Chapter 6: S-rank Guide Qing Feng

S-rank Guide Qing Feng

「Ladies and gentlemen, this voyage has arrived at the Federal Capital Star; please disembark in an orderly manner. 」

Fu Guang only opened her eyes after a while, a blue-black hue hanging in her lower eyelids. She left the comfortable bed, got dressed, and as she opened the door, she bumped into a sentinel woman carrying luggage opposite.

After exchanging a brief greeting, they went their separate ways.

Fu Guang let out a yawn; it seemed Alliance University was also about to start the semester.

The interior structure of the star ships was similar, all looking like rooms stamped from the same template; Fu Guang followed the indicator lights all the way.

Beyond the hatch, beneath the high tracks lay a transparent walkway like glass architecture, below which variously colored hovercars fluttered, transporting passengers to and fro.

Looking into the distance, the White Tower stood alone, lofty as if built from flawless, translucent jade.

「Are you also heading to the White Tower? 」

A man approached Fu Guang from her side, only half a head taller than her; she needed only a slight lift of her chin to see his face clearly.

The blue-haired, blue-eyed man smiled gently, his brows and eyes also gentle, giving off a feeling like a spring breeze.

To be honest, Fu Guang finally felt it was wonderful not having to look up at people; her neck had finally been saved.

「Yes. 」 The man before her showed no ill intent; she curled the corners of her mouth in reply.

「Why don't we go together? 」 he invited.

Before Fu Guang could refuse, a special hovercraft crossed the docking boundary and stopped beside her.

「It's the White Tower's dedicated vehicle; could it be a guide? 」

「Wow, look over there—a man and a woman; could they both be guides? 」

「That guy looks familiar, like Lord Qing Feng. 」 His voice was loud.

The person beside him wondered aloud, 「S-rank guide? How is that possible? 」

「I recall S-rank guides have a dedicated vehicle—just look at the red maple leaf on the car; that's Lord Qing Feng. 」 A passerby slapped the person next to him on the arm.

The hovercar automatically opened its door, revealing plush seats.

Qing Feng kept his smile, nodding to the people taking pictures around him, and gallantly extended his hand to Fu Guang, saying 「Please. 」

Since it was on the way, Fu Guang didn't decline and got into the car.

She curiously eyed the man, who resembled a noble young master. Everyone she had met before was like explosives—so eager to fight that a slight twitch of the mouth could spark a clash—she hadn't seen such a peaceful, ordinary person in a long time.

Truly rare.

Should I say, as expected of an S-rank guide?

「We're still some distance from the White Tower—about three hours, 」 he said, taking hot water from the car's storage and pouring two cups of tea in a smooth, flowing motion.

「The car is simple; have a cup of tea and rest a moment. 」 A square table rose between them, and his knuckle-distinct hand pushed a cup toward her.

The tea in the cup remained utterly still, showing how well he controlled his power and how stable the hovercar was.

White clouds drifted past the window; Fu Guang thanked him and took the cup in her hand.

The cup was warm to the touch; a subtle tea fragrance rose, the taste light, the tea sliding down her throat dispelled her fatigue, and the frayed edges of her mental landscape were mended a little.

After her journey through the Dark Forest, Fu Guang's mental landscape finally stabilized, no longer teetering on the brink; now her task is to repair the cracks in her mental landscape so it can fully recover.

At the current pace, that egg's hatching is still far off.

Fu Guang gazed into his blue eyes and thanked him, 「Thank you, Lord Qing Feng. 」

Qing Feng evidently saw she was unwell; items that restore mental power are worth a fortune. Fu Guang had searched—even the cheapest, the Harmony Light Grass commonly found in the Dark Forest, costs thirty thousand.

When she first arrived, Fu Guang had only fifty thousand in her pocket—still a guide subsidy from the White Tower.

At that time, her weak body was on the verge of death; she spent over forty-five thousand star coins on medicinal ingredients to nourish herself, lest she become a delicate lass who gasps after every few steps.

「Good child. 」 Qing Feng replied, his gaze toward her kindly like an old immortal of a sect looking at her—practically identical—Fu Guang shivered.

Fu Guang hid behind her tea, perhaps because the setting was too comfortable, and mumbled, 「May I ask Lord Qing Feng your age? 」

She had thought the interstellar folk wouldn't understand her, so she laughed it off to get past it quickly.

Unexpectedly, the interstellar person Qing Feng understood; his eyes held amusement as he teasingly replied, 「Old man, I'm 127 years old. 」

「It was Fu Guang who was rude; Lord Qing Feng is still quite young. 」

Fu Guang quickly searched her memory for interstellar common knowledge, and at last found the relevant bit in some obscure corner.

D-rank and below are normal people aged 0–200; each rank up adds a hundred years, so S-rank is a thousand years old—anything beyond that is not common knowledge.

「Rest well; it helps your mental power recover—I'll call you when we arrive. 」 Qing Feng noticed Fu Guang was a bit tired; as a young guide who had made the long trek from the White Tower, he, as her elder, ought to look after her.

「Go to sleep. 」

The seat reclined, and with his gentle voice, Fu Guang sank into the fluffy blanket, her eyelids closing of their own accord.

It seemed like a mental suggestion; there should be no danger, and even if there were, an S-rank guide wouldn't find it easy to deal with her—why bother?

The blonde girl's steady breathing sounded, and Qing Feng, who had been flipping through a paper book, set it down and closed his eyes to rest.

A wholly blue little bird appeared on his shoulder, chirping 「chirp chirp chirp」 in a clear, pleasant tone as it flapped its wings and flew onto the girl's shoulder.

The bird lightly tapped the girl's cheek with its beak, as if sniffing her scent.

It chirped 「chirp」 happily, flying in circles around the girl.

Feathers tinged with blue light drifted down from the bird's body, slowly merging into the girl's body.

A layer of blue light covered her mental landscape; in her sleep, Fu Guang felt the hidden ache in her head vanish instantly, her furrowed brows smoothed, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.

「Chirp chirp chirp chirp. 」 The blue little bird, seeing the girl's smiling mouth, happily composed a tune and sang it.

「All right, be quiet. 」 Qing Feng conveyed his will to his mental manifestation.

The mental manifestation is the master's emanation; Qing Feng can stay calm because of his reason, whereas the bird will not bind its actions due to human etiquette.

It felt glad to help the girl, so it wanted to chirp.

「Chirp chirp. 」 However, the sound was still much lowered.

Unrestrained, the mental manifestation is often bolder than its master.

It flew to the girl's fluffy head, just about to lie down, when Qing Feng instantly withdrew his mental image.

"Blue bird, don't be rude."

On a tall, luxuriant tree, a super-large semicircular nest was built, the nest entirely constructed from tender branches and flowers, and the huge azure bird angrily flapped its wings, chirping.

Qing Feng pressed his forehead, his azure eyes fixed on Fu Guang—he likes her?

Guides manipulate mental power; S-rank guides are the best among them, often being more keen.

"Chirp." The blue bird landed on the branch and responded to his words.

"What did you discover?"