Naming Technique of the Night

Chapter 777: Escape

“You’re headed to the town, right?” April asked earnestly.

Liu Liqun nodded. By now, the camp was nearly empty, most people had already ventured into the snowstorm.

April continued, “Okay, I know you lost your vehicle, but… do you have any food?”

Qing Chen couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time. The Tribunal wasn’t exactly a poor organization, constantly supplying the market with Genetic Potion; how could they appear so pitiful?

Liu Liqun seemed to be dealing with the Tribunal for the first time. After being dumbfounded for a while, he said, “The supplies in the camp were all taken by the Shadow Candidates, we don’t have any food on us either.”

Curious, Qing Chen asked, “Didn’t you bring your food?”

April sighed, “We encountered some wilderness people on the way; they didn’t have enough food stored for the winter, and there were over a dozen children in their group. We gave them the food we had.”

“You’d rather starve yourselves to help others?” Qing Chen muttered.

April earnestly replied, “It’s not about helping everyone, but helping the children; they are the future of humanity.”

By this time, Liu Liqun had finished packing up the remnants of the camp, laboriously tied up a bundle of tents, tied it around his waist with a rope, and dragged it outside.

While walking, Liu Liqun muttered, “Why are we so clueless? The big shot was right by us; here was a chance to cling to someone’s leg, and we missed it.”

Qing Chen laughed, “What ‘big leg’?”

“Well, the Qing Chen Inspector of course,” sighed Liu Liqun. “Only now do I understand why Sun Chu Ci and the others were so eager to work. Turns out the boss was right there. While they were feeding the boss, I was just in the way…”

Qing Chen laughed, “How could we, a bunch of stagehands, have thought of that?”

Liu Liqun said, “If I had another chance, I’d definitely cling to that ‘big leg’. I’ve heard about that Qing Chen Inspector; outsiders always talk about the entertainment industry’s gossip, and the big players in the entertainment circle like to discuss the conglomerates’ gossip. I’ve heard his name not once or twice on the dinner table, they say he’s one of the most powerful people in City No. 10. If we knew such a boss, would we still need to play the underdog every day?”

Interested, Qing Chen asked, “If you got to know him, what would you plan to do?”

Liu Liqun thought for a moment: “Wouldn’t that let me monopolize all the stagehand work in City No. 10?”

Qing Chen: “…”

Small players can sometimes be foolish, but they are also charming.

At one moment, Qing Chen wondered if he would be carefree like Liu Liqun.

…

…

While April admittedly never helped adults, during the trek through the snowy terrain, the Sparrows relied on their strong physiques, leading the group and helping Liu Liqun, Qing Chen, and others by breaking the wind.

The stagehands, who always did the heavy labor and often worked outdoors, wore the most substantial and warmest clothes.

It wasn’t long before they caught up with the group ahead.

Initially, Qing Yi and others led at the front, with Li Yu and other crew members in the middle, and the stagehands at the rear.

But soon, the figures of Qing Yi and his group vanished, and the people behind could only follow the chain of footprints in the snow.

Meanwhile, the stagehands had already passed everyone else.

Li Yu lay in a tent dragged by assistants, wrapped in a thick tent, looking like a giant silkworm cocoon with only a small part of his face exposed to the snowstorm.

The five assistants struggled forward, but they clearly underestimated the difficulty of trekking through the snow.

As the snow on the wilderness grew thicker and, in just over an hour, exceeded the ankle—if it snowed all night, it was feared it would rise above the knee.

Walking in such conditions required one’s all, and yet they had to drag a useless burden along…

It was even more absurd that there were cameramen carrying equipment.

As Liu Liqun passed through the crowd, a cameraman stopped him: “Help carry this camera; this thing is very expensive, worth over two million, and it can’t be lost in the wilderness.”

Qing Chen sighed, “These people really can’t prioritize; what were they doing still carrying equipment at a time like this?”

And, unable to carry it themselves, they wanted the stagehands to help.

In the crew, these people always acted superior to the stagehands, eating first, getting the perks first, and never including the stagehands when the artists offered milk tea or coffee to everyone.

So, now that they couldn’t carry it themselves, they subconsciously wanted to command the stagehands.

But Liu Liqun was not a pedantic person; he knew life was most important at this moment.

He shook his head and pushed away the cameraman in front of him: “Now it’s every man for himself. That equipment weighs over forty pounds. If I carry it through the snow, I’m liable to exhaust myself to death.”

The cameraman grew desperate: “Then let your boys carry it.”

Liu Liqun looked back at Qing Chen and others, then laughed: “Are they not human because they’re my boys? I know you want to carry the crew’s equipment back to sell for money, but will you share the proceeds with us?”

“I’ll share!” the cameraman gritted his teeth, “Fifty-fifty with you.”

“Even if you split the money, no way,” Liu Liqun called to the stagehands to keep moving forward.

Then, the cameraman stopped Qing Chen: “Kid, help me carry it to the town, and I’ll give you half a million from the equipment sale. You could never earn that much money as a stagehand in your lifetime.”

Liu Liqun turned and pushed the cameraman away, angrily reprimanding him: “If you want to get yourself killed, don’t drag others down with you. Let’s go, ignore him!”

The Ravens passed by Li Yu and others without offering any help.

They seemed to have strong principles; if they said they would help children, they really only helped children.

The snow was getting heavier, and Qing Yi and his people were moving further away. The Great Snow was about to cover their footprints, and soon Liu Liqun and his group wouldn’t know how to follow them.

“Everyone, pick up the pace and keep up with the Shadow Candidate; staying with them is our only chance for survival. They have more experience than us,” Liu Liqun said, then quickly walked forward.

Li Yu’s assistant also realized this problem.

They could make money, but as they watched everyone’s figures gradually disappear into the blizzard and the footprints on the ground were quickly covered, the assistants suddenly panicked.

From a distance, the howling of a wolf pack echoed continuously.

One assistant suddenly turned around, only to see a mighty wolf glaring at them as it approached.

He whispered, “I’m not making this money, the chance is yours.”

Saying this, he dropped the rope dragging Li Yu and quickly ran forward, afraid of falling behind.

The other assistants looked at each other and followed in silent escape, angering Li Yu’s agent who started yelling loudly.

But as she yelled, she glanced at Li Yu, tightened the ropes around the tent encasing him, and then snatched a small leather bag from Li Yu’s arms and abandoned the artist…

The small leather bag contained Li Yu’s identification and cell phone. The agent knew Li Yu’s password. As long as she had the cell phone in an area with signal, she could transfer the money from Li Yu’s electronic bank account batch by batch.

Li Yu opened his eyes to find himself alone lying in the icy, snowy wilderness, and was instantly shocked.

He tried to get up and follow, but the agent, fearing he would survive and return to the Federation to reveal their ordeal, had purposely tightened the ropes.

Thus, Li Yu lay wrapped in the tent like a cocoon, completely unable to break free.

Across the vast snowy landscape, only Li Yu was left struggling vigorously.

…

…

In a mountain depression.

Qing Yi’s Protector stopped, “Young master, we’ve walked 20 kilometers, and everyone was up all night. Let’s take shelter here from the snowstorm. The wolf packs following us won’t give up their prey easily in winter. This spot is suitable for defense; if the pack is not too large and we have firearms, we should be able to hold them off. It would be difficult if we were in the plains.”

The depression was narrow, featuring a spacious wind-shelter. Only a small path wide enough for three or four people led inside, flanked by over ten-meter-high mountain bodies.

The Protector continued, “I’ve found out about someone named Sun Chu Ci; they indeed knew the gentleman. According to a girl named Tuan Zi, they had a very close relationship with the gentleman… I plan to temporarily incorporate them into our entourage. If the wolves attack, let them help defend. These people aren’t very good with guns; they can only play a supporting role.”

“Mm,” Qing Yi nodded. He looked at the Protector and whispered, “Qing Li, bring that actress Song Niannian some food, and protect her if the wolves come.”

Surprisingly, Song Niannian hadn’t complained at all along the way and had managed to keep up with the group.

Moreover, she was even helping her plump agent, who had fallen multiple times; each time, she helped him up.

Protector Qing Li paused, “Why help her?”

Qing Yi thought for a moment, “I just realized, maybe the gentleman invited her. It’s possible she has some relationship with the gentleman…”

Qing Li: “…What about the others?”

“Let them fend for themselves,” Qing Yi said, “We’re not saints; we just need to save ourselves.”

At that moment, more figures emerged through the snowstorm. As they approached, it was clear they were seven Crows from the Contraindicated Courts, followed by seven stagehands.

The stagehands were in terrible shape. After finally catching up with the group, each one collapsed in the snow.

Further out, more people were gasping and running frantically, with the increasingly loud howling of the wolf pack close behind.

However, when everyone reached the site, they found that Qing Yi’s men had already taken up their guns at the entrance, subtly pointing their muzzles toward them, preventing them from getting closer.

A bonfire had been lit in the depression, casting an orange-red glow on the mountainside.

Outside was a dim sky and snow.

It was like a black and white movie, where only a few people had color.

“Qing Li, let the stagehands into the depression,” Qing Yi said.

Qing Li didn’t question this time; after all, the gentleman had come disguised as a stagehand, and there might be someone familiar with the gentleman inside…

He understood.

Anything related to the gentleman was a top priority in Qing Yi’s eyes.

Qing Li signaled to the two companions guarding Yamaguchi, “Let the stagehands in.”

Liu Liqun led the stagehands toward the depression. Suddenly, a female assistant who had been by Li Yu’s side pulled Liu Liqun aside, “Please take me with you, I beg you.”

Liu Liqun smiled bitterly, “You have to speak to the one inside, I don’t make the decisions here.”

Meanwhile, inside the depression.

Qing Yi listened intently, “Qing Li, prepare for battle. There are sounds of wolves on both sides. The wolves have driven these people here, and it looks like they’re not planning to let anyone go.”

…

Another chapter at 11 PM.