# 1406
Chapter 1407: Urgent Report from the Frontline
As he slowly exhaled, the hand resting on the armrest suddenly clenched tight!
Blue veins bulged from Zuo Qing's arm, spreading to his chest, neck, and cheeks... His entire body was tensed, his brow furrowed tightly, and endless excruciating pain surged from the depths of his soul. His face, tilted back on the chair, was contorted in agony.
Large beads of sweat dripped down his cheeks, gradually forming a wet stain on the old floor. Even so, Zuo Qing bit down hard, refusing to make a single sound—only his rapid, heavy breathing echoed through the office.
In the compartment behind the office, Jiang Ziya, about to place a piece on the chessboard, suddenly paused with his fingertips suspended in mid-air.
Jiang Ziya let out a long sigh.
He pinched the chess piece between his fingers and steadily placed it on a spot on the board. At this moment, the black and white pieces had already occupied the board in an intricate pattern, each claiming half the territory.
Time passed second by second. Approximately half an hour later, the heavy breathing finally stabilized.
Zuo Qing lay slumped in the chair like mud, his face pale, his expression beyond exhausted. He rested in the chair for several minutes before trembling to reach out and grab the teacup at the corner of the desk.
He took a deep breath and brought the cup to his cracked lips, only to discover it had long been dry, with only a few scattered tea leaves lying at the bottom.
He sighed helplessly and was about to rise when a figure slowly approached his side.
Jiang Ziya carried a steaming hot teapot, took the cup from Zuo Qing's hand, and poured scalding water over the tea leaves at the bottom, releasing a refreshing fragrance.
"Thank you." Zuo Qing forced a bitter smile.
Jiang Ziya handed the cup to Zuo Qing, his expression somewhat complicated:
"Now that the Heavenly Court gods have returned, Great Xia is protected by us. Why must you torment yourself like this..."
"It's different, Lord." Zuo Qing took a small sip of tea and shook his head. "Having the Great Xia gods protect Great Xia is certainly a great thing, but if we place all our hopes on you, what difference would we be from livestock being raised for slaughter?
Commander Ye Fan once said that human strength can overcome heaven. Without his cultivation and efforts, Great Xia wouldn't have so many Human Apex today, nor would there have been Zhou Ping... If we, just because the Great Xia gods have returned, even I as Commander-in-Chief start to become lazy and slack, then we would be destroying the foundation that the Night Watch has built over the past hundred years in one go."
Jiang Ziya stroked his long beard, and a look of admiration appeared in his eyes as he looked at Zuo Qing.
"Alas, Ye Fan had already fallen when we returned. Otherwise, I would have truly liked to meet him."
Just as the two were speaking, urgent knocking came at the door.
Zuo Qing wiped the sweat from his face with a tissue, straightened his haggard appearance, and then spoke:
"Come in."
The office door opened, and a Night Watch member rushed in clutching a report.
"Commander Zuo, urgent report from the frontline!"
Upon hearing the words "urgent report from the frontline," Zuo Qing's expression changed. He quickly took the report and read it carefully.
"Temple of the Gods?!"
His pupils contracted sharply!!
---
Island.
"I wonder what nonsense the Gun Bro is going to pull today for the 'Mind's Gate' training."
The group walked out of the medicinal bath, got dressed, and Cao Yuan shrugged as he spoke.
"Nonsense? I thought it was quite interesting." Baili Pangpang raised an eyebrow.
"Interesting is interesting, but we've been doing this for over half a month now." Cao Yuan's expression was somewhat peculiar. "Every day we just get beaten up, and we don't know what to do with the rest of our time... One or two days is fine, but after a while, I always feel empty inside."
"Actually, I feel the same way too." An Qingyu nodded.
Lin Qiye opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but ultimately sighed helplessly.
Although he also felt that this past half-month had been somewhat absurd, after all, this was training arranged by the Night Watch Commanders. As the captain of the [Nightfall] squad, setting a bad example by leading the pace wouldn't be appropriate.
Just as the group was chatting, Li Kengqiang's figure unhurriedly walked out from the depths of the forest.
"How are you little ones, rested enough?" Li Kengqiang pushed his sunglasses down slightly, his gaze sweeping over everyone, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
"...Rested enough."
"Good, today's training is going to be a bit strenuous."
Upon hearing these words, a glimmer appeared in everyone's eyes. Could it be that after half a month of fooling around, they would finally get a proper "Mind's Gate" training?
In the group's expectant gazes, Li Kengqiang turned around and pulled out several swimsuits, stuffing them into Lin Qiye and the others' arms, then solemnly announced:
"Today's training is called the 'Everyone's Dog-Paddle Swimming Race—Slowest Wins'!"
Everyone: ...
"The rules are as follows: everyone puts on swimsuits, and without using any Forbidden Ruins, starting from the beach, everyone dog-paddles to race. Whoever swims the shortest distance within the time limit wins!" Li Kengqiang said excitedly,
"See? Isn't this training interesting too?!"
"...Gun Bro, can we do something meaningful?" Cao Yuan's mouth twitched uncontrollably. After a moment, he couldn't help but speak.
"Meaningful? This IS your meaningful work!" Li Kengqiang raised an eyebrow and turned to walk toward the coastline. "Hurry up and follow me. Whoever arrives last will have to swim two more laps in the sea."
"..."
With resigned sighs, everyone reluctantly walked to the Island's beach, changed into swimsuits, and at Li Kengqiang's passionate whistle, dove into the water.
"Seven Nights, why do you think the Commanders are doing this? I always feel something's not right..." Cao Yuan splashed through the water while frowning.
"Indeed, something's not right." Lin Qiye glanced back at Li Kengqiang on the shore and truthfully replied, "Even if this ridiculous training is just Gun Bro being bored to death, how could Commander Nie Jinshan, or even General Huo Qubing at the bottom of the Island, be so bored?
They clearly know we're doing this ridiculous stuff every day. Why hasn't anyone stepped in to stop it?"
"Right... Fatty, what do you think?"
"...Fatty?"
Everyone turned around, only to find Baili Pangpang's figure had vanished. All that remained was bubbling froth rolling up from beneath the water's surface.
Lin Qiye was stunned and quickly dove into the sea, fishing out the sinking Baili Pangpang. The latter slumped over Lin Qiye's shoulder, coughing violently.
"Dammit... Swimming is the one thing this young master is worst at."
"Let's just swim a symbolic couple laps and head back."
"Alright." Baili Pangpang nodded, about to say more when his gaze caught the distant sea surface and froze.
"Someone's coming?"
"Someone? What kind of person?"
"Another enemy attack?!"
In the group's alert gazes, Baili Pangpang extended his hand and pointed toward the end of the horizon.
A figure in a Taoist robe was walking across the waves, slowly making their way here.
"Don't panic, just a Heavenly Lord." Baili Pangpang said coolly.