# 511
**Chapter 511 – Rejoining the Team**
The pale golden morning sun filtered through the glass windows, spilling across the white floor tiles and bathing the entire ward in a warm glow.
In the center of the room, on the hospital bed, Ninth Seat’s eyelashes trembled slightly as he slowly opened his eyes.
He stared at the ceiling for a few seconds, then turned his head to the side. By the window, a figure stood silently gazing outside, their shadow stretched long across the floor.
Ninth Seat let out a long sigh.
“Why are you still here?”
By the window, Shen Qingzhu turned his head and thought for a moment.
“Oh, I came back to get my medical expenses reimbursed.”
“…”
Ninth Seat glanced at the delicate fruit basket by the bedside. “You bring gifts to get reimbursed?”
“They were on sale at the supermarket downstairs, so I picked some up.”
“What discount?”
“One percent off.”
The corner of Ninth Seat’s mouth twitched.
“Yiyu is dead, the Believers are gone. You’re a free man now. Instead of catching up with your brothers, what are you doing hanging around here?” Ninth Seat asked helplessly.
Shen Qingzhu glanced at him. “Afraid you might die.”
“…” Ninth Seat couldn’t help but say, “If I could move right now, I’d get up and beat you.”
“I’m serious.” Shen Qingzhu turned to look at the sunlight outside the window, speaking calmly, “What I hate most is seeing someone important die…”
He seemed to recall something, his eyes dimming slightly.
Ninth Seat was stunned. “So, I count as someone important to you?”
Shen Qingzhu’s mouth twitched. He turned away silently. “I didn’t say that.”
Ninth Seat stared at him for a moment, then smiled. “You act all tough and ruthless on the outside, but you’re softer than anyone on the inside… That night when we came back from the club, you hesitated for a long time but still couldn’t bring yourself to kill me. I saw it then…
You’re not cut out to be a villain.”
Shen Qingzhu looked at him in surprise. “You weren’t drunk?”
“As an undercover agent, how could I let myself lose control so easily?”
“…” Shen Qingzhu turned his head and scoffed.
“Brother Zhu!!!”
A familiar voice shouted from downstairs.
Shen Qingzhu froze and looked down.
Below the inpatient building, five people stood in the pale golden sunrise, carrying a coffin on their backs, smiling up at him.
Baili Pangpang took a deep breath and yelled again, “Let’s go!!!”
Shen Qingzhu stood frozen.
On the hospital bed, Ninth Seat smiled. “Your brothers are here for you.”
Shen Qingzhu turned back to look at him, opened his mouth as if to say something, but said nothing.
“What are you looking at me for? They’re not calling me.” Ninth Seat said helplessly.
“Brother Zhu!!!”
Baili Pangpang shouted again.
Soon, the noise downstairs grew louder.
“No… Officer, we really didn’t mean to disturb the hospital… Five hundred, is five hundred enough? A thousand! I’ll give each of you a thousand!” Baili Pangpang said weakly.
“That’s right, Officer, we’re just calling someone down…” That was Cao Yuan.
“We won’t shout anymore, we really won’t. Can we just wait here? No, don’t push us!” That was Lin Qiye.
“?!! Don’t you dare touch him!” Jialan started rolling up her sleeves.
“Please don’t touch this coffin. We’re really not here to cause trouble.” An Qingyu’s voice was dead serious.
“…”
Shen Qingzhu watched Lin Qiye and the others being chased out by security, unable to stop the smile forming on his face.
“Your mission is complete. It’s time to return to the light…” Ninth Seat said gently. “If fate allows, we’ll meet again.”
Shen Qingzhu looked into his eyes. After a long pause, he finally spoke:
“…Take care.”
He pushed open the door and walked out quickly.
“Hey!” Ninth Seat suddenly remembered something. “You haven’t gotten your reimbursement yet!”
“Forgot the receipt this time. Next time.”
Shen Qingzhu smiled.
…
Lin Qiye and the others stood gloomily outside the hospital gate, checking the time.
In the end, they had been kicked out by security.
“Qiye, what if Brother Zhu doesn’t come?” Baili Pangpang asked worriedly.
“He will.” Lin Qiye thought for a moment. “The Believers are gone. There’s no reason for him not to come see us.”
“What if he doesn’t want to be a Night Watch anymore?” Cao Yuan frowned.
At that, the group fell silent.
Technically, Shen Qingzhu had died two years ago. Not just in the Night Watch records, but in the memories of everyone in this world—his story had ended in the cave beneath Jinnan Mountain.
If his only goal was revenge, then with the Believers wiped out, he had already succeeded…
He had no reason to return to the Night Watch and risk his life again.
Settle down in a quiet city, marry, have kids, live out his days in peace—no more fear, no more danger… That was the dream ending for many Night Watch members.
“Ten more minutes.” Lin Qiye checked the time. “If he doesn’t come down in ten, we leave.”
The mood turned heavy.
Time ticked by. Baili Pangpang and Cao Yuan kept checking their watches, scanning the crowd at the hospital entrance for that familiar figure.
But he never appeared.
When the second hand crossed a certain mark, Lin Qiye sighed and shook his head.
“He’s not coming… Let’s go.”
Cao Yuan and Baili Pangpang exchanged glances, both seeing the disappointment in each other’s eyes. After a moment, they stepped forward, following Lin Qiye down the road.
Everyone has their own path. Since Shen Qingzhu had chosen his, all they could do was wish him well…
But just two steps in, Lin Qiye suddenly stopped.
Baili Pangpang looked up, about to speak, then froze at the sight of the figure by the street.
Outside a small shop, a young man leaned against the wall, a cigarette between his fingers, exhaling a puff of smoke…
He caught sight of them from the corner of his eye and raised an eyebrow.
“What took you so long?”
“B-Brother Zhu…” Baili Pangpang’s mouth fell open. “How are you here?”
“Didn’t you tell me to come down?”
“But… the main entrance…”
“Too crowded. I used the side door.” Shen Qingzhu pointed at the shop behind him. “Also, I figured I’d run out of smokes, so I grabbed a pack first.”
“…”
Lin Qiye couldn’t stop the grin spreading across his face.
Shen Qingzhu flicked the cigarette, extinguishing it, and tossed it into a nearby trash can. Then he walked unhurriedly up to Lin Qiye.
“Lin Qiye… no, I should say Captain Lin.”
Shen Qingzhu smiled.
“Night Watch Shen Qingzhu, requesting to rejoin the team.”