Chapter 1011
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Chapter 1011: Safe Journey
Lin Qiye stepped through the thick snow and pushed open the courtyard gate.
The rich aroma of food mixed with lively chatter came rushing from inside the courtyard. In the distance, the daylight gradually dimmed as the orange sunset began to climb the azure sky.
“You’re back?”
Shen Qingzhu, leaning against the wall smoking, smiled slightly when he saw Lin Qiye return.
“Mm.”
“Everything taken care of?”
“It’s all done,” Lin Qiye stood at the entrance, feeling the relaxed and joyful atmosphere in the courtyard, and unusually stretched, “Although the process was a bit complicated, the result was perfect.”
“That’s good.”
Shen Qingzhu naturally pulled out a cigarette from his chest and held it out to Lin Qiye, “Want to try?”
Before he finished speaking, Shen Qingzhu shook his head and withdrew his offering hand, “Never mind, it’s not good for health.”
Lin Qiye smiled, passing by him and patting his shoulder, “When I need it someday, I’ll ask you for one.”
He walked straight into the courtyard.
“Instructor Lin!”
As soon as he entered the courtyard, Li Zhenzhen came running out of the house carrying a white cat.
The white cat in her arms had one paw wrapped in bandages and seemed to have difficulty moving, so it could only be held by Li Zhenzhen, allowing her delicate warm hand to stroke its fur, its eyes revealing slight embarrassment.
It turned its head slightly, seeming too shy to look at Lin Qiye.
Lin Qiye looked at Li Zhenzhen, then at the blushing white cat in her arms, raising his eyebrows.
“Instructor Lin, are you alright? Do you need treatment?” Li Zhenzhen asked worriedly, “What about those ‘Mysteries’? And Ding Chongfeng and the others…”
“The ‘Mystery’ situation has been resolved, and after Ding Chongfeng and the other three knew you were safe, they went down the mountain for New Year’s Eve dinner,” Lin Qiye patted her head and smiled, “You should have some confidence in your instructor.”
“As expected of Instructor Lin.”
“Fang Mo, how’s your recovery?” Lin Qiye’s gaze fell on the white cat in her arms, smiling as he took the initiative to speak.
The white cat’s body trembled slightly.
“I’m, I’m fine now, Lord Qiye.” The white cat Fang Mo replied with an embarrassed expression, forcing himself to answer.
“Oh? This cat can talk?”
Zhang Zhengting, who was busy preparing food nearby, walked over curiously, wiping his hands on his apron, and asked Li Zhenzhen:
“Zhenzhen, this is…”
“Oh, this is my classmate,” Li Zhenzhen grabbed the white cat’s injured paw and gently waved it, smiling, “It’s injured and can only take this form, and has difficulty moving…
Looks like he’ll have to stay at our place for New Year’s.”
“Classmate?” Zhang Zhengting’s expression became subtle, “Male or female classmate?”
“Male classmate.”
“Oh…”
Zhang Zhengting’s mouth twitched slightly as he glanced at the white cat Fang Mo, not saying much, only speaking quietly, “Then stay, celebrate New Year’s together.”
Fang Mo: (ー_ー
Just as everyone was chatting, the courtyard gate was pushed open again, and everyone turned to look, slightly startled.
Standing at the entrance was an unfamiliar face wearing leather boots and a military coat.
He stood at the entrance, looking around, taking his hands out of his pockets, seeming somewhat at a loss, and spoke awkwardly:
“Um… Captain Shao told me to come for New Year’s Eve dinner.”
Zhang Zhengting and the others exchanged glances, as if realizing something, understanding appearing in their eyes.
“Chen Han, come sit here,” Lin Qiye, seeing his awkwardness, smiled and patted the seat beside him, “The food will be ready soon.”
“Oh! Okay.”
Chen Han, as if granted amnesty, quickly walked to Lin Qiye’s side.
“Hello, I’m Zhang Zhengting, a member of Squad 006,” Zhang Zhengting extended his hand.
“Hello, I’m Chen Han.”
“I’m Yuan Gang, the deputy squad leader here.”
“I’m Lu Hu…”
Everyone enthusiastically shook hands and introduced themselves to Chen Han.
After finishing all the social pleasantries, Chen Han finally relaxed and sat beside Lin Qiye. The other team members all went to busy themselves with New Year’s Eve dinner preparations, leaving just the two of them sitting in the empty corridor, quietly enjoying the snowy scenery.
“The environment here is really nice,” Chen Han looked around, unable to help sighing.
“Compared to your Anta County Forest Protection Bureau, it is indeed more comfortable to live here.”
“No, that’s not what I meant,” Chen Han shook his head, reaching out to point at the scattered snowflakes falling from the sky, “I like the snow here, the quietness here. I’ve been in Anta County for so long, I’m somewhat unaccustomed to the fast-paced city life.”
“Well, as long as you like it,” Lin Qiye turned to look at him, “After all, you might be living here for quite a long time.”
Chen Han was silent for a moment, then let out a long sigh.
“To be honest, I still haven’t figured out what this is all about. It was about to fail, but when that magical ape appeared, the situation mysteriously returned to normal…
Do you think there really are ‘Mysteries’ that side with humans in this world?”
“Perhaps.”
Lin Qiye smiled mysteriously.
As the two were talking, Li Zhenzhen, carrying the white cat, walked around the courtyard and came back to Lin Qiye and Chen Han.
“Uncle Chen, did you see my Uncle Shao?” she couldn’t help asking.
“Yes, I did.”
“Did he say when he’d be back?”
“He said if everything goes smoothly, he should be able to make it back for New Year’s Eve dinner,” Chen Han looked at the sky, asking puzzled, “By rights, he should be arriving about now…”
Suddenly, Lin Qiye seemed to sense something, slightly raising his head to look into the distance, falling silent.
…
Outside the courtyard.
Shao Pingge, wearing a dark red cloak, walked through the snow toward the gate.
Suddenly, the phone in his pocket rang. Shao Pingge paused, hesitated for a moment, but still took out his phone.
“Hello?”
“Pingge, Happy New Year.”
“Same to you, Commander Zuo,” Shao Pingge smiled helplessly, “Calling me at this time, it’s probably not just to wish me Happy New Year, right?”
“…Mm.”
Commander Zuo on the other end was silent for a moment before saying, “Today, two passes on the northwestern border detected waves of foreign biological invasion, but upon careful investigation, there were no signs of foreign gods entering the border.
I’m worried those foreign gods might try something while we’re celebrating New Year’s. Just to be safe…”
“I understand,” Shao Pingge nodded, “I’ll go to the front lines now, guard the passes, and set up the dream net to prevent anything else from sneaking in.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“It’s my duty.”
Shao Pingge hung up the phone and stood silently in front of the vermillion gate of the courtyard.
The familiar aroma of food mixed with laughter drifted out from behind the door. Shao Pingge stood alone in the snow, his dark red cloak fluttering slightly in the wind.
After who knows how long, he let out a long sigh, moved his feet, and turned away full of regret and reluctance.
Creak—!
He had only taken a few steps when the vermillion gate behind him was gently pushed open.
Shao Pingge froze in place.
He turned around to see Lin Qiye standing quietly at the door, smiling at him.
“Captain Shao, Happy New Year,” Lin Qiye paused, then added,
“…Safe travels.”
