Translator: CinderTL
The Blood Moon hung high in the sky, its crimson glow casting an eerie pall over the desolate landscape. A chilling wind howled through the ruins, carrying with it the stench of decay.
In the Dream Realm of the future, there was no poetry or distant horizons, only an endless, suffocating silence and twisted creatures lurking in every corner of the world.
Having shed his blood source form, Feng Qi followed his memories toward the future site of his own grave.
Everywhere he looked, he saw only ruin and desolation.
Spending too long in this oppressive environment weighed even on the ever-optimistic Feng Qi, leaving him feeling heavy-hearted.
Yet he refused to despair. Only unwavering confidence and resilience could drive him forward, hacking through the thorns and brambles until the day this shattered world was reborn.
Fortunately, the Narrator's constant presence kept him from feeling utterly alone.
As he walked through streets littered with rubble and the wreckage of collapsed buildings, his gaze constantly darted around, alert to every movement. Even the rustle of wind through the debris set his nerves on edge.
"Narrator, you have the ability to sense nearby threats, right? Why don't you keep watch and alert me if anything approaches?"
"You want to slack off, but I don't? We've only just met, and you're already trying to exploit me like some capitalist overlord? He~tui!"
Feng Qi: ...
"But you're a spiritual entity," Feng Qi protested. "You shouldn't experience physical fatigue."
Your words have stirred memories within me. We've known each other far longer than you realize.
Feng Qi was utterly bewildered by the Narrator's response. He immediately asked, "When did we meet? I thought we only met after entering the Dream Realm."
You're mistaken. Our acquaintance predates this by centuries.
Sensing the Narrator was about to reveal a profound secret, Feng Qi pressed, "Tell me more."
The exact time? Let's say over a thousand years ago. It was a bright autumn day. You ran with me through the wind, leaving a tooth mark on my leg... Oh, by the way, back then I was called Lü Dongbin. Do you remember your name before reincarnation?
As Feng Qi listened intently to the Narrator's tale, his expression gradually twisted into a grimace.
He finally understood: the Narrator was indirectly calling him a dog.
Ah, that's right! You're Ah Huang, the one who chased me down at 20 miles per hour, trying to bite me.
"Shut up!" Feng Qi snapped, his anger boiling over.
While he sometimes felt grateful for the Narrator's companionship and guidance, most of the time the Narrator's honeyed words felt like they were laced with poison, each conversation driving him closer to a mental breakdown.
As he pressed onward, the surrounding weeds grew thicker, signaling that he was nearing his destination.
His greatest fear now was that Suction Cup wouldn't be near his future grave. Without her, his strategy to stall little black would crumble.
After advancing a short distance, he scanned the area, searching for Suction Cup.
Suddenly, a dark shadow swept rapidly across the horizon, plunging the world into gloom.
He looked up and witnessed an awe-inspiring sight:
A colossal, monstrous beast soared through the sky.
It possessed twin wings and a pair of massive, eerie green eyes. Its scales shimmered with iridescent colors even in the dim light, and each beat of its wings stirred up violent gusts of wind on the ground.
Like a king of the skies, it surveyed the teeming life below as it flew westward toward the storm-laden clouds.
The Sky Giant Beast roared, its voice like a thunderclap that shook the very earth.
Following the beast's flight path, he glimpsed a mountain-sized figure flickering amidst the lightning and thunder within the storm clouds. Moments later, the monstrous creature plunged into the tempest.
Two figures clashed amidst flashes of lightning and thunder, their silhouettes occasionally appearing through the dark clouds as they engaged in a fierce battle.
"Holy shit, is that another domain creature?" Feng Qi exclaimed, his eyes wide with astonishment.
They only appear strong. In reality... they're far stronger than you can imagine. Otherwise, why do you think the domain ultimately conquered the entire world?
"If this thing fought Mu Qing, who would win?"
You're seriously underestimating humanity. I never saw Mu Qing at her peak, but based on data from the database, she could slaughter two Sky Giant Beasts of this caliber with her eyes closed—one for grilling, the other for soup.
"Then what fraction of this Sky Giant Beast's power do I currently possess?" Feng Qi pressed, curious.
I've told you to get a grip on reality. Why won't you listen? Fractions? You'd be lucky to last three hundred rounds against the worms in its belly before dying a heroic death.
Feng Qi: ...
Don't overthink it. Take things one step at a time. The future is vast, and these seemingly terrifying creatures are far from your ultimate goal. One day, you'll stand at the true summit.
"When that day comes, I'll drag you out of my body and give you a thousand head flicks."
Reflected!
"Super Reflected!"
Idiot!
He glanced once more at the distant west, at that eerie world shrouded in dark clouds, and finally understood why the Narrator had urged him to head east.
The domain creatures he might encounter in other directions were likely far more terrifying than he had imagined.
Yet he felt no discouragement, only a wide grin spreading across his face.
The stronger the domain creatures, the more powerful the prefix titles and accompanying abilities he would gain upon defeating them. There was nothing to fear.
As they chatted idly, he walked further until he reached the area he remembered.
The cemetery's exact location might have shifted, but he was certain it was nearby, thanks to several recognizable landmarks in the distance.
Stopping, he scanned his surroundings, searching for Suction Cup.
After circling the area without finding her, he continued forward, pausing again to search.
The overgrown weeds, some taller than himself, made the search extremely difficult.
After another stretch of walking, the Narrator's voice echoed in his mind:
Turn your gaze to the nine o'clock position, about 20 meters away. A little cutie is crouching in the grass. Hurry and scoop her into your arms!
Upon hearing the Narrator's reminder, he didn't hesitate and immediately turned to walk in that direction.
After about 20 meters, pushing aside the tall grass, he found Suction Cup kneeling on the ground, her white hair disheveled and her eyes vacant. A vibrant red flower, plucked from who-knows-where, was stuck in the ground before her. She stared blankly at the muddy earth.
Seeing this scene, Feng Qi felt a pang of inexplicable heartache.
Heartache is one thing, but when it's time to ditch her, you don't hesitate. Classic you!
Feng Qi: ...
He crouched down beside Suction Cup and gently ruffled her small head.
"I'm back."
Suction Cup seemed not to hear him, her gaze fixed on the muddy ground, not even blinking.
Sighing inwardly, Feng Qi reached down to pick her up, intending to carry her away.
But to his surprise, Suction Cup slipped out of his grasp like an eel, sliding to the ground with a soft thud and resuming her kneeling position in the mud.
Feng Qi: ...
Crouching down again, he ruffled her head once more, pondering how to get her to leave.
Normally, Suction Cup followed him willingly. Given her strength, forcing her to move was clearly impossible.
Lost in thought, his gaze shifted to the muddy ground in front of Suction Cup.
"That little rascal... is he thinking of digging up his own grave again?"
Feng Qi: ...
As the Narrator had guessed, he was indeed considering it.
He believed the main reason he had managed to take Suction Cup away last time was because he had given her the harmonica from the graveyard.
After receiving the harmonica, Suction Cup had stopped resisting and allowed him to take her away. He wanted to try the same approach again.
After all, staying here was a complete waste of precious time, and he had no idea when Suction Cup might decide to leave with him.
"Should I give it a try?"
"Go ahead and try. Your future self has already suffered enough; a little more won't hurt. But remember to fill the hole back up afterward and kowtow a few times to apologize. Otherwise, you'd be a real jerk."
Feng Qi: ...
Since the Narrator also thought it was worth a shot, he began digging.
As he shoveled the mud with his hands, he felt deeply conflicted.
His future self had tirelessly strived to save the world, only to be branded a traitor to humanity in his final moments, condemned by the masses. Now, even in death, he couldn't rest in peace, forced to be dug up from the earth by his own hands.
Don't overthink it. If your future self has a soul, he's probably nearby, urging you to dig faster and stop wasting time. If he could touch physical objects, he'd snatch the shovel and dig even faster than you, all while yelling, "You slow-poke idiot! Get out of the way and let me handle this!"
Feng Qi: ...
The Narrator's words completely dispelled his melancholy, making him want to flip the Narrator the middle finger.
Snatch the shovel and dig faster? Is that even human language?
I'm not human, but look at yourself. What part of you resembles a human anymore?
Feng Qi glanced down at his skeletal frame and fell silent, resuming his digging.
Beside him, the Suction Cup remained kneeling, staring at the muddy ground as if in mourning.
After digging more than a meter deep, his fingers struck a hard object. He realized he had reached his target.
He continued digging until he could lift the metal box from the earth. This time, he didn't open it but set it aside.
Just as he had suspected, the silver harmonica lay buried beneath the metal box.
Wait, I just realized something. Why was the harmonica placed beneath the urn? Does that mean Mu Qing once dug up your urn from the earth too?
Feng Qi: ...
Ignoring the Narrator's wild speculation, he retrieved the silver harmonica from the soil.
Forged from special materials within the Domain Field, the harmonica had only lost its luster over the years, showing no signs of rust.
After wiping the mud from its surface, he set it aside and solemnly reburied his ashes, covering them with loose soil.
Time to kowtow, brother. A man's gotta have principles. You can't just skip the proper respects.
"I'm not even going to acknowledge you!"
After wiping the harmonica again with leaves from nearby plants, he crouched beside Suction Cup, ruffled her hair, and offered her the instrument.
Just as he'd hoped, Suction Cup's eyes lit up at the sight of the silver harmonica, and she reached out to take it.
"Can you play?" Feng Qi asked with a smile.
To his surprise, Suction Cup actually put the harmonica to her lips and blew a note.
When he reached out to pick her up again, she didn't resist.
Realizing she was ready to leave with him, he hoisted her onto his shoulder and began walking toward the Star City Shelter.
Along the way, Suction Cup's harmonica playing grew increasingly skilled.
The deep, melancholic melody, with its shifting tempo, seemed to tell a story of longing. Feng Qi's emotions stirred in response to the music.
"What's this song called?" he asked casually.
Unexpectedly, Suction Cup stopped playing and answered in her childish voice:
"Longing... for... Chuan Yue... Xi Hong."
Feng Qi froze, then smiled and ruffled her hair.
(End of the Chapter)