Star City Academy, Dormitory 301.
Sitting at his desk, Feng Qi tallied up the results of his latest journey through the Dream Realm.
Under the control of his mental energy, the pen moved fluidly across the notebook, jotting down notes.
The future timeline connected to the Crimson Research Institute had finally lifted the veil of mystery, revealing the truth.
He now knew who the shadowy force hiding within human civilization truly was.
His next step was to organize the intelligence he had gathered and devise a plan to counter the Institute of Technological Research.
As for Le Ping'an, now that it was confirmed he was the werewolf, Feng Qi wouldn't show any mercy.
Nor would he waste time trying to redeem him.
Once someone's allegiance strayed from humanity, there was no going back.
This was where Le Ping'an and Mu Qing differed entirely.
While Mu Qing was branded as the World-Ending Overlord in history, she had always fought for humanity. Her chosen path was one of hidden, self-sacrificial greatness.
When Feng Qi first learned of Mu Qing's supposed betrayal, he had contemplated ways to eliminate her. But the numerous unresolved doubts led him to keep seeking the truth.
Le Ping'an, however, was the opposite. Although ostensibly aligned with humanity, he had consistently worked in secret for the Institute of Technological Research, a force seeking to overthrow human civilization.
The two situations were fundamentally distinct.
He wasn't concerned about alerting the enemy by eliminating Le Ping'an.
In the current reality, Le Ping'an had no suspicions about him, and the Institute of Technological Research behind him was completely unaware of any threats Feng Qi posed.
Handled correctly, Le Ping'an's death wouldn't draw suspicion toward Feng Qi.
After all, on the surface, Feng Qi had no motive for murder.
Pausing for a moment of thought, Feng Qi resumed writing in his notebook, recording the gains from his Dream Realm excursion.
Power Up 1: Killing Ma La granted him the innate ability and prefix title of "Cellular Regeneration." His Bloodline Evolution Points now totaled 852, leaving him 148 points short of the next advancement.
Note: In future trips, request the Crimson Research Institute to prepare a rune-modified creature for power enhancements.
Power Up 2: Killing the spirits granted a minor increase in mental strength.
Note: These spirits appear to be domain-derived lifeforms similar to the undead. No rune crystals were found on their bodies, and they did not yield innate abilities upon death. However, they seem to be a reliable source for enhancing mental strength.
There were only two entries for direct power-ups this time, but the gains were substantial.
Defeating Ma La, who had lived for an extraordinary length of time, brought a surge in Bloodline Evolution Points equivalent to slaying three or four ordinary domain creatures.
Additionally, the regenerative ability gained had significant potential for growth, possibly granting him longevity—if he could avoid an early demise.
Key Intelligence Gained:
1. Identification of the werewolf infiltrator: Le Ping'an.
Note: Eliminate him as soon as possible to facilitate the next steps in the plan against the Institute of Technological Research.
2. Confirmation that the Institute of Technological Research is the hidden malignant force within human civilization.
Note: Collaborate with Mo Fei on a chosen timeline to explore the possibility of dismantling the Institute of Technological Research.
3. Insights from the Crimson Research Institute: Black Mist is likely a psionic nanite amalgamation created by the Institute of Technological Research.
Note: Black Mist may have gone out of control post-creation, escaping the institute's grasp.
4. Progress in the Crimson Research Institute's "Brain in a Vat" project.
Note: Future collaboration on this project could prove beneficial.
5. Observations on the absence of slain domain creatures.
Hypothesis: Creatures killed may be erased from the timeline, or coincidentally erased as history shifts. Derived domain creatures, like Xiao Can, seem immune to such effects. Despite multiple deaths, they remain present, and killing them yields no innate abilities.
As he continued writing, several new pages filled his notebook with information.
These notes served as a personal log, a way to consolidate and structure his thoughts for future use.
Feng Qi wasn't particularly concerned about the security of the information.
Before facing any scenario that could expose his secrets, he could simply burn the notebook. This would leave no trace, making it even safer than digital records.
In one timeline, his overly public actions had drawn the attention of the Institute of Technological Research. In response, they systematically erased all traces of his online existence.
Once finished, he began reviewing the details he had recorded in his notebook.
Even now, numerous unanswered questions lingered in his mind.
For instance, if the Institute of Technological Research wields such immense power, enough to suppress the Crimson Research Institute on all fronts, why haven't they ever tried to outright overthrow human civilization?
Two potential reasons surfaced in Feng Qi's mind.
The first possibility: while the Institute of Technological Research is undoubtedly powerful, it hasn't reached the level where it can confront the collective strength of humanity. Thus, it opts to remain hidden within human civilization, biding its time and waiting for the right opportunity to subvert humanity without bloodshed.
The second possibility: domain creatures are not a unified entity. They harbor antagonistic relationships among themselves. The domain transcendent being controlling the Institute of Technological Research is likely wary of other hidden forces within human civilization and refrains from taking drastic action to prevent those forces from exploiting the chaos.
Regardless of the reasoning, one thing was certain: the Institute of Technological Research had to be eradicated.
Closing his notebook, Feng Qi leaned back in his chair, falling into deep thought.
The pressing issue now was figuring out how to eliminate Le Ping'an without exposing himself.
The academy was riddled with surveillance cameras. Walking into Le Ping'an's dorm room with a blade and cutting him down would inevitably lead to exposure. A more covert method was necessary—one that wouldn't leave behind a trail.
Even contacting Le Ping'an to lure him out posed a challenge. Using phones or any other communication tools would leave records, which could later be retrieved and reviewed, creating an undeniable link back to him.
Would he be able to convince others that killing Le Ping'an was a necessary act for the betterment of human civilization? No one would believe that explanation. They would simply label him a lunatic who had murdered his own student and promptly throw him into prison for life.
After much deliberation, Feng Qi stood and headed toward Le Ping'an's dormitory.
A few minutes later, Feng Qi arrived at Le Ping'an's room. He knocked several times before the door creaked open.
Upon seeing who it was, Le Ping'an greeted him with a shy smile. "Qi-ge, what brings you here?"
"There are a few questions about spiritual medicine I wanted to ask. Do you have time now?" Feng Qi replied with a casual tone.
"I'm free whenever you need me. Come on in." Le Ping'an stepped aside, gesturing for Feng Qi to enter.
As Feng Qi stepped into the room, a faint herbal aroma greeted him. The desk was cluttered with books on cultivation, and a notebook lay open, filled with neatly written notes and important details.
The scene stirred something in Feng Qi's heart.
Even now, he couldn't fully understand why Le Ping'an had chosen to betray humanity.
What could domain creatures possibly offer him? Did Le Ping'an truly believe that after humanity's downfall, traitors like him would coexist peacefully with domain creatures? Wouldn't they ultimately end up as slaves?
"Qi-ge, take a seat. I'll get you something to drink," Le Ping'an offered as he headed to the kitchen.
While Le Ping'an was away, Feng Qi picked up the notebook on the desk. The detailed notes showed Le Ping'an's dedication to his studies.
Moments later, Le Ping'an returned with a glass of orange juice, which he placed beside Feng Qi. Smiling, he said, "Qi-ge, I've been stuck on a few questions regarding martial techniques. Maybe you can help me out?"
Instead of responding immediately, Feng Qi smiled and asked, "Le Ping'an, you're working so hard on your cultivation studies. What are your plans after graduation? Why not follow in your parents' footsteps and study mechanical engineering?"
"I'm not interested in mechanical engineering," Le Ping'an replied earnestly. "My dream is to work at the Martial Arts Research Institute."
Hearing this, Feng Qi's mind buzzed with thoughts.
Initially, he had assumed that, like Mo Fei, Le Ping'an had simply chosen a path aligned with his passions.
But knowing now that Le Ping'an was a werewolf, Feng Qi couldn't help but question his true motives. Was the Institute of Technological Research planning to infiltrate the Martial Arts Research Institute through Le Ping'an?
He didn't dwell on the matter for long. Instead, he shifted the conversation, answering some of Le Ping'an's questions about cultivation. Then, he smoothly transitioned to his real purpose.
"Le Ping'an, can you meet me tomorrow night after midnight at the back hill? I need help testing a new martial technique."
"Another new technique?!" Le Ping'an's interest was piqued.
"Yes," Feng Qi nodded. "This one's unique. It's best practiced in the late hours and works particularly well in areas rich in vegetation due to its wood-based attributes."
Le Ping'an showed no signs of suspicion and readily agreed. "No problem."
"Actually, I wouldn't call it a test. That would be irresponsible of me. The technique is still incomplete, and there could be unexpected side effects during practice. I mainly need you there to keep an eye on things. If anything goes wrong, you can call for help—otherwise, who knows how I might die."
"Qi-ge's techniques always work perfectly," Le Ping'an chuckled as he scratched his head.
With the arrangements made, Feng Qi left Le Ping'an's room.
He had given Le Ping'an a day's buffer, which also provided him time to make the necessary preparations.
Back in his dorm room, Feng Qi ordered an anti-surveillance device. Afterward, he meticulously examined the locations of security cameras near the dormitory and mapped out their coverage areas in his notebook. Once he had a clear understanding of the layout, a plan began to take shape in his mind.
The next night, under the glow of a full moon.
The moonlight bathed the earth in silvery light as Feng Qi opened his window. His telekinetic energy enveloped him, lifting him effortlessly out into the night air. Ascending over 100 meters, he bypassed every camera as he flew directly toward the back hill of Star City Academy.
His telekinetic reserves rapidly depleted during the flight, but it was enough to carry him to his destination. The back hill was lush with vegetation and featured a small pavilion. Inscribed on its beams were phrases left by senior scholars of the academy. From this vantage point, the nightscape of Star City Academy stretched out like a serene painting.
After hours of waiting, Le Ping'an appeared in the distance, dressed in his student uniform. He walked briskly along the mountain path, his youthful energy evident.
"Qi-ge, you're here!" Le Ping'an greeted him with a shy smile upon seeing Feng Qi standing near the pavilion.
Feng Qi's heart stirred, a faint ripple of hesitation crossing his mind. But he quickly steeled himself. There was no turning back. Le Ping'an was a werewolf, and he had to act.
The mountain wind caressed his face as Feng Qi remained silent for a moment before speaking.
"Ping'an, why did you betray humanity and side with the domain creatures?"
Le Ping'an's smile froze instantly, replaced by an expression of confusion and apprehension. "Qi-ge, what are you talking about?"
Feng Qi silently swept his telekinetic sense over Le Ping'an, confirming he carried no devices apart from his phone. The area-monitoring device Feng Qi had brought didn't detect any signals either. With a flick of his mind, he yanked Le Ping'an's phone away, crushing it in his fist and hurling the remnants down the hill.
"Ping'an, stop pretending. I know everything," Feng Qi said coldly.
Le Ping'an's face twisted into a bitter smile. "Can you tell me how you found out?"
"You tell me first: why did you choose to betray humanity?"
Le Ping'an's body trembled slightly. Realizing what lay ahead, the meekness he once projected dissolved into a frenzied, distorted rage.
"Why? There is no 'why'! Am I wrong for wanting to live for myself?" Le Ping'an shouted.
"That's not a reason to betray humanity," Feng Qi responded coldly.
"Don't stand there pretending to be righteous! You have no idea what I've been through. Don't stand on some moral high ground and judge me—you're not qualified!" Le Ping'an's voice cracked as his anger boiled over. The once modest and polite young man was gone.
Tears streamed down his face as he trembled, looking at Feng Qi with a mixture of desperation and defiance. "I didn't want this! I had no choice—no choice at all!"
Before Feng Qi could act, Le Ping'an suddenly coughed violently, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
"Ha… Qi-ge, don't bother trying to get anything from me. The moment I was exposed, I never planned on leaving alive."
Watching Le Ping'an's life ebb away, Feng Qi's thoughts raced. His future self had warned him about this—members of the hidden factions used a mysterious suicide method that left no traces behind. Their bodies would disintegrate after death, leaving no evidence.
Realizing what was happening, Feng Qi surged forward, grabbing Le Ping'an's arm just as his consciousness began to fade. The moment their skin touched, Feng Qi's nightmare ability activated.
Countless fragmented memories flooded Feng Qi's mind.
"Ping'an, make sure you grow up to be someone who contributes to society."
"Ping'an, what's your dream?"
"The Institute of Technological Research? That's my boy! Just like his father. Technology is the future."
"Son, if I don't finish this research, you must complete it when you grow up. This technology could change humanity's future."
Scenes of Le Ping'an's life played out in Feng Qi's mind. He saw a young Le Ping'an growing up under the care of loving parents. His family was affluent, and his parents were high-ranking officials in the Institute of Technological Research. They provided him with a stable, happy childhood.
Le Ping'an's childhood was filled with laughter and warmth. He loved clinging to his parents, listening to bedtime stories nestled in their arms.
But one memory caught Feng Qi's attention.
In this memory, Le Ping'an lay weakly on a hospital bed, hooked to an oxygen mask. His parents sat at his bedside, their faces etched with grief. Le Ping'an's father occasionally slapped himself in self-recrimination, muttering words of guilt.
Le Ping'an's condition worsened with each passing breath, his life force slipping away.
Then, a shadowy figure appeared at the foot of the bed.
Feng Qi couldn't make out what the figure was saying, but the despair on Le Ping'an's parents' faces was unmistakable. After a tense moment, Le Ping'an's father drew a spirit energy gun from his belt, aiming it shakily at the figure. Yet, his mother gently pushed the gun aside, nodding with tear-filled eyes.
Le Ping'an's father collapsed to the floor, drained of strength, his tears flowing freely.
The shadowy figure placed a hand on Le Ping'an's forehead. As black energy seeped into the boy, his pale complexion gained a faint blush, and his breathing steadied.
Feng Qi understood now.
Le Ping'an's parents had made a deal with the devil—a domain creature. In exchange for their son's life, they had chosen to betray humanity.
From that moment on, Le Ping'an's fate was sealed. He could never walk the path of light. His parents' decision bound him to a life of servitude to the domain creatures infiltrating the Institute of Technological Research.
The domain creature they had allied with remained shrouded in mystery. Even in Le Ping'an's memories, it never revealed its true form.
A violent cough snapped Feng Qi out of the memory stream. Le Ping'an spat more blood, his face pale and his voice faint.
"Qi-ge… you know, when I was a kid, my dream was to dedicate my life to humanity's rise."
Le Ping'an's eyes seemed to clear in his final moments. He looked at Feng Qi with a strange mixture of relief and regret.
"Qi-ge, let me ask you one thing… If your child had an incurable disease, lying on a hospital bed with no hope, and a devil came to you with an offer, what would you do?"
"He said he could not only save your child's life but also grant you near-immortal longevity and fulfill any material desires. The price would be the deaths of people entirely unrelated to you, and no one would ever know what you did. What would you choose?"
Facing the question, Feng Qi understood what was weighing on Le Ping'an's mind.
As if speaking to himself, Le Ping'an murmured on:
"You don't have to answer me. Keep your thoughts in your heart. Maybe someday, you'll face the same choice. They weren't wrong."
Feng Qi sighed as he watched Le Ping'an's spirit weaken.
"The moment humanity collapses, it's undoubtedly ugly," Feng Qi began softly, "but every second of their internal struggle is worthy of respect. The problem is, they made the wrong choice."
"Yes," Le Ping'an whispered, his voice faltering. "They made the wrong choice, but they weren't wrong... at least, not in my eyes. Good and evil shift depending on one's position. They weren't wrong."
Le Ping'an's speech became slurred, blood spilling from his mouth as his strength ebbed.
Feng Qi felt a knot tightening in his chest. The memory fragments he'd glimpsed revealed a truth: Le Ping'an's childhood dream of dedicating his life to humanity's rise wasn't a lie. It was the future his parents had envisioned for him too.
But his parents betrayed that dream first. For his sake, they embraced the darkness.
Once his parents made their choice, Le Ping'an had no alternative. Such was the cost of a deal with a devil. From that point on, he could only walk in shadow.
"Qi-ge... it's so cold... am I dying?"
Holding Le Ping'an in his arms, Feng Qi remained silent, his hatred for domain creatures burning ever stronger.
Le Ping'an could no longer speak. His body convulsed as he coughed up more blood, his eyes filled with longing for a world slipping away. In Feng Qi's embrace, Le Ping'an's last thread of life flickered out, his body dissolving into glimmering fragments of energy. These crystalline motes shimmered in the night before dispersing into the mountain breeze.
Rising to his feet, Feng Qi gazed out at the brightly lit Star City Academy. A storm of emotions churned within him.
"Hey, Narrator," he said aloud, his voice steady but heavy. "Do you think humanity is inherently good or inherently evil?"
[Humanity is inherently evil. A newborn baby knows only how to take—it doesn't understand giving or gratitude. But I believe that throughout life, people learn how to be good. Bonds like family, friendship, and love, along with the beauty of the world, teach us kindness bit by bit.]
Hearing the Narrator's answer, Feng Qi nodded quietly.
The mountain wind brushed against his face, rustling the leaves and grass. The sounds of nature accompanied his tumultuous emotions.
Le Ping'an's situation was tragic, but he chose the wrong side. His claim that Feng Qi wouldn't understand lacked weight—Feng Qi already had an answer to that impossible question.
He would not accept a devil's bargain. Nor would he surrender to despair. He would search relentlessly for even the slimmest chance of hope, exhausting every avenue, even if the effort left him in anguish. If failure was inevitable, at least he could meet it with a clear conscience.
The path to dreams is never easy, lined with thorns and hardship. Yet no matter the outcome, Feng Qi would face it unflinchingly.
Not every mountain climbed leads to spring's blossoms.
Not every journey through storms ends with a radiant sunset.
But surrender, compromise, or retreat were not options. Even if the end meant standing alone in the twilight of the apocalypse, watching his dreams crumble, he would fight. He would fight like Mu Qing, who raised her spear high against the crimson moon and charged into an endless tide of enemies, fearless until her final breath.
Le Ping'an had said that morality is relative, shifting with one's perspective. To Feng Qi, that reasoning was merely the excuse of the uncommitted.
As a human, why not face the world with boldness, carving out a brighter future for humanity at the cost of one's own life?
The enemy's overwhelming strength was no excuse to submit.
Life as fragile as an ant should harbor the ambition of a soaring hawk. A fleeting existence should embody unwavering resolve.
At that moment, the horizon glowed faintly as dawn broke. Standing atop the mountain, Feng Qi lifted his gaze to the sky. The first light of day shattered the night's darkness, streaking the heavens with brilliant hues of red.