Ephemera of the Lonely Island

Lone Island Shanghai, where the forces of all sides are deeply entangled, and intelligence and betrayal are the only circulating currency. Shen Yan, codenamed "Ephemera," is the coldest "pot-mender" in the No. 76 secret service, moving between the Japanese puppet regime, the Military Statistics Bureau, and the underground party, making a living by forging evidence and finding scapegoats, believing in the creed of "sacrificing the few to preserve the whole." But as he repeatedly "mends pots" for the high-ranking members of the Military Statistics Bureau, he discovers that the so-called "whole" is nothing but a fig leaf for the smuggling and wealth accumulation of the powerful. Torn repeatedly between "executing orders" and the "bottom line of conscience," Shen Yan's faith gradually collapses. He ultimately betrays his old master and completes his self-redemption in the abyss, transforming from an abandoned "Ephemera" into a "Lone Boat" sailing alone. This is a high-IQ game that rejects mindless gunfights. Shen Yan does not rely on martial prowess or cheat-like abilities; using information asymmetry, calculations of human nature, and his "pot-mending" skills, he stages breathtaking cognitive warfare under the hunting of a host of high-IQ opponents such as Fujiwara. Between him and his comrade Lin Wei, there is no melodramatic romance, only the life-and-death trust of "I know your hands are stained with blood, yet I am still willing to hold a lamp for you." This is a tragic aesthetic documentary about fall and redemption, betrayal and faith. Shen Yan mends pots in the darkness, seeking only to ensure that the children who come later no longer have to mend pots in the dead of night. — Description from novelcodex.orgFull novel: Ephemera of the Lonely Island — read the rest free on N​o⁠v​e⁠l​C⁠o​d⁠e​x⁠.​o⁠r​g⁠