Naming Technique of the Night

Chapter 866: 529, The Magic of the Fire Pit

City 18, Federation’s Gemini Star.

Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen were sitting in a bar. In the dance floor, the bar used holographic projections to display several flamboyant dancers performing provocative dances.

Hu Xiaoniu propped his chin and watched calmly, “Do people really watch this? Why not just go see the real thing?”

Zhang Tianzhen was meditating with his eyes closed, always practicing whenever he could.

Upon hearing Hu Xiaoniu’s remark, he opened his eyes and replied, “This small bar isn’t really in this kind of business. They’re just using this to cover up some real shady dealings, so using fake stuff is cheaper.”

Just then, a fat man in a fur coat approached with a sycophantic smile, “What brings two big bosses of Heng Society to my place today?”

The fat man’s lower body had been replaced with mechanical limbs. Generally, only soldiers injured in battle or gang members severely hurt on the streets would replace such large parts with mechanical limbs.

But before he finished speaking, Zhang Tianzhen suddenly grabbed the bar owner’s chubby hand and pressed it onto the table with such speed that it left no time to react.

Before the owner could respond, Zhang Tianzhen had already pierced his hand with a chopstick, pinning it to the table.

It took a full two seconds before the owner screamed in pain.

Zhang Tianzhen said leisurely, “On Heng Society’s turf, only single-use dopamine chips are to be sold, no chemical drugs. Have you heard of this rule?”

The fat owner wailed, “But many people can’t afford the equipment to connect to a neural interface. They can’t use dopamine chips!”

Zhang Tianzhen was taken aback, “Under normal circumstances, I’d reason with you, but not today.”

While speaking, Zhang Tianzhen picked up five more chopsticks and punctured the owner’s hand one by one.

The bar owner reached for his waist with his other hand, but found that his gun was already in Hu Xiaoniu’s hand.

Hu Xiaoniu said seriously, “Listen to him carefully, don’t get distracted.”

Zhang Tianzhen said, “I know that in your business, you have strong backing and are desperados. But in City 18, no matter who comes, they must conduct their underground business according to Heng Society’s rules… Huh, your eyes are so lively, I can see the defiance in you. That’s okay, just kneel here and watch if what I say is true.”

At that moment, more than ten men in black rushed in through the bar’s front door, and the same from the back door.

They raised their arms, ready to shoot Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen. Zhang Tianzhen immediately shielded Hu Xiaoniu, tightly protecting him.

In that instant, all the assassins’ faces turned blood-red, their blood was squeezed out of their pores by an overwhelming pressure, and their eyeballs turned crimson.

The assassins didn’t even have the chance to make a move before they died.

The scene was eerie and frightening.

From a nearby booth, a man in a black trench coat stood up.

The young man took off his hat and walked slowly to Hu Xiaoniu’s side, “It’s done.”

The kneeling bar owner cried out in horror, “Li Dongze!”

Zhang Tianzhen smiled, “Those guys earlier were from Jindai, do you think your backers are stronger than the Jindai Consortium?”

Before traversing, Qing Chen, in his last moments, warned all Daytime members via “Monopoly” that Jindai would retaliate against them immediately after they crossed over.

As Qing Chen expected, Jindai came.

But unlike Daytime’s revenge on the island country, Jindai’s retaliation was like serving themselves up on a platter.

“Alright,” Li Dongze said, “no more talking with him.”

Zhang Tianzhen stood up and followed Li Dongze out, “Thank you, Boss Li.”

Li Dongze nodded as if it was a matter of course, “You should thank me. If it weren’t for dealing with Jindai’s retaliation, I’d be heading north by now.”

Hearing this, Hu Xiaoniu suddenly asked, “Will Qing Chen be in danger?”

Li Dongze glanced at Hu Xiaoniu, “Of course, there’s always danger. Who hasn’t faced danger in this world? But I’ve already passed the message to the master, so even if Qing Chen encounters danger…”

Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen knew the “master” Li Dongze mentioned was Uncle Li, that mysterious demigod.

If the demigod took action personally, would Qing Chen then be safe?

Li Dongze paused and said, “If the master intervenes, even if Qing Chen gets into danger, the master can bring back his body.”

Hu Xiaoniu: “???”

Zhang Tianzhen: “???”

If not for knowing they couldn’t win against this man, they’d definitely make a move!

Li Dongze added, “Along with the corpse of the Jindai Family Master.”

Hu Xiaoniu: “…”

Zhang Tianzhen: “…”

At that moment, Li Dongze took out his pocket watch, “It’s going to snow again, better head home early.”

With that, he put on his hat and walked into the bustling neon lights of City 18.

…

…

In the mountains, 400 kilometers away from Base A02.

More than a dozen people wearing black linen cloaks were walking through the mountains.

The snow had begun to fall in the north, and Suyue pitifully asked, “Can we stop to light a fire and cook? It’s already past 2 AM.”

As she spoke, she looked at the Grand Elder of Fire Pit and Li Yunjing.

Li Yunjing silently looked at Li Ke, while the Grand Elder of Fire Pit looked at Qin Yiyi.

Li Ke and Qin Yiyi responded in unison, “No!”

Qin Yiyi seemed to feel that her tone was a bit harsh and softened it, “Our mission is to rescue someone; we can’t afford to waste a single second. A few hours’ delay could mean they encounter an accident.”

Suyue pouted, “But I’m really hungry. You can’t do this; The Contraindicated courts never have to endure this kind of hardship. Uncle Yunjing, Grand Elder, can’t you say something? Even if we’re rescuing someone, we need strength, right?”

These two were clearly the most powerful in the group, yet they seemed to have no intention of leading.

The Ravens seldom encountered such situations during missions.

Usually, when they anticipated a Transcendent death event, the local forces would provide them with good food and accommodations, afraid that their territory might turn into a Taboo Land.

This time was different. Not only did they get barely any help, but they were also urged to travel overnight.

Li Yunjing and the Grand Elder didn’t force them, but every time they rested for too long, Li Ke and Qin Yiyi would stand by their sides and “chant scriptures”, one for the first half of the night, and the other for the second half, relentless like soul reapers.

Suyue felt this was the most torturous containment mission, her nerves were frayed!

She lamented, “We’ve been on the road for 20 hours!”

Li Ke sighed, “Let’s camp here. There’s a big battle ahead, Uncle Yunjing and the Grand Elder need to rest and recuperate.”

The Grand Elder’s face changed, “What nonsense are you talking about? We’re in the heart of the Jindai Consortium’s territory. If we make a move, we’ll definitely provoke their military forces. Once the Aerial Fortress arrives, the main firepower electromagnetic cannon will obliterate us all, even a demigod! You guys fight, I won’t!”

Qin Yiyi said, “Then give me back the Black Knife.”

The Grand Elder’s face twitched, he suddenly felt aggrieved. It was clearly his knife, but how did it end up being granted to this little ancestor by God?

Does God even care about reason?!

He hesitated and said, “I’ll help with one fight, but that’s it.”

As she picked up kindling, Qin Yiyi smiled, “The Grand Elder is the best.”

The Grand Elder felt a bit awkward hearing this praise. He stroked his beard and muttered softly, “It’s not that great…”

More than a dozen people gathered firewood in a cave. Suyue sat by the bonfire, resting her chin on her hands, staring at the iron pot above the flames, which was simmering with the Divine Cow Meat the Grand Elder had just added.

One had to admit, the food from Fire Pit was indeed magical. These people roamed the Taboo Lands year-round, not only avoiding deadly beasts but also hunting rare creatures.

According to Qin Yiyi, all children in Fire Pit eat the meat of a Peng Qi beast at age twelve. The Peng Qi resembles a tiger with a pair of wings on its back.

After eating Peng Qi meat, the children would have a fever for thirteen days, with their body temperature bizarrely reaching over sixty degrees.

During this time, the adults would put them on their beds to keep the whole family warm, like a heater.

After the fever subsided, the children’s physiques would grow exceptionally strong.

This was why people in the Federation always said Fire Pit people were naturally strong.

At some point, hearing these stories, Suyue thought of joining Fire Pit to explore various Taboo Lands.

At this moment, the Grand Elder was telling another story, “Do you know about Taboo Land No. 10? It used to be our pasture. By pasture, I mean while it was dangerous, Fire Pit knew all the rules, so it wasn’t that bad. There’s a Dragon Pool with Dragon Fish, eating nine of them can strengthen and fortify one’s body. A long time ago, Fire Pit used to take nine Dragon Fish from there annually, giving the best God’s Child at the Horn Ceremony a treat.”

Suyue smacked her lips, “Is there still any now?”

The Grand Elder suddenly said indignantly, “There used to be hundreds of fish! Then a group of scoundrels plundered the place, almost wiping out the Dragon Fish. These people had no respect for nature! Moreover, to prevent Fire Pit from fishing again, they caught a top expert from Deer Island and buried him there. Over ten years ago, Taboo Land No. 10 suddenly got an insanely deadly rule, killing many foreign treasure hunters. Even we from Fire Pit couldn’t go there anymore…”

Suyue and the others were shocked. There was such a tactic?!

Only Li Ke’s face turned odd, Dragon Fish… he had just eaten eight of them, and the master promised to find him another one.

Moreover, Li’s Half Mountain Manor had many Dragon Fish sent from others.

So, it seemed obvious who had caused Fire Pit’s misfortune…

At that moment, footsteps were heard outside the cave. Everyone turned suddenly to see three figures emerging from the darkness.

Someone laughed and said, “Just now… it seems someone was badmouthing us…”

The Grand Elder heard the voice and was shocked, “Oh crap!”

He grabbed the Black Knife, pulling Qin Yiyi towards the cave’s depths, but it was a dead end, so they turned back…