[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-shadow-empire":3,"chapter-the-shadow-empire-the-shadow-empire-chapter-40":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Shadow Empire",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2267660,4428,"Chapter 40: The Spark","the-shadow-empire-chapter-40",40,"\u003Cp>The muffled breathing from the half-closed door made the apprentice’s nails dig into his palm, blood seeping slowly from the split wound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dark crack of the door seemed to hold everything he despised!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hated it, wanted to rush in and smash his fist into that fat face—but cowardly, he dared only vent his hatred here, inside his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes he didn’t understand what was wrong with this world—why did every misfortune seem to fall on him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His parents had divorced; the man he once saw as his life’s goal and role model had left Jincheng City with a woman seven or eight years younger than him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was awarded to his mother, because he was still a minor, and his father had clearly stated he did not wish to be his guardian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief consultation with a lawyer, he moved in with his mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In recent years, more and more illegal immigrants had arrived here; jobs were hard to find, wages low, and everyone talked about Jincheng City’s growth, its thriving economy—but as a native, he felt only crushing pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More than half a year ago, his mother suddenly told him to learn a trade; by then he had graduated high school, and after some “investigation,” he learned the most profitable business nearby was Johnny’s bakery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earning one or two hundred yuan a month was, for a child from a single-parent household, like a astronomical sum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was sent here, and in six months he’d spent most of his mother’s meager income—yet learned nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t know how to knead dough, shape loaves, make bread taste good, pair ingredients, or even the techniques for premium breads—not one bit!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He worked long hours for free, yet still had to pay Johnny ten yuan each month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hated everything here, hated the shop, hated Johnny, even hated himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, one more person had been added: his mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To save that little money, she was currently in the room helping Johnny relax—he knew what was happening, but could do nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Minutes later, she stepped out, adjusting her disheveled shirt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her son’s terrifying gaze, her expression shifted slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without speaking, she gave a slight nod and turned to leave—but the apprentice followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why?” he asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the alley behind the bakery, the woman stopped and turned to face him. “Because Johnny’s skills are the best. If you learn his bread-making, you’ll have at least one way to survive—it was your own choice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The apprentice didn’t understand. “Why?” he asked again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you… doing those things?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman remained calm. “Because we have no money left.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The apprentice fell silent. The woman didn’t stop speaking because of his silence; she knew the boy hated her. “You have no real options now—either leave, find a job, and support yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He promised me he’ll let you stay here for at least three more months.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The apprentice wanted to say something but didn’t know how—he’d used up the family’s scarce money, and she’d sacrificed for his chance to learn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To leave now wasn’t simply a matter of staying or going; it seemed like two choices, but in truth, there were almost none left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t know what sunk cost meant—but he knew if he left now, everything he’d invested would be wasted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching his son fall silent again, recalling the suppressed fury in his eyes just now, the woman’s expression shifted slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re grown now. There’s something I haven’t told you—I’m leaving too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The apprentice suddenly looked up at her. “You… when do we leave?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She shook her head. “Not we—I. I met a man while working, a foreign tourist. He wants me to go with him. I agreed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So… your time is running out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman finished speaking and left. This was likely the best choice she saw—she’d given her child enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time, youth, money—even dignity. Now she should live for herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The apprentice said nothing until her back vanished into the alley; he was numb, stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First his father, now her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a day of numb labor, he mopped the floor twice, then collapsed onto his bed, thinking—how could he change this? How… could he learn Johnny’s bread-making?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d thought someday he’d learn—but now he saw how naive he’d been.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half-asleep, he wondered—if Johnny couldn’t make bread himself, could he replace him? Could he learn the recipes and techniques?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He fell asleep with that thought—and in his dream, Johnny was injured, disabled, unable to bake, forced to let him do it instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He mastered all of Johnny’s recipes and techniques, opened his own bakery, sold cheaper, better bread, soon Johnny and his damned daughter lost income, ended up on the streets…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning, the apprentice woke to the plain ceiling and realized it had all been a dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today was Thursday—business was picking up; Johnny would bake personally today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing morning chores, he stood in the back kitchen waiting for Johnny. Johnny soon entered and began preparing ingredients.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as soon as he started, he turned sharply to the apprentice. “What are you still doing here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his dream, in his thoughts, he’d punched Johnny hard—but in reality, he cowered. “I… I think I might help you finish.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Johnny snorted. “Trying to steal my techniques?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get out, brat. Don’t think because your mother sucked me off I’ll teach you anything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I wouldn’t sell my skills for five hundred yuan. Your mother’s worth five at most!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, before I lose my temper, get out of this room—and shut the door!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The apprentice clenched his fists—but Johnny wasn’t afraid. He knew the apprentice and the woman’s situation. He had them cornered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You wanna hit me?” He walked over and slapped the apprentice’s head with his flour-coated hand. “Either pack your shit and leave, or go outside and stoke the furnace!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, the apprentice relented. He unclenched his fists. “Yes, Boss.” He was also required to call Johnny “Boss.” Then he left the room—but his hatred kept rising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From now until afternoon was Johnny’s “work time.” He’d mix all the recipes and bake the finer breads and cakes; the rest would be left to the apprentice in the afternoon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the apprentice had two or three hours. While stoking the furnace, he remembered last night’s half-dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten minutes later, he changed clothes and left the bakery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a local, the apprentice had some friends; though work was busy, he sometimes chatted with them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew everything happening in Jincheng City lately—the locals’ hatred of immigrants, the violent crimes escalating into robbery and vandalism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few days ago, a friend told him they’d smashed an immigrant’s shop and stolen plenty of good stuff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d only laughed it off before—he could never do such a thing, wouldn’t dare. But now he saw it as an opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the afternoon, the back kitchen door finally opened. Dozens of freshly shaped dough loaves sat on racks, proofing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sweating, Johnny emerged shirtless, his thick body hair making him look like a bear!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get in there and watch the proofing racks. When they’re ready, shove them into the oven. If they’re overproofed or underbaked, you know the consequences!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He grinned lewdly. “Your mom may be plain-looking, but she sure knows how to please.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was surprised—before, saying this always made the apprentice seethe with suppressed rage. He loved watching the boy’s helpless fury—it gave him a sense of… controlling someone’s fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he was a nobody, he still craved that feeling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, the apprentice showed none of that hated, bowed-down expression. He just stared at Johnny twice, then turned and walked into the back kitchen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Johnny found it boring and went back to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d worked hard all afternoon—he needed a good nap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Business was good. Though the city was still a bit chaotic, it was slowly stabilizing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some people now stayed in the bakery to eat bread, drink coffee, chat—his business naturally wasn’t bad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At night, Johnny sat at the table eating fried chicken, counting cash in the register with greasy fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The apprentice was mopping. When he reached the door, he quietly unlatched the bolt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the shadows, his eyes gleamed with hatred and dark satisfaction…\u003C\u002Fp>",1362,"2026-06-19T21:10:27.799Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","1da700e69f295b5cea61fe8da8ecee385a65dcb416378797d3e50b0c95b5c77c","the-shadow-empire-chapter-41","the-shadow-empire-chapter-39",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-shadow-empire-cover.jpg"]