Tiger Soul Research Institute Sub-base.
Late at night, on the rooftop.
The cool night breeze swept across as Feng Qi and Lin Ran shared their drinks.
They reminisced about the past, and the unfamiliarity born from years of separation gradually faded away.
As night fell, both of them were reminded of the days they spent burning the midnight oil in Star City Academy's library after dinner.
After clinking glasses again, Feng Qi took a large sip of his drink:
"Ah Ran, if one day a friend were to deceive you, would you hate them?"
Hearing this, Lin Ran paused mid-motion, clearly caught off guard.
"Qi-ge, why does it sound like you're trying to tell me you're about to lie to me?"
"Of course not. I was just reminded of some things, so I thought I'd ask," Feng Qi quickly denied.
Lin Ran nodded, but his curiosity was piqued. "If it's a close friend's deception, it'd definitely break my heart. But everything has two sides. Giving someone a surprise is technically a kind of deception too. So, tell me—what's the result of being deceived?"
Faced with his question, Feng Qi was silent for a moment before replying, "What if the result is losing one's life?"
"Then there must be a reason, right? What's the deceiver's goal?" Lin Ran asked again, his curiosity growing.
Once again, Feng Qi fell silent.
Taking someone's life under the banner of a greater cause was never what he truly wanted.
Standing on the moral high ground and deciding someone else's fate felt to him like another form of oppression and exploitation.
When it came to Lin Ran, guilt weighed heavily on his heart.
Taking a deep breath, Feng Qi looked at Lin Ran and said:
"What do you think about betraying a friend for the sake of the greater good?"
"The greater good? Can you give me an example?"
"Let's say one day you're faced with a choice: if you kill your friend, you can save your world and your people. What would you choose?"
Lin Ran fell into deep thought upon hearing this.
Moments later, he lifted his gaze to meet Feng Qi's.
"If your scenario holds, is it possible that the friend being betrayed might willingly accept death as their choice?"
Feng Qi was taken aback by Lin Ran's response.
Perhaps sensing the weight on Feng Qi's mind, Lin Ran smiled and said:
"Take you and me, for example. If one day, to achieve the future we've always dreamed of, you needed to sacrifice me—then I... would do it without hesitation."
Lin Ran's expression grew particularly serious as he finished speaking.
Feng Qi suddenly realized that Lin Ran might have already sensed something.
At that moment, Lin Ran smiled, picking up his glass and taking a hearty sip.
"Qi-ge, I feel like you're hiding something from me. Although I don't understand why, I believe you must have your reasons."
"Based on what I know about you, disappearing for so many years can't be just about experiencing life on the front lines. We talked about this before—your dream has always been to join the cultivation research institute.
"No matter from the perspective of contributing to humanity or from any other angle, going to the front lines doesn't align with how you operate. It only takes you further away from the dreams you once had."
Faced with Lin Ran's smile, Feng Qi fell into a heavy silence.
He realized he had always underestimated Lin Ran's keen sense of observation.
The direction of their conversation had already touched a dangerous line.
If the Mist Lord successfully took over Lin Ran's body, there was a chance he could read the memory of this very conversation.
And should the Mist Lord, who had always trusted him, start to harbor doubts, it would create unforeseen complications.
The realization made Feng Qi's heart tighten.
Allowing Lin Ran to discern the truth was undoubtedly detrimental to the future development of this sacrificial timeline.
However, the situation wasn't beyond salvation.
In multiple timelines, Wei Wei had studied various topics related to memory, such as memory preservation, memory editing, and knowledge implantation.
Now that the conversation had reached this point, Feng Qi considered the possibility of confessing everything to Lin Ran.
But after the confession, he would need to find Wei Wei.
He would need her to edit Lin Ran's memories and erase anything that might hinder the development of this sacrificial timeline.
"Wait a moment—I need to make a call."
With that thought in mind, Feng Qi stood up and walked to the other side of the rooftop.
Lin Ran, though puzzled, didn't ask why.
On the far side of the rooftop, Feng Qi removed his backpack and took out a specialized encrypted phone designed by the Crimson Research Institute.
Following the authentication steps, he accessed the secure interface.
Opening his contact list, he dialed Wei Wei's number.
Feng Qi waited for a long time, but Wei Wei didn't answer the phone. Still, he wasn't anxious.
Having spent considerable time at the Crimson Research Institute, Feng Qi knew that Wei Wei often participated in rune crystal research projects. It was impossible for her to carry her phone with her at all times.
Some projects, once underway, could take days to complete.
Fortunately, calls to Wei Wei would automatically redirect to the Crimson Institute's communication hub after 10 minutes. From there, a designated staff member would notify Wei Wei to answer the call.
After a little over ten minutes, the phone was finally picked up, and a familiar voice came through on the other end:
"Ah Qi, what urgent matter is it this time?"
"Wei-jie, I wanted to ask about the progress in your research on memory editing."
"What's up? Do you want to implant some knowledge into your own memory? If so, send me the data, and I can format it for implantation into your brain. Another version of you can then directly access the knowledge. Just make sure the information isn't too extensive—otherwise, the difficulty and failure rate will increase significantly."
Mistaking Feng Qi's intent for something else, Wei Wei responded decisively.
Realizing the misunderstanding, Feng Qi quickly clarified:
"Wei-jie, you know I've returned to Star City, right?"
"I do. The tracking chip implanted in your neck keeps us informed. In addition to the special squad protecting your brain, our headquarters has been monitoring your movements in real-time."
Feng Qi nodded, then continued, "This time, I've returned to Star City because this sacrificial timeline has reached the stage where the Mist Lord is preparing to infiltrate the Tiger Soul Research Institute. Right now, Old Wang is stationed at the Crimson Institute, and Lin Ran will obviously be the prime target for the Mist Lord's possession."
"A few days ago, I participated in the Tiger Soul Research Institute's external recruitment process. I've already joined their sub-base and reunited with Lin Ran…"
Feng Qi spent over twenty minutes explaining the current situation in detail to Wei Wei.
After finishing his explanation, he asked:
"So, Wei-jie, can you edit Lin Ran's memory? I'm worried this sacrificial timeline might go off course."
After hearing his account, Wei Wei's laughter echoed from the other end of the phone:
"You've been careless, haven't you? That Lin Ran is incredibly sharp. During the time you were missing, he was already discreetly investigating our Crimson Research Institute and trying to dig up information about you. We simply chose to ignore him."
Hearing her laughter, Feng Qi felt a glimmer of hope.
But without a definite confirmation, he remained apprehensive. He pressed further:
"Wei-jie, just tell me if you can handle this or not."
The response came immediately:
"I can't edit memories, but three years ago, I extracted the blood of a domain creature capable of influencing mental states. Using it, I developed a memory-erasure potion. Once consumed, it can delete specific portions of memory. You could put this to good use."
"Memory erasure?"
"Yes. This potion can erase memories from a specific timeframe immediately after being consumed."
"But how would I target the specific memories I want to erase? I can't risk turning Lin Ran into a mindless idiot."
"Selective memory removal isn't something I can do, but you don't need to worry about turning him into a fool."
"The dosage determines how much memory is erased, and it also depends on the subject's physical condition. Based on my testing so far, one milliliter can erase approximately 20 hours of memory. This effect is cumulative and can stack backward in time."
"For example, if you wanted to erase Lin Ran's memory of the past month—roughly 720 hours—you'd need to administer 36 milliliters of the potion. He'd forget everything from that time period. So, in short, prepare the exact dosage you need for the memories you want to erase."
Feng Qi suddenly understood after Wei Wei's explanation.
The memory-erasure potion's functionality seemed incredibly practical.
Although it couldn't edit or modify specific memories, it was still an effective method of memory removal.
With this potion, he no longer had to worry about the Mist Lord gaining access to Lin Ran's crucial memories.
When the time came, all he would need to do is have Lin Ran consume the appropriate dose to erase any memories related to his time in the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
Even if he accidentally administered a slightly excessive dose, it wouldn't matter. At most, additional memories would be wiped.
With this in mind, Feng Qi asked:
"Wei-jie, are there any side effects to this memory-erasure potion?"
"Relax—it won't kill anyone. If it's something your Wei-jie developed, you can bet it's top-notch."
Feng Qi: …
Hearing her confident assurance, Feng Qi couldn't help but recall her past creations: the brain containment capsule, the vitality needle, the spicy rune-modified lobster, Little Snail, and the knowledge implantation technology…
There was no doubt about Wei Wei's genius in research.
Multiple timelines had proven that anything Wei Wei set her mind to developing eventually became a reality.
After chatting for a while longer, Wei Wei asked about the escort mission he had recently undertaken, and Feng Qi gave her a brief summary before hanging up.
With Wei Wei's reassurance, Feng Qi felt much more at ease.
He no longer had to worry about Lin Ran's memories falling into the Mist Lord's hands.
As long as the memory-erasure potion was administered before the Mist Lord's possession attempt, there wouldn't be any problems.
Feng Qi wasn't concerned whether the Mist Lord would grow suspicious about Lin Ran's memory loss.
From the Mist Lord's explanations, Feng Qi understood that the memories extracted after possession were incomplete by nature.
Even if Lin Ran's missing memories were detected, the Mist Lord would simply assume that he hadn't successfully accessed all of them, rather than suspecting that someone had tampered with them.
Wei Wei had also mentioned during their phone call that the memory-clearing potion would be delivered to the Tiger Soul Research Institute's sub-base by the next day. The recipient's name would be listed as "Lin Ran."
At this moment, Feng Qi couldn't help but feel the comfort of having reliable teammates taking care of logistics.
Returning to the tea table, he sat down and looked at Lin Ran, who was visibly puzzled.
After taking a few moments to prepare himself, Feng Qi looked directly into Lin Ran's eyes and said:
"Lin Ran, I've decided to tell you the truth."
"If it's something you really can't share, then don't force yourself. I'm curious, sure, but I know you have your reasons and concerns," Lin Ran replied, shaking his head, choosing to refuse despite his curiosity.
"I just made a call about this matter, and the concerns have been addressed. There's no harm in sharing the truth with you now… but I need you to mentally prepare yourself. What I'm about to tell you might sound unbelievable, even nonsensical."
"In that case, Qi-ge, start your speech. I'm very curious about what you've been through." Lin Ran smiled and raised his glass.
Taking a deep breath, Feng Qi met Lin Ran's gaze and said:
"What if I told you I can travel across timelines? Would you believe me?"
The familiar opening of a confession still managed to catch Lin Ran completely off guard.
Just as Lin Ran was taking a sip of wine, he spat it out instantly.
"Cough, cough, cough… Qi-ge, are you telling me a fantasy story?"
Standing up and grabbing a tissue to clean his clothes, Lin Ran couldn't help but complain with an exasperated expression. He clearly thought Feng Qi was joking.
"I told you to prepare yourself mentally! You thought I was kidding?" Feng Qi rolled his eyes.
"Wait, you're serious?"
"Absolutely."
Lin Ran's expression instantly turned serious.
He sat back down, looking at Feng Qi with a nod to signal him to continue. He realized this wasn't the type of joke Feng Qi would make.
Feng Qi began to explain his experiences in a concise manner.
As Feng Qi spoke, Lin Ran's expression shifted constantly.
When Feng Qi mentioned finding Lin Ran in the future database, labeled as someone who committed heinous crimes and was condemned by history, Lin Ran's face went pale.
His enthusiasm for cultivation technique research was instantly dampened.
In his mind, he could already picture himself as an old man, with a head of white hair, living in endless regret for the atrocities he'd committed in this life.
"Wait, no. Qi-ge, you must be joking, right? Cultivation techniques issued by the Tiger Soul Research Institute have to undergo rigorous safety testing. Before being publicly released, they're even practiced by testers. How could dangerous techniques with hidden flaws make it to release?"
Feng Qi couldn't help but roll his eyes at Lin Ran's skepticism.
"I already told you, this is information I found when I first checked the future database about you. I believed it at the time too. But as it turns out, history can lie. Don't interrupt—just listen to what I have to say, and you'll understand."
Feng Qi then proceeded to recount the intelligence gathered across multiple timelines concerning Lin Ran.
From his initial discovery in the future shelter's database that Lin Ran was destined to become a historical villain, to his suspicion about why the Tiger Soul Research Institute didn't thoroughly test techniques before releasing them, and later uncovering issues with Le Ping'an, which led to revelations about the infiltration of the Scientific Research Institute.
As Feng Qi pieced together events across timelines, a clear narrative began to emerge.
Lin Ran, who initially looked bewildered, slowly began to comprehend the situation.
By the end of Feng Qi's explanation, Lin Ran's composed facade had completely crumbled.
He could never have imagined his historical role to be so tragic.
Across timelines, Lin Ran's fate boiled down to two outcomes:
Either he was manipulated by the Mist Lord into releasing a cultivation technique that shattered practitioners' meridians, or he was possessed by the Mist Lord and became a "hero" of history who brought about humanity's destruction.
In both cases, Lin Ran's actions marked the tolling bell of humanity's extinction.
Taking a deep breath, Lin Ran turned to Feng Qi and asked:
"Qi-ge, you mentioned that, in the normal timeline, the Mist Lord would possess Old Wang's body, becoming the new Old Wang. Meanwhile, I'd end up as a historical villain for creating a cultivation technique that breaks practitioners' meridians, correct?"
"Correct."
"Then isn't there a possibility—based on what you said—that in the normal timeline, I developed a cultivation technique superior to 'Flesh Sacrifice'? If this technique was released, it would hinder the spread of Flesh Sacrifice."
"After all, if there's an alternative cultivation technique just as powerful as Flesh Sacrifice, practitioners would have more choices. This would reduce Flesh Sacrifice's adoption rate, wouldn't it? So, to eliminate competition, the Mist Lord might have targeted me."
Hearing Lin Ran's theory, Feng Qi was momentarily stunned.
This angle that Lin Ran proposed—he hadn't considered it before.
But upon further reflection, it wasn't implausible. Even though the likelihood was slim, the possibility still existed.
Lin Ran was right. It didn't have to be a technique that rivaled "Flesh Sacrifice" in power. Any sufficiently outstanding technique could weaken its influence.
Given Feng Qi's understanding of the Mist Lord, it was entirely possible that the Mist Lord would resort to such schemes.
Doing so wouldn't just ensure that more people adopted Flesh Sacrifice but would also stunt the progress of human cultivation research, instilling fear in practitioners and making them hesitant to try new techniques.
This would effectively amplify the dominance of Flesh Sacrifice.
The events in the normal timeline where millions of practitioners had their meridians shattered had caused a decades-long stagnation in cultivation technique research. Practitioners became wary of trying new techniques, which in turn hindered the development and refinement of future techniques.
This setback had repercussions that lasted over a century.
But during that same dark era for cultivation studies, Flesh Sacrifice achieved unprecedented success and became widely adopted.
Looking at the situation in retrospect, it was likely another strategic move orchestrated by the Mist Lord.
By turning Lin Ran into a cautionary tale, the Mist Lord had created favorable conditions for the promotion of Flesh Sacrifice.
Practitioners, afraid to try new techniques, would naturally gravitate toward the reliable and powerful Flesh Sacrifice.
From a historical perspective, the Mist Lord was undoubtedly a genius.
Every step taken was calculated with a long-term view in mind, disregarding short-term gains entirely.
At this moment, Lin Ran interrupted Feng Qi's thoughts:
"Qi-ge, what do you think? Is my theory possible?"
Snapping back to reality, Feng Qi couldn't help but roll his eyes.
"It sounds like you're just trying to prove that you have a natural talent for developing cultivation techniques, aren't you?"
Having his motives exposed, Lin Ran wasn't bothered at all. He smiled and nodded unabashedly.
"Being manipulated into releasing a flawed cultivation technique just proves it wasn't my fault! It shows I was sabotaged. If anything, it proves my talent in cultivation research."
Feng Qi: …
Even at a time like this, Lin Ran was still focused on whether he was talented in cultivation research.
This level of obsession was something else.
Now that he understood the history behind it, Lin Ran fell into deep thought.
Feng Qi remained silent, giving Lin Ran time to process everything he'd shared.
After about half an hour, Lin Ran finally looked up at him, his eyes filled with determination.
"Qi-ge, I understand now. On this sacrificial timeline, I'll stand alongside the others as one of your companions."
These words were something Lin Ran had said to Feng Qi in the distant future, over fifteen hundred years later.
But hearing them in the present still filled Feng Qi with a warm sense of gratitude.
His journey to save the world wasn't one of heroic grandeur or a protagonist's halo like in the movies. What made it possible were companions like Lin Ran who stood by him.
It was their support that enabled the progress of his sacrificial timeline.
Lin Ran raised his glass, grinning playfully as he said,
"Qi-ge, cheers!"
Seeing this, Feng Qi immediately raised his own glass and clinked it against Lin Ran's.
Draining his glass in one go, Feng Qi set it down and looked at Lin Ran with a solemn expression.
"Lin Ran, there's something I'll need your help with for an investigation."
"Just say the word," Lin Ran replied without hesitation.
"Based on your theory and the intelligence I've gathered, I have reason to suspect that the Tiger Soul Research Institute has already been infiltrated by domain forces. It's highly possible that you're being used to develop techniques for them."
"You already know that on this sacrificial timeline, I need to help the Mist Lord rise to power as quickly as possible. That means I have to identify and eliminate anything that could hinder future progress."
"Of course, my suspicion that the Tiger Soul Research Institute has been infiltrated by other domain forces is still just a hypothesis. Everything needs to be verified. That's why I need your cooperation to conduct this investigation."
Hearing Feng Qi's explanation, Lin Ran nodded without hesitation:
"After everything you've told me, I'm also beginning to suspect whether the upper management of Tiger Soul has been compromised. It's time we look into it."
As the conversation continued, the two began drafting their plans for investigating the inner workings of the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
The night wore on, and the horizon began to glow with the first light of dawn.
The sky was painted with streaks of red as the sun's rays stretched across the clouds, illuminating half the heavens in a brilliant sunrise.
After talking with Lin Ran through the night, Feng Qi felt the worries in his heart dissipate.
Lin Ran's words had deeply moved him.
He had said that nothing in the world was more worth pursuing than fighting for one's ideals.
Even if the result was failure, there was still hope that the flower of those ideals could bloom in another timeline's future.
After saying this, Lin Ran drained his glass of wine in one go.
The serenity and conviction in his demeanor swept away Feng Qi's lingering guilt.
Raising his head, Feng Qi looked westward at the rising sun.
A flock of wild geese flew in neat formation, heading south.