Chapter 705: The Dark Sentinel 16

Tang Wan’s gaze lingered on Lu Tong without blinking.

Realizing her own reaction a second later, she coughed lightly, masking the small, unconscious act of swallowing before smiling as if nothing had happened. “Tongtong, someone named Sebastian contacted me just now. He said the emperor wants the two of us to go to Emperor Star. I told him we’d follow your decision. He’ll reach out to you in about an hour.”

Even dressed in soft white sleepwear, Lu Tong still carried an unmistakable aura of danger.

Years spent on battlefields soaked in blood and violence had carved something sharp into him. He stood there like a weapon barely contained, as though at any moment he could be unleashed to pierce through everything in his path. It was precisely this oppressive presence that made others instinctively keep their distance, their breaths tightening just from being near him.

But Tang Wan was different.

To her, that same danger did not inspire fear. Instead, it transformed into a kind of dark allure, a quiet, dangerous mystery that drew her in. Not only was she unafraid, she found herself wanting to understand him, to unravel the layers beneath that cold exterior.

And perhaps because of their completed spiritual bond, the sense of closeness between them was even stronger now. Rather than feeling threatened, she felt… familiar warmth.

Lu Tong gave a small nod in response.

With his heightened senses, he had already heard every word of her earlier conversation, even through the wall. He had also heard the faint, hurried cough that tried to conceal something else entirely. There was no need for her explanation, yet he did not expose it.

“I know,” he said simply.

Inwardly, however, a stray thought flickered through his mind. Was she… swallowing because of him? Or had she really just choked?

He dismissed the thought almost immediately.

Some things were better left unasked.

Turning away, he walked to the refrigerator, took out a few ingredients, and headed into the kitchen without another word.

Tang Wan watched his back, surprise flashing briefly in her eyes.

He cooks himself?

“Tongtong, let me help,” she said, stepping forward out of politeness, though she knew very well that her own cooking skills were nothing to boast about.

Lu Tong refused without hesitation. “No. I’ll handle it. You go rest.”

On the battlefield, guides were responsible for stabilizing their sentries, constantly monitoring their emotional state. But in daily life, it was the sentry’s duty to take care of the guide, to provide stability and protection.

In his eyes, no matter how powerful Tang Wan’s mental strength was, her physical body remained fragile. That alone was enough reason for him to keep her away from trivial, tiring tasks.

Tang Wan nodded obediently. “Alright. Let me know if you need anything.”

As Lu Tong focused on preparing dinner, she quietly slipped away and wandered into his bedroom.

The space was stark.

Aside from the essentials, a bed, a wardrobe, a bookshelf, there was almost nothing else. The color palette was darker even than the living room, the entire space resembling a quiet, enclosed shadow. It felt less like a place to rest and more like a temporary shelter between battles.

Yet the bed caught her attention.

The sheets and blankets were new, crisp, and impeccably arranged, carrying a sense of deliberate care that did not match the rest of the room.

Tang Wan’s lips curved slightly.

So he changed them for me.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Lu Tong’s knife moved steadily across the cutting board, slicing through ingredients with practiced precision.

But his mind was no longer there.

Without realizing it, his thoughts had already drifted toward the bedroom she had just entered.