Night's Nomenclature
Chapter 371: Merit of Following the Dragon

Merit of following the dragon.

These words sound incredibly tempting.

At this moment, most people with vested interests in the Shadow Succession are thinking about these four words.

Once a Shadow Candidate successfully ascends, the entire Qing Family's internal power structure will undergo a reshuffle.

Therefore, unlike the quiet atmosphere surrounding Qing Chen.

All the residences of the Qing Family Shadow Candidates are bustling with activity, including even young Qing Yi's.

In District 3, Qing Yi sits obediently on the sofa of his high-rise mansion, receiving guests one after another.

There are factions within the Qing Family in City 10, as well as his colleagues from the Intelligence Bureau's Section 3, which he will soon take over.

In the Federal Central Intelligence Bureau, a Supervisor is second only to the director, overseeing 36 ordinary agents.

So, after those well-informed agents learned who their new superior would be, even before Qing Yi officially took office, they all came to visit one by one.

Under the guise of reporting work.

In the living room, Qing Yi keeps a low profile, calling everyone brother and sister, showing none of the demeanor of a conglomerate big shot.

However, he suddenly feels bored and misses the time he spent cultivating in Autumn Leaf Manor.

He even misses Qing Chen, Li Ke, Li Tongyun, Nangeng Chen, Li Yino...

For some reason, even though he suffered the most hardship and injustice growing up in Autumn Leaf Manor.

Qing Yi feels that that period was the most carefree. Initially, he needed to put on an act, but later, cultivating with his fellow disciples, having lunch together, returning home after cultivation, and watching the sunset over Ban Shan Mountain Estate.

Thinking back, it was quite pleasant.

To Qing Yi's disappointment, since the Li Clan Old Master passed away, the Instructor has disappeared, and they no longer have a reason to gather together.

The Instructor is too partial, only taking Li Ke on his travels, even though he claimed to treat all his disciples equally.

Thinking of this, Qing Yi suddenly remembers the Instructor's first initiation, and feels like crying with emotion.

No, Qing Yi feels that the emotion also includes a hint of humiliation. After all, as such an intelligent Qing Family Shadow Candidate, how can he be easily moved?

What he doesn't know is that the tears then were purely because Qing Chen's Knight True Qi was too bizarre.

"Supervisor?" An agent tentatively asks, seeing Qing Yi daydreaming.

Qing Yi snaps back to attention: "Hmm?"

He feels frustrated inwardly. How can he be distracted at such a crucial moment of winning people over?!

The agents look at each other, realizing that all their flattery has been wasted.

An agent smiles and says: "It's getting late. Supervisor should rest early. Anyway, Supervisor will be taking office tomorrow, and we will have plenty of time to get to know each other. Please rest assured, Supervisor, we will definitely cooperate with you and be your loyal followers."

Qing Yi smiles obediently: "Thank you, brothers and sisters. I'll rely on everyone in the future."

He personally sees the agents out. After they leave, he mutters: "There are so many Shadow Candidates, why did we end up with the youngest one? Look at him just now, he was clearly distracted."

Another more experienced agent sighs: "He's still too young. Remember, after the Shadow Candidates take office tomorrow, we must avoid any conflicts with other teams. I don't think this Qing Yi is likely to win. We don't want to miss out on the merit of following the dragon and end up getting implicated if he falls."

An agent says: "Yes, that's right. But we still need to be polite to Qing Yi on the surface. We can just slack off later."

"By the way, I heard that someone from Intelligence Bureau One is also joining, becoming a Supervisor right away. Looks like Shadow is going to cause trouble in Intelligence Bureau One again."

"Hehe, who dares to meddle with those living demons? Let them fight it out."

After the guests leave, Qing Yi closes his eyes to rest on the sofa in the living room.

A long time later, a message arrives on his phone, recording the agents' conversation after they left verbatim.

The sender is Qing Yi's Kestrel.

Compared to a real intelligence agency like the Secret Spy Agency, the Federal Central Intelligence Bureau, which is controlled by the Conglomerate, is still somewhat naive.

Ninety percent of the truly talented individuals have already been absorbed by the Conglomerate.

After listening to the recording, Qing Yi closes his eyes again: "Boring."

At that moment, the laughter and chatter of his fellow disciples on their way home after cultivation in Ban Shan Mountain Estate echo in his ears.

Tonight, in the homes of Qing Yi, Qing Shi, Qing Yuan, Qing Wu, Qing Xing, and Qing Wen, the remaining six Shadow Candidates, almost simultaneously, the same "reporting work" scenes are taking place, but the mood of each group of people reporting is quite different.

Some people also want to report to Qing Chen, after all, he is a real Supervisor, holding the power of appointment and removal of a team.

But to the surprise of the Intelligence Bureau One, Seventh Group agents, no one can find their new superior's address!

Unlike these minor figures, at this time, many powerful figures within the Qing Family are silently observing, waiting for the third round of Shadow Succession to end, to see who has the demeanor of a true dragon emperor.

Then they will place their bets.

For them, what they are looking at is not only personal ability, but also who can integrate the Kestrels and who is the most ruthless and clever.

By the fourth round, the Shadow Candidates will probably start officially taking over the power from the current Shadow. That will be the moment for the powerful figures to choose sides.

Qing Chen walks through the bustling streets. New Year's Day is approaching, so everywhere is decorated with lights and colors.

In the Inner World, New Year's Day is a festival as important as Spring Festival.

Unlike City 18, there is also a unique Shendai themed street.

The entire street is filled with red wine flags, selling sushi, tempura, and takoyaki everywhere. Izakayas and synthetic yakiniku restaurants are lined up on the ground floor of high-rise buildings.

What's more unique is that girls in kimonos are kneeling in the shop windows, each looking gentle and dignified.

Drunk men put their arms around each other's shoulders and come here. After choosing a girl, they take her into a room. After they're done, they'll get a lollipop from the Boss.

The Boss of other entertainment venues sees the lollipop and knows that the man is finished, so they don't need to spend any more effort trying to attract customers.

Qing Chen passes through here not to patronize the businesses, but because Shendai themed street has the fewest surveillance cameras in District 5, and the swaying wine flags and dense holographic neon lights can help him hide his whereabouts.

For Qing Chen, entering City 10 is a new beginning, and he must be extra cautious.

As the young man passes by the themed street, the girls in kimonos in the shop windows can't help but look at him. Usually, the customers here are greasy middle-aged men, so it's rare to see such a handsome young man.

Does such a clean-cut young man need to come to this kind of place?

However, to the girls' disappointment, the young man does not stop but quickly disappears at the end of the themed street.

Qing Chen returns to Utopia Tower. He first circles the area to check for vehicles from the pce Public Security Management Committee before entering the elevator.

He is worried that the A-list star will call the police. Although his status in the Federal Central Intelligence Bureau is enough to solve the problem, he doesn't want to get a bad reputation before he officially reports for duty.

He presses the button for the 112th floor. The transparent elevator quickly ascends in the enclosed elevator shaft. When it reaches the 66th floor, the elevator shaft suddenly becomes a transparent glass wall.

Thousands of lights and the Flying Cars speeding past in the sky are within reach. The cyberpunk world outside is in full view.

Qing Chen feels like he has suddenly risen from the abyss into the sky, everything is clear.

In front of him, stars are falling to the earth.

Arriving at his door, Qing Chen only glances at the marks at the door before sighing.

Opening the door, the room is filled with the aroma of tea and the sound of coughing.

All the lights are turned off, only the neon lights outside reflecting in, but it cannot illuminate the Shadow Master's Face^[-].

Qing Chen says helplessly: "You're too familiar. I haven't even had time to buy a kettle yet, and you're here to drink tea?"

The Qing Family Shadow smiles, pointing to the coffee table: "Here, I bought it. It's a housewarming gift."

Qing Chen imagines the other party carrying a kettle, walking out of the Shadow Gate, suddenly feeling very strange, yet very down-to-earth.

"But as a housewarming gift from the Qing Family Shadow, it should at least be a Forbidden Artifact, right? What's the deal with a kettle?" Qing Chen asks.

The Qing Family Shadow changes the subject and asks: "What's your impression of Yan Chunmi?"

Qing Chen thinks for a moment and says: "She's hiding her abilities."

"Oh?" The Qing Family Shadow is surprised: "Being able to observe this is surprising. Why do you think she's hiding her abilities?"

"Maybe she's worried that I'm a jealous boss? Or maybe she's worried that I'll use her as a pawn?" Qing Chen guesses.

The Qing Family Shadow smiles: "What do you think of her approach?"

Qing Chen says: "I don't care."

"Good. A manager should have a broad mind. Don't worry about what she thinks or does. You just need to know what you want," the Qing Family Shadow praises.

Qing Chen suddenly feels that Li Shutong taught him how to cultivate, Li Xiurui taught him how to maintain his original intention, and this Qing Family Shadow wants to teach him how to be a qualified boss.

But why? Why is he teaching me all this?

Qing Chen has some guesses, but several of the answers are too bizarre and unbelievable.

"What do you plan to do with the other Kestrels?" the Qing Family Shadow asks.

Qing Chen thinks: "If I say I haven't planned to use them yet, would you believe me?"

The Qing Family Shadow shrugs: "Anyway, I've given them to you. It's up to you to use them or not."

At this moment, Qing Chen suddenly asks: "Did you kill Old Shen's family?"

The Shadow laughs and cries: "What do you take me for? To kill a whole family just to have a loyal contact and archivist? That's too much underestimation of my personal charm. Also, Old Shen was underground for 32 years. I was only two years old when he went in... Oh, are you trying to figure out my age?"

Qing Chen is surprised that the Shadow is so young, which also negates some of his guesses.

At least the Shadow isn't the father of the Inner World's Qing Chen.

Unless the other party got married and had children at the age of 15, that's too early...

In the dim room, the Shadow turns on a projector embedded in the wall. The projector consists of three projection ports, and three beams of light converge in the room to form a holographic image.

The image is a TV series starring the A-list star Qing Chen just pointed a gun at.

The atmosphere suddenly becomes awkward.

Qing Chen points at the star in the holographic image: "You still chase stars? You even found out their hidden address to set me up?"

At this moment, the Shadow raises an eyebrow: "You have a visitor."

He calmly finishes the tea in his cup, then throws down a packet of tea and says: "Just had someone pick some tea leaves for you. Although it can improve eyesight, use it sparingly. Too much can cause problems. By the way, the Qing Zhuo Yan Chunmi mentioned didn't disappear. As you guessed, Yan Chunmi was a secret agent before, and Qing Zhuo was her Kestrel. Later, because she discovered that Qing Zhuo was enchanted by a woman and had a tendency to defect, she took action to eliminate him. This tea was grown by Qing Zhuo."

Having said that, the Qing Family Shadow opens the Shadow Gate and enters, as if walking into nothingness.

Qing Chen looks at the void and feels a little disgusted. It's fine to give tea, but you have to disgust people at the last moment and remind me that what Yan Chunmi said may not all be true.

But he suddenly realizes that the Shadow's trip was actually to deliver tea.

Could it be that the other party witnessed the old guys delivering fruit in Forbidden Zone 002, and felt that if he didn't take out something, it wouldn't be right?

Qing Chen knows that the tea leaves from the Forbidden Zone have an effect on eyesight that is beyond imagination.

He wonders what would happen if one day he tasted everything with enhanced effects from the Forbidden Zone.

Thinking of this, Qing Chen looks forward to the feast promised by Ding Dong.

Three knocks. Qing Chen gets up in confusion and asks: "Who is it?"

A muffled voice outside says: "It's me."

Qing Chen opens the door and sees Li Dongze standing outside. He is wearing a fine suit and a delicate bow tie, as if he had just attended a banquet.

This man always seems ready to attend grand ceremonies in full attire.

"What are you doing here?" Qing Chen asks.

Qing Chen is not surprised that the other party knows his address. He had told Hu Xiaoniu on the wasteland that he was going to City 10.

He is not surprised that Li Dongze is in City 10, because when passing through the border tunnel, he saw the Eternal Society's motorcade.

He is surprised that the other party would appear in this room.

Li Dongze is also carrying a black plastic bag and asks directly: "Where is the kitchen?"

Qing Chen points in the direction in a daze.

Then, he watches as Li Dongze enters the room, turns on the induction cooker, and starts boiling water.

Li Dongze takes a bag of black sesame glutinous rice balls from the black plastic bag, opens it, and throws the white glutinous rice balls into the pot.

Silently waiting for the glutinous rice balls to cook.

Standing still like a statue.

The room falls into an inexplicable silence. Qing Chen stares blankly at Li Dongze's figure in full attire, cooking glutinous rice balls, while Li Dongze confronts the embarrassment with silence.

Qing Chen asks strangely: "What are you doing here?"

Li Dongze remains silent for a moment and says: "Boss said that it's New Year's Day, and no one should be alone, so he asked me to come."

Qing Chen: "...New Year's Day doesn't have glutinous rice balls, it's Lantern Festival."

Li Dongze frowns tightly and asks with seven parts doubt and three parts uncertainty: "Really? Then what do we eat on New Year's Day?"

Qing Chen asks: "Did Master ask you to come here just for this? The key is that you are so obvious, what if someone finds out?"

"No," Li Dongze shakes his head: "I came here very carefully. Before Boss sent me, he said that after you came to City 10, that old Qing Family Shadow would definitely try to win you over. Our own people can't be worse than Shadow."

Having said that, he places the cooked glutinous rice balls in front of Qing Chen.

Then, without caring whether Qing Chen agrees or not, he sits next to Qing Chen and takes a photo together, sending it to Su Xingzhi.

Qing Chen can almost imagine that in the near future, Su Xingzhi might suddenly run to City 10.

What's going on? Why have I become such a hot potato?

Qing Chen looks at the steaming glutinous rice balls. It's been several years, and this is the first time someone has accompanied him for New Year's Day.

In the awkward atmosphere, there is also a trace of warmth.

He looks up and says sincerely: "Thank you."

After Li Dongze sends the message, he looks at Qing Chen seriously and says: "There are also people from Eternal Society in District 4. Although Eternal Society is not the dominant force here, you should be able to get some help if you need it. By the way, is Luo Wanya your person?"

Qing Chen nods: "Yes."

Li Dongze thinks for a moment and says: "He's expanding too fast. Although he's doing it very covertly, he will inevitably make enemies."

"Who has he made enemies with?" Qing Chen asks.

Li Dongze says: "He poached a branch from the Mechanical God Sect. Now those lunatics from the Mechanical God Sect are searching for him everywhere. The Mechanical God Sect is very evil, try not to provoke such an organization. Do you need me to help?"

Qing Chen shakes his head: "Let's see. Let's see if he can solve it himself."

This news is really surprising to Qing Chen. What kind of operation is it to directly poach a branch from the Mechanical God Sect...

You must know that the Mechanical God Sect is a formal religious organization in the Inner World. Luo Wanya can poach people from it, which means that Luo City's local snake must first destroy the faith of a branch!

Is it that outrageous.

"I'm leaving," Li Dongze looks at the glutinous rice balls: "Little Boss, just have a few bites to show respect... Don't mention that I gave you glutinous rice balls on New Year's Day to Su Xingzhi and Lin Xiaoxiao."

"Okay, I'll keep it a secret."

...

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