Chapter 346: Four People at One Table, A Good Show of Secret Jealousy Begins

Chapter 346: Chapter 346: Four People at One Table, A Good Show of Secret Jealousy Begins

"Get out of the way! Something’s wrong with this Sentinel; he’s undergoing a spiritual rampage!"

The piercing scream cut through the noisy crowd, instantly shattering the orderly queue.

Yun Sheng looked up toward the center of the disturbance, taking in the situation at a glance. The one causing the commotion was a young Sentinel, looking no older than his early twenties. His eyes were bloodshot, the corners completely red. His previously clear consciousness had already collapsed, veins bulging on his neck and arms as his entire body convulsed uncontrollably. Violent and chaotic spiritual power leaked madly from his body, ruthlessly crushing everything in its vicinity.

His Level wasn’t high. Normally, even if a spiritual rampage occurred, it would follow a gradual process. It would start with irritability and stinging headaches, progressing to spiritual restlessness and loss of control; it would never trigger a sudden rampage without warning. However, this Sentinel had been standing calmly in line just a second ago, clutching a freshly made cup of the store’s signature drink. He had just taken a large gulp, and the next second, his spirit rampaged. The speed of his loss of control was absurdly fast.

"Don’t go near him!" someone in the crowd shrieked in terror. "The Tower patrol team has already been contacted and they’re on their way!"

But an out-of-control Sentinel possessed immense destructive power; scattered ordinary civilians were completely powerless to stop him. Violent Spiritual Suppression spread in all directions. A few people standing too close staggered and fell, their faces deathly pale. Faint spiritual shockwaves drifted over with the wind, causing a slight, dull ache in Yun Sheng’s temples.

The next moment, her wrist tightened abruptly.

Si Jin quietly pulled her a half-step into his embrace, steadily shielding her behind him to block all the leaking Spirit Shock. A faint layer of cold mist covered his eyes. "There’s a problem," he said in a low voice.

Leaning behind him, Yun Sheng locked her gaze on the viral drink that had fallen to the ground, spilling most of its contents. She murmured in agreement, "Yeah, it’s too abnormal. This kind of acute rampage doesn’t seem to be caused by spiritual overload. It looks more like it was forcibly catalyzed by drugs, directly shattering his Spirit Barrier."

Combining this with those absurd reviews on the Star Network, the two instantly figured out the underlying trick.

This drink could indeed temporarily soothe a Sentinel’s spiritual fatigue and slightly optimize their mental state. The fast onset and intuitive effects were exactly why it had gone viral so quickly. But this sweetness was a poison in itself. Special ingredients must have been added to the drink. Long-term consumption would gradually corrode a Sentinel’s spiritual landscape. It would subtly disintegrate their barriers until reaching a critical point, instantly triggering a devastating, unprompted spiritual rampage.

It was insidious and incredibly deceptive!

Whoever lurked in the shadows was using the guise of a beverage to brazenly filter out and devour Sentinels and guides around the Tower. Their audacity was terrifying.

A few minutes later, the crisp, hurried sound of footsteps approached from a distance.

The Tower’s exclusive patrol squad rushed to the scene. They quickly set up a cordon to seal off the block and systematically evacuated the remaining crowd. Two High-level Guides followed closely behind. They simultaneously released gentle spiritual power, wrapping the out-of-control Sentinel’s spiritual landscape layer by layer to suppress his violent emotions bit by bit.

The chaos was gradually quelled. The rampaging Sentinel was subdued and taken away by the patrol members to await follow-up treatment and questioning.

The onlookers were left with lingering fear. Witnessing that scene, many who had originally wanted to line up dismissed the thought and left one after another. Yet, a few Sentinels, obsessed with the drink’s miraculous effects, hesitated for a moment before returning to the queue.

Seeing this, Yun Sheng furrowed her brows. "Many people don’t realize the risks at all. They only covet the immediate benefits."

"That’s just human nature," Si Jin said calmly. He lowered his eyes to look at her, his fingertips gently caressing the soft back of her hand. "The easier a shortcut is to obtain, the deeper the trap hidden behind it." He pulled Yun Sheng back two steps, distancing them from the noisy crowd, before continuing, "There are too many people in the store right now; rushing in recklessly will easily alert the enemy. Furthermore, with the rampage having just occurred, the store manager will definitely be on high alert."

Yun Sheng understood what he meant. She nodded. "Then should we go eat first?"

"Mm," Si Jin agreed, taking her hand and changing direction. "Tonight, I’ll have someone thoroughly investigate this store’s legal representative, cash flow, and raw material supply chain. We’ll come back again once the heat dies down."

"Okay."

Following their previously planned route, the two walked for a few minutes and soon found the antique-style Chinese restaurant.

This establishment stood out uniquely in the entire commercial street, starkly contrasting the surrounding technology-filled shops. The storefront was quaint and elegant, while the interior decor replicated an old-fashioned traditional style that was quiet and secluded. Serving mainly traditional ancient recipes, it boasted exceptionally high ratings, and its popularity had always remained robust.

Just as the two walked up to the restaurant’s main entrance, Yun Sheng’s gaze casually swept across the room. She unexpectedly caught sight of a familiar figure sitting not far away by the window. Slightly taken aback, she subconsciously called out to greet him, "Professor Mo?"

Hearing her, the man by the window paused his movements and turned his head to look over.

The man was none other than Mo Chen. Upon seeing Yun Sheng, a flash of surprise quickly darted across his eyes behind his glasses before he returned to normal. "Miss Yun, are you here to eat too?"

"Yes, we dropped by on our way home from work," Yun Sheng nodded and naturally asked, "Are you alone, Professor Mo?"

Mo Chen shook his head. "No, Bai Ye invited me over."

As his words fell, his gaze gently drifted past Yun Sheng, looking toward the direction behind her.

Yun Sheng froze for a moment and instinctively turned her head. The next second, she locked eyes with a deep, profound gaze.

The newcomer was Bai Ye.

For once, he wasn’t wearing his military uniform. He was dressed in a simple black shirt, the cuffs casually rolled up to his forearms, paired with neatly tailored casual trousers. Shedding the constraints and rigid formality of his uniform, he lacked his usual forbidding, unapproachable majesty, replaced instead by a relaxed, casual touch of everyday life. The contrast from his usual appearance was striking.

Bai Ye’s gaze instantly fell upon Yun Sheng, concealing a trace of imperceptible softness in his eyes.

"There’s just enough room. Want to eat together?" he offered. Then, he explained, "Mo Chen came to deliver your latest test report, and we happen to have something we need to discuss with you two in detail."