As tensions roil with Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines over maritime territorial claims, the role of these shadowy figures among China's security policymakers is a topic of much speculation.
A night watchman claims to have spotted a shadowy figure in the TimeLine, which charts the history of the world's oceans.
The shadowy figure then disappeared into the darkness without another word.
A shadowy figure went past in the darkness.
A few paces off in the darkness there was a shadowy figure squatting against the wall, but tie turned out to be a tramp.
Two shadowy figures, one hunched and squat, the other lean and menacing, both of them Olympic grade lurkers.
I awoke to see shadowy figures with torches in my bedroom.