# 1394
Chapter 1395: Deep in the Island
Yue Huai refused to believe it. He lowered his head and studied the map carefully again, shaking his head.
"It can't be wrong. Within this sea area, there's only this one island. It must be the Dragon's Eye of Great Xia's national fortune!"
"...Do Great Xia's guardians of national fortune usually eat people?"
Yue Huai didn't answer. His eyes narrowed slightly, a dark gleam flickering within his green pupils as he stared intently at the figure continuously adding firewood beneath the large vat. When that figure turned around, Yue Huai was stunned.
"Li Kengqiang?!"
Yue Huai recognized Li Kengqiang. Forty-something years ago, they had clashed several times.
But didn't Li Kengqiang become Commander-in-Chief of the Night Watch and then die in battle? How could he appear here...
Could it have been a feigned death?
"Li Kengqiang is here... This place is definitely not simple!" Yue Huai said with certainty. "Those in the vats should be junior Night Watch members. He's using some method to regulate their bodies, combined with the natural overflow of Great Xia's national fortune to cleanse them. It should be extremely beneficial for them. Without accident, this is a special training session for top-tier Night Watch members."
"Then should we..."
"Don't act rashly. Continue observing."
One Li Kengqiang was certainly not enough to guard Great Xia's national fortune. There must be other powerful figures on this island.
"...Understood."
...
On the Island.
Two hours later.
The flames gradually died down. Lin Qiye and the others stepped out of the vats, got dressed, and the ghost Jiang Er bashfully floated out from the coffin, following behind them.
"Taking that bath really does make you feel refreshed." Cao Yuan stretched his limbs and couldn't help but exclaim.
"Brother Gun, how do we train next?" Lin Qiye took the initiative to ask.
It had been half a day since they were beaten by Tang Yusheng. According to what Li Kengqiang had said, besides potential training, preparing for the "Heart's Gate" was also part of the training. Lin Qiye and the others had soaked in the medicinal solution for several hours, and their bodies had recovered to their optimal state, full of energy, ready to begin even more grueling training.
"Not so fast, not so fast."
Li Kengqiang said leisurely, taking out two decks of playing cards from his bosom and sitting down on the spot.
"Three-card poker, everyone know how to play?"
Lin Qiye and the others were stunned.
"I know how..."
"Come, come, let's play a few rounds." Li Kengqiang's fingers shuffled the cards rapidly as he grinned.
"But Brother Gun, don't we need to continue training?" Baili Pangpang eyed the flipping cards, feeling a bit itchy to play, but still asked.
"This IS your training for today." Li Kengqiang said matter-of-factly.
"Training? Playing three-card poker?" Lin Qiye's eyes widened as he repeated.
"...If you don't want to play cards, we can play mahjong instead."
"..."
Looking at the puzzled gazes of everyone, Li Kengqiang sighed:
"Did you think the preparation training for the 'Heart's Gate' should be? Tormenting you until you're half-dead like this morning?"
Cao Yuan stared at the playing cards on the ground. After hesitating for a moment, he still said: "I thought you would have a special method..."
"I told you before, breaking through the 'Heart's Gate' requires fate. Before that fate arrives, all we can do is adjust our mindset... In short, it's not that simple." Li Kengqiang waved his hand. Seeing that Lin Qiye and the others still seemed hesitant, the smile on his face gradually faded.
He set down the cards in his hand, his gaze sweeping across everyone, and spoke calmly, "Of course, if you insist on breaking through the 'Heart's Gate' by the fastest method, there's also a way."
"What way?"
"From now on, pick up your weapons and slaughter each other... until only one remains." Li Kengqiang's tone was extremely calm. "Personally killing your brothers who have survived life and death together—this extreme pain and despair can greatly increase your chances of breaking through the 'Heart's Gate.'
If you don't think you can kill the other person, you can try another way.
Leave this island and find the person closest to you—lover, child, parents, siblings... anyone is fine. Kill them, and maybe you can break through the 'Heart's Gate.'
No fate? Create your own fate... But I should warn you, doing this doesn't guarantee you'll break through the 'Heart's Gate,' because the moment you make that decision, your heart is already prepared to bear all the consequences. The more prepared you are, the more unlikely the breakthrough becomes...
Back then, Yiyu, to break through the 'Heart's Gate,' personally killed his entire family, but in the end, he still couldn't cross that threshold.
Do you... want to try?"
When Li Kengqiang's words fell, the air fell into dead silence.
Under this oppressive atmosphere, Lin Qiye and the others exchanged glances and couldn't help but swallow hard:
"Actually... playing three-card poker isn't bad either."
"Yeah, yeah, hahaha... Do we play for money? How much?"
"A yuan is fine, just for fun."
"..."
Seeing Lin Qiye and the others乖乖 sit down, Li Kengqiang's smile returned to his face,
"That's the right attitude... The more you focus on the 'Heart's Gate,' the harder it becomes to break through. Calming your mindset is the best choice."
As cards were dealt one by one from Li Kengqiang's hands, the atmosphere on the open ground gradually heated up.
...
Deep in the Island.
The rushing current of national fortune illuminated the dark underground cave in golden light. A figure sat cross-legged in the center of the current, as immovable as a boulder.
Gongyang Wan, dressed in court attire, slowly walked from the end of the cave and respectfully bowed to the figure sitting in the center of the national fortune current:
"Marquis."
Huo Qubing, sitting within the national fortune current, opened his eyes and spoke calmly: "Gongyang, how are things with the Night Watch?"
"Li Kengqiang used breaking through the 'Heart's Gate' as training as an excuse to keep them on the island, but they still have doubts. How long we can keep this secret is uncertain."
"They're all clever people. It's fine for now, but after some time, they'll definitely realize something is off." Huo Qubing paused. "Have Li Kengqiang and the others... delay as much as possible."
Gongyang Wan was silent for a moment, then still said: "Marquis, I don't understand. Why must we keep them on this island?"
In the national fortune current, Huo Qubing slightly shook his head:
"This is the will of the Heavenly Lord."
Gongyang Wan's lips parted slightly, as if somewhat surprised. She nodded and didn't say more.
"By the way." Huo Qubing spoke again, "Someone is watching this island."
Hearing this, Gongyang Wan's brow furrowed. "Someone has designs on the national fortune? Why didn't we notice?"
"The other party came prepared. They're not only extremely skilled at concealment, but are also hiding in the sea area over a hundred li away. They haven't approached at all. They have some method to directly see what's happening on the island." Huo Qubing said calmly. "They think this way they can probe our true strength... Since that's the case, let's play along with them."