Chapter 3: Seven Sentinels?
“We’ll first need to go to the second floor for a physical examination. After that, we’ll test your mental strength. Then, aside from assigning you a residence and a calming room, we’ll also arrange for you to meet the Sentinels who have a high mental compatibility with you. If all goes well, those Sentinels will likely become your long-term clients.”
Fang Yinnian handed Song Nanxi a small booklet. “I think I forgot to explain mental compatibility to you. That was my oversight—my apologies.”
“Mental compatibility is a concept that developed after the classification of Guides and Sentinels. Just like the five elements, everyone has a different personality, and every person has someone whose personality complements theirs. Being around someone incompatible can be difficult—even painful. The same applies to mental soothing.”
“If a Guide and Sentinel have low compatibility, the effectiveness of mental soothing between them is extremely poor. In order to quantify this, the term ‘mental compatibility’ was introduced.”
“Simply put, when you perform mental soothing for Sentinels who are highly compatible with you, the results will be significantly better with less effort. The White Tower also recommends you do so. These compatible Sentinels will also provide you with physical protection and share their contribution points with you—but your own points will remain yours.”
“Overall, it’s a good arrangement.”
Song Nanxi understood and nodded. “Got it.”
The booklet Fang Yinnian gave her covered the same topic, though in more formal language.
She casually slipped it into her pocket and proceeded to the physical exam. It was very convenient—just one minute lying inside a capsule-like scanner, and the results came out quickly.
After confirming she was in good health, the doctor checked off her physical report card. “Everything looks good. Wishing you a pleasant stay.”
Then came the legendary mental strength test.
Song Nanxi sat in front of a testing machine as the examiner guided her, “Close your eyes now. Imagine that you’re lifting the small ball in front of you. Try to raise it as high as you can…”
It was just imagining—something not difficult for Song Nanxi. She decided to picture it floating one meter above the ground.
The examiner tightened her grip on her pen, watching as the metallic sphere rose higher and higher. When it neared one meter, she held her breath. Could it be? A new prodigy?
The ball passed the one-meter mark and then gently descended.
It clearly wasn’t falling under gravity—it was being gently lowered. That meant she still had power to spare.
Fang Yinnian’s mind went boom—an S-Class Guide…
—
Song Nanxi looked at the thick stack of documents in her hands and interrupted the tester, “Wait a second. I didn’t quite catch that—are you saying I’m a genius? Mm, I accept that. And… all these people are Sentinels who are compatible with me?!”
In disbelief, she flipped through the documents again. “This thick?! How many are there?”
“Seven,” the tester replied. “That’s just the ones currently at the base.”
The tester adjusted her glasses. “Miss Song, your mental strength level is very high—A+ level. We’ll apply for the best living arrangements for you, and your calming room will also be top-tier.”
“The documents you’re holding contain the personal information of each Sentinel, including basic stats like height and measurements, as well as life history—from battlefield achievements all the way to the games they played as children. Every detail is recorded.”
Song Nanxi choked a little. “Isn’t that a bit too detailed…”
“Whether you read it or not is up to you, but it’s our job to investigate thoroughly. This matter is based on mutual consent—you’re not obligated to take on all of these Sentinels. However…” The tester let out a long sigh. “Sentinels are currently the core combat force. Without a Guide’s soothing, their lifespans are shortened, which isn’t good for the future development of the base…”
“Plus, they’re all young, good-looking, great bodies… dying young would be such a shame…”
“Alright, stop, stop, stop!” Song Nanxi cut off the tester’s dramatic pitch. “I’ll decide after I meet them.”
Then Song Nanxi noticed a familiar photo in the files. “Is Fang Yinnian among them too?”
“Yes. And if you’re going to start learning how to soothe Sentinels, Captain Fang is the ideal practice subject. I strongly recommend you accept him—please!”
Standing outside the door, Fang Yinnian heard that last part, and his ears instantly flushed red, a wave of discomfort washing over him.
That tester was his father’s student. While they weren’t particularly close, they were at least acquaintances. And now, hearing her pitch him like that…
It was weird.
Fang Yinnian knocked and pushed open the door. “Team Leader Cui, please allow Miss Song to make her own decision.”
Song Nanxi looked up at Fang Yinnian by the door and noticed how unnaturally red his ears were. “Your ears are so red. And your face too. Is it because it’s too hot?”
Cui Danqin—the tester—teased, “Probably. Sentinels are young and full of energy. They’re more sensitive to heat.”
Song Nanxi handed a few sheets from the stack to Fang Yinnian. “Use these to fan yourself?”
“N—… thank you.” Fang Yinnian was about to decline, but when he saw what was handed to him, he changed his mind.
He was also very curious to see—
Who else, besides him, was on that list.
Cui Danqin burst out laughing. “Captain Fang, have you not taken a break since returning? And you haven’t had time to find a Guide to soothe you, right…? Miss Song, would you like to give it a try first?”
Song Nanxi was confused. “Me? But I don’t know how. Wouldn’t it be better for him to find a professional Guide?”
“You are a Guide. There’s no one more professional than you,” Cui Danqin said as she set down the folder in her hands. “This lesson was bound to happen eventually, and you’re the most compatible Guide for him. Trust me, it won’t be a bad experience.”
“But I really don’t know how.” Song Nanxi couldn’t believe she was about to skip all the teaching and go straight into actual practice.
“I’ll teach you. The article on how Guides can soothe Sentinels more quickly and effectively? I wrote that. I’m a Guide myself—and I’m also responsible for training all new Guides,” Cui Danqin said, then paused. “Which means, you’re already my student. We’re just starting the lesson a bit early.”
At that point, she realized she might’ve been too forceful and added, “Of course, you can refuse my early coaching. But… Captain Fang is in a lot of discomfort right now. He just returned from a mission eliminating abnormals and urgently needs to be soothed. And you’re the best candidate.”
Fang Yinnian spoke up to stop her. “Team Leader Cui… you…”
Then he quickly turned to Song Nanxi and said, “Miss Song, please don’t listen to her. My condition isn’t that bad. It’s completely manageable.”
Song Nanxi didn’t respond to either of them. Instead, she asked another question, “If I soothe him, can I touch the snow leopard again?”
“You saw his spirit animal? You even touched it?!” Cui Danqin was quite surprised.
Fang Yinnian looked even more embarrassed. “That was an accident.”
“Even better! With that kind of connection, your soothing session is sure to go very smoothly! No time to waste—let’s head to the calming room right away!”