After a brief silence, Della winked at the waitresses hiding behind the bar, signaling them to bring down the kettle.

Then, amidst the shrill whirring of the kettle, she stormed toward the child by the door.

Holding up her skirt with both hands, Peng kicked her head out the door, then abruptly turned and walked towards the bar.

"Come in if you want, but close the door!"

The kettle was finally removed, and the atmosphere in the tavern softened slightly, as did the flames burning the corpses on the ground.

The group helped up the table and chairs, half-complaining and half-seriously demanding compensation from the tavern owner for the earlier loss, while resuming their conversation.

"Ugh~" Andy clutched his throat.

"Andy, what's wrong?" Tali asked curiously.

Andy clutched his own neck with his left hand, picked up a cup with his right, and stared desperately at the water in the cup: "Stepping in horse manure is bad enough, but what if there's a human head... a man's head at that."

"A man's head that hasn't been washed for half a month." Another soldier from the Shadow Team picked up his water bottle, poured himself a glass of water, and drank it all in one gulp.

"Yet—you bastard, I'm really going to throw up!" Andy's feigned reaction made Tali giggle.

The girl's laughter emboldened Andy, who kept describing the man's greasy hair, which he hadn't showered in half a month, and how beautiful it looked wrapped in the snow. This made Tally complain incessantly and unable to drink any more water.

The group of children entered the tavern and, relying on their numbers, drove away the table of people close to the fireplace and occupied one of the warmest spots in the tavern.

The old man poured water for Li Changzhou, while glancing at the child discreetly at the same time.

Li Changzhou nodded silently.

Old men, children, and women all gathered in this eerie tavern that used guests' kettles on a snowy night. Even ordinary people, let alone seasoned players, would be wary.

Just as the atmosphere became lively again.

squeak--

The door was slowly pushed open!

A shoulder pressed in through the crack in the door.

The biting wind whipped at their newly warmed bodies, and everyone instinctively hunched their shoulders.

"Damn it!" Della couldn't help but curse again and again.

This time, there was only one person, dressed in clothes that were impervious to swords and spears and impervious to wind and snow, carrying a kerosene lamp in his hand.

Amidst a chorus of "welcome" (and curses), the newcomer slammed the door shut behind him and, without clashing with those who had arrived before him, chose a table closest to the fireplace.

Coincidentally, if Li Changzhou and his team were sitting in the cannon position for the black side in Chinese chess, then this person was sitting in the cannon position for the red side, forming a perfect symmetry.

Della walked up to the man.

"Food? Hotel?"

The visitor nodded.

Do you need a light?

The visitor nodded again.

"Twelve blocks of solid ice."

Because of the cold, the visitor slowly took out a handful of solid ice from his animal bag, placed it on the table, counted it with his eyes, and then used one finger to pick out twelve pieces.

"Merry! Bring this table a pot of horse bone soup first, lest my guests freeze to death!" Della shouted, deftly taking the twelve blocks of ice and tossing down a doorplate.

Everyone—soldiers, children, old men, including Li Changzhou—looked at the newcomer.

Solo, physically weak, clueless about the market, rich...

The crowd—a fat sheep?

Old man—a trap?

Li Changzhou - Yang Qinglan?

The atmosphere became strange.

"Captain," the old man said in a low voice, frowning, "something's not right. It's best not to stay overnight. Borrow a light and continue on your way."

"Don't joke around, old man!" Andy said, gnawing on a piece of horse meat. "You want us to give up our lives and go out to freeze to death?"

"Fool! Staying here is tantamount to giving up your life!" the old man cursed.

“Of course I know these people are suspicious, but we have a captain. Who’s in the most danger here… hehe.” Andy chuckled sinisterly.

The wrinkles on the old man's forehead doubled, and although the other four people in the group didn't say anything, their expressions revealed that they didn't want to go out; it was just too cold outside.

"Captain?" The old man looked at Li Changzhou. Now, only orders could get everyone moving.

In dungeons, there is no way to avoid danger.

Li Changzhou spent six years cultivating in the Journey to the West world last time, provided he survived the clutches of the Queen Mother—two Queen Mothers. Although this was their guess, according to the rule that risk and opportunity are equal in the value game, it is highly likely to be true.

Staying may be risky, but choosing to hide and leave may not be without its risks.

Besides, it is indeed very cold outside. The old man is old, and if any of the seven people were to freeze to death, he would be the first.

“Tonight, everyone will sleep in one room, taking turns in pairs to keep watch. The old man and Tali will rest,” Li Changzhou said.

“No problem, boss!” Andy replied with a grin, raising an eyebrow at the old man.

The old man ignored the young man and frowned, saying, "You can stay, but I'll also keep watch."

“Old man, this team needs me, and it needs you too. You have plenty of things to deal with, one more night won’t make a difference.” Li Changzhou tore off a piece of horse meat, dipped it in some unknown seasoning, and ate it slowly, his eyes scanning the lone traveler opposite him.

"Long live the boss!" Andy handed the cup to the middle.

"Long live the boss!" Yete and the others toasted with boiled snow water.

Even inside the tavern, the lone traveler remained completely covered up, his eyes visible but his head bowed.

I ate a little meat, and while eating, my lips were completely covered.

The steam from the horse bone soup in the kettle beside her always lingered on her face.

Her height was similar to Yang Qinglan's, but her body shape couldn't be confirmed due to her clothing.

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