A Century That Vanished

"The slowest way to make money in this world is by relying on your own unique skills," Qing Zhun said while dealing cards. "Whether you're collecting tickets on Steam Train, have superb gambling skills, make exceptionally delicious steamed buns, or write a good novel, you might earn tens of millions a year, but that's only third-rate. That's called making money by relying on yourself."

Qing Chen asked, "Then what is second-rate?"

Qing Zhun said, "A business model is a way to make money by creating a scalable business model and then selling it to others, such as through franchising or collecting dividends. That's called making money by relying on others."

Qing Chen: "Then what constitutes first-rate?"

Qing Zhun: "Using capital to create more capital is first-rate; that's called making money from money."

Qing Chen: "Are there any above first-rate?"

Qing Zhun: "Yes."

"What?"

"War."

The implication is that war is the most lucrative business because it overturns the old social structure, and its most fundamental goal is the transfer of power.

Power, however, is something that money can't buy in this world.

Qing Chen muttered, "You're a lobbyist sent by Shadow, aren't you? You just want me to return to the Qing family and take over some power, and then give up my current small ticket seller business."

Qing Zhun smiled without saying a word.

Qing Chen said, "In terms of the speed at which money is made, what you said about top-tier, first-tier, second-tier, and third-tier is indeed true. But if there were no third-tier, no one would sell steamed buns or be ticket sellers, then second-tier and first-tier would also cease to exist. They are the indispensable foundation of this world."

Qing Zhun distress, "Boss, the Steam Train just fine without you. It doesn't need you at all!"

"It seems so..." Qing Chen said thoughtfully, "I have a feeling that you cheated when you dealt the cards, but I have no proof."

Qing Zhun raised an eyebrow. "Do I need to cheat to beat you? You can say I'm not good enough, but you can't question my sportsmanship."

Yang Yang: "Exactly!"

Qing Chen turned to look at Yang Yang speechlessly. Girl, which side are you on?

At this moment, Qing Zhun stood up and walked to the window, gazing out in a daze.

They had reached the southern part of the Federation, and wherever the Steam Train passed, there were rivers and lakes everywhere.

There were no traces of human life around those lakes. The water was so clear that you could see the fish swimming at the bottom. The lake was emerald green yet crystal clear, like a deep pool.

Like imperial green jade inlaid on the earth.

Qing Zhun said, "Let's stop playing cards for now and enjoy the scenery. It's so beautiful."

Qing Chen glanced at his cards and immediately flew into a rage. "You didn't cheat when you dealt the cards, but when I had two Kings, four 2s, and four Aces at the same time, you said you wanted to go sightseeing?! How many times has this happened along the way? When you have bad cards, you just throw them away to go see the scenery! What kind of card sportsmanship is this?!"

Qing Zhun chuckled and said, "Playing cards is nothing compared to this beautiful scenery."

Qing Chen said, "They all deliberately lose money to their bosses so they can advance their careers. You won't get promoted if you do that!"

In the distance of the plains, there is a large lake shrouded in mist. Qing Zhun introduced it, "That is Forbidden Zone No. 012, which is also the most special Forbidden Zone in the Federation. It was once one of the largest inland lakes in the Federation. Strange and powerful fish hide at the bottom of the lake. It is difficult for humans to set foot there, and they don't even know what rules it has."

"How did this thing form?" Qing Chen asked curiously.

"Some say that a demigod died of old age while boating on the lake, while others say that a giant six-whiskered catfish died in it, but neither of these claims has been verified," Qing Zhun said. "There used to be a settlement of Wilderness People near that lake who made a living by fishing on the lake. The fish there bite very quickly and have excellent meat. People can stay on the shore without having to enter the Forbidden Zone."

Qing Chen asked curiously, "And now? Are the Wilderness People still around?"

"The Chen family killed them all," Qing Zhun said. "Now there's a fish production base by the lake. The entire Federation's high-end fish and caviar are supplied from here, exclusively to the Upper Third District. Why don't we get off here and try the legendary, most delicious perch?"

Qing Chen said, "Subordinates should act like subordinates; don't plan schedules arbitrarily!"

As a result, he was slapped on the back of the head as soon as he finished speaking.

The speed was so fast that Qing Chen couldn't react at all.

Qing Zhun said with a half-smile, "You're getting addicted to this, aren't you? Do you really think I don't know what you're thinking? You guessed my shadow identity but you stubbornly refuse to tell me, just wanting to boss me around for a couple more days. There's Force Field Awakened right next to you. Do you think she can't sense my force field? Do you really think I don't know the characteristics of Force Field Awakened?"

"What are you talking about? I don't know anything..." Qing Chen received another slap on the back of the head.

He was helpless. Even though he had reached B-Class, he was still powerless against this S-rank opponent.

Even though he knew the shadow was going to attack, he still couldn't dodge it at all.

A demigod is like a high mountain; from a distance, it seems nothing special, just like all the high mountains in the world.

But only when you reach the foot of the mountain and look up at the towering, boundless peaks do you realize that it is a mountain that no living being can ever cross in their lifetime.

Qing Chen, equally defiant, retorted directly, "Do you remember praising Shadow as a good person? Oh, and back when you were in Intelligence Department One, you went to all that trouble pretending, even though you weren't there for any operations, you insisted on acting really well... Come on, let's hurt each other!"

Shadow's expression changed.

*Slap! Qing Chen received another slap on the back of the head.

Yang Yang quickly peeled a tangerine and handed it to Yingzi: "Ahem, don't get angry with him, or he'll go crazy..."

Shadow chuckled and said, "Yang Yang is quite perceptive. If it weren't for her, you would have taken at least two more hits. From the moment you made me carry two hiking backpacks, I wanted to see just how much you could pull off, and it turns out you really were!"

Qing Chen mimicked the shadow's tone and said, "I was sent by Mr. Shadow to protect you..."

The shadow raised its eyebrows.

Yang Yang quickly poured Yingzi another glass of water. "Calm down, calm down..."

Xiao Mengqian was almost in tears.

At this moment, Shadow didn't say anything more to Qing Chen: "I have something to do. You two stay by my side and don't let anyone get close."

After saying that, he sat down to the side and closed his eyes.

Qing Chen was stunned for a moment. The scene he had seen before reappeared, and the shadow's breathing disappeared.

No, to be precise, the frequency of the shadow's breathing was stretched for an infinitely long time span, to the point that others thought his heartbeat had disappeared.

Qing Chen understood.

Shadow wasn't driven to despair by his own actions, but rather he sensed something was wrong with his body and knew he couldn't hide it any longer.

Qing Chen looked at Yang Yang: "Has his force field changed?"

"Extremely faint," Yang Yang said worriedly.

Qing Chen sighed.

He finally understood why Shadow had come out to play this time.

Ten minutes later, Shadow opened her eyes, smiling at everyone as if nothing had happened, "Were you worried about me?"

"I'm worried," Qing Chen said earnestly. "I have no relatives left in the Outer World, and you are one of the few relatives I have in the Inner World. It would be a lie to say I'm not worried."

When the boy first met the shadow, he was full of wariness, after all, the shadow came and went without a trace, and his actions were unpredictable and his purpose was unknown.

They even use extraordinary individuals to grow tea.

Being around someone like that requires being on high alert, and it's not even enough to keep you on your toes.

But later Qing Chen discovered that the shadow would not harm him.

In his eyes, he only had three elders in this world: Li Shutong, Li Xiurui, and Yingzi.

Li Shutong has already left for distant lands.

Li Xiurui has been laid to rest in the Forbidden Zone No. 002.

Only shadows remain.

Qing Chen asked, "Is it because your illness is starting to flare up more frequently, so you can't stay at the Qing family anymore? Besides, your time isn't much longer. Old Master Li contacted me before he passed away, and you contacted me before you passed away too. What, am I a hospice?"

The shadow remained silent.

Qing Chen sighed, "How much longer do you have?"

Shadow smiled; he could actually hear the reluctance hidden in Qing Chen's complaining tone.

For example, people like them are not used to expressing their feelings outwardly, but rather hiding them in the details.

The shadow said, "You don't need to know how much time I have left. I don't like people counting down the days for me, as if I should be lying in the intensive care unit, covered in tubes. Don't worry, for someone who controls time, even in the moment before death, they will be no different from a normal person. I will die in my most glorious moment, and that's enough."

Qing Chen sighed and asked, "I still don't understand. Since you are already a demigod, why is your lifespan so short, even though you have no injuries?"

The shadow said, "You're not injured, but I am."

Qing Chen: "... What a lame joke."

Shadow laughed and said, "Actually, I'm not injured. I told you before that I often cough in front of strangers so that they would think I'm injured."

"Then what happened when your heart stopped beating?" Qing Chen asked, puzzled.

The shadow glanced at him. "I once overspent my time for someone."

Qing Chen was taken aback. "Overdraft? How long have you been overdrafting?"

The shadow said calmly, "A century."

Shadow didn't say anything more.