Chapter 962: 598. The Disappearing Century

“In this world, the slowest way to make money is by relying on your unique skills,” Qing Zhun said while dealing cards. “Whether you’re collecting tickets on a steam train or exceptionally skilled at gambling, or making delicious buns, or writing decent novels, you might earn tens of millions a year, but this speed of making money is still third-rate, called relying on oneself to make money.”

Qing Chen asked, “So what is second-rate?”

Qing Zhun replied, “Models. When you create a money-making model that can be mass-produced and then sell it to others, like franchising or collecting dividends, that’s called relying on others to make money.”

Qing Chen: “So what’s top-rate?”

Qing Zhun: “Using capital to create capital is top-rate, it’s called money begets money.”

Qing Chen: “Is there something above top-rate?”

Qing Zhun: “Yes.”

“What?”

“War.”

The implication being that war is the most lucrative business because it overturns the existing social structure, with the ultimate aim being a power shift.

And power, that’s something even money can’t buy in this world.

Qing Chen muttered, “You’re a lobbyist sent by the Shadow, aren’t you? You’re trying to get me back to the Qing’s Family to take over some power and leave my little ticket-selling business.”

Qing Zhun smiled without saying a word.

Qing Chen said, “According to the speed of making money, your classification of super first-rate, first-rate, second-rate, and third-rate indeed makes sense. But without the third-rate, if no one sells buns or collects tickets, then second-rate and first-rate wouldn’t exist. They are the indispensable foundation of this world.”

Qing Zhun said with deep regret, “Boss, even without you, the steam train runs perfectly fine. The steam train doesn’t need you at all!”

“Seems like it…” Qing Chen pondered, “I feel like you’re cheating while dealing cards, but I have no evidence.”

Qing Zhun raised his eyebrows, “Do I need to cheat to win against you? You could say I’m not skilled enough, but you can’t question my honesty in cards.”

Yang Yang: “Exactly!”

Qing Chen turned and looked speechlessly at Yang Yang, wondering which side she was on.

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

They had reached the southern part of the Federation, and the steam train journeyed through landscapes full of rivers and lakes.

There were no signs of human habitation by those lakes, so clear one could see fish swimming at the bottom, green yet pristine, like a deep pool.

Like pieces of imperial green jade inlaid in the earth.

Qing Zhun said, “Let’s stop playing cards and enjoy the scenery, it’s too beautiful.”

Qing Chen glanced at his cards and got angry: “You didn’t cheat while dealing, but when I have two jokers, four twos, and four aces, you decide to enjoy the scenery?! How many times has this happened during this trip? Throwing the cards to look at the scenery when you have a bad hand! What kind of card playing is that?!”

Qing Zhun chuckled, “What’s more important than this beautiful view?”

Qing Chen said, “People usually lose on purpose to their boss, that’s how they get promoted! You won’t get promoted doing this!”

In the distance across the plains, a large lake was shrouded in mist. Qing Zhun introduced, “That’s Taboo Land No.012, also the most unique in the Federation. It was once one of the Federation’s largest inland lakes, where strange and powerful fish hide in the depths, making human access difficult, not even knowing its rules.”

“How did it form?” Qing Chen asked curiously.

“Some say a demigod passed away while boating on the lake, others say a giant six-whiskered catfish died there, but neither story has been confirmed,” Qing Zhun said. “Nearby there used to be a settlement of wild folks who lived by fishing at the lakeside. The fish there would bite quickly, with excellent meat quality. People could fish from the shore without entering the Taboo Land.”

Qing Chen asked curiously, “What about now? Are the wild folks still there?”

“The Chen Clan killed them all,” Qing Zhun said. “Now there’s a fish production base by the lake, supplying all the Federation’s high-end fish and caviar, catering specifically to the Upper Three Districts. Why don’t we get off here and taste the legendary most delicious perch?”

Qing Chen said, “Subordinates should have the awareness of subordinates, don’t casually plan the itinerary!”

But this time, just after he spoke, he was smacked on the back of the head.

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

Qing Zhun, seemingly amused, said, “You’ve gotten addicted to playing, haven’t you? Think I don’t know what you’re up to, guessing my Shadow identity but not saying it out loud, just to command me around for a couple more days. You have a Field System Awakener by your side, how could she not sense my field? Do you really think I don’t know the traits of Field System Awakeners?”

“What are you talking about? I don’t know anything…” Qing Chen got another smack on the back of his head.

He was helpless. Even though he was now B-Class, he still had no chance against this S-Class.

Even if he knew the Shadow would strike, he couldn’t dodge it at all.

A demigod is like a towering mountain. From afar, it seems ordinary; all mountains appear similar.

But only when you stand at its base and look up at the towering, cloud-piercing peak do you realize that it’s a mountain most people can’t surpass in a lifetime.

Qing Chen, being tough, said directly, “Do you remember you praised the Shadow as a good person? Oh right, when you were with the Intelligence Department One, you painstakingly pretended, even though you were never there for any action, thinking you acted pretty well… Come on, let’s go down together!”

The Shadow’s face changed.

Slap, Qing Chen got another smack on the back of his head.

Yangyang hurriedly peeled a citrus for the Shadow: “Ahem, don’t get mad at him, if you keep hitting, he’ll turn silly…”

The Shadow said with a smile: “Yangyang still has some insight. If it weren’t for her, you would have had to endure at least two more slaps. Ever since you asked me to carry two hiking bags, I’ve been wanting to see how much trouble you can cause. Turns out, you’re really troublesome!”

Qing Chen mimicked the Shadow’s tone and said: “I was sent by Mr. Shadow to protect you…”

The Shadow raised his eyebrows.

Yangyang quickly poured the Shadow a cup of water: “Calm down, calm down…”

Xiao Mengqiu was almost crying from anxiety.

At this time, the Shadow didn’t say much more to Qing Chen: “I have something to do, you two stay by my side, don’t let anyone get close.”

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

Qing Chen was taken aback. A scene he had seen before happened again; the Shadow’s breathing disappeared.

No, to be precise, the frequency of the Shadow’s breathing elongated beyond limits, making others think his heartbeat had stopped.

Qing Chen understood.

The Shadow didn’t actually get exasperated by Qing Chen’s antics; he sensed the abnormality in his own body and knew he couldn’t hide it any longer.

Qing Chen looked at Yangyang: “Has his power field changed?”

“Extremely weak,” Yangyang said worriedly.

Qing Chen sighed.

He finally understood why the Shadow wanted to take this trip.

Ten minutes passed, the Shadow opened his eyes and looked smilingly at everyone: “Were you worried about me?”

“Worried,” Qing Chen said seriously: “I have no more family in the Outer World, and in the Inner World, you’re one of the few I consider family. To say I wasn’t worried would be a lie.”

When the young man first met the Shadow, his heart was on guard, after all, this Shadow came and went without a trace, did things without leaving a mark or showing intent.

Even made transcendents plant tea.

Dealing with such a person, even being extremely vigilant seemed insufficient.

But later, Qing Chen discovered that the Shadow wouldn’t harm him.

In his eyes, there were only three elders in this world for him: Uncle Li Dong, Li Xiurui, and the Shadow.

Uncle Li Dong had already traveled far away.

Li Xiurui had been long asleep in the No. 002 Taboo Land.

Only the Shadow was left.

Qing Chen asked: “Is it because your illness has started acting up frequently, so you can’t stay with Qing’s Family anymore? Besides, your time is short. Old Master Li sought me near the end, now you’re seeking me too. What am I, a hospice hospital?”

The Shadow remained silent.

Qing Chen sighed: “How much longer do you have?”

The Shadow laughed; he actually heard the veiled reluctance hidden in Qing Chen’s complaining tone.

For people like them, they are always unaccustomed to expressing emotions, instead hiding it within some details.

The Shadow said: “You don’t need to know how much longer I have, I also don’t like people living as if they’re counting down my days, as if I should be lying in an ICU, full of tubes. Don’t worry, for those who control time, even in the last second before death, they will be no different from ordinary people. I’ll die at the most brilliant moment, and that’s enough.”

Qing Chen sighed and asked: “I still don’t understand. Since you’ve become a demigod, why is your lifespan still so short, clearly you don’t appear to be injured either.”

The Shadow said: “Clearly not injured, but I am.”

Qing Chen: “…What a lame joke.”

The Shadow laughed: “Actually I really am not injured, and I told you before, I often cough in front of others to make them think I’m injured.”

“Then why did your heartbeat stop?” Qing Chen asked puzzled.

The Shadow gave him a glance: “I have once overdrawn time for someone.”

Qing Chen froze for a moment: “Overdrawn? How long did you overdraw?”

The Shadow calmly said: “A century.”

The Shadow didn’t say more about other things.

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