Naming Technique of the Night

The study materials for the Parents' Meeting were personally organized by Qing Chen over two days after his return to Los Angeles City, with assistance from his helper.

It was a very detailed set of materials, sufficient for the family to study for several days.

Qing Chen sat in his office at midnight when he received a message from Luo Wanya.

When he saw that the Parents' Meeting had captured the Red-robed Bishop, he couldn't help but be astonished.

When he saw that Qing Shuli had also become a family member, he couldn't help but ponder a question.

If one day Qing Shuli came to see him, and someone asked where he was going, would it be awkward if he said, "visiting the parents"...

So it was better not to meet at all.

Qing Chen glanced at the brightly lit office, finding it strange that Qing Zhun, who usually came to bring him supper whenever he worked late, had suddenly disappeared.

At this very moment, Ginkgo Manor was brightly lit.

Just like the Li's Half Mountain Manor in City 18, Ginkgo Manor in City 5 was also a core locus of power for the Qing's Family.

City 5 was also known as Mountain City, where the city's uneven terrain and rugged mountain roads were prevalent, and a river ran swiftly through it, flanking buildings resembling niches carved into mountain bodies illuminated by dazzling, dense lights.

People often said that one should not follow a map in City 5, as you might find there was no road ahead, and the building you were looking for could be just across the rooftop where you stood, with a chasm between you and that structure.

Ginkgo Manor was situated atop a high mountain in the city, around the middle elevation of the mountain.

From afar in the city, it resembled a clump of buildings atop the firmament.

In a certain conference room, thirteen major faction leaders of Qing's Family quietly sat, each lost in their own thoughts, not speaking to one another.

It was then that in the corner of the room, the Door of Shadows opened.

The very moment the door opened, the room was plunged into darkness.

The Qing's shadow who stepped out from the door nonchalantly took the head seat in the conference room: "Where's the boss? Is he not presiding over the meeting again? Always meditating, wishing for immortality? His talent for cultivation isn't even that good."

The leaders in their seats seemed to have already been accustomed to meeting in the dark.

However, the atmosphere this time was different.

One of them spoke calmly, "In terms of family hierarchy, you, as a shadow, should not be so disrespectful to the Family Head. In terms of kinship, as a son, you should not speak of your father in such a manner; there should be rules."

The shadow chuckled, "If you're trying to attack me from this angle, save your breath. Let's talk serious matters then. We've gathered 13 directors of the Qing's Executive Board here. What is it that we wish to discuss?"

The middle-aged man sitting on his right said, "Why all the trouble to trade Qing Mu, who is now in a vegetative state? Keeping him in the North might inspire morale as the Federation civil war is about to break out again. As the shadow, you should be well aware of how to choose in the face of family interests."

The shadow laughed, "Can't you show some backbone? Qing Mu has contributed so much to the family; if he is to die, he should die in his own home."

"Then why didn't you do this earlier, and choose to do it now instead?" someone challenged, "I suspect you are merely using Intelligence Department One and the trade of Qing Mu as a pretext to attack members within the family, to eliminate dissenters. Intelligence Department One has captured more than a dozen important figures from our own ranks recently, why not release them?"

The shadow said slowly, "Because those dozen important figures have taken benefits from the Federation that have not benefited the family, but merely lined certain people's pockets. I understand that each faction wants to fight for their own interests, this time even trying to support a martial fool as a shadow. Perhaps this is the plague of great clans. But don't forget, without the clan, there would be no you."

The atmosphere in the meeting room grew tense, with all the faction leaders present subconsciously holding their breath.

The shadow said with a smile, "Don't be so tense. I know some of you have petty schemes in the battle for the shadow, but the struggle for the shadow has always been so. Whoever you want to support is your freedom. I'm just reminding you, although the corporation is well-established, it could still fall. So, don't make foolish choices for short-term gains."

At the end of the long table, a middle-aged woman spoke up, "Then why are you using Intelligence Department One to support Qing Yi? Qing Yi is still young, how could he qualify as a shadow? Or is there something else you aren't telling us?"

At the table, Qing Yi's father suddenly spoke up, "Old women have long hair and short wit. Why can't my son be a shadow? You all secretly support your candidates. I haven't made a move until now. I've already told Qing Yi, if he can be the shadow, be it; if not, he should honestly roll back to City 5. From this point of view, I am a hundred times stronger than any of you. Don't let me find out anyone is playing dirty against my son. If he dies, I'll blame each one of you sitting here."

The atmosphere in the meeting room turned awkward.

Everyone silently thought, Qing Yi's father has always been difficult to deal with. It's one thing to question the shadow, but why bring up this difficult person in the process.

Shadow laughed, "Very well. I originally didn't plan to attend the meeting, but I thought the mental journey during the struggle for shadow would be quite intriguing, so I came to see you all argue. Argue, keep arguing."

In the Federation, Shadow always observed literary works that depicted high-ranking bigwigs as unfathomable, where each statement could be analyzed for over a dozen meanings.

However, he was very aware that these so-called bigwigs were not like that, everyone had different personalities and temperaments.

The only similarity was that everyone was very aware of their own interests and positions.

Now, Qing Yi's father, Qing Qiu, had scolded that woman, but if one day she also supports Qing Yi, Qing Qiu would quickly become as close to her as if they were siblings.

The bigwigs' intelligence varied, but when faced with interests, their shamelessness and thick-skinned nature were essentially the same.

At this moment, one person turned to Shadow, "We request that Qing Chen be moved to another location, and not continue to stay in such a critical position at Intelligence Department One. I recommend Qing Shu."

Shadow looked at him with a beaming smile, "Is this position that critical? Then why has it been vacant for more than half a year with no one willing to take it? You're eyeing it now because Qing Chen has dealt with the other families, and Qing's Family has a chance to compete for the next Director of PCA Central Intelligence Agency, so you want to pick the fruits, don't you?"

The crowd fell silent for a moment, then someone said, "Right, this Qing Chen also shares the same name with the ninth shadow candidate, could there be any connection? Others might not know this ninth shadow candidate, but we certainly do."

Shadow retorted, "You guys must have investigated countless times already, why do you still need to ask me about this?"

"His information doesn't have any issues, but because there are no issues, we think there might be some. There are many people in the clan with the same name; there are two named Qing Qiu and six named Qing Yun, but it's quite normal for us to ponder when such a key figure as a shadow candidate shares a name," one person said.

"If you feel there's an issue, then there's an issue. For me, as long as this person is useful, I don't care who he shares a name with," Shadow said with a laugh.

The bigwigs, seeing Shadow so forthright, didn't quite know what else to say for a moment.

And this Mr. Shadow, it seemed, didn't mind putting Qing Chen in danger either.

Shadow continued, "Qing Chen's position in Intelligence Department One, he fought hard to earn it himself. If any of you think this fruit is ripe for the picking, then go ahead and try... after all, the ones to suffer are him and you, not me."

A middle-aged man said, "We request that he release the people from Qing's Family, that's possible, right?"

Shadow raised an eyebrow, "That's something you should discuss with him, why tell me? Put pressure on him... Oh, I see, he's currently bringing Qing Mu back home, having owed favors across the entire intelligence system, so you don't want to openly offend the entire Qing's Family intelligence system? Then why come to me, aren't you afraid of offending me?"

In fact, the bigwigs had realized that Shadow was planning to promote Qing Chen to head Qing's Spy Agency.

The reason they targeted Qing Chen wasn't because they were sure he was the shadow candidate.

While the name Qing Chen was quite distinctive in the Federation, it wasn't unusual among the over 100,000 people in Qing's Family.

In the history of Qing's Family, there have been 21 people named Qing Chen, and even now there is a distant relative who also goes by Qing Chen.

The bigwigs had reviewed the data; they were unsure whether the ninth shadow candidate was truly dead.

But the key issue was, they didn't want the next head of the Spy Bureau to be another one of Shadow's people.

This current Shadow was too domineering, creating quite a psychological shadow for everyone.

After finishing his speech, Shadow stood up with a cold laugh, "I know some of you have gone to the old man to complain about me, but I'm here to tell you, it's useless. My tenure as Shadow won't last much longer, at most two years. Whatever tricks you want to play, just wait until I step down. Even the old man knows I don't have many years left, and he doesn't provoke me, what makes you think you can?"

Shadow's voice was stern, "Haven't I disciplined you enough over the years? Do you need me to remind you how?"

The system of Qing's Family is controlled by the Family Head and the Shadow.

Both the Family Head and Shadow naturally wield significant authority within the clan, with the intelligence system under Shadow's control, who also has his own loyal forces overseeing the internal security.

Though these bigwigs might be feudal lords in their own right outside, they aren't qualified enough to challenge Shadow's authority.

Now, this Shadow, due to his impending end of life, was even more unwilling to engage in niceties.

He intended to transfer the loyalty of Qing's Family system to Qing Chen, propelling him to be the head of the Qing's Spy Agency, and no one could stop him.

Shadow opened the Door of Shadow, and before leaving he said, "After I'm dead, you can dig me up if you want, but for now, I advise you all not to be too rash. A year is enough for me to do a lot of things. Of course, I know some of you can't help but collaborate, even several of you together, if you think adding up a few persons will be of any use, then by all means, try it."