Naming Technique of the Night

"I'm really puzzled, your memorial service is in three days, and then you're supposed to be cremated," Qing Chen said earnestly. "Even if we head to Taboo Land 002 now, it'll take us at least half a month, or even longer. You might not make it back in time for the cremation."

The old man spoke irritably, "Is that even human speech? Do I have to go through that process?"

Qing Chen said, "At the funeral, everyone is supposed to bid farewell to your body. If you run off now, what will they do? Say goodbye to thin air? There will definitely be problems."

"Don't you worry your head about it," the old man waved his hand. "With today's level of technology, making an exact replica of a body is a piece of cake. Just cover it with a crystal coffin, who would dare to lift the lid and check?"

"But if the ashes aren't yours, then when the Li Family descendants kneel and worship during Qingming Festival, won't they be paying respects to a fake Li Xiurui? You won't be able to receive the offerings they burn either," Qing Chen said, puzzled.

"Can you focus on the things of the living world?" the old man said. "Stop pulling my leg, let's get moving!"

Li Ke stood by, utterly clueless about what was unfolding.

He looked back and forth from Qing Chen to the old man.

His face was a picture of confusion and panic.

His grandfather, who had just passed away, had suddenly come back to life.

They had just cried for four hours; was that all for nothing?

And moreover.

Although he knew that his grandfather and the family tutor knew each other, and well enough to deal with something like Dragon Fish, he had no idea they could speak to each other so casually.

Moreover, his grandfather seemed like a completely different person, devoid of his usual authority, as if he were just a skinny old neighbor. His speech was no longer strict or cautious; it was like he was gossiping.

Who was Li Ke's grandfather?

Just a few hours ago, this old man was the Family Head of the Li Family, wielded a fifth of the Federation's power, and could decide the future for hundreds of millions of people.

Normally, who wouldn't approach this old man with tremble and utmost respect?

The old man looked at Li Ke with a smile that was not quite a smile: "Have you never seen a grandfather like this before?"

Li Ke nodded: "You seem like an imposter."

The old man laughed: "You'll get used to it. I've been bound by an identity for most of my life, and only now can I be myself again. It's both a sad and fortunate thing. I hope you don't follow in my footsteps."

Li Ke was stunned for a moment, this revered position of Family Head, he actually didn't like it.

At that moment, Qing Chen said, "Don't get too caught up teaching your grandson; I still have something to ask. You can naturally escape through the secret passage, but what about me? What about Li Ke? If the two of us just disappear, we have to give the outside world an explanation, right?"

"You worry about the most unnecessary things. Rest assured, the Secretariat has long prepared documents approving your journey out, and Li Yunshou will help forge your entry and exit records," the old man said.

Qing Chen thought to himself that these records weren't reliable: "Let's get going then... To speak frankly, if you don't undergo the Empowerment, you might never get the chance to come back. So, do you want to take one last look at this mountain estate?"

The old man waved his hand: "No need, I've looked at it for most of my life, sick of it."

Having said that, he walked into the house and opened the secret passage, leaving Li Ke totally flabbergasted as he had no idea the Autumn Leaf Courtyard harbored such a secret.

Today had been too magical for the young Li Ke; the vast amount of information in just a few hours was overwhelming.

The three of them entered the secret passage, traversing the long 2.7-kilometer tunnel, with Li Ke touching everything with the curiosity of a child.

"Grandpa, did you build this secret passage?" he asked. "What did you build this for… Oh, right, you used to come here every year to mourn your master – was it so you could leave through this passage? Were you going to do something really important outside, like meeting with big shots from Qing's Family or Chen's Consortium?"

Qing Chen was just about to say something when he heard the old man suddenly start coughing: "Ahem, cough cough. Now that I've faked my death, let's not talk about the past!"

He was hinting to Qing Chen to keep some privacy for himself, after all, Li Ke was his most beloved grandson, and some matters should be kept confidential.

Qing Chen curled his lip; whoever the old man met outside, whether they were big shots or not, he knew they weren't from Qing's Family or Chen's Consortium.

When they reached the end of the tunnel, the old man chose a key and said, "Let's go with this one, I had Li Yunjing maintain it the other day. All worn parts have been replaced with new ones."

"It's your car, you call the shots," Qing Chen didn't bother checking what the seven cars were; mainly because he hadn't even found the parking lot for the Microscopic World community!

Qing Chen went on to open a wardrobe, revealing a hidden compartment full of firearms on the wall behind.

He chose three automatic rifles, three pistols, and filled three small boxes with ammunition.

The old man frowned: "Are you planning on going to war?"

Qing Chen looked at him: "I thought Li Yunjing would follow to protect you, but since you set him free, don't I need to prepare some life-saving measures? Once people find out you're not dead, do you realize how many terrifying people will come after us?"

The old man chuckled: "I'm no longer the Family Head; what's the point of killing me, a dead man? But seeing how well you're preparing, I'll leave it to you."

The next moment, Qing Chen turned to Li Ke: "Before we head to Taboo Land 002, there's one more thing to do. Li Ke, sit down cross-legged on the ground."