# 115
**Chapter 115: The Burning Top Floor**
Under Wen Qimo’s shameless insistence, he ended up staying after all—not sharing a bed with Lin Qiye, but rolling out a makeshift bed on the living-room floor.
Seeing his bright, sunny grin, Lin Qiye rolled his eyes and began to wonder whether this guy really wanted to “protect” him or was just here for the free lodging.
“I’m heading out for a bit.” Lin Qiye packed a few things, glanced at the sky outside the window, and spoke.
“Want me to come?” Hongying looked up.
Lin Qiye hesitated. “No. Where I’m going isn’t convenient for a girl.”
Wen Qimo blinked, eyes sparkling. “Then… shall I go with you?”
“…I’m just visiting a friend at a hotel. What are you thinking?”
“Oh. Never mind, then.”
Lin Qiye planned to drop in on Baili Pangpang at his hotel. As the self-proclaimed host of Cangnan, it would be rude to leave the guy hanging. Bringing Hongying risked her walking in on something eye-scorching…
“It’s a sensitive time. Won’t it be dangerous alone?” Hongying worried.
“It’ll be dark soon; going alone is actually safer.” Lin Qiye’s mouth curved slightly. “Besides, the vice-captain said not to coddle me. These days… I can fight pretty well. And plenty of instructors are hidden around the city—Leng Xuan’s lurking somewhere too. I’ll be fine.”
Hongying nodded, then fetched a black case from her room and pressed it into his hands.
“Take your blade.”
“Mm.”
Lin Qiye changed out of his military uniform into casual clothes, found a black fedora in the closet to shadow his face, and—after a moment’s hesitation—took both Zhao Kongcheng’s blade and the one he’d brought from training camp. Carrying the two black cases, he slipped out of the villa.
……
Kailanski Grand Hotel, Presidential Suite.
“Farewell, Mama, tonight I sail away~
Don’t worry, I’ve wisdom and joy for my stay~”
A chubby little figure, towel wrapped round his waist, sauntered from the bathroom, slicked wet hair back, red wine glass in hand, swaying to the beat. He spun a full 360° in the corridor like a portly dancer, glided into the living room—
And froze.
Cao Yuan sat on the sofa, cradling his sheathed blade, eyeing him as if he were insane.
“The hell…? I booked you a single next door!”
Baili Pangpang clutched his towel to his chest. “Scram. You’re ruining my vibe.”
“Singles aren’t as comfy as presidentals.” Cao Yuan shrugged, propping his boots on the coffee table.
Baili Pangpang: (｀⌒´メ)
“Out, out, out! Your gloom kills my groove.”
“Go on dancing. I’ll pretend I’m blind.”
“…” Baili’s mouth twitched. “A grown man sits here hugging a knife, watching me dance—how can I keep going?”
Cao Yuan pondered. “I can put the knife down…”
“It’s not the knife!” Baili rubbed his temples.
“So eager to kick me out—did you order some—”
“Bull! I’m pure as snow, why would I—” Baili quivered with rage.
Cao Yuan tilted his head. “What’s KFC got to do with purity?”
“…”
“Whatever. Leave. Now!” Baili glared.
“I could stay and catch mice for you.”
“Nonsense. This is a five-star—where would mice come from?”
“There.” Cao Yuan pointed to a tiny mouse cowering in the corner.
Baili went pale, retreated half a step, then stomped toward the bedroom. “Damn hotel—calling the front desk—”
BOOM——!
A blinding fireball erupted outside the window, shattering floor-to-ceiling glass. A deafening explosion rolled out, shockwave and scorching air hurling Baili and Cao Yuan across the room.
Thunder-crack echoed; pedestrians looked up and screamed.
Against the night sky, the sky-piercing hotel’s top floor had become an inferno. Burning furniture and glass shards rained down.
Among the falling debris, two plummeting figures could just be made out through night-vision binoculars.
“AAAAAHHHH——!!”
Towel-clad Baili screamed, wind whipping past, weightlessness clawing at his gut, face bloodless.
Beside him, Cao Yuan hugged his blade, falling just as fast but calm.
He glanced up at the blazing summit. “Told you there were mice…”
“Damn Cao Yuan! Idiot Cao Yuan! Moron Cao Yuan!
Everyone else avoids me like the plague—why cling to me?
Do you know how many in this city want me dead?
Aren’t you afraid to die?!”
Cao Yuan raised a brow. “Nope.”
Baili froze, then snarled, “Madman! Lucky I came prepared—hang on!”
He plunged a hand into his towel and pulled out a necklace.
“Yaoguang!”
Golden light flashed, becoming two soft clouds that caught them, killing their fall… and set them gently on the ground.
Cao Yuan eyed the single-towel Baili oddly. “Where exactly do you keep your ‘Free Space’?”
Baili’s face darkened. “None of your business!”
Cao Yuan looked up; more blasts echoed from the top.
“Instructors are engaging the assassins.”
“Sigh… can’t even finish a bath.” Baili pinched his belly.
“Life of the Baili young master always this exciting?”
“Hmph. Assassins since childhood—still here, aren’t I?” He gazed at the sky. “Tomorrow my bodyguards arrive—let’s see who dares try then.”
Cao Yuan scanned the empty street, eyes narrowing. “Worry about living through tonight first.”
Baili turned, puzzled.
Cao Yuan pointed to the deserted road.
“Doesn’t this place feel… too quiet?”