Secret Talks

The subordinates behind the shadow stepped forward one by one and killed the prisoners on the execution rack.

He caught them all by using Qing Chen as bait from the lakeside.

Now, however, they have lost interest in finding the masterminds behind these people.

In Shadow's view, there are only a few people who can command these people.

Since these people are so stubborn, let's just assume that all those who might be behind the scenes are enemies.

We must not let a single one escape.

However, this time, Qing Chen's arrest was clearly different.

The mastermind behind instructing Director Zhou and his men to commit murder by the lake doesn't have that kind of power.

Shadow knew very well who had the ability to plant an informant within his ranks.

There exists, and only one, person like this.

Shadow washed his hands in the pool next to the execution rack, removing the bloodstains.

His subordinates around him all had solemn expressions.

They now realized the seriousness of the situation.

Shadow casually said to his subordinates, "There is a leaker among you."

The subordinates froze, all of them well aware of the dire consequences of betraying Shadow.

Moreover, this is a shadow.

The fact that there was an inside agent among Shadow's people is a very serious matter.

The shadow continued, "But it doesn't matter, I know who you work for."

On the execution rack, watching his companions die one by one, Director Zhou frantically said, "I'll tell you everything I know right now, as long as you let me go."

The shadow glanced back at him. "I don't want to hear it now."

After saying that, he opened the Shadow Gate and left without looking back.

It wasn't until this moment that Director Zhou realized this wasn't some form of torture; Shadow was genuinely getting impatient!

The next moment, the shadow had already arrived at the Ginkgo Manor of the Qing Clan in City No. 5.

The manor, located halfway up the mountain, was still brightly lit, like a palace complex in the sky.

The dazzling blue and purple light strips outline the eaves, corners, and walls in a dreamlike way.

The shadow climbed the steps, and the hidden agents and servants along the way retreated when they saw it was him.

One by one, they stood respectfully with their heads bowed and brows lowered on both sides of the road.

They sensed that the figure who rarely appeared at the Ginkgo Manor had suddenly returned, indicating that something significant must have happened.

The shadow walked all the way to the highest point, where there was a solitary building.

In the entire Ginkgo Manor, only this building is dark and has hardly any lights.

The shadow arrived at the door, and without saying hello, pushed open the door to the main hall and stood in the doorway.

Light from outside the building streamed through the open door, illuminating the dim interior.

At that moment, an elderly man with his hair tied in a bun sat cross-legged on a prayer mat, his back to the door, as still as a bronze bell.

"After being a shadow for so long, you've forgotten the rules. In the Qing family, the head of the family still has more power than the shadow, so you should knock on the door first before you come in. I'll let you in only if you give me permission," the old man said slowly and casually.

"You're the one who leaked Qing Chen's information, aren't you?" Shadow asked bluntly.

In fact, when he received Yan Chunmi's call and learned that information, Shadow already knew very well who was controlling all of this.

In Shadow's view, there was only one person who could plant an informant by his side without him even realizing it, and who would betray him at the most crucial moment: the head of the Qing family.

Shadow never doubted anyone other than the head of the Qing family.

If other forces could do this, then he wouldn't need to do this job anymore, and the Qing family would probably be swallowed up sooner or later.

This is a form of self-confidence.

Only someone like the head of the Qing family, whose power completely surpasses his own, could do this.

Within the intelligence system, some are loyal to the Shadow, while others are loyal to the Qing Clan; there's a significant difference between them.

So he told his subordinates, "I know the leaker is among you, but it doesn't matter."

Because if the Qing family had to choose one person to represent the entire family and conglomerate, that person would definitely not be his shadow, but the head of the family.

Was it wrong to betray the Shadow for the sake of the patriarch? No.

That old man is the true decision-maker of the family; everyone's will, including the shadow's, must serve him.

The head of the Qing family said without turning his head, "It's me."

"Why?" the shadow asked coldly.

The head of the Qing family retorted, "Is it because you're about to die that you've become more merciful before you die, which is why you're being so indecisive?"

"What do you mean?" the shadow asked.

"Have him go and bring Qing Mu home to win over the hearts of the Qing family's intelligence network," the Qing family head said slowly.

"That's right. Does this conflict with your will? Isn't this what you wanted to see?" the shadow asked.

"There's no conflict, but you've been too lenient," the head of the Qing family said, always leaving only his back to the shadow. "Bringing Qing Mu home will at most earn you some gratitude and admiration from intelligence personnel, but if you want him to quickly take over the intelligence system or move to a higher position, you'll have to be more ruthless."

Shadow said in a deep voice, "You want him to become the second Qing Mu, a Qing Mu who returns alive to the Qing Clan and is able to lead and intimidate all intelligence personnel."

Shadow understood what the head of the Qing family wanted to do.

The shadow had finally understood.

The people who made this move were from the Kamishiro Family.

The head of the Qing family somehow managed to give Qing Chen's information to the Gods!

After obtaining information about Qing Chen, all that Shendai had to do was find a new "Qing Mu".

Since the Qing clan captured people from the Divine Era to trade for Qing Mu, they should find a new replacement.

Kamishiro is also a conglomerate, so how could they allow others to provoke them without ever retaliating?

Qing Chen had already caused them enough trouble and humiliation, so this time, the Divine Era Lightning Strike, completely nipping this potentially huge threat in the bud.

The Divine Era intends to inflict endless humiliation on Qing Chen, just as it did on Qing Mu, to demonstrate to the entire Federation the consequences of provoking the Divine Era.

However, in the eyes of the head of the Qing family...

The person who brought Qing Mu home is merely a meritorious official. Although everyone admires him, this qualification is not enough for Qing Chen to quickly rise to a higher position.

However, if a sober and living "Qing Mu" were to return to the South, his prestige and authority would be entirely different.

The person who took Qing Mu home and Qing Mu himself are completely different concepts.

"It seems that neither of us has much time left, which is why we have to take this drastic measure," Shadow said calmly.

The old man neither agreed nor disagreed, offering no answer.

But Shadow asked, puzzled, "Aren't you worried he'll die in the north? Or that someone will use neuronal connections to replace his soul?"

The head of the Qing family calmly said, "No one in this world has ever been able to replace him using such methods. You and I have known about this for over ten years. Even Qing Mu couldn't be replaced by Shen Dai, so how could he possibly replace him?"

"But what if he dies in the north?" Shadow asked in a deep voice.

"You have indeed become a bit soft-hearted," the head of the Qing family said calmly. "In my opinion, this is not a problem. What worries me more now is that if you are all so soft-hearted, will the Qing family's foundation collapse if it is handed over to you?"

The Qing family seems to have other plans.

Shadow sneered, "Are you really planning to hand over the Qing family? It seems on the surface that you are, but it's hard to say what the reality is."

The reason why people from various factions of the Qing clan are now restless is because they want to target Shadow.

However, it was because the head of the family had casually mentioned a few days ago, "What do you think of this generation of Shadow as the head of the family?"

This one sentence alone stirred up a huge wave of controversy.

Those in charge of the various factions simply could not accept being controlled by the Shadow. They did not want to see the Shadow ascend to the position of family head, which led to the events that followed.

Only Shadow knew that the old man had never intended for him to be the head of the family.

The other party's statement was merely a way of knowing what the various factions were thinking, and how this patriarch intended to use those people to check and balance him.

The shadow said nothing more and turned to leave.

The old man asked, "Are you going to save him now?"

Shadow stopped abruptly without a word, coldly turning to look at the head of the Qing family.

The old man continued slowly, "If you save him now, all the suffering and injuries he endured today will be for nothing. Remember what I once said: people shouldn't have emotions, because emotions create weaknesses. He will only have true value when he becomes 'Qing Mu'."

The shadow said coldly, "That's your opinion, I don't think so."

The head of the Qing family asked, "Didn't you also deliberately betray Qing Yi's people? What's the difference between what I'm doing now and what you did? You've also caused the deaths of many innocent people."

The shadow said calmly, "What you're saying makes some sense. I've never considered myself a good person either. But I'm prepared to go to hell to bear my sins. Are you prepared for the same?"

After saying that, he turned and left.

Shadow received a message on his phone, in which someone sent him the complete story.

This includes news of Qing Chen's disappearance after his death in battle, as well as news of Li Yunjing and Huotang losing clues after their investigation.

Shadow made a phone call and said, "Qing Ye, first thing, have men block all routes to the north, don't let Shendai have a chance to take Qing Chen away from the Central Plains. Second, find out which airship is responsible for picking them up. Third, have the Qing clan's combat forces ignore the fire pit."

"Finally," Shadow paused for a moment and said, "Tell Li Changqing about this. She is in City No. 19, north of the battlefield. Ask her to help us find Qing Chen."

From that moment on, the actions of the God Era after capturing Qing Chen were like stirring up a hornet's nest, touching the nerves of countless people.