Chapter 33 THIRTY-THREE

Chapter 33: Chapter THIRTY-THREE

"Here are your new ra?ars." Director Chen pushes a box forward "I’d have given them to you days ago, but you had too much on your plate."

Xin Linhua stares down at the black velvet box. His eyes glimmer as he reaches for it.

"They sure took their sweet time getting this done." He flips the lid open "You have no idea how murderous he gets whenever–"

Xin Linhua’s smile freezes in place. His glare is enough to burn a hole through the Director’s head.

"Director..."

"What?"

"You made a choker." He seethes "A freaking choker. What am I, a dog?"

"You sure do act like one at times." The director clears his throat "What are you complaining about? That’s the most advanced type we’ve got, you should be grateful! Besides, your Sentinel wears the same model."

Xin Linhua blinks. He spins on his heels, his eyes gleaming with a mischievous light as he walks towards Rong Yizhan.

Like he can tell what exactly it is that’s going through Xin Linhua’s head, Rong Yizhan quietly tugs down the collar of his turtleneck, revealing a dark colored choker around his neck. A faint red light glints at the middle of the thin object, blinking slowly.

Xin Linhua swallows lightly. He reaches out to touch it, but Rong Yizhan tugs the collar back in place and avoids his touch.

"Fine, fine, I won’t touch." He clicks his tongue "But even if I were to hide this...what about the ear studs? I can’t possibly wear them as rings, can I?"

"He has multiple as well."

Rong Yizhan pulls his lips into a thin line. He slides the edge of his blindfold up, revealing his ears. Black ear studs with faint red lights glimmers softly, decorating his ear lobes.

"Okay..." Xin Linhua turns to the director "He looks good with whatever, even if he’s naked, I’m sure. And he has a blindfold to cover it up. I don’t."

"Maybe you should start considering a blindfold as well."

"What the hell." Xin Linhua snatches the box from the table "I’m not gonna pierce my ears for this, Director."

"They’re clip on ear studs."

"You sure do have a comeback for everything. Won’t it be strange if I were to start wearing them?"

"Strange?" The Director gives him a deadpan look "You defiled that word a long time ago. You almost killed a D-Rank, ’piercing your ears’ and wearing studs are the least craziest things you’ve done so far in this institute"

Xin Linhua has no comeback for that. He reluctantly picks up the box and shoves it in his coat pocket.

"We’ll be leaving now."

"Hold on." The Director calls out "There’s something else."

Seeing his expression change from frustration to stern, Xin Linhua knows playtime’s over. His teasing smile disappears.

He stands beside Rong Yizhan, hands behind his back, shoulders straight.

"The institute took action against Hao." The man leans back "Safe to say, you won’t be seeing him again. We’re not sure when Gao Chengi will wake up, but he’ll be reprimanded as well."

"So I still have to see his face?"

"Yes." The Director picks up a piece of paper and slides it forward "Also, the institute is working on something. Courtesy of you and your Sentinel, the project was vetted and will be funded by the institute."

Xin Linhua picks up the thin paper, skimming through the content. He raises an eyebrow in amusement.

"They’re really going ahead with this, aren’t they?" He asks as he places the paper down.

"Yes. That’s why we’ll need you to give us every information you have about the Yokai rift." The man taps the surface of the paper "We don’t want to lose anyone in there. It’s dangerous enough to fight those beings, but clearing rifts is a more dangerous affair."

"Understood."

"By the way, you’ll be assigned a team to–"

"No."

One cold and the other disapproving. They both reject the offer before the man can finish his statement.

"Why is that?" The man frowns.

"First of all, Yaras? hates crowds." Xin Linhua clicks his tongue "He can barely survive being around me, and you want him to be trapped in a rift for days with others? Yeah, that won’t end well."

The Director turns to Rong Yizhan who gives a quiet nod.

"See? I’m right. Second– we’re used to being together. Our teamwork is impeccable. More people will disrupt that balance. Additionally, we can carry our weight, we singlehandedly cleared a rift. If one gets left behind, who’s to say we will be able to save them?"

The Director ponders for a bit. The logic is... non-arguable. Xin Linhua is right. Rong Yizhan is a lone wolf, it’s a miracle that he still keeps Xin Linhua close– the guide should be dead by now. But since the two are a good duo, they can be a team of their own.

"Well, alright." He nods at last "But Xin Linhua, you do know that you’re the first combat guide we have."

Xin Linhua blinks speechlessly.

"I knew you were brainwashing them with the whole ’meditation’ and shit, but are guides really that weak?"

"Unfortunately." The Director massages his temple "Being a Sentinel that faces death daily is dangerous. No guide will want to risk that so they stick to guiding. You’re the only one who bash around Sentinels on the training grounds and puts one in a coma."

"I feel that incident will follow me to my grave."

"Absolutely." The man stands to his feet "Nevertheless, you’re strong enough to take on people who are ranked higher and above you. So the institute won’t stand in your way. You should start thinking of a name?"

"A name?" Xin Linhua frowns "I believe i have one."

"Hirano Asahi is known as Gan. Your Sentinel goes by Phantom. You need a codename too."

"A codename..." Xin Linhua lowers his gaze "I have one in mind."

"Good. You two can leave now. Until the project has been fully implemented, you two will be called upon whenever a low level rift needs clearing."

"Understood."

The door closes softly behind them. Xin Linhua exhales and walks beside Rong Yizhan, opening his mouth almost immediately to spew nonsense.

"Yaras?. What’s that feeling when everything seems empty? Like a black hole."

"Hollow." Rong Yizhan replies in hope that the man will stop talking.

Xin Linhua grins instead. He pats Rong Yizhan shoulders.

"That’s my codename now. Hollow."