Chapter 723: The Dark Sentinel 34

Naturally, Tang Wan could not hear what Lu Tong had murmured the night before. If she had, she would have definitely probed him carefully, trying to uncover what lay behind that strange sense of familiarity. Even though Little Cutie had heard everything clearly, the system rules bound him tightly, preventing him from revealing anything. If he dared to break them, the consequences would fall entirely on him.

After watching Tang Wan’s peaceful sleeping face for a long time, Lu Tong finally closed his eyes, pulling her closer into his arms. With her presence beside him, the restless nights that once plagued him had completely disappeared, replaced by a rare sense of calm and ease. This quiet, steady warmth was something he had never experienced before, and once he had it, he found it impossible to give up.

By the time Tang Wan woke the next morning, Lu Tong had already prepared breakfast. The sight of him standing there, having quietly taken care of everything, made her smile instinctively. She stepped forward and kissed his cheek lightly, her tone bright and warm as she said, “Tongtong, being your guide really makes me happy.”

Hearing this, Lu Tong’s lips curved almost imperceptibly, though his voice remained composed as he replied, “It’s nothing. I should be the one taking care of you.”

Tang Wan laughed softly and sat down, her mood clearly lifted. “If people knew you cook for me every day, they’d be so jealous they couldn’t stand it.” As she spoke, she picked up a piece of meat and held it toward him, her eyes sparkling. “Tongtong, open your mouth.”

Lu Tong hesitated for only a brief moment before leaning forward, his ears faintly warming as he accepted the bite. The taste itself was simple, even slightly salty, yet for some reason, it felt unexpectedly sweet. Being with her seemed to turn even the most ordinary moments into something different, something he could not quite explain.

After breakfast, the two headed together to the official award ceremony.

The event was held publicly, but due to Lu Tong’s special status, none of his images were disclosed. As a sentinel whose primary role was assassination, exposure itself was a risk. If enemy forces were able to identify him on the battlefield, the consequences would be severe. Still, even without seeing his face, many could easily guess who stood beside Tang Wan. Her gaze frequently drifted toward the person next to her, the warmth in her eyes impossible to hide.

Because of that, even those who tried to analyze her expressions or reflections to piece together Lu Tong’s appearance found themselves with nothing concrete. Her eyes held only emotion, not detail.

Ellivis and Zheng Wenjun were also present at the ceremony. Although they had arrived later to the battlefield, Zheng Wenjun’s status as a double S level guide ensured they still earned recognition. Even so, as Tang Wan and Lu Tong stood at the center, receiving the empire’s highest honor, a shadow passed through Ellivis’s eyes.

For reasons he could not fully explain, he felt that the position they held should have belonged to him and Zheng Wenjun. Yet the reality before him was undeniable. Lu Tong had already become a towering figure in the hearts of countless sentinels, someone almost impossible to surpass. It was not just his overwhelming combat ability, but also the existence of the 3S level guide at his side that made the gap even wider.

Even though Zheng Wenjun had reached double S level, breaking through to 3S was nearly impossible. Compared to Lu Tong, other sentinels would always lack that final, decisive advantage.

Still, Ellivis was unwilling to accept it. Deep down, he made a silent vow that one day, he would surpass Lu Tong and become the strongest sentinel in the empire, a name that would be remembered in history.

As for Tang Wan and Lu Tong, they paid no attention to the thoughts or envy of others. Once the ceremony ended, they exchanged a brief greeting with the emperor and left without hesitation. The banquet that followed held no appeal for them. Compared to the noise and formality of such gatherings, returning together was far more meaningful.