“The slowest way to make money in this world is by relying on your unique skills,” Qing Zhun said as he dealt the cards. “Whether you’re collecting tickets on the Steam Train, a gambling prodigy, making exceptionally delicious baozi, or a skilled writer, you might earn tens of millions a year, but that’s only third-rate. That’s called making money by yourself.”

Qing Chen asked, “Then what’s second-rate?”

Qing Zhun said, “A model. When you create a scalable money-making model and then sell it to others, such as franchising or receiving dividends, that’s called making money by relying on others.”

Qing Chen: “And what’s first-rate?”

Qing Zhun: “Using capital to create capital is first-rate. That’s called money begetting money.”

Qing Chen: “Is there anything above first-rate?”

Qing Zhun: “Yes.”

“What?”

“War.”

The implication was that war is the most lucrative business because it overturns past social structures and its most fundamental goal is a change in power.

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

Qing Chen mumbled, “You’re a lobbyist sent by Shadow, aren’t you? You just want me to return to the Qing Family to take on some power, and then give up my current small ticket-selling business.”

Qing Zhun smiled without speaking.

Qing Chen said, “In terms of the speed of making money, what you said about super first-rate, first-rate, second-rate, and third-rate is true. But if there were no third-rate, no one would sell baozi, and no one would be a ticket seller. Then second-rate and first-rate wouldn’t exist either. They are the indispensable foundation of this world.”

Qing Zhun said with a pained expression, “Boss, without you, the Steam Train would still run perfectly well. The Steam Train doesn’t need you at all!”

“That seems to be the case…” Qing Chen pondered, “I feel like you’re cheating while dealing the cards, but I have no proof.”

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

Yang Yang: “Exactly!”

Qing Chen turned to look at Yang Yang speechlessly. Which side are you on, girl?

At this time, Qing Zhun stood up and walked to the window, staring out at the scenery.

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

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

Like countless imperial green jadeite embedded 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 immediately got angry: “You didn’t cheat when dealing the cards, but when I have two Kings, four Twos, and four Aces at the same time, you say you want to enjoy the scenery?! How many times has this happened along the way? When the cards are bad, you just discard them and look at the scenery! What kind of integrity is this?!”

Qing Zhun chuckled, “How can this beautiful scenery be compared to playing cards?”

Qing Chen said, “Others intentionally lose money to their boss so they can have a future. You won’t get promoted doing this!”

In the distance on the plain, there was a large lake shrouded in mist. Qing Zhun introduced, “That’s Forbidden Zone 012, the most special Forbidden Zone in the Federation. It was once one of the largest inland lakes in the Federation. Strange and powerful fish are hidden at the bottom of the lake. It’s difficult for humans to access, and we don’t even know its rules.”

“How was this thing formed?” Qing Chen curiously asked.

“Some say it was formed when a Demi-God happened to die while boating on the lake, others say it was a giant six-whiskered catfish that died there, but neither of these claims has been verified,” Qing Zhun said, “There used to be a Wildlanders settlement near that lake, making a living by fishing by the lake. The fish there bite very quickly and the flesh is excellent. People could fish from the shore without entering the Forbidden Zone.”

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

“The Chen Family killed them all,” Qing Zhun said, “Now there’s a fish farming base by the lake, supplying high-end fish and caviar to the entire Federation, specifically for the top three districts. Shall we get off here and try the legendary most delicious perch?”

Qing Chen said, “Subordinates should have the awareness of being a subordinate. Don’t arbitrarily plan itineraries!”

This time, as soon as he finished speaking, he received a slap on the back of his head.

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

Qing Zhun said with a faint smile, “You’re getting addicted to this, aren’t you? You really think I don’t know what you’re thinking, you know my Shadow identity and still won’t say anything, just wanting to use me for a few more days. You have a Force field type Awakened One by your side, can she not sense my Force field? Don’t you think I know the characteristics of a Force field type Awakened One?”

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

He was helpless. Even though he now had a B-level, he still couldn’t fight back against this S-level.

Even if he knew Shadow was going to attack, he still couldn’t avoid it.

A Demi-God is like a high mountain. When you look at it from afar, you think it’s nothing special. All the mountains in the world seem to be like that.

But only when you get to the foot of the mountain and look up at the towering, boundless peaks do you realize that it’s a mountain that no one can ever overcome in their lifetime.

Qing Chen was also tough, saying directly, “Do you remember that you once praised Shadow as a good person? By the way, when you were at Intelligence Bureau One, you pretended so hard, you weren’t there during every operation, but you pretended you were acting so well… Come on, let’s hurt each other!”

Shadow’s expression changed.

Slap, Qing Chen received another slap on the back of his head.

Yang Yang quickly peeled a Woggan and gave it to Shadow: “Ahem, don’t be angry with him, you’ll beat him silly…”

Shadow smiled and said, “Yang Yang is the one with the discernment. If it weren’t for her, you would have received at least two more slaps. From the moment you made me carry two backpacks, I wanted to see how much you could act, and you really acted!”

Qing Chen imitated Shadow’s tone, “I’m Shadow Master sent to protect you…”

Shadow raised his eyebrows.

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

Xiao Mengqian was almost crying.

At this time, 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 approach.”

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

Qing Chen was stunned. A scene he had seen before appeared again. Shadow’s breathing disappeared.

No, to be precise, the frequency of Shadow’s breathing was stretched to an infinitely long time span, so that others thought his heartbeat had stopped.

Qing Chen understood.

Shadow wasn’t annoyed by his ‘acting’, but he sensed something strange about his body and knew that he couldn’t hide it any longer.

Qing Chen looked at Yang Yang, “Has his Force field changed?”

“Extremely subtle,” Yang Yang worried.

Qing Chen sighed.

He finally understood why Shadow wanted to come out and play this trip.

Ten minutes passed, Shadow opened his eyes, looking at everyone as if nothing had happened: “Did you worry about me?”

“Worried,” Qing Chen said seriously, “I have no relatives in the Outer World, and in the Inner World, you’re one of my few relatives. It’s definitely not true to say I’m not worried.”

When the boy first met Shadow, he was full of vigilance. After all, this Shadow came and went without a trace, his actions were seamless and his purpose unclear.

He even used Metahumans to plant tea.

Getting along with such a person, it was not enough to be on high alert.

But later, Qing Chen discovered that Shadow would not harm him.

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

Li Shutong had gone abroad.

Li Xiurui had died in Forbidden Zone 002.

Only Shadow remained.

Qing Chen asked, “Is your illness starting to occur frequently, so you can’t stay at the Qing Family? Also, your time is running out. Old Master Li found me before his death, and you’re also finding me before your death. What is this? Am I a hospice care hospital?”

Shadow was silent.

Qing Chen sighed, “How much time do you have left?”

Shadow smiled, he actually heard the reluctance hidden in Qing Chen’s complaining tone.

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

Shadow said, “You don’t need to know how much time I have left, and I don’t like others counting down for me, as if I should be lying in the intensive care unit, covered in tubes. Don’t worry, even facing death, the person who controls time will be the same as a normal person until the last second. I will die at the most brilliant moment, that’s enough.”

Qing Chen sighed and asked, “I still don’t understand, since you’re already a Demi-God, why is your lifespan still so short, you obviously don’t have any injuries.”

Shadow said, “I obviously don’t have any injuries, but I do.”

Qing Chen: “…What a cliché.”

Shadow laughed, “Actually, I really don’t have any injuries. I told you before, I often cough in front of outsiders to make them think I have injuries.”

“Then what’s the matter with your heartbeat stopping?” Qing Chen was puzzled.

Shadow looked at him, “I once overdrew time for someone.”

Qing Chen was stunned, “Overdraw? How long did you overdraw?”

Shadow calmly said, “A century.”

Shadow didn’t say anything else.