# 120
**Chapter 120: The Deal**
"A bowl of shredded pork noodles."
"A bowl of pork chop noodles."
"A bowl of braised beef noodles with extra pork chop, vegetarian chicken, shredded pork, egg, dried tofu, and more noodles."
"..."
The three of them found a random seat in the noodle shop. The place was tucked away in a remote corner, far from the main road, with a tattered signboard. But the aroma of noodles drifted out so strongly it could be smelled from blocks away.
It was already past ten at night, and the shop was empty except for Lin Qiye’s table. They hadn’t sat inside the dim storefront but chose a small table just outside the entrance.
In the quiet, dim alley, the faint light from the kitchen mingled with the colorful neon glow of the adjacent adult store, casting a strange light onto the small gray-green table. In the middle of this bustling city, it had a certain charm.
"So *this* is the place you meant when you said we were getting noodles?" Baili Pangpang looked around, leaned in close to Lin Qiye’s ear, and whispered in disbelief.
"Given our current situation, you think I can take you to a five-star hotel?" Lin Qiye rolled his eyes. "We need a place no one comes to—somewhere we can eat in peace."
"Ah, I see. Always thinking ahead, Qiye."
"Also, I only have enough money to treat you guys to noodles."
"..."
"Don’t worry. The place might look rough, but the noodles are top-tier," Lin Qiye added.
Soon, three steaming bowls were set on the tiny table. In the dead of night, the rich noodle scent felt both ordinary and extraordinary.
"Boss, how much?" Lin Qiye pulled out his wallet.
"Shredded pork is ten, pork chop twelve, and this young man’s... forty-two. Sixty-four total." The boss smiled and held out his hand.
Lin Qiye’s hand froze mid-air.
"He pays for himself." Lin Qiye fished out a twenty and two ones, pressed them into the boss’s palm, then pointed at Baili Pangpang.
Baili Pangpang jolted. "Qiye, you said you’d treat me..."
"I changed my mind."
"..." Baili Pangpang hesitated. "Boss, do you take cards?"
"..."
In the end, Cao Yuan produced a crumpled fifty and covered Baili Pangpang’s bill. In exchange, Baili Pangpang had to bankroll his food and lodging for the next few days.
It really wasn’t that Lin Qiye was stingy—he’d only brought fifty bucks, figuring noodles couldn’t possibly cost more. Who knew...
Slurp—!
While inhaling noodles, the three reviewed the earlier fight.
"So they ambushed you outright? Blew up the 90th floor precisely?" Lin Qiye frowned after hearing their account.
"Yeah, see? I’m still wearing a bath-towel." Baili Pangpang pointed at the tattered cloth draped over him, half-laughing. "Pretty sure it was some large-scale lethal Forbidden Ruin, not conventional weapons."
"To cause that level of destruction, the user must be at least River Realm. Jumping off the building was the right call—if they’d locked onto you, you’d have been dragged into the instructors’ battle and shredded." Lin Qiye analyzed.
"You chose your hotel too flamboyantly," Cao Yuan cut in. "Places like that require ID. Anyone determined can trace you."
Baili Pangpang muttered, "I—I’m used to it. When I party in Guangshen, I stay in places way fancier."
"This is Cangnan, not your Baili family��s turf."
"Still, I’ve survived at least eight hundred assassination attempts. Today’s little fireworks show? Child’s play." He waved it off.
Cao Yuan shrugged. "Being a rich young master isn’t all roses."
While they talked, four more figures walked in.
"Brother Shen... we’ve had noodles for two straight meals. And tonight—noodles *again*?"
"What do you know? Noodles... noodles are Cangnan’s specialty. Rare visit—gotta stock up."
Shen Qingzhu strode in with Deng Wei, Li Jia, and Li Liang, shouting before they reached the counter:
"Boss, four bowls of clear broth noodles."
"Oh, it’s you guys again? Two clear broths in a row—still at it?" the boss asked, surprised.
"Yep."
Shen Qingzhu reached the entrance, spotted the three slurping at the tiny table, and froze.
"You lot?"
"Yo, Brother Cool, here for noodles too?" Baili Pangpang greeted, half a pork chop stuffed in his cheek.
Lin Qiye and Cao Yuan nodded in acknowledgement.
They’d all survived six months of hellish training together. Though they rarely mingled, battlefield bonds ran deep.
Shen Qingzhu grunted, eyes drifting to the fragrant bowls. He licked his lips.
Gulp.
Someone swallowed loudly in the quiet alley.
Shen Qingzhu glanced back; his three sidekicks quickly looked away. He studied the price board, conflicted.
"Boss, change the order—three shredded pork, one clear broth," he called, sitting at the adjacent table.
"Sure! Ten apiece for shredded pork, six for clear—thirty-six total."
Shen Qingzhu pulled out his wallet, peeled off a few wrinkled bills, and slapped them on the counter before snapping the wallet shut.
Lin Qiye’s mental probe told him the wallet was now empty.
He’d calculated it to the yuan.
"Brother Shen, why the upgrade?"
"After so much clear broth, figured you’d want a change."
"What about you?"
"I like mine clear." Shen Qingzhu lifted his chin. "Simple, pure—that’s the soul of noodles."
The three underlings exchanged looks and said nothing.
Shen Qingzhu seemed to remember something and turned to Lin Qiye. "That injury you got on the bus—you okay?"
Lin Qiye shook his head. "Fine."
Shen Qingzhu nodded, hesitated, then added, "Back then... thanks. If you hadn’t blocked those shards, we’d all be hurt."
"Brother Cool, since when are you polite?" Baili Pangpang squinted suspiciously.
"Fatty, I’ve always settled debts of gratitude. Nothing polite about it." Shen Qingzhu glared, then looked back at Lin Qiye.
"I know this ‘vacation’ isn’t normal. If you’re in a tight spot, tell me. Comrades help comrades—if I can, I will."
Lin Qiye’s brow lifted; an idea sparked.
"Actually, I do have a business proposal."
"What?"
Lin Qiye pointed at Baili Pangpang. "Bodyguard duty for the break. Stick to him."
Everyone, including Baili Pangpang, blinked.
"Him?" Shen Qingzhu eyed Baili Pangpang, frown deepening.
"In exchange, he pays you a thousand a day. Deal?" Lin Qiye said next.
Shen Qingzhu’s body stiffened. He stared into Lin Qiye’s eyes, thinking...
After a long moment he answered, "Deal."
Then he indicated his three followers. "But the contract’s just me. Them? Not included."
"Done."