Chapter 22: with translation of chapter title

Suspicion

Everyone found a top‑class hotel to stay in; as an S‑rank Sentinel, completing one S‑rank mission earns millions, but S‑rank items are even more expensive, so nobody has any savings.

However, with Shang Ze, a wealthy young master who believes money should be spent and wants the guide to stay in the best place, the group rented an entire floor of the top‑class hotel.

Having fought side by side once, they share some camaraderie, and Shang Ze doesn't care about this amount of money—it's like a drizzle, insignificant.

"It turns out your family's businesses don't involve any planets below C‑rank—that's true." Yin Zhu confirmed Shang Ze was a filthy rich person; his businesses don't touch C‑rank or lower planets, clearly looking down on that petty income.

A glint flashed across Shang Ze's gold‑rimmed glasses. He replied, "Businessmen earn money to spend; enough is enough." Yin Zhu snorted, obviously not believing Shang Ze's official line.

Fu Guang leaned on Sheng Lai Ke Si's shoulder, half‑asleep; aside from a few planets, the Federation's higher‑rank planets rotate slower, making a day longer.

But human stamina is obviously limited; it cannot become more energetic just because the day is longer.

Snow Lotus Planet is a B‑rank planet; although the dim sky hides the time, Fu Guang's biological clock tells her at least five days have passed, and with her spiritual power exhausted she was also dragged into an illusion.

After the excitement faded, only deep fatigue and a heavy mental burden remained, leaving her unable to lift a single finger.

When Fu Guang awoke again, she was soaked in a pale‑blue nutrient fluid that covered her mouth and nose yet caused no feeling of suffocation.

Fu Guang curiously gurgled like a fish, blowing a few bubbles that slowly rose to the surface and popped; she leisurely thought about getting up.

She reached a hand out of the water and tapped the glass cover, which rang twice; the machine responded by opening.

Fu Guang yawned, stepped one foot out of the water, and was raising both arms to stretch when the door opened.

The visitor's neck and face instantly flushed red.

The barefoot girl stepped in the blue‑splashed water on the floor; raising her arms, the tight suit outlined her slender figure, her willowy waist, and her delicate, soft profile in the soft light.

Like a vivid, lively oil painting, though there was not a hint of sensuality, it made his heart beat several beats faster.

Click.

He panicked and slammed the door shut, at the same time blocking his companion behind him from entering.

"Bai Gao, why is your face so red?"

The youth's pallid skin flushed with large patches of red; he swallowed, his voice a little hoarse, "The guide has awakened."

"You brat." Shang Ze narrowed his eyes, looking rather displeased.

Fu Guang gazed bewildered at the boy's face flushed all over as he fled; she lowered her eyes to her own outfit, which was still similar to what she wore on the mission, with no difference at all.

I don't know what's wrong with this kid.

She shook her head and went to the bathroom to change into a fresh set of clothes.

The nutrient fluid contains growth factors that are absorbed through a specially made tight suit, preventing someone who is unconscious from missing treatment and dying from severe injury.

She gathered the water in her blond hair; the hair instantly mostly dried, though she felt the ends were still a bit damp.

Her control over her abilities is still insufficient.

She beckoned, and the bathroom's water droplets rose, following her will; Fu Guang snapped her fingers, and the water mass coalesced into the shape of a fish.

The fish swam through the air, moving with Fu Guang's fingertips.

"Captain, are you all right?"

The Sentinels waiting outside for a while grew restless and anxious, unable to suppress the thought that the guide might have fainted again.

The frail guide, once asleep, stays down for three days; the girl closed her eyes and rose and fell in the nutrient fluid, making the Sentinels, who had just fought and seemed fine, feel a bit irritable and uneasy.

Because they know nothing but fighting.

When the guide is unconscious, they are helpless.

Out of respect for the guide's dignity, the tense atmosphere kept these Sentinels from coming to blows, but their suppressed frustration grew heavier each day.

Snow Lotus Planet didn't help at all, and it's still like this, causing a group of heaven‑chosen prodigies to doubt themselves for the first time—are they really that incompetent?

Fu Guang opened the door; the water droplets on her fingertips kept shifting shapes, amusing her and putting her in a pretty good mood.

She also realized that, like magic, the more closely water‑formed objects resemble reality, the more spiritual power they consume—no wonder D‑rank has no spiritual manifestations.

"What are you doing blocking the doorway? Acting as door gods?" Fu Guang walked around them and headed to the living room.

Although they didn't quite understand what a "door god" was, from Fu Guang's tone it wasn't an unpleasant remark.

Shang Ze narrowed his fox‑like eyes again, "If Miss Fu Guang needs it, I can be that."

Fu Guang settled into the soft sofa, poured herself a cup of water, and said, "Don't—this isn't wasting Young Master Shang's talent."

She dropped the subject, telling the tall few not to crowd her: "Don't stand, just sit."

The tall, long‑legged Sentinels, unlike Fu Guang who sits as if lounging, have nowhere to put their long legs, so in the modest common space they end up kicking each other.

"Sit apart, don't crowd together."

Fu Guang placed the little fish into a water‑filled cup, "Before we set out, I didn't see you guys getting along this well—you practically wanted to stick together."

The Sentinels were speechless, and they didn't expose each other's little thoughts in front of the guide, lest something unwanted happen.

"Shall I have food sent over?" Sheng Lai Ke Si, showing his attentiveness, asked Fu Guang.

The other Sentinels use a single nutrient dose and go three days without hunger, having long forgotten that people still need to eat.

Bai Gao brought out the prepared fruit platter, "Sis, have some fruit."

Fu Guang gave a light cough twice, stopping the Sentinels from pulling out random junk from their space to give her: "Get ready first; we'll eat later—let's talk about the mission first."

She sat upright with proper posture, and the Sentinels, seeing this, also slightly restrained their behavior.

Now they naturally won't do anything the guide dislikes.

Having experienced the Snow Lotus Planet incident, Fu Guang the guide is an excellent comrade; they should afford her and the captain the respect they deserve.

"Please speak."

"I have three questions; let's discuss them together."

"One, does the person who issued the mission know the true situation of Snow Lotus?"

"Undecided; too little information to tell." Yin Zhu flicked her sharp nails as she said.

"Two, what exactly does Snow Lotus need?"

"We were all let out, and it doesn't look like flesh and spiritual power." Bai Gao said, "But it's also possible the captain's charm is too great; she didn't want to deliver a killing blow."

"Don't talk nonsense." Sheng Lai Ke Si said.

"Three, should we report truthfully?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the sentinels' expressions tightened; this question is an extension of the first question.

If someone inside knew the truth, how could they have survived? Moreover, they are basically bound to be the main force for another exploration of the Snow Lotus Star; would they still be that fortunate then?

If they don't know, will the military believe their words?

The last SS-rank guide was a thousand years ago; on the Star Network there is no spiritual entity that is a guide of the Snow Lotus; her deceased should be of S-rank or above—who knows if there might be an SS-rank sentinel?

Can those who know the information still survive?