Chapter 2: Devoting Everything to Her

“Meow...” The faint, intermittent sound echoed again, tugging at Yu Xia’s heart in an inexplicable way. A subtle, almost imperceptible guidance stirred within her consciousness, drawing her attention to this strange realm.

This was a space on the verge of collapse. What had once been a verdant meadow was now scorched earth, the ground cracked and shattered, and the buildings utterly destroyed.

Flames flickered from the fissures in the earth, and molten lava surged forth, threatening to engulf everything within.

A young leopard cub curled up atop one of the fractured patches of ground. Several parts of its body appeared translucent, fading into a pale blue hue that continued to grow dimmer.

This little leopard was the spiritual embodiment of Huo Lin. This place was the deep recesses of Huo Lin’s consciousness—a spiritual world, also known as a mental landscape.

Each Sentinel’s mental landscape manifested differently, shaped by their personality, life experiences, and spiritual form.

The state of a mental landscape reflected the current condition of the Sentinel’s spirit and body.

Clearly, Huo Lin’s spirit and physical state were both on the brink of collapse. At this stage, no potent guide substance could help; only spiritual guidance could restore him.

The little leopard kept its gaze fixed on Yu Xia. The guide’s presence restored a flicker of vitality within it, yet it remained too weak to stand.

Yu Xia sensed the cub’s silent plea for help. Without hesitation, she swam toward it.

The collapsing mental landscape weighed heavily on Yu Xia’s spiritual form. The scorching heat of the lava barred her approach, stirring doubts within her.

The little leopard mewed softly, “Danger... don’t come closer.”

Yu Xia hesitated by the flowing river of lava before her, then, moved by impulse, water began to gather around her. The small puddle beneath her swelled into towering waves that surged toward the molten river.

Before the giant wave could overturn the little leopard, Yu Xia swiftly lifted it up.

Driven entirely by instinct, she acted. Repair and reconstruction emerged from her consciousness, her spiritual power transforming into water that enveloped Huo Lin’s mental landscape.

The torrent soon submerged the collapsing space, extinguishing the lava and washing away all the devastation.

After an unknown span of time, the floodwaters receded, leaving behind a shallow golden beach.

What had once been an expansive grassland in the mental landscape was transformed by Yu Xia’s intervention into an island scene. Beside the beach lay fertile land, sprouting tender green grass and delicate white flowers.

Yu Xia gently placed the little leopard on the grass.

Though still weak, the cub began to heal upon her touch. The translucent patches regained their substance.

Gradually, a wave of fatigue washed over Yu Xia, and soon she collapsed in exhaustion against the man’s chest.

In the mental landscape, the dolphin form also curled protectively around the little leopard and fell asleep.

At the moment she sank into him, a thick black beast’s tail coiled around her waist.

Huo Lin, whose spirit had regained much of its strength, immediately opened his eyes.

Upon waking and seeing the girl lying against him, he instinctively tightened his embrace, as if fearing someone might snatch her away.

Never before had Huo Lin felt his spiritual power so at ease.

His amber eyes flickered as tumultuous emotions surged within.

Is this her spiritual power? Warm, sweet, more comforting than the spring breeze on the planet Lufa.

His spiritual form had been wounded in the last battle and remained untreated.

Guides were scarce, and obtaining spiritual treatment required not only a hefty contribution of points but also long waits in line.

Low-ranking Sentinels like them, without any backing, couldn’t even queue and had to rely on spiritual treatment chambers and guide substances to endure.

The inevitable result was that, once their spiritual damage reached a limit, their mental landscapes shattered. Some lost their consciousness deep within the spiritual realm, never to awaken, while others devolved into wild beasts without self-awareness.

Yet, the girl before him was doing her utmost to save him, expending great spiritual energy.

Huo Lin’s usually cold gaze softened as he looked down at the girl resting against his chest.

If not for the perilous war zone they were in, he would have held this position until she awoke, unwilling to disturb a moment of her sleep.

But the danger here was too great. He had to take her away from the battlefield to a safe place.

His black panther spirit kept vigilant around them. After healing, the panther had regained its normal size, while the girl’s dolphin spirit still lay atop its head.

Seeing this adorable little pink dolphin, Huo Lin’s heart softened further.

The little dolphin, having expended too much spiritual energy, was weak and not in full slumber but still sluggish. Its tail drooped loosely, swaying beside the panther’s cheek, prompting the panther to uncontrollably extend its tongue and lick it.

The sweet scent reached Huo Lin’s mind. He drew a deep breath, his throat rolling softly.

Her pheromone scent was irresistibly enticing.

Carefully, Huo Lin lifted the girl, her beautiful pink hair cascading down.

He fixed his gaze on her pale yet still exquisitely delicate face for a long moment before swiftly carrying her toward a destination.

...

Yu Xia felt she had slept deeply. Upon waking, her stomach twisted with hunger, and her throat burned with thirst.

“Thirsty...” she murmured hoarsely, eyes half-closed.

A bottle of water was immediately brought to her lips, and she was fed slowly and gently.

She drank more than half the bottle before regaining her breath. Opening her eyes, she slowly focused on the face before her.

A handsome face appeared.

Yu Xia was stunned—it was the man she had just met.

His features were sharp and defined, with a pair of amber vertical pupils. When silent, his gaze was piercing, and the rugged lines of his face gave him a wild, untamed aura.

Yet now he looked at her with concern, his intense brows softening somewhat.

“Still thirsty?” Huo Lin shook the water bottle and brought it again to her lips.

Yu Xia nodded, clutching the bottle and taking a few more sips before pushing it away.

Even after drinking, she still felt parched.

Not just her throat thirsting, but an urge to immerse herself in water.

She stared at the two-liter bottle in the man’s hand and licked her lips, but didn’t ask for more.

Turning her head, she surveyed her surroundings and asked, “Where is this?”

Faint sounds of artillery fire echoed beyond. Yu Xia thought they must still be in that dangerous battlefield.

“This is an abandoned Sentinel outpost. You’re safe for now,” Huo Lin said, confirming she had finished drinking before capping the bottle and stowing it in his pack, planning not to touch it himself.

Only half the bottle remained; before she drained it, he had to find other supplies and more water. Her spiritual form was a dolphin, a water-type, inherently thirsty.

Seeing Yu Xia hold back from drinking more, he exhaled deeply, silently rebuking the Sentinel who had taken her out without permission.

Huo Lin then produced the last two nutrient vials and handed them to Yu Xia.

Looking at the tubes filled with pink liquid, Yu Xia asked in confusion, “What is this?”

“Nutrient solution,” Huo Lin replied patiently. It wasn’t surprising she didn’t recognize it—Guides lived comfortably on A and S-class planets and rarely needed fast food like this.

“It can fill your stomach,” he explained gently, opening one vial and bringing it to her lips. “Although it might taste a bit strange to you, you need to eat something now. Later, I’ll find you better food.”

Yu Xia listened and sipped the liquid, tasting its sweet and sour flavor, which was quite pleasant.

Her eyes brightened, and she almost eagerly drank the nutrient solution.

Seeing no trace of distaste, Huo Lin thought to himself she must be truly starving and needed to find more food quickly.

After finishing one vial, Yu Xia saw him open the second and offer it, but instead of drinking immediately, she asked, “What about you?”

Huo Lin was momentarily taken aback but understood she was concerned about whether he had eaten.

“I’ve already eaten,” he said with a slight smile, placing the nutrient solution back into her hand.

Seeing him spirited and bright-eyed, with his wounds seemingly healed, Yu Xia trusted him and finished the last vial.

“Phew...” Yu Xia rubbed her stomach, finally feeling some relief.

Nutrient solution could sustain the body but didn’t give a sense of fullness.

Besides that, Yu Xia found it strange that despite drinking so much water, her stomach didn’t feel bloated; even the sensation of having consumed nearly a liter was faint.

She must have been too hungry, she thought.

Huo Lin crouched before her, looking down with intent. “Did your guardian bring you here?”