# 1387
Chapter 1388: The Youngest Commander
Night deepened.
Lin Qiye lay on the soft bed, staring at the ceiling above, lost in thought.
Today's training evaluation, although only an hour long, had left Lin Qiye and the others feeling unprecedented exhaustion... Therefore, after the [Virtual Reconstruction] ended, Li Kengqiang simply waved his hand and told them to return to their rooms and rest, with training resuming tomorrow.
But Lin Qiye lay on the bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep no matter what.
Whenever he closed his eyes, the image of the scarred Bai Ze and the helpless, bitter Tang Mingxuan would surface in his mind.
From others' accounts, Lin Qiye had learned that after he entered the Aurora Boundary, Bai Ze had returned to normal and went back to Huaihai City to prevent the flood from spreading—the ending was quite圆满 (satisfactory)... But this was merely Li Kengqiang's fictional recreation of events. What had actually happened in the real Huaihai City back then?
And what had happened to himself after he entered the Aurora Boundary?
He felt as though he had forgotten something extremely bizarre, but try as he might, he couldn't remember.
Lin Qiye lay on the bed for a long while before finally sighing and getting out of bed.
After stepping out of the air-raid shelter, he discovered Baili Pangpang, An Qingyu, and Jiang Er were also outside, gathered around a blazing bonfire, bustling about.
"Qiye? You're awake?" Baili Pangpang got up and pulled out a small folding stool, placing it beside him and gesturing for Lin Qiye to sit.
Lin Qiye looked around. "Where's Cao Yuan?"
"He went hunting in the woods." Baili Pangpang shrugged. "The commanders aren't providing us with meals, and I've only packed so many ingredients. We worked so hard today—surely we deserve some wild game for dinner?"
Lin Qiye sat down on the small stool, slightly taken aback.
"Wild game?"
Just as they were talking, Cao Yuan emerged from the dim forest, looking somewhat dejected.
Seeing Cao Yuan return empty-handed, Baili Pangpang exclaimed in surprise, "Old Cao, you're kidding me? You're a 'Klein' realm expert—couldn't even catch some wild game?"
"Klein" was after all "Klein"—even without using Forbidden Ruins, relying purely on speed and strength, catching wild game, let alone, would be effortless for Cao Yuan. Solo-killing a rhinoceros would be nothing... Cao Yuan returning empty-handed was something Baili Pangpang never anticipated.
"It's not a matter of whether I can catch anything." Cao Yuan shook his head. "I surveyed most of the island and didn't spot a single mouse... let alone wild game."
"None?"
"None indeed." Lin Qiye added from the side. "When I came ashore, I already scanned with my spiritual sense—this island has no wildlife, and even the nearby waters, within five kilometers, have no living creatures."
"Tsk... What kind of godforsaken place is this? Can't even find anything to eat."
Just as Baili Pangpang was grumbling, a voice drifted over from the distance:
"This is the Dragon's Eye of the Great Xia Dragon Veins—no wildlife can exist here, or they'd grow extraordinarily powerful under the nourishment of Great Xia's national fortune."
Lin Qiye and the others turned to see Li Kengqiang, dressed in a floral shirt, dragging a massive sea fish nearly two meters long, walking toward them unhurriedly.
Jiang Er stared. "Then what's this in your hand..."
"Oh~ This was fished from another sea area. Someone made a special trip just to bring it to you as a token of gratitude." Li Kengqiang placed the absurdly large fish on the ground, clicking his tongue in amazement. "I've never seen a fish this big in my life... You're really in for a treat!"
"A token of gratitude? From whom?" Lin Qiye asked, puzzled.
"That... is temporarily classified." Li Kengqiang replied with a mysterious smile.
An Qingyu took the fish, her blade light dancing as she swiftly dissected it, threading the pieces onto the barbecue grill to prepare dinner.
"Come on, Brother Gun, join us for dinner!" Baili Pangpang cheerfully handed over a small folding stool.
Li Kengqiang sat down naturally. "I'm now an Einherjar—even if I eat, I can only manage a little. Just a taste for me."
As An Qingyu placed the fish on the grill and added seasonings, a rich meaty aroma wafted through the dim clearing...
"Brother Gun... I have a question." Lin Qiye said after a moment's hesitation.
"You want to ask about the results of the Huaihai City disaster from back then?"
Li Kengqiang seemed to have already anticipated this question from Lin Qiye.
Lin Qiye nodded, and the other members of [Nightfall] Squad also perked up their ears.
Li Kengqiang fell silent for a moment, then sighed heavily. "Back then, by the time our squad discovered the disaster, it was already too late... Although we eliminated nearly all the Church of the Ancient Gods members in Huaihai City, Yuehuai, who had been embedded in Squad 007 for almost two years, still shattered all our plans.
Yuehuai contaminated Bai Ze completely with its violent blood, slaughtering the members of Squad 007 and single-handedly orchestrating the Huaihai City disaster."
Lin Qiye and the others exchanged glances. "Then how... did you finally resolve it?"
"Our squad sacrificed one life to drive Yuehuai away, then besieged the rampaging Bai Ze, gradually wearing down its strength. In the end, Squad 007's leader Tang Mingxuan took advantage of its weakened state... and killed it with his own hands."
A deathly silence filled the air. Li Kengqiang continued after a pause: "Long before Bai Ze gave birth, it had made an agreement with him—if it ultimately couldn't survive this ordeal, it wanted Tang Mingxuan to personally end its life before things escalated. After all, it was Great Xia's auspicious Divine Beast—if something major happened because of it, it wouldn't forgive itself. This would also serve as repayment for Captain Tang's life-saving grace... In the end, he did it.
After this incident, Tang Mingxuan was stripped of his Night Watch identity for concealing critical intelligence and nearly causing massive casualties, and was imprisoned in the Purification Chamber for the rest of his life.
Before he left, he entrusted the young Bai Ze and his weapon to me, hoping I would raise it..."
Everyone sat in silence for a long while. Jiang Er carefully asked,
"Then... where is the young Bai Ze now?"
Li Kengqiang smiled. "He? He's already dead."
Just as everyone felt a pang of sadness, Li Kengqiang continued, "However, in a couple of days, you should have a chance to see him. He's also on this island."
Lin Qiye and the others froze in place.
"He's on this island too?!"
"Naturally." Li Kengqiang said unhurriedly. "That kid is the youngest Night Watch Commander in history—a monster who can go toe-to-toe with a Chief God... You should have seen his photo at Shangjing headquarters. His name is Tang Yusheng."
The crackling fire burned in the darkness, and everyone's mouths hung open involuntarily, their eyes filled with shock!
"Holy sh*t?!"