Chapter 710: The Dark Sentinel 21

“The scent of your guide pheromones… it’s getting stronger.”

Lu Tong’s voice was low, almost thoughtful, but the meaning behind his words was unmistakable.

Tang Wan fell silent for a moment.

…Your nose is absurdly sharp.

At the side, their mental forms seemed far more honest than their owners. The little white tiger circled the Persian cat with obvious delight, its posture relaxed and almost ingratiating. The Persian cat let out a soft, lazy meow before tilting its head and rubbing gently against the white tiger, the two of them naturally falling into a quiet intimacy.

By the time the night passed, Tang Wan was utterly exhausted.

Her entire body felt drained, as though every last bit of strength had been drawn out of her. The lingering warmth and faint soreness left her barely able to keep her eyes open. At several points, she had almost lost consciousness, and if not for the strength of her mental power sustaining her, she would have long since collapsed into a deep, unresponsive sleep.

In the end, she fell asleep almost instantly, her breathing evening out as she slipped into a deep rest.

Lu Tong watched her quietly, a faint curve appearing at the corner of his lips.

He brushed aside the damp strands of hair clinging to her forehead, then instructed the system to activate the air purifier, gradually clearing the lingering traces of her pheromones from the room. Only after the air returned to a more neutral state did he relax slightly, before carefully taking care of her and settling her properly.

That night, for the first time in a long while, Lu Tong slept deeply.

His hand rested lightly against her forehead, the faint, lingering scent of her still present, subtle but enough to soothe his senses completely. Even the smallest trace of it made his entire being loosen, his mind sinking into a calm he had almost forgotten.

When he woke the next morning, he felt… different.

Lighter. Clearer.

More at ease than he had ever been, even compared to the effects of controlled white noise environments.

For a moment, he couldn’t help but think—

Having a guide… is actually not bad.

Tang Wan, however, slept until the following afternoon.

When she finally opened her eyes, the small white tiger was lying beside the bed, its clear blue eyes fixed on her. The moment it saw her stir, it perked up and gently nudged her chin.

A soft, low sound escaped it, as if urging her.

Tang Wan blinked, then slowly sat up, strangely understanding its meaning.

It was telling her to eat.

“Where’s Tongtong?” she asked, brushing her hair back.

The white tiger made another soft sound.

He went out. He told me to stay with you.

Tang Wan frowned slightly.

What would he be doing out at this time?

After washing up, she stepped into the living room and paused.

A table full of freshly prepared dishes was waiting for her.

Her mood lifted instantly.

Though… it would be even better if he were here.

She had just finished eating when the door opened.

Lu Tong returned, carrying a black case in his hand.

The moment he saw her awake, his expression softened slightly. “You’re up. How are you feeling?” he asked. “I ordered a private recovery pod. It should arrive in half an hour. You can rest properly then.”

“I’m fine,” Tang Wan replied with a smile. “Much better already. Tongtong, did you go out to buy something?”

Her gaze shifted to the case in his hand.

Lu Tong nodded, placing it on the table before opening it.

Inside was a neatly arranged selection of unfamiliar equipment, sleek and advanced in design.

He reached in and took out a small button-like device, handing it to her. “This is a space storage button,” he explained. “I got it under your name. There’s about three cubic meters of storage inside, along with some weapons for self-defense. Try it.”

The technology behind it involved spatial compression, something still rare and not widely accessible. Even within the empire, only a handful existed, typically reserved for royalty or high-ranking figures.

But Tang Wan was different.

As the only known 3S-level guide, her safety was a priority.

And she had the right to be equipped accordingly.