# 1415
Chapter 1416: Interrogation in the Forest
In the midst of countless buzzing sounds, Zuo Qing's voice came through intermittently. No matter how hard everyone tried to make out the words, they could only barely catch fragments like "Vishnu" and "Wang Mian."
With a thunderous explosion echoing through the line, the call was abruptly cut off, leaving only static buzzing in their ears.
The crowd gathered around the coffin, all frozen in place.
"That was... Commander Zuo's voice just now, right?"
"Correct, but what were those background sounds? Where is Commander Zuo?"
"Did you hear that? He seems to have shouted 'Vishnu'..."
The group exchanged glances, their expressions immediately turning grave.
Although the total connection time was no more than five or six seconds, from the sounds coming through the phone, Zuo Qing was definitely in trouble!
"I'll go find Brother Kengqiang!" Lin Qiye said without hesitation, immediately standing up and rushing into the depths of the Island.
Baili Pangpang watched Lin Qiye's departing figure and let out a long sigh...
Deep in the forest.
"Brother Kengqiang?" Lin Qiye穿梭在高耸的密林之间，不断呼唤着李铿锵。
"啧，年轻人不要这么急躁，有什么事慢慢说。"
"Brother Kengqiang, it seems like Commander Zuo is in trouble." Lin Qiye spoke solemnly.
"Hmm?" Li Kengqiang raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"
Lin Qiye quickly recounted the situation after the phone call connected. Li Kengqiang pushed up his sunglasses and pondered for a moment.
"You mean, after you got through, you heard some explosions and beast roars, and heard Zuo Qing say 'Vishnu'?"
"Correct."
"And so what?" Li Kengqiang asked rhetorically.
Lin Qiye froze, "So..."
"Zuo Qing is a Human Apex, so naturally he should bear the responsibility of being the ceiling and personally participate in some battles. Isn't that normal? As for 'Vishnu'... he only mentioned a name. Why be so tense?
Even if we consider the worst-case scenario, that Vishnu actually came, this is Great Xia, the Heavenly Lord will naturally intervene."
In Li Kengqiang's casual tone, Lin Qiye stood frozen.
He shook his head and quickly said, "No... this matter definitely isn't that simple.
Commander Zuo is indeed a Human Apex, but he is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Great Xia Night Watch. Unless the situation had become so critical that he had no choice but to act, why would he leave Shangjing headquarters and put himself in danger?
His appearance on the battlefield, with Wang Mian also there, means something must have gone wrong in Great Xia!"
Lin Qiye took a deep breath and spoke solemnly, "Brother Kengqiang, we really cannot continue wasting time here. We must leave this island!"
"Why must Zuo Qing and Wang Mian acting together necessarily mean something went wrong in Great Xia? Perhaps they were in the mist, or maybe they went to India." Li Kengqiang continued to deny. "Besides, the signals in this area have been disrupted by national fortune (fate), so communication with the outside world is impossible in the first place. You强行 connecting to a signal might have just connected to the wrong place."
Lin Qiye frowned, about to continue arguing, when he suddenly realized something. He closed his mouth, his expression grave for the first time.
"Brother Kengqiang... why don't you want us to leave?"
"I told you, before the 'Mind Gate' training satisfies me, you cannot leave." Li Kengqiang lay back down on the boulder and said calmly.
Lin Qiye stared at him for a long moment, word by word:
"Have we been... placed under house arrest?"
"...This isn't house arrest. It's training."
"No, this is definitely not as simple as training." Lin Qiye shook his head decisively. "When Commander Zuo sent us here, I was already somewhat puzzled. Although the situation for Great Xia in the mist has improved somewhat, there is no absolute safety. Whether it's the various war passes or the ordinary teams stationed throughout Great Xia, everyone is short-staffed. At such a critical time, how could they so easily dispatch a special squad to an isolated island for training?
During this past month or so, our strength has indeed improved, and we have learned some things... but more of our time has been spent on all sorts of strange entertainment activities.
You yourself said, Brother Kengqiang, that the 'Mind Gate' is inherently ethereal and elusive. If that's the case, then how could there possibly be a training method for it? Where would the standard for measuring qualification come from?
In the end, this is just an excuse that can keep us on the island at any time..."
Lin Qiye stared intently at Li Kengqiang, his fists clenched tightly.
"But I don't understand... what did we do wrong?
Why are we being held under house arrest here?"
Feeling Lin Qiye's gaze, Li Kengqiang sighed, slowly sitting up from the boulder.
"You didn't do anything wrong... it's just that, staying on this island is better for all of you, and better for Great Xia."
Lin Qiye was silent for a moment. "Then what if we insist on leaving?"
"You can try." Li Kengqiang said calmly.
Lin Qiye's gaze sharpened. He opened his mouth as if to say something more, then turned and walked toward the edge of the forest.
He had only taken a few steps when Li Kengqiang's voice came from behind him:
"Lin Qiye, do you really think that everything I've had you do during this time... was just wasting time?"
Lin Qiye's footsteps stopped.
Behind the dark lenses, Li Kengqiang's gaze was complex.
"I was once the captain of a special squad too. There are some things I understand more deeply than you do."
"I never lied to you. The opportunities of the 'Mind Gate' are something we cannot create artificially. But there is one thing that can be prepared in advance... and that is pain.
The more beautiful something is, the more intense the pain when it shatters. We cannot predict whether pain will come, but we can artificially accumulate 'beauty' in advance. If this preparation is ultimately unnecessary, then everyone is happy. But if it is ultimately needed... then it can increase the chance of breakthrough."
"Why you cannot leave this island, I cannot tell you. The only thing I can remind you is, if you don't want to break through that 'Mind Gate' through extreme pain and sorrow, if you truly care about this squad... then don't try to leave this island."
"This place may be a cage, but it is also a cage that can keep your entire squad safe!"
Li Kengqiang's voice was firm, echoing in Lin Qiye's ears. He stood like a statue for a long moment before finally turning and walking away without a word.
When his figure had completely vanished, several silhouettes slowly emerged from the void.
Wang Qing looked at the direction of Lin Qiye's departure and sighed. "As expected, they still found out."
"They're very smart. This day would have come sooner or later." Nie Jinshan withdrew his gaze, patted Li Kengqiang on the shoulder, and said calmly, "Kengqiang, don't blame yourself. What you said was good."
"I've said what needs to be said." Li Kengqiang paused. "What final answer he gives... that will be up to him to decide."