Night’s Nomenclature

Chapter 981: Ready to Return to Lay Life

When the world brightened again.

"Another one's gone," Little Seven sighed dejectedly as he sat in the mountain pass after completing another round of wanted posters, "Everyone keeps saying no one cares about us anymore, no support, no supplies, as if we're not important at all."

Since the Guardians' Union started their long journey, they've been mostly out of contact with the outside world.

Hundreds of thousands of people wandered the mountains like savages, hair disheveled, barefoot. But hardship isn't the worst; the worst is the feeling of abandonment.

Before this, they could hardly believe that human feet, so soft without shoes, could adapt so quickly to the hard mountain paths, becoming tough so fast.

The Phoenix City air fleet behind them searched the mountains from time to time, more and more frequently. But the Qing Family's air support never appeared, leaving them to die pointlessly.

This made the Guardians' Union members feel that everything they were doing was meaningless.

In the mountains and fields, the 330,000-strong Guardians' Union was down to 260,000; more than 70,000 people were lost.

Some died in the pursuit by the Phoenix City air fleet; others couldn't bear the journey and quietly left.

Hunger and cold became their norm. All the Guardians' Union members were gaunt, their cheeks sunken, even planning the distribution of tree roots to eat.

Many people persevered for over a thousand kilometers, but the news of Qing Chen's disappearance was the final straw that broke their backs.

The night Qing Chen disappeared, Luo Wanya didn't hide the news.

That night, more than 20,000 people left the Guardians' Union, because everyone had lost hope.

At this time, the monks from Dabei Temple had just returned from collecting herbs, each carrying a bamboo basket full of them.

The abbot signed.

Dayi looked at the abbot: "Abbot, is there any wild vegetable in the mountains that can't be eaten?"

A young monk beside him translated: "The abbot says, you're having such a hard time, we might as well go ourselves…"

Are these even real monks?! Why are they starting to dislike the Guardians' Union?

It has to be said that those fake monks pretended to be compassionate all day long, but these real monks showed more true temperament; the abbot would even flip you off when angry.

Little Seven asked the abbot why he was cursing, how could he use foul language, wasn't that breaking his vows?

The abbot replied in sign language: I didn't speak, so it doesn't count as breaking the vows.

Little Seven's forehead went black at that moment.

Originally, the monks had planned to fight the puppet army; if they lost, they would die in the mountains; if they won, they would break their vows and return to lay life. But that battle never came to them.

The abbot was quite happy afterward: I don't have to return to lay life today!

This was a group of monks who were ready to return to lay life at any time; when they returned to lay life depended on when they broke their vows.

The abbot signed, asking: "Are you really planning to walk to the southwest like this? How long will that take? Is no one coming to help you?"

Little Seven was speechless for a while: "I can't answer those questions."

The abbot signed, and the young monk translated: "You guys are so pitiful."

Little Seven: "Why are there sentence particles?! Don't add drama to the translation!"

The abbot asked again: "Where is your boss, the one called Qing Chen."

Little Seven dejectedly: "I don't know."

At this time.

Qin Shuli had left his team and ran wildly through the forest: "Boss is fine! Boss is alive! Boss is fine! Boss is alive!"

The Guardians' Union had waited so long for this news.

When Luo Wanya, Little Seven, and the others heard the distant shouts, they turned around at the same time!

Qin Shuli ran up, panting:"Before the time travel, Qing Chen called me."

He said, his throat too dry to speak; he had run more than twenty kilometers without a drop of water.

Little Seven quickly handed him a water bottle: "Slow down, slow down, but be as detailed as possible!"

Qin Shuli took a sip of water: "He said on the phone that he had amnesia but was slowly recovering some memories. Now, he's trapped in a safe house with Black Widow and Yi, waiting for the Royal Capital's ground forces to relax their guard before coming back to find us! His cancer is cured!"

Little Seven's face lit up. For so many days, all the family members had been asking, "How is the leader?", "Is the leader still alive?". Qing Chen's life or death had become the spiritual pillar of the Guardians' Union. If the news of Qing Chen's death really came, half the team would probably disband.

Luo Wanya murmured: "As long as he's alive… as long as he's alive, it means he has completed the path to becoming a god! Everyone, although we're not sure when Boss will be back, as long as he's alive, our perseverance is meaningful. Spread the news, tell everyone! Wait… there's something wrong with Boss's words."

Little Seven asked: "Lao Qin, where is Boss in the Outer World?"

Qin Shuli quickly said: "In a rainforest drug factory at 23 degrees north latitude. He said he'll wait for us there."

Little Seven laughed: "That should be the direction Zheng Boss was looking for," "Next time we return, we can pick him up. Then everyone can help him recover his memories."

But at this time, Luo Wanya looked at the countdown on her arm and froze: "The countdown has changed!"

All the Time Travelers looked down, only to see that the countdown was 719:19:01.

Several minutes had passed since the time travel, meaning that the time travel cycle had changed back to 30 days!

The time travel cycle hadn't changed for a long time. It had always been a seven-day round trip, so everyone subconsciously thought that the seven-day time travel cycle was fixed and wouldn't change.

"What do we do? I'm afraid we won't be able to make it back to pick up Boss in time." Little Seven said bitterly.

"It's okay," Luo Wanya said calmly, "As long as we're alive, we'll always see each other. According to the original plan, we should have arrived at Sword Gate Pass tomorrow, but at our current speed, it will take three more days. If we're slow, everyone's plans will have to change. We can't delay anymore. Everyone, keep moving!"

Little Seven sighed: "It's not that we don't want to go faster, but when the West Continent air force comes to search the mountains, we can only stay put. Now that their supply lines are established, their searches are more frequent, and we can't speed up."

At this time, someone said in the communication channel: "The West Continent brats' Airship is here to search again. Everyone, be careful!"

For a time, the Guardians' Union members hid under the trees, covering themselves with camouflage cloth and silently cultivating the Zhunti Method. The West Continent's search became increasingly strict. Members in the rear were killed one after another, passing on messages before their death. Others could only stop and wait for the Airship's search to end.

In the rear, the Airship dropped bombs. Once the affected Guardians' Union members let out a cry of pain, they would immediately be detected by the sonar system.

Once a member is discovered, the entire area will face concentrated firepower, potentially killing thousands at once.

The Guardians' Union's team stretched for hundreds of kilometers, and the West Continent air force was trailing behind, very close to the main force.

Their supply lines must be destroyed to slow down the West Continent troops' search progress.

This is the meaning of Qingshan Fortress going to the Central Plains, but Qingshan Fortress itself is likely to be in danger.

Central Plains.

The West Continent's newly established forward base, relying on City 10, was engulfed in flames.

Qingshan Fortress, using a miraculous coordinate route, avoided all West Continent radar and suddenly appeared above the forward base, leaving it completely unprepared.

However, Li Changqing knew it wasn't that simple. Because of the existence of the Fate Weaver, the enemy's lack of preparation was suspicious in itself.

Li Changqing waited silently. From the moment she received the order, she knew it was a suicide mission.

But if doing so could buy the Guardians' Union some time, she wouldn't mind dying.

On Qingshan Fortress, the naval soldiers looked at the dense enemy forces on the Phase-array Radar and were at a loss for a moment: "We're surrounded. The West Continent seems to have known about our surprise attack on the forward base! North, there's an Air Fortress appearing in the north!"

To intercept an Air Fortress, an Air Fortress is naturally needed.

Now, the West Continent only has three Air Fortresses left: the royal family's, Storm City's, and Phoenix City's. They didn't know which one was coming this time.

A combat staff officer said: "There are more than 400 Airships on the radar, plus an Air Fortress. We can't hold them off."

"How far are they?"

"320 kilometers. At their current speed, they'll arrive in about 43 minutes."

Li Changqing looked at Xiao Tongyun: "You guys go to the deck and board the Airship. I'll open a path for you with Qingshan Fortress. Actually, you shouldn't have come."

Li Tongyun shook her head: "We're not leaving. Since we chose to come, we've already made the worst preparations."

Li Changqing's personal bodyguard, Lao Shijiu, found it troublesome, so he simply changed his name to Laowan.

He silently watched this scene and said to Li Changqing: "Boss, Qingshan Fortress can't escape, but you can."

Li Changqing smiled: "I'm the head of the Li Clan. I came to the Central Plains with this three-thousand-strong Li Clan army and Air Fortress. How can I leave you all behind and run away? I won't leave. By the way, Laowan, when did you start following me?"

Laowan replied: "Since you had your own Qingshan Bieyuan Courtyard at the age of 18, I've been your housekeeper."

Li Changqing asked: "Actually, you're from the Observer organization, right? My father told me about this. He knew your identity, knew you wanted to record what happened inside the Li Clan, but he let you record it."

The command room fell silent.

A long time passed before Laowan answered with a smile: "Believe me, the Observer organization has no ill intentions. We only care about the truth."

Laowan no longer addressed Li Changqing as "Boss," but as if he had gone back 14 years, he smiled and greeted the girl lazily walking into Qingshan Bieyuan.

He is the current leader of Observer, but also an ordinary person in this era, a speck of dust.

In the torrent of this era, he chose to protect Li Changqing, to be a loyal bodyguard until his death.

Li Changqing shook her head: "Don't worry, I don't mind your true identity. I know what kind of organization Observer is. I'm just a little curious. Now, Qingshan Fortress is the last of the Li Clan. If we die, the Li Clan will disappear. So, how will Observer record my Li Clan?"

Laowan pondered for a moment: "I will truthfully write down how you used commercial means to exploit the poor, how you manipulated the political arena, and even some of the shameful things in Ban Shan Mountain Estate. But I will also truthfully write down all the efforts the Li Clan made when foreign enemies invaded. I will write about how Li Clan head Li Yunshou and the entire Li Clan died with the Blackwater City fleet with unyielding will."

Li Changqing curled her lips: "That's enough."

In the Federation, history is not written by the victors, but by these people in Observer. People don't trust the Conglomerate, only this silent Observer.

They are not tempted by profit, only to put the truth of the Federation in the archives, waiting for the day history is made public, to clear some people's names, or to prove the guilt of some people.

Li Changqing said: "So, it's not me who should leave, but you. Zhang Ping,

I need you to record everything you just said. We can't die in vain."

But at this time, Li Tongyun stood in the command room, looked up at Li Changqing on the command seat and said: "Aunt, wait a moment."

Zhang Ping, this is Laowan's real name; Li Changqing hadn't forgotten.

Li Changqing curiously asked: "Wait for what?"

Li Tongxue seriously said: "My brother believes in that Ling, and the grandpa on Ginkgo Mountain also believes in her. Her bringing us to the Central Plains wouldn't be just to let us die. I believe there is still a chance."

As for what that turning point is, no one can be sure.

Someone saw fate but kept their mouth shut.

In City 20, corresponding to Osaka in the Outer World, Shinguji Maki wore a white dress and curiously walked down the street.

This was her first time in the Inner World, and she was immediately attracted by this strange and wonderful world.

Only, the pedestrians all had the word "slave" tattooed on their foreheads.

Beneath the colorful holographic neon lights and towering buildings was a human hell.

At this time, Shinguji Maki looked at a middle-aged man: "Excuse me, can I borrow your phone? I want to make a call."

The middle-aged man looked around curiously at Shinguji Maki: "Little girl, why are you alone? Where's your family?"

Shinguji Maki thought for two seconds: "I'm alone. I want my family to come and get me. Can I borrow your phone?"

The middle-aged man looked around again, silent for a moment before taking out his phone for her: "Then, after you've made the call, uncle will treat you to ice cream, okay?"

Shinguji Maki obediently agreed: "Okay."

She took the phone and dialed the number Shendai Yunluo had asked her to memorize: "Hello, Uncle Qing Ji, I'm… sir, what city is this?"

The middle-aged man said: "City 20."

Shinguji Maki said: "I'm in City 20. The holographic neon lights above my head are a group of elephants, and there are also Oriental International neon signs. Uncle Qing Ji, are you in City 5? Come and pick me up now? Okay, then I'll wait for you here."

She hadn't seen Qing Ji, but her teacher, Shendai Yunluo, told her that he was a trustworthy person.

Little Zhenji returned the phone to the middle-aged man, and politely said: "Thank you…"

The middle-aged man tempted her: "The person who's picking you up is still far away. It will take him at least two days to get here from City 5. Come home with uncle first. Uncle's house has ice cream."

Little Zhenji shook her head: "No, Uncle Qing Ji asked me to wait for him here. He'll be here soon."

Seeing that she refused to go with him, the middle-aged man suddenly reached out to grab her.

But just as he reached out, a Shadow Gate suddenly opened beside him, and Qing Ji walked out expressionlessly, slapping the middle-aged man in the face: "Bullying such a little girl?"

Then, Qing Ji vented his anger by slapping the man in the face one after another, until the man's face was swollen.

Little Zhenji watched from the side, feeling a little unbearable: "Don't hit him anymore, Uncle Qing Ji. Just kill him."

Qing Ji: "…"

He slowly looked at the little girl. Didn't everyone say that this girl is the last conscience of the Knight Order?

This is the last conscience?

Qing Ji twisted the middle-aged man's neck, looked at Shinguji Maki, and they met for the first time; he was also curious about Qing Chen's disciple.

He asked: "How did Shendai Yunluo mention me to you?"

Little Zhenji said seriously: "He said you were a completely trustworthy person. Uncle Qing Ji, let's go save Qingshan Fortress. Sister Tongyun, Brother Nangeng Chen, Brother Liu Dezhu, and the others are still on Qingshan Fortress."

Qing Ji asked: "So, you came through time travel just to save people?"

"Yes," Little Zhenji replied, "Teacher Shendai Yunluo said this is my and his destiny."

"His destiny?" Qing Ji pondered:

He seemed to have guessed something…

"Can you kill people?"

"No," Little Zhenji said, "But I can learn."

Qing Ji smiled: "I believe you're a Knight now, but we can't go to the battlefield yet. It's not time."

"Huh?" Little Zhenji was confused: "Then what are we doing now?"

"Collecting some interest first," Qing Ji said, "Shendai Yunluo told me you have the Hyakki Yagyo ability. Let's kill all the puppet soldiers and West Continent soldiers in City 20 first. This is your first lesson in the Inner World: killing."

"How do we find them? This city is so big!"

"It's simple. Kill everyone who doesn't have the word "slave' on their heads."