Naming Technique of the Night

"By the way," the elder said, "you should move out of the Feiyun Courtyard. The Li Family has prepared another courtyard for you, the teacher at the Martial Arts School, not far from Feiyun Courtyard. It's called Autumn Leaf Courtyard. Although it's a bit small, it's definitely enough for you to live in."

"Is the treatment for a teacher that good?" Qing Chen asked.

"Of course," the elder said, "the Li Family has never mistreated a teacher before, as maintaining order by seniority is the foundation of this clan."

Maintaining order by seniority...

Qing Chen suddenly recalled a phrase the other had just mentioned: the eldest son always urges him to prolong his life.

Now, rumors from the outside world say that the second-generation leader of Li's Big Room had already deployed troops around the halfway mountain estate, ready to complete the power transition at any moment.

Logically, this leader of the Big Room should be the one who most wishes for the elder to pass away, yet according to the elder, the internal affairs seemed completely different from what was rumored outside.

This might not be preparing a great gift for someone.

However, Qing Chen didn't care, as he had no interest in getting involved in these matters. The same old saying, "Even the daytime is still young, it's most important to keep steady and not be reckless."

"The courtyard has been cleaned. You should move in today," the elder said.

Qing Chen felt something was off. Why was the other so eager? Could it be that he especially wanted him to move out of Feiyun Courtyard?

Wait, could the elder have misunderstood something?

"Cough, cough, I will move there in a while, especially since I don't have much to take with me," Qing Chen said.

"Do you need me to arrange a servant for you?" the elder asked.

"No need, it's not convenient," Qing Chen flatly said.

"By the way, have you figured out the method of cultivation I gave you?" the elder asked as if it were nothing.

"No, that thing is too profound. I've nearly wracked my brain dry and still can't figure it out," Qing Chen said, "but I heard that eating fish is good for the brain. If I could eat a dragon fish today, I should be able to figure it out."

The elder rolled his eyes and then jerked the fishing rod.

Suddenly, a large dragon fish was hooked out of the previously calm lake surface.

As Qing Chen held the dragon fish in his hands, the elder waved his hand and said, "Take the dragon fish and scram. Our fate ends today."

Qing Chen joyfully tucked his stool under his armpit, turned around, and left the broken bridge.

However, after walking a few dozen steps, he looked back to see the elder sitting alone on the broken bridge, no longer casting his line, just sitting there quietly.

He appeared somewhat lonely.

...

...

Qing Chen did not go back on his word. He truly moved to Autumn Leaf Courtyard right after leaving Dragon Lake, guided by a servant.

Compared to other residences, this courtyard was ridiculously small; while others lived in magnificent and splendid houses, his was just a modest quadrangle courtyard.

Outside the courtyard, a row of willow trees lined the only small path leading to this place, which was extremely tranquil.

In the courtyard, right in the center, there was a massive stone table with a lounge chair placed beside it.

Qing Chen ran his fingers over the lounge chair. It was indeed cleaned, without even a speck of dust.

However, the lounge chair was polished unusually smooth, as if someone had used it before.

Qing Chen was puzzled. Who had been the master of Autumn Leaf Courtyard before? The words "Autumn Leaf" seemed related to Autumn Leaf Knife—could it have been his master's residence back in the day?

However, Uncle Li Dong's status in the Li Family should be very high, so why would he live in such a small courtyard?

Qing Chen looked around and could not find anything that could prove the owner's identity, so he simply lay down on that lounger, swaying, not knowing what he was thinking about.

From morning to noon, and from noon to evening.

For some reason, Qing Chen particularly enjoyed the tranquility of the moment; he did not need to face interpersonal relationships, nor did he need to consider any messy matters.

However, just at this evening, footsteps came from outside the Autumn Leaf Courtyard.
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Qing Chen still had his eyes closed.

Thump, thump, thump, someone knocked on the courtyard door, "Sir, are you there? May I come in?"

"The door isn't locked, come on in," Qing Chen said, recognizing Li Ke just by the sound of his footsteps.

Young Li Ke entered, and politely said, "I heard that you took leave from the Mountain Chief due to ill health, so I went to Feiyun Courtyard to visit. You and Aunt Changqing were not there, and it was a hidden guard who told me, you had moved to Autumn Leaf Courtyard."

"Hmm," Qing Chen said as he swayed on the lounge chair, "It's nothing serious, just have a look and then head back."

"Sir, you haven't had dinner yet, have you? I'll go and prepare a meal for you," said Li Ke, and he went into the kitchen on the east side.

But here was this youth, only three years younger than Qing Chen, who seriously took out the vegetables from the refrigerator and began selecting them, rinsing rice.

He did not at all resemble a scion of a wealthy clan.

Moreover, as a legitimate heir from the Li Family's main branch, Li Ke held a very high status within all the Li Family.

And yet, was such a favored son of heaven cooking for Qing Chen at this moment?

Qing Chen noticed that Li Ke was very familiar with this place, and he suddenly asked, "Actually, you are the one who cleans this Autumn Leaf Courtyard, aren't you? The vegetables and meat and such, they are all prepared by you."

Li Ke thought for a moment and then said, "I'm sorry, Sir, I lied earlier. Actually, I knew you were moving here this morning, but this time it was too hurried, it wasn't just me cleaning, there were my servants too. But rest assured, from now on, I will personally clean, and as for your dirty clothes, just put them in the clothes basket in the west wing, I'll wash them. Don't worry about the meals, I'll cook for you. My cooking skills are quite good, at least it won't taste bad."

Qing Chen suddenly asked, "Do you know who I am?"

"I don't know," Li Ke shook his head.

"Then why do you do all this?" Qing Chen curiously asked.

"Grandfather said if I wanted to learn real skills, I should find you," Li Ke sincerely said, "But rest assured, he didn't say anything else, I believe my sincerity can move you. This time I'm not lying, Grandfather said whether I can learn depends on fate."

Qing Chen understood, turns out this Li Ke was also the favorite grandson of that old man, who directly showed this young lad a clear path!

No wonder, ever since he became an instructor at Martial Arts School, Li Ke stuck to him like he became a different person.

So there was guidance from a sage.

It seemed the old man hoped Li Ke would become a knight?

But Li Ke looked very upright; how could he become a knight?

Qing Chen thought for a moment and then looked at Li Ke: "But if you're just doing these chores, what makes you think I would teach you the real skills? There are many who can do chores, servants can do them too. Tell me, what else can you do?"

Li Ke thought seriously for a moment: "I can help you beat Qing Yi, rest assured, he won't see it coming."

Qing Chen sighed, he hadn't expected that this young lad had quite grasped the essence of being a knight...

...

A 5200-word chapter, wishing everyone a happy Qixi Festival.

Today's subscriptions also hit 52000, quite fitting, and there's a big chapter at 11 PM tonight. Not giving any additional chapters for the bosses today, but adding more for the singles.