Chapter 29

Chapter 29

West Camp was near the granary. If the fire spread, the consequences would be disastrous.

Hearing this, Liu Qi didn’t have time to think; he hurried toward West Camp.

Li Ping followed closely behind.

The guards stationed at both sides of the camp gate dared not leave their posts and could only stand there, watching the two leave.

“Water! Bring water quickly!”

“Put out the fire first!”

“There’s not enough water!”

West Camp was ablaze with flames shooting into the sky. The fierce fire had burned through several tents and was continuing to spread in all directions.

Liu Qi first glanced toward the granary. Fortunately, there was no wind today, so the fire hadn’t yet reached the grain stores.

“Put out the fire on the south side first, and protect the grain!” Liu Qi shouted loudly.

As soon as he finished speaking, a strange noise suddenly came from behind a tent not far away.

Liu Qi’s gaze followed the sound, and he keenly spotted a dark shadow flash by.

He had a gut feeling that this person was connected to the fire. His gaze sharpened, and he strode after them.

The crowd, hearing Liu Qi’s words, seemed to suddenly have a clear objective. They all carried water and first threw it onto the edge closest to the granary.

Seeing this, Li Ping also joined the firefighting efforts.

No one noticed that Liu Qi was getting farther and farther away…

Under the curtain of night, thick black smoke billowed in the sky, and the firelight dyed the area a dazzling, blood-red hue.

“Stop!”

The surrounding light grew dimmer. Liu Qi chased the dark figure outside the camp.

This was the soldiers’ usual training ground. Few people came here at night. Now with the West Camp on fire, even the few soldiers on duty had gone to fight the fire.

Seeing the figure stop, Liu Qi’s fierce gaze locked onto her.

Under that gaze as sharp as a blade, Sheng Zhaoning slowly turned around.

In the combined light of the fire and the moon, her face gradually became clear.

Liu Qi’s eyes focused almost instantly. In his pupils was reflected a pair of cool, exquisitely defined eyebrows and eyes. It was a face of bold, striking beauty, yet it exuded a cold detachment from the very marrow. Her eyes brimmed with murderous intent, cold and dangerous.

He was stunned for only a moment before quickly coming to his senses, drawing his blade and pointing it at her.

“Who are you!”

Sheng Zhaoning’s lashes, thick and dark as crow feathers, lifted slowly. Her cold gaze fell on him as if looking at a lifeless corpse.

“The one who’ll kill you.”

Every hair on Liu Qi’s body stood on end in that instant.

Sheng Zhaoning started with a hidden weapon. Liu Qi quickly drew his blade to parry, but the concealed dart barely grazed the side of his neck, breaking him out in a cold sweat.

Judging by the force and speed of the hidden weapon, this person was a rare master!

And in Liangzhou, such skill could only be found in one place.

The Zhenbei Prince’s Mansion, Shadow Pavilion.

“You’re from Prince Zhenbei!” Liu Qi immediately deduced.

Sheng Zhaoning ignored him, drew a dagger, and charged at Liu Qi with extraordinary speed, aiming straight for his vitals.

Liu Qi was not to be outdone and quickly counterattacked.

The two fought fiercely, making quite a commotion.

Fortunately, this place was far from the camp, and the surrounding soldiers were all busy fighting the fire. No one noticed the deadly struggle happening not far away.

“You weren’t sent by the prince!”

It was not a question, but a statement of certainty.

Liu Qi knew he was outmatched. He exerted all his strength to pull away some distance, buying himself a moment to catch his breath.

Sheng Zhaoning never liked small talk when killing. She gripped the dagger, her cold eyes gleaming, and attacked again. Seeing this, Liu Qi hurriedly said, “The prince has long known my background. I’ve already pledged allegiance. If someone sent you to kill me under the pretext of rooting out internal spies, there must be ulterior motives.”

He almost urgently added, “You’ve been deceived!”

Yet Sheng Zhaoning didn’t even spare him a glance. Her figure darted like a ghost, the dagger flashing cold light, moving with a life of its own as it aimed for his vital points with every strike.

Cold sweat covered Liu Qi’s entire body. This woman’s martial prowess was so great that he was absolutely no match for her.

The current situation was extremely dire for him. They were far from any crowd, and the barracks were in chaos. She had arranged everything perfectly to ensure his death.

Liu Qi had fought on the border for years, facing life and death many times, but even he couldn’t help but panic now.

He turned to flee, but Sheng Zhaoning clung to him relentlessly, leaving him no chance to break away.

Sheng Zhaoning had no desire to waste time in a prolonged struggle. Her attacks grew increasingly fierce. Liu Qi gritted his teeth and fought back, but she leaped up, flipped behind him, and stabbed him in the spine with a single thrust.

Liu Qi grunted in pain, his reactions noticeably slowing.

Sheng Zhaoning seized the moment. Just as Liu Qi brought his blade down, she pivoted, arched her back, and extended her arm. The sharp crossbow bolt on her wrist was aimed directly at Liu Qi’s throat.

Under his terrified gaze, she pulled the trigger. With a swish, a short, sharp bolt shot out, instantly piercing his throat and leaving behind a bloody, gaping hole.

With a muffled thud, Liu Qi’s eyes widened as he toppled straight backward…

Meanwhile, at West Camp.

South of West Camp, near the granary, the fire had been mostly extinguished. Only the central area still flickered with flames, but it was no longer a major threat.

Seeing that the granary was safe, Li Ping finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He stepped back from the crowd and steadied his breathing.

In that brief moment of catching his breath, it dawned on him that Liu Qi hadn’t spoken for quite some time.

Strange. Where is he?

Li Ping straightened up and looked around in confusion.

The camp was bustling with soldiers busy fighting the fire, but Liu Qi was nowhere to be seen.

Though Li Ping had his doubts, he didn’t dwell on it, assuming Liu Qi had gone elsewhere.

Just as he was about to turn away, a sudden jolt ran through his mind, as if a thought had flitted past.

Li Ping halted abruptly.

Something’s wrong!

His pupils dilating, he furrowed his brow and barked, “Where’s the Adjutant?!”

With the border short on grain, the granary was the most critical asset. How could Liu Qi have left it unattended?

Moreover, this fire was highly suspicious.

If it were an enemy plot, why would they not torch the granary less than a hundred meters from West Camp, but instead go to such lengths to burn the useless West Camp?

If it wasn’t the enemy, there was only one possibility.

“On guard!” Li Ping’s voice boomed like thunder, echoing through the air.

The soldiers all stopped what they were doing and nervously scanned their surroundings.

Li Ping swiftly drew the goose-wing saber from his waist. The blade gleamed coldly. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. He gripped the hilt tightly, his palm slightly damp, his gaze alert and uneasy as he searched for any sign of Liu Qi.

If, before Liu Qi disappeared, he hadn’t known the arsonist’s purpose,

now everything was crystal clear!

Beijie Camp was heavily guarded, and Liu Qi’s tent was surrounded by even more sentries.

If someone wanted to assassinate him, they would either have to infiltrate his tent or lure him out.

The former was fraught with difficulty: the assassin had to be an unfamiliar face that wouldn’t be detected, and they had to kill with a single strike. The slightest commotion would bring all the guards swarming.

The latter was relatively easier and safer.

The challenge was finding a suitable reason to draw Liu Qi out.

But if West Camp caught fire and threatened the grain supplies, Liu Qi surely wouldn’t remain sitting in his tent!

What a cunning plan!