Shadow

How could one survive in this prison overrun by steel beasts?

Qing Chen could not count on the mysterious Lu Guangyi, because he feared that his impersonation of the original owner would be exposed.

Nor could he count on the others from the same time and space, because they were in even worse straits than he was.

So Qing Chen calmly revealed his ability to Li Shutong, proving that he was useful.

Without question, Li Shutong held the most transcendent status in this prison. Though doing this was risky, it was also Qing Chen's best way out.

Li Shutong strolled away with his hands behind his back, Ye Wan and Big Cat at his side, while Lin Xiaoxiao vanished off to who knew where with his usual cheeky grin.

It was not yet lunchtime, but the serving window opened early for Li Shutong.

Ye Wan fetched a meal each for Li Shutong and Big Cat. Big Cat picked through its food as it ate.

Just then, Lin Xiaoxiao popped out from somewhere again. He kicked off his shoes and squatted barefoot on the chair across from Li Shutong's table.

Big Cat shot him a glance, while Ye Wan frowned. "Show some respect in front of the boss."

Lin Xiaoxiao rolled his eyes. "The boss hasn't said anything. Mother Ye, you're being way too nosy."

Li Shutong smiled. "Looks like you found something?"

"Yes," Lin Xiaoxiao said excitedly. "I found plenty. You know, Qing Chen's record outside is spotless. I couldn't find a single suspicious clue, but that just made me more interested."

"Because it was too clean?" Li Shutong asked.

"Exactly. Too clean. His records show that he was a high school student in City No. 18. His parents died in a car accident, he inherited a sum of money, and he has no criminal record, no prior convictions, no relatives," Lin Xiaoxiao said.

"What was he convicted of?" Li Shutong asked.

"Theft. The case file says he stole a liquid crystal phone that was just expensive enough to warrant a sentence," Lin Xiaoxiao said. "You know that more than half the inmates in Prison No. 18 are serious offenders. Usually, only people with lengthy records or those caught by the tax authorities get locked up here. A thief like him shouldn't have been in a place like this at all."

In such a short time, Lin Xiaoxiao had even gone through Qing Chen's case file. To ordinary people, that probably made him someone with reach everywhere.

Lin Xiaoxiao continued, "Also, I asked someone outside. There's controversy surrounding his case. Apparently, he claimed he bought the liquid crystal phone normally and paid for it, but for some reason, the person selling the phone never recorded the payment. The surveillance cameras also suddenly broke, so there was no way to prove his innocence. So once the phone salesman changed his testimony and testified for him, or footage of him paying surfaced, he could get out immediately. See? Such a familiar trick. Most people who enter prison to 'handle business' use this exact routine."

Li Shutong fell into thought. "How long was he sentenced for?"

"Six months," Lin Xiaoxiao replied. "That's probably the shortest sentence in Prison No. 18's history. Boss, don't you think something's wrong here... and his surname is Qing!"

The surname Qing was far too special in this era. The Five Great Companies monopolized nearly every economic lifeline, and one of them was surnamed Qing.

Qing was also a rare surname, so if you ran into someone surnamed Qing on the street, you would wonder whether they belonged to the Qing Clan.

"Go on," Li Shutong said with a smile.

"You know the Qing Clan Group previously arranged for a Lu Guangyi to be sent in," Lin Xiaoxiao said. "That sort of thing was easy to investigate. I just couldn't figure out why they would send such a minor character in here. What were they trying to do?"

"I remember that Lu Guangyi," Ye Wan said from the side. "He's been gathering people under him."

"Exactly." Lin Xiaoxiao smiled. "After entering, Lu Guangyi relied on his superior mechanical limbs to crush the prison's local factions all the way through. In just one month, he forced the situation into a three-way balance against the other two factions. Back then, I wondered whether the Qing Clan had sent him here to unify Prison No. 18."

"The Qing Clan knows the boss is here," Ye Wan said, implying that with Li Shutong here, no one could unify this place.

Lin Xiaoxiao narrowed his eyes. So excited that he nearly wanted to pick at his toes, he said, "That's why I thought the Qing Clan had gone crazy, sending some small fry to Prison No. 18 to stir up trouble. Only today did I understand. Lu Guangyi was here to scout the way for Qing Chen. No matter what the Qing Clan wants, Qing Chen is the real deal. Lu Guangyi is just an errand boy."

Then Lin Xiaoxiao grew puzzled again. "But what are they after by coming to Prison No. 18? If Qing Chen really is a direct descendant of the Qing Clan, why would he be willing to come here?"

Li Shutong suddenly said, "The Qing Clan may be choosing its next-generation Shadow."

Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao froze at the same time. "The next-generation Shadow? Qing Chen is one of the candidates? So he came here with a mission."

A vast conglomerate needed both its public face and its hidden side.

The Qing Clan's family head was its public face, while the Shadow was its hidden side.

The Shadow specialized in dirty work and wielded immense authority. He ruled the Qing Clan Group's underground world, and no one but the family head could restrain him.

However, the selection process for every generation of Shadows was exceptionally brutal, like raising venomous insects in a jar.

"Looks like the Qing Clan is about to make everyone restless again," Li Shutong remarked.

As they spoke, an inmate wandered over by accident. From more than five meters away, Ye Wan suddenly turned to look at him.

The inmate was struck by that soul-shaking gaze and involuntarily turned around, walking off in another direction.

The three of them stopped discussing the matter. Lin Xiaoxiao instead asked, "Boss, even if he's a Shadow Candidate, there was no need to make his identity and background so clean, as if he had nothing to do with the Qing Clan at all."

By then, they were all certain that Qing Chen belonged to the Qing Clan.

At their level, coincidence was the last thing they believed in.

"Unless there's an even greater secret hidden in Qing Chen's origins," Li Shutong said.

"Boss, have you guessed something?" Lin Xiaoxiao asked curiously.

Li Shutong shook his head. "It's just that after hearing you say all that, I suddenly feel that he looks a little like someone."

"An enemy? Or a friend? Have Mother Ye and I met him?" Lin Xiaoxiao asked curiously.

Li Shutong said, "You haven't met him, but you'll meet him sooner or later. Xiaoxiao, if relationships in this world could be simply divided into enemies and friends, that would be wonderful."

As he spoke, Li Shutong gathered the gray Big Cat into his arms and gently scratched beneath its chin.

Big Cat closed its eyes in comfort and sprawled lazily across Li Shutong's lap.

He said to Lin Xiaoxiao, "I'm even more interested in this Qing Chen now. Go test his character."

Lin Xiaoxiao was startled. "Boss, you think highly of him? He's one of the Qing Clan!"

"I'm only asking you to test him. It's not like I'm planning to do anything," Li Shutong said with a smile. "Besides, wouldn't it be more interesting to steal someone from the Qing Clan?"

"But I feel like he's not one of us," Lin Xiaoxiao muttered quietly, staring at his toes.

Li Shutong smiled. "An organization needs all kinds of people. Tigers to hold down the mountain, eagles with foresight, wolves skilled in battle, agile leopards, loyal dogs—each has their own duty."

Lin Xiaoxiao's eyes lit up. "Boss, then what am I in the organization?"

Li Shutong thought for a moment. "A fish that slacks off."

Ye Wan said calmly from the side, "A piece of shit that stirs things up."

Lin Xiaoxiao: "???"

Thanks:

Kanshu Wanbei, BaraRay, Xiao Miao Liu Ge Zhua, Chenyinle Liang Miao, Chi Rou Jiu Hui Bian Pang, Sansheng Yuan Qing Baobao, Tiangou Bailang, Quan Zhilong_, Reader 1383594256452726784, Shangshan Boyu Qu, Lanlan Xiao Jiuquan, WDDDJ, Likaishi Tuoni Daishui, Book Friend 20171130004559159, Xing丨Zhi Jaua, E Kali, Lyhae, Jiandao Zhenjie

You all became Alliance Leaders of this book!

Bosses, you're generous! May you live as long as heaven and earth!