Chapter 56: Never Give Up

In the video, Feng Qi could be seen dressed in a striped prison uniform, his hands and feet bound by heavy black iron chains. He stood on a massive circular execution platform. His complexion was pale, lips cracked as if he hadn't seen sunlight in ages. His hair was disheveled, and his thin, slumped figure exuded an air of defeat and despair.

Behind him stood a man in the imposing uniform of the Star City Defense Force, gripping a large blade with a solemn expression.

The execution was being broadcast live, allowing everyone to witness the entire process. Adding to the gravity of the situation was the decision to employ beheading—a method of execution long abandoned in modern society. This underscored the severity of Feng Qi's alleged crimes.

Yet, this detail perplexed Feng Qi. Public executions made sense as a deterrent against potential threats, but why him? Why would his execution be so public when even someone like Mu Qing, who had ravaged entire cities, was dealt with in secret? What made him so exceptional?

Puzzled, he continued watching.

In the video, the man behind Feng Qi finally spoke.

"Feng Qi, do you have any last words?"

The figure in the video slowly lifted his head. His gaunt, haggard face came into view as he opened his mouth and spoke hoarsely.

"Do you all hate me that much?"

As soon as those words were uttered, the livestream screen exploded with furious comments from viewers. Messages filled with insults and rage scrolled rapidly, drowning out any possibility of a neutral response.

Even the officer standing behind him couldn't suppress his anger.

"You betrayed us. Don't you deserve to be hated?"

From the crowd encircling the platform, stones were hurled at him.

Facing the chaotic scene, the Feng Qi in the video chuckled softly and shook his head.

"You will never truly understand me. If any of you tried to walk the path I've taken, I doubt you'd even muster the courage to take a single step. What you know of me is merely the tip of the iceberg, and your judgment barely scratches the surface of who I am."

In front of the screen, the present-day Feng Qi clenched his fists as waves of indignation washed over him. He could vividly imagine the anguish his future self endured at that moment.

He had once thrown himself wholeheartedly into saving the world, only to be branded a traitor and condemned by humanity. The pain of such betrayal was unfathomable.

Yet, he couldn't bring himself to hate the masses. They were merely blind, unaware of the truths hidden from them. Their anger, though misdirected, stemmed from their love for the world they lived in. Feng Qi could empathize with that sentiment.

But the shadowy forces pulling the strings behind the scenes? Those he could never forgive.

His resolve to dismantle the Crimson Research Institute intensified further.

The video showed his future self being escorted to the guillotine at the center of the execution platform. Just as the blade was about to fall, a commotion broke out in the crowd.

The defense personnel surrounding the platform were suddenly shoved aside as a figure cloaked in black ascended the execution stage. She walked confidently, her tall figure exuding authority. Following closely behind her were several similarly robed individuals, acting as guards.

The badge on her cloak caught everyone's attention, silencing any protests. Not a single person dared to step forward and block her path.

As she removed her hood, her face came into view. It was a face Feng Qi knew all too well—it was Mu Qing.

"Feng Qi, I'm taking you home," she declared firmly.

"I'm a criminal now; I can't leave," his future self replied with a faint smile, lifting his gaze to meet hers.

"I don't believe that," Mu Qing said, her voice trembling with emotion. "The you I know loves this world more than anyone else."

Tears glistened in her eyes as she looked at the frail figure before her.

"Don't make a mistake," he urged softly. "You're now the leader of a top-tier domain combat squad, a shining example of humanity's best. You have a future full of promise—don't let me drag you down."

Mu Qing didn't respond with words. Instead, she reached out and grasped the chains binding him. With a surge of incredible strength, the specially crafted black chains shattered and fell away, piece by piece.

In the video, as Mu Qing's actions unfolded, the man behind Feng Qi, holding the executioner's blade, visibly panicked.

"Commander Mu, what are you doing? Is saving a traitor worth it?"

At his words, Mu Qing's gaze shot toward the officer. Her eyes shimmered with a crimson hue that seemed to pierce through him.

"He is not a traitor!" she declared with a resolute voice.

Under her intimidating glare, the officer involuntarily took several steps back, his earlier bravado completely dissipated.

Witnessing this, the Feng Qi in the video quickly interjected.

"Don't do something foolish. This is the military—we can't let you get dragged into this because of me."

Mu Qing ignored his plea, her expression unyielding.

"If I want to save you, no one can stop me."

Just as she moved to dismantle the execution setup, the Feng Qi in the video suddenly reached out and slapped her across the face. The loud crack echoed across the platform, shocking everyone into silence.

Looking at her stunned expression, he said with a bitter smile:

"Calm down. Don't let yourself become a historical villain like me."

Tears welled up in Mu Qing's eyes as she gritted her teeth and asked:

"Do you expect me to just stand by and watch you die?"

"Do you remember our promise under the willow tree? To dedicate our lives to humanity's future? You've done it. You've built your own domain combat squad. If you rescue me today, you'll become a criminal too. All your efforts will be for nothing."

Mu Qing trembled as she replied with a crack in her voice:

"Do you still remember that you promised to be my vice-captain?"

The Feng Qi in the video froze for a moment, then sighed deeply.

"I've failed you."

"I brought enough people to guarantee our safe escape from Star City…"

Before she could finish, he cut her off, his tone rising in anger:

"Escape? To where? To live a life on the run? Even if it's unbearable, you must endure it. Remember the mission you carry. If I fall, you must bear my dreams and continue forward. Don't let my death be in vain."

Staring at his gaunt but determined face, Mu Qing fell silent. After a long pause, she finally asked:

"Does it have to end like this?"

"It has to."

Her foot stomped the ground in frustration, sending cracks radiating out from her position at the center of the execution platform.

"What if I insist on saving you?"

The surrounding military personnel had reached their breaking point, their nerves stretched taut as they prepared for the worst.

"Don't leave me to live my life in regret. Let go."

At those words, a single tear fell from Mu Qing's eye. She seemed to understand that his resolve was unshakable.

"I swear I'll uncover the truth and avenge you!"

Turning sharply, she led the other black-cloaked figures away without looking back.

As they disappeared into the distance, the military personnel around the platform exhaled audibly, relieved that the confrontation had ended without further escalation.

Even as the leader of a top-tier domain combat squad, Mu Qing commanded such authority that even the military dared not provoke her easily. Her departure was a tacit acknowledgment of the power she wielded.

Once she had gone, the Feng Qi in the video returned to his position before the execution block.

"It's time. Say your final words," the executioner behind him said solemnly.

He nodded, lifting his head to face the crowd with a faint smile.

"If you're watching this, don't feel guilty. For a failed me, this is liberation. But you are the one who must carry the weight and move forward. Ignore the judgment of the world!"

"Remember this: My heart and my actions are as clear as a mirror. All I've done has been for justice, and I have no regrets!"

As he finished speaking, the executioner's blade fell. A flash of crimson light burst forth, and the screen went dark, accompanied by the deafening cheers of the crowd.

In front of the screen, Feng Qi clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He slammed his fist down on the control panel, his heart a tempest of emotions.

The narrator's voice broke the silence:

"You're the one who must bear the weight and continue forward. The future you chose to sacrifice wasn't just for Mu Qing—it was also for you. Don't let him down."

"I'll keep moving forward. I will never give up!" Feng Qi growled through gritted teeth, his eyes reddened with emotion.