Naming Technique of the Night

Chapter 862: 526, Slaughter the body, torment the heart_2

“But how can anyone stay in darkness for so long? Wouldn’t he go crazy?” Jindai Sorajima pondered, recalling that she had also undergone enclosed training, a mandatory experience for all Jindai family combatants, teaching them how to face fear and solitude.

Back then, Jindai Yunxiu stayed in the enclosed room for five days, Jindai Yunlo for six days, while Jindai Sorajima herself lasted only three days.

The utter darkness of the enclosed terror is not as simple as imagined. It is an extreme oppression that humans experience after losing the concept of space and time, only truly understood through experience.

Jindai Yunlo calmly said, “He is enduring, trying to hold on until the moment of the time travel, avoiding any complications before that. After all, Qing Chen of the Daytime Organization is still imprisoned in the secret base A02. Qing Chen is just a C-Class, so it’s impossible for him to escape on his own. Therefore, after coming for revenge, this Master of Daytime must want to conserve his strength to implement a rescue plan in the Inner World. Thus, he cannot afford to get injured before the time travel, to avoid affecting the plan.”

Jindai Yunxiu contemplated for a moment: “It’s okay, with the entire area sealed off, he will eventually have to come out of the darkness, and we can find him sooner or later. At most six days, he will be unable to bear the darkness and solitude. Even if he manages to endure until this time travel, he would still have to come out after returning next time. No one can endure the darkness forever.”

“So we just wait?” Jindai Sorajima asked.

Jindai Yunlo: “First, spread the news about the Master of Daytime killing people, let the whole world know that Daytime killed four of Jindai’s chosen ones. We also need to be well-prepared. When we return to the Inner World, we still have to face the joint questioning by the ten directors and push all the blame onto Daytime.”

…

…

Los Angeles City.

A brand-new Mercedes S-Class slowly drove into an old residential compound on Xingshu Road.

The car stopped, and Qing Shuli cheerfully opened the door and got out, while Zhang Wanfang held Hao Haoqin’s hand, waiting by the side.

Seeing her husband struggling with too many items, she said, “Put them in the trunk first, let my brother and my younger brother carry them later. Anyway, the things we bring for the elderly always end up being shared by them, so they should help carry them.”

“Alright,” Qing Shuli nodded.

It’s almost the New Year, so Qing Shuli and his family of three came to visit Zhang Wanfang’s parents together.

The New Year gifts included top-quality Jinhua ham, a whole leg of cured pork, and a box of Maotai, a rarely consumed item in ordinary households. Just this box of six bottles would cost over ten thousand yuan.

Previously, Qing Shuli coming for New Year visits with two bottles of Wuliangye was considered decent.

This is the reality of running a business. The cash flow may look good, but ninety percent of the money is tied up in materials, supplies, and debts, leaving very little cash on hand, just enough to get by.

So, the car that Qing Shuli drove before had not been replaced in seven or eight years.

As he entered the building, Qing Shuli noticed a Porsche 911 parked in the adjacent space and couldn’t help but take a second look.

The family of three walked up to the fourth floor and rang the doorbell.

A middle-aged man in a flamboyant shirt opened the door.

He glanced at Qing Shuli: “Why did you come empty-handed? I heard your factory isn’t doing well this year, but coming to visit parents during the New Year empty-handed is not appropriate.”

Zhang Wanfang pulled Hao Haoqin into the house and retorted casually, “Who asks for New Year’s gifts like that?”

This was Zhang Wanfang’s brother, Zhang Jianjun, Qing Chen’s uncle.

He used to work at Luo Cheng Bearing Group, but after being laid off, he never looked for another job. He spent his days at home taking care of the elderly, living off their pension.

The family urged him to find a job, but he refused, saying he was quite content with his current life.

He was somewhat notorious in the neighborhood.

While cracking sunflower seeds, Zhang Jianjun said, “Wanfang, I heard Qing Guozhong got caught gambling with a crowd and was sentenced to three years? Do you still have contact with him? He still owes me five thousand yuan. I lent it to him because he was my brother-in-law back then. Now, what about the money?”

Zhang Wanfang felt embarrassed being asked about her ex-husband in front of her current husband. Qing Shuli sat silently on the sofa beside her, and she, feeling annoyed, said, “Over the years, have I ever asked you to pay a penny for mom and dad’s medical bills? I’ve always paid for their hospital and medical expenses. Why bring this up now?”

“Let’s keep things separate,” Zhang Jianjun said indifferently.

Zhang Wanfang: “You’re almost fifty, yet you still live off the elderly and don’t go out to work. How do you have the nerve?”

Zhang Jianjun spat out a sunflower seed shell: “The current economic situation is bad, nothing makes money… Oh, by the way, do you know about the Time Travelers? Becoming a Time Traveler is quite profitable. Did you see that Porsche 911 downstairs? A neighbor’s kid became a Time Traveler and joined some local Time Traveler Organization called ‘Parents’ Meeting’, recently promoted to some ‘Green Family Member’, making tons of money! That Porsche 911 is his!”

At this moment, the door was opened by a young man in his thirties: “Hey, did you see that big Benz downstairs? Whose is it? It’s so pretty!”

Qing Shuli hesitated for a moment, then took out his car keys and said, “It’s mine. There are New Year gifts for mom and dad in the trunk, including a box of Maotai. Could you help carry it up?”

Zhang Jianjun and Zhang Jianbing’s eyes lit up.

Zhang Jianbing exclaimed, “Brother-in-law, you’re doing well! Where are you making money now?!”

Qing Shuli thought for a moment and explained, “I also became a Time Traveler and joined the local ‘Parents’ Meeting’ in Los Angeles.”

“Ah?” Zhang Jianjun was stunned: “Wait, you became a Time Traveler? In the ‘Parents’ Meeting’, who is of a higher level, you or that ‘Green Family Member’ next door?”

Qing Shuli modestly said, “I’m a Blue Family Member, one rank higher. However, my promotion was special, due to a meritorious service in a previous mission. If the neighbor is indeed a member of the Parents’ Meeting, he should have heard of me.”

Currently, even though Qing Shuli didn’t receive preferential treatment from Luo Wanya in the Parents’ Meeting, many knew that the eradication of the Mechanicus headquarters was initially Luo Wanya’s effort to save Qing Shuli.

So, Qing Shuli’s status in the Parents’ Meeting was quite good, earning him respect.

Although no one knew the exact relationship between Luo Wanya and Qing Shuli.

At Zhang Wanfang’s persuasion, Qing Shuli recently sold off the medicines he brought back from the Inner World, suddenly improving his financial situation.

He never expected those internet celebrities to be willing to spend so much money on high-end skincare products from the Inner World.

At this moment, Zhang Jianjun’s attitude changed completely: “Brother-in-law, come, come, tell me more about this Parents’ Meeting. Do you think I have the potential to become a Time Traveler?”

Qing Shuli helplessly said, “Whether or not you can become a Time Traveler is not up to us. It depends if there is a corresponding person for you in the Inner World. Many people are trying their luck in various public test cities. Why don’t you give it a try?”

Zhang Jianjun excitedly said, “Sure, if I become a Time Traveler, will you look after me?”

“I…” Qing Shuli knew his Blue Family Member status was somewhat of a fluke, so he didn’t dare promise lightly.

At this moment, Zhang Jianbing said, “Sis, brother-in-law, you guys are doing well now, tell me about any money-making opportunities. And since Qing Guozhong is in jail, there’s no one to bother you anymore, life will be good.”

Zhang Jianjun suddenly asked, “By the way, where is Qing Chen?”

Zhang Wanfang paused: “… Haven’t been in touch for a while, he blocked me.”

Zhang Jianjun said, “It’s good he doesn’t answer the phone. As the old saying goes, dragons breed dragons, phoenixes breed phoenixes, and a rat’s son will burrow. Qing Guozhong’s son can’t be anything good. Maybe he will also become a gambler. It’s better to cut ties early and let him fend for himself.”

Zhang Wanfang remained silent, and the atmosphere in the room became awkward.