Use Fire

Lin Xiaoxiao was the one who created the nightmare for Qing Chen.

This world has never been solely about the Mechanical Civilization; it has continued to exist with more mysterious civilizations.

And tonight, Lin Xiaoxiao created this nightmare entirely on the orders of his boss, Li Shutong, wanting to test what kind of person Qing Chen truly was.

With the nightmare called "Twin Ghosts Dilemma" currently active, Lin Xiaoxiao wanted to test Qing Chen's courage and resilience. He hadn't expected that Qing Chen's reaction couldn't be judged by mere courage or resilience.

He suddenly realized that when faced with danger, this young man would confront it with the fiercest and calmest attitude.

At this moment, Qing Chen showed no tremor, nor the bloodthirsty defiance of an ordinary person fighting back. All that emanated from him was one word: calm.

But Lin Xiaoxiao couldn't understand. He had clearly been trying to stop the other person from picking up the dagger, so why had he suddenly broken free from the nightmare's constraints?

After all, this was his, Lin Xiaoxiao's, home turf.

At this point, Qing Chen knew he didn't need to go upstairs to kill anyone. He spoke to the empty living room, "Lin Xiaoxiao?"

The nightmare had not dissipated. Lin Xiaoxiao, dressed in a police uniform, walked down from upstairs with a smile. "How strange. You could maintain your clarity within this nightmare. The boss's judgment wasn't wrong; you indeed have many exceptional qualities."

"Why? I don't think I offended you," Qing Chen asked, confused.

"Because the boss values you, I need to know what kind of person you are. However, it seems the nightmare might not have much effect on you anymore," Lin Xiaoxiao explained as he sat on the last step of the stairs.

"Is this your special ability?" Qing Chen asked.

"Yes," Lin Xiaoxiao shrugged. "Just like you have photographic memory, I have my own abilities. There's nothing to hide about it."

For a moment, Qing Chen felt that this world was becoming more mysterious in his mind.

He wasn't afraid of a world where mechanical and mystical sciences coexisted; instead, it made him more and more interested.

And everything that was happening now might be the reason why Li Shutong and others held such supreme status in this prison.

Qing Chen wanted to explore all of this, and even more, he wanted to possess it.

Seeing Qing Chen lost in thought, Lin Xiaoxiao proactively asked, "Are you from the Qing Clan Group?"

Qing Chen didn't answer the question but instead asked back, "Is it because of the speculation about my identity that I'm receiving special treatment? Why don't the mechanical guards bother you?"

"Naturally, it's because the boss is special enough that the mechanical guards don't bother us," Lin Xiaoxiao said. "Don't change the subject; let's talk about your identity. Tonight, I found the surveillance video of you talking with Lu Guangyi. He was sent in by the Qing Clan and was eager to contact you, so I'm very sure you are from the Qing Clan Group."

Qing Clan Group... Qing Chen noted the four words.

He felt a sense of relaxation at this moment.

Compared to this person who had eyes and ears everywhere in the prison, he was like a child just learning to walk.

Since that was the case, there was no need to be too nervous.

Because if the other party was willing to continue interacting after figuring out his situation, it meant they also had their own needs.

Qing Chen sat on the tattered sofa and asked with a deep voice, "Since you are so certain I am from the Qing Clan Group, why are you extending an olive branch?"

"Our organization doesn't care about background. As long as we share the same goals, anyone can join," Lin Xiaoxiao said with a smile. "Of course, they have to be qualified."

Qing Chen was taken aback. Was the other party doing all this to test if he was qualified to join?

He had thought the other party wanted to cooperate with the power behind him.

"Are you trying to recruit me?" Qing Chen asked, confused.

"I didn't say you are qualified yet. To be honest, I don't think you're on the same path as us," Lin Xiaoxiao said. "But the boss said that every organization needs all kinds of people: the far-sighted eagle, the mountain-guarding tiger, the battle-ready wolf. Everyone has their use."

"Then what kind of role do you play in your organization?" Qing Chen asked.

Lin Xiaoxiao didn't want to answer and immediately gave a mysterious smile. "Guess?"

Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, "The donkey from the production team?"

Lin Xiaoxiao: "???"

What nonsense!

It would have been better to be a fish that just paddled along!

At this moment, Lin Xiaoxiao clearly realized that when facing this unknown nightmare and unknown self, the other party had completely relaxed and was handling it with ease.

This young man was only 17 years old.

Lin Xiaoxiao asked curiously, "The Qing Clan arranged for Lu Guangyi to come in and make such a big fuss, and then they arranged for you to come in. What exactly are you trying to do? Or rather, what are you looking for?"

Qing Chen thought to himself, If I say I don't know why I'm here, you definitely won't believe me...

This matter... you should ask Lu Guangyi...

To be honest, Qing Chen was also secretly contemplating whether he should find Lu Guangyi to clarify the cause and effect.

However, thinking of Lu Guangyi's talkative and sycophantic demeanor, he felt a headache coming on.

"It's okay if you don't want to say. I'll figure it out sooner or later," Lin Xiaoxiao said. "Alright, get some rest. You still have to play chess with the boss tomorrow morning."

As soon as he finished speaking, Qing Chen's vision went black, and he was pulled out of the nightmare. He slowly got up from the cell floor and lay on the cold bed, lost in thought.

He looked at the heavy alloy gate, beyond which lay a cold and mysterious world.

Return countdown 20:59:21.

Countdown to return: 20:59:20.

In the early morning, Li Shutong sat at the dining table as usual, quietly looking at a chess endgame.

It wasn't time for the prisoners to leave their cells yet, and the entire prison was silent.

Lin Xiaoxiao squatted on his chair and said, "Boss, I tested him with the Twin Ghosts Dilemma last night. Guess what? He immediately wanted to grab a knife and kill someone first... His killing intent is way too strong."

Ye Wan frowned, "I told you to stop when it's appropriate. It's easy for ordinary people to collapse in the Twin Ghosts Dilemma."

"Don't worry," Lin Xiaoxiao said irritably, "I didn't even go through with it. And you don't know, that kid can actually break free from my control in the nightmare."

"Oh?" Li Shutong looked up, "I confirmed he's just an ordinary person. For an ordinary person to break free from your control in a nightmare, that's quite special."

This time, even the big cat resting with its eyes closed on the table glanced at Lin Xiaoxiao with curiosity.

Ye Wan asked, "How did he do it?"

"I don't know," Lin Xiaoxiao shook his head.

"Perhaps his willpower is strong enough," Li Shutong didn't dwell on the matter. Qing Chen wasn't the only one who could break free from the nightmare's restraints.

Lin Xiaoxiao squatted and said, "Boss, I still advise you to consider it carefully. Qing Chen has a heavy killing intent; he's not on the same path as us."

Li Shutong suddenly smiled, "So many of our colleagues have died for this cause, and even you, me, and the third of us are trapped in this prison. So you have to understand, Xiaoxiao, we can't deal with darkness with gentleness; we must use fire."

As he spoke, Li Shutong's expression turned somewhat somber, "Ye Wan, hand me the harmonica."

It was almost time for breakfast, and the prison gradually became noisy. The sound of the steel beasts clamoring within their alloy gates was like boiling water in a hot pot, gradually simmering.

But then, a melodious harmonica tune suddenly rang out across the prison square, refreshing the soul.

The prisoners' sounds of banging on their cell doors gradually ceased. Everyone listened quietly, as if a clear spring had been poured onto a parched wasteland.