# 1416
Chapter 1416: Who Cares?
"Seven Nights, what did Gun Bro say?"
Seeing Lin Qiye walk out of the forest, Cao Yuan and the others immediately asked.
At the sound of Cao Yuan's voice, Lin Qiye finally snapped back from Li Kengqiang's words, his eyes complex and deep.
"We've... been placed under house arrest."
"What?"
Everyone froze on the spot. Cao Yuan thought he had misheard. "House arrest? Us?!"
Lin Qiye slowly repeated Li Kengqiang's words in a rough summary. Cao Yuan's brow furrowed tighter and tighter.
"So, bringing us to this island for training was just a cover? Commander Zuo wants to put us under house arrest here?" Cao Yuan asked in confusion. "Why? What did we do wrong?"
"..." Lin Qiye shook his head. "I don't know either."
"It probably isn't about doing something wrong. There must be another reason." An Qingyu spoke thoughtfully. "If it were because we made some mistake, then why not just punish us directly? It would be much more appropriate to lock us up in the Purification Chamber, wouldn't it?"
"Then what on earth is the reason?"
"Just now Gun Bro also said it's a kind of protection... good for us, good for Great Xia."
"Putting us under house arrest is good for Great Xia? What kind of logic is that?" Cao Yuan shook his head repeatedly. "Could it be that us going out would be bad for Great Xia?"
"Commander Zuo wouldn't put us under house arrest for no reason. Maybe there's some deeper reason behind this." An Qingyu thought for a long time but couldn't come up with any reason. She sighed heavily and turned to look at Lin Qiye. "Seven Nights, what should we do?"
Lin Qiye stared in the direction of the mountain forest, falling into silence.
Pretend nothing happened, and continue the so-called "training" on this island as usual?
No, impossible.
He had no idea what was happening outside. Perhaps Great Xia had fallen into some kind of crisis. Asking them to stay here carefree like before was simply impossible.
Then... force their way out?
But this island was guarded by four Human Apex-level Commander Generals, plus a near-invincible Marquis—making it the most heavily defended location in all of Great Xia. Even if they were just a special squad, not to mention if a Chief God came, no one could step half a step out of here!
And bringing them here for house arrest was also the intention of Zuo Qing, the Supreme Commander of Great Xia's Night Watch. Forcing their way out would undoubtedly be a provocation against the Supreme Commander.
At the same time, Li Kengqiang's words echoed in his ears once more:
"...If you don't want to break through that 'heart barrier' through extreme pain and sorrow, if you truly care about this team... don't try to leave this island!"
What did this mean?
As long as they left this island, something bad would likely happen, and that would also affect Great Xia?
Too many things were tangled together. Lin Qiye felt his mind was in chaos. He looked at the coastline gradually vanishing into the darkness ahead, and suddenly felt a long-forgotten panic.
Panic, stemming from the unknown.
What was happening outside—he didn't know. Why they were here—he didn't know. What would happen if they left here... he didn't know either. It seemed like the entire world was hiding something from them, and this concealment gave him a lonely feeling of being abandoned.
Under the gazes of everyone, Lin Qiye opened his mouth and spoke heavily:
"I don't know... let me think about it."
Lin Qiye walked away from the campfire, heading straight toward the dim coastline. His shadow was swallowed by the sea water, like a lonely sculpture sitting on the shore, lost in deep thought...
As the most top-tier squad in Great Xia, they had been inexplicably brought here for house arrest... As the captain of [Nightfall], Lin Qiye faced far more pressure than anyone else.
Cao Yuan and the others exchanged glances but didn't go disturb him. Instead, they silently dispersed.
...
Late at night.
The cold moon hung above the Island. Baili Pangpang sat alone on a boulder, gazing at the lonely figure lost in thought on the distant coastline, and sighed heavily.
Soft golden light particles gathered behind him, quickly forming a gentle woman in palace attire. She stepped out from nothingness and respectfully bowed to Baili Pangpang's back:
"Gongyang Wan, second-generation Director of the Bureau of Evil Suppression, pays respects to the Lingbao Tianzun."
Baili Pangpang slightly turned his head, glanced at her, and spoke with some surprise. "How did you know?"
"With our humble vision, we indeed failed to see through your true identity... Had it not been for that Heavenly Lord descending in person, we would still be in the dark." Gongyang Wan smiled helplessly. "The Marquis must personally guard the nation's fortune and cannot come personally. He has entrusted me to send his greetings to you...
Additionally, I must apologize to you on behalf of Li Kengqiang. He did not know your true identity and boiled you in the pot for more than ten days... He now feels too ashamed to face you."
"It's a minor matter. No need to dwell on it." Baili Pangpang waved his hand casually. "This is a reincarnated body. It has nothing to do with the Lingbao Tianzun. It's normal that you couldn't see through it. Until my True Self reincarnation reaches perfection, I am Baili Pangpang of the [Nightfall] squad."
Gongyang Wan hesitated for a moment, then asked in confusion, "May I ask, Heavenly Lord... when will your reincarnation reach perfection?"
Baili Pangpang glanced at her. "Why? Are you all impatient too?"
"...I merely feel that the current Great Xia, relying on just two Heavenly Lords, may be somewhat exhausting."
Baili Pangpang stared at her for a long while, then shook his head. "I don't know when it will reach perfection either... but it should be soon."
"Then when the reincarnation reaches perfection, will you be the former Lingbao Tianzun... or this life's Baili Pangpang?"
Baili Pangpang fell silent for a long time.
"Once the True Self reincarnation reaches perfection, the mission of this incarnated body will be complete... After the Dao fruit returns, the incarnation transforms into dreams and bubbles. There will naturally be only one Lingbao Tianzun in this world."
Gongyang Wan nodded. "Thank you, Heavenly Lord, for your explanation."
Seeing Gongyang Wan's reaction, an indiscernible hint of loneliness flickered in the depths of Baili Pangpang's eyes.
"What do you think about this matter?"
"You mean the house arrest?"
"Yes."
"..." Baili Pangpang sighed heavily. "I... don't know either.
If I were still that carefree Baili Pangpang, I would definitely be cursing all of you right now. But now that I know the reason behind all this...
If possible, I actually hope they could stay here forever. At least everyone would be safe and sound. Great Xia needs the Lingbao Tianzun, so I can leave alone.
But... they are [Nightfall]."
Baili Pangpang shook his head with a bitter smile. "[Nightfall], how could they possibly stay here so simply... The moment a dragon is caged, it is no longer a dragon."
Hearing these words, Gongyang Wan's form shifted complicatedly. After a moment of hesitation, she continued:
"Heavenly Lord, I have one last question."
"Ask."
"The method to save the world that you sought so desperately, even willing to sacrifice your Dao fruit and memories for reincarnation... have you found it now?" Gongyang Wan's gaze flickered slightly.
Baili Pangpang's gaze swept over Lin Qiye and the others below, his expression somewhat complicated:
"Perhaps..."
Hearing this answer, Gongyang Wan felt slightly relieved. She bowed respectfully to Baili Pangpang once more. "I shall take my leave."
As Gongyang Wan's form gradually dissolved into the air, the vast boulder was once again left with only Baili Pangpang alone.
He glanced at the cold moonlight overhead, sighed heavily, and murmured in a voice only he could hear:
"You all want the Lingbao Tianzun to return as soon as possible... but who cares about what Baili Pangpang wants?"