Chapter 697: The Dark Sentinel 8

Tang Wan’s quiet compliance, the way she leaned into him without resistance and allowed herself to be carried so naturally, clearly pleased Lu Tong.

He did not show it on his face, but the faint shift in his gaze betrayed him.

As expected.

The guide chosen by him was different from the rest.

Not afraid of him.

Not rejecting him.

Instead, she trusted him so easily, as if his presence alone was something she could rely on.

That feeling was unfamiliar, yet strangely satisfying.

Around them, the other sentinels and guides could not hide their astonishment. The name Lu Tong alone was enough to silence most people, let alone the fact that he was a dark sentinel who rarely required a guide. Now, not only had he accepted one, but it was someone with perfect compatibility. Compared to Ellivis finding a one hundred percent match, this was even more shocking.

Under countless gazes filled with disbelief, Lu Tong carried Tang Wan without pause and walked straight toward the exclusive elevator within the White Tower. This elevator was not open to ordinary personnel. Only high-ranking members of the White Tower Committee, or those sentinels and guides who had made significant contributions to the empire, were permitted to use it. Lu Tong clearly belonged to the latter. The number of enemy sentinels who had fallen by his hand was impossible to count, and his status had long been unquestionable.

The elevator ascended swiftly and silently, stopping only when it reached the ninety-ninth floor.

As the doors opened, a soft, soothing atmosphere greeted them. The corridor was filled with the gentle sound of flowing water, accompanied by faint traces of wind passing through unseen spaces. These sounds were not accidental. They were deliberately designed to stabilize a sentinel’s mental state, easing the burden on their heightened senses and protecting their fragile control. Compared to the artificial soundscapes outside, the environment here felt far more natural, almost as if one had stepped into a tranquil landscape rather than a sterile building.

Even Tang Wan felt the change immediately.

As she was carried inside, the subtle tension in her body eased without her noticing, her thoughts becoming clearer and her emotions gradually settling into a quiet calm.

Lu Tong walked straight to the end of the corridor and stopped before a room. The intelligent system detected his presence and opened the door automatically, its mechanical voice sounding respectful and precise as it greeted him. He paid it no attention. Without slowing his pace, he entered and placed Tang Wan gently onto the black sofa before him, then stood there, looking at her.

His gaze was steady, dark, and unreadable.

Tang Wan met his eyes calmly.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

The silence stretched, thick yet not uncomfortable, as if both were quietly assessing the other.

After a long pause, Lu Tong finally broke it.

“My name is Lu Tong,” he said in a low voice, his tone carrying quiet certainty. “From now on, I will be your sentinel.”

In truth, he did not need a guide. His self-control was strong enough that losing control was almost impossible. He could continue as he always had, alone and unrestrained.

But she was different.

This guide was meant for him.

He would not allow anyone else to take her, even if he never truly relied on her abilities.

When Tang Wan heard this, a faint smile appeared on her lips. Her voice softened as she replied, “Alright, Tongtong. I’m also very happy to be your guide.”

A flicker of surprise crossed Lu Tong’s eyes.

No one had ever spoken to him like that.

No one had ever addressed him with such ease, such familiarity.

Yet through their connection, he could clearly feel her sincerity, the warmth behind her words genuine and unforced. Because of that, he did not reject it.

After a brief pause, he continued, his tone returning to its usual calm firmness. “You are too weak. When I go on missions, you will stay here. If anyone bullies you, tell me. I will deal with them when I return.”

To him, this was already a form of protection.

Tang Wan listened, then let out a soft, helpless laugh. “Tongtong, we’re already bound now. Are you planning to leave me behind every time you go out? Besides, I’m not weak.”

Lu Tong’s brows furrowed slightly, clearly unconvinced. “Number 5251,” he said flatly, “if I remember correctly, that ranking is near the bottom.”

Tang Wan fell silent for a moment, then quickly explained, “That was before. Now that my mental body has awakened, my strength has improved. I can help you.”

In most cases, once a sentinel and a guide formed a bond, they would act together. Their cooperation was what allowed them to function at their best.

But from Lu Tong’s tone, it was obvious he had no intention of taking her along.

That would not do.

She was not about to stay behind and be treated like something fragile.