; if this moment could be extended to eternity, how wonderful."

"Fu Guang's teacher would never have imagined that the earnest, upright-dispositioned, sensible good disciple, upon encountering a group of mad Sentinels and Guides full of hatred, would still become the most misfit of all."