Chapter 55: Am I a Traitor?
The next day, the Twilight Wolf Rune Crystal Feng Qi ordered online was delivered to his dormitory.
Receiving the package from the academy's security personnel, Feng Qi thanked them, closed the door, and sat at his desk. With practiced movements, he unwrapped the package, retrieving the metallic box inside, and removed the Twilight Wolf Rune Crystal. Without hesitation, he popped it into his mouth, chewing and swallowing it.
That single bite was worth 880,000.
As his stomach churned and his body temperature rose, the energy bar on his panel started to jump. From 41.76%, it surged to 150.8%.
This crystal's effect was noticeably better than the last one he had ordered. Feng Qi wasn't surprised, though. After all, reality wasn't like a game; even domain creatures of the same species would naturally exhibit individual differences.
With his energy fully replenished and meeting the requirements for entering the Dream Realm, Feng Qi didn't immediately lie down. Instead, he reopened his notebook to continue refining his future plans. He was determined to make every visit to the Dream Realm as efficient as possible.
After jotting down a few more notes, he finally felt satisfied and lay on his bed, preparing to sleep.
But as soon as he closed his eyes, Feng Qi found himself unable to fall asleep. His mind churned with endless thoughts and projections about the future, a wave of inexplicable anxiety welling up inside him.
The anxiety stemmed from pressure.
Getting up, he fetched two bottles of beer from the fridge, gulping them down before returning to bed. The alcohol dulled his overactive thoughts, and sleepiness gradually overtook him. Lying there, his expression softened as he drifted off.
When he opened his eyes again, a chilling wind cut across his face.
The world of the Dream Realm was as familiar as ever. Mountains of skeletal remains spread beneath his feet, and desolation stretched as far as the eye could see.
Having mentally prepared himself beforehand, the bleak landscape didn't faze Feng Qi. Instead, he grinned and said:
"Hey, narrator, miss me?"
[Goddamn it, back to work again.]
Feng Qi: "..."
"Could you be a little more polite?" he said, exasperated.
[Of course, my esteemed host, what the hell do you want this time? Depending on my mood, I might answer.]
Feng Qi: "..."
"Forget it. Go back to sleep. I'll call you if I need you." With that, he raised his right leg and kicked the head of "Little Cripple," who had just stood up, sending it flying several meters away.
This time, Feng Qi entered the Dream Realm with clear objectives.
First, he planned to review personnel files. Then, he intended to study basic cultivation technique tutorials and learn a new technique. If there was extra time, he hoped to explore the major events of this era.
Most importantly, though, was accessing his private email. Messages left for him by his future self could contain crucial information.
These messages might include high-level access credentials for the Star City Shelter, details about hidden investigations his future self had conducted, or issues encountered while establishing an underground organization. Such information could serve as valuable warnings, helping him avoid potential pitfalls.
With these thoughts in mind, Feng Qi headed eastward.
The landscape of the Dream Realm had undergone subtle changes this time. The strength of the undead seemed slightly diminished, likely a result of his actions in reality causing minor shifts in the future.
However, pinpointing the exact cause was impossible.
Like how a missing horseshoe nail could lead to the downfall of an empire, the chain reaction that altered the future could have stemmed from a seemingly insignificant event. Over time, those ripples expanded, producing far-reaching consequences.
The altered terrain meant Feng Qi had to search longer than usual to locate the black monument that marked the Star City Shelter.
Finally finding it, he approached the rusted and weathered structure. Biting his finger, he allowed a drop of blood to fall into the groove on its surface. As the mechanical voice crackled and faded, the monument slid aside, revealing a metallic passageway.
Feng Qi, already familiar with the process, confidently stepped into the metallic passageway and headed straight for the database.
Reaching the core area of the underground shelter, he brushed away the layer of dust that coated the control panel. After identifying the buttons, he pressed the activation switch.
The shelter's backup power began humming, and the screen in front of the console flickered to life. A sequence of symbols danced across the interface as the database booted up, and a menu of options appeared before him.
With a mixture of anticipation and unease, Feng Qi first accessed the search function and entered his own name, eager to uncover information about his future self.
After several seconds of loading, the relevant details about his future emerged on the screen:
[Feng Qi (Human Traitor)]:
Age at Death: 27
Cause of Death: Public execution
Date of Death: April 3, 2032
Lifetime Achievements (Revoked):
S-Rank Outstanding Graduate of Star City Academy (Revoked)
Modifier of the 2.0 Version of Physical Cultivation Techniques
A-Rank Human Elite Medal Recipient (Revoked)
Outstanding Instructor at Star City Academy (Revoked)
Recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Human Development Award (Revoked)
Creator of Tiger Fist, Body Tempering Technique, and Heaven and Earth Meditation
Evaluation:
In his early years, Feng Qi displayed remarkable brilliance. While studying at Star City Academy, he developed a series of groundbreaking body refinement and spiritual cultivation techniques, leading many to regard him as a rising star with unparalleled potential. However, he ultimately betrayed the expectations placed upon him, harboring rebellious intentions and covertly sabotaging humanity's progress.
During his tenure as an instructor at Star City Academy, he reportedly indoctrinated and recruited students, founding the destructive "Dark Organization." This group carried out secretive acts that hindered humanity's development. Fortunately, his treachery was discovered in time, and on April 3, 2032, Feng Qi was executed by public decapitation at Star City's primary execution ground as a warning to others.
Netizen Comments:
Blue Future: "Spitting on this disgrace. So many people had high hopes for him back then. Even his teacher Wang Jinsheng wept bitterly during the execution. What a shame for a man who was once admired."
Big Heart: "Such a waste. He had the talent to push humanity forward but chose to sow chaos instead. Despicable and pathetic."
Online Crusader: "No comments about him directly, but I can't help wondering: What actions did his so-called 'rebellious organization' even take? There's no record of their activities in the archives."
Crimson Dawn: "Speaking of the execution, there was a bizarre incident that day. After watching the footage, it's not surprising that Mu Qing later turned against humanity—clearly, the seeds were planted long ago."
Staring at the screen, Feng Qi was dumbfounded.
"I'm a… traitor to humanity?"
Disbelief surged through him, coupled with the nagging certainty that this was the result of some unseen force manipulating events behind the scenes. He had been framed with false accusations and branded a criminal reviled by all.
The most likely culprit? The Crimson Research Institute.
His goal in forming the Dark Organization had been to combat the Crimson Research Institute. It seemed likely that during one of his covert operations against the institute, his actions were uncovered, leading to his downfall.
Before checking his private email, Feng Qi hesitated for a moment. Ultimately, curiosity won, and he clicked on the video attachment under his profile.
As the footage of the execution ground began to play, a voice chimed in his mind.
["Watching your own execution live? My guy, this takes 'next-level move' to a whole new meaning. If I could send video comments, I'd spam the screen with: 666."]
Feng Qi: "..."
He could feel a headache forming.