Chapter 51 FIFTY-ONE

Chapter 51: Chapter FIFTY-ONE

"First they made you believe that this is who you are, then they planned to sacrifice you all because they want to take out three top families! Do you fucking understand now!?"

Xin Linhua’s words sink slowly but painfully in their chests.

He leaves no room for mercy, ruthlessly slapping the truth on their faces and forcing them to see things they’d rather deny.

Chess pieces? Pawns?

They did find it odd. Xin Linhua is still considered an F-Rank guide even if he has the ability to guide now. And his Sentinel is a risk human with zero abilities. Strictly speaking, the duo is strong, but asking them to venture into a rift with such a team...is basically suicide!

Not to mention, the rift was tagged as D-Rank, low tier. But when they got to the scene, they found out it was C-Rank. They’ve only ever fought the monsters that emerge from it– venturing inside to engage in a life and death battle is a different case.

Did the institute send them on purpose? Did they know about the rift’s dangers and actual rank? Are they...really trying to get them killed?

Each Sentinel spirals. Their thoughts are written all over their faces, the look of betrayal and heartache is hard to miss.

For Rong Yufei, the institute provides resources and a learning environment that surpasses that of her family. She came here purely to gain knowledge and experience.

For Hirano Asahi, his old base got destroyed and he migrated from Japan to China instead. Zhongjing institute has a great reputation. He joined purely because he had nowhere else to go and no family to return to. The institute has been a sanctuary and a home to him.

For Gao Shi, he came to get revenge on Xin Linhua. After surviving years of being tormented by sickness and almost dying multiple times, he finally recovered and gets to see his family. Then he got hit with the news of his younger brother being comatose. He has no deep feelings attached to the institute, but the place is considered holy in his family and his family worships the institute. It’s also a place he had longed for ever since he was a kid.

As for the others, their family were reluctant about letting them join the institution, but the resources and benefits were too good to pass off. They joined either way.

Safe to say, they all have deep or some attachment to the institute.

What Xin Linhua just did– telling them things they wish to deny but can’t, is killing them from inside!

He forced them to wake up and accept reality, to digest the fact that the place they worship like a holy sanctum is nothing like they thought it was.

Silence descends. The only thing one can hear is the sound of the wind kicking up dust into the air and the sharp whistle that echoes and bounces off the canyon walls.

Hirano digs his fingers into his palm. He’s the one who has been with the institute the longest. His eyes are red at the corner as he bites down hard on his tongue.

"Xin Linhua–"

"Take it back..."

The team turns to the voice.

Naka slowly sits up, his face is pale from the pain and beads of sweat lines his forehead, but he is still stubborn. He forces himself to sit upright.

"Xin Linhua...take your words back..." His nails dig into the dirt.

"I’m afraid I can’t." Xin Linhua turns to him "It’s good that you’re awake, I won’t have to do this emotional wrecking all over again."

"The institute wouldn’t..." His voice is hoarse "They value one of their own, no matter the rank. They wouldn’t try to kill off nine Sentinels all at once."

Xin Linhua sighs. Once you’ve lived one unfulfilled life and it ended with a loved one’s betrayal, nothing in this world can faze nor hurt you anymore.

He walks towards the shaking figure, crouching down to meet his gaze. His cold expression softens slightly, almost pitying.

"The truth may choke you, but you have to swallow it, Naka."

"Why would they want to kill you?" He raises his head "You and Phantom– you’re the institute’s greatest asset right now! As vain as that sounds, it’s true! The whole country knows that! Your words make no sense!"

Xin Linhua’s face goes blank. To think someone can be in deep denial, so much so they refuse to accept the reality in front of them...

He raises his hand and places it on Naka’s head. He strokes his hair twice.

"I understand how you feel." He speaks softly "I once denied something despite having the evidence in front of me, clear as day. But Naka, the sooner you accept it, the better. If you spiral any further, you’ll end up dead."

"Xin Linhua–"

"Do you want to return home in a body bag?"

Naka flinches at that sentence. His eyes suddenly clear up, the fog dissipates from his clouded mind.

"N-No." He murmurs "I can’t die...I can’t..."

"Good."

Xin Linhua stands, hands behind his back, shoulders squared up and chin raised. His gaze sweeps across their devastated beings.

"From now on, this team answers to me." He declares "Yes, my combat abilities are low, a D-Rank at best. Yes, I’m a defect and I can’t amount to a C-Rank. But you better remember, the one who can save you...is me."

Their downcast expression slowly eases up.

That’s right...Xin Linhua just saved them from an early death. Cruel he is, but if he hadn’t taken such an approach, they’d all end up dead in the rift while still denying everything.

Not only did he risk his life to bring them into the rift, he’s willing to teach them techniques they’ve never dreamt of using before. Techniques that are deemed forbidden in the institute.

"I understand." Hirano says in a firm voice "If we leave here alive–"

"We will." Gao Shi interrupts "If I do end up attacking Xin Linhua, it’s based on my own free will, not because I’m being manipulated. So don’t use the word ’if’, we will survive. I have a score to settle with them."

"Well said." Rong Yufei chuckles "I hate being used the most. I haven’t settled the debt with my father and now I have another one on my tab. The list is never ending."

The other Sentinels nod.

Right now, reality just dawned on them. The only people they can trust...are each other.