Chapter 36 — ILK Chapter 36

Departure

This email appeared on the terminal of every Sentinel and Guide summoned by the base. And this time, it included Sang Ye. The base was deploying every available soldier, a move that reflected Asu Ment’s fury.

Since arriving on Black Tower, Sang Ye had learned that the natives rioted frequently, most often at the Snow Mountain. But it had never been this severe. This time, the safety of a Major General and numerous Sentinels was at stake. In the Snow Mountain, "losing contact" was almost synonymous with death.

The base required everyone to gather at the airfield by midnight. No excuses were accepted. This was Sang Ye’s first time experiencing such an event. She felt she should be afraid, but she was strangely calm. Deep down, she knew that as a Guide, she couldn't stay in the rear forever.

The moment they received the order, Wu Huansheng and Mu An hurried home to leave Jianing with the adjutant.

"According to standard deployment, Guides are kept in the far rear. They aren't easily sent to the front lines, so don't worry too much," Rong Cheng said as she stood up. Her belongings were few, mostly stored in her spatial button. "Guides are usually only assigned to follow when a search-and-rescue mission arises."

If the time came to search for Major General Keliu, Sang Ye would have to head to the front with the Sentinels.

"The Snow Mountain is extremely dangerous. All magnetic fields are scrambled, signals are blocked, and communication is impossible. Even pulse guns and large weapons might fail to trigger," Rong Cheng warned solemnly. "In the Snow Mountain, the only things you can rely on are yourself and your spiritual form. A spiritual form will never betray you. You must maintain mental stability. As long as your spiritual form lives, you will never die."

But if one's mind was crushed, there was no hope of survival in the Snow Mountain. Sentinels had the right to choose the latest weapons from the armory; after telling Sang Ye to wait at the airfield, Rong Cheng rushed there.

In the dining room, only Sang Ye and Lin Changli remained. Sang Ye finally realized he was still standing there. Their eyes met. He hadn't moved; the unique gold-red lock of hair lay obediently against his chest.

"You..." Sang Ye spoke, realizing her voice was a bit hoarse. "Aren't you going?"

Lin Changli looked at her with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Does a small matter like this require me to take the field?" He had been through countless wars since age fifteen. Any one of them was ten thousand times more dangerous than Black Tower. This was barely an appetizer to him.

He looked cold. "Take care of yourself. Listen to your friend. Do not trust anything that appears in the Snow Mountain. Protect your spiritual form. As long as it lives, you will be fine." He turned to leave."If she gets hurt, what do we do?" The little Phoenix was bouncing around in his mental landscape. "Do you know how to talk?! If you can't talk, let me out! Let me out! I'm telling you, if you don't let me out, I'll burn the whole base down next time I emerge! You hear me?! All of it!!"The Phoenix made Lin Changli’s head throb. Why was his spiritual form not only capable of speech but also a chatterbox?

"Shut up," Lin Changli snapped. He intended the command for the Phoenix, but the words came out into the room.

"?" Sang Ye gave him a "Are you sick?" look, rolled her eyes, and ignored him.

…

This was Sang Ye’s first time going to a battlefield across two lifetimes. Guides didn't carry physical weapons; there was no weapon more powerful than mental energy. She packed her endless supply of ingredients and Jade Marrow into her storage ring, disguised as a spatial button. She also prepared Instant Rice Balls.

The rice balls were simple: white or purple rice mixed with cucumbers, carrots, chicken, pork, beef, fish, pickled vegetables, fried dough sticks, and meat floss. She used high-sugar long-grain rice and fried fillings to provide quick energy and mental boosts. They could be eaten cold, and she knew the Sentinels would find ways to make themselves comfortable.

When she was ready, Rong Cheng returned with two heavy firearms. "This is the latest model from the factory! It compresses mental energy and locks targets via baryon search. It can cover an entire mountaintop and has the penetration power of a man-sized warship..."

Sang Ye didn't understand the technical terms.

"Look." Rong Cheng pointed to the gun. It was pitch black, looking like a black hole that absorbed all energy. "This is Black Crystal. Only Black Crystal has the ductility to withstand the explosive energy of a warship. It can expand and restructure in an instant. Its lifespan isn't long, but it won't backlash on the user; all energy is swallowed by the crystal."

This was a unique material in the universe. Rong Cheng gave Sang Ye two sets of lightweight combat suits. "Thermal suits. They regulate your body temperature. They have good defense, but try not to let them tear. The cold and wind of the Snow Mountain will quickly destroy the molecular structure and freeze you solid."

As they reached the airfield, Sang Ye looked back at the West Building. Only one window on the second floor was lit, glowing dimly.

…

This was Sang Ye's second time at the airfield. The first was when she arrived in cuffs. This time, they weren't taking transport trucks. Massive warships were lined up on the tarmac, with Sentinels forming ranks in front of them, each led by an officer of at least Major General rank.

A single ship would be scrambled by the mountain's radiation, but several together could build a space communication system—a hive cluster using navigation satellites to transmit signals. This massive energy field could ignore the mountain’s magnetic interference.

Previously, the attitude toward the natives was one of "soft power" and peaceful coexistence. But that was based on a surface-level peace. This many missing soldiers was unprecedented.

When Sang Ye appeared, the Sentinels cast curious glances. News of a Guide on Black Tower traveled fast. Most had kept their distance from the "notorious" Guide, but those who had been treated in the hospital knew better. Her reputation had quietly shifted without her knowledge.

Sang Ye tried to stand in the corner with Rong Cheng, but her height and red hair made her impossible to miss. Asu Ment walked to the front of the ranks, her Gu-Eagle circling behind her, creating a gust of sharp wind.

"SILENCE!" Asu Ment shouted. Her voice commanded instant obedience. The Gu-Eagle swelled to hundreds of times its size and let out a piercing cry.

Asu didn't need a megaphone. Her cold voice reached every ear. "When the Empire descended upon Black Tower, we bought all sovereignty, territory, and resources from the former Royal Family. The natives have ignored the treaty time and again. We tried peace, but our soft policies have failed. Previous riots were mere friction, but not this time."

"Listen well. The objective is to rescue Major General Keliu and the garrison. Disregard casualties. Show no mercy. I will bear all consequences."

A moment of silence followed, then the airfield erupted in a roar! Sang Ye looked at the tall figure in the front. Asu Ment, described as an ambitious, ruthless climber, actually cared enough to risk everything for the survival of her soldiers.