Night’s Nomenclature-Chapter 503: Growth

The visitor center was deathly quiet.

A gray column of light shone in from the window, illuminating motes of dust that slowly floated and swirled in the air.

Qing Chen sat cross-legged, the frail little girl sleeping soundly on his lap.

The young man silently glanced at the sleeping girl, then at the gradually brightening sky outside.

Most people spend their entire lives searching for a sense of security—enough money, a stable relationship, a safe haven—these are the sources of security.

However, for people like Qing Chen and Shinguji Maki, this is utterly useless.

Qing Chen sat for six hours, then unceremoniously patted the little girl's head: "Get up, time to work."

"It's not even dawn yet…" Shinguji Maki yawned, sleepily getting up.

"Fold the tent," Qing Chen said calmly.

"I haven't slept enough…" the little girl mumbled.

Before she could react, Qing Chen had already walked out of the visitor center.

The little girl, feeling wronged, got up and followed, trying to grab Qing Chen's sleeve.

But Qing Chen dodged her, preventing her from catching him.

Shinguji Maki stood there, momentarily stunned.

Qing Chen opened the door to the visitor center, letting the wind and snow rush in: "Fold the tent."

"I'll fold it! I'll do it now!" Shinguji Maki said in a panic.

Qing Chen stood in the wind, snow, and light by the doorway, turning back to calmly ask the little girl: "Why aren't you crying? Aren't you upset?"

Shinguji Maki silently pursed her lips, and after a long moment, she said: "I'm sorry…"

After saying this, she returned to the visitor center, crouched down, and began dismantling the tent poles, folding both tents and putting them back in place.

Only then did Shinguji Maki speak again, cautiously saying: "I won't complain anymore."

This was indeed a sensible little girl.

Although she didn't know why Qing Chen was so cold to her, she knew that he had sat cross-legged all night to avoid waking her.

She also knew that if he hadn't been saving her, he wouldn't have needed to hide in the mountains.

The little girl had heard from the villagers in Bai Chuan Village that the Shadow Agency was very powerful, and yet this older brother had gotten himself involved with them for her sake.

Qing Chen said: "You're a person of hardship. People of hardship need the awareness that comes with hardship—they must endure more than others to find their destiny."

"I understand," the little girl cautiously approached Qing Chen, reaching out again to grab the young man's sleeve. This time, Qing Chen didn't dodge.

Those who have suffered hardship can better understand the suffering of others.

So, when the small, thin Shinguji Maki set fire to the hot spring inn,

Only Qing Chen could understand how much longing for life was contained within that desperate flame.

He had also cut himself off from his past time and again.

Time and again, in the long passage of time, he forgave himself, allowing himself to no longer sink into darkness, but to break free from the darkness and walk toward the light.

Therefore, when the little girl stood in the firelight, Qing Chen saw his former self.

The brilliant flames burned the past to ashes.

Yesterday's events are like yesterday's death.

Today's events are like today's birth.

But having walked this path, Qing Chen understood even more that past suffering should not be in vain.

The little girl didn't need someone to protect her, but someone to show her a way out.

But as the two were about to leave,

Outside, two elderly people, dressed in thick work clothes, walked from the ski resort employee dormitory in the distance.

Japan has a serious aging population, so hot spring inns and other service industries often employ very old men and women.

For example, in Japan's taxi industry, more than half of the drivers are retired elderly people.

Shinguji Maki nervously tugged at Qing Chen's sleeve.

When the two old men saw Qing Chen and the little girl in the distance, they were stunned for a moment, then turned and went back to the dormitory, as if they hadn't seen them.

At this point, everyone in Bai Chuan Village should know that the Shadow Agency is hunting a young man and a little girl.

The two old men's actions were clearly an act of help and concealment.

Qing Chen thought for a moment, then said softly: "Let's go, let's go up the mountain."

The two, one big and one small, slowly climbed the mountain. Another heavy snowfall had fallen last night, and the snow was already up to the little girl's waist.

She could only follow behind Qing Chen, stepping in the path he made.

Compared to this, the hardships of taking care of the hot spring inn were nothing.

Suddenly, Shinguji Maki saw Qing Chen's heavily scarred hands again.

She knew that unless something unexpected happened, Qing Chen would be training again and again on that mountain ridge until he was exhausted.

But she didn't know why Qing Chen was doing this.

"Older Brother, did you come to Bai Chuan Village alone?" Shinguji Maki curiously asked.

"Mm," Qing Chen nodded.

"Does anyone in your hometown wait for you to return?" the little girl asked.

Qing Chen stood in the wind and snow and thought for a moment: "Probably."

…

…

In front of the Daybreak villa.

A Maybach S-Class slowly drove up. When the car stopped, little Li Tongyun opened the door and hopped out with her schoolbag.

Now that Daybreak was gradually becoming established, Xiao Tongyun had security personnel from Luo Wanya's side diligently picking her up and dropping her off at school.

Every day when she arrived at school, she was like a little princess, like a chaebol heiress.

Xiao Tongyun looked back at the car and said to the security personnel: "Wash the car. Don't let outsiders think that we at Daybreak are in disarray. Before Qing Chen gege comes back, everything here must be in order."

The security personnel were taken aback. They didn't expect this little girl to show such a calm demeanor, and they were momentarily at a loss.

Soon, someone quietly replied: "Yes, I'll wash the car later."

"Thank you," Xiao Tongyun quickly walked into the villa and saw Nangeng Chen and Liu Dezhu sitting dejectedly on the sofa.

Xiao Tongyun calmly looked around the house: "Where's my mother?"

"She went out to buy groceries," Nangeng Chen said listlessly.

"Then what are you doing?" Xiao Tongyun asked expressionlessly.

"We're thinking about how to help Chen ge," Nangeng Chen explained.

Li Tongyun gave a cold laugh. She was a different person when Jiang Xue was around and when she wasn't: "You've been in this gloomy state since his return. If anyone saw you, they would think it was you two who were captured."

Liu Dezhu scratched his head: "It's because we can't help. Knowing that Chen ge is suffering, we can't do anything…"

Li Tongyun shook her head: "Then cultivate, cultivate day and night. In your cultivation breaks, give guidance to Luo Wanya's people. All you need to do is improve yourselves relentlessly until you can help. If I weren't going to school, I would cultivate every moment to help Qing Chen gege sooner. You have plenty of time, yet you waste it."

Nangeng Chen and Liu Dezhu, who are about to become adults, were scolded by a little girl.

But strangely, neither of them felt it was wrong.

The two looked at each other, and Nangeng Chen suddenly asked: "Xiao Tongyun, Chen ge said you have the best cultivation aptitude. What level are you now?"

Li Tongyun looked at him and said: "I'm already C-Class. Don't waste time. Since you can't do anything now, cultivate. Even if Qing Chen gege really has an accident, you have to have the strength to avenge him. Hu Xiaoniu is better than you at this. He temporarily left the Daybreak villa because he knows what Daybreak needs."

Nangeng Chen was stunned. Xiao Tongyun's cultivation progress hadn't fallen behind at all, and was even slightly faster than his.

When Qing Chen had said that Li Tongyun had the highest cultivation aptitude, he hadn't taken it to heart.

After all, under Jiang Xue's supervision, Li Tongyun had to spend half her day at school.

Usually, this little girl was carefree, never taking care of anything in Daybreak, and peacefully playing the role of "Little Rich Woman" in the group chat.

Once Qing Chen had an accident, she seemed to change into a different person, going into her room and not coming out after returning home every day.

Nangeng Chen thought that she was in a bad mood and was locking herself in her room to grieve.

It seems that this was not the case. She had used all her free time to cultivate.

Liu Dezhu watched Xiao Tongyun go upstairs and mumbled: "It feels like the little girl has changed."

Nangeng Chen sighed: "She hasn't. It's just that with Chen ge around, she didn't need to show this side of herself."

…

… freewebnøvel_com

The "Azure Blue' parachute training base outside Haicheng.

This used to be a commercial parachute base, but it was suddenly bought by the Hu Family Group over a month ago.

And then it closed down.

This was an incredible thing, as a parachute base is very expensive; the four helicopters alone cost a lot of money.

The Hu Family Group bought it and closed it down without reopening, as if they were deliberately throwing money away.

Only a few people know that the "Azure Blue' parachute training base hasn't completely closed down, but is only open to one person, and all its equipment and instructors serve only one person.

A high-speed off-road vehicle sped in, and several young people were waiting at the entrance.

The off-road vehicle slowed to a stop, and the window rolled down.

Hu Xiaoniu, in the car, frowned at the several young people: "Chen Sui? I've made it very clear on the phone, I won't join Matrix."

Zhang Tianzhen sat in the passenger seat, cultivating. After the car stopped, he didn't even lift his eyelids, without interrupting his cultivation.

At this moment, Chen Sui said seriously: "Xiaoniu, Tianzhen, we've known each other for a long time, and you're both quite successful time travelers in Haicheng. Why would you want to join a time traveler organization from out of town?"

"Is that not allowed?" Hu Xiaoniu asked back.

Chen Sui thought for a moment and said: "Matrix's mission is to protect Haicheng's time travelers. You know the Inner World Federation is about to start another civil war. With your special status in City 18, joining Matrix would be a great help to Matrix, so I sincerely want to invite you two to join Matrix."

Hu Xiaoniu shook his head: "We prefer Daybreak."

Chen Sui said: "You're members of Daybreak, so you must know that Qing Chen was captured by Shendai. Now that Daybreak is unwisely involved in a crisis, leaving would be a wise choice. That way, when Shendai settles accounts with Daybreak, it won't affect you or your families."

Zhang Tianzhen suddenly opened his eyes: "This time Daybreak has a problem, we two will quit and protect ourselves. Next time Matrix has a problem, we two can quit Matrix as well. Do you want people like us?"

Chen Sui said: "I won't let Matrix get into this kind of situation. At least I won't get the whole organization involved in my adventures."

"That's an interesting idea," Zhang Tianzhen thought for a moment and said: "Actually, it's because of our status in the Eternal Society and our relationship with the Li Clan Conglomerate that you want to get us to join Matrix. You think we've become top time travelers, so we shouldn't be dragged down by Daybreak. But you're wrong, and terribly wrong. Xiaoniu, drive."

After saying that, Hu Xiaoniu stepped on the gas and drove into the parachute base.

Leaving the Matrix members outside, looking at each other, wondering where they went wrong.

The helicopter in the parachute base was ready and had received air traffic control permission, just waiting for Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen.

On the ground, a staff member wearing a helmet and goggles waved a baton, signaling that they could take off.

Hu Xiaoniu put on his flying suit, and Zhang Tianzhen checked Hu Xiaoniu again and again after the helicopter took off, making sure there were no mistakes in his attire, and that no one had tampered with his main and reserve parachutes—this was the job of his Guardian.

The helicopter gradually rose into the air, the door was open, and Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen sat on the edge of the cabin, letting the wind blow on them.

Zhang Tianzhen laughed: "When we got into trouble with the Chen Family in City Seven and fled to Luo City, none of us would have thought we'd become such hot commodities."

Hu Xiaoniu looked at the blue sky and said: "Yeah, Chen Sui's biggest mistake is that he thinks that with our abilities and our status in the Inner World, we don't need to take risks with Daybreak. But the problem is that all of this was given to us by Daybreak."

They had become the object of envy for many time travelers.

But Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen still clearly remember how they got to where they are today.

At this time, the helicopter was shaking, and Zhang Tianzhen asked: "Are you going to complete the Trials of Life and Death today? We could wait a bit longer, maybe we'll get better weather."

Hu Xiaoniu smiled: "This is the best weather we've had in half a month. I don't want to wait any longer. The sooner we complete the Eight Trials of Life and Death, the sooner we can return to Daybreak. Someone is waiting for us."

The pilot in the front row gave a thumbs-up, indicating that they had reached the expected altitude.

Zhang Tianzhen suddenly said: "I'm not going to dissuade you… I also miss the days at the Daybreak villa."

Hu Xiaoniu felt the wind outside the cabin, knowing that he had to grow faster.

He turned to Zhang Tianzhen and smiled: "See you at the finish line."

After saying that, Hu Xiaoniu took a deep breath and put on his goggles.

He looked one last time at the boundless sky, then spread his arms and leaped down.

…