Chapter 707: The Dark Sentinel 18

After ending the call, Lu Tong’s gaze lingered on Tang Wan for a long moment.

It was so direct that even Tang Wan, who was usually composed, began to feel a little puzzled under his scrutiny. She tilted her head slightly and asked, “Tongtong, what’s wrong?”

Lu Tong parted his lips, then spoke in a tone that tried to sound as indifferent as ever. “It’s seven. Time to sleep.”

This time, the mission he had taken on had been classified at 3S level. He had spent nearly half a month hunting down fugitives without proper rest. If not for his exceptional mental strength, he would have reached his limit long ago. Even so, the exhaustion had been weighing heavily on him until just earlier, when the spiritual connection with her had eased it somewhat.

Tang Wan blinked in surprise at his blunt words, but when she noticed the faint shadows beneath his eyes, her expression softened immediately. “Alright,” she said gently. “I’ll go take a shower too. You go ahead and rest first. Wait for me a bit.”

Seeing that she neither resisted nor showed any sign of discomfort, Lu Tong felt something in his chest loosen.

“Mm.”

He nodded and walked toward the bedroom without another word.

Tang Wan watched his back for a second before heading into the bathroom. Since she didn’t have her own clothes here, she simply took one of his pajama sets. The fabric hung loosely on her frame, the sleeves slightly long, the faint scent of him lingering in the material.

When she stepped out again, the soft carpet muted her footsteps as she walked toward the bed.

Lu Tong was sitting at the edge, looking through something on his terminal. The moment he noticed her, he closed it without hesitation and lifted his eyes to her. “Finished?”

“Mm.” Tang Wan nodded, climbing onto the bed and pulling the covers over herself.

Then she looked at him. “Tongtong, do you want me to help you sort out your mental state?”

At her words, something stirred in Lu Tong’s eyes.

He had never experienced a guide’s soothing before. But from what he had just read, it was said that such contact could bring a level of comfort unlike anything else. And earlier that day, even their simple connection had already left a deep impression on him.

Now that she was offering it willingly, refusing would only make him seem… hesitant.

“…Alright.”

Tang Wan smiled slightly in relief. “Then lie down first.”

Lu Tong obeyed without hesitation.

Once he was lying beside her, Tang Wan closed her eyes briefly, her thoughts focusing. A moment later, strands of golden mental threads extended from her consciousness, gently entering his spiritual domain.

For a guide, soothing a sentinel was almost instinctive.

As soon as the connection formed, she knew what to do.

A soft, steady presence spread through his mind, smoothing over the sharp edges, calming the undercurrent of tension that had never truly left him. The effect was immediate.

Lu Tong felt his body gradually relax, his mind sinking into a rare state of ease.

It was… far more intense than he had expected.

Even compared to their earlier connection, this sensation was deeper, warmer, almost overwhelming in its quiet comfort. For someone like him, who had long been accustomed to constant vigilance, it felt almost unreal.

So this was what it meant.

No wonder so many sentinels could not do without their guides.

At the corner of the bed, the small white tiger lay sprawled on its back, limbs loose, its usual sharp presence completely gone. It looked utterly content, as if drifting in a peaceful dream.

Time passed quietly.

After what felt like only a short while, Lu Tong’s eyes suddenly opened.

The darkness in them had softened, but something else had surfaced beneath it.

Without warning, he reached out and pulled Tang Wan into his arms.

She was caught off guard, her body stiffening slightly before she relaxed against him. “Tongtong… what’s wrong?” she asked softly.

Lu Tong did not answer immediately.

Instead, he held her closer, his voice low, carrying a faint, unfamiliar restraint.

“…Stay.”

It was a simple word.

But for someone like him, it carried more weight than anything else he could have said.