Chapter 78: The Mysterious Heavenly King

Seeing the sudden flickering of firelight within the Lingzhou military camp, Li Zisheng and his companion were filled with doubt, but even more so with caution. The tents had been deserted for quite some time; a light appearing now could only point to one conclusion. There was only one faction currently free to roam about Le City—either the forces of Deng Qing or those of the Zhou family.

However, judging by the location of the light, it was inside Mr. Zhong’s tent. Could it be that Deng Qing had deliberately sought out Mr. Zhong? The unique feature of Mr. Zhong’s tent was the collection of books he had brought with him, but why would a light suddenly appear there after all this time? Following this line of reasoning, the person in Mr. Zhong’s tent was certainly not one of Deng Qing’s subordinates. Moreover, this individual was clearly not affiliated with Deng Qing, yet they were brazenly lighting up the tent, signaling they knew Deng Qing would not return and were well-acquainted with his movements.

Li Zisheng was truly intrigued now.

"Baliang, come, let’s climb up." Li Zisheng pointed to a large tree on the edge of the camp.

It was late, and with the changing season, the dense foliage of the tree served as a natural screen, shielding them from prying eyes while allowing them to observe who this mysterious figure might be. Li Zisheng was not in the least bit worried about what the intruder was looking for inside Mr. Zhong’s tent. After all, he had already emptied the place; there was almost nothing left, and even if this person searched it, they would return empty-handed.

Baliang and Li Zisheng did not hesitate, heading straight for the tree. Having grown up in the countryside, climbing was second nature to Li Zisheng, and he scrambled up in a flash. Baliang, a street-smart youth accustomed to the bustling city, was equally adept at climbing and followed right behind.

From their vantage point, they had a clear view of the entire Lingzhou military camp. The location was incredibly concealed, hidden by the thick canopy and the darkness of night—the perfect place to lurk. Li Zisheng had discovered this spot while chatting with the camp’s veterans during his idle time; he never expected it would prove so useful.

The pair waited. Soon, a figure emerged from the shadows near the tent. The person scanned the surroundings, checking every nook and cranny with meticulous care. Fortunately, they did not spot the tree—a stroke of luck. The black-clad figure did not enter the tent immediately, but paced back and forth, as if verifying something.

"Cuckoo, cuckoo." The figure mimicked the call of a bird, so perfectly that it was indistinguishable from the real thing.

Li Zisheng was curious; was this person signaling an accomplice? Indeed, upon hearing the calls, the person inside Mr. Zhong’s tent instantly extinguished the light. The camp plunged back into darkness.

Li Zisheng watched with a calm expression, though his mind was racing.

"1302, tell me, has anyone appeared in this area?"

The moment the voice from the tent spoke, Li Zisheng felt a chill. Was it possible that the person who had been calling out was keeping watch nearby the entire time? It was terrifying—did this mean they had already been discovered? If so, their situation was dire. Baliang, too, broke into a cold sweat.

However, the reply from the other person set Li Zisheng’s heart at ease.

"No, it’s calm and peaceful. No one has appeared at all."

"1302, you must be certain. We are here on a mission. If we are careless and displease the Heavenly King, or fail to complete the task he entrusted to us, the consequences will be dire."

"1301, why are you so timid? I told you, no one has come. Although this camp is near the mountains and water, there is only this one path in and out. I have been guarding it the whole time and haven't seen a soul."

1302 sounded clearly displeased, his tone sharp.

"1301 is just reminding you for your own good. You stumble in every mission. It is only thanks to the Heavenly King’s mercy that you are still here; otherwise, you would have been executed long ago."

"I know, I know. Why are you so long-winded today? I know all of this. Tell me, have you completed the task assigned by the Left Envoy of the Saint?"

"No. Because of that scoundrel Deng Qing, we haven't been able to approach the Lingzhou camp for days. That old fool Zhong Bai has a tight tongue and refuses to reveal where that object is hidden. Deng Qing finally left yesterday, giving us a chance to enter. The Left Envoy said Deng Qing would never take Mr. Zhong’s things, but who would have thought that someone had already been here? They didn't just take that object; they cleared out everything belonging to Zhong Bai. The item the Left Envoy mentioned is nowhere to be found."

"What? It’s missing? What are we to do? The Left Envoy will flay us alive. Who could it be? Could Deng Qing have taken it? His forces have lingered in Le City for so long; if anyone else had entered, he would have surely noticed. That object must have been taken by Deng Qing." 1302 stated firmly.

"You have no brain at all. The Left Envoy said Deng Qing is the least likely person to take it. He said it is absolutely impossible for Deng Qing to have touched it!" 1301 snapped in frustration.

"I was just suggesting a possibility. Deng Qing has so many men; who knows which of them might have taken it?"

"Forget it, let’s go. We need to leave. Le City is about to become a ghost town; we had best depart immediately." The two black shadows vanished into the night.

Though they were gone, the two in the tree were deeply unsettled. Even though the pair had only spoken a few words, they had revealed a great deal of information.