Chapter Fifty-Two: When a Fierce Tiger Descends the Mountain, Someone Is Bound to Perish!

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In Mr. Zhong’s gaze toward Ashina Zanghe, all traces of anger had vanished, replaced entirely by deep worry.

Li Zisheng noticed this change in Mr. Zhong’s demeanor and sighed inwardly. As expected, Mr. Zhong and Ashina Zanghe were already acquainted, and more importantly, their relationship was far from superficial. In such a state, his continued concern for Ashina Zanghe’s safety indicated that the bond between them was anything but shallow.

Naturally, Li Zisheng paid no mind to the nature of their relationship. His sole focus was the safety of the young Ashina girl—a key reason he had stayed behind.

For some inexplicable reason, Li Zisheng felt a sudden surge of protectiveness toward this young girl.

“Zhong Bai, the debt from long ago has already passed. I am not one to cling to the past. You should return. That man Deng Qing is extremely ambitious. If you linger here too long, he will surely turn against you. As for tomorrow’s banquet, I have my own means to handle it. Do not trouble yourself. By the way, you have yet to introduce this young brother here—who is he?”

Ashina Zanghe deliberately shifted the topic onto Li Zisheng, evidently wishing to avoid further discussion about the banquet’s dangers and advantages.

Mr. Zhong was no fool; he immediately sensed the meaning behind Ashina’s words.

He clearly understood Ashina’s intentions: to avoid discussing the banquet any further with him. Knowing Ashina’s temperament, he realized that admonitions would be futile, so he said no more but deemed it necessary to issue a warning.

“Sir, Zhong Bai still wishes to remind you to be cautious of Deng Qing’s moves at this banquet. The danger is unmistakable.”

Upon hearing Zhong Bai’s words, Ashina Zanghe merely smiled faintly, choosing not to elaborate further on Deng Qing.

Instead, he turned his gaze toward Li Zisheng.

From the outset, he had noticed this young man. Though appearing indifferent, the message conveyed through his eyes clearly told all present that he was a keen observer. Ashina, relying on his age and experience, could discern this young man’s thoughts; fewer years and he might not have understood the subtlety in his gaze.

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This young man seemed inexperienced but possessed a depth of thought far surpassing many present, a testament to his extraordinary nature. If he served as an official among the Tang generals, the Turkic realm might well face a tempest of upheaval.

“He is a marked man!”

This youth’s mind was like a demon’s—brilliant and cunning beyond measure. He could not be allowed to remain; he must be cut down to prevent the surrounding bloodshed.

The Tang Empire’s power had grown overwhelmingly vast. Now, with the emperor performing the sacred rituals of Heaven’s worship and the sealing of the peaks, unaware of the principle that all prosperities must decline, heroes from across the land were emerging. The Tang was on the brink of chaos—this was a prime opportunity for talented men to serve.

Even if it meant risking his own old bones, Ashina Zanghe resolved to strike down this young man in his cradle. To wait would be to court disaster.

In a flash, though still uncertain of Li Zisheng’s origins or identity, Ashina Zanghe had already sentenced him to death.

Li Zisheng was unaware of Ashina’s intentions but sensed the atmosphere growing tense.

He had planned to ask Ashina about the young girl later, but suddenly, the energy around him tightened palpably.

This surprised Li Zisheng greatly. Soon, he realized the cause: his own aura had begun to manifest.

He could see his own qi again, but the first aura he noticed was Ashina Zanghe’s.

Ashina’s aura was chiefly gray and white, suffused with a heavy sense of twilight and gloom. Even a glance was oppressive. Li Zisheng concluded that even if Deng Qing’s banquet failed to take Ashina’s life, he would not survive much longer—the aura of death was far too dense.

Yet Li Zisheng was puzzled. Why could he see Ashina’s aura? According to his understanding, one could only perceive the aura of those connected to oneself. But he had never met Ashina before, had not exchanged a word, so how could he now see Ashina’s aura?

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Thus, Li Zisheng focused all his attention on Ashina’s aura, hoping to find clues to resolve his confusion.

Though Ashina’s aura was thick with deathly gray and white, at its core glowed a faint purple light. This was why Li Zisheng was certain that Deng Qing’s banquet posed no real threat to Ashina’s life; rather, it had inadvertently intensified this purple aura.

Peering closer, Li Zisheng made a startling discovery: the gray death aura covertly shaped itself into a blade, pointed directly at him. Within the gray aura, the faint purple glow formed the image of a fierce tiger, poised as if descending a mountain—ready to strike, demanding a life.

The aura transformed into the shape of a tiger, unmistakably signifying a deadly intent toward another.

Coupled with his earlier judgment, the reason Li Zisheng could see Ashina’s aura became clear.

Ashina Zanghe intended to kill him, with an unyielding resolve to do so.

Previously, when Li Zisheng had glimpsed others’ auras, he never felt such oppressive pressure. Initially, he thought the sensation came from Ashina’s overwhelming death aura. But now he fully realized: this old man truly sought his death.

That was why the oppressive feeling was so vivid and unmistakable.

“Damn it, that old man is damned!”