First Interstellar Guide Chapter 99: Xie Ran

Chapter 99: Xie Ran

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

After the commendation ceremony, Yu Ran, along with his aunt and grandfather, arrived at the South Mountain Cemetery in the capital star with flowers. He had regained Xie Ran’s identity and could finally openly commemorate his parents at the Martyrs Cemetery. This was also the first time he stood before their gravestones since their passing.

Looking at the images of Qin Luo and Xie Xi on the gravestone, Xie Ran felt a wave of bitterness in his heart. He placed the flowers in front of the gravestone, deeply bowed to both of them, choked up and said, “Dad, Mom, I have avenged you… Rest in peace.” 

This sentence, he had truly waited for too many years.

Xie Chen looked at him with great heartache. She softly said to the gravestone, “Sister, Brother-in-law, Ranran has suffered a lot over these years, but fortunately, everything has been resolved now. He has regained Xie Ran’s identity, received the special commendation, and even became a lieutenant general… Your son is truly outstanding. Please rest assured, I will take good care of him in the future.”

Tears welled up in Qin Xiao’s eyes. He gently patted Xie Ran’s shoulder and said, “Your parents’ spirits in heaven must be very pleased.”

Xie Ran stood in front of his parents’ gravestone for a long time before finally turning away. The Dark Night Organization had been completely eradicated, and he believed that his parents’ spirits in heaven could finally rest.

***

On August 25th, the Federal Congress convened another plenary session. President Harrison proposed the abolition of the federal interstellar expansion policy that had been in place for two hundred years, suggesting the establishment of a special diplomatic corps led by guides to visit various star domains and engage in mental conversations with galactic creatures.

This proposal faced significant opposition from many conservatives, but it also garnered considerable support. Not long ago, a terrifying tentacle monster almost occupied the capital star, making humans puppets. Over the years, humans had also killed many galactic creatures, which would eventually lead to repercussions. Besides, humans already had enough resource-rich planets under their control; there was no need for further brutal expansion.

After a whole day of debate, President Harrison’s proposal was eventually passed with a 70% approval rate. The first Federal Diplomatic Corps was officially established. This corps was named the Spirit Fox Corps, with Major General Xie Ran, known as the Nine-Tailed Fox and White Fox, serving as its first corps commander.

Xie Ran received the emblem of the Spirit Fox Corps from the marshal and gave a standard military salute. In the 500th year of the star calendar, the Federal established its fifth special guide corps, the Spirit Fox Corps. Xie Ran also became the first interstellar diplomat in human history.

On the night of August 26th, the Presidential Palace suddenly welcomed two guests, General Xie Ran, the commander of the Spirit Fox Corps, and General Lu Zexuan, the current commander of the Eagle Corps. Upon hearing that the two had come to visit, President Harrison immediately sent someone to receive them.

Inside the secret meeting room of the Presidential Palace, Harrison invited the two to sit down, served tea, and then asked, “Generals, what urgent matter brings you here so late?”

Xie Ran said seriously, “Your Excellency President, our visit this time is not official business but a personal matter we’d like to ask for your help with.”

Harrison was taken aback, “A personal matter?”

Lu Zexuan continued, “Yes. I have an elder brother who was persecuted by the Dark Night Organization. He suddenly went berserk during a battle and eventually mutated into a half-human, half-hawk form. He was imprisoned in an experimental base by Morvi for six years. Last time, when I and Ranran went to Base B73, we rescued him and hid him on the Red Spider, temporarily taken care of by Mohr.”

Xie Ran added, “I’ve checked his mental landscape; it’s completely shattered. I’m powerless alone, but I thought, if two S+ treatment guides worked together, could there be a glimmer of hope to save him?”

Harrison quickly understood, “You’re talking about Major General Lu Cheng’an, right?”

The two nodded. Lu Zexuan said in a deep voice, “I know Your Excellency President has been extremely busy lately, so we haven’t dared to disturb you. This time, we’re seeking your help out of selfishness, hoping you can lend a hand in saving my cousin’s life.”

Currently, there were only three S+ mental energy guides in the Federal. Qin Xiao was an offensive guide, Xie Ran specialized in both offense and treatment, and President Harrison was a healer. After discussing with Xie Ran, Lu Zexuan decided to seek the President’s help.

Whether the President would lend a hand, they weren’t sure. But there was still a glimmer of hope, and they couldn’t give up.

After hearing them out, Harrison said without hesitation, “Alright, I’ll go with you.”

The two looked at each other in surprise.

Harrison continued, “Major General Lu Cheng’an is also an outstanding Federal soldier. Although there has never been a precedent for curing a mutated S-level sentinel, there has also never been a precedent of two S+ treatment guides working together… Since you believe there’s hope, let’s give it a try.”

Lu Zexuan stood up excitedly and bowed to the President, “Thank you!”

Harrison smiled, “Without you two, I wouldn’t be able to return to the capital star alive. Morally and ethically, I should do my best to help you. You decide on the timing, inform me in advance, and I’ll arrange the schedule.”

***

At the end of August, Xie Ran, Lu Zexuan, and President Harrison took a few days off and secretly traveled to the Red Spider Planet. Zhu Tianyi, who had been promoted to Director of the National Security Bureau, accompanied them to ensure the President’s safety. The Red Spider Planet still looked the same as they remembered. As soon as they landed, the little spiders started buzzing incessantly.

[“Someone’s fallen again!”]

[“This time it seems to be Ranran?”]

[“Ranran, we missed you so much, please tell Mother!”]

Xie Ran smiled and looked towards the depths of the red mist, extending his mental tendrils towards the queen. “Queen, long time no see.”

The queen’s gentle voice came through, “Ranran, you seem to be in good spirits. Is everything resolved?”

Xie Ran replied, “Everything’s resolved, thanks to your help.”

Zhu Tianyi’s black spider voluntarily ran into the depths of the red mist to play with the queen. Ever since the queen praised it as “cute” last time, this black spider had become the queen’s loyal fan.

Xie Ran didn’t disturb the queen further, saying, “We’ve come to rescue someone.”

The spider queen asked, “The one hidden in the cave? Your guide has been taking care of him.”

Following the queen’s guidance, Xie Ran and his group arrived at the cave and indeed found Mohr feeding Lu Cheng’an, who had mutated. Mohr, wearing glasses, had a gentle expression, softly coaxing, “Take a bite? These fruits are delicious. Although you’re not human now, won’t you get hungry if you don’t eat?”

The monster with a human head and hawk body stared expressionlessly at Mohr. Mohr tried to peel the fruit and feed it to him. After staring at the fruit for a while, he actually… ate it. The group watched this miraculous scene, exchanging glances. Could the mutated creature still retain a hint of consciousness?

Sensing footsteps behind him, Mohr turned around and saw Xie Ran and Lu Zexuan. He excitedly approached them, “Your Excellency President, Director Zhu, RanRan, Zexuan… Why have you come? Is there still hope for him?”

President Harrison looked at the mutated creature in the cave, his voice hoarse, “Perhaps, there’s still a chance to save him.”

Mohr’s heart trembled, quickly making way, “Thank you! Try it quickly, I also think there’s hope for him!”

Xie Ran and Harrison exchanged a glance and simultaneously extended their mental tendrils.

Both of them were forest-type healing guides. Xie Ran’s green vines spread across the arid grassland while President Harrison repaired the shattered sky. The two S+ treatment guides worked together, rapidly repairing the collapsed mental landscape. The cracked ground became smooth and moist, and the broken sky was pieced together, revealing pure white clouds.

Lu Zexuan connected mentally with Xie Ran, sensing that his cousin might regain consciousness. He urgently called the White Eagle to the familiar wasteland, softly coaxing, “Brother, wake up quickly. Many people care about you and are waiting for you to wake up.”

Mohr couldn’t intervene and was sweating profusely on the side. Zhu Tianyi glanced at him and whispered, “I’ve interrogated some sentinels in the Investigation Division before. Perhaps there are some secrets hidden in their subconscious that others cannot reach. Why don’t you try?”

Mohr took a deep breath and reluctantly connected with Lu Cheng’an’s brain with white mental tendrils. A cute little deer appeared in the wasteland.

Trembling, Mohr called out, “Lu Cheng’an, it’s Mohr, do you remember me?”

In the depths of the wasteland, something seemed to suddenly stir. Xie Ran and Harrison caught this subtle change and immediately directed their tendrils into the depths of the earth—indeed, they discovered a sealed memory bubble buried deep within Lu Cheng’an’s heart. It was a secret hidden in Lu Cheng’an’s heart before his mutation, something he hadn’t had a chance to say out loud.

As this secret was unearthed, countless memory bubbles reappeared in Lu Cheng’an’s mental world. The center of the previously desolate wasteland suddenly sprouted a green shoot, rapidly spreading across the entire wasteland, which unexpectedly burst back into life.

Mohr watched this scene, eyes widened in disbelief. Lu Cheng’an might really be saved!

Xie Ran and Harrison worked together in healing for three days and three nights before Lu Cheng’an’s vast mental landscape was finally repaired. On the endless grassland, the grass had just sprouted, and the vast sky was bathed in golden sunlight.

A golden eagle reappeared in the sky above the grassland. It looked a bit weak, and its size had also shrunk a lot. However, watching it struggle to fly in the sky, Lu Zexuan and Mohr couldn’t help but shed tears. The spirit body returned to the vast grassland, and Lu Cheng’an regained consciousness! 

Unfortunately, he had been mutated for too long, and the consciousness he regained was very weak. He fell into a coma, and everyone brought him back to the capital star for treatment.

Time passed quickly and a month later, Lu Cheng’an’s body finally returned to its original state, and his mental state had also improved significantly. On a sunny day, he took Lu Zexuan to the capital star’s cemetery, looked at his own tombstone, and said, “Zexuan, have you been feeling guilty all these years?”

Lu Zexuan lowered his head and said softly, “Yes, I’ve always dreamed of you being submerged by monsters while trying to save me, waking up from nightmares.”

Lu Cheng’an smiled and patted his shoulder. “I’m your brother. It’s a normal choice to save you when you’re in danger. If it were me in danger, you would definitely risk your life to save me. So, between us brothers, there’s no need for polite words. Let’s forget about the past.”

Lu Zexuan turned around and hugged his older brother tightly. “Okay.”

After a moment, Lu Cheng’an suddenly looked at the tombstone and commented, “The picture you chose for me is quite ordinary. Let’s change it to a more handsome one later. When I really die in the future, bury me here.” He pointed to the empty space next to him. “Do you want to be buried next to me? It’s not a bad idea to choose the location of the tombstone in advance. Haha.”

Lu Zexuan was speechless. His carefree older brother hadn’t changed at all!

After becoming the first commander of the Spirit Fox Legion, Xie Ran’s work became extremely busy. Humanity took the first step in “interstellar diplomacy.” As the leader of the first interstellar diplomatic team, he had to figure out new rules, decide the order of visits to planets, and allocate tasks.

Knowing that he was the first SS-class guide and had killed the leader of the galactic creatures during the great war, many guide students in the capital star became fans of Xie Ran. The number of applicants to the Spirit Fox Legion was countless, and Xie Ran was almost overwhelmed just by looking at the applications.

His aunt brought him back to the Xie family to live together. Lu Zexuan couldn’t see him every day like before and felt a bit unhappy. “I suddenly miss the time when we were undercover together. I was your puppet, and we could be together every day.”

Listening to his complaints, Xie Ran softened a bit and said in his mind, “Although we can’t meet, we haven’t released our mental bond. In the mental world, you can still sense me anytime.”

Lu Zexuan said, “The mental world doesn’t count as meeting. How about this, you take a day off next Saturday, and we’ll go out for a meal, okay?”

Xie Ran thought for a moment and apologized, “I have a meeting scheduled with several guides on Saturday.”

Lu Zexuan asked, “Until what time?”

Xie Ran said, “Before dinner, it should be over.”

Lu Zexuan said, “Okay, I’ll come to pick you up.”

On Saturday, Lu Zexuan put on a neat military uniform and drove to where Xie Ran worked to pick him up. Xie Ran thought the meeting would end before dinner, but unexpectedly, the discussion dragged on until eight o’clock in the evening.

When Xie Ran hurriedly arrived at the lobby, he saw Lu Zexuan sitting there patiently waiting for him. He walked up quickly and said, “Have you been waiting for a long time? I’m sorry for being late. I’ll treat you tonight.”

Lu Zexuan smiled slightly, took his hand, and said, “It’s okay. I’m willing to wait for you no matter how long it takes. Let’s go, I’ve arranged the place for dinner.”

The two got on the hovercar, Lu Zexuan set the navigation, and the car finally stopped at the aerial parking lot of the Hoggart Grand Hotel. This was the most luxurious hotel in the federation, shaped like a towering tree. The most famous feature of this hotel was that the annual capital star graduate exchange dance party was held here.

Looking at the bubble-like boxes floating in the air, Xie Ran couldn’t help but ask, “Why are we here again?”

Lu Zexuan looked at him and said, “This is where we had our first date.”

Xie Ran chuckled, “That didn’t count as a date, right? Back then, you suspected my background and deliberately brought me here to test me.”

Lu Zexuan cleared his throat, held his hand, and walked towards the top-floor aerial restaurant of the hotel.

——It had been arranged like the scene of the capital star graduate exchange ball, with the dining table removed and a huge dance floor in the middle, surrounded by flowers and delicacies, which was very similar to the scene of the dance party six years ago. Back then, they had brushed past each other at the dance party.

Now, returning here again, Xie Ran felt like he was in a dream of his student days.

Every year at the Capital Star’s graduation ball, Sentinels and Guides, if they encounter someone they fancy, can take the initiative to invite them to dance, pursue them, and develop romantic relationships. That year, Lu Zexuan missed out on 19-year-old Xie Ran at the graduation ball.

Now, Lu Zexuan would never miss his destined Guide again. His gaze was deep as he looked tenderly into Xie Ran’s eyes, awaiting his response. Xie Ran’s heart trembled, and he gently reached out his hand, placing it in Lu Zexuan’s broad palm, saying, “I am honored.”

Lu Zexuan led him to dance on the dance floor, just like those adoring Sentinels and Guides at the graduation ball years ago. They finally made up for the years of delay with this dance.

The difference was, this time there was no disturbance from any outsiders on the dance floor. This romantic aerial dance scene belonged only to the two of them. Xie Ran’s eyes met Lu Zexuan’s, and his heartbeat accelerated.

If Lu Zexuan had asked him to dance at the university graduation ball, he would have surely refused. So, it wasn’t really a missed opportunity between them; rather, after years of maturing, they reunited at another time, giving their relationship a new definition. They had experienced so many trials and tribulations together, deepening their trust and reliance on each other. Even though their mission was complete, neither of them mentioned “mental unbinding” — their mental connection had become an indispensable part of their lives.

White Eagle was used to flying freely in the forest, and the two foxes were used to having this bird’s company. If they were to part ways, they would feel reluctant.

Soft music filled the air as they enjoyed this rare moment of warmth together. After one dance ended, Lu Zexuan suddenly knelt in front of Xie Ran, taking out a ring from his pocket.

Xie Ran was speechless. He was proposing here? This guy must have arranged everything while he was asleep. As Xie Ran regained his senses, he blushed slightly, feeling embarrassed, “I’m already mentally linked to you. Do you still need to ask?”

Lu Zexuan replied, “I want to hear it from your own lips.”

Xie Ran decisively took the ring and put it on his finger, saying, “I do.”

Seeing his resolute and handsome gesture, Lu Zexuan couldn’t help but stand up, pulling him into his arms and kissing him deeply.

Now, Xie Ran was dressed in a brand-new uniform of the Spirit Fox Corps, looking incredibly handsome. Lu Zexuan’s kiss was possessive, making Xie Ran’s body go weak, yet he refused to give in and kissed back.

On the rooftop dance floor of the hotel, the two young generals kissed each other passionately. Time had left many scars on them, but it also made them wiser and more steady. There were no misunderstandings or betrayals in their relationship, only mutual trust and support through thick and thin.

—”Your life’s safety, I’ll guard it.”

—”Your mental world, I’ll guide you.”

Sentinels and Guides were always an inseparable pair. Now that they were mentally connected, they would face all difficulties together and share all joys. Meeting each other was the best gift from heaven.