Ch 2: Interplanetary Planting Master

Guide

After learning about sentinels and guides, Su He didn’t ask Han Rui any more questions. His ignorance was evident enough, but he could pass it off as being newly awakened. If he kept asking about this place, Han Rui might start questioning his background. In fact, Su He had a bold guess based on the standard Huaxia dialect spoken by both the man and Han Rui. However, this guess was too wild, and he needed more evidence.

Now that they had stopped running, Su He felt the hunger he had briefly forgotten come back with a vengeance. Hearing his stomach growl, Su He’s teenage pride and shyness made him somewhat embarrassed.

Han Rui, understanding, pulled a piece of dried meat from his waist bag. The meat was neatly wrapped in animal skin and handed to Su He, “You’re hungry, eat this.”

Su He felt a bit awkward but couldn’t resist the dried meat’s temptation. With nothing valuable on him, he rummaged through his bag and found two apples from the previous day, pushing them towards Han Rui. “Here, have these.” During his time hiding from the sentinel, Su He survived mainly on his planting skills, growing plenty of apples quickly and conveniently.

Han Rui’s reaction surprised Su He. His eyes widened, and he quickly waved his hand, “No… I can’t take these, they’re too precious.”

Su He: “…”

Their valuation of apples was clearly different.

“It’s alright, eat it, I have more.”

Su He insisted warmly. Han Rui’s gaze couldn’t help but linger on the apple in Su He’s hand, swallowing subtly. After sensing Su He’s genuine intention, Han Rui carefully picked the smaller apple, holding it delicately.

“One is enough,” Han Rui said gratefully, “This could fetch a hundred credits on the black market and last a month if used sparingly.”

Su He focused on the term “black market.” “Is there a black market here?”

Han Rui nodded, “This is the largest settlement on Broken Star, and it has the biggest black market.”

Broken Star—Su He noted the new term, possibly the planet’s name. He quickly finished the dried meat and looked at Han Rui, “Can you take me to the black market?”

After a moment of hesitation, Han Rui nodded.

Su He’s knowledge of black markets came from his master, who often visited the largest underground market in Asia in Zhongjing. Although Su He never went along, his master occasionally shared some rules about the black market. In Su He’s mind, the black market was a place where anything could be bought. Despite knowing nothing about Broken Star, Su He hoped to learn more about this world and gather useful information from the black market.

Before heading to the black market, Han Rui took Su He back to the mud pit. Su He immediately realized Han Rui’s plan and frowned, “Do we have to do this?”

Han Rui expertly covered himself in mud, saying, “There are some strong sentinels in the black market. It’s better if they don’t notice us.”

Reluctantly, Su He mimicked Han Rui’s actions. Han Rui thought for a moment and smeared some mud on Su He’s face.

Su He: “…”

Han Rui stifled a laugh, “That sentinel’s spirit animal has seen you. It’s best to be cautious.”

Su He endured the smell, his attention caught by the term “spirit animal.” “Spirit animal? Is that the lynx?”

Han Rui nodded, “Sentinels and guides have spirit animals after awakening. Do you want to see mine?”

Before Su He could answer, a snow-white rabbit appeared in front of Han Rui. Like the lynx, it wasn’t a physical entity but a manifestation of mental power. Han Rui petted the rabbit, which nuzzled his hand obediently.

Su He felt he should show his spirit animal in return, but… “I don’t have a spirit animal.”

“That’s alright. You just awakened. Spirit animals often resemble their owners and take time to form.”

Su He wasn’t sure if he would have a spirit animal in his current situation, but it would be nice to have such a companion. As they chatted, both of them prepared themselves. Seeing Su He’s still gloomy face, Han Rui couldn’t help but laugh.

“We’re already quite fortunate. As wild guides, at least we have freedom. In other parts of the Federation, once a guide awakens, they must register with the government and are then assigned to live together and receive training and education. Once trained, the Federation will pair the guide with a suitable sentinel.”

“…,” Su He said, “Guides need to learn? Learn what?”

“Probably how to cooperate with sentinels and better enhance their abilities.”

Han Rui had lived on Broken Star since birth, and his knowledge of the outside world mostly came from his deceased parents. He didn’t know much about many things. However, he changed the subject, “It depends on how you view it.”

Broken Star, being a refuge for various criminals exiled from the Galactic Federation, was beyond the reach of Federation law. Without a government, there were no mandatory restrictions on guides, but in gaining freedom, guides also lost government protection.

On Broken Star, once a guide’s identity was discovered, there were only two outcomes: being forcibly bonded by a lone sentinel or being sold as goods. In the black market on Broken Star, wild guides were the most valuable commodity after the Galactic Treemen. Because of this, many guides chose to leave Broken Star by joining the Federation army as soon as they awakened.

Su He: “…”

He felt the malice of the universe again. “Will it be like this forever?” Su He indicated the mud on his face and body.

Han Rui, familiar with the terrain, jumped into a sewer entrance and looked up at Su He, who was about to jump down, saying, “The black market sells inhibitors, three thousand credits per dose, which lasts a month.”

Su He was shocked by the number and almost sprained his ankle. He quickly remembered Han Rui saying a hundred credits could last a month if spent frugally, which meant an inhibitor cost nearly three years’ worth of living expenses. Fortunately, the value of apples was not lost on him, and he calculated a new equation in his mind. Thirty apples = one inhibitor = one month of safe living. He subconsciously touched his backpack, which contained a small bag of seeds, his most important asset for the future.

Su He’s thoughts wandered, from the seeds to the inhibitor he consumed yesterday. But soon, he had no time for other thoughts as a torrent of dark, numb, despairing, and painful emotions surged towards him. This torrent violently struck the unprepared Su He, causing turmoil in his mental world. Su He’s face turned pale, and he stopped abruptly, bending over and holding onto a dark metal pipe.

“Su He…” Han Rui started to speak but quickly realized something was wrong. He immediately expanded his mental barrier to shield Su He.

The destructive storm in Su He’s mental world halted instantly, and he gratefully nodded at Han Rui. They had both forgotten that guides could sense the emotions of others. If it were just one person’s emotions, it would be manageable, but the emotions of thousands could overwhelm any guide.

Feeling a bit guilty, Han Rui shouldn’t have forgotten that Su He had only recently awakened and didn’t know how to establish a mental barrier. He carefully surrounded both himself and Su He with a mental barrier and asked with concern, “Do you still feel unwell?”

Su He shook his head. Han Rui softly said, “It’s all my fault. I should have taught you how to set up a mental barrier first.”

Su He didn’t blame Han Rui and took a deep breath, “Mental barrier?”

“Yes, it’s a way to use mental energy. Try to enter your mental world and mobilize the energy there. Imagine it building a wall around you. Inside, you’ll be safe, and it will protect your mental world from being overwhelmed and disturbed by external emotions.”

Han Rui, instructing another guide for the first time, tried to describe his understanding of the mental barrier as simply as possible. He didn’t expect Su He to create a mental barrier in one go, as mobilizing internal mental energy was the hardest step for guides. But Su He’s response surprised him. He quickly felt Su He’s mental world gently repelling his presence, expanding the range bit by bit.

“How did you do that?” Han Rui asked in astonishment.

“Maybe I’m just smart?”

Han Rui: “…”

Su He laughed. For other guides, mobilizing mental energy might be difficult, but Su He’s cultivation required intense mental discipline. From the first trace of mental energy, mastering its control was a daily practice. Now, with Han Rui’s guidance, it felt like a breakthrough, and he immediately grasped the technique for creating a mental barrier.

Han Rui was dazzled by Su He’s smile, regretting that he hadn’t smeared more mud on Su He’s face. Su He had a unique aura that didn’t fit with Broken Star. Even without his identity as a guide, Su He could easily attract unwanted attention from the local thugs.

Han Rui hesitated, then stammered, “You need to be careful. There aren’t many women on Broken Star, so…”

The implied meaning was clear. Su He deeply felt the universe’s overwhelming malice.

Embarrassed, Han Rui coughed and pulled Su He further into the pipes.

Su He had wondered where all the people on this planet had gone, but as he followed Han Rui through the long metal pipes, he began to understand. In his mind, he erected a solid mental barrier, shielding himself from the stench mixed with various strange smells. Despite the discomfort, Su He felt a strange sense of schadenfreude, thinking of the sentinels with their heightened senses.

The deeper they went, the more expansive the pipes became. After a turn, a bizarre underground world, like an extraordinary painting, unfolded before Su He.

“Wow.”

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