Chapter 39: An Unexpected Encounter

In the gloom, the person beside Yatong had a field of vision that might not reach as far as Qian Ye’s, but his ability to conceal and disguise himself was even greater. The individual blended seamlessly with the surroundings, and if not for Qian Ye’s true sight, which could detect the subtlest changes in origin power, it would have been nearly impossible to spot him.

With such a partner, no wonder an old veteran like Zhao Shizhong, battle-hardened and experienced, stood no chance of resistance.

After adjusting his position, Aiden remained motionless. Apart from a slight instinctive hunch at the beginning, Aiden detected nothing. That area was under Yatong’s surveillance, and her range of vision was much farther than his. Since there was no reaction, it should be safe.

Qian Ye only glanced at Aiden out of the corner of his eye, while his focus never left Yatong.

Suddenly, Qian Ye felt a heavy weight in his chest, and his body began to grow cold, his heart filled with inexplicable panic. It was like a child who has done something wrong, about to face their elders. To the adults, it might seem trivial, but to the child, it was a matter that could shatter the world.

Just like Qian Ye now, he felt his entire world inexorably sinking into the deepest, darkest abyss.

Flashes of countless corpses flickered before his eyes—Zhao clan warriors, other family strongholds, and iron-blooded soldiers from various armies. Not just from the Empire; since the Blood War, every powerful figure from the Evernight side whom he had killed also appeared. Especially the blood clans of the Monroe family, their blooming datura flowers were glaringly conspicuous.

The sounds of gunfire still echoed in his ears, the trembling sensation of blades piercing flesh was still vivid. Every single Evernight elite that had fallen by his hand, he remembered so clearly.

Yet, each time Qian Ye and Yatong fought, each bit of military merit, only pushed them further apart, until they could no longer return to the closeness they once shared.

The crosshairs in the scope still framed her, and with a gentle squeeze of the trigger, the empowered Blazing Sun bullet would pierce through, straight into her eye. Even a Marquis would be gravely injured by this shot. Moreover, Qian Ye could activate multiple special abilities, such as heavy rounds and precise shooting, further enhancing the Blazing Sun bullet’s power.

The finger on the trigger was pale, devoid of any color, like those of lifeless corpses. This finger trembled slightly, a situation that should not have occurred for a sniper of his caliber.

Unbeknownst to him, Zhao Shizhong, the fallen soldiers of the Zhao clan, and other aristocratic families, the Red Scorpion, the 131st Company comrades, all appeared around him. They looked down on him, their gazes burning like red-hot needles on his back.

“Fire!”

“Pull the trigger!”

“Kill her! Now!”

Silent shouts reverberated in Qian Ye’s mind.

In a daze, he found himself back in the days with the Red Scorpions. In that final battle, the captain had sent Qian Ye out of the encirclement, but he himself turned to face the tide of blood slaves and dark warriors. The moment his robust figure was swallowed by the black wave, it was forever etched in Qian Ye’s soul.

At that moment, Qian Ye truly understood the weight of William’s words.

Evernight and Daybreak are eternal enemies.

The trigger felt as heavy as a mountain. To pull it was to push a mountain. He almost lost control of his breathing and heartbeat, gritting his teeth as he slowly pressed the trigger.

On the other end, Yatong remained perfectly still, hidden and silent, her crosshairs calmly targeting Qian Ye.

The wind ceased, and all sound faded. The only proof of life was the slowly moving trigger.

In this unbearable suffocation, Qian Ye suddenly smashed his face into the treetop, letting the jagged edges tear his skin, causing pain.

The trigger returned to its original position, and his hand, now weak, could no longer press it down. After a long time, Qian Ye slowly raised his head, quietly retreated, and slipped away from behind the tree, never looking back, unsure if Yatong was still there.

Yatong remained, still as silent, neither she nor her sniper rifle moved, meaning she had been watching the place where Qian Ye had been. But what her scope revealed was a mystery.

After a while, Aiden, unable to bear the silence, touched Yatong. She seemed unusually slow to react, only turning her head after he pushed her several times.

Aiden made a gesture indicating retreat, speaking in the lowest voice, “There’s no prey here. Let’s go to the next location.”

“…Okay.”

Aiden gave Yatong a questioning glance. For some reason, he found her strange, though he couldn’t pinpoint why. Reading anything from her perpetually cold face was like climbing a mountain.

After they left, Qian Ye reappeared. He climbed up to the spot where Yatong and Aiden had been, looking at the crisscrossing branches below.

As masters of concealment, how could Yatong and Aiden leave any trace? If not for Qian Ye’s sure sighting in the scope, it would have been hard to determine if she had ever been there.

After a while, Qian Ye sighed lightly, leaving the treetop and vanishing into the fog.

In this world where the void behemoth’s will was omnipresent, the elites of the Evernight and the Empire began to meet and fight.

The battle over the “Sleeper of the Behemoth” on the ground continued. Not long after Song Zining broke through, the second major engagement between Evernight and the Empire began. However, as the battle started, the dormant Sky Ghosts suddenly descended with seven avatars, crashing into the lines of both sides.

Seven Sky Ghost avatars!

The avatars attacked indiscriminately, capable of overwhelming even commanders guarding entire war zones, let alone ordinary battalion commanders. This move caught both sides off guard, and the fierce fighting immediately slowed, stopping entirely in many places.

Then, the seven avatars converged and leaped into the “Sleeper of the Behemoth.”

The situation became extremely complicated. Without knowing the outcome of the battle between the Sky Ghosts and the Queen of Night in the void, it was impossible to predict what the Sky Ghosts might do next after descending.

During the brief skirmishes, both sides discovered that each of the seven avatars had at least the strength of a Marquis, but no one knew if they could unleash even more power or if they had special abilities when working together.

Sky Ghosts, being void creatures, had unique attributes, and their avatars inherited these traits. Under the combined assault of seven avatars, even a Dark Duke or an Imperial General could fall. Furthermore, as a type of void behemoth, no one knew if the avatars were influenced by the residual will of the behemoths or to what extent.

Now, the greatest enemy for both sides was the Sky Ghosts. By unspoken agreement, both sides withdrew, returning to their respective positions flanking the “Sleeper of the Behemoth.”

For the Evernight Parliament, the ancient essence fragments were valuable for breaking through to the Duke rank and adding strategic weapons. Risking current Dukes for the sake of such opportunities was a loss.

On the Empire’s side, high-ranking officials understood this was a battle for national destiny. Although they were unsure of the ultimate goal, it wasn’t worth risking the lives of their Generals.

Thus, a delicate balance was reached around the “Sleeper of the Behemoth” again.

Commander Zhang Boqian’s forward command post was situated atop the highest hill, overlooking the sprawling imperial camps.

From here, the view stretched for hundreds of miles, filled with troops and banners. Many belonged to private armies of the aristocratic families, their equipment and quality matching the main imperial legions. Some renowned families even surpassed them, reflecting the current distribution of power in the Great Qin.

Leading Song Zining, the same Zhang clan general who had escorted him earlier, they passed through the layers of camps toward the large tent at the hilltop.

Pausing briefly as he stepped into the camp, Zhang Muyi patted him understandingly, saying, “The grievances of the previous generation have nothing to do with you. Commander Zhang is not one to hold grudges against the young.”

Zhang Muyi’s words were comforting, and Song Zining smiled at him, his gaze subtly sweeping over the eastern barracks.

In this command post, besides Zhang Boqian’s direct Ironclad Legion, there were also the Thunder Knights of the Royal Guard, nearly equal in number. It was a full-scale mobilization. When a Heavenly King went to war, any military oversight department was just a formality. Were the Thunder Knights here to oversee the army or protect someone?

Zhang Muyi stopped at a door, the area around it eerily quiet, with no soldiers or guards in sight. He pointed to the central command tent, saying, “You can enter on your own, I’ll wait outside.”

Song Zining nodded and walked in. The tent was simply furnished, with a three-dimensional sand table on the left and a large meeting table on the right. Maps hung on the walls, clearly a tactical room, but it was empty.

Feeling a sudden sense, Song Zining walked through another door, entering a courtyard.

A towering figure stood under a tree. At first glance, Song Zining saw the vast, deep void, filled with lightning, and the overwhelming power of the heavens. Composing himself, he bowed, “Gao Ling, Song Zining, pays respects to Your Highness, the Prince of Qingyang.”

Then, Zhang Boqian said calmly, “Go in, there’s someone inside who wants to see you.”

Song Zining was taken aback, surprised, but without asking, he entered the tent behind Zhang Boqian. His astonishment deepened when he saw the person waiting inside, “Commander Lin Xitang!”

By the window sat a silver-haired man, the legendary Lin Xitang, who was supposed to be recuperating in the capital. Wearing plain clothes, his pale face seemed almost transparent. Yet, when his calm, unwavering eyes met his, all signs of frailty seemed to vanish.

In the past two years, the Ningyuan Group’s ratings in the Northern Army’s supplier list had risen rapidly, especially in the force arrays of firearms, almost reaching the core circle due to a project called “God’s Silence.”

However, it was the first time Song Zining, as the owner of the Ningyuan Group, had met Lin Xitang.