They had never really discussed the matter of their physical differences, but after they settled into the new space, when Yu Yan looked up—having swallowed everything—and propped himself up to kiss You Fuzhou’s neck, he made his intentions clear with a subtle hint.
He kissed the patch of skin on the Sentinel that bore a slight color difference from years of wearing a suppressor, a flurry of thoughts racing through his mind. In the end, he whispered softly, “Is this okay?”
You Fuzhou had helped Yu Yan before. The Guide had taken his hand back then and taught him just what to do.
So he understood exactly what Yu Yan meant. He also knew that Yu Yan’s anatomy was different from his own—perhaps due to the influence of his mermaid bloodline or something else entirely. It was a bit like a shark’s.
And moreover…
When he had transformed into a mermaid… there had been two.
Even now, in human form, Yu Yan’s was impressively grand.
You Fuzhou didn’t refuse. Instead, he flicked the lion tail that had reappeared behind him due to spiritual materialization, wrapping it around Yu Yan’s waist.
The meaning was obvious—no words needed.
Yu Yan’s heart softened. He forced himself to hold back.
He had watched a proper instructional video, studied it carefully, and knew he had to prepare things first. Otherwise, he might hurt You Fuzhou.
A Sentinel’s regenerative abilities were extraordinarily powerful, of course, but there was no need to inflict unnecessary wounds. Better to avoid them altogether.
So he took it very slow.
Yu Yan lost track of how many times he had to curl his fingers past the sharp fangs that had become canine teeth before he finally withdrew his hand.
Three fingers gleamed under the orange-yellow light, and the air hung heavy with a damp, musky scent.
The “rain” began cool from the slick lubrication, but it soon heated up.
The fine, misty drizzle swelled into a raging downpour, battering against the windows.
A faint fragrance began to spread.
It was something like a subtle musk, but not cloying—refreshing instead, like the clean scent after a rinse. It evoked the depths of the ocean without any briny saltiness.
It was Yu Yan’s Guide Pheromone, leaking out uncontrollably.
You Fuzhou was drawn in by his Guide’s pheromones, pulled even deeper, ready to plunge into the abyss alongside Yu Yan.
…
You Fuzhou had warned Rong Yao in advance that he might be tied up for a few days and unable to check messages—or even be found with Yu Yan.
Whether Rong Yao guessed the reason or not, You Fuzhou didn’t dare dwell on it. In any case, she hadn’t asked.
He had researched the mating period of mermaids beforehand. But since Yu Yan had said he only had half-mermaid blood, making it somewhat different, You Fuzhou had let his guard down.
He hadn’t expected Yu Yan to be just like a full mermaid in this one regard.
It locked in place. Constantly.
The exaggeration was beyond belief.
Meals, baths, sleep… even brushing his teeth—You Fuzhou was held tightly in Yu Yan’s arms the entire time, unable to break free for even a moment.
To avoid the complications of soaking in a bath—which might trigger a full mermaid transformation—they had to settle for showers. That only made it more torturous.
Pinned against the wall, front and back assaulted countless times, You Fuzhou felt like his mind was never truly clear for a single second.
He especially struggled to accept doing it during meals. Yu Yan restrained himself from moving, sure, but it still felt utterly bizarre!
Personal care like brushing teeth and washing his face was manageable since Yu Yan handled it all for him without him needing to move much. But eating? No way.
In the end, You Fuzhou simply couldn’t stomach solid food and could only suck down nutrient fluid.
Yu Yan had claimed it usually ended after two or three days before. But not this time.
You Fuzhou spent a full eight days on nutrient fluid alone.
The two of them learned a valuable lesson: Yu Yan’s previous cycles had wrapped up early in two or three days due to his body’s protective mechanisms kicking in, as he had no partner and no sexual activity. But now, with a partner involved, it was entirely different.
If this hadn’t been Yu Yan’s first time “training” with one, it might have dragged on even longer.
By the time Yu Yan finally pulled away at last, You Fuzhou had collapsed into a deep, exhausted sleep—he hadn’t been able to rest properly at all before that.
The reason was that it didn’t just stay still once locked. Mermaid reproduction was notoriously difficult, so male anatomy featured periodic pulses during the mating phase even after knotting…
You Fuzhou would finally drift off in a hazy daze, forcing himself to ignore the odd sensations, only to be jolted awake by that terrifying surge.
And to keep the wide wooden bed clean, Yu Yan considerately carried him to the bathroom before releasing.
You Fuzhou’s barbs clung to both sides, and once freed, exhaustion overtook him completely. His ears and tail drooped as he nestled into Yu Yan’s neck hollow and passed out.
Just before sleep claimed him fully, in his muddled state, he felt the bloating pressure in his abdomen reach its peak before slowly ebbing away. Something mingled with the water and trickled out.
Yu Yan patiently cleaned him up thoroughly. It was so deep that he had to use tools.
He deliberately shielded You Fuzhou’s five senses, ensuring the Sentinel felt nothing and wouldn’t be disturbed in his sleep.
~~~
They had completed the permanent spiritual mark.
It happened because You Fuzhou kept waking up in delirious haze, unable to endure it any longer. So Yu Yan asked if he wanted the permanent mark.
Once established, the Guide could freely control the Sentinel’s spiritual world.
You Fuzhou would only see what Yu Yan allowed him to see, hear only what Yu Yan deemed fit.
Yu Yan could precisely manipulate his five senses. No more suppressors needed, no matter the distance between them.
Back when Sentinel-Guide bonds weren’t as warped as they were now, it was actually the Guides who held dominion.
There was an old joke: once a permanent bond formed, the Sentinel became little more than the Guide’s puppet. And if the Guide died afterward, the Sentinel’s spiritual world would shatter completely, leading to their demise.
But of course, the bond was mutual.
For a Guide, the death of their Sentinel would cause their spiritual core to collapse. The Sentinel’s mark would linger like venomous fangs or searing thorns—like an eternal flame burning within, tormenting them endlessly.
Some Guides even called it a death talisman, a reminder to follow their Sentinel into the void.
Thus, even as impatience flushed his skin with an unnatural pink hue, You Fuzhou still managed to ask in broken gasps, “Have you… thought this through?”
He worried more about the pain it would inflict on the Guide than about surrendering complete control afterward.
Sentinels couldn’t sense spiritual energy or enter their own spiritual worlds. For Guides, it was like someone searing an indelible brand directly into their brain… an excruciating process.
Yu Yan’s heart turned utterly to mush. His movements slowed. “…Pick a spot.”
His voice was hoarse as he locked eyes with the dazed Sentinel. Gently, he said, “Baby, choose a place on me that you like. Leave whatever mark you want.”
Many Sentinels preferred inscribing their name alongside their spiritual body’s image—like an official stamp declaring ownership of the Guide.
The most common spots Yu Yan had seen were the neck or over the heart. They hurt terribly—like getting a tattoo, but worse. Not just stinging, but burning.
He had heard Sentinels complain about the pain, noting how their partners often went feral in the moment, showing no mercy.
Yu Yan didn’t care.
You Fuzhou could mark him anywhere—even his face—and he wouldn’t mind.
In Yu Yan’s eyes, it wasn’t just the Sentinel marking the Guide; it was mutual. A glaring declaration to the world: this Sentinel belonged to him.
But after a moment’s hesitation, You Fuzhou pressed Yu Yan’s head to the side of his own neck. “If it hurts… just… bite me.”
Yu Yan chuckled lowly. “Alright.”
He began constructing the permanent mark. This was the one and only time a Sentinel could sense spiritual energy.
Amid Yu Yan’s gentle guidance, You Fuzhou’s soul aligned with his.
Then Yu Yan felt a scalding heat on his right ring finger. Stinging and burning radiated from his flesh. He couldn’t hold back entirely—instead of biting down harder, he surged forward with greater force and speed. You Fuzhou arched up with a jolt, the profound depths crackling like live wires in an explosion.
And the mark took hold.
When Yu Yan saw it, his heart melted so completely he was speechless.
It was You Fuzhou’s name, complete with a tiny white lion avatar, all formed into a perfect ring encircling his right ring finger—a beautiful “tattoo.”
From afar, it resembled an exquisitely designed ring, vivid and striking.
Yu Yan loved it.
He loved the You Fuzhou who hurt for his pain, who feared hurting him. He loved his pure-hearted, devoted Sentinel…
So once You Fuzhou came down from it all, Yu Yan shielded his senses and let him sleep soundly. He continued on his own.
Just like now.
~~~
When You Fuzhou finally emerged from the bedroom, it was already the third day after Yu Yan’s mating period had ended.
He couldn’t quite wrap his head around it. Everyone said Sentinels were the ones obsessed with this sort of thing, and he felt like he might be a bit too much himself—after all, even after Yu Yan helped him once or twice, he still craved more.
But Yu Yan was on another level entirely!
Or maybe it was just the heat cycle…
You Fuzhou fell silent.
The moment he pushed open the door, he savored the crisp freshness of the air inside the ship for the first time.
Mainly because Yu Yan had gone way too far.
Even with a Sentinel’s terrifying regenerative powers, You Fuzhou still felt like certain parts of him were… off.
There was still that lingering sensation. Eerily persistent.
As for just how excessive Yu Yan had been… You Fuzhou could only say he’d never imagined there could be so many variations on this kind of thing.
Especially since Yu Yan particularly loved having him call out to him during their intimate moments.
Call him “Yu Yan,” “A-Yan”… and he wasn’t allowed to stop. If he did, Yu Yan would torment him.
You Fuzhou and Yu Yan finally emerged. Thanks to Rong Yao’s prior warning, no one dared comment, though everyone noticed the mark on Yu Yan’s ring finger.
A Permanent Mark.
Rong Yao actually wanted to ask if You Fuzhou had decided so quickly, but before the words left her mouth, she reconsidered and asked instead, “Bro, have you two tested your Compatibility Rate?”
You Fuzhou unconsciously rubbed his muscles. Only he and Yu Yan knew how his exceptional flexibility had been twisted into all sorts of positions: “…No.”
You Fuzhou didn’t care much that anyone could match with Yu Yan. The real issue wasn’t the Compatibility Rate—it was Yu Yan’s feelings. “He’s an adaptive-type Guide.”
Rong Yao glanced thoughtfully at Yu Yan. “Mr. Yu, don’t you want to give it a try?”
Yu Yan chuckled lightly. “Either way’s fine.”
As he spoke, he dialed down You Fuzhou’s senses a touch, easing his discomfort.
In truth, You Fuzhou wasn’t truly uncomfortable. He just had this nagging sensation that something lingered, leaving him restless and unsure.
While reducing the acuity of You Fuzhou’s senses, Yu Yan also manipulated his Spiritual World, helping him forget the feeling. This prevented any more unconscious fidgeting that might draw eyes to that particular area.
Rong Yao had spotted it immediately, but after glancing at them and seeing Yu Yan calmly take You Fuzhou’s hand, interlocking their fingers, she held her tongue.
Still, Rong Yao realized something… Hmm, the dynamic between her brother and Mr. Yu was the opposite of what she’d expected.
Yu Yan turned to You Fuzhou. “Do you want to test it?”
You Fuzhou replied with the same nonchalance. “Either way.”
Then they would test it.
Knowing the exact number couldn’t hurt.
The testing equipment was lightning-fast these days. But since You Fuzhou and Yu Yan had formed their mental bond mark, You Fuzhou’s mental power was now fully under Yu Yan’s control—no more uncontrolled leaks unless Yu Yan released it.
The results came back in half an hour. In the meantime, You Fuzhou had Rong Yao test her own level as well.
The three of them waited in the lounge, where Rong Yao brought them up to speed on the past few days’ developments.
She had a no-nonsense personality, arranging everything efficiently and seamlessly coordinating with Yu Yan’s contacts.
“Mr. Yu is incredible.”
Rong Yao said with a light laugh. “The Yashe Empire is basically under control now.”
You Fuzhou: “…”
He couldn’t shake the feeling he’d just been subtly shaded.
—You Fuzhou, who hadn’t conquered an empire in three years, felt a pang of gloom.
Sentinels really weren’t cut out for this kind of work.
Yu Yan’s expression didn’t change. “I’ve been laying the groundwork for seven or eight years. Plus, I was born in the Yashe Empire, so I know it inside out. It’s like a precision strike.”
You Fuzhou: “Don’t bother making excuses for me.”
Yu Yan tilted his head, the picture of innocence. “I’m just telling the truth.”
Rong Yao watched them and smiled, everything clicking into place.
From childhood, You Fuzhou’s eyes would sparkle at anything handsome and powerful, utterly captivating his attention.
And Yu Yan was precisely that kind of captivating presence.
The test results for You Fuzhou and Yu Yan arrived around the same time as Rong Yao’s.
Rong Yao checked hers first.
Rong Yao: “!?”
She beamed at You Fuzhou and Yu Yan. “Bro! Mr. Yu! I might be an S-Class Guide—”
Her words trailed off as she noticed their stunned stares.
Puzzled, Rong Yao leaned in for a peek. ” ?!”
She gasped in shock. “You two…”
Adaptive-type Guides matched with any Sentinel at over 90%—but only just over 90%, never reaching 95% or higher. That was the nature of adaptive types.
No extremes.
But…
【Sample 1: You Fuzhou (S-Class Sentinel)
Sample 2: Yu Yan (S-Class Guide)
Confirmed Compatibility Rate: 100%】
100%!
Sentinels and Guides with perfect 100% compatibility were so rare, you could count them on one hand!
The higher the level, the harder the match!
And Yu Yan had half-Mermaid blood to boot… This was impossible.
Yet here it was.
You Fuzhou suddenly recalled Ye Songhua’s joking words from that day.
“But out of all those 90s, he’s the only one willing to make up that final 10% even heaven itself denied you.”
Whether Yu Yan had filled in that gap or not, it was a miracle.
And to You Fuzhou…
It was truly the Guide who had given him that 10% heaven hadn’t.
Yu Yan met the dazed gaze of You Fuzhou staring at him and let out a soft chuckle.
He said nothing, and yet it felt like he’d said it all.
“Looks like we’re a match made in heaven.”
~~~
