Night's Nomenclature
Chapter 345: Meeting Yang Yang Again

Countdown 103:00:00.

5 PM.

After the motorcade left City 18, the road became rough and bumpy. Even after a month, no one had repaired it.

Luckily, the old man’s Off-road Vehicle had excellent suspension, so the bumpy road wasn’t much of a problem.

In contrast, the Masonic Lodge’s motorcade was quite different. After only forty or so kilometers, someone had a flat tire.

These students were impressive; not only were they intelligent, but their hands-on skills were also excellent. They quickly set up a jack, used their car repair tools, and fixed the flat tire themselves.

Many people think of top students as nerds, but in this era of Outer World, most top students have a special skill and are strong in both action and thinking.

Qing Chen curiously asked the old man, “It’s strange. Why is Inner World’s tire technology almost the same as Outer World’s? Haven’t they developed better materials, like ones that won’t get flat tires?”

The old man chuckled, “If everyone used tires that never wore out, who would buy new ones? It would become a one-time business deal, and the Conglomerate wouldn’t make money. The Federation’s five Conglomerates control patents in all consumable industries. Some things that affect the foundation of an industry will have their patents bought up and shelved. After all, they’ve already made enough money. Industry reforms might bring new uncertainties. As long as the army can use the latest technology, that's enough.”

“I see,” Qing Chen thought, the Federation’s army must have some technology that surpasses its time.

This is one of the downsides of the Conglomerate controlling the world. They guide human development in a way that benefits their profits. The path humanity takes is carefully designed, not the path it should naturally take.

“By the way, have you ever dealt with this Shadow?” Qing Chen curiously asked, “What kind of person is he?”

The old man said, “The Qing Family’s Shadow is the family head’s ‘enforcer.’ The Shadow handles all the dirty work. People in this position are usually public enemies. Many Shadows in the past ended up having to hide in the Qing Family’s gingko garden in City 10 to avoid being assassinated. But doing that is like being under house arrest in the gingko garden.”

The old man continued, “For example, the previous Shadow pretended to travel around the world, likely changing his appearance and name to live out his retirement in hiding. But this current Shadow is strange. It seems that even before he became the Shadow, he was trying to avoid this outcome. To this day, no one knows who he really is.”

Qing Chen asked, “Isn’t he one of the three people who survived?”

The old man said in a low, meaningful voice, “Who says the Shadow has to be a living person?”

Qing Chen was stunned. Yes, in everyone’s eyes, the ninth Shadow Candidate had died in Prison 18, but was he really dead?

No, he wasn’t.

The old man continued, “This current Shadow hasn’t done anything that made him a public enemy. It’s as if the Qing Family wants to lie low. Many things are done secretly and are difficult to detect. For example, the Qing Family has been sending supplies to the wilderness for seven years before anyone else knew about it, and you don’t know what he’s really doing.”

Qing Chen added in his mind that the other party was also trading with Knight. Thinking back, Li Shutong’s friends were probably rescued by that Shadow, but he still doesn’t know the content of their transaction.

The old man laughed, “I’ve always felt that this generation’s Shadow is a bit like the Qing Family’s ancestors. Shendai said he’s the reincarnation of ‘Qing Zhen,’ but it is said that he doesn’t have much time left, maybe only a few years longer than me.”

Qing Zhen was the ancestor who founded the ‘New Qing Family’ in the new human civilization era.

The old man concluded, “Be careful when dealing with such a person. This kind of intelligent person who lies dormant for over a decade, when he finally returns to the stage, everyone will be shocked.”

At night, Guo Huchan led the motorcade to set up camp. While setting up tents, the old man called several female students over to tell stories.

He looked at Qing Chen’s impassive expression and pointed at him, smiling at the female students, “What do you think of my grandson? He doesn’t have a partner yet. Would you consider getting to know him? He’s honest and has an excellent character. Our family is very rich. When I’m gone, a lot of our assets will be left to him. It’s not that you should be after money, but it’s not bad to find a well-off family, right?”

Several female students cautiously looked at Qing Chen. Currently, Qing Chen looked like Zard, so he wasn’t exactly handsome. And Qing Chen had been rather quiet and taciturn along the way, not exactly a likeable personality.

Also, Jiang Yichen had told them last night that Qing Zhade was very dangerous and had probably killed many people.

In comparison, they thought Li Ke and Hu Xiaoniu were pretty good.

Qing Chen sat beside the old man and whispered, “What are you trying to do?”

The old man laughed heartily, “You’re old enough to get married. When I was your age, I… Forget it, let’s not talk about the past.”

“Don’t bother yourself with such things. Just take care of yourself,” Qing Chen said helplessly.

The old man muttered, “You should get married early, then Changqing won’t be thinking about you.”

Qing Chen, “What are you rambling about? She’s my friend.”

Then, Qing Chen turned to the female students and said, “Don’t listen to my grandfather’s nonsense. I still have tens of millions of yuan in debt. The house in the Microcosm World community was also bought with a loan, with a 10% down payment.”

The female students were all stunned, “Tens of millions in debt? How did that happen?”

Qing Chen sighed, “I also want to know.”

However, the old man suddenly whispered, “Don’t worry about the loan.”

“Huh?” Qing Chen was stunned.

“I asked Li Yunjing to pay it off for you,” the old man whispered, “Before leaving, I have to give you something. Old Seven can give you things that I can’t. I’m poor, only having money left.”

“I think the Heartless Bell is pretty good,” Qing Chen said.

“Can you act like a human being occasionally when facing a Forbidden Artifact?” the old man said angrily, “Yunshou isn’t a cultivator; the Heartless Bell must be kept to protect him.”

“Alright,” Qing Chen said.

The old man continued, “Also, two properties and a car have been prepared for you in City 10, in the third district. When you go to City 10, you’ll have a place to stay. The Li Clan’s children can’t be laughed at when they’re out... Don’t worry, I bought them in full with my private money. I’m not like your master.”

Qing Chen fell silent. The old man had genuinely accepted him as a junior.

But he suddenly wondered, was his master helping him buy things with loans, and Old Master repaying the loans, a scheme they’d planned together? One making him feel touched, then the other?

After realizing he was debt-free, with plenty of savings to spend and two more houses, Qing Chen’s mood brightened.

“But why buy a house in City 10 instead of City 18?” Qing Chen was puzzled.

“That’s the Federation’s political center; you’ll go there sooner or later,” the old man said confidently.

At that moment, Qing Chen looked around and noticed a figure quietly approaching the vehicles.

Wait, isn’t that Jiang Yichen’s figure?

He saw the other party get into a vehicle, quietly close the door, then suddenly turn on the headlights. The engine roared as it sped away.

Qing Chen was stunned. He had said he would test Jiang Yichen to see if he was guilty.

The result was too guilty.

He just had Hu Xiaoniu spread some rumors, and the other party ran away.

At this moment, he was very certain that this guy was Lu Ya. When he was on the rooftop of the Kailai Grand Hotel, this guy’s caution was exactly the same as that masked person.

Everyone in the camp stood up and watched silently as the Off-road Vehicle drove away.

Qiduo looked at Nangong Yuanyu, “Should we chase?”

“No,” Nangong Yuanyu shook his head, “It seems Hu Xiaoniu was right. Jiang Yichen does have a problem. We only asked a few probing questions, and he ran away. Let’s try to find him in Outer World. At least get the money for the Off-road Vehicle back. He shouldn’t be short of money in Outer World.”

Qiduo nodded, “So Hu Xiaoniu’s words are reliable?”

“Yes, for now,” Nangong Yuanyu nodded, “Let’s try to build a stronger relationship on the way. After returning to Outer World, we also need to find a way to bring him and that Qing Chen into the Masonic Lodge.”

“What about Nangeng Chen and Zhang Tianzhen?” Qiduo asked.

“Zhang Tianzhen should be worth recruiting, but Nangeng Chen… let’s wait and see,” Nangong Yuanyu said, “But if the other party insists on four people joining together, we can make an exception and accept Nangeng Chen.”

It’s not that the Masonic Lodge is picky, but any organization with ambition will have an entrance threshold. Nangeng Chen’s IQ score in their behavioral assessment wasn’t very high…

This assessment isn’t wrong…

Jiang Yichen’s Off-road Vehicle drove further and further north, but soon everyone’s attention turned south, where a car was approaching.

Nangong Yuanyu subconsciously looked at Guo Huchan, who was standing by the road, rhythmically flashing a powerful flashlight.

The Off-road Vehicle stopped by the roadside, and a young man and woman got out.

Hu Xiaoniu was stunned when he saw the people getting off the car because he recognized them.

However, Hu Xiaoniu looked at Qing Chen the next second, though he didn’t know why he looked at Qing Chen.

At this time, Guo Huchan chuckled, “Yang Yang, Li Situ, why did you arrive early?”

Li Situ said, “There’s a flu outbreak in the wilderness, and medicine is important. The Boss was worried about accidents with the medicine, so he asked Yang Yang to come ahead and meet you. I have something to do and need to rush to City 18.”

Qing Chen thought, your Boss is almost saying he doesn’t trust Guo Huchan.

It’s true. If he were Xu Linsen, he wouldn’t trust Guo Huchan, this iron-headed fool either.

…