Translator: CinderTL
Rain blurred the world outside the window.
Sitting at his desk, Feng Qi began to refine the future trajectory of his sacrifice timeline.
In that moment, he deeply understood the sense of loneliness his future self had once described.
In this timeline, he had no Narrator to accompany him, nor any innate abilities. He could only rely on his own efforts to gather more information for his counterpart in the other timeline.
He harbored no resentment.
Every version of himself in every timeline had chosen to sacrifice himself for his sake, and he was equally capable of making a similar choice.
Each decision was, in essence, a reflection of his own thoughts—no different from any other.
He had been prepared for this day for a long time.
Just as he had when he made the decision to save the world, once the mission was bestowed upon him, he had no choice but to fulfill it.
Without telekinesis, he picked up his pen and began to write furiously in his notebook.
Hours later, he had mapped out his future trajectory. He stood up and left his dormitory.
His goal in this Future Line was to join the technology research institute.
To prepare for this, he would need to diligently study technology-related knowledge.
He arrived at the library to find Lin Ran already there.
Seeing him, Lin Ran asked curiously, "Brother Qi, what happened? Why didn't you come for dinner?"
"I was busy handling some matters, so I couldn't make it," Feng Qi said with a calm smile. He continued, "I'll go get a book. You keep studying."
A moment later, Feng Qi returned with a copy of Modern Technological Development 5.7 and sat down beside Lin Ran.
"Why are you reading this today? You're not actually planning to go to the technology research institute, are you?" Lin Ran asked, his expression one of astonishment.
"Of course I am. Did you think I was joking?"
"Damn it, Brother Qi, stop messing around! Joining the technology research institute would be a complete waste of your talent. Come with me to the Tiger Soul Research Institute instead."
Lin Ran's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Do you trust me?" Feng Qi asked earnestly.
"Of course I do. You're my brother," Lin Ran replied, nodding.
"Then respect my choice. Don't try to persuade me, and don't ask why."
Lin Ran's path was destined to lead him to the Tiger Soul Research Institute, where his memories would likely be read. Feng Qi couldn't reveal too much information, as it might affect Lin Ran's future involvement with the technology research institute.
Just like in the previous Future Line, having too many choices wasn't necessarily a good thing; they could interfere with the original plan.
After staring at Feng Qi for several seconds, Lin Ran sighed helplessly. "Technology is boundless, but there's always a path back... Well, I have a feeling you'll come back."
"Flesh is weak, but machines ascend."
At that moment, Feng Qi uttered Mo Fei's favorite maxim: "Technology has no limits, but there's always a way back..."
After some casual conversation, he entered a state of focused study.
Having lost his innate ability, he could now cultivate again.
But he chose not to attempt cultivation. Since this Future Line had chosen the technology research institute, he needed to seize the opportunity to study technological knowledge and strive to enter the institute as soon as possible.
He suddenly realized that after making the decision to "sacrifice," he felt no fear of death or uncertainty about the future.
For the rest of the night, he remained immersed in his studies until the academy's midnight bell rang.
Back in his dormitory, he sat at his desk and opened his computer, leaving his first message to his future self:
1. A new journey has begun. Future me, wait for good news. I'm starting to study technological knowledge right away, aiming to enter the technology research institute as soon as possible.
After closing his email, he didn't go to sleep. Instead, he began researching the technology research institute's admission requirements online.
He continued reading until around 2 a.m., when drowsiness finally overcame him. He washed up and lay down in bed.
Now, he was just a cog in the machine of salvation, no longer the one burdened with carrying the weight forward. This realization brought him an unprecedented sense of peace.
All he needed to do was follow his plan and illuminate a path forward before his death.
Lost in thought, he gradually drifted off to sleep.
The next day, Feng Qi woke up and opened his computer, sending Wei Wei an emoji.
More than ten minutes later, Wei Wei replied.
Wei Wei: Oh ho, is Student Feng Qi thinking about joining the Scarlet Research Institute?
Feng Qi: Not at all. But I'd like to visit the Scarlet Research Institute. Are you free to receive me?
Wei Wei: Oh, then I'm not free.
Feng Qi: I need to discuss something important with you, something extremely important.
Wei Wei: Can't you say it online?
Feng Qi: It's better to discuss it in person.
Wei Wei: ̄へ ̄ Here's the number for the Scarlet Research Institute's external relations department. Contact them.
Realizing Wei Wei wasn't taking him seriously, Feng Qi paused for a moment before typing:
Feng Qi: It's related to that old woman. Interested?
Wei Wei: !!! When can you come?
Feng Qi: Right now.
After closing the chat window, Feng Qi stood up and left his dorm.
Moments later, he appeared at the academy's main gate.
He hailed a car with his phone and headed straight for the Scarlet Research Institute base.
The Scarlet Research Institute base was located at the foot of Azure Dragon Mountain, south of Star City.
The area was sparsely populated, and the base was surrounded by a three-meter-tall steel barrier covered in barbed wire and thorns, completely isolating it from the outside world.
After getting out of the car, Feng Qi walked toward the Scarlet Base entrance.
Suddenly, a green light scanned him, followed by a gruff voice booming from the gate's speakers:
"Do you have an invitation?"
"I'm here to see Wei Wei. I contacted her earlier."
"Please wait. I'll transfer the image to Director Wei."
After a moment, Wei Wei's lazy voice came through the speakers:
"Come in."
As her words faded, the metal gate split open in the middle and slowly slid to the sides.
Stepping inside the Scarlet Base, Feng Qi saw a tall figure in alloy battle armor approaching in the distance. Fully armed and wearing a helmet, he was impossible to identify.
"Follow me," the alloy warrior said, then turned and walked deeper into the base.
Feng Qi immediately followed.
The Scarlet Research Institute base was heavily guarded. Cameras were everywhere within the walls, and a rotating elite guard battle group was stationed there.
Following the guard's winding path, they entered the base.
During this time, Feng Qi underwent several identity verification checks. Fortunately, with the guard leading the way, he passed each one easily.
After walking for about ten minutes, they reached a corridor crammed with scientific instruments.
Continuing forward, they swiped their cards at the end of the corridor to pass through another verification checkpoint. Beyond lay a vast laboratory dominated by pure white tones.
Numerous figures in Scarlet researcher uniforms bustled about the instruments.
"Director Wei's office is in room 805. Go ahead," the guard said without waiting for a reply, then turned and walked back the way they had come.
Feng Qi nodded and headed toward room 805.
Reaching the door, he knocked: "Director Wei?"
The door slid open to the right.
Feng Qi stepped inside immediately, and the metal door behind him slowly closed.
Looking ahead, he saw Wei Wei sitting on a sofa, wearing pajamas and smiling at him.
This was the first time Feng Qi had met Wei Wei in person. Their previous interactions had been limited to messages.
Now, she wore pale blue pajamas that subtly outlined her delicate figure. Her partially exposed chest was barely visible beneath the fabric, every inch of her skin radiating allure.
"Sit down. I'm sure you have a lot to say," Wei Wei said with a smile.
Feng Qi didn't hesitate. He immediately sat down on the sofa and turned his gaze to Wei Wei.
"Sister Wei, can I have a Coke?"
"Do we know each other that well already? Calling me 'Sister Wei'?" Wei Wei rolled her eyes, but still stood up and walked to the refrigerator, returning with a can of Coke.
After handing Feng Qi the Coke, Wei Wei asked curiously, "Why do I feel like you're already very familiar with me?"
"Of course," Feng Qi replied with a smile. "Because we were once comrades."
"Oh? Tell me more," Wei Wei said, her interest piqued rather than shocked.
Seeing this, Feng Qi didn't hold back and began to recount the details.
As Wei Wei listened, her brow furrowed, as if she didn't quite believe what he was saying.
But as Feng Qi revealed more and more information, her doubts gradually dissipated, and she began to interject with questions from time to time.
After hours of conversation, Wei Wei sighed deeply. "So we were comrades across multiple timelines, and this time it's your turn to sacrifice yourself? That's why you've come to me again?"
"That's right. I need your help."
"Wait a moment. I've never heard anything so bizarre in my entire life. It's completely shattered my worldview. Let me digest this for a moment. I'm currently experiencing mental indigestion."
With that, Wei Wei ignored him and fell into deep thought.
After a moment, Wei Wei looked up at him and said, "So all of the Scarlet Research Institute's plans failed, and the technology research institute completely crushed us afterward?"
"Not crushed, a strategic retreat. We retreated into a Secret Base we had prepared long ago, essentially cutting ourselves off from the world."
"Isn't that just a failure? You're being too kind to us," Wei Wei said with a laugh, showing no trace of worry on her face.
Taking a deep breath, she stood up. "Wait here. I'll contact the Dean and the others to call an emergency meeting."
"Alright," Feng Qi nodded immediately.
After Wei Wei left, Feng Qi, with nothing to do, began to examine her room.
Wei Wei's room was incredibly cluttered. Except for the bed, it was piled high with disassembled electronic components and stacks of documents.
This alone was a testament to Wei Wei's dedication to research.
Even as her life dwindled, she had never once been in love, dedicating her entire life to scientific research.
She had fulfilled her promise to Mu Yao, striving her whole life for the rise of humanity.
This phrase might be just a slogan on others' lips, but for Wei Wei, it was never spoken aloud. Instead, she spent her entire life proving it through her actions.
A moment later, Wei Wei returned and led him to the conference room.
Before the meeting began, Feng Qi underwent extremely rigorous security checks. He even had to strip and change into a brand-new outfit before being allowed to enter the room.
Feng Qi wasn't surprised by this.
His future self had mentioned this practice before, explaining that it was done for security reasons.
After the thorough checks, he followed Wei Wei into the conference room.
The room had a strong technological feel, decorated in shades of blue and black. The lighting was a pale blue, and a black, metallic circular conference table dominated the space. Eight people were already seated around it.
"Find a seat and repeat what you told me earlier," Wei Wei said casually, taking a seat and gesturing for Feng Qi to join her.
Feng Qi nodded and sat down beside her.
"Young Feng Qi," the elderly man with white hair and a kindly face spoke. "Wei Wei says you possess the ability to travel through time. We haven't fully accepted this yet, but we trust Wei Wei. Could you please elaborate on the situation?"
Feng Qi immediately nodded and repeated everything he had told Wei Wei earlier.
As Feng Qi spoke, the Scarlet Institute's crimson-robed high-ranking officials at the conference table gradually shifted from initial skepticism to astonishment.
Their surprise intensified when Feng Qi revealed details of the Anti-Infiltration Plan, the Mu Qing Replication Project, and the Complete Rune Transformation Project—all top-secret initiatives of the Scarlet Research Institute.
Moreover, Feng Qi could describe the future trajectories of these projects in remarkable detail, leaving the officials no choice but to believe he had truly traveled to the future and collaborated with their institute.
When Feng Qi finished speaking, the Scarlet Institute's high-ranking officials fell silent. The information he had presented was too much to digest in a short time.
After a long pause, the Scarlet Institute Director, seated at the head of the table, finally spoke:
"Young Feng Qi, we have dedicated our lives to changing humanity's destiny. Our goals align, so... in the future, we will walk alongside you."
Hearing these words, Feng Qi grinned:
"Thank you."
Even though he knew the Scarlet Research Institute would inevitably stand by his side, the Director's firm declaration of their future partnership still warmed his heart.
After the meeting, Wei Wei led him to a room filled with control consoles.
Next, he began to explain the details of the Brain in a Vat experiment, which Wei Wei recorded.
After more than five hours, they had only transcribed about a third of the information.
"I'm starving! Shouldn't we grab some food first?"
"Let's go!" Feng Qi grinned.
"I thought someone as determined to save the world as you would refuse my request and insist on finishing the transcription first."
"No way. I'm human too. In my opinion, not being enthusiastic about eating is a sign of a flawed mindset."
"Great minds think alike. Saving the world and eating don't have to be mutually exclusive," Wei Wei said, giving him an approving look.
Following Wei Wei, they arrived at the Scarlet Research Institute's cafeteria.
Though smaller than Star City Academy's cafeteria, the food here was far superior, even featuring specialty dishes grown within the Domain Field.
However, since losing his innate ability, his appetite had diminished.
He quickly ate until he was stuffed.
Across from him, Wei Wei was still devouring her meal with gusto, her eating style strikingly similar to Mu Qing's.
Considering that Mu Qing, a rune augment, had been raised by Wei Wei, Feng Qi felt he had finally found the source of this "evil."
"Are you full?" Wei Wei asked, looking up at him.
"Almost done. After losing my innate ability, my appetite hasn't been as good."
"Don't worry. Come to my room before you leave. I'll give you a gene needle. It'll significantly boost your physical fitness."
"Even though you're not cultivating in this timeline, you still need to improve your physical fitness. It'll greatly enhance your learning efficiency and reduce fatigue."
"Alright."
Feng Qi didn't refuse, immediately agreeing.
During the meal, Wei Wei ate twice as much as him before finally stopping.
Afterward, they returned to the room where they were recording data and continued entering detailed information about Brain in a Vat.
As dawn approached, the data entry was still incomplete. Feng Qi grew tired, his thoughts becoming sluggish.
Seeing this, Wei Wei couldn't help but tease, "Where are you sleeping tonight?"
"Stop teasing me. I'm definitely not sleeping with you," Feng Qi retorted, annoyed.
"Boring," Wei Wei pouted.
"I've already arranged a room for you on the third floor of the base... Or, how about you sleep on the floor in my room? I'd like to chat with you more tonight."
"Alright."
Feng Qi didn't refuse, immediately agreeing.
Feng Qi followed Wei Wei to her room, where she tidied up and prepared a makeshift bed on the floor.
After turning off the lights and lying down, Feng Qi could even smell the lingering scent of Wei Wei's shower gel.
As he lay there, the room's ceiling gradually became transparent, allowing him to clearly see the starry sky and the moonlit clouds outside.
"A transparent ceiling? That's some high-tech stuff," he remarked.
"Of course. It's one of the reasons I love living here. I can always see the scenery outside."
"Feng Qi, are you scared?" Wei Wei suddenly asked.
"Scared of what? Scared of dying? If I were, I wouldn't have chosen this path. To me, death is just a fruit that seems heavy at first glance, but once you eat it, it's pure liberation," Feng Qi replied with a smile.
"Hahaha, you think just like me. Sometimes living is the real hardship, and death is the true release."
"Sister Wei... why are you so determined to keep going down this path?"
"Haven't the versions of me from other timelines told you?"
"No. Perhaps you could tell me."
After a long silence, Wei Wei's voice finally broke the stillness:
"Because I like to let things flow naturally."
"Let things flow naturally?"
"My version of letting things flow naturally means giving my all and then not forcing things to happen. It's not about throwing my hands up and doing nothing. That's why the future me didn't fight until her last breath, and even on the verge of death, she still wanted to see the world outside. Because by then, she had already given everything she had."
"That's not how I am. I prefer to fight to the death and never give up."
"Tell me more," Wei Wei asked curiously.
"My fight can be summed up in one sentence: it's a battle against enemies hidden in the shadows, a battle against self-torment, and above all, a battle against humanity's predetermined fate. My struggle is my way of refusing to accept the future's predetermined ending. It requires me to defy the heavens themselves."
"It's hard to believe these words are coming from a seventeen-year-old," Wei Wei couldn't help but marvel.
"Knowing too much robs you of the simple joys of youth. If I knew nothing, I might be cuddling with my girlfriend right now, starting a family."
"Hahaha, you're getting cocky now! In my eyes, you're still just a kid."
"Just pretend I am," Feng Qi said, rolling his eyes. "I'm going to sleep. Staying up late shortens your life."
This time, Wei Wei didn't reply. Feng Qi tilted his head back, gazing at the starry night sky, lost in thought.
After a moment, Wei Wei's voice broke the silence. "Are you asleep?"
"Almost," Feng Qi replied.
"Don't overthink things. In this timeline, we're all your companions, and we'll stay with you until the very end."
"Thank you," Feng Qi said.
Hearing his response, Wei Wei's emotions surged.
In truth, when she first learned from Feng Qi that all their efforts would ultimately fail, her heart had been filled with sorrow.
She hadn't shown it, but at that moment, she'd made a decision: to stay by Feng Qi's side and gather more information for her counterpart in another timeline.
Yet the sadness lingered, as if her life had already reached its end.
Now, she was merely following the predetermined path, inching closer to the abyss.
"Are you secretly sad but pretending to be optimistic?" Feng Qi suddenly asked.
"Bullshit! I'm completely calm. In fact, I'm even thinking about having a late-night snack right now."
"We are living, breathing people, not mere lines in history's footnotes. While we cannot alter humanity's ultimate fate, we can shape our own destinies."
Hearing this, Wei Wei fell silent for a moment before shouting, "Go to sleep! You're being too noisy!"
Feng Qi grinned at Wei Wei's furious outburst, realizing she had been exposed. He closed his eyes as well.
His conversation with Wei Wei had eased some of the obsessions that had been weighing on his mind.
No longer dwelling on the past, no longer fearing the future, he would cherish the present.
(End of the Chapter)
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