Sentry: The guide who's getting extra help is very busy today.

"Bing Nian, can you bear the consequences of the White Tower and the central city's sanctions?"

Bing Nian laughed scathingly: "Hahaha, who's going to report me?"

She saved so many guides and sentries, and in the end they pointed fingers at her.

Her pupils would shrink when the gaze of the sentries suddenly met her face; they used to go to great lengths to compliment her beauty.

That's it. I haven't heard it since that mission.

"You take Tongtong and run first, we'll cover the rear." Hua Runxue handed Wantong to Fu Yin.

"Cover their retreat? Ridiculous," Bing Nian's lips parted slightly. "Go, kill them all."

Her sentinels are stronger than Wan Tong's, and Wan Tong still wants to run away?!

He bled to death, tsk tsk tsk, slowly losing his life force, what a good retribution.

"Bing Nian, I really couldn't cure your face back then."

There was no cure, and her sentry was also seriously injured, so there was no time to comfort Bing Nian.

She tried to explain afterwards, but Bing Nian wouldn't see her.

The wind blade in Bing Nian's hand flew out and pierced Blaster's brow. "Wan Tong, it's not that I wanted to kill you, it's that you couldn't stop the bleeding."

Anyone can talk!

She saw it with her own eyes, how could it be fake?!

Ni Sangyue arrived in time to shield Hua Runxue from a fatal blow. He disregarded his own safety and instead protected Wan Tong's corpse, using his body to block the attack.

"They colluded with pollutants."

They'd made it! Tongtong was saved! Hua Runxue's body stiffened abruptly. Tongtong had stopped breathing, her hands still tightly gripping his clothes.

When? I didn't notice.

Shu Zao directed her personal sentries: "Zhou Miao, provide cover. Yi Li Sai, find an opportunity to immobilize the guide and buy time for Ni Sangyue and the others. Yuan Li, stay by my side. The rest of the sentries, clean up the contaminants."

The sentinels replied, "Roger that." Then they went about their duties.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Are you complaining that we're late?"

He was so calm, it was as if his personal guide had died; there seemed to be no sign that he was out of control.

"I'm arrogant, but that doesn't mean I'm brainless. It's just that I'm too weak to protect her. It's our arrogance that dragged her down with us."

Ni Sangyue was unwilling to team up with Tongtong, and he knew it was because of them.

Why didn't you keep a low profile and tone it down before?

"Tongtong, I'm here to keep you company. Wait for me."

I really regret not treating Tongtong well back then, and always bullying her without any restraint.

Hua Runxue broke her own neck.

"Bury it." Shu Zao instructed happy Yu to dig the hole.

Okay.

happy Yu dragged over the corpses of Wan Tong's other exclusive sentinels and buried them together in a large pit.

After filling the soil, Shu Zao walked to Ling Xi's side. Bing Nian had been defeated. The bodies of the sentries lay scattered around her, and she was holding the lifeless Qi Yan in her arms.

"Bing Nian, I remember—"

"Shut up, I don't want to hear your insincerity. Ni Sangyue, why don't you look at my face?"

Bing Nian looked at Shu Zao: "I love beauty just like you. I know I was wrong, but I don't regret it."

If only time could be turned back, I wish I could go back to the time before I saved Wan Tong.

Shu Zao nodded: "Hmm, perhaps you have your reasons for doing all this. So, are you coming back with us, or do you choose to stay here?"

Go back to face trial and punishment, or die here.

"Hahaha, if I put my face on you, could you handle it?"

There's no turning back now; she didn't want to go back, and all the sentries protecting her were dead.

There's no need to go back.

"I know you've made your choice. Don't worry, I'll be quick and won't make you feel any pain."

Bing Nian's head hit the ground and rolled to Ling Xi's feet.

With the other party on the opposite side, Shu Zao couldn't show any mercy.

"Go back and tell Baita and the central city about Bingnian."

Shu Zao: "Okay."

Lingxi: "Okay."

As the three guides parted ways, Ni Sangyue said with some regret, "It's a pity I didn't get to see you make a move; your sentries' coordination was excellent."

They are very strong, and they would entrust their backs to each other.

"Thank you. Your sentries are also quite good; each of them is an outstanding individual combat soldier."

Lingxi: Am I the only one who didn't notice? Should I join in and give it a compliment too?

Back at the White Tower, Shu Zao couldn't stand it anymore and asked, "Etheris, what do you want to say? You've been hesitating for hours."

She looked down again, repeating this action dozens of times.

"Shuzao, I finally understand why you rarely lay a hand on me, but instead have Fuyuan do it?"

It's all for his own good.

"Oh, why? Tell me."

She listened to what outrageous excuses he could come up with.

"You usually use lethal force when you fight, either killing or crippling the victim. I'm afraid I won't be able to control my strength if you ask Fu Yuan to hit me."

After he finished speaking, the cabin fell silent.

"Shuzao, did I say something wrong again?" What kind of looks are those?

Should we mourn for him?

No, you're right.

"I--"

"Ring ring ring." It was Mingye calling again.

I want to block you.

"The circle has cracked, and we need your help."

"I was perfectly fine before I left last month."

"It's another circle, Shuzao, stop acting. This time we really need your help. None of the sentries we sent have left."

Several batches have died.

He hasn't slept for several days.

He wouldn't have contacted her if he hadn't had no other choice.

How did you know there was a tear?

Mingye didn't mention exchanging information. He knew Shuzao well enough that if he dared to say something, she would hang up.

"Only that area can allow high-level pollutants to leave. I'll grant you partial access to the central city and the White Tower."

That's enough for her to learn a lot of inside information.

"I need your authority." Shu Zao wasn't just being polite; she wanted the speaker's authority.

She gathered a lot of intelligence from her own Sentinel family.

But not enough.

"There's nothing more to discuss, is that it?"

Shu Zao didn't reply. After hanging up the phone, she looked at the sentries and said, "Go back and have a family meeting. I have something to say."

She also sent a message to Xian Yue'an, inviting them to come along.

[Shu Zao]: We'll have a meeting later.

[Yue An]: Okay, I made milk tea. You can try it when you get back.

Shuzao: ...This message came at an inopportune time.

[Shu Zao]: Let's try it on Tiris first.

He found himself a sentinel, and she thanked him after a delay.

[Yue An]: I drank it yesterday, and it was a success. Quickly comfort my wounded little heart.

Shu Zao was still typing when another message from Xian Yue An arrived.

[Yue An]: Good morning, did you know? There are special guides and pollutant cooperation.

[Shuzao]: I know, what I want to say is related to this.

[Yue An]: Then come back soon.

She was eager to know.

[Shuzao]: We're almost there.

Both of their sentries participated in the meeting.

"I'll get straight to the point. I suspect I'm not the only one who can see the circle. There are guides or sentries who can see it too, but they've chosen to hide it."

Bing Nian betrayed us for so long, and it took so long for the circle to finally break open.

Who is blocking them?

Mingye's position as chairman was merely nominal; he never failed in his schemes against her.

"This crack just happens to confirm your guess, Shuzao," Xuan Yue'an said, voicing Shuzao's concerns.

"But if we wait for the other side to take action, we will have to sacrifice many sentries' lives in vain in order to plug the gap."

At this point, it comes down to who is more ruthless.