# 1010
Chapter 1011: Safe Travels
Lin Qiye stepped through the thick snow and pushed open the gate of the traditional courtyard residence.
A rich aroma of home-cooked food mingled with boisterous shouts came billowing from within. In the distance, the daylight gradually faded, and the orange sunset began to climb across the blue sky.
"Back already?"
Shen Qingzhu, leaning against the wall smoking, saw Lin Qiye return and smiled faintly.
"Yeah."
"Everything taken care of?"
"It's all over." Lin Qiye stood at the doorway, feeling the relaxed and joyful atmosphere within the courtyard, and rarely stretched. "Though the process was complicated, the result was very satisfying."
"That's good."
Shen Qingzhu naturally drew a cigarette from his coat and extended it toward Lin Qiye. "Want one?"
Before the words finished, Shen Qingzhu shook his head and pulled the cigarette back. "Never mind, never mind. Not good for the health."
Lin Qiye smiled, walked past him, and patted his shoulder. "When the time comes that I need it, I'll ask."
He walked straight into the courtyard.
"Lin Instructor!"
As soon as she entered the courtyard, Li Zhenzhen rushed out from the house carrying a white cat.
The white cat in her arms had one paw wrapped in bandages and moved with some difficulty, forced to be cradled in Li Zhenzhen's embrace while her delicate, warm hand stroked its fur. Its eyes revealed a hint of embarrassment.
It slightly turned its head, seemingly too embarrassed to look at Lin Qiye.
Lin Qiye glanced at Li Zhenzhen, then at the blushing white cat in her arms, and raised an eyebrow.
"Instructor Lin, are you okay? Do you need treatment?" Li Zhenzhen asked with concern. "What about those 'Mysticals'? And Ding Chongfeng and the others..."
"The matter with the 'Mysticals' has been resolved. After Ding Chongfeng and the other two learned you were safe, they went down the mountain to have New Year's Eve dinner." Lin Qiye patted her head and smiled. "You should have a little more faith in your instructor."
"As expected of Instructor Lin."
"How's your recovery going, Fang Mo?" Lin Qiye's gaze fell on the white cat in her arms, a smile on his face as he took the initiative to speak.
The white cat's body trembled slightly.
"I, I've pretty much recovered, Lord Qiye." The white cat Fang Mo wore an awkward expression, forcing himself to answer.
"Oh? This cat can talk?"
Zhang Zhengting, busy preparing side dishes nearby, walked over in surprise. He wiped his hands on his apron and curiously asked Li Zhenzhen:
"Zhenzhen, this is..."
"Oh, this is my classmate." Li Zhenzhen grabbed the injured paw of the white cat and waved it gently, smiling. "It got hurt, so it could only transform into this appearance, and its movement is a bit inconvenient... It seems like it'll have to stay at our house for the New Year."
"Classmate?" Zhang Zhengting's expression became微妙. "Male classmate or female classmate?"
"Male classmate."
"Oh..."
Zhang Zhengting's mouth twitched. He glanced at the white cat Fang Mo, said nothing more, and only sighed, "Then stay. Join us for the New Year."
Fang Mo: (ー_ー)
Just as they were chatting, the courtyard gate was pushed open again. Everyone turned simultaneously and paused.
Standing at the entrance was a stranger in military boots and a military coat.
He stood at the doorway, looked around, pulled his hands out of his pockets, seemingly at a loss, and awkward spoke:
"Um... Shao captain told me to come for New Year's Eve dinner."
Zhang Zhengting and the others exchanged glances, as if recalling something, and understanding flickered in their eyes.
"Chen Han, come sit over here." Lin Qiye noticed his awkwardness, smiled, and extended his hand, patting the seat beside him. "The food will be ready soon."
"Oh! Okay."
Chen Han looked relieved and quickly walked to Lin Qiye's side.
"Hello, my name is Zhang Zhengting, a member of Squad 006." Zhang Zhengting took the initiative to shake hands.
"Hello, my name is Chen Han."
"I'm Yuan Gang, the vice-captain here."
"I'm Lu Hu..."
Everyone warmly shook hands and introduced themselves to Chen Han.
Only after finishing all the pleasantries did Chen Han relax and sit beside Lin Qiye. The other team members had gone about their忙碌 of preparing the New Year's Eve meal. Only the two of them sat in the spacious corridor, quietly enjoying the snowy scenery.
"The environment here is really nice." Chen Han looked around and couldn't help but exclaim.
"Compared to the forestry bureau in your Anta County, it really is much more comfortable to live in."
"No, I wasn't referring to that." Chen Han shook his head, raised his hand, and pointed at the snowflakes drifting sparsely across the sky. "I like the snow here, the quietness. I've been in Anta County too long and have gotten a bit unaccustomed to the fast-paced city life."
"In any case, as long as you like it." Lin Qiye turned to look at him. "After all, you might be living here for quite some time."
Chen Han was silent for a moment and let out a long sigh.
"To be honest, I still haven't figured out what exactly happened. We were about to fail, then that demon ape appeared and the situation mysteriously returned to the right track...
Do you think there really are 'Mysticals' in this world that stand on humanity's side?"
"Maybe."
Lin Qiye smiled mysteriously.
Just as the two were chatting, Li Zhenzhen walked around the courtyard holding the white cat and came before Lin Qiye and Chen Han.
"Uncle Chen, did you see my Uncle Shao?" she couldn't help but ask.
"I saw him, yes."
"Did he say when he'd be back?"
"He said if everything went smoothly, he should be able to make it back for New Year's Eve dinner." Chen Han glanced at the sky, confused. "By rights, he should be arriving about now..."
Suddenly, Lin Qiye seemed to sense something, slightly raised his head and looked into the distance, falling silent.
...
Outside the courtyard.
Shao Pingge, draped in a dark red cloak, stepped through the snow toward the gate.
Suddenly, his phone in his coat rang. Shao Pingge froze, hesitated for a moment, then still took out his phone.
"Hello?"
"Pingge, Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year to you too, Commander Zuo." Shao Pingge smiled helplessly. "Calling me at this time, surely it's not just to wish me a Happy New Year?"
"...Right."
Zuo Qing on the other end of the phone was silent for a moment before saying, "Today, the two passes on the northwest border detected fluctuations of foreign creature intrusion. But after careful investigation, no signs of foreign god infiltration were found.
I'm worried those foreign gods might take advantage of our New Year celebration to cause some trouble. To be safe..."
"I understand." Shao Pingge nodded. "I'll head to the frontlines right now, take command at the passes, and set up a Dream Net to prevent anything else from sneaking in."
"辛苦了."
"Should be."
Shao Pingge hung up the phone and stood silently in front of the vermilion red gate of the courtyard.
The familiar aroma of food and bursts of laughter drifted out from behind the door. Shao Pingge stood alone in the snow, his dark red cloak fluttering slightly in the wind.
After an unknown length of time, he sighed heavily, moved his feet, full of regret and reluctance, and turned to leave.
Creak—!
He had only taken a couple steps when the vermilion red gate behind him was gently pushed open.
Shao Pingge froze in place.
He turned his head back. Lin Qiye stood quietly at the entrance, gazing at him with a gentle smile.
"Captain Shao, Happy New Year." Lin Qiye paused, then added,
"...Safe travels."