Chapter 44: Breathing

"Only Shadows can become the family head?" Qing Chen was puzzled.

He still didn't have a clear understanding of the Fight for the Shadow yet, and only pretended to know a lot based on the few questions he was able to ask beforehand.

Now, he could finally get some answers to those questions!

He was free to ask!

When Li Shutong realized he wasn't from the Inner World, he began lecturing like a schoolteacher, "It was said that the Qing Family existed since the last era.1Possibly a reference to "The First Order" At that time, the Shadow was only a minor, disposable role in the Qing Family Corporation, and the position wasn't as attractive as it is today."

"Then, after a certain Shadow of the Qing Family rose to the position of family leader, he established some new laws."

He created a law that stated, "All future family heads must be former Shadows, who would have done the dirtiest of all jobs in the world. Anyone who had been the Shadow would be treasured and respected by the family."

Qing Chen asked, "How many Shadows are there?"

Li Shutong answered, "One will be selected every ten years or so, and about every one of ten Shadows will later become the family head."

He continued, "Nowadays, medical technologies have gotten to a terrifying extent. Some family heads can live for more than a hundred fifty years. So, when the family head retires, he or she will select one most qualified person from the past Shadows."

"Then, what about the others?" asked Qing Chen.

"They must give up their power," said Li Shutong, "But they can live the rest of their lives in peace and luxury. When you get to be the Shadow, you basically got a free pass from any death penalty."

"This rule seems a little strange to me. If that family heads once a shadow, then he must know how torturous the selection process must be. How come he still made such a rule?" Qing Chen asked.

"Oh, the rule to have nine people to compete was not made by him but by his son. That was because his son selected multiple Shadows and found them all to be trash, so he decided to hold a competition that will eliminate anyone who might be unqualified." Li Shutong explained.

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"His dad didn't stop him?" asked Qing Chen.

"At first, the Fight for the Shadow was simply a series of tasks. The winner would be the person who completes the most tasks in the shortest amount of time," Li Shutong explained, "but after thousands of years, the winner became the one who lives."

Qing Chen nodded. That makes more sense.

The regulations devised by the forefathers were intended for the best of the best, but as time passed, the rules began to fall out of favor.

Because people's views change, nothing could stay the same.

"After that, the Fight for the Shadow started to become what it is now," Li Shutong smiled and said, "Perhaps all the family heads of the Qing Family understood that if the Qing Family doesn't fight like a beast, then it will die out eventually in the Inner World."

"That's true," Qing Chen nodded, "So, I have to be careful since all nine of the Shadow candidates want to eliminate each other."

"Honestly, this round is progressing faster than I thought," Li Shutong added, "since the candidates in previous rounds have tended to be more conservative at the beginning." Unless someone has previously detected risks as a result of your presence."

"Is it because I'm too close to you?" Qing Chen said softly, "No, there is no way. The person arranged for the assassins before we even met."

"Don't worry about it for now. The answer will reveal itself as time goes on," said Li Shutong.

"Can I step out from the Fight for the Shadow? Will there be any conflicts if I am in the Qing Family and the Knights at the same time?" asked Qing Chen.

"Nope," Li Shutong shook his head, "But it'll be the best if you don't let people know that you have joined the Knights. Do you see how I have to stay here? Every night from now on, I'll teach you everything you need to know, and every morning, just do as you did today. Also, because you still don't comprehend the genuine benefits of being a Shadow, I would advise against you leaving the Fight for the Shadow.."

"Okay," Qing Chen nodded. He wasn't scared, so if Li Shutong told him not to, then he wouldn't mind playing with the other candidates for a while.

Looking at the empty Prison 18, Qing Chen felt as if he was truly free in here.

Li Shutong sat down on the floor with his leg crossed, and the large cat cuddled next to him, soon falling asleep. Qing Chen also followed him and sat down.

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"Do you have any more questions?" asked Li Shutong.

"I saw that the standard weapon in the Inner World is still firearms. Are there any more powerful weapons?" asked Qing Chen.

"Yes, but there aren't many," said Li Shutong, "There are EMP hand grenades that specialize in disabling mechanical limbs, and some others that can be mounted onto mechanical limbs, but firearms are still a standard when it comes to military and company forces.

Qing Chen asked, "The Inner World supposedly is much more advanced than the Outer World, but how come the standard weapons are still the same."

Li Shutong smiled and said, "Because a bullet is enough to kill a person."

Qing Chen understood now. People are still using it simply because it's cost-effective and does its job well.

"Does its job well" is very important.

He saw a blog online a few days ago of someone writing about how mirrors of the Inner World were not much different, other than that it can defog itself.

That was because the job of a mirror was simply to reflect light and nothing else. More technologically advanced did not mean that the everyday items had to be more complicated.

"Alright, enough of these side-talks. Time for what you really need to learn," said Li Shutong.

"The longest path of all shortcuts, right?" asked Qing Chen.

"Yep," Li Shutong nodded, "Give me your right hand."

Qing Chen held out his right hand, and Li Shutong grabbed onto his wrist.

At that moment, he felt as if his breathing paused. A powerful force took over his breathing patterns and even the speed of his blood flow.

Li Shutong's touch was much like a lock.

The next moment, Li Shutong’s breathing changed. Qing Chen opened his eyes and saw that a stream of white smoke came out from Li Shutong's mouth, then some fire patterns started extending from Li Shutong's ears to the rest of his face.

Qing Chen was shocked!

Everything that happened just now was scientifically impossible!

Before he could make any reactions, Qing Chen felt that his breathing was also forced to change. His heart rate and breathing were all different from usual.

Qing Chen could feel that every breath he took was mixed with fire, rolling down his throat. It spread across every air sack in his lungs. The terrifying temperature spread across his body, and he could feel that his organs were being ripped apart.

This heat sensation didn't come from actual temperature but from an illusion caused by extreme pain.

Slowly, the fire patterns also appeared on Qing Chen's cheeks, and the pain extended with the pattern into his brain.

He wanted to take his hand back from Li Shutong's tight grab, but Ye Wan, who was standing beside him, said, "Hold it there."

Qing Chen became more relaxed. He didn't scream or struggle in any way.

Just like how he was yesterday when he was waterboarded.

Lin Xiaoxiao said, "Do you remember what I first told you? Great suffering begets great fortune."

• 1Possibly a reference to "The First Order"

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