Chapter 121: The Three Snowmen

"Sevenye, why did you have Brother Zhuai protect me?" Bai Li Pangpang whispered to Lin QiYe in the dimly lit street.

"At a time like this, both of us are targets. I can't stay by your side for too long—it would make things more dangerous. And when Cao Yuan goes mad, he can't tell friend from foe..."

"In short, you need someone normal by your side, and someone skilled," Lin QiYe explained.

Bai Li Pangpang suddenly understood. "You're so clever!"

Shen Qingzhu, trailing behind, had his hands in his pockets and was looking up at the stars, lost in thought.

Suddenly, he stopped and called out.

"Hey, Fatty."

Bai Li Pangpang turned around with a grin. "How about calling me your employer now? Can you change the way you address me?"

"... Bai Li Tuming," Shen Qingzhu took a deep breath and spoke slowly, "Let's settle this. Advance me a day's wages."

Bai Li Pangpang raised an eyebrow. "What do you need it for?"

"Never mind what for. Just tell me if I can get it," Shen Qingzhu insisted.

Bai Li Pangpang looked at Lin QiYe, who nodded in agreement.

"But I don't have any cash on me right now..." Bai Li Pangpang scratched his head.

"I have 300 yuan left. Is that enough?" Cao Yuan suddenly spoke up.

"That's enough, just give it to me," Shen Qingzhu nodded eagerly.

Cao Yuan handed over the last of his cash to Shen Qingzhu, who turned back toward the noodle shop. The three of them saw him head back into the dilapidated shop. He spoke to the owner, added a large piece of meat and an egg to the bowls of his three companions, paid for everything, and handed the money to Deng Wei, saying a few words before rushing out again.

"Let's go," Shen Qingzhu said calmly.

Lin QiYe and the others exchanged looks and silently followed as he led the way down an alley.

"The hotel's been bombed... so where are we staying tonight?" Bai Li Pangpang muttered as they walked.

Cao Yuan, holding his sword, suggested, "How about we find a temple and sleep for the night?"

"... This is a modern city. Where would we find a temple at this hour?"

"True."

Lin QiYe thought for a moment and then spoke. "I know a place. Follow me."

They followed Lin QiYe through a few quiet alleyways until they reached a shabby little inn.

The dim pink and purple lights of the rooms spilled out through the windows, casting an eerie glow on the small doorway. The four of them stood at the entrance and looked up at the faded sign that read...

"Dream Butterfly... Lovers' Inn?!"

Bai Li Pangpang felt an uneasy tightening in his chest. "Sevenye, are you serious?"

"This is one of the few places in Cangnan City where you can check in without an ID. The environment here is actually better than most," Lin QiYe raised an eyebrow. "If you don't want to stay here, then you'll have to sleep under a bridge."

"... Fine, we'll stay here."

They pushed the door open, and as Lin QiYe had said, there was no need for ID, and there were plenty of rooms available. Just as Bai Li Pangpang was about to book three rooms, Shen Qingzhu suddenly spoke up.

"I'll stay with you."

Bai Li Pangpang blinked in surprise. "What?!"

"Since I'm your bodyguard, it's too risky for us to be separated. You sleep in the bed, and I'll sleep on the floor," Shen Qingzhu said seriously.

Bai Li Pangpang was speechless. "..."

"Well, if that's the case, I'll stay too," Cao Yuan said calmly. "The three of us can play a round of cards together."

"..."

"Decided then."

Before Bai Li Pangpang could object, Cao Yuan and Shen Qingzhu had already picked a room, and they all climbed the creaky stairs. With each step, the floorboards groaned loudly.

When they reached the second floor, faint... indecent sounds could be heard coming from the surrounding rooms.

Shen Qingzhu paused for a moment, a faint blush appearing on his face, but he still walked forward with his head held high. Cao Yuan lowered his head and muttered "Amitabha Buddha."

Bai Li Pangpang stared at the two, an expression of disbelief slowly forming on his face...

"You guys... you can't possibly be..."

"Are you not?"

"Joke. I was already..."

"We're here."

Shen Qingzhu reached a room and unlocked the door with the key. A faint smell of mildew immediately hit them. He frowned but stepped inside.

The room was small with two beds. The overhead light seemed to have not been cleaned in ages, covered in grime. The pinkish light bathed the room, giving the atmosphere a strange, almost eerie vibe.

"Two beds. You guys take the beds; I'll sleep on the floor," Shen Qingzhu said, walking to the window and carefully observing the surroundings. After making sure no one was watching, he closed the curtains.

Bai Li Pangpang nodded, "Cao Yuan, which bed do you..."

He suddenly turned and noticed something odd.

"Hello."

A voice came from downstairs.

"What do you want?"

"Do you have... those things that three people can play together? You know, something exciting and fun?"

"... Well, we do, but what exactly do you want?"

"Poker."

"..."

...

After getting Bai Li Pangpang settled in, Lin QiYe left the inn, moving like a shadow in the night. He quietly made his way toward Hong Ying's house.

As he walked, snowflakes gently drifted down from the sky, dotting the silent streets.

Lin QiYe reached out and caught one snowflake, watching it melt in his hand...

After a long silence, he shook his head with a soft sigh.

"This year, I can't build a snowman with you, Ah Jin..."

Ten minutes later.

"Sevenye, where have you been so long?" Hong Ying suddenly jumped up from the sofa, frowning. "If you didn't come back soon, I was going to come find you!"

Wen Qimo, lazily lying on the sofa, yawned. "I can vouch for him; in the last half hour, she's mentioned you at least two hundred times."

Lin QiYe sheepishly scratched his head. "I went out for some late-night snacks... Sorry, Hong Ying."

Hong Ying sighed. "Never mind, just go to sleep. Wen Qimo, make sure you keep an eye on Sevenye tonight."

"I know, I know," Wen Qimo yawned again. "With me here in the living room, no one will get past."

Hong Ying looked toward the door, sighing softly. "The captain and that old dog from Xiangnan really... they slipped away again... so unreliable!"

With that, she turned and headed back to her room. Lin QiYe chuckled and returned to his own room.

Click.

A soft click echoed as the lights in the villa went out, plunging everything into darkness...

Outside.

The night sky stretched endlessly, and snowflakes fluttered in the wind.

A hundred meters from the villa, on the roof of a church, Leng Xuan lay motionless, holding a sniper rifle, like a statue, silently watching everything around him.

Creak.

The sound of footsteps crunching in the snow came from behind him. Leng Xuan quickly turned his head and froze in place.

"This cold winter night... aren't you cold?"

Chen Muye, holding a cigarette, slowly approached him and sat down beside him.

"It's not cold," Leng Xuan replied indifferently.

"I brought you a coat." Wu Xiangnan, wearing a black trench coat, also sat next to him, draping the coat over his shoulders. He gazed out toward the villa, a faint smile on his lips.

"Aren't you two going to sleep?"

"Sleep? Can't sleep."

"Ah."

"I heard Sevenye went to help that fatty fight today. How was it?"

Leng Xuan paused for a moment and then smiled slightly. "Pretty good. He's gotten stronger. Now even I might not be able to beat him."

"Really?" Chen Muye smiled. "Not bad."

"Yeah."

"You've been keeping watch over him all day; let us take over tonight."

"No need. If you don't have the resolve, don't call yourselves snipers."

Wu Xiangnan and Chen Muye exchanged looks and smiled bitterly. Neither tried to persuade him further.

On the roof of the church, silence fell.

In that wordless moment, the three men sat quietly, watching over the distant villa without moving.

The snow continued to fall softly on them,

And in the stillness of the night,

Their bodies slowly became covered with snow...

Gradually, they became three snowmen,

Guardians of this city.