Naming Technique of the Night

Chapter 434: 302. The Secret of Autumn Leaf Courtyard_3

In there, there were many statues mixed in whose names Qing Chen couldn’t recall, probably representing the varied beliefs within the Inner World.

This was a very practical era, where gifts always consisted of things that could be turned into cash, avoiding anything flashy yet impractical.

Looking at the gift list, Qing Chen even thought about going to the old man tomorrow to ask for another change of residence.

Time for another joyous housewarming.

Thump thump thump.

“Is anyone there?” The person outside carried a smile in his voice. It was Li Changqing.

...
Qing Chen went to open the courtyard door, only to see Li Changqing feigning a look of resentment as he spoke, “Was that necessary? After all, I was the one who recommended you to the Martial Arts School. The old man arranged a new residence for you, and you moved out from mine on the very day. Couldn’t you have hesitated a bit?”

Qing Chen thought to himself that if the old man really misunderstood some things, staying put might lead to trouble…

He smiled and said, “Have you finished with your tasks?”

“Not at all. It’s not that easy to finish everything,” Li Changqing dropped his resentful demeanor and then smiled, “So, won’t you invite me in to sit?”

Li Changqing had come alone, still holding that black case used for storing Genetic Potions.

He thrust the case into Qing Chen’s hands, “I’m pretty busy myself, so I won’t be able to personally supervise your Genetic Potion usage from now on. I’ll leave it all to you.”

“Thank you,” Qing Chen sincerely said.

Truth be told, among the few people in the Inner World, Li Changqing was one who genuinely cared about him. After all, this set of Genetic Potion, if exchanged for money, could afford many people a lifetime of wastefulness.

Moreover, its worth couldn’t be defined by money alone.

It was enough to fully shape a B-Class Expert. Even Li Changqing had to provide written reports to the Li Family internally when making private mixes.

Qing Chen had already decided its use; it was ultimately going to Liu Dezhu.

In the battle of Xian City, although Liu Dezhu hadn’t physically fought, his cooperation was nearly perfect, brilliantly executing Qing Chen’s diversion strategy.

Qing Chen was aware that Liu Dezhu was scared at the time; after all, even a C-Class Expert would fear being unexpectedly attacked.

Yet, Liu Dezhu had still gone.

Just for that, Qing Chen felt a need to enhance his strength.

As a B-Class Genetic Warrior with Fire Element Awakening, Liu Dezhu was mostly capable of fulfilling the role of a Protector, at least one during the day.

Qing Chen looked towards Li Changqing and sincerely said again, “Thank you, it seems like I’ve never earnestly thanked you before, but you’ve been really good to me.”

Li Changqing shot him a look, “At least you have a conscience. All right, no more talk. I have to head out again, there’s a meeting I need to attend. Also, I should remind you, this Autumn Leaf Courtyard is very important to the old man, so be mindful. And yes, even though you’re now favored by the old man, you’re still officially my bodyguard. So, if I’m in trouble, you’ll need to come save me.”

“Okay,” Qing Chen earnestly promised.

“I’m off,” said Li Changqing and then he was gone.

Qing Chen watched the woman’s retreating figure turning away nonchalantly, and suddenly he was lost in thought.

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

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

No anomalies in the east wing room.

No anomalies in the west wing room.

Until… at last, in a bookcase, he triggered a certain book.

Click, a piece of floor tile that had fit tightly before suddenly sank into the ground, and the entire room was filled with mechanical noises.

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

A lengthy and deep corridor lay before Qing Chen.

The everlasting neon lights, hanging on both sides of the corridor, resembled torches in a passage.

Qing Chen stared blankly at this scene before he finally realized why the old man had left Autumn Leaf Courtyard to him.

It turned out that there were other secrets within Autumn Leaf Courtyard.

He couldn’t help but laugh and cry; when Uncle Li Dong left Prison No. 18, he had escaped through a tunnel, which too was built by the Li Family.

How fond was the Li Family’s ancestor of building tunnels?

Qing Chen continued downwards. The lengthy corridor seemed to have no end. He could feel the wind howling, and occasionally he could see tiny ventilation shafts above the passageway.

Where did this passageway lead?

To the Li Family’s secret treasury?

Or to the Li Family’s secret prison?

Qing Chen estimated he had walked about three kilometers when a staircase suddenly appeared in the corridor, leading upwards.

After a moment of silence, he eventually ascended the stairs.

The area suddenly opened up.

Surprisingly, the end of the passageway was just an old room that, apart from being exceptionally spacious, had nothing unusual about it.

No treasure, no secret prison.

Qing Chen walked to the window and was shocked to discover he had already exited the halfway estate!

Autumn Leaf Courtyard was located at the edge of the estate, and the tunnel led directly to the outside world!

“Wait,” Qing Chen exclaimed suddenly, “no wonder the old man often visited Autumn Leaf Courtyard to mourn his mentor. Perhaps the old man used it as an excuse to sneak out and handle things.”

Whatever life lessons from a mentor, whatever mourning the mentor, in reality, Autumn Leaf Courtyard was a secret passage left by the old man for himself.

For decades, he had used that route to leave the ‘imprisoning’ halfway estate.

Like the stories in popular novels where the Emperor also wishes to make incognito visits, isn’t the palace similarly a cage to the wastelands?

Qing Chen thought that every time the old man spent the night at Autumn Leaf Courtyard, he was actually sneaking out for fun!

He might even have sneaked out to buy liquor, eat twice-cooked pork, enjoying the bustling nightlife of City No. 18.

Indeed, people in corporations surely are cunning!

The old man’s lie had lasted for decades, convincing everyone. Perfect! Such deep schemes!

But for some reason, Qing Chen suddenly saw the old man in a less serious light.

After all, who needs a tunnel to escape from their own home if they are serious?

However, the old man leaving Autumn Leaf Courtyard to him might have been waiting for him to discover the secret and then enjoy the convenience of moving in and out of Halfway Estate freely.

Even if Qing Chen caused troubles in City No. 18 later, who would think it was him who should have been in Halfway Estate?

“Pretty decent of him to pass on such a precious secret to me,” Qing Chen smiled. He searched the room and surprisingly found 7 car keys: “The old man really knew how to have fun!”

…

This chapter of five thousand words brings today’s total to ten thousand, an additional update for the singles on this festive day.

Your friends are celebrating, but here I am, sincerely accompanying all of you! You may not have love, but you have me!

Thank you, student Lin-Xiaobai-Bai-Bai, for becoming a new ally of this book. Thanks to the boss, who has a sweetheart and will probably end up together!

Asking for monthly tickets!