Night's Nomenclature
Chapter 302: The Secret of Autumn Leaf Manor

“Sir, I know you want to beat up Qing Yi, but your status prevents you from doing so,” Li Ke said seriously. “I, your student, can do it for you.”

“I didn’t mean that,” Qing Chen smiled.

“I understand,” Li Ke said.

Qing Chen thought, this kid has a righteous heart, but he’s not rigid.

He thought, perhaps Old Master saw this, so he sent him to my side.

Only, does Li Ke know what kind of path that is?

It’s a path of life and death; don’t set foot on it without preparation.

Qing Chen didn’t agree to Li Ke, nor did he refuse. He simply said, “What you want to do is your own business; whether I’m willing to teach you is my business.”

After saying that, he maintained a strange breathing rhythm, continuing to lie on the recliner, immersed in the mysterious world.

Section 1 The breathing technique and sniper training were carried out simultaneously. Qing Chen was growing rapidly and enjoying the joy of growth.

Qing Chen didn’t have the chance to play games like other students before, but now his feeling for cultivation is like leveling up in a game, full of a sense of accomplishment.

Although it was winter, Knight’s skin and blood circulation were different from ordinary people, so he didn’t feel cold.

Seeing that his sir was ignoring him, Li Ke didn’t speak.

Not only that, he specially took fresh winter peaches from the refrigerator, washed them, and placed them on the stone table next to Qing Chen.

Then he returned to the kitchen to continue picking vegetables and cooking.

The skilled knife work came from the kitchen, and the frequency of cutting vegetables was that of a veteran.

Qing Chen didn’t pay attention and wasn’t surprised.

Soon, Li Ke prepared four dishes and a soup and served them on the stone table, including the Dragon Fish.

At this time, footsteps sounded outside the door again.

Qing Chen opened his eyes. It was unfamiliar footsteps.

Knock knock knock. Someone said outside the courtyard gate, “Hello, is Instructor sir here?”

Li Ke glanced at Qing Chen: “Sir, shall I open the door?”

“Go ahead,” Qing Chen nodded.

Two servants were seen outside the gate, each carrying a gift box in both hands, no one knew what was inside.

The two servants were stunned when they saw Li Ke, then looked at the apron and sleeves on Li Ke’s body, and glanced at the food on the stone table, and immediately understood what was going on.

For the Li Clan, there are also differences between servants. Those without discernment cannot enter Ban Shan Mountain Estate.

The servants in the manor are also superior to the outside servants.

Although everyone’s labor contracts are the same.

They have realized that the food on the stone table was made by Li Ke himself!

But who is Li Ke? He is the most anticipated third-generation disciple of the Li Clan’s main branch and the beloved son of the head of the main branch.

Every New Year’s Eve, the Li Clan holds ancestral rites in the ancestral hall. Last year’s ancestral rites were attended by Li Ke on behalf of the Li Clan’s main branch.

The servants all know that those who can represent a branch in the ancestral hall are influential.

And now, such a direct descendant who is qualified to represent a branch in the ancestral hall is actually in this remote courtyard, cooking for an Instructor sir?

The status of the school’s Instructor is indeed high, but it’s not that high!

Li Ke looked at the servant: “You’re from the second branch, aren’t you? I’ve seen you. What are you doing here looking for sir?”

“Ah,” the servant hurriedly said, “Our Boss heard that the Martial Arts Hall’s Instructor sir has moved into a new house, so he sent us to deliver a congratulatory gift.”

Li Ke pointed to the corner of the courtyard: “Put it there, I’ll help sir organize it later. Wait, there are only four gifts? Go back and tell your people to send four more, do you understand etiquette?”

“Yes, yes,” the servant hurriedly said, “We’ll go back and tell them now.”

Li Ke, who is respectful in front of Qing Chen, has a natural aura of a superior when facing servants.

That’s the innate superiority of the Li Clan Conglomerate; they have been pampered since birth.

However, this 14-year-old boy is wearing sleeves and an apron. Qing Chen thinks it doesn’t quite match the aura of a superior.

The servants left. Qing Chen didn’t say a word from beginning to end; Li Ke handled everything.

After a short while, when the servants came back, several people came carrying twelve boxes of gifts, making up sixteen!

Twice as many as the eight Li Ke had requested.

The servants said, “Sorry, it was our mistake. Please forgive us.”

Li Ke said, “Alright, put the things aside. Don’t disturb sir’s peace.”

“Understood,” the servants retreated.

After a while, the other branches of the Li Clan, knowing something, sent people, each branch sending sixteen gifts.

Not only that, the first batch was sent by servants, the second batch was sent by students themselves, and the third batch was sent by the leader with students.

The etiquette became increasingly grand; no branch wanted to be inferior to others.

All these gift-givers had one thing in common: after entering Autumn Leaf Manor, their eyes would sweep back and forth between Qing Chen and Li Ke.

Trying to judge the relationship between Qing Chen and Li Ke.

Qing Chen looked at the pile of gifts in the corner. He felt it was somewhat bizarre.

Is this the human world of the conglomerate?

The world Qing Chen experienced outside Ban Shan Mountain Estate is completely different from that inside Ban Shan Mountain Estate.

After everyone left, Autumn Leaf Manor regained its daytime tranquility.

“Sir,” Li Ke said, “I’ll count the gifts. Please eat first, or the food will get cold.”

“You eat too,” Qing Chen said calmly.

“No, I can’t sit at the table when sir is eating,” Li Ke said.

“Come here,” Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, “I have something to tell you.”

“Okay,” Li Ke wiped his hands, took off his sleeves and apron, and sat at the stone table.

“You are the pride of the Li Clan’s main branch. Why do you cook?” Qing Chen asked.

Li Ke explained, “I’m curious about everything; I want to try everything. Actually, I want to see the world outside the city more, but my parents don’t allow it, saying it’s dangerous outside. But Yino promised me that she will take me out to play during the Spring Hunt next year.”

Qing Chen didn’t expect that besides the Autumn Hunt, there is also a Spring Hunt.

While the indigenous people of the Outer World are struggling, the wealthy young masters are already living a life of walking dogs, teasing birds, and watching black boxing.

Qing Chen asked, “I see you bossing around those servants, but you are respectful to me. Why?”

Li Ke was stunned: “It’s always been like this; it’s the same in my family. Servants are tools.”

“No, they are also people. Their status may be different, but their personality is equal,” Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, “Today I’ll teach you a lesson. Being able to be humble towards those who are inferior to you is true cultivation. Survival of the fittest is the natural order, but without some animalistic attributes, civilization is called civilization.”

Li Ke pondered: “Sir’s words are very reasonable, but I still need time to adapt and accept.”

“Let’s eat,” Qing Chen nodded.

To be honest, the longer he stays in the Inner World, the more he feels the difference in thinking in the Outer World. It’s because the Conglomerate has controlled the world for too long.

During the meal, the Dragon Fish was on the table, but Li Ke didn’t touch it with his chopsticks.

After the meal, he went to wash the dishes. While washing, he asked, “Sir, won’t you go to school this week? When you’re not here, Qing Yi skipped class this afternoon. Mainly, he doesn’t belong to the Li Clan, and the Instructors don’t want to manage him.”

“Do what you think is best,” Qing Chen calmly lay back on the recliner: “I see there’s a dishwasher in the kitchen. Why don’t you use it?”

Li Ke said, “The dishwasher needs to work for several tens of minutes to wash these. I can do it in a few minutes.”

“Do you really want to learn?” Qing Chen asked.

“Yes,” Li Ke nodded at the sink.

“Starting tomorrow morning, you’ll go from house to house at 6 a.m. to wake up all those students, then run five kilometers before going to class,” Qing Chen said.

He didn’t say why; just run.

Let’s see if he can persevere.

Besides, not every student is willing to do morning exercises. Whether Li Ke can call everyone out also depends on his ability.

“By the way, who used to live in this Autumn Leaf Manor?” Qing Chen asked.

Li Ke answered, “It was left by my grandfather to his mentor. It is said that the mentor taught him many lessons in life, and Autumn Leaf Manor has been empty for many years. Grandfather would always spend a few days staying overnight in Autumn Leaf Manor to commemorate his mentor.”

“I see.”

Actually, Qing Chen himself didn’t know Autumn Leaf Manor, but most people in the Li Clan did.

This is also one of the reasons for the many visitors tonight.

In this regard, Qing Chen guessed wrong. Autumn Leaf Manor has nothing to do with Li Shutong.

“Sir, I’ll remind you again that you can put your laundry in the clothes basket in the west wing. If you have nothing else to do, I’ll go back,” Li Ke said.

“Mmm, go ahead,” Qing Chen said.

Li Ke bowed to Qing Chen and then left.

At this moment, the news that Li Ke, the pride of the Li Clan’s main branch, was serving as a servant in the Instructor sir’s home had spread throughout Ban Shan Mountain Estate.

To the outside world, the Li Clan is a behemoth that can crush most things in the world.

However, in Ban Shan Mountain Estate, this is just a complex mansion with all kinds of people, and the most popular thing is gossip.

Now the core of the gossip is why Li Ke is willing to go to Autumn Leaf Manor and do what servants do.

Why?

But everyone is not a fool; many things connected together may be clearer.

First, Old Master sending the Dragon Fish is not simple because everyone knows how precious the Dragon Fish is.

Second, Li Ke is Old Master’s favorite grandson, so is there Old Master’s guidance behind Li Ke’s actions?

This correlation is too strong, so it’s very persuasive.

But the question is, why would Old Master favor this outsider Instructor? What is so special about him?

Wait, Qing Chen lives in Autumn Leaf Manor?

Over the years, the various courtyards have been continuously assigned to the children of various families, but only Autumn Leaf Manor has been left empty, and no one has lived there.

Therefore, Autumn Leaf Manor has a special status similar to that of the Dragon Fish.

At night, when no one was around, Qing Chen looked at the gift list compiled by Li Ke. He found that the Li Clan people were quite generous, not sending useless things, all of them were gold jewelry, bracelets, necklaces, rings, anklets, gold locks, pure gold amulet, gold Bodhisattva, gold Buddha…

Among them, there are many statues that Qing Chen cannot name, which are probably mixed beliefs in the Inner World.

This is a very realistic era. The gifts are all things that can be cashed out, rejecting the flashy and impractical.

Looking at this gift list, Qing Chen even wanted to tell Old Master tomorrow to change his residence again.

To have another housewarming celebration.

Knock knock knock.

“Is anyone there?” The person outside the door had a smile, it was Li Changqing.

Qing Chen opened the courtyard door, but saw Li Changqing looking at him with a feigned resentment and said, “Is that necessary? After all, it was I who introduced you to the Martial Arts Hall. Old Master arranged a new residence for you, but you moved out from me the same day. You should have hesitated a little.”

Qing Chen thought, if Old Master misunderstood something, if I don’t move again, something might happen…

He smiled, “Are things finished?”

“No, how can it be so easy to finish,” Li Changqing dismissed the resentment and smiled instead, “What? Won’t you invite me in?”

Li Changqing came alone, carrying the black box used to hold the Gene Medicine.

She stuffed the box into Qing Chen’s hand: “I’m busy too, I won’t personally accompany you to take the Gene Medicine in the future, just give it all to you.”

“Thank you,” Qing Chen said sincerely.

Speaking of which, Li Changqing is one of the few people in the Inner World who genuinely treat him well. You know, this set of Gene Medicine, if exchanged for money, is enough for many people to squander their lives.

Moreover, this thing is not measurable by money.

It’s enough to completely shape a B-Class expert. Even Li Changqing’s private dispensing needs to submit a written report to the Li Clan.

Qing Chen has already thought about its use. Ultimately, it must be given to Liu Dezhu.

In the Xian City battle, although Liu Dezhu did not fight, his cooperation was almost 100%, perfectly executing his diversionary tactic.

Qing Chen knows that Liu Dezhu was scared at that time, after all, even a C-Class expert is afraid of being sniped.

However, Liu Dezhu still went.

Just for this, Qing Chen needs to improve his strength.

B-Class Gene Soldiers + fire element awakening. In most cases, Liu Dezhu is qualified to be a Guardian, at least one of Daybreak’s Guardians.

Qing Chen looked at Li Changqing and said sincerely again, “Thank you, I don’t seem to have said thank you seriously, but you have been really good to me.”

Li Changqing glanced at him, “It’s good that you have a conscience. Alright, let’s not talk about it. I still have to go out again. I have a meeting to attend. Also, I remind you that Autumn Leaf Manor is important to Old Master; pay attention. By the way, although you are now favored by Old Master, you are still nominally my bodyguard, so I need you to save me if something happens to me.”

“Okay,” Qing Chen replied seriously.

“Bye,” Li Changqing said and left.

Qing Chen looked at the woman’s chic back and suddenly became thoughtful.

After closing the courtyard door, Qing Chen began to wander around the courtyard.

After confirming that there was nothing unusual, he began to search each room.

The east wing was normal.

The west wing was normal.

Until… he finally pulled out a book in the bookcase.

With a click, a tightly fitted floor tile suddenly sank into the ground, and the whole room was filled with the sound of mechanisms.

After that floor tile sank, it became part of a long staircase.

The long and deep corridor is right in front of Qing Chen.

Everlasting tritium lights hung on both sides of the corridor, like torches in a passage.

Qing Chen stared at this scene and finally realized why Old Master left Autumn Leaf Manor to him.

It turns out that Autumn Leaf Manor has other secrets.

He was somewhat dumbfounded. When Li Shutong left Prison 18, he left through a tunnel, and the prison and tunnel were built by the Li Clan.

How much do the ancestors of the Li Clan like building tunnels?

Qing Chen walked down, the long passage seemed to have no end. He felt a whistling wind, and he could occasionally see thin ventilation shafts above the passage.

Where does this passage lead?

The Li Clan’s secret treasure trove?

Or the Li Clan’s secret prison?

Qing Chen calculated that he had walked about three kilometers before a staircase suddenly appeared in the passage.

He was silent for a moment before finally going up.

Suddenly bright.

Surprisingly, at the end of the passage, there was just an old house. Except for its extra spaciousness, there was nothing unusual.

No treasure, no secret prison.

Qing Chen went to the window to look and found that he had actually walked out of Ban Shan Mountain Estate!

Autumn Leaf Manor was originally on the edge of the manor, and the tunnel actually leads directly to the outside!

“Wait,” Qing Chen said in astonishment, “No wonder Old Master often goes to Autumn Leaf Manor to commemorate his mentor. I’m afraid Old Master used this opportunity to sneak out to do things.”

What mentor taught him life lessons, what commemorating his mentor, actually Autumn Leaf Manor is the secret passage Old Master left for him.

For decades, he has been using that to leave Ban Shan Mountain Estate, the place where he was ‘imprisoned’.

Just like in popular storybooks, the emperor also wants to go incognito, and for the wilderness, is the palace not also a cage?

Qing Chen felt that every time Old Master stayed overnight in Autumn Leaf Manor, he was actually sneaking out to play!

Maybe he would sneak out to buy wine and eat twice-cooked pork, enjoying the endless nightlife of City 18.

Sure enough, the bigwigs of the Conglomerate are all cunning!

This lie of Old Master’s has been told for decades, and everyone believes it. Amazing! Deep city!

But for some reason, Old Master’s image in Qing Chen’s eyes suddenly became unserious.

After all, who needs a tunnel to escape their own home?

However, Old Master left Autumn Leaf Manor to him, perhaps waiting for him to discover the secret and then have the convenience of freely entering and leaving Ban Shan Mountain Estate.

Even if Qing Chen causes trouble in City 18 later, who would think it was him, who should be in Ban Shan Mountain Estate?

“That’s pretty generous, giving me such a precious secret,” Qing Chen smiled. He searched the room and found seven car keys: “Old Master is quite a player!”

…