Use Fire

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

This world had never been home to Mechanical Civilization alone. It had endured until now because even more mysterious civilizations had always existed alongside it.

And tonight, Lin Xiaoxiao had created this nightmare entirely on Boss Li Shutong's orders, wanting to see what kind of person Qing Chen truly was.

With this nightmare called the "Twin Ghosts Dilemma," Lin Xiaoxiao had wanted to test Qing Chen's courage and ability to withstand pressure. What he had not expected was that Qing Chen's reaction could no longer be judged by courage or resilience alone.

He suddenly realized that when danger descended, this youth would surely face it with the fiercest yet calmest attitude.

At this very moment, Qing Chen was not trembling in the slightest. Nor did he have the bloodthirsty fervor of an ordinary person rising up in resistance. Only two words had gathered around him: calmness.

But Lin Xiaoxiao could not understand it. He had clearly been stopping Qing Chen from picking up the dagger, so why had Qing Chen suddenly broken free from the nightmare's restraints?

This was Lin Xiaoxiao's home ground, after all.

At that moment, Qing Chen already knew he would not have to go upstairs to kill anyone. He spoke into the empty living room. "Lin Xiaoxiao?"

The nightmare had yet to fade. Lin Xiaoxiao, dressed in a police uniform, came down from upstairs with a smile. "How strange. You can actually stay lucid in this nightmare. Boss's judgment was right—you really do have many exceptional qualities."

"Why?" Qing Chen asked, puzzled. "It doesn't seem like I've offended you."

"Because Boss thinks highly of you, I needed to know what kind of person you really are. But now, it seems nightmares may not have much effect on you," Lin Xiaoxiao explained as he sat on the bottom stair.

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

"Yes." Lin Xiaoxiao shrugged. "Just as you have a photographic memory, I have my own ability. There is nothing worth hiding about it."

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

A world where mechanics and mysticism coexisted did not frighten him. On the contrary, it interested him more and more.

And everything happening now was likely why people like Li Shutong held such an extraordinary status in this prison.

Qing Chen wanted to explore it all. Even more, he wanted to possess it.

Seeing Qing Chen fall silent in thought, Lin Xiaoxiao took the initiative to ask, "Are you with the Qing Clan Group?"

Qing Chen did not answer. Instead, he asked, "Did you give me special treatment because you suspected my identity? Why don't the robotic prison guards interfere with you?"

"Of course it's because Boss is special enough that the robotic prison guards leave us alone," Lin Xiaoxiao said. "Don't change the subject. Let's get back to your identity. Last night, I found surveillance footage of you talking with Lu Guangyi. He was placed here by the Qing Clan, and he was eager to contact you, so I am certain that you are with the Qing Clan Group."

Qing Clan Group... Qing Chen memorized those four words.

Instead, he relaxed.

The other side was omnipotent within this prison, while compared to them, he was like a child who had only just learned to walk.

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

Because if they were still willing to contact him after figuring out his situation, then they must have their own motives as well.

Qing Chen sat on the battered sofa and asked in a grave voice, "Since you are convinced that I belong to the Qing Clan Group, why extend an olive branch to me?"

"Our organization doesn't care about background. As long as you share our ideals, anyone can join," Lin Xiaoxiao said with a smile. "Of course, you have to be qualified."

Qing Chen froze for a moment. Everything they had done had actually been an assessment of whether he was qualified to join?

He had thought they wanted to cooperate with the force behind him.

"You want to recruit me?" Qing Chen asked doubtfully.

"I never said you were qualified already. To be honest, I don't think you and us are the same kind of people," Lin Xiaoxiao said. "But Boss said that an organization needs all kinds of people: eagles with foresight, tigers to hold down the mountains, wolves skilled in battle. Everyone has their use."

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

Lin Xiaoxiao did not want to answer. He immediately put on a mysterious smile. "You guess."

Qing Chen thought for a moment. "A workhorse for the production team?"

Lin Xiaoxiao: "???"

What the hell?

He would rather be a fish slacking off!

At that moment, Lin Xiaoxiao abruptly realized that in the face of this unknown nightmare and unknown him, Qing Chen had completely relaxed, handling everything with ease.

This youth was only seventeen.

Lin Xiaoxiao asked curiously, "The Qing Clan arranged for Lu Guangyi to come in and make such a huge spectacle, then arranged for you to come in too. 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 came in either, you definitely won't believe me...

You should be asking Lu Guangyi about that...

Honestly, Qing Chen was also secretly wondering whether he should find Lu Guangyi and get the full story straight.

But when he thought of Lu Guangyi's chatterbox, bootlicking manner, his head began to ache.

"It doesn't matter if you don't want to say it. I'll figure it out sooner or later," Lin Xiaoxiao said. "All right, get some rest early. You still have to play chess with Boss tomorrow morning."

The moment he finished speaking, Qing Chen's vision went black, and he broke free of the nightmare. He slowly climbed up from the cell floor and lay on the cold bed, lost in thought.

He looked at the heavy alloy gate. Beyond it lay a cold and mysterious world.

Return Countdown 20:59:21.

Return Countdown 20:59:20.

In the early morning, Li Shutong sat by the dining table as usual, quietly studying an unfinished game.

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

Squatting on a chair, Lin Xiaoxiao said, "Boss, I tested him with the Twin Ghosts Dilemma last night. Guess what? He immediately wanted to grab a knife and kill one of them first... Isn't his killing intent a little too heavy?"

Ye Wan frowned. "I told you to know when to stop. Ordinary people can easily break down in the Twin Ghosts Dilemma."

"Relax." Lin Xiaoxiao said irritably, "I didn't even carry it through. Besides, you don't know this, but that kid actually broke free of my control in the nightmare."

"Oh?" Li Shutong raised his head. "I confirmed that he is merely an ordinary person. An ordinary person being able to break free of your control in a nightmare is rather unusual."

Even Big Cat, who had been resting with its eyes closed on the table, gave Lin Xiaoxiao a curious glance.

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

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

"Perhaps his will was strong enough." Li Shutong did not pursue the matter. Qing Chen was not the only person who could break free from a nightmare's restraints.

Still squatting there, Lin Xiaoxiao said, "Boss, I still advise you to consider this carefully. Qing Chen has a heavy killing intent. He is not one of us."

Li Shutong suddenly laughed. "So many of our comrades died for this cause. Even the three of us are trapped in this prison. So you must understand, Xiaoxiao—we cannot meet darkness with gentleness. We must use fire."

As he spoke, Li Shutong's expression became somewhat dim. "Ye Wan, bring me the harmonica."

It was nearly time to eat, and the prison gradually grew noisy. The clamor of steel beasts behind alloy gates was like water in a hot pot slowly coming to a boil.

But then, an ethereal harmonica melody suddenly rose through the prison courtyard, refreshing the heart and soul.

The sounds of prisoners pounding on their cell doors gradually faded. Everyone listened quietly, as though someone had poured a clear spring over a parched wilderness.