The Art of Clinging Like Dodder

Li Zhen is the most famous Guide in the Tower.

First, he's famous for his mental soothing. Though he's an ordinary B-rank Guide with an ordinary plant-type spirit companion, he can soothe S+ Sentinels across rank boundaries and even reduce their level of mental contamination.

Second, he's famous for his compatibility. Matches above 98% are rare in the Empire, and a compatibility rate over 95% is generally considered a good match. Li Zhen has a 100% compatibility rate with three Sentinels in the Empire.

Third, he's famous for his tragic circumstances. After bonding with a Sentinel, Li Zhen should have returned to domestic life. Instead, his husband died on the battlefield fighting the Zerg, forcing him to return to the Tower. He's the first Guide in the Tower's history to be "sent back."

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Li Zhen has never told anyone else that he can place mental suggestion marks on Sentinels, and the more times he guides a Sentinel, the stronger the suggestion becomes.

So, in pursuit of his little wish, Li Zhen cautiously places mental suggestions on the Sentinels who come to him for guidance.

At first, they're harmless little things: wanting to try food from outside the Tower, wanting to see the toys out there. But then his desires grow, and Li Zhen no longer wants to stay in the Tower. He wants to see the world outside.

Until one day, he tries the same trick again, only to be caught by the Sentinel whose compatibility with him is 100%. The other man's voice holds a hint of anger, yet is low and tender. "At a time like this, Zhenzhen, are you still going to use a mental suggestion on me again?"

Note: The receiver's spirit companion is a dodder vine.

Sentinel/Guide.

The receiver is not a virgin and has not been chaste.

Synopsis screenshotted on November 19, 2025.

Theme: I'm just a B-rank Guide, that's all